Cultivation Begins From The Desert-Chapter 785 - 768: Xue Wei Forms Nascent Soul, Secluded Cultivation Breakthrough
The pursuit of the Cyan Scale Demon King was fierce, but the escape was equally swift.
Lan Daoist gave chase a few times, but upon realizing he couldn’t leave a mark on it, decisively stopped the pursuit and returned to Zhouyang’s side.
Then, with a calm expression, he looked at Zhouyang and said lightly, "So, how is it? Is Fellow Daoist Zhou satisfied with Lan’s performance?"
"Eye-opening! Fellow Daoist Lan’s performance today truly opened Zhou’s eyes!"
Zhouyang looked at Lan Daoist with an expression full of amazement, not hiding the surprise in his heart.
His eyes flashed with a gleam, and with a look of curiosity on his face, he asked: "Zhou is now curious about one thing, Fellow Daoist Lan, if you could unleash your full strength, just how strong would you be? Can you rival a true Tribulation Crossing True Immortal?"
"Fellow Daoist Zhou, you overestimate Lan!"
"A Tribulation Crossing True Immortal and a Nascent Soul cultivator are completely different existences. A single True Immortal Body elevates the gap between the two to an insurmountable level."
"A Nascent Soul cultivator may temporarily withstand a Tribulation Crossing True Immortal with miraculous treasures, saving their life from its grasp, but matching a Tribulation Crossing True Immortal is simply impossible."
Lan Daoist shook his head repeatedly, utterly denying Zhouyang’s notion of rivaling a Tribulation Crossing True Immortal.
He had once been a true Immortal Avatar and naturally knew well how powerful a Tribulation Crossing True Immortal is.
After hearing his words, Zhouyang also felt he might have been too adventurous in his thoughts and couldn’t help but laugh at himself: "It seems Zhou was a bit delusional. If a Tribulation Crossing True Immortal were so easily understood, the entire cultivation realm wouldn’t have so few true immortals!"
Upon hearing this, Lan Daoist continued, "Though Lan cannot rival a Tribulation Crossing True Immortal, the five top-grade spirit stones Fellow Daoist Zhou provided this time are not yet exhausted. If we encounter a formidable enemy like the Cyan Scale Demon King again, Lan should have no problem helping Fellow Daoist Zhou once more to fend them off."
This time, a genuine smile finally appeared on Zhouyang’s face.
Exchanging five top-grade spirit stones for two life-saving opportunities still hurt, but at least it didn’t feel like his heart was bleeding as much as before.
And without the threat of the Cyan Scale Demon King, Zhouyang’s return journey naturally proceeded without a hitch.
Two years later, after finishing his journey in Celestial South, he smoothly returned to his Fire Birch Mountain Cave Mansion.
In all, though his trip back and forth wasn’t long, it had taken seven to eight years.
Therefore, when he returned to the Fire Birch Mountain Cave Mansion, the first person he saw was his disciple Lu Xuewei, whom he hadn’t seen in decades.
Lu Xuewei had now officially become a Nascent Soul stage cultivator, and she seemed to have had some fortuitous encounter in the Beiting Continent cultivation realm, as Zhouyang felt that the aura of her magical power had changed, as if she had switched her main cultivation technique.
"Seeing you successfully form your Nascent Soul and return, as your teacher, I am very happy and gratified. Fortunately, when I was attacking the Tier Six Refining Technique, I refined a magical artifact suitable for you. Consider this as a congratulatory gift from me for your ascension to the Tao!"
Inside the cave mansion, Zhouyang, after scrutinizing his proud disciple with spiritual light glimmering in his eyes, finally smiled broadly and, with a wave, took out the Tier Six Lower Grade Ice Attribute magical artifact he had refined previously and tossed it to Lu Xuewei.
Giving a Tier Six Lower Grade Artifact as a gift for achieving the Tao, Zhouyang’s generosity was unmatched.
Having just formed her Nascent Soul, Lu Xuewei did not yet have a suitable magical artifact, and she was immensely delighted to receive such a perfectly fitting Tier Six Artifact.
She looked at the ice-blue bracelet artifact in her hand, growing more fond of it the more she looked, and promptly wore it on her wrist.
Then she looked up at the master and mistress sitting above, suddenly knelt down, and kowtowed three times to them.
"As a disciple who has followed Master and Mistress since childhood, over these thousand years, if not for the care and support of Master and Mistress, this disciple would have long perished like the other junior brothers and sisters and would not have such achievements today."
"The grace of nurturing and teaching from Master and Mistress is something this disciple cannot repay in a lifetime."
"Master’s kindness is as deep as the sea and more significant than the heavens; disciple Lu Xuewei can only repay with a sincere heart to acknowledge such immense kindness!"
Thud, thud, thud!
The crisp sound of kowtowing echoed in the cave mansion.
Zhouyang and Xiao Ying, watching their disciple repeatedly kowtow, exchanged glances filled with satisfaction.
As Lu Xuewei herself said, since she had taken Zhouyang as her teacher, the couple had raised her almost like their daughter, never withholding any benefits.
On her journey of cultivation, to form her core and her infant, Zhouyang, as her teacher, had put in great effort.
Not to mention, just the Holy Infant Fruit, which could increase a cultivator’s success rate of forming a Nascent Soul by thirty percent, was invaluable and unaffordable for most Nascent Soul stage cultivators.
Of course, when Zhouyang helped his disciple, he never expected any return, purely out of affection for his disciple.
At this moment, full of relief, he waved his hand repeatedly, "Rise, rise, Xue Wei, your sincerity is already known to your teacher and mistress. We are both very pleased."
"Now that you are also a Nascent Soul stage Zhenren, sharing the same realm as us, such grand gifts are unnecessary anymore, and there’s no need for this in the future."
Lu Xuewei stood up but said earnestly, "The respect and gratitude I have for Master and Mistress stem from the heart. Even if I am newly a Nascent Soul now, or in the future, I am fortunate enough to peer into the higher realm of Immortal Dao; this humility and gratitude to my elders will never change."
Upon hearing this, Zhouyang’s smile grew even brighter.
Who doesn’t want to hear kind words?
Though he didn’t expect any return from his disciples, if those he had wholeheartedly nurtured showed no gratitude, he would certainly have been upset.
Laughing for a while, he then, with a hint of curiosity, looked at Lu Xuewei and asked, "I noticed the aura of your magical power has changed significantly. Did you, perhaps, have some fortuitous encounter in the Beiting Continent cultivation realm and change your main cultivation technique?"
"Master’s eyes are like torches. Indeed, I have switched to another cultivation technique, and regarding this matter, I was about to report it to you, Master."
Lu Xuewei’s face flashed with a hint of admiration, and she immediately began recounting her experiences during her journey in the Beiting Continent cultivation realm to the Zhouyang couple.
It turns out that decades ago, when she went to the Beiting Continent’s Cultivation Realm under Zhouyang’s orders, even with Bi’Er, the Tier Six Demon King, escorting her, she still encountered the greatest danger of her life.
At that time, as Bi’Er was escorting her through the Endless Snowfield, they happened to run into a Tier Six "Bingyi People" expert.
That Tier Six "Bingyi People" expert, upon recognizing Bi’Er’s true form as a [Water-Resistant Golden-Eyed Beast], and seeing her carrying a Golden Core Stage human cultivator "burden," harbored malicious intent and considered her prey.
However, as soon as the fight commenced, Bi’Er, with the help of the Tier Six Middle-Grade Spiritual Artifact [Profound Nether True Water Banner] and [Black Tortoise True Water] bestowed by Zhouyang, gained the upper hand and almost slew that "Bingyi People."
But as a result, they formed a deadly feud with that "Bingyi People."
Before they acted, no one knew that although this Tier Six "Bingyi People" was mediocre in abilities, he hailed from a large "Bingyi People" tribe, where there was an elder comparable to a Late-Stage Nascent Soul Cultivator.
Once this gravely injured "Bingyi People" returned to his tribe, his elder, in shock and anger, pursued Bi’Er and Lu Xuewei.
The "Bingyi People" had their own ways to track people in the Endless Snowfield. Even though Bi’Er realized something was wrong after injuring him, changed directions, and used some concealment methods, they were still found.
Then, to protect Lu Xuewei, Bi’Er had to act separately, risking herself to divert the pursuing Late-Sixth Rank "Bingyi People."
Initially, when separating, Bi’Er had arranged with Lu Xuewei to meet at a location ahead.
But due to being pursued too relentlessly, Bi’Er couldn’t make it to the meeting point on time, and thus Lu Xuewei had to venture towards the Beiting Continent’s Cultivation Realm alone, guided only by a map.
It can be imagined how dangerous it was for her, a Ninth-Layer Golden Core Cultivator, to traverse the Endless Snowfield alone; experiencing a situation that could be described as surviving against all odds.
However, with the numerous treasures bestowed by Zhouyang, and some luck on her part, she eventually safely reached the Beiting Continent’s Cultivation Realm.
The cultivation technique she switched to, a top-tier ice element technique [Ice Soul Profound Nether Immortal Scripture] that allowed her to cultivate to the Tribulation Crossing Stage, was acquired in a famous perilous area within the Endless Snowfield called [Ancient Ice Profound Dao].
This item seemed to have been deliberately left by a great power in the [Ancient Ice Profound Dao], awaiting someone with the destined opportunity.
Lu Xuewei was fortunate enough to stumble into the ice cave containing this immortal scripture, and coincidentally met the conditions to cultivate it, thus bringing the scripture to light again.
Things became simpler from thereon. Lu Xuewei successfully reached the Beiting Continent’s Cultivation Realm, reunited with Bi’Er who arrived later, completed Zhouyang’s tasks together, and then proceeded with Zhouyang’s token to seek a place for secluded cultivation at the Profound Nether Immortal Sect.
With Zhouyang’s token as proof, and Bi’Er providing corroboration, Lu Xuewei was naturally easily trusted and accepted by the Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators of the Profound Nether Immortal Sect, who arranged a dedicated room for sect cultivators’ secluded Nascent Soul Formation for her.
Subsequently, after seventeen years of closed cultivation, Lu Xuewei successfully underwent Core Formation and Nascent Soul Formation, then took advantage of the opportunity to transform the magical power from her original [Ice Soul Scripture] cultivation into that of the [Ice Soul Profound Nether Immortal Scripture], stabilizing her magical cultivation with the help of the rich and pure ice attribute spiritual qi of the secluded place.
"By the way, when I arrived at the Beiting Continent’s Cultivation Realm, Elder Nie from the Profound Nether Immortal Sect had already passed away, and the last major event he did before passing was to sculpt statues of the Nascent Soul Cultivators from the Liuyun Continent Cultivation Realm who once supported the Beiting Continent’s Cultivation Realm."
"Including Master among the eighteen Nascent Soul Stage Zhenren statues, they now stand atop the purified Demon Abyss, forever admired by the later generations of the Beiting Continent Cultivation Realm cultivators!"
As Lu Xuewei spoke to this point, her gaze towards Zhouyang was already filled with admiration and reverence.
It was only after her visit to the Beiting Continent’s Cultivation Realm that she realized how esteemed her master was there.
Any cultivator from the Beiting Continent’s Cultivation Realm, upon hearing she was Zhouyang’s disciple, no matter their level of cultivation, showed her extreme goodwill and friendliness, making everything she did much easier.
"Fellow Daoist Nie was quite considerate; if those fallen Daoists knew this from the underworld, they should feel solace with this news!"
Zhouyang sighed gently, quite appreciative of Nie Yushuang’s thoughtful gesture.
Living individuals value profit, while the dead esteem reputation.
If one’s name can be passed down through the ages, leaving a renowned legacy, then the Nascent Soul Stage cultivators of the Liuyun Continent’s Cultivation Realm who perished in the Beiting Continent’s Cultivation Realm would have sacrificed meaningfully.
After a bout of emotion, Zhouyang nodded towards Lu Xuewei and said, "I understand. Now that you have formed your Nascent Soul, you need a suitable place to cultivate. Just as it happens, only Fellow Daoist Liu resides at the Nascent Soul Stage in the Suyun Sect, so you and your teacher can first go there to cultivate. I will make arrangements for you in the future."
Fire Birch Mountain is merely a Tier Six Lower-Grade Spirit Mountain, and after accommodating Zhouyang, Xiao Ying, Qin Yue’er, and Bi’Er, it is almost at its limit, unable to support more Nascent Soul Stage cultivators.
Moreover, Lu Xuewei, who focuses on cultivating ice attribute techniques, is not suitable to cultivate on this fire-attribute spirit mountain.
Comparatively, the spirit veins in the Suyun Sect’s region are undoubtedly more suitable for Lu Xuewei’s cultivation.
Thanks to Zhouyang’s help, the Suyun Sect managed to upgrade their spirit veins, and they have consistently kept a Tier Six Cave Mansion reserved for him, where he and his Dao companion Xiao Ying took residence whenever they visited the Suyun Sect.
At this moment, sending his Dao companion Xiao Ying and Lu Xuewei to cultivate at the Suyun Sect, Zhouyang decided, because he intended to focus on entering seclusion to break through to the Late-Stage Nascent Soul himself, and couldn’t accompany his Dao companion.
After sending off his Dao companion Xiao Ying and disciple Lu Xuewei, Zhouyang addressed Qin Yue’er, another Nascent Soul Stage cultivator on Fire Birch Mountain, saying, "Fairy Qin, I will also need to find a place to break through next, with Bi’Er guarding this cave mansion and spirit mountain, there is no need for you to keep watch. If you wish to go out on a journey, feel free to do so."
Upon hearing this, Qin Yue’er immediately lowered her gaze and replied softly, "Yue’er understands, Brother Zhou, rest assured in your breakthrough, Yue’er will take good care of herself." 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂
The address "Brother Zhou" caused Zhouyang significant discomfort, and after a nod, he left Fire Birch Mountain’s cave mansion, heading toward the Profound Sun Immortal Sect.
It was during his journey to the Celestial South Continent’s Cultivation Realm that he learned his Dao companion Xiao Ying, while interacting with Qin Yue’er, had "accidentally" slipped, revealing to Qin Yue’er about their past karmic entanglement in the Land of the Far West’s Cultivation Realm.
As a result, Qin Yue’er naturally adopted the demeanor of a concubine in his presence, making him rather awkward and uncomfortable.
He also wasn’t sure what Qin Yue’er thought about it and found it difficult to explain, so he pretended to be unaware for the time being.
Before long, Zhouyang successfully arrived at the entrance of the Profound Sun Immortal Sect.
Since he had sent a message in advance to Master Cyan Yang, he was personally received by Master Cyan Yang upon his arrival at the Profound Sun Immortal Sect.
After the two entered Master Cyan Yang’s "Cyan Yang Cave," Zhouyang briefly mentioned some of the events from his recent trip to the Celestial South Continent’s Cultivation Realm, then, with a solemn expression, explained his intention to the counterpart.
"Junior has come this time to visit Elder Qingyang, hoping to ask for assistance in obtaining a place for secluded cultivation in the [Dome Heaven Immortal Realm] to aid junior in breaking through to the Late-Stage Nascent Soul."
