Entry: I Secretly Cultivate Immortality in the Martial Arts World

45: Chapter 45 Dragon Egg Hatching, Ah Lan!Over the following months, the Ghostly Soul gradually came to understand what kind of Sect the Azure Wave Sect was.

The Sect was neither purely righteous nor purely evil; it could not be called a model of the Righteous Path, nor was it as ferocious as those of the Demonic Path.

The Sect rules were loose and encouraged competition. As long as one did not openly harm fellow Disciples or betray the Sect, most conflicts were tacitly permitted.

The highest cultivation in the Sect belonged to two Late Nascent Soul Old Ancestors. Below them were over twenty Golden Core Elders, Foundation Establishment Deacons, several hundred Inner Sect Disciples, and thousands of outer Sect and servant Disciples.

Regarding resources, besides the Nanming No. 73 Mortal Realm, it also governed three micro Secret Realms.

It possessed one medium-sized Spiritual Vein and maintained trade relations with several surrounding small and medium-sized Sects.

The atmosphere of the Sect was realistic and utilitarian. Disciples competing for resources and tasks was the norm.

The Ghostly Soul’s impression of it was acceptable.

At least they didn’t spout hypocritical Righteous Path slogans, nor was wanton slaughter prevalent.

It was more like a scaled-up version of a Jianghu School.

One day, while the Ghostly Soul was browsing through miscellaneous records in the Sect’s Library Pavilion, he happened upon a certain entry.

”Lower Realm spirit seedlings are harvested once every three hundred years.”

”One must hold a Spirit Appraisal Mirror, follow the old path to enter, do not disturb the mortals, and leave no traces.”

This perfectly matched Liu Qingyun’s actions.

In other words, the Mortal Realm where the main body resided would face a descent from the Azure Wave Sect every three hundred years.

And there were still over two hundred years until the next time.

Having clarified the timeframe, the Ghostly Soul felt a bit more at ease, and his thoughts became clearer.

As an Incarnation of the main body, he could not actively Cultivate to raise his Realm.

But as long as the main body made a Breakthrough, his strength would grow in synchronization.

Currently, the Ghostly Soul only needed to steadily increase his public cultivation within the Azure Wave Sect to secure more resources and freedom.

He would gradually uncover the communication channels between the Azure Wave Sect and the Tianyan Dao Sect, as well as the specific methods used to control the Mortal Realm.

Once the main body’s strength was sufficient, or an opportunity was found, he would quietly transfer ownership of the Mortal Realm where the main body resided into his own hands.

...

Ten years later.

Nanming No. 73 Mortal Realm, Taiyi Dao Sect, Longevity Peak.

【Gu Yan】

【Lifespan: 253/4000】

【Realm: Nascent Soul · Seventh Level】

【Traits: ”Immortal lord fuzhe - red”, ”Traceless Dao Concealment - Gold”, ”Five Elements Spiritual Body · Orange”, ”Floating Life Like a Dream · Purple”】

【Cultivation Technique: ”Great Five Elements Reincarnation True Scripture”...】

【Mystical Arts: ”Five Elements Escape Technique”, ”Five Elements Body Protection Incantation”, ”Lesser Five Elements Destruction Divine Light”, ”Lesser Five Elements Yin-Yang Primordial Magnet Divine Light”...】

【Magic Treasure: ”Sumeru Star Ring · High Grade”, ”departure fire burning heaven cauldron · Peak Grade”, ”nine heavens thunder pattern evil-shattering sword · Peak Grade”...】

Feeling the majestic Spiritual Qi surging within him like a great river or a vast sea, flowing smoothly without obstruction, Gu Yan nodded slightly.

Nascent Soul Seventh Level; he was not far from Soul Transformation.

...

Spirit Realm, Azure Wave Sect, the forest surrounding Qingxia Peak.

The Ghostly Soul was currently being cornered in a remote mountain hollow by four Foundation Establishment Stage Cultivators dressed in black with black masks.

The cultivation he displayed on the surface was precisely the Ninth Level of Qi Refining.

Moreover, his aura was pure and his Foundation solid; anyone who saw him would praise him for reaching the Ninth Level of Qi Refining in ten years, with a promising future at the Golden Core stage.

“Junior Brother Lin, I’m sorry,” the leader of the black-clad men said in a raspy voice, though his eyes held no apology, only cold killing intent.

“If you must blame someone, blame yourself for being too prominent and blocking someone else’s path.”

The Ghostly Soul timely displayed shock, anger, and panic. Backing against a rock, he shouted:

“Who are you? You dare to attack an Inner Sect Disciple within the Sect’s territory? Are you not afraid of the Hall of Discipline’s investigation?!”

“Investigation?” another black-clad man sneered.

“We have already set up a Shadow-Concealing Formation here. Auras are isolated, and no sound will escape.”

“You’re just a Ninth Level of Qi Refining Disciple. Even if your Aptitude is decent, once you’re dead, you’re dead. Who would look into it deeply?”

Before the words even faded, the four of them attacked simultaneously!

A poison-coated flying needle, two Explosive Flame Talismans, a pitch-black Flying Sword, plus a binding-type Vine Technique.

The four of them coordinated perfectly, sealing off all of the Ghostly Soul’s space to dodge.

Clearly, they were well-accustomed to such business of murder and robbery.

Boom!

The poison needle, flames, sword light, and vines hit the target almost at the same time.

Dust filled the air, and shattered stones flew everywhere.

“Is it settled?” one of the black-clad men breathed a sigh of relief.

“Just the Ninth Level of Qi Refining. Even if he really is a Genius, he still—”

The dust slowly dispersed.

The Ghostly Soul stood calmly in place, his black robes unstained by a single speck of dust, his hair not even ruffled.

Those attacks, which would have been enough to throw an Early Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator into a panic, fell upon him like a gentle breeze over a mountain ridge, not even leaving a white mark.

He looked up at the four dumbfounded black-clad men and gave a smile so gentle it made their hearts turn cold.

“That’s it?”

“You... you’re not at the Ninth Level of Qi Refining?!” the leader’s pupils shrank as he cried out in horror.

“Correct, but unfortunately, there’s no prize.” The Ghostly Soul slowly raised his right hand, fingers slightly spread, and then gently pressed down.

Thud! Thud! Thud! Thud!

Four muffled thuds rang out almost simultaneously.

The four black-clad Foundation Establishment Cultivators, along with their protective Magical Artifacts,

were like flies swatted by an invisible giant palm, instantly turning into four masses of blurred flesh deeply embedded into the ground.

Only four heads, which the Ghostly Soul had deliberately controlled to keep intact, rolled to the side.

“Why bother.” The Ghostly Soul shook his head, stepped forward, and began to skillfully loot the corpses.

At the same time, a ghostly light flashed from his fingertip as the Soul Searching Art was activated, and four fragmented memory shards flooded into his consciousness.

A moment later, he withdrew his hand, now holding four ordinary-looking storage rings.

Through the fragmented memories from the soul search, he also learned why the men wanted to kill him.

The Demon Blade Sect had always been on bad terms with the Azure Wave Sect.

Within their Sect were three Late Nascent Soul Old Ancestors.

Fearing the Tianyan Dao Sect behind the Azure Wave Sect, they did not dare to start an open war.

They only dared to use such underhanded methods, sending people to sneak into the Azure Wave Sect’s territory to assassinate Disciples with potential, attempting to sever their Foundation...

The Ghostly Soul shook his head, then sent his Divine Sense into the rings to quickly tally the spoils.

“Three Low Grade Magical Artifacts, one Medium Grade. Trash.”

“A number of first and second-tier Talismans. Trash.”

“A number of Medicinal Pills, poor quality. Trash.”

“The Spirit Stones are quite good though...” The Ghostly Soul’s eyes brightened slightly. The combined wealth of the four Foundation Establishment Cultivators actually amounted to nearly two thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

There were also dozens of Mid-Grade Spirit Stones with a much richer luster.

“Hard currency of the Spirit Realm; the main body back there would find these rare.”

“And these miscellaneous things: ‘Blood Fiend Palm’, ‘Qi-Concealing Art’, ‘Basic Formation Diagrams’...”

“Though they are shallow, some of the concepts can be used for reference.”

With a wave of his hand, he stowed away the useful items, and with a flick of his finger, a wisp of flame burned all traces of the scene, along with the remains of the corpses, completely clean.

“Demon Blade Sect, is it... I’ll keep this debt in mind for now.”

...

Time continued to flow, and another ten years passed.

Mortal Realm, the summit of Longevity Peak.

The sea of clouds churned, and rays of light shone in ten thousand directions.

Gu Yan stood with his hands behind his back at the edge of the cliff. Behind him was the increasingly majestic and spiritually vibrant Taiyi Dao Sect architectural complex.

His gaze, however, fell upon a small thing circling his calves.

This was a small dragon, its entire body a deep azure, with scales as translucent as if carved from the finest sapphire.

Antlers of a deer, head of a camel, eyes of a rabbit, neck of a snake, belly of a mirage, scales of a fish, claws of an eagle, palms of a tiger, and ears of an ox—all the characteristics of an Eastern Divine Dragon were present.

It was precisely the creature that had hatched from that Abyss Sea Deep Dragon egg.

Gu Yan had given it a rather casual name: Blue.

Although Blue was a young dragon, its body was already the size of a small calf.

Moreover, Blue possessed the strength of the Foundation Establishment Stage as soon as it hatched. Its intelligence was extremely high, and it was exceptionally affectionate toward Gu Yan.

It seemed to have no need for deliberate Cultivation; it only needed to grow and consume Spiritual Qi and spiritual items for its strength to increase naturally.

During these ten years, it had become a sight to behold in the Taiyi Dao Sect.

It would often wander into some Elder’s herb garden to steal and eat freshly ripened herbs.

Or it would lazily sprawl on the roof of the Hall of Transmission to sunbathe, causing new Disciples to be struck with awe as if seeing a celestial being, while the old Disciples had long since grown accustomed to it.

“Look, Longevity True Lord’s dragon is out for a stroll again!”

“It must be the True Lord’s Immortal methods that allowed him to subdue such a mythical Auspicious Beast as a pet.”

Gu Yan had long since heard similar discussions until his ears grew calloused.

He leaned down and flicked the cold dragon horn that Blue nudged toward him: “Went to Danxia Peak to steal herbs again?”

Blue let out a soft howl and rubbed its head against Gu Yan’s palm. A very human-like trace of grievance actually appeared in its dragon eyes.

Then it opened its mouth and spat out a fruit even larger than its own head.

Gu Yan chuckled, took the fruit, and casually stuffed it back into Blue’s mouth: “Eat it yourself.”

Afterward, Gu Yan’s gaze continued to sweep across the Sect.

Now, the Taiyi Dao Sect, under his intentional guidance and resource support, had popularized the Immortal path.

Most Disciples had already entered the Qi Refinement Stage, and several Elders had even reached the Late Stage of Qi Refining.

As for Senior Sister Lin Wei and Old Chen, who were closest to him, they had moved forward steadily and had both successfully established their Foundations one after another three years ago.

But there was one point that always left Gu Yan feeling puzzled.

When Lin Wei and Old Chen were reaching Foundation Establishment, he had been nearby acting as a Protector.

The world had remained calm and tranquil. Forget a Lightning Tribulation, not even a single dark cloud was seen.

He had specifically asked the two of them if they had experienced any Heart Demon illusions. Both shook their heads in confusion, feeling that the Breakthrough process was a natural progression, with the Bottleneck shattering upon the first push.

“When I established my own Foundation back then, I truly went through a Heart Demon Tribulation...”

Gu Yan stroked his chin and looked up at the sky.

Forget it. If he couldn’t figure it out, he would put it aside for now.