Entry: I Secretly Cultivate Immortality in the Martial Arts World

52: Chapter 52 Xuanjian Sect, Ling Yunxiao!Spirit Realm, Eastern Continent Southern Region, Profound Sword Sect, Sword Heart Hall.

The hall was grand, and the Sword Qi was chilling.

However, at this moment, among the row of Soul Lamps hanging high in the hall, representing the Sect’s Core Disciples and Elders...

The one belonging to Ling Wuchen was emitting a dim, nearly ashen luster.

The flame had not gone out, but it was as weak as a candle in the wind.

It seemed as if it could be completely extinguished at any moment, a world of difference from its usual bright and sharp glow, which symbolized vibrant vitality and determination.

Beneath the Soul Lamp stood a middle-aged man dressed in a black sword-patterned robe, with a handsome face but currently tightly furrowed brows.

He was the current Sect Master of the Profound Sword Sect, Ling Yunxiao, a Middle Stage Soul Transformation Sword Cultivator.

Judging by his appearance alone, he looked barely thirty, with an ethereal temperament.

But the years and pressure settled in those deep eyes could not be concealed by his outward appearance.

He had been staring at Ling Wuchen’s dim Soul Lamp for five whole years.

Over the past five years, he had attempted several of the Sect’s secret Soul-Tracing Origin-Seeking Methods.

He even went as far as to consume his essence blood to activate a sliver of the power of the Sect’s supreme treasure, the Heaven-Viewing Mirror.

However, the feedback he received was nothing but Chaos.

It was as if some invisible force had completely shielded and twisted the Heavenly Secret.

Cutting off all clues regarding Ling Wuchen’s whereabouts so cleanly that not even a shred of useful information could be captured.

”Hmph!” Ling Yunxiao let out a cold snort, filled with both shock and anger.

He was shocked that, given Ling Wuchen’s cultivation, combined with his extraordinary sword Dao talent and life-saving trump cards...

Even if he encountered an ordinary Early Stage Soul Transformation Cultivator, even if he couldn’t defeat them, he should have some certainty in escaping.

How could he have reached the point where his Soul Lamp was about to be extinguished and his traces were completely gone?

He was angry that someone actually dared to lay such a ruthless hand on a Prodigy of his Profound Sword Sect.

And the methods were so clean and efficient that not a single clue was left behind!

”The lamp isn’t completely out... does that mean Boundless Dust’s Nascent Soul Origin hasn’t fully dissipated yet?”

A faint flicker of hope passed through Ling Yunxiao’s heart.

But it was immediately covered by deeper worry.

Even if he was lucky enough not to have his body and soul destroyed, his situation must be extremely perilous.

Otherwise, why was there no response even to the most secret emergency contact method of the Sect?

He slowly paced to the window, looking at the Sword Peaks looming in the sea of clouds outside, and muttered to himself:

”I warned you long ago that being proud and arrogant isn’t a bad thing, but you must know that there is always a heaven beyond the heaven!”

”Did you think that with the sword in your hand, you could challenge others at will and act out your grievances as you pleased?”

”The waters of this world are much deeper and murkier than you imagine!”

”Those old monsters who have lived for thousands of years have unpredictable minds. Why would they show mercy just because you are some kind of Prodigy?”

”I told you long ago to Cultivate bitterly in the Sect’s Forbidden Ground and not to easily venture into those truly dangerous places until you reached Mahayana... Young people just won’t listen to advice!”

A sigh echoed in the empty hall, carrying a bit of helpless frustration at his failure to live up to expectations.

But more than that, it was the pain of the Sect’s future pillar being lost.

Ling Wuchen had reached the Nascent Soul stage before the age of three hundred and was seen as the hope most likely to succeed him, even surpass him, and lead the Profound Sword Sect a step further.

Now that this hope was suddenly cast in shadow, and might even be completely extinguished, how could he remain calm?

”This matter... must be suppressed.”

After a long time, a sharp light flashed in Ling Yunxiao’s eyes as he made a decision.

Currently, only he and the two trusted Elders in charge of the Soul Lamp Hall knew about the abnormality of the Soul Lamp.

Once the news leaked, it would not only invite ridicule from rival forces saying that the Profound Sword Sect couldn’t even protect its own most precious Sword Seed...

It could also shake the morale within the Sect and even trigger unnecessary speculation and unrest.

He had already thought of an excuse.

He would claim that Ling Wuchen had gained some insights and had entered the deep layers of the Sword Tomb three days ago for secluded meditation, seeking an Opportunity for a Breakthrough to Soul Transformation, with an uncertain return date.

He had to buy time for the slim chance of survival that Ling Wuchen might still have.

He also had to consider the reputation and stability of the Profound Sword Sect.

...

Spirit Realm, Nanming Lands, Azure Wave Sect, Inner Sect Disciple area.

Inside an Immortal Cave where the Spiritual Qi was significantly better than in the outer Sect, equipped with an independent small courtyard and a simple Spirit Gathering Array.

Ghost, or rather, Gu Yan’s Incarnation using the alias Lin You, was slowly finishing his exercises.

His aura steadily remained at the Late Stage Foundation Establishment level.

This was already among the best of the younger generation of Disciples in the Azure Wave Sect.

After all, the transition from Foundation Establishment to Golden Core was a significant threshold; many Inner Sect Disciples might be stuck at the Peak of Foundation Establishment for their entire lives.

With this remarkable cultivation speed and his occasionally revealed exquisite understanding of Water-Element Spells, his status within the Azure Wave Sect was rising.

Liu Qingyun, the guide who had brought him up from the Mortal Realm in the past...

Now completely restrained his former casualness in front of him.

His words and actions even carried a bit of unconscious respect and flattery.

He clearly looked to Senior Brother Lin for guidance.

There was no helping it; the rule of the cultivation world where strength was respected was blatant and direct, and the potential shown by Ghost deserved this treatment.

In contrast, the other Disciples from various Mortal Realms who were selected along with Lin You back then were in a somewhat awkward situation.

Most of them were still wandering around the Middle Stage of Qi Refining.

Their cultivation speed was not only far behind Lin You’s...

But even slightly slower than many Disciples born in the Spirit Realm who entered the Sect at the same time.

Ghost understood this in his heart, combined with the information he gathered daily.

The Azure Wave Sect, or rather the Tianyan Dao Sect behind it, had a perfunctory attitude towards the many Mortal Realms under its control.

In Ghost’s words, it was a typical Celestial Dragon mentality.

Those born in Rome truly looked down on those for whom all roads lead to Rome.

In the eyes of those at the higher levels of the Spirit Realm, the Spiritual Qi in those Mortal Realms was thin and mixed, and the Innate Foundations of living beings were weak.

Except for a very few who had Heaven-Defying luck or truly special talents...

The potential limit of the vast majority of Cultivators was far inferior to their counterparts born in the Spirit Realm.

For example, the Azure Wave Sect sent Disciples to the Lower Realm for selection every three hundred years.

It was more like a routine, a ceremony to declare sovereignty and harvest occasional special cases...

Rather than truly valuing the talent pool of the Lower Realm.

As for why the Legacy of the immortal Dao in the Nanming No. 73 Mortal Realm where the True Body Gu Yan was originally located had been cut off...

And the path of martial arts was also deliberately castrated, with no follow-up for the Eighth and Nine Transformationss, Ghost had also investigated clearly.

This was exactly the formatting treatment the Tianyan Dao Sect did when it granted the management of that world to the Azure Wave Sect.

Erasing complete legacies that might bring variables.

Leaving only shallow, easy-to-control martial arts.

Ensuring that the world would obediently serve as a provider of specific resources.

Such as certain medicinal herbs or minerals, or a small number of servant-type Disciples.

And would not give birth to forces that could threaten the rule of the Superior Sect.

”It’s really... bureaucracy killing people, oh no, killing the development potential of a whole world.”

Ghost shook his head inwardly.

The higher-ups of the Azure Wave Sect seemed to be at peace with this, happy to be at leisure.

As long as the tribute tasks assigned by the Superior Sect could be completed, it was fine.

They didn’t really care about the specifics of the Lower Realm.

The symbolic significance was far greater than the actual development value.

”But this is also good.”

”On the side of the True Body, he can precisely make a fortune in silence and slowly develop by farming.”

”If the Azure Wave Sect really developed it on a large scale, mining and gathering herbs everywhere, making a mess of things, that would be the real trouble.”