Chapter 199: No Longer Hiding
"Alright." A look of realization dawned on Master Jian. After a moment’s frown, she finally nodded.
"Thank you, Master!"
Zhang Chi was overjoyed. He immediately expressed his thanks and then took his leave.
Without the Tier Two Peak Spiritual Vein at the Demon Abyss, his cultivation would have slowed down.
But by mooching Spiritual Qi here, coupled with the improvements to his Body Refining Cultivation and Spirit Root, his cultivation speed wouldn’t just not slow down, it would become even faster.
Furthermore, Master Jian’s guidance would be of great help to him in forming his Golden Core.
’Is this boy trying to squeeze more value out of me because he sees I’m about to die? Did I misjudge him? Otherwise, why didn’t he offer any opinion on the matter of the Lifespan Extension Pill, and why has he no intention of attending the Cyan Cloud Sect’s celebration?’
’Forget it. It’s only for two years anyway, and it makes little difference whether I cultivate or not at this point. A little less Spiritual Qi is no great loss. Besides, he treats Zhong Yu and Shangguan Hui well, so he can’t be a cold and ungrateful person.’
After Zhang Chi left, Master Jian stood at the entrance of her cave abode, watching his retreating figure in thought. After a moment, she gave a slight shake of her head and went back inside.
In the days that followed, Zhang Chi once again began his cultivation in seclusion.
Aside from an initial visit to Fu Hongchang with a jug of Spirit Wine, he spent his nights cultivating in his cave abode and his days at Master Jian’s.
Furthermore, Qin Susu would also visit Zhang Chi frequently.
These visits were still of great help to Zhang Chi, both improving his aptitude and allowing him to feel happy, relaxed, and content.
In return, Zhang Chi would guide Qin Susu and help with her cultivation, an arrangement she was more than happy with.
After some time, just as expected, Master Jian, Zhong Yu, and the others all headed for the Cyan Cloud Sect.
Many other cultivators and senior figures from the sect went along as well.
Even the Sect Leader of the Cangwu Sect went in person.
But Zhang Chi remained completely unaffected, continuing his cultivation in seclusion as usual.
More than half a year quickly passed, and Master Jian, Zhong Yu, and the others finally returned.
However, the outcome didn’t surprise Zhang Chi in the least: they hadn’t managed to purchase a Tier Three Life Extension Pill.
Although cultivators were trading amongst themselves at the celebration, the Tier Three Life Extension Pill was simply too rare; there wasn’t even a trace of one to be found.
Even though Jian Jinfeng and her disciples offered a high price and made inquiries everywhere, they still came up empty-handed.
Now, inside Master Jian’s cave abode, Zhang Chi learned from the others that the various sects’ leaders had indeed held a meeting during the celebration.
The leaders of all the sects believed that the defensive line in Yuan Bei would not hold. However, on the question of how to respond, they were split into two factions.
One was the Defensive Faction.
They believed they should stand idly by; as long as they properly guarded the defensive line on the South Shore, that was all that mattered.
As for the northern defensive line, its collapse would be a good thing, as it would give the Demon Tide an outlet.
Then Yuan South would be safe.
In the future, even if the forces of the Demon Dao came to seize territory, it wouldn’t be a problem. Their strength would have been greatly depleted by the Demon Tide, so even if they did cross over, the defensive line would stop them. They would be no threat at all.
The other faction was known as the Cooperative Faction.
They held the opposite view: if the northern defensive line were to collapse, Demons and Demonized Beasts would run rampant and grow stronger, eventually impacting the entire Great Abyss. Even Yuan South would not be spared.
Moreover, the power of the Demon Dao could not be underestimated. If they couldn’t get across, they might choose to drag Yuan South down with them, desperately trying to destroy its defensive line in a final act of spite.
Besides, Yuan Bei was home to countless innocent humans, who were a resource in themselves. If these humans, along with the innumerable cultivators and Demon Beasts of Yuan Bei, were to undergo Demonization, the future consequences would be endless.
Therefore, this faction actually proposed a brand-new strategy: send experts to support Yuan Bei.
This proposal was the polar opposite of the Defensive Faction’s plan. The defenders argued that this would weaken the south, causing it to fall as well.
The two factions became locked in a furious and irreconcilable argument.
Because the disagreement was so profound, the talks ultimately failed to produce a conclusive result.
The leaders of the major Immortal Sects all stated that they needed to deliberate on the matter further.
"Junior Brother, what are your thoughts? Do you think the Cooperative Faction is right, or the Defensive Faction?"
After several of his fellow disciples recounted the events, they asked for Zhang Chi’s opinion. Even Master Jian looked over at him.
"I think the most important factor is whether the Demon Tide will persist. If it continues to worsen, then regardless of whether we defend or cooperate, the entire Great Abyss will eventually fall. It’s only a matter of time."
"At that point, our only options will be to go into hiding or find a way to leave the Great Abyss and wait for the Demon Tide to pass. Many of the Ancient Sects and cultivators of old did exactly that."
"Of course, if the Demon Tide subsides quickly, then it also won’t matter much whether we defend or cooperate."
"Besides, all who are not at the Nascent Soul realm are but ants. The truth is, we are insignificant figures, powerless to influence the decisions of the great Immortal Sects. Our only choice is to cultivate as quickly as possible, to make ourselves stronger so we can survive this maelstrom!"
Zhang Chi was a little surprised, but then he just gave a faint smile.
’Unfortunately, even with my Third Tier Turtle Shell Divination Technique, he couldn’t predict the ultimate trajectory of the Demon Tide.’
’Therefore, he secretly resolved to find the Teleportation Array left behind by the Celestial Repair Sect while continuing to grow stronger.’
’That was the only way to truly escape this crisis.’
"Junior Brother has a point. We were so focused on which faction was right, but now it’s clear we were being shortsighted!"
"Indeed! Junior Brother is really something else, thinking completely outside the box. No wonder he sees things so much more clearly!"
Everyone was taken aback by his words, and a feeling of admiration washed over them.
They had even argued amongst themselves about it before, but now they realized how pointless it had been.
But saying that changed nothing. Their perspective might have broadened, but their circumstances remained the same.
And so, they all immediately went to cultivate, seizing every moment they could.
As for the Tier Three Life Extension Pill, they hadn’t managed to acquire one and had no other options, so they could only set the matter aside for the time being.
In truth, they had all pleaded their case to the Sect Leader. Zhong Yu had even tried to leverage his family’s influence, but it was all to no avail.
The Zhong Family’s elders were even reluctant to help. After all, Master Jian was from the Neutral Sect, not one of their family’s faction.
’Below the Nascent Soul realm, we are all just pawns. I have to form my Golden Core as soon as possible to avoid being dragged into this vortex!’ A sense of urgency filled Zhang Chi as he continued his cultivation.
This high-level meeting seemed to be run by the various Sect Leaders, but in reality, the final decision would come down to the will of the Nascent Soul Elder Monsters within the sects.
If the Nascent Soul Elder Monsters were all part of the Cooperative Faction, and the Cangwu Sect suddenly dispatched him, Shangguan Hui, and the others to fight in Yuan Bei, they would be utterly powerless to resist.
And that was a very real possibility.
After all, Jian Jinfeng had little lifespan remaining, belonged to the Neutral Sect, and was very powerful. If someone had to be sent, she would be a prime candidate.
And as her disciple who had also offended the Song Family, he, Zhang Chi, was in a similarly perilous position.
Fortunately, he had prepared for two eventualities.
The first was to flee, perhaps even leave the Great Abyss entirely.
The second was to accelerate his Core Formation. As long as he formed a Top Grade Golden Core, he would be considered a supreme prodigy.
Then, even the Nascent Soul Elder Monsters would place great importance on him and wouldn’t dare to harm him lightly.
’That’s right. He wasn’t going to hide it any longer!’
A Top Grade Golden Core was even rarer than the Celestial Grade Spirit Root he had shown upon joining the sect. There was no need to conceal it.
Of course, he hadn’t originally planned to reveal it.
After all, back then, he wasn’t confident he could form a Top Grade Golden Core.
If he had only formed an Upper Grade or Middle Grade Golden Core, he would have had no choice but to continue keeping a low profile.