Cultivation: Immunity to Negative Effects

Zhang Chi felt an endless, inexhaustible power surging within him, as if a single punch could shatter the heavens.

His physical defense and speed had also increased tremendously, and even his senses, like sight and hearing, were significantly sharper.

His perception of the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi also seemed more acute.

Zhang Chi even suspected his Lifespan might have increased.

"Excellent! I’ve finally broken through to Tier Three. Now, I can take on a Golden Core Cultivator with my physical strength alone."

Zhang Chi was overjoyed.

He had been able to fight Golden Core Cultivators before, but only by using every trick up his sleeve. Besides, the Tier Three strange bird and Demon Cultivator he’d killed were merely at the Fake Core Level.

But now, things were completely different.

However, he had no time to investigate just how much his Combat Power and Lifespan had increased.

After all, while the commotion from his Body Refining Realm breakthrough couldn’t compare to that of Core Formation, it was still significant.

Already, many Cultivators were flying in his direction.

Thus, the moment he completed his breakthrough, he dismantled the Array, vanished like a bolt of lightning, and suppressed his aura as he headed straight back to the Floating Airship.

For some time afterward, countless Cultivators around Luoxia Immortal City spent their days searching for the Exotic Treasure and fortuitous encounter, but they all came up empty-handed.

The two strange phenomena appearing in a single day thus became one of the great unsolved mysteries in the history of Luoxia City.

Meanwhile, Zhang Chi, the one who had caused this uproar, was cultivating peacefully on the Flying Boat. He and the others soon arrived safely at the Cangwu Sect, and he went to pay his respects to Master Jian that very day.

Master Jian looked the same as she had years ago, but deep in her eyes, one could see a hint of hard-to-detect pessimism, even despair.

"Good, it’s good that you’ve all returned alive. Especially you, Zhang Chi. You haven’t been back for over thirty years. When you left, you were still in the Foundation Establishment Early Stage, but now you’ve returned in the Late Stage."

"At this rate, you’ll definitely reach the Golden Core Realm before you’re two hundred. It’s just a pity... I’m afraid I won’t live to see that day."

Seeing her disciples, Master Jian couldn’t help but feel overjoyed. Her gaze on Zhang Chi, however, was filled with both pride and sorrow.

"Don’t say that, Master! We’ve already heard that many Cultivators will be attending Yu Wan’s Core Formation celebration at the Cyan Cloud Sect. There’s sure to be a trade fair for Golden Core Cultivators. If we attend, we might be able to buy a Tier Three Life Extension Pill for you!" Li Ruohai said at once.

"That’s right! A single Tier Three Life Extension Pill can add eighty years to your life. With the thirty years you have left, Master, not only will you get to see Little Junior Brother achieve Core Formation, you might even be able to defy fate and reach the Nascent Soul Realm!" Shangguan Hui chimed in.

"And even if there aren’t any at the celebration, we’ll find a way to petition the Sect for a Tier Three Life Extension Pill!"

"Exactly. We’ll all reach the Golden Core Realm in the future. With two Golden Cores and three future Golden Cores making a request, the Sect is bound to take us seriously!"

Zhong Yu and Yan Tengfei also chimed in.

"Heh, easier said than done. Even the Sect has an extremely small stock of Tier Three Life Extension Pills, and they’re all in the hands of the Supreme Elders. Besides, I’m part of the Neutral Sect; I’ll never be granted one. The trade fair, however... that is indeed worth a try."

"Besides, this Core Formation celebration at the Cyan Cloud Sect isn’t just to congratulate that girl, Yu Wan. The higher-ups of the major Immortal Sects are also using it as an opportunity to meet and discuss the situation in the Demon Abyss. If the Demon Tides continue to erupt, the northern regions will be the first to fall, and it will inevitably affect us over here!"

Master Jian smiled. She knew that obtaining a Tier Three Life Extension Pill was incredibly difficult, regardless of the method. It required both luck and strength.

But she couldn’t bring herself to refuse her disciples’ kind intentions, and she, too, held on to a sliver of hope.

"So that’s what this is about? In that case, we have even more reason to go!"

"Exactly! If that’s the case, there will be even more High Tier Cultivators, and there’s bound to be a large-scale trade fair!"

Li Ruohai and the others were surprised. So there was an inside story to all this.

No wonder Yu Wan’s Core Formation celebration hadn’t been officially held, even after several months.

This new information, however, only made them more excited and hopeful.

"Little Junior Brother, why are you so quiet? Don’t you want to go?" Shangguan Hui asked, noticing Zhang Chi hadn’t said a word.

"That’s right," Zhang Chi said with a nod. "I fully support your plan, but I won’t be going. I wouldn’t be much help anyway, so I’d rather use the time to focus on my Cultivation."

His appearance and physique had changed dramatically from the body’s original owner.

Even if he came face-to-face with Yu Wan, she probably wouldn’t recognize him.

But he didn’t want to go. ’For one thing, she isn’t worthy of my time. For another, it’s a waste of time I could be spending on my Cultivation. And then there’s the fact that Yu Wan’s master is a Nascent Soul Powerhouse. If we were to meet, they might see through to my true Cultivation level or, worse, discover that I practice a Demon Technique.’

"Alright, then."

Li Ruohai and the others thought Zhang Chi’s reasoning made sense, but they still felt a little disappointed.

It seemed to them that Zhang Chi wasn’t particularly concerned about obtaining the Lifespan Extension Pill.

But considering Zhang Chi’s past behavior had always been impeccable, they figured they were probably just overthinking it.

"Zhang Chi is right. Cultivation is the proper path. By the way, this is a Demon Companion Flower. I exchanged for it from the Sect ahead of time. You should take it."

At this, Master Jian nodded slightly, then took out a Core Formation Spiritual Object and gave it to Zhang Chi.

According to Cangwu Sect regulations, a typical Foundation Establishment True Inheritor could receive two types of Core Formation Spiritual Objects. One type was issued directly by the Sect, while the other could be acquired from the Sect by the True Disciple’s master, using their Contribution Points and privileges.

Normally, however, this was something she could only request from the Sect on Zhang Chi’s behalf when he was on the verge of Solidifying his Pill.

However, her Lifespan was limited. By the time Zhang Chi was ready, she would most likely be dead, and he would probably lose his claim to this Core Formation Spiritual Object.

Furthermore, as her remaining Lifespan dwindled, some of the Sect’s higher-ups might use it as an excuse to deliberately stall the process.

That was why she had gone ahead and exchanged it for him in advance.

It wasn’t just Zhang Chi. Zhong Yu and Yan Tengfei had already received the Core Formation Spiritual Objects she had acquired for them early.

However, Zhong Yu and Yan Tengfei had both returned to the sect before and received their Spiritual Objects long ago. Only Zhang Chi’s portion had been left waiting until now.

"Thank you, Master!"

Zhang Chi was taken aback for a moment before thanking her and accepting the item.

He didn’t lack such items, but he certainly wouldn’t refuse another.

After all, his Spirit Beasts required Dust Condensing Pills for their breakthroughs.

He currently had four stalks of Profound Light Grass and four Element Condensing Fruits, but only three Demon Companion Flowers. This new one arrived at the perfect time; he would need it within the next two years.

"I had originally planned to get you an additional Core Formation Spiritual Object, something more valuable and harder to find, like Blue Crystal Grass," Master Jian continued. "But some of the Sect’s higher-ups said an early exchange was against the rules. They didn’t even want to approve the Demon Companion Flower. In the end, it was all I could get for you."

"Those higher-ups are going too far!"

"It’s obvious they’re just being selfish!"

Li Ruohai and the others were indignant.

"I’m not telling you this to make you resent the Sect," Master Jian said, shaking her head earnestly. "I’m telling you this because the Great Dao is a struggle. You must make yourselves stronger. Only then can you secure more resources."

"We will remember, Master!"

the disciples replied in unison.

After that, the group chatted for a while longer before dispersing, but Zhang Chi remained behind.

"Is there something else?" Master Jian asked, confused.

"For the next two years, this disciple wishes to continue listening to Master’s teachings during the day... and also freeload in your Cultivation Quiet Chamber, if I may," Zhang Chi said with a slight bow.