Who Let Him Cultivate?! (WX)

Even if the next life-bearing star were only a single light-year away, it would take Lu Yang several years to fly there.

“Immortal Fairy, do you have any way to make me fly faster?” It was far too late to learn a flying technique now, but Lu Yang decided to treat a dead horse as if it were alive and try his luck anyway, seeking guidance from an immortal.

“Of course!”

Lu Yang’s face lit up. I’ve asked the right person. So there really is a way.

“Just self-detonate. Blow up your entire body, leaving only your head. The shockwave from the explosion will send your head hurtling far, far away with a whoosh. After that, your head will regrow your body. Then repeat the process, self-detonating and regenerating over and over again.

“Just go ahead and use this method. I guarantee you’ll fly even faster than the Heaven Mandate Immortal and the others!”

Lu Yang didn't know how to respond to that. He decided he wasn’t in that much of a hurry after all.

He sighed inwardly. Had I known, I would have followed Big Senior Sister and Sister Mengmeng. Earlier, I was relieved to do whatever I wanted without Big Senior Sister keeping me in check, but evidently I had celebrated too soon.

“By the way, Founding Ancestor Vast Sea possesses the Space Incipient Dao Fruit. He might have a solution.”

Lu Yang prepared to retrace his path. However, going back the same way was still a major problem. It had taken him over ten days to fly from the cultivation world to this godforsaken place that didn’t even have bird droppings. Flying back would take just as long and would waste too much time.

“I’ve got it!” A flash of inspiration struck Lu Yang.

“Origin Tracing!” He activated his Origin-Tracing Incipient Dao Fruit, tracing his current location back to his original location.

The Everlasting Immortal Fairy sensed the Origin-Tracing Incipient Dao Fruit attempting to affect her. She pondered for a moment, then chose not to resist, letting the Origin-Tracing Incipient Dao Fruit’s influence take hold.

The scenery shifted. In the next moment, Lu Yang and the Everlasting Immortal Fairy appeared where they had been one day ago.

“Not a bad idea,” the Everlasting Immortal Fairy remarked. She was brought back together with him.

“It actually works.” Lu Yang was delighted. This makes returning far more convenient. Although I can only use Origin Tracing to return to where I was one day prior, that’s not an issue. I can just use the Incipient Dao Fruit a few more times.

“Origin Tracing.

“Origin Tracing.”

Lu Yang successfully returned to the cultivation world.

“Let’s go find Founding Ancestor Vast Sea.” He headed straight for the Dao-Seeking Sect.

~~~

At the rear of Heaven’s Gate Peak, Qing He poured out her grievances to the Moonchaser True Person. “The Mistress has definitely been abducted. When they went to the cosmos, not a single person remembered to call me.”

I have never left the sect, and the one time I did, I was only gone for a few days. Yet I happened to miss Lu Yang emerging from seclusion and taking the Mistress straight to the imperial city for the seal removal.

The Moonchaser True Person kindly comforted her, using her Seven Emotions Incipient Dao Fruit to ease her sorrow. “Don’t worry. I’m sure they were simply delayed. Just as Primordial and the others wouldn’t forget me, they certainly wouldn’t forget you. As long as you wait here in the Dao-Seeking Sect, they’re bound to come looking for you eventually.”

~~~

Halfway through his flight, Lu Yang changed course, deciding that the Vast Sea Daoist Lord was more likely to be in the Dragon Palace.

"Old Dragon Emperor.” With his connections, Lu Yang didn’t need the puny shrimp soldiers and crab generals announcing his arrival. He could go straight to the Old Dragon Emperor.

“Fellow Daoist Lu Yang, why are you back so fast? Have you caught more seafolk breaking the rules?” The Old Dragon was startled, fearing his fellow seafolk had caused trouble again.

“No, that’s not it. I just want to ask if Founding Ancestor Vast Sea is here.”

The Old Dragon Emperor pointed overhead. “Senior Vast Sea and Old Ancestor Ao Ya should be on the island above the Dragon Palace right now.”

Lu Yang hesitated. “Would it be convenient for me to see them now?”

“They probably shouldn’t be engaging in indecent activities out in the open... right?” The Old Dragon Emperor didn’t sound entirely confident.

Lu Yang also thought that was unlikely. He said goodbye to the Old Dragon Emperor and flew to the island, where he found the two seniors sitting on the grass and fervently discussing their future. The Vast Sea Daoist Lord had one arm around Ao Ya as he pointed at the sky.

“Little Ya, I plan to hold our wedding in the cosmos. Let all the stars in the sky bear witness to our wedding. Stars are eternal and unchanging, just like how my love for you will never change.”

“Oh, stop. What are you saying?” Ao Ya’s cheeks flushed crimson, and she dared not meet the Vast Sea Daoist Lord’s gaze.

Lu Yang pretended not to see them. He looked around and called out loudly, “Founding Ancestor, are you here?!”

The two quickly scrambled to their feet.

“Founding Ancestor, so this is where you are. Greetings, Senior Ao Ya.”

The Vast Sea Daoist Lord cleared his throat. “Ahem, aren’t you supposed to be exploring the outer world? Why are you back?”

Lu Yang explained the problem he was facing, and the Vast Sea Daoist Lord understood his predicament. “So the universe is so vast that even traveling around is a chore?”

“Founding Ancestor, you excel in the Dao of Space. Could you teleport me directly dozens or hundreds of light-years away?”

“I can’t do that. I can only teleport you to places I’ve been to, but I haven’t ventured to the world outside yet, much less places hundreds of light-years away.”

“Alright then.” Lu Yang was somewhat disappointed.

“But you can try looking for the Thief Ancestor at the Luodi Merchant Guild. He possesses the Speed Incipient Dao Fruit. He might have a way.”

Lu Yang slapped his forehead. I’ve been so focused on finding Founding Ancestor Vast Sea that I’d completely forgotten about the Thief King and the Thief Ancestor, two half-immortals renowned for their speed.

“Goodbye, Founding Ancestor. I wish you both a happy marriage!” Lu Yang bolted immediately, causing the Vast Sea Daoist Lord to roar after him.

“You little rascal, you did hear everything!”

After Lu Yang left, the Vast Sea Daoist Lord wrapped his arms around Ao Ya, lost in thought.

“What’s wrong? What are you thinking about?” Ao Ya asked.

“I’m just thinking that if even Lu Yang finds traveling such a chore, wouldn’t it be even more troublesome for weaker cultivators like those at the Fusion and Transcendent Tribulation Stages? Perhaps I should venture outside the world and set up a few spatial teleportation points to save them a few days of travel. But if even you find traveling a hassle, I believe those Fusion and Transcendent Tribulation cultivators must have an even tougher time.”

Ao Ya herself was at the Transcendent Tribulation Stage. She playfully tackled the Vast Sea Daoist Lord to the ground with a pout. “I’ll show you today that Transcendent Tribulation cultivators are stronger than half-immortals!”

~~~

Lu Yang arrived at the Luodi Merchant Guild headquarters in the imperial city. The place was far livelier than before. Everywhere he looked, Fusion and Transcendent Tribulation cultivators were trading intelligence and discussing their explorations over the past few days. The White Horse Dynasty was brought up most often.

“The outer world has no spirit energy, and the White Horse Dynasty doesn’t even have cultivators. Doesn’t that mean the world outside isn’t as powerful as we’d imagined?”

“It’s still better to err on the side of caution.”

“Look, this is the Star Observation Diagram from the White Horse Dynasty’s Imperial Astronomy Bureau. I think if we head this way, we might encounter life-bearing stars.”

“The direction you’re pointing has barely any stars. I think we should go this way instead; there are more stars here.”

“Stop arguing. I had people from the Heavenly Strategy Sect do a divination. They said that there’s a high probability of encountering life-bearing stars in this direction.”

This place had evidently become a temporary trading hub. Some recognized Lu Yang and chatted about this legendary cultivator with their spiritual consciousness, their eyes filled with envy.

“Little Lu, over here, over here!” Lu Yang heard someone calling him.

He looked over and saw it was the Primordial Heavenly Sovereign, followed by three people who appeared to be on good terms with him.

“Founding Ancestor Primordial, what are you doing here? And who might these three seniors be?”

The Primordial Heavenly Sovereign laughed heartily. “We’re planning to wander the outer world together. Before setting out, we came to the merchant guild headquarters to see if there’s any useful intelligence.

“You should have heard of these three before, Little Lu. This is Tiankui of the Five-Elements Sect; he is Zhengde[1] of the Hanging Monastery; and that’s Sanchi[2] of the Prison Suppression Sect.”

Lu Yang felt deep veneration for them. Teacher Tiankui, Master Zhengde, and Heavenly Sovereign Sanchi are all founders of immortal sects! (He had heard from Meng Jingzhou that they were still alive, but this was his first time meeting them.)[3]

Master Zhengde fingered his Buddhist prayer beads and remarked in admiration, “Primordial, you’re truly blessed. Your sect first produced Vast Sea, then Yun Zhi, and now you have Lu Yang as well.” That’s incredible luck. No amount of envy can get you that.

Lu Yang counted the number of people present and felt the urge to remind them. There are five founders of the immortal sects. Isn’t someone missing?

1. “Zhengde” somewhat translates to “proper virtue.” ☜

2. “Sanchi” is literally three chi. ☜

3. The author makes a note correcting this in the next chapter. ☜