Cultivation: Immunity to Negative Effects

After a long while, Zhang Chi finally calmed down slightly.

It was understandable. The news was simply too shocking.

The Golden Sun Sect’s strength was in no way inferior to the Cangwu Sect’s. And while the Pill King Sect was relatively unskilled in combat, it was also a behemoth, possessing Nascent Soul Powerhouses and a large number of Golden Core Masters.

But these two behemoths were gone, just like that.

Fortunately, the Cangwu Sect wasn’t a primary target this time. Otherwise, it would have surely been taken down as well.

In that case, no one would have been safe. Even with his many trump cards, he would most likely have been unable to escape death.

To think he had almost joined the Golden Sun Sect back then. If he had, his fate would have been completely different now.

’I wonder how Guanhai Mountain is doing!’

Zhang Chi couldn’t help but think of one of the companions from his and Qin Susu’s group from all those years ago.

However, the Sect Leader and the others were still waiting for him. Without time to inform Qin Susu and the others, he immediately flew toward the Sect Hall.

"Everyone, I have two announcements to make today. I imagine many of you have already heard the rumors."

"The first is that most of the marketplaces and other properties near our Sect have been attacked by Golden Core Demon Cultivators from the Celestial Corpse Sect. Our losses are severe."

"The second is that both the Golden Sun Sect and the Pill King Sect have been ambushed by cultivators from the Demon Sects. Their main strongholds have now been occupied by Demon Cultivators."

"In other words, the main force of Demon Cultivators from Yuan North arrived in Yuan South long ago. They are currently occupying the strongholds of those two sects!"

By the time Zhang Chi arrived, all the other available Golden Core Cultivators were already present. The Sect Leader wore a grave expression and, without wasting any words, directly announced the two major pieces of news.

Of course, while the first announcement was significant and greatly impacted the Cangwu Sect, it paled in comparison to the second.

BOOM!

As the Sect Leader’s voice fell, the hall immediately broke into an uproar. Even though everyone present was a Golden Core Powerhouse, they found it hard to remain calm.

Thankfully, they had all had bad premonitions and were somewhat mentally prepared. Otherwise, upon suddenly hearing this news, they would have surely thought the Sect Leader was joking.

Many of the cultivators had originally thought the Cangwu Sect was extremely unlucky to have been ambushed. Only now did they realize how fortunate they had actually been.

Zhang Chi, on the other hand, had already received the news and thus appeared relatively calm.

Furthermore, because he had protected White Cloud Marketplace, his losses from the Celestial Corpse Sect’s attack were also relatively small.

However, the Sect Leader and the other higher-ups, unaware of the truth, saw Zhang Chi’s unflappable demeanor and couldn’t help but nod, their appreciation for him growing.

After everyone had calmed down a bit, the Sect Leader continued to share the details.

Only then did the Golden Core Cultivators learn that nearly all the elite cultivators from Yuan North, aside from those from the True Demon Sect, had come over.

This included thirteen Nascent Soul Powerhouses.

Aside from the Celestial Corpse Sect, all of them had split their forces into two groups for the operation. It was no wonder the Golden Sun Sect and the Pill King Sect couldn’t withstand the attack.

Furthermore, on the eve of this major upheaval, all the major sects in Yuan South, including the Cangwu Sect, Golden Sun Sect, and Pill King Sect, had actually received a transmitted warning from Celestial Star True Monarch and the Cyan Cloud Sect’s Supreme Elder.

Unfortunately, the warning wasn’t specific enough, so it failed to change the overall situation. Except for the Cangwu Sect, the other two sects suffered miserably.

The Cangwu Sect suffered only minor losses because it had received a clear warning from a mysterious individual.

As for the Golden Sun Sect and Pill King Sect headquarters, almost not a single Low Tier Cultivator managed to escape.

They were either killed or captured.

However, many cultivators who were not at their sect headquarters were rather lucky; a large number of them escaped the calamity.

In addition, a good number of the two sects’ Golden Core Cultivators successfully escaped, and not a single Nascent Soul Powerhouse had fallen.

However, the Pill King Sect’s Supreme Elder, while still alive, had been severely injured.

This meant that not only did Yuan South now have fewer Nascent Soul cultivators than Yuan North, but its overall combat power was also at a complete disadvantage.

As for Golden Core Cultivators, Yuan South did hold a large numerical advantage.

But because many Golden Core Cultivators were guarding the Demon Abyss and the others were relatively scattered, this advantage was not significant. In fact, if another battle broke out, Yuan South could even be at a disadvantage.

After all, the territories of the various Immortal Sects were too large and their forces too dispersed. The cultivators from Yuan North, however, were more concentrated and seemed more united at present.

The immense crisis now facing the Cangwu Sect was that it would very likely become the next target of conquest.

The Sect Leader had summoned everyone this time to announce the situation and ask for their opinions.

However, after listening to the Sect Leader’s analysis, the Golden Core Cultivators all fell silent.

After a good while, someone finally spoke, but an argument quickly broke out.

Some suggested war, some suggested seeking peace terms, some suggested fleeing, and still others advised holding their position and seeking reinforcements.

Zhang Chi, however, said nothing. Annoyed by the bickering, he soon found an excuse to leave.

He knew this wasn’t a matter for Golden Core Cultivators like them to decide. It ultimately depended on the wishes of the Nascent Soul Elder Monsters.

’I had planned to cultivate peacefully until I reached the Nascent Soul Stage, but now it looks like I might have to leave ahead of schedule.’

’Also, that Teleportation Array is now in the Demon Sects’ territory. I can only hope their cultivators don’t discover it.’

Returning to his cave residence, Zhang Chi sighed softly, filled with a sense of crisis.

He had wanted to just lie low and cultivate, but he never expected the Cangwu Sect to be thrust from the rear onto the front lines in the blink of an eye.

His only comfort was that, as a cultivator with a Top Grade Golden Core, he would certainly not be treated as cannon fodder.

Furthermore, that Xiao Yunhong had also come over. Perhaps he could get some Top Grade Spirit Stones through him.

As the Young Master of the Profound Yin Sect, Xiao Yunhong’s status in his sect was far higher than Lan Xuan’s; his father was a Nascent Soul Powerhouse. If Xiao Yunhong were to help, he had a high chance of obtaining Top Grade Spirit Stones.

In that case, he wouldn’t have to worry so much.

’Once things settle down here, I’ll go find Xiao Yunhong and ask. In any case, that fellow is only at the Foundation Establishment Peak; he shouldn’t be a threat to me.’

’Besides, I can use the Nine Flames Spirit Devouring Technique to disguise myself as a Demonic Cultivator. As long as I’m careful, I won’t be exposed even if I go over to the Demon Sects’ territory.’

Zhang Chi pondered for a moment and quickly formulated his next plan.

He then sent a message summoning Qin Susu, He Yan, He Shi, and Zhao Yi.

When the four of them saw Zhang Chi, everyone was extremely respectful, except for Qin Susu, who acted relatively natural.

Zhao Yi in particular was exceedingly deferential.

After all these years, he was still in the Qi Refining Stage. Although he had reached the Qi Cultivation Tenth Layer with the help of the other three, he was still a long way from cultivating to the point where he could attempt to break through to Foundation Establishment.

Since he was over sixty, he would likely fail the breakthrough attempt. Once he failed, all hope would be lost for the rest of his life.

But Zhang Chi was now a Golden Core cultivator, an exalted figure on the level of a sect ancestor.

"This time, the Demon Sects..."

Zhang Chi didn’t waste any words and directly told them the news he had just received about the Golden Sun Sect and the Pill King Sect.

This news wasn’t exactly a secret, but the four of them, with their low status and cultivation, would normally have found out much later.

Now, he was informing them ahead of time.

"What? The Golden Sun Sect has fallen?"

"Doesn’t that mean Guanhai Mountain is in danger?"

Upon hearing this, the faces of Qin Susu and the other three instantly fell.

Their group of five had separated long ago, but they had not lost touch, corresponding by letter over the years. With the Golden Sun Sect in peril, the four of them were naturally worried about Guanhai Mountain.