Chapter 189: 131. Breaking the Fourth Level of the Immortal Foundation, Returning to the Mortal World (4K Chapter)
As Xu Xing pondered, a stroke of inspiration hit him. He sat cross-legged on a Cushion and casually set up a basic spirit gathering array.
Instantly, the Spiritual Energy within the Cultivation Room was completely absorbed by him. The Spirit Shells piled at the array’s formation anchors began to be consumed at a frantic pace; in mere moments, three to four thousand Spirit Shells turned into white powder. Simultaneously, the Cloud Mist Magic Power, flickering with nine kinds of radiance, began to slowly transform into a green and red Mysterious Light. This green and red Mysterious Light was as scorching as the Great Sun, illuminating the entire inner room.
Spread Mist, Birth Profound... I’ve finally stepped into the Immortal Foundation Middle Stage.
Two years slower than Fate Deduction predicted.
Magic Power circulated at Xu Xing’s fingertips. He looked at his Mysterious Light, a faint smile touching the corners of his mouth.
He cultivated the Great Sun True Scripture and the Withered Wood Sword Scripture. The former was yang, the latter wood. The combination of yang and wood, augmented by his Nine Luminaries Immortal Fate[Spring God Sentence Mang], not only prevented his Cultivation from stagnating but, by practicing both Cultivation Methods, also made his Magic Power exceptionally robust, allowing it to circulate endlessly and alternate smoothly.
According to his Fate Deduction, he should have reached the Immortal Foundation Third Layer in the ninth year of Tiande and entered the Immortal Foundation Fourth Layer about four years after that. Although he was now two years behind the version of himself predicted by Fate Deduction, it was all worth it.
Cultivating two Cultivation Methods at once! The Yan Shen Body! The Lifebound Flying Sword from the Withered Wood Sword Scripture! And mastery over basic Spells and array techniques! Now, my development is much more comprehensive, with almost no shortcomings.
There’s still some time before the Mirror World I anticipated opens. I might as well return to the Mortal World of Fengxi Country for a visit. The initial exploration of the Instance World will demand a portion of my attention, and it would be problematic if external enemies appeared in Reality...
He had been cultivating immortality for twelve years. A sudden whim brought Zhao Yunniang and Xu Zhang to his mind. Even if this was a coincidence, Xu Xing wouldn’t easily dismiss it. Since he had just achieved a breakthrough, making further progress in his Cultivation would be difficult for a while. He might as well return to the Mortal World for a look and ease some of his lingering concerns.
Furthermore, Fengxi Country was a mortal domain under the jurisdiction of the Flying Feather Immortal Palace. Generally, there would be no external enemies to cause trouble, making it suitable for him to temporarily focus his energy on the initial exploration of the Instance World. While Folding Mountain Island was close to the Inner Sea, Sea Bandit raids were also common.
「Next.」
Xu Xing acted with lightning speed. He bought a Flying Boat Ticket and reported his departure from Folding Mountain Island to the Sealed Demon Pan Palace. He handled everything methodically.
For External Cultivators, deserting one’s post without permission was a grave offense In the Flying Feather Immortal Palace. Even a First-class True Disciple would face severe punishment from the Sect if they left without prior notification.
「Half a month later.」
Taking a returning Flying Boat, Xu Xing arrived at the Flying Feather Immortal Palace once more.
Twenty-eight that year... Standing there like a lackey.
Xu Xing exited the Flying Boat cabin and leaped down from the deck. His body enveloped in a green and red Mysterious Light, he blinked and appeared on the jade steps before the Immortal Palace’s gate, overlooking the winding Immortal Path that snaked down from the clouds.
Twelve years ago, he was merely an Innate Martial Artist, laboriously climbing the Immortal Path. Twelve years later, he was already a First-class True Disciple at the Fourth Level of the Immortal Foundation, his name entered into the master-disciple genealogy, and he was poised to potentially become the eighth Chief of the Flying Feather Immortal Palace’s Master and Disciple Lineage.
As Xu Xing was immersed in his thoughts, a blue luan bird, dozens of feet in size, flew towards the entrance of the Immortal Palace. Immediately afterward, numerous Escaping Lights flashed out from the various Inner Sect Peaks.
Another Palace Choosing a Son-in-law event.
Seeing this familiar scene, Xu Xing shook his head and sighed softly.
About four years ago, Zhou Mingcang, possessor of the Sea Moon Body and stationed on Ming Mountain Island in the Outer Sea of the Eastern Sea region, had encountered an attack from the Yama Temple Devil Sect. He had single-handedly fought three Immortal Foundation Early Stage devil cultivators, killing one and injuring two. Unfortunately, his strength eventually failed him, and he was incinerated by demonic flames, his body and Dao extinguished. Fengping Valley had unintentionally mentioned this when Xu Xing was buying Fire Melting Wood, a resource from Fengping Valley, and they were exchanging information via Voice Transmission Talismans.
After becoming External Cultivators, Xu Xing, Zhou Mingcang, and Fengping Valley had once shared the same Flying Boat journey.
If Zhou Mingcang had chosen The He Family of Nine Lakes during that Palace Choosing a Son-in-law event... Now, Zhou Mingcang might have ended up like Jiao Ji, the son-in-law of the main branch of The He Family of Nine Lakes.
Jiao Ji had joined the Sect half a year after Zhou Mingcang. He possessed a Ghost Soul Body, a constitution that appeared once every one hundred and thirty years. His constitution was comparable to Zhou Mingcang’s; both were ranked as third-class prospective True Disciples and wore the Red Tassel Coiling Dragon Jade Pendant. But Jiao Ji lacked Zhou Mingcang’s ambition. During a Palace Choosing a Son-in-law event, he directly chose The He Family of Nine Lakes, which had made the most generous offer, and married a daughter from a concubine of the He family’s main branch. In just over ten years, Jiao Ji’s Cultivation now rivaled Xu Xing’s. Furthermore, he had become a Sect Deacon in the Heavenly Book Pavilion, with a bright future ahead.
Everyone has their own destiny... If you contend for it, you must be prepared to perish.
Xu Xing felt a moment of pity for Zhou Mingcang. If not for my interference, Zhou Mingcang might not have met such a tragic end. After all, during the expedition to Purple Magpie Valley, it was I who seized the First-class Purple Magpie Morning Glow, directly cutting off Zhou Mingcang’s path forward.
However, Xu Xing’s pity was fleeting. Zhou Mingcang was merely a stranger to me. My regret stemmed more from the fact that Zhou Mingcang and I were both Immortal Geniuses of the Sect and fellow External Cultivators. It was only by a stroke of luck that I became the Direct Disciple of the Giant Sword Daoist Monarch, while Zhou Mingcang lost his life in the outside world.
With a clear cry from the luan bird, a young man in a Silver Robe tapped his toes lightly on the luan bird and, with exquisite lightness skill, descended slowly onto the jade steps at the Immortal Palace’s entrance.