Cultivation: Immunity to Negative Effects

"Good. Very good. You shall be my Closed-door Disciple!" Elder Jian couldn’t help but nod in satisfaction.

Based on what she knew beforehand, Zhang Chi disliked conflict and was even a bit timid, but it was now clear that this information was inaccurate.

At the very least, when Zhang Chi said sixty years would be enough, his tone was firm and decisive, filled with a confidence and spirit that even she greatly admired.

"Congratulations, Senior Sister Jian. Congratulations, Nephew Zhang."

Although the Sect Leader was frustrated, he no longer had any objections to Zhang Chi. After all, he had been taken in by Elder Jian.

Besides, in his eyes, the Neutral Sect could be won over.

What’s more, sixty years would pass in a flash. When Elder Jian eventually passed away, Zhang Chi and the others would surely be isolated and helpless, and would most likely turn to his faction for support.

Furthermore, Elder Jian’s use of the term "Closed-door Disciple" also pleased the Sect Leader and the other Golden Core Masters.

A Closed-door Disciple meant that Zhang Chi would be Elder Jian’s final disciple.

"Congratulations to Senior Sister Jian and Nephew Zhang!"

After that, the other Golden Core Masters offered their congratulations one by one. Even the Golden Core Dwarf was forced to say a few pleasantries.

Inwardly, however, he was sneering. ’Zhang Chi is far too arrogant.’

To a High Tier Cultivator, sixty years was but the blink of an eye. When the time came, Zhang Chi would still have to face the Song Family, and his Cultivation wouldn’t be very high by then.

Of course, he wouldn’t let Zhang Chi off the hook during those sixty years, but he would be restricted to using more insidious means.

"Greetings, Master. Thank you, esteemed Masters!"

Zhang Chi immediately stepped forward to pay his respects.

A Daoist Child brought over a specially prepared pot of Spirit Tea, handed it to Zhang Chi, and he respectfully presented it to Elder Jian.

"Good, my good disciple!"

Elder Jian nodded in satisfaction, gladly accepting the tea and taking a sip.

Afterward, she took a golden Top Grade Flying Sword from her Storage Bag and gave it to Zhang Chi.

The other Golden Core Masters did the same, each giving Zhang Chi something as a meeting gift.

However, their gifts were mere trinkets. They weren’t shabby, but they couldn’t compare to the Top Grade Flying Sword.

Zhang Chi wasn’t picky; he accepted them all and expressed his thanks.

However, he set these items aside in a separate place, planning to get rid of them later.

’The gift from the Golden Core Dwarf is especially suspect. There’s a high chance it’s rigged. I’ll definitely never carry it on my person.’

After that, it was Chen Ling’Er’s turn to be accepted as a disciple. She encountered no difficulties and was directly taken in by Chen Bufan’s master.

For one, the two siblings could support each other.

For another, although her talent in Swordsmanship was not on par with Chen Bufan’s, it was still quite good. With Chen Bufan’s reputation backing her, her apprenticeship was naturally a smooth process.

Of course, this was the final result after she had done her own research and consulted with Chen Bufan.

—

"What? Zhang Chi is back, and he’s a Foundation Establishment Cultivator? How many years has it been? His Cultivation is progressing way too fast! Senior Brother Song, is this true?"

At that moment, within the Xie Family’s residence in Red Leaf Valley, Patriarch Xie was speaking with Song Youdao. He was utterly dumbfounded upon hearing the latest news about Zhang Chi.

In recent years, the Xie Family had been left with only him at Foundation Establishment, and they had yet to nurture a new one. As a result, he was at his wit’s end every day just trying to maintain the family’s standing.

As for Zhang Chi, he had long since been cast to the back of the Patriarch’s mind after going to the Demon Abyss.

He had thought that Zhang Chi going to the Demon Abyss was simply courting death.

That was why he was only just learning of Zhang Chi’s latest news today, when Song Youdao came to tell him in person.

Furthermore, compared to ten years ago, neither Patriarch Xie nor Song Youdao had advanced in their Cultivation.

For one, the higher the Cultivation, the slower the progress.

For another, Song Youdao wanted to gather more Core Formation Spiritual Objects to improve the quality of his Core Formation.

Five years ago, when the Ancient Secret Realm appeared in the Demon Abyss, Song Youdao had even considered exploring it.

In the end, however, he lacked the courage and gave up on the idea.

After all, he was a member of a Golden Core Clan; there was no need for him to risk his life.

Later, when he heard that a Foundation Establishment Peak True Inheritor from the Cyan Cloud Sect had fallen there, he felt even more fortunate that he hadn’t gone.

"Of course it’s true. Back then, Zhang Chi was nothing but an ant, which is why I schemed against him and had Xie Yu make a move. I never expected him to grow so much in the blink of an eye."

"Since that’s the case, I have to take this more seriously. My purpose in coming here this time is simple: I want you to personally kill this kid."

"If you can accomplish this, I will protect your Xie Family once I reach Golden Core, and I’ll continue to do so until your family produces more Foundation Establishment Cultivators."

Song Youdao nodded slightly. Even he wore a look of disbelief when speaking of the matter.

When he first heard the news, he didn’t believe it either.

He even suspected that it wasn’t the Zhang Chi he knew, but someone else with the same name.

After all, the Cangwu Sect had a vast number of disciples; it was normal for some to share a name.

Later, he even specifically pleaded with a Golden Core Ancestor in his family to target Zhang Chi, but he knew it would likely fail.

After all, the Sect Leader and the others weren’t fools.

"Yes, Senior Brother. I will see it done. But..."

’Killing a fellow sect member is a most grievous crime.’ Patriarch Xie didn’t want to agree at all, yet he didn’t dare refuse.

Besides, if he wanted to revitalize the Xie Family, this was his only choice.

"No ’buts.’ If you run into difficulties, you figure out a way to solve them. I have faith that you can do it."

"Also, an Ancestor from my Song Family has already gone to the Cangwu Celestial Palace. He will try to take Zhang Chi as a disciple. If that doesn’t work, we’ll proceed to the second step: arranging a reconciliation between you and Zhang Chi."

"You just need to put on a good performance later. That way, when Zhang Chi dies, even if someone suspects you, they won’t have any evidence!" Song Youdao cut him off with a faint smile.

"Is that so? That’s wonderful!"

Patriarch Xie couldn’t help but sigh in relief. ’This way,’ he thought, ’the risk of being exposed is indeed much lower.’

As for whether he could actually kill Zhang Chi, he wasn’t worried. In his eyes, the man would be laughably easy to defeat.

After all, the gap in their Cultivation levels was just too obvious.

Unless Zhang Chi’s Combat Power was comparable to the masked man he had encountered all those years ago, there was absolutely nothing he could do to him.

The thought of the masked man filled him with immense anger, yet he couldn’t help but also feel a deep sense of fear.

"No!"

"Help me!"

Just then, the faint sound of terrified screams came from outside.

"Patriarch, something terrible has happened!"

Then, a servant burst in, his face pale with panic.

"What is it?"

Like a spooked bird, Patriarch Xie leaped to his feet and bellowed the question. His outburst startled both the servant and Song Youdao.

"Outside... there are Demon Souls attacking people!" the servant quickly replied.

"Such a thing is happening? I’ll go take a look right now!"

Startled, Patriarch Xie immediately headed outside.

Although the matter was a bit strange, he had no choice but to deal with it.

Otherwise, morale in the family was already unstable. An attack by Demon Souls would only make a bad situation worse.

More importantly, with a great master like Song Youdao present, he wasn’t worried about any danger.

"I will go with you!" Song Youdao said, just as expected.

"Then I’ll have to trouble you, Senior Brother!"

Patriarch Xie, of course, would not refuse.

The two of them then walked outside and, sure enough, immediately saw several translucent Demon Souls attacking people everywhere.

They dove directly into the bodies of the Xie Family cultivators, who were completely unable to resist. The cultivators would instantly fall to the ground, stiff and unconscious.

Then, amidst gusts of sinister wind and strange laughter, the Demon Souls would bare their fangs and brandish their claws as they pounced on their next target.