Chapter 194: The Method to Elevate a Spiritual Root to Saint Grade
"Senior, would it be possible to let that fellow Gu Feng come along too?"
Though the distance separating them now far exceeded what it had been on the Tiansheng Continent, the bond they had forged over so many years there hadn't faded — Ye Wushuang hadn't forgotten this old friend.
"Sure."
Lu Xunxian didn't refuse. After all, his daughter was still at the Ancient Wood Sect, so it was a favor he could extend to Gu Feng without any extra effort.
Hearing this, Ye Wushuang breathed a sigh of relief.
"In that case, I'll take my leave for now."
There was still some time before the Azure Heaven Secret Realm opened, so Ye Wushuang didn't linger to disturb Lu Xunxian further.
After departing, Ye Wushuang pulled out his Sound-Transmission Jade Talisman and contacted Gu Feng.
Meanwhile, within the Ancient Wood Sect.
Since Gu Feng also possessed the Myriad Wood Saint Body, after Gu Qingyuan had mastered the Evergreen Myriad Wood Scripture, he passed it on to Gu Feng and several other sect disciples who also bore the same physique.
Gu Feng was at a critical juncture in comprehending the Evergreen Myriad Wood Scripture when Ye Wushuang's message cut in, a flash of anger crossing his brow.
"You'd better give me a good explanation for this, or I don't mind going to the Primordial Sect to beat you up myself."
"Ahem, good news, Old Gu! You know Senior Lu, right? Well, Senior Lu has moved into our Primordial Sect."
Ye Wushuang's voice came through the Sound-Transmission Jade Talisman. Though Gu Feng couldn't see him, the smugness in his tone made his excitement unmistakable.
Gu Feng immediately lost his composure. "What? Senior Lu is staying at your Primordial Sect?"
"That's right, and that's not all — there's another piece of good news."
"You know about the Azure Heaven Secret Realm, right?"
"The Azure Heaven Secret Realm? Of course I know it. What about it?" Gu Feng's face turned thoughtful, and then, as if something clicked, his voice grew excited.
"Don't tell me...?"
"That's right. Senior Lu plans to take me, the Holy Son, and the Holy Maiden to the Azure Heaven Secret Realm."
"Originally, Senior Lu wasn't planning to bring you along, but after I begged him several times on your behalf, he reluctantly agreed to bring you too."
"How about it? Thank yours truly for my magnanimous generosity. If it weren't for yours truly, you'd never get into the Azure Heaven Secret Realm in your entire life."
On the other end of the Sound-Transmission Jade Talisman, Ye Wushuang declared with undisguised pride.
But Gu Feng saw through it instantly and said irritably, "You're making things up again."
"The Holy Maiden is at our Ancient Wood Sect, and I've been taking good care of her. Senior Lu was probably just bringing me along as a natural add-on. What begging are you talking about?"
"You're no fun at all. Fine, you must be busy, so I won't bother you any longer. Just remember to get ready — in two months, we're heading to the Azure Heaven Secret Realm with Senior Lu. That's all for now."
With that, without giving Gu Feng a chance to respond, Ye Wushuang cut the communication.
After putting away his Sound-Transmission Jade Talisman, Gu Feng could barely contain his excitement.
It was the Azure Heaven Secret Realm! Legend had it that anyone who emerged from the Azure Heaven Secret Realm alive would achieve no less than the Immortal Monarch Realm at the very minimum.
"Calm down. I should go tell the Holy Maiden about this first and discuss it with Her Highness."
Gu Feng steadied himself, then set off for Holy Maiden Peak.
Before long, Gu Feng arrived at the foot of Holy Maiden Peak, only to be stopped by two Saint King handmaidens.
"Halt. Holy Maiden Peak lies ahead. No unauthorized personnel allowed."
Gu Feng's brow furrowed. He was about to say something when Lu Qingyun's voice carried over.
"He isn't unauthorized. Let him in."
"Yes, Holy Maiden."
Both Saint Kings had been assigned by Gu Qingyuan to protect Holy Maiden Peak, so Lu Qingyun's commands naturally took priority.
With permission granted, Gu Feng was finally able to enter Holy Maiden Peak.
Reaching the summit, an incomparably lavish cultivation hall came into view.
Pushing open its doors, he found Lu Qingyun seated cross-legged at the hall's center, her eyes shut, a faint air of detachment emanating from her.
"Greetings, Holy Maiden."
Gu Feng hurried forward, but Lu Qingyun waved him off.
"Holy Lord, you don't need to say all that. Just call me Qingyun."
But Gu Feng remained adamant about addressing Lu Qingyun as Holy Maiden.
Seeing his insistence, Lu Qingyun had no choice but to let it go.
"What brings the Holy Lord here today?"
At the mention of business, Gu Feng's expression turned serious.
He held nothing back, relaying how Lu Xunxian had taken up residence at the Primordial Sect, and how in two months they would be heading to the Azure Heaven Secret Realm together.
"I see. Understood."
Lu Qingyun nodded lightly, then continued. "If the Holy Lord doesn't mind, let's assemble at my Holy Maiden Peak in two months, and then head to the Azure Heaven Secret Realm together."
"Sounds good. Thank you, Holy Maiden."
Gu Feng agreed, then left without further delay to continue his comprehension of the Evergreen Myriad Wood Scripture.
After Gu Feng's departure, Lu Qingyun gazed in the direction of the Primordial Sect and murmured, "Did Father go to Brother's side first because Brother performed better...?"
"No, I have to work even harder!"
Lu Qingyun steeled herself inwardly, then threw herself into her cultivation with renewed intensity.
However, her realm was stuck at the Mid Immortal Stage for the time being, unable to break through to the Late Immortal Stage.
On the other side, within the Primordial Sect.
As if by some unspoken connection, Lu Xunxian also gazed toward the Ancient Wood Sect.
Despite the vast distance, Lu Qingyun's dejected expression was perfectly clear to him.
"It seems I need to find a way to improve my daughter's and son's aptitude."
Lu Xunxian mused silently.
Immortal-Grade Spiritual Roots were still holding them back.
With that thought, Lu Xunxian closed his eyes and searched within the Dao Emperor inheritance for a method to elevate Spiritual Roots.
Before long, he found one.
However, there was only a method for elevating them to Saint Grade. It seemed that Divine-Grade Spiritual Roots represented a bottleneck that couldn't be overcome through supplementary means.
"Oh well, Saint Grade it is."
"But it'll have to wait until after we return from the Azure Heaven Secret Realm."
Lu Xunxian thought to himself. The main issue was that elevating an Immortal-Grade Spiritual Root to a Saint-Grade Spiritual Root required an extremely long period of time.
Better to wait until after the Azure Heaven Secret Realm, then.
The Azure Heaven Secret Realm would open in two months, remain active for a full hundred years, and then close.
After some deliberation, Lu Xunxian closed his eyes again, extended his senses, and spoke.
"The Azure Heaven Secret Realm opens in two months. If you want to go, let me know."
At the same moment, Chen Wangu and Xu Ruoshan, who were traveling across the Immortal Realm, both stopped in their tracks as Lu Xunxian's voice echoed through their minds.
Shock filled their faces. Neither had expected Lu Xunxian to be so powerful that he could transmit his voice directly to them across such an immense distance.
Once the shock subsided, Xu Ruoshan was the first to recover, accepting without a second word.
If it were an ordinary secret realm, Lu Xunxian probably wouldn't have bothered contacting them personally.
The Azure Heaven Secret Realm must be something truly extraordinary, and if so, it was well worth the trip.
As for Chen Wangu, after some deliberation, he didn't refuse either and nodded in agreement.
Most importantly, he too wanted to grow stronger quickly. Since he had already accepted an Immortal Venerable inheritance, adding the Azure Heaven Secret Realm on top of that couldn't hurt.