Chapter 371: 212, Three costs, substitute death puppet, Song Knife’s Heavenly Will One Cut
Breaking through from the Golden Core to the Nascent Soul not only requires a Nascent-Forming Pill and corresponding resources to assist in the breakthrough but also the help of a blessed land. The Golden Core represents the inner scene, and the blessed land represents the outer scene. When the inner and outer scenes merge, it is like a man and a woman engaging in dual cultivation; under the fusion of Yin and Yang, a Nascent Soul Dao Fruit is born.
However, the outer scenes evolved by the blessed lands of various sects differ. For those practicing the same cultivation methods and inheriting the same lineage, the evolution of the blessed land’s outer scene will consume the least amount of Origin Energy.
Xu Xing was an outsider, practicing the cultivation method of the Flying Feather Immortal Palace. If he borrowed the Starfall Sect’s blessed land for a Nascent Soul breakthrough, the consumption of its Origin Energy would be immense. This would far exceed the amount consumed by the sect’s own disciples breaking through to the same realm.
The Origin Energy of a blessed land is intrinsically linked to the inheritance of a sect. It is not something a Sect Master alone can easily decide. Being able to pay a price to obtain a chance to use the Starfall Sect’s blessed land was already a great fortune for Xu Xing. Such scarce resources are priceless and typically not sold by any sect.
"This concubine won’t ask for much..." Sect Master Fang said with a smile, lightly touching the Qiufu of Wu Miao, who was sitting beside her. "There are only three conditions. As long as Lord Xu agrees to these three conditions, the blessed land of the Starfall Sect will be at Lord Xu’s disposal."
"Please speak frankly, Sect Master Fang." Xu Xing nodded.
As long as the conditions proposed by the Starfall Sect were not too harsh, he did not want to miss this opportunity.
Although he had a few backup options for blessed lands, such as the Immeasurable Sect, the Sealed Demon Island of the Flying Feather Immortal Palace, and Qing An Mountain of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, they all carried potential dangers.In his Fate Deduction, around the time of his breakthrough to Nascent Soul Daoist Lord, the Immeasurable Sect was destroyed twice.As for the blessed lands of the remaining two sects, his relationship with the Flying Feather Immortal Palace was ambiguous, and the Hundred Treasures Pavilion knew his true identity, making his future there uncertain...Therefore, only the blessed land of the Starfall Sect was his best option for a Nascent Soul breakthrough."Three conditions..." Sect Master Fang glanced at Xu Xing. "The first condition is that since you will benefit from the Starfall Sect, if the Starfall Sect encounters any difficulties in the future, Lord Xu, provided you have the ability, must help without hesitation."
"Of course, if you lack the ability to help, the Starfall Sect will not force Lord Xu. However, once your cultivation has advanced sufficiently, you must help the Starfall Sect avenge this great enmity."
This first condition was not uncommon. Every sect would leave such a contingency when granting favors. In the Cultivation World, some cultivation sects that were suddenly wiped out "for no apparent reason" often had such stipulations involved. A sect with a long history of inheritance would have befriended countless cultivators. Who could know to what extent the old friends made by the sect’s seniors had advanced in their cultivation by now? Therefore, unless there was deep-seated hatred, generally, when two sects fought, one would not completely annihilate the other. Instead, they would allow the defeated sect to retain a thread of its inheritance.
"Sect Master Fang’s consideration for the sect is an act of great kindness..." Xu Xing praised. "I will always remember this agreement and the kindness of the Starfall Sect."
Although Sect Master Fang was the leader of the Starfall Sect, her cultivation was the same as his; both were Dao Pill Daoists. Therefore, he did not need to be overly cautious in his speech, merely maintaining proper etiquette.
Apart from the heads of the Ten Major Sects, who were Nascent Soul Daoist Lords, the Sect Masters of other sects were mostly Dao Pill Daoists. Some small sects did not even have Dao Pill Daoists, with Returning Core Lords managing the sect’s affairs. Most of the prominent active cultivators in East Huangzhou were also Dao Pill Daoists. Nascent Soul Daoist Lords and Nascent Soul Saint Monarchs usually remained in seclusion, cultivating in blessed lands and caves, having no time for mortal squabbles or public appearances.
"The second condition..." Sect Master Fang pressed her lips together briefly and continued, "Within 500 years, you must do your utmost to help Wu Miao break through to become a Nascent Soul Daoist Lord."
"With your aptitude, this should not be difficult."
Returning Cores have a lifespan of nine hundred years. Dao Pills have a lifespan of fifteen hundred years. Generally speaking, cultivators from small and medium-sized sects who broke through to the Nascent Soul Realm were over a thousand years old, with very few exceptions. Dao Lords under a thousand years of age were rare, seen perhaps once in ten thousand years. Only the true lineage disciples and Chief disciples of the Ten Major Sects could break this pattern.
Upon hearing this, Xu Xing frowned and did not immediately agree.
It wasn’t that he was unwilling, but promises could not be made lightly.The first condition placed almost no restrictions on him, so he had agreed readily. However, the second condition was far too restrictive.Helping a Returning Core Lord break through to the Nascent Soul Realm within 500 years... Even if the head of one of the Ten Major Sects came in person, they would not dare guarantee such a thing.The breakthrough of realms is not merely about accumulating resources.
"The Profound Female Physique can not only use her own pure Yin Element energy to help her spouse improve their cultivation but also significantly enhances her own aptitude..." Sect Master Fang sighed. "After losing her virginity, her cultivation speed will be much lower than before. Although she won’t regress to the level of a common mortal, she will no longer be able to fully utilize the greatest effects of her Profound Female Physique..."
"Master..." As the words fell, Wu Miao’s cheeks flushed crimson. She shot Sect Master Fang a look of exasperation and said, "Lord Xu saved my life in the past; it is only right that I repay him... If we were to speak of gains and losses, it is I who am indebted to Lord Xu."
Sect Master Fang waved her hand, signaling Wu Miao to say no more. Her gaze turned to Xu Xing. "The fact that her Profound Female Physique has been broken is a contentious point among many House Elders who do not accept Lord Xu. Agreeing to this condition can suppress their dissatisfaction."
She was not lying. Although Wu Miao currently appeared to be just a Returning Core Lord, she was the Saintess of the Starfall Sect—a future Nascent Soul Daoist Lord. The difference between successfully forming a Nascent Soul within a thousand years and doing so after a thousand years is immense.