Longevity: My Cultivation Talent Can Refresh Chapter 222: The Visit from the Da Luo Zong, Chu Ning's Breakthrough - Novel Cool

Chapter 222: The Visit from the Da Luo Zong, Chu Ning's Breakthrough

Chapter 222: The Visit from the Da Luo Zong, Chu Ning's Breakthrough

Chu Ning was currently in seclusion, attempting to break through to the late Qi Refining stage. However, peace eluded the Jiuhua Zong at this moment.

In the mission hall atop Jiuhua Peak, numerous disciples perused the sect's missions, their conversations revolving around a different matter.

"I heard that in Wolong Mountain, they discovered the site of the battle between the Yunxiao Alliance and our Jiuhua Zong, along with the Da Luo Zong, from three millennia ago."

"I heard about that too. Apparently, the Da Luo Zong wants to claim that site for themselves and keep our Jiuhua Zong out."

"That's unacceptable! During the internal strife within the Yunxiao Alliance, many of our Jiuhua Zong's predecessors had their belongings with them when they were attacked. Later, they fell in Wolong Mountain. If we're not allowed entry, won't our legacy fall into the hands of the Da Luo Zong?"

"Exactly! The Da Luo Zong used to be a small sect dependent on our Jiuhua Zong. They only rose to prominence because they obtained many treasures from our predecessors. How dare they act so arrogantly now!"

...

The lower-ranked disciples seethed with indignation, while in the grand hall of the Jiuhua Zong, eight of the nine Golden Core elders had gathered. The only absentees were the Nascent Soul ancestor, who was in seclusion, and Yu Changge and Gong Yuyuan, who were elsewhere.

"They're too arrogant!" Ger Liuyang, with his rugged features, exclaimed angrily within the hall.

"The Da Luo Zong profited from that battle and took advantage of our sect's weakened state to rise to power. Now, they're turning their backs on us!"

"Talking about this is pointless," Ling Cang interjected, standing up as well. "During that battle, many of our predecessors fell, and numerous sect legacies were lost. Now that the site has been discovered, we must do whatever it takes to gain access to it."

Among the legacies at stake, the Leging Dan Pavilion and the Leging Qi Pavilion had the most to lose, and their respective Golden Core elders were the most anxious.

Ger Liuyang kept glancing toward the hall's entrance, muttering, "Where's the Sect Master? I wonder what the Alliance has decided."

A fleeting trace of worry crossed Yuan Zhuo's usually stoic face as he spoke, "The Da Luo Zong now has two early Nascent Soul cultivators, and one of them might even advance to the mid-Nascent Soul stage. In terms of strength, they've surpassed our Jiuhua Zong. I fear that the others in the Alliance might not speak up for us."

Yuan Zhuo's words elicited sighs from the elders in the hall.

As longtime Golden Core cultivators, they were well aware that strength reigned supreme in the cultivation world.

Even though many knew that the Da Luo Zong had once been a subordinate of the Jiuhua Zong, the former's current superior strength gave them a higher standing within the Alliance, consistently overshadowing the Jiuhua Zong.

It was due to the Jiuhua Zong's predicament that everyone in the sect was more determined to strive for prosperity and resurgence.

However, the battle thousands of years ago had dealt a severe blow to the Jiuhua Zong's strength.

It had taken the relentless efforts of generations of cultivators to bring the sect to its current state.

Regaining their former glory was no easy task.

The discovery of the site might present an opportunity, but it also highlighted the problem.

Just then, a streak of light flew toward the hall from outside.

"The Sect Master is back!"

In the hall, the eight elders couldn't remain seated and stood up together.

Then, they saw Yu Changge walk into the hall with a composed expression.

"Sect Master, what did the Alliance decide?" Ger Liuyang, unable to contain his curiosity, asked immediately.

Yu Changge maintained his calm and didn't speak until he had returned to his seat at the head of the hall. Then, he slowly said,

"The Alliance adopted a compromise. Both sects will be allowed entry, but the number of people permitted will be determined by a contest."

"Contest results? What contest results?" Everyone was taken aback.

Yu Changge replied in a solemn tone, "We've already inspected the site on Wolong Mountain, and Elder Gong is guarding it.

Without directly answering their question, Yu Changge proceeded to explain about the site. "The small space within the site used to be within a spatial rift. Although it has now appeared, the space is unstable. Nascent Soul cultivators and above naturally cannot enter, and even Foundation Establishment cultivators can only enter up to thirty. Therefore, the Da Luo Zong proposed that the number of entrants from each sect be determined by a contest between the two sects' Foundation Establishment cultivators."

"The winning sect will be allowed to send twenty people, while the losing sect can send ten," he continued, and the expressions of the elders varied upon hearing this.

Yuan Zhuo was the first to ask, "How will the contest be judged?"

"The Da Luo Zong proposed that each sect select three cultivators to compete in pill refining, artifact forging, and combat," Yu Changge explained at this point.

"They will compete in pairs, and each cultivator must participate in all three categories, resulting in a total of nine matches. Whichever sect wins at least five matches will be declared the winner."

The elders didn't ask Yu Changge if he had agreed to this method of contest, as they all understood the situation.

If the proposal had come from the Da Luo Zong's Nascent Soul cultivator, Yu Changge would have had no reason to refuse.

Yu Changge's expression remained calm as he continued, "I managed to secure the Jiuhua Zong as the venue for the contest. In one month, the Da Luo Zong will send their people here. Now, we need to carefully consider whom to choose as our three representatives."

As soon as Yu Changge finished speaking, the elders' gazes fell upon Ling Cang and Ger Liuyang.

Since pill refining, artifact forging, and combat were all part of the contest, it was natural for the Leging Dan Pavilion and the Leging Qi Pavilion to send representatives.

However, the problem lay in finding someone who excelled in both pill refining and artifact forging, as cultivators who had reached such a level often had their unique means of achieving it.

The sect could, at most, provide them with better resources.

Unfortunately, the Jiuhua Zong had no one who was proficient in both pill refining and artifact forging, which made the situation difficult.

"Chu Ning should be one of them," Ling Cang spoke up. "Among the Foundation Establishment cultivators, I believe there's no one who can consistently beat him in pill refining."

Everyone nodded in agreement with Ling Cang's suggestion.

Yu Changge also gave a slight nod.

"Moreover, based on the means he displayed when he killed the Black Flood Dragon in the Black Dragon Pool, he should have no problem handling the combat portion as well."

Ge Liuyang spoke up, "As for the Artifact Forging Pavilion, Lu Kangan will be our representative. His artifact forging skills are second only to mine within the pavilion, and he's also at the late Qi Refining stage. While he doesn't have any particularly outstanding abilities in terms of magical techniques, his long tenure at the late Qi Refining stage has allowed him to make significant progress in his cultivation. He's learned several new techniques, and with a steady and solid performance, he should be able to hold his ground against most late Qi Refining stage cultivators. I'll also provide him with a treasure, which should increase his chances of victory."

Yu Changge nodded slightly, indicating his agreement with Ge Liuyang's suggestion.

After a brief moment of contemplation, his gaze shifted back to Ling Cang as he said, "Chu Ning and Lu Kangan don't guarantee us wins in both their matches, so we need to choose the last person from your Dan Refining Pavilion. We need someone who has a chance of winning at least one match, so we can have a shot at winning this contest."

Ling Cang thought for a moment before replying, "Then let it be Yuan Rongzhang."

Yu Changge was slightly taken aback by Ling Cang's suggestion of Yuan Rongzhang. "I thought you would choose He Yanmao."

Ling Cang shook his head. "Yuan Rongzhang's dan refining skills have improved rapidly over the years, and he's not far behind He Yanmao. However, when it comes to combat, Yuan Rongzhang has a stronger desire to win, and he's received guidance from Yuan Shixiong. He's a better fit."

Yu Changge nodded in agreement with Ling Cang's reasoning. "Very well, then. Notify the three of them to come here immediately."

Soon after, Yuan Rongzhang and Lu Kangan arrived in the grand hall.

"Chu Shixiong is in seclusion," Yuan Rongzhang informed the group, to no one's surprise.

After all, Chu Ning's penchant for seclusion was well-known.

Yu Changge spoke up, his voice deep and solemn. "Then we'll wait for him to emerge. In the meantime, I'll brief the two of you so you can be prepared."

However, as Yu Changge waited, a month passed without any sign of Chu Ning emerging from seclusion.

"Is Chu Ning still in seclusion?" Yu Changge asked, his usually calm demeanor showing a hint of impatience. With the Da Luo Zong's arrival imminent, even the typically composed Yu Changge was feeling the pressure.

Ling Cang shook his head in response to Yu Changge's question. "I went to his cave abode, but the array formation's defenses were too strong, and even I couldn't break through. However, I made quite a ruckus trying to break the array yesterday, and he should have definitely sensed it if he was inside."

Ling Cang paused for a moment, a hesitant expression on his face. "Sect Master, should we ask Yuan Shixiong to help me forcibly break the array?"

"No!" Yuan Zhuo immediately waved his hand in refusal. "If that's the case, Chu Ning is most likely at a critical juncture in his cultivation. There's no need to wait any longer. We'll activate our backup plan and have He Yanmao take his place."

"Alright..." Ling Cang sighed softly.

Yu Changge placed a hand on Ling Cang's shoulder and said, "I know what you want to say, but for us, our disciples are more important than anything else. We didn't have a surefire strategy for victory in this contest anyway. If we end up unable to send more people to enter the site or obtain the legacy, it won't be the end of the world."

As he spoke, a determined look flashed across Yu Changge's face. "The Jiuhua Zong will definitely prosper, and it will do so under our leadership!"

As he finished speaking, a surge of formidable aura erupted from Yu Changge, revealing the full extent of his power as a late Golden Core cultivator.

The display left Ling Cang and the others with a look of excitement on their faces. This was the Yu Changge they knew!

Over the years, he had quietly borne the pressure and kept his talents hidden. Many within the sect were unaware that the man before them had once been the benchmark for all disciples during the Qi Refining stage and had suppressed the various geniuses of the Yunxiao Alliance during the Foundation Establishment stage.

It was only after he had reached the Golden Core stage, especially after he had taken on the role of sect master, that he had stopped displaying the same fiery spirit.

Just as Ling Cang and the others were about to say something, Yu Changge suddenly lifted his head, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon. "Let's go. The Da Luo Zong has arrived."

With that, Yu Changge led the way out of the grand hall, followed by the eight elders.

All nine of them, with the exception of Palace Yuanyuan who was guarding the site, had gathered. They flew out of the Jiuhua Zong's mountain gate, and soon enough, a massive flying boat appeared in the distance.

The boat was nearly a hundred meters long, and its speed was astonishing.

At the front of the boat stood a black-haired, thick-browed elder with his hands clasped behind his back. He, too, was a late Nascent Soul cultivator.

Behind him were three Nascent Soul cultivators and nearly a hundred Qi Refining cultivators.

Ge Liuyang's eyes flickered with a mix of emotions as he beheld the boat. He couldn't tell if he felt envy or anger.

Clearly, this boat also had an interesting backstory.

The boat approached the Jiuhua Zong's mountain gate but showed no signs of landing.

The black-haired elder, Ao Langtian, stood in the air above the boat, looking down at Yu Changge and the others with a boisterous laugh.

"Sect Master Yu, you've brought so many fellow daoists to welcome us. That's too considerate of you!"

Yu Changge stood his ground, his expression calm and collected. "But Fellow Daoist Ao doesn't seem very considerate. Is this how the Da Luo Zong shows its hospitality?"

Ao Langtian let out another hearty laugh. "I just wanted to show all of you our Da Luo Spirit Boat. I heard that the Jiuhua Zong used to have a flying boat as well. It was said to have incredible offensive and defensive capabilities, but we never had the chance to see it. What a shame."

As soon as he heard this, Ge Liuyang couldn't contain the anger in his eyes. "Ao Langtian, don't get too carried away! You're just showing off a cheap imitation of our Jiuhua Star Luo Boat!"

"Heh, Ge Liuyang, it seems you haven't changed a bit over the years.

After arduously cultivating for three months and consuming numerous pills, he had finally broken through to the late Qi Refining Stage, advancing from the middle stage!

"Someone tried to forcibly enter my cave abode earlier. Judging from the fluctuations in the array formation's restrictions, the intruder's cultivation was not weak. In fact, they were most likely a Golden Core elder from the sect, but I wonder what their urgent business with me could be." Chu Ning muttered to himself as he quickly exited the cultivation room and made his way out of the array formation.

He had, of course, sensed the intrusion while he was cultivating, but as he was at a critical juncture in his breakthrough to the late Qi Refining Stage, he did not pay it any heed.

As he exited his cave abode, Chu Ning saw Su Yuqing and Wang Ping standing outside, their gazes fixed on the direction of Jiuhua Peak in the distance as if they were observing something. So focused were they that they didn't even notice Chu Ning's emergence.

"Su Shimei, Wang Ping, what are you two doing here?" Chu Ning's question startled Su Yuqing and Wang Ping, who turned around in delight.

"Chu Shixiong, you're finally out of seclusion!" Su Yuqing exclaimed happily before continuing anxiously, "Come with me to the Jiuhua Peak arena quickly, or we'll be too late!"

Chu Ning was taken aback by Su Yuqing's urgency, and as she grabbed his sleeve and started walking out, she briefly explained the situation.

"So, the Da Luo Zong is challenging our sect today, and they've already arrived at Jiuhua Peak?" Chu Ning asked, his voice grave, as he finally grasped the situation.

Su Yuqing nodded, and Chu Ning immediately said, "Then, you two follow me from behind. I'll go ahead."

With that, Chu Ning transformed into a green rainbow and sped towards Jiuhua Peak.

With the cultivation robe and boots crafted by Ge Liuyang, along with his own advancement to the late Qi Refining Stage, Chu Ning's Godwind Escape technique was exceptionally swift.

It was only after Chu Ning's figure disappeared into the sky that Su Yuqing came back to her senses.

Suddenly, she blinked as if realizing something. "I didn't even notice, but it seems like Chu Shixiong has already reached the late Qi Refining Stage. This is truly wonderful!"

(End of Chapter)

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