Innate Immortal Seed

Chapter 333: Chapter 331: Return to Celestial Thunder Cliff

”Junior Sister Ma, what brings you here? You could have just sent a subordinate with a message.”

”I’m here to turn in a mission. Please review it, Brother Lang... It’s about the Sect’s plan to open a Market in Hejian. I’ve taken some people to scout a few suitable locations, compiled a report, and analyzed the pros and cons of each.”

Ma Ruoxi wore a simple Daoist Robe and walked with a vigorous, confident stride. She had a heroic and dashing air, with slightly masculine features.

Hejian County was more than twice the size of Black Mountain County in both area and population. Since coming under the Qingfeng Sect’s control, they had vigorously cracked down on Tribulation Cultivators and brought order to the Cultivation Realm, leading to a large influx of returning Loose Cultivators each year.

Since killing the invading True Monarch Jiulian nine years ago, their prestige had only continued to grow.

They had established complete control within Hejian County. All rules mirrored those of Black Mountain County, and no one dared to question them.

Even several neighboring counties paid formal visits, and in their correspondence, they all revered the Qingfeng Sect as an Upper Sect.

For the Sect, this meant the annual income from Ten Thousand Immortals Creek was more than five times what it was when they first entered Hejian, and it still had room to grow.

During the most recent grand recruitment, over ninety Immortal Seedlings were recommended from various regions. This was even after the Qingfeng Sect had raised its standards for accepting disciples, unlike the first two times when they accepted anyone regardless of aptitude.

This was mainly because the major Cultivation Families all obeyed the prohibition and dared not recruit Immortal Seedlings who were not related by blood.

As for the few Official Sects that had established themselves in the area, they either changed their methods of succession or simply moved out of Hejian altogether.

As a result, all of Hejian’s talent flowed into the Qingfeng Sect.

It could be said that each generation of disciples recruited at Ten Thousand Immortals Creek was getting better and better in both quantity and quality.

The newest batch even showed a trend of surpassing the main sect headquarters.

They had to divert some of them back to Black Mountain; otherwise, the staff at Ten Thousand Immortals Creek alone wouldn’t be able to train them all.

”Junior Sister Ma’s proposal is surely excellent. I’ll review it later and have someone send it back to the main sect headquarters.”

Lang Zhongping accepted the Jade Scroll with a smile. He was currently on duty in the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall, in charge of matters concerning Hejian County.

With the addition of a large territory like Hejian County, the old model of having one supervising Elder for each of the eight halls was clearly no longer adequate.

Aside from special departments like the Secret Hall and the Ancestor Hall, the other departments had increased their staff to two Elders each.

A hall like the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall, with its numerous tasks and immense authority, was now assigned three supervising Elders.

In recent years, there had even been growing calls within the Sect to elevate the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall to the status of a Palace.

The Sect’s decision to establish a Market in Hejian County was naturally due to the immense profits they foresaw.

The few Underground Markets built by the Cultivation Families alone could contribute a net profit of over ten thousand Spirit Stones annually.

If they were replaced by a proper Market backed by the Qingfeng Sect—one with a better reputation, a larger scale, and more secure transactions—the profits could easily exceed one hundred thousand Spirit Stones per year.

The Sect could not possibly turn a blind eye to such a large income.

It was just that the time hadn’t been right before. Now that all of Hejian was under their control, they had enough power to protect a new Market and ensure no Tribulation Cultivators would dare cause trouble.

The plan was immediately put into motion, and a mission was issued to solicit Market construction proposals from the sect disciples.

According to rumors, this mission was also a way to select the person who would be in charge of the Hejian Market after its completion.

This was what attracted several Foundation Establishment Cultivators to accept the mission and submit their proposals for constructing and managing the Market.

For the current Qingfeng Sect, Foundation Establishment Cultivators were sprouting like mushrooms after a spring rain, one crop after another.

However, the number of Sect Elder positions rarely increased. Basically, a new one was only appointed after an old one passed away.

Each time an Elder position became vacant, a dozen or so people would be eyeing it covetously, making the competition particularly fierce.

Although Ma Ruoxi held the title of Elder, she was in charge of the Hejian branch of the Spirit Beast Hall, an extremely leisurely post.

It naturally couldn’t compare to the position overseeing the Market, which would rake in a fortune daily.

”In that case, I’ll have to trouble you, Brother Lang.”

Ma Ruoxi made a little more small talk, then took her leave.

”Elder Lang, I heard this Elder Ma is in high favor with Ancestor Bai. Why is she also eyeing the position for the Market?”

After she was a good distance away, a trusted Steward stepped forward and spoke.

”Hmph. If she were really in favor, wouldn’t there be rumors by now about him taking her on as a Registered Disciple? Forget the Ancestor saying something himself; if Junior Sister Huo just put in a word, a Market the size of Hejian’s would probably need four Elders. How could there not be a spot for her?”

Lang Zhongping weighed the Jade Scroll in his hand a couple of times before tossing it into a wide-bellied porcelain jar, where seven or eight other Jade Scrolls were already piled.

”Speaking of connections, I knew Ancestor Bai back when he was a nobody. Even back then, I could see his extraordinary talent—a dragon among men—and I was deeply impressed... This Ma Ruoxi just got lucky. The Ancestor put in a word for her, making the Holy Lotus Sect add the Curved Water Five-Eyed Bodhi to their list of apology gifts.”

”Otherwise, with that obscure Water Stone Spiritual Body of hers, how could she possibly have advanced to Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment in such a short time!”

Lang Zhongping himself had only succeeded in reaching Foundation Establishment through a stroke of great luck; he had no delusions about advancing any further.

He focused his main efforts on cultivating the next generation, hoping that an heir with an outstanding Spiritual Root would be born among his descendants so he could invest his life’s savings in them.

’I wonder if, before I die, I can request an audience with Ancestor Bai. Maybe he’ll see me for old times’ sake... Then I’ll pick my most promising great-grandson. I can’t hope for him to become a Direct Disciple, but studying under Junior Brother Tong wouldn’t be bad either.’

It had to be said that Lang Zhongping’s judgment back then was indeed sharp. He had treated Bai Zichen, who was just an Inner Sect Disciple at the time, with special regard, investing in him early on.

However, the gap in their status and position had widened too quickly. They had little contact afterward and were soon no longer Cultivators on the same level.

...

Bai Zichen made a gesture with his fingers, retrieving a Jade Seal from the Eye of the Spirit Spring. The Four Symbols Divine Beasts roared in unison, transforming into four streams of ferocious, baleful energy that bored into the seal.

Amidst the cries of a phoenix and the roar of a dragon, the final step in the fusion of this Mid-Grade Magical Treasure was completed perfectly. The refining was a success.

”Congratulations on your successful Treasure Refining, Master!”

Tong Huan, who was standing close behind, offered his congratulations. He had grown a long beard over the years and looked much more mature.

”I’ve only just barely established myself as a Tier Three Mid-Grade Refiner. I’m still a long way from being able to refine a Tier Three Flying Sword...”

Bai Zichen didn’t even glance at the Four Symbols Jade Seal, putting it directly into his storage pouch.

Over the past few years, he had successfully refined two Mid-Grade Magical Treasures and failed three times.

This success rate was already acceptable to him.

”I’ve looked at your Heavenly Inquiry Sword Technique. It’s not bad. At least you’re no longer just following it by the book and have started to forge your own path... But you need to hurry up with your Cultivation. You’re still at Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment; you’re about to be surpassed by that Ma Ruoxi girl.”

In the years since he had slain a Nascent Soul cultivator with his sword, Bai Zichen had lived in seclusion, refusing all invitations from outside the Sect.

This was partly to consolidate his own Cultivation path and prepare to charge toward a higher Realm. After all, his foundation was perfect and without regret, so there would be no chance for a do-over.

It was also a way to keep a low profile and avoid the limelight.

The Nascent Soul Reversal Cut, a scene previously found only in legendary tales, had occurred in the current Cultivation Realm.

The sheer shock and buzz surrounding the event caused the name Bai Zichen to spread instantly throughout the Northern Domain. Some merchant guilds traveling to the Central Domain even carried the news with them.

It was said that the Saint Heirs of several Super Major Sects in the Central Domain had made statements, expressing great interest in this Heaven-Defying Core Formation True Man from the Northern Domain. They were merely waiting for the day Bai Zichen traveled to the Central Domain, eager to cross swords with him.

This sentiment was especially strong among the Sword Cultivation Sects.

There were those who were scornful, believing the rumors to be false and nothing more than sensationalism.

There were also those who were greatly shocked and listed him as a top rival, awaiting only a chance to test their swords against him.

From outside Liang Country, Nascent Soul Sects sent invitations, asking him to visit for exchanges or to explore ancient ruins together.

Among these, some were primarily to test him, some certainly harbored ill intentions, and a small number had a friendly desire to build a connection.

But Bai Zichen had no time to sort through them one by one and could only refuse them all.

As long as he continued his Cultivation steadily, the Nascent Soul Realm was beckoning. Why should he take unnecessary risks to engage in so-called exchanges and discussions or explore Secret Realms?

He didn’t have any bottleneck cultivation experiences to discuss, nor did he need any Realm-Breaking Elixirs. Even ninety-nine percent of Magical Treasures were beneath his notice.

Compared to other Core Formation True Men, Bai Zichen could truly be described as strong because he was without desire.

If there was one Secret Realm that could tempt him, it was indeed the Holy Lotus Sect’s Lotus Secret Realm, which had just recently opened.

He could ignore the other Treasures, but the existence of a Tier Four Flying Sword alone was enough to move him.

However, given the current relationship between the two sects, there was no way the Holy Lotus Sect would offer a spot to the Qingfeng Sect.

’Even if they sent an invitation, I wouldn’t dare go. Walking right into a stable Secret Realm that they’ve managed for over a thousand years...’

’At that point, whether I live or die would be completely at their mercy.’

”This disciple is slow, I’ve made Master worry... Junior Sister Ma is the most outstanding disciple our sect has recruited since entering Hejian. It’s only normal for her to surpass me.”

Over the past few years, Tong Huan had essentially become the chief steward of Ten Thousand Immortals Creek.

In other words, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call him the Sect Leader of the Hejian branch.

He managed affairs in an orderly fashion, with clear rewards and punishments, and had built up his prestige among the disciples for more than just being Ancestor Bai’s eldest disciple.

As for Ma Ruoxi, with her Curved Water Five-Eyed Bodhi, her Cultivation speed was comparable to someone with a Celestial Spiritual Root, aside from the bottlenecks she faced at each Realm.

”I’m returning to Celestial Thunder Cliff tomorrow. Take this Talisman and keep it safe. It can save your life at a critical moment...”

Bai Zichen handed the Taiyin Star Escape Talisman to Tong Huan. He hadn’t needed to use this Tier Three Star Escape Talisman back then, and it was a waste to keep it on him now.

Giving it to a Foundation Establishment Cultivator was the best use for it, allowing the Taiyin Star Escape Talisman’s true value to be realized.

Tong Huan carried a heavy burden these days, traveling all over Hejian.

If some audacious individuals were to set up an ambush with several Late-Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators, they could easily capture him.

The Heavenly Inquiry Sword Technique and the Treasures bestowed by Bai Zichen would, at most, allow Tong Huan to win more easily against Cultivators of the same level.

But it was impossible for him to be like his master, dominating his peers and taking on a whole group with his sword.

With the Taiyin Star Escape Talisman on him, as long as he didn’t run into a Core Formation True Man, he could escape from any situation.

Leaving Ten Thousand Immortals Creek, which had been rebuilt under his watchful eye, Bai Zichen flew on his sword back to Celestial Thunder Cliff, preparing to cultivate all the way to Late-Stage Core Formation in one go.

Although the Qingfeng Sect was currently experiencing a period of rapid development, spurred by the great battle nine years ago, the situation in the Liang Country’s Cultivation Realm was actually at its most intricate and turbulent in thousands of years, with dangerous undercurrents surging.

The Celestial Principle Sect, the Ice Soul Sect, and the Blood Demon Sect—these already represented three Nascent Soul Level powers.

Meanwhile, the Holy Lotus Sect, now without a Nascent Soul True Monarch to hold the fort, had abandoned its interests in many of Central Province’s remote areas, pulling its people out of Markets and mines.

Its few separated Branches had all recalled their disciples and returned to Qii Mountain.

They had adopted a posture of licking their wounds, retracting their tentacles, and focusing entirely on defense.

With a Tier Four Grand Array, several Spiritual Treasures, and the foundation accumulated over ten thousand years, the Holy Lotus Sect within the borders of Qii Mountain could still be considered a Nascent Soul Sect.