Cultivation: Immunity to Negative Effects

SWOOSH, SWOOSH...

At the same time, the powerful Divine Thoughts of numerous Golden Core Masters swept over the two of them.

Chen Ling’Er’s Divine Soul was not strong enough to feel the Golden Core Divine Thoughts, but Zhang Chi could perceive them with extreme clarity.

Furthermore, both of them instantly felt as if all their innermost secrets had been laid bare.

Of course, this was just an illusion.

After all, both wore Magic Robes that could block prying eyes and Divine Thought. Otherwise, Low Tier Cultivators would have no privacy at all.

Right now, the Golden Core Masters were merely probing the Spiritual Power fluctuations on their bodies, while also testing their mental fortitude.

Fortunately, neither of them was ordinary. One was a battle-hardened veteran, the other possessed a powerful Divine Thought, and they quickly composed themselves.

Zhang Chi, in particular, was calm and composed, yet showed no hint of arrogance, maintaining the proper respect due to a Golden Core Master.

Chen Ling’Er, on the other hand, was struggling a bit to keep her composure.

In truth, however, Zhang Chi was also a little nervous, and he couldn’t help but feel a bit fortunate.

’Thank goodness I raised my actual cultivation to the Foundation Establishment Late Stage and cultivated the White Bone Divine Forging Technique to Perfection before revealing my cultivation.’

After three months of dedicated, arduous cultivation on the ship, he had long since elevated his Divine Thought to a level comparable to that of a Golden Core Peak.

Additionally, his Divine Concealment Technique had also reached Perfection long ago.

’Otherwise, being stared down by these Golden Core Masters like this, I would have definitely exposed a flaw. Then my fate would truly have been uncertain.’

"Not bad. Especially this Zhang Chi. Truly worthy of being first in the mental fortitude trial thirteen years ago—a once-in-a-century genius. So, this old man will take him as a disciple. None of you are to fight me for him!" At this moment, a Golden Core Master nodded in satisfaction and was the first to speak.

This Golden Core Master was a middle-aged dwarf. It was unclear whether it was a congenital defect, the result of a special Cultivation Technique, or due to some other reason.

After all, Cultivators were normally handsome or beautiful; such conditions were rare.

But this dwarf possessed a Golden Core Middle Stage cultivation, so no one dared to look down on him because of his appearance.

At this moment, the dwarf wore a beaming smile, appearing very amiable and genuinely appreciative of Zhang Chi.

But upon seeing this, Zhang Chi couldn’t help but feel a surge of anger.

Because this man was one of the Golden Core Masters from the Song Family, the same family as Song Youdao. On his way here, he had already researched the Sect’s Golden Core Masters, paying special attention to the members of the Song Family.

As a result, he recognized the man at a single glance.

The man’s desire to take him as a disciple now was clearly born of ill intent.

’If I become his disciple, he’ll have me completely at his mercy. It’ll be a question of whether I can even keep my life.’

Thus, Zhang Chi was about to refuse immediately.

He had already made up his mind: if he couldn’t refuse, he would find a chance to leave the Sect and seek refuge with another power. At worst, he would head to Yuan Bei.

’In any case, with my current skills and cultivation, plus the help of the Jade Pendant, I won’t have to worry about finding a major power to take me in.’

Besides, even if the other party wanted to immediately establish a master-disciple relationship, or even force him to sign a Spirit Contract, they wouldn’t be able to control him.

"Junior Brother Song, don’t joke around. You already have plenty of disciples, how could you have the energy to teach another? Many of our other junior brothers and sisters don’t even have a single disciple yet!"

But just then, the Sect Leader immediately spoke up, stopping the Golden Core Dwarf.

In the past, the matter had been unclear, and Zhang Chi hadn’t been deemed worthy of a serious investigation.

But when the news came that Zhang Chi had reached Foundation Establishment before the age of thirty, they had immediately summoned Patriarch Xie for questioning and had long since learned the truth. Thus, they were naturally on guard against the Song Family.

In fact, this Golden Core Dwarf was not among the Golden Core Masters the Sect Leader had invited today. He had come uninvited, clearly intending to use this opportunity to deal with Zhang Chi.

"Zhang Chi, are you willing to become my disciple?"

The Golden Core Dwarf was extremely dissatisfied but could only shut his mouth. But in the next moment, the Sect Leader actually extended an invitation to Zhang Chi himself.

"This..."

The crowd of Golden Core Masters looked astonished, but for a moment, no one voiced any objection.

After all, he was the Sect Leader.

So, they all turned their gazes to Zhang Chi.

"This disciple would have been willing, but I have already promised Senior Sister Zhong Yu that I would become her junior brother. Unless Senior Sister’s master, Elder Jian, is unwilling to accept disciples."

But Zhang Chi just gave an apologetic smile and tactfully refused.

According to his research, the number of Golden Core Masters in the Sect was considerable, numbering in the hundreds.

These Golden Core Masters were mainly divided into three major factions.

One faction was composed of cultivators from families.

Another faction consisted of the remaining Golden Core Masters, led by the Sect Leader.

These Golden Core Masters didn’t have powerful family backing. They were united by relationships like master-disciple and fellow disciples, relying on the Sect as their greatest support. As such, they prioritized the Sect’s interests above all else.

The two major factions often clashed, a trend that had become increasingly obvious in recent years.

Moreover, the family-aligned Golden Core faction currently held the upper hand.

Therefore, Zhang Chi naturally wanted no part in this pointless struggle.

He disliked the family-aligned cultivators because the Song Family and Xie Family had bullied him in the past.

But he didn’t have a favorable impression of the Sect faction either.

After all, back when he needed help the most, the Sect faction hadn’t offered him any.

Therefore, he could only choose the third faction: the neutral one.

This faction had very few Golden Core Masters, only about a tenth of the total. They were all loners, reclusive cultivators who disliked conflict.

Zhong Yu’s master, for example, was one of them.

Although she had taken Zhong Yu as a disciple, she did not get involved in the struggles between the Zhong Family, other families, or even the Sect faction.

Most crucially, Zhong Yu’s master, Elder Jian, was a Golden Core Peak Cultivator. Though her lifespan was running short, the time she had left was more than enough for Zhang Chi to reach the Golden Core realm.

Besides, with the Sect Leader asking him like this, this was the only way he could refuse without truly offending him.

Of course, there were other Elders in the neutral faction that Zhang Chi could have chosen. But he obviously had no special connection with them, and their cultivation and character were not on par with Elder Jian’s. Thus, he could only choose Elder Jian.

After speaking, Zhang Chi immediately looked at Elder Jian with anticipation. The other Golden Core Masters also turned to look.

Including the Sect Leader, who did the same despite his embarrassment.

He couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed, even a little dissatisfied, with Zhang Chi.

"You little rascal, you’re quite clever. Are you trying to avoid getting involved in the Sect’s internal conflicts?"

"But you should think this through. By taking this old woman as your master, you will remain aloof and neutral, but the benefits you receive will be comparatively fewer. And this old woman only has sixty years of lifespan left. The time I can protect you, therefore, will not exceed sixty years at most."

"So, are you sure?"

Elder Jian was a Golden Core Female Cultivator of stunning beauty. Even her voice was like that of a young girl, but her hair was snow-white, and her eyes were filled with the vicissitudes of time.

Perhaps because of her personality, or perhaps because her cultivation was high enough and her lifespan was nearing its end, she spoke very directly.

Hearing this, the Sect Leader and the others nearby felt their cheeks burn hot. They coughed lightly, a clear sign of their extreme embarrassment.

"This disciple is absolutely certain. And sixty years is more than enough time for this disciple to grow strong!"

Zhang Chi responded solemnly.

Since she was being so candid and had explicitly said she would protect him, he naturally had no reason to hesitate.

Besides, hesitating now would only offend more Golden Core Masters.