https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-370-A-Warm-Welcome-and-News-of-the-Celestial-Demon/12550142/
Chapter 371: A Life Without Shame or Restraint
Chapter 371: A Life Without Shame or Restraint
Yu Changge made his stance clear. If the people of Yaochi Palace were willing to join Jiuhua Zong, they would be most welcome, and if they were reluctant, they could temporarily reside in Jiuhua Mountain without any issues.
With this assurance, Chu Ning set out to fetch Cen Zijin, Cheng Qinghui, and the others. Yu Changge insisted on accompanying him, and he also invited Gong Yuquan to join them.
"I'm sure you've spoken highly of our sect, Elder Chu. Now we must show them our sincerity," Yu Changge said with a smile. Chu Ning had no reason to refuse.
The three of them set off immediately, flying out of the sect at top speed. Yu Changge seemed intent on testing Chu Ning's abilities, flying ahead with all his might.
Chu Ning initially kept up using the Shenfeng Dun technique, but he soon had to switch to the Phantom Dun to maintain his pace.
This change actually put Gong Yuquan at a disadvantage, and he quickly fell far behind.
Noticing this, Yu Changge was surprised.
He deliberately slowed down to wait for Gong Yuquan before commenting, "Elder Chu, your late-stage Golden Core cultivation is truly remarkable. Your spiritual sense and escape techniques are no less than those of a Nascent Soul cultivator."
Gong Yuquan smiled and replied, "Indeed. I believe that from now on, the title of Grand Elder should rightfully belong to Elder Chu instead."
Chu Ning quickly shook his head and laughed, "Grand Elder, you flatter me. Your virtue and prestige are far beyond what I could ever achieve."
After their brief exchange, Yu Changge turned serious and asked, "Elder Chu, how far can you extend your spiritual sense? Previously, I was detected by you first."
Chu Ning thought for a moment before answering, "A hundred and twenty miles or so."
Of course, Chu Ning was being modest. A hundred and twenty miles was the range he could cover without changing the intensity of his spiritual sense. His true limit was three hundred miles.
However, such a distance was so astonishing that Chu Ning preferred to keep it a secret.
Even with this conservative estimate, the two top cultivators of Jiuhua Zong couldn't help but exchange amazed glances.
After all, Yu Changge had already advanced to the Nascent Soul stage, yet he couldn't match Chu Ning's range.
In the cultivation world, improving one's spiritual sense was notoriously difficult. Extending it by just one mile was a challenge even for Nascent Soul cultivators.
Yet, Chu Ning's range far exceeded Yu Changge's by several dozen miles. How could they not be astounded?
Yu Changge sighed with emotion, "Elder Chu, I'm now even more eager to see how you will astonish the Western Alliance when you reach the Nascent Soul stage."
Gong Yuquan nodded in agreement and added, "Yes, even now, Elder Chu can be considered the number one Golden Core cultivator in the Cloud Sky Alliance, surpassing Jiang Cheng of Guiyuan Zong."
"That Jiang Cheng probably never imagined that he would first be overshadowed by you, Sect Master, and now by Elder Chu," he continued with a smile.
Yu Changge laughed, "If we have the chance, we should definitely arrange a meeting between Elder Chu and Jiang Cheng."
As the three of them flew and chatted, Yu Changge and Gong Yuquan took the opportunity to ask Chu Ning about various matters, and Chu Ning also gained a better understanding of the current situation in the Western Alliance.
Although the two of them were well-known figures in Jiuhua Zong and even the Cloud Sky Alliance, they had never left the Western Alliance.
As a result, they were curious about the Northern Cold Lands and the Eastern Sacred Continent, and they were also intrigued by the story of Wuling Island.
Chu Ning, in turn, learned about the current affairs in the Western Alliance from Yu Changge and Gong Yuquan.
The Cloud Sky Alliance, the Sky Extreme Alliance, and the Demon Path Alliance had relatively close spheres of influence. Currently, there was constant friction between the Sky Extreme Alliance and the Demon Path Alliance.
The Cloud Sky Alliance maintained a relatively stable position because the other two alliances wanted to pull them into their respective camps.
However, the Cloud Sky Alliance maintained a neutral stance and had not committed to either side.
This was a strategic decision made for the sect's safety.
While the Cloud Sky Alliance could rank fourth among the top ten sect alliances in the Western Alliance, it was actually the weakest among the three major alliances.
The Sky Extreme Alliance was the strongest, ranking first among the top ten alliances.
The Demon Path Alliance, while not as powerful as the Sky Extreme Alliance, could still claim the third position, second only to the Sky Extreme Alliance and the True Martial Alliance.
The top three alliances were more or less on the same level.
However, the Cloud Sky Alliance, ranked fourth, was significantly weaker. In terms of the number of Nascent Soul and Golden Core cultivators, they were not far off from the eighth-ranked alliance.
With the demise of many Golden Core cultivators in the Golden Spirit Realm, some believed that the Cloud Sky Alliance had already dropped out of the top five.
Given this situation, if the Cloud Sky Alliance were to rashly join either the Sky Extreme Alliance or the Demon Path Alliance, and if they were successful in suppressing the other alliance, the Cloud Sky Alliance would likely face difficulties in the future.
There was also a significant probability that the alliance they sided with would turn against them.
Moreover, with Yu Changge's successful breakthrough to the Nascent Soul stage, Jiuhua Zong's standing within the Cloud Sky Alliance had risen steadily.
Upon hearing this, Chu Ning asked, "By the way, what about Daluo Zong? Will they still target us?"
"They've been lying low lately," Gong Yuquan replied with a smile.
"Firstly, the leaders within the alliance have agreed to avoid internal strife.
Secondly, with our sect leader attaining the Nascent Soul stage, we now have an equal number of Nascent Soul cultivators as them, which has given them pause."
Speaking of which, Gong Yuquan added, "By the way, the expedition into the Golden Spirit Realm also dealt a significant blow to Daluo Zong.
Three of their Golden Core cultivators entered, but none returned. We don't know if they met the same fate as Elder Chu and were transported elsewhere by the spatial storm, or if they met with some other mishap in the Golden Spirit Realm."
Yu Changge interjected, "In fact, we believe that Elder Chu's luck was rather uncommon.
While the spatial storms can indeed transport people to various locations, there's also a significant chance of being pulled directly into a spatial rift."
After a moment of silence, Chu Ning said, "I'm not sure about the others, but Oulangtian won't be coming back."
At Chu Ning's words, both Yu Changge and Gong Yuquan's eyes flickered with surprise.
They remembered how Oulangtian had led a group of cultivators to challenge them, and although Chu Ning had ultimately turned the tide and secured the spot in Wolong Valley, the incident had left a bitter taste in the mouths of their Golden Core cultivators.
If they were asked who they despised the most among the cultivators of Daluo Zong, that arrogant and overbearing Oulangtian would undoubtedly top the list.
Hearing Chu Ning's words, Gong Yuquan casually asked, "Elder Chu, did you witness his misfortune?"
"He died by my hand," Chu Ning said calmly.
Decades had passed, and Chu Ning had even killed a Nascent Soul cultivator. Oulangtian, a mere late-stage Golden Core cultivator, was not someone he dwelled on.
However, Yu Changge and Gong Yuquan exchanged glances, their eyes flickering with surprise at Chu Ning's offhand comment.
Yu Changge's expression turned peculiar as he said, "I recall that when you entered the Golden Spirit Realm, you had just formed your Golden Core, right? You were at the early Golden Core stage?"
Chu Ning nodded, and Yu Changge and Gong Yuquan fell silent for a moment.
Yu Changge then smiled and asked, "Elder Chu, I'm curious. Do you now possess the means to kill a Nascent Soul cultivator?"
Chu Ning quickly shook his head. "Sect Master, you jest. Nascent Soul and Golden Core cultivators are on completely different levels.
I'm just an ordinary Golden Core cultivator; how dare I compare myself to a Nascent Soul cultivator?"
Even though Chu Ning trusted Yu Changge and Gong Yuquan to a certain extent, he wasn't about to reveal his most closely guarded secrets.
Additionally, while Chu Ning had indeed killed a Nascent Soul cultivator on the Eastern Sacred Continent, that cultivator had not been particularly advanced in his stage, and he hadn't possessed many divine abilities.
So, Chu Ning wasn't arrogant enough to believe that he could now ignore all other early Nascent Soul cultivators.
As they chatted, they soon arrived at Cen Zijin's temporary residence.
Chu Ning and the others hadn't tried to conceal their tracks, and Cen Zijin, Cheng Qinghui, and the others immediately sensed their approach.
"Chu Ning is back!" Cen Zijin exclaimed, and then, sensing the presence of a Nascent Soul cultivator beside Chu Ning, she cried out in surprise, "And he's brought a Nascent Soul cultivator with him!"
Cheng Qinghui's eyes widened in astonishment as well.
As they watched the three figures approaching, Cheng Qinghui was about to speak when a voice called out first.
"Are you Cheng, Cen, and Ge Fellows? We apologize for keeping you waiting."
As the voice rang out, Chu Ning and the other two landed.
Chu Ning quickly introduced them, saying, "This is Jiuhua Zong's Sect Master, Yu Changge, and the First Elder, Gong Yuquan."
Cheng Qinghui and Cen Zijin didn't dare to be impolite, and they immediately bowed and greeted them respectfully. "Greetings, Elder Yu and Fellow Gong!"
"Please, no need for formalities," Yu Changge said with a smile.
"Elder Chu has already informed us of your intentions. I've come here personally to invite all of you to our sect. Why don't you stay with us for a while and consider your next steps?"
"We wouldn't dare trouble you, Elder Yu," Cheng Qinghui replied, readily accepting the invitation.
Upon their arrival, Yu Changge arranged for Cheng Qinghui and the other Yaochi Palace cultivators to reside in Zixia Peak within the Spirit Mountain.
As Cheng Qinghui and Ge Yu were both Golden Core cultivators, the spiritual energy in the area Yu Changge assigned them was abundant.
The rest of the arrangements would be handled by the sect members.
Chu Ning, accompanied by Cen Zijin, headed towards Tianlan Peak.
Tianlan Peak was the cave abode that had been assigned to Chu Ning when he formed his Golden Core.
Having been away for many years, the sect had not reassigned it, and everything remained as it was when he left.
As soon as he entered the cave abode, Chu Ning breathed a sigh of relief.
Noticing his expression, Cen Zijin, who was inspecting the cave abode, asked curiously:
"What's wrong? You seem to feel relieved."
Chu Ning nodded slightly and sighed, "Over the past few decades in the Northern Cold Lands, I've established my own cave abode, but I always had to be on guard.
It's much more reassuring to be back in the sect's cave abode. From now on, you won't have to worry about your cultivation here."
Hearing this, Cen Zijin rolled her eyes at Chu Ning.
"Who said I'm going to cultivate here? I plan to stay with Cheng Qinghui and the others on Zixia Peak. I just came to see what your cave abode looks like."
Chu Ning smiled and said, "It seems that living a carefree life here doesn't appeal to you, Cen Xianzi.
How about we hold a ceremony to formalize our union as cultivation partners? That way, we can be together without any concerns."
"Who's living a carefree life with you?" Cen Zijin retorted, giving Chu Ning a playful glare.
"And I don't want any of those ceremonial rituals. They're too troublesome."
Chu Ning laughed and said, "Well, you said it yourself. If you don't want to stay here, then forget about Zixia Peak. There's no room for you there.
Why don't you help me set up this cave abode instead? By the way, we can place the jade bed we got from Lei Huo Zong in the cultivation room.
Later, we can set up a spirit gathering formation to aid your cultivation."
Cen Zijin was not one for pretenses, and cultivators didn't bother with many formalities anyway.
Hearing Chu Ning's suggestion, she immediately chose a cultivation room and took out the jade bed from her storage bag to set it up.
She had intended to call Chu Ning to help her set up a spirit gathering formation, but when she stepped out of the cultivation room, she saw him setting up formation restrictions in the herb garden outside the cave abode.
Cen Zijin was familiar with formation restrictions, and when she saw that the formation Chu Ning was setting up had an obvious restraining effect, she asked curiously:
"What are you up to?"
"I'm planting some good stuff!" Chu Ning replied, taking out several jade boxes from his storage bag.
He first picked up two of them.
Opening one of the jade boxes, he revealed a small, snow-white figure that resembled jade and snow, almost transparent.
"What is that?"
Cen Zijin was unfamiliar with this treasure unique to the Northern Cold Lands.
"This is a Snow Crystal Reishi that has already attained sentience. The one in my hand is about three thousand years old.
The spiritual liquid it condenses is far more effective for improving one's cultivation than ordinary pills."
As he spoke, Chu Ning struck a series of hand seals, causing the Snow Crystal Reishi to glow white and return to its original tree form.
The tree's trunk and branches shone with a silvery light, while its leaves resembled shining, translucent white lingzhi.
Cen Zijin couldn't help but marvel at the sight.
Chu Ning had nurtured this Snow Crystal Reishi for many years, and now that it was planted, it didn't try to escape.
Chu Ning then took the jade box and entered another restricted area.
Opening the box, he revealed a more humanoid white figure that was deeply asleep.
Chu Ning sensed its vitality, which was still robust, and he breathed a sigh of relief.
This was the Snow Crystal Reishi that Chu Ning had obtained from Tai Xu Yan, and it was over ten thousand years old!
During his time in Tai Xu Yan, he had acquired many treasures, but after leaving, he had crossed the Boundless Sea and entered the Eastern Sacred Continent, finding himself in the territory of Zi Yue Zong.
It hadn't been convenient for him to take out and plant these treasures until now.
Chu Ning was now able to properly care for these precious items.
...
That's it for today's chapter. I'll adjust my schedule and update with 10,000 words at the latest the day after tomorrow.
(End of Chapter)
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