https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-381-Eighth-Rank-Earthen-Armored-Dragon-Spirit/12550219/
Chapter 380: Water and Fire are Incompatible
Chapter 380: Water and Fire are Incompatible
This was Chu Ning's first time visiting Guiyuan Zong. The grandeur of the sect left him slightly shaken.
Guiyuan Zong was built amidst the peaks of Guiyuan Mountain, the largest spiritual mountain in the Yunxiao Mountain Range. While it may not be more awe-inspiring than the Icescape Fairy City, the depth of its heritage and legacy far surpassed it.
The sect had clearly prepared for this once-in-a-century grand event within the alliance. As soon as Chu Ning, Cen Zijin, and Tang Xuan arrived at the mountain gate, they were immediately guided to the designated accommodations.
On a spiritual mountain spanning tens of miles, there were numerous compounds, and Chu Ning's group was assigned to one with a plaque that read 'Jiuhua'.
Tang Xuan began explaining to Chu Ning, "Since most major decisions within the Yunxiao Alliance are made here in Guiyuan Zong, cultivators from the various sects often come and go. For convenience, Guiyuan Zong has assigned a fixed compound for each sect here in the mountains. The next time you visit, you won't need a guide and can come directly here."
Chu Ning finally understood and nodded, his eyes narrowing slightly as he glanced at a compound not far away.
"Daluo Zong?"
Tang Xuan followed Chu Ning's gaze and calmly replied, "The compounds are generally allocated based on their location. Daluo Zong is one of the closest sects to us, so their compound is right next to ours."
Chu Ning nodded slightly and was about to speak when several beams of light flew toward them, landing at the entrance of the Daluo Zong compound.
There were four people, including a Nascent Soul cultivator and three Golden Core cultivators. To Chu Ning's surprise, he recognized one of them.
Ao Xuan.
Even though Ao Xuan was only at the early Golden Core stage at the moment, Chu Ning was still taken aback.
"This guy was seriously injured by me during the competition in Jiuhua Zong. Back then, the Daluo Zong cultivators determined that his cultivation had greatly regressed and might never recover enough to form a Golden Core again. I didn't expect him to not only enter the Golden Core stage but also do so earlier than Lu Ke'an. Seems like Daluo Zong has put in quite some effort into him."
As Chu Ning noticed Ao Xuan, the latter also spotted him. A trace of resentment and pride appeared on the genius cultivator's face, as if telling Chu Ning that he hadn't forgotten the grievous injury from their previous encounter, but that he had still managed to advance to the Golden Core stage.
The next moment, Ao Xuan's proud expression vanished, replaced by sheer horror. His resentful gaze now carried a strong hint of jealousy, and his face twisted slightly with ugliness.
Apparently, Ao Xuan had also realized that Chu Ning had reached the late Golden Core stage.
Chu Ning, however, remained indifferent. Ao Langtian, who had been at the late Golden Core stage, had died at his hands. He hardly considered Ao Xuan, who was merely at the early Golden Core stage, a threat.
Chu Ning's gaze shifted to the leader of the Daluo Zong group, an elder who seemed slightly younger than Tang Xuan but exuded a more powerful aura.
"This person seems to have a higher cultivation level than Tang Xuan," Chu Ning thought.
Before he could ponder further, the elder spoke up, "Old Ghost Tang, I heard you almost fell into mania and should have been recuperating quietly in Jiuhua Mountain. What are you doing here?"
Tang Xuan's expression remained calm as he replied, "Old Ghost Du, your Daluo Zong always hopes for the worst for others. It's no wonder your sect is declining."
Hearing Tang Xuan's response, Chu Ning's heart stirred.
"His surname is Du, so he must be Du Xianming, one of the two Nascent Soul cultivators of Daluo Zong. When I first joined Jiuhua Zong, I heard that he was about to break through to the mid-Nascent Soul stage. No wonder his aura is stronger than Tang Xuan's."
Chu Ning wasn't too surprised that Daluo Zong had learned about Tang Xuan's backlash from his heart demon. After all, with so many disciples in Jiuhua Zong, it was inevitable that some information would slip out.
However, only Golden Core and above cultivators within the sect knew about Ao Langtian's death, so there was no need to worry about that news reaching the ears of Daluo Zong cultivators.
Upon hearing Tang Xuan's words, Du Xianming coldly snorted, "What's so great about recruiting some foreign cultivators? You're getting too proud of yourselves."
As he spoke, Du Xianming's gaze fell on Cen Zijin, who was standing next to Chu Ning, before shifting to Chu Ning himself, a puzzled look on his face.
Clearly, he was unfamiliar with Chu Ning as well.
Meanwhile, Ao Xuan seemed to be whispering something to Du Xianming, who listened and then flashed a surprised look.
Tang Xuan turned to Chu Ning and Cen Zijin and said, "Let's go. Don't mind them."
With that, he led the two directly into the compound.
Seeing this, Du Xianming and his group, who were standing not far away, turned and returned to their own compound.
Although the compounds of the various sects were adjacent to each other, each compound had its own restrictions.
As soon as Du Xianming and his group entered their compound, they stopped transmitting their voices. Du Xianming turned to Ao Xuan and asked, "Are you saying that this cultivator named Chu Ning was only at the late Foundation Establishment stage a few decades ago when you fought with them, and now he's a late Golden Core cultivator?"
I would recognize him even if he turned to ash."
"There's actually someone with such outstanding talent in Jiuhua Zong?" Du Xianming mumbled to himself.
"His name is Chu Ning, the recently returned Golden Core elder of Jiuhua Zong?"
Muttering softly, Du Xianming's eyes narrowed slightly.
When the spiritual realm at Honghu Lake had opened back then, he had been in seclusion. Another Nascent Soul cultivator from Daluo Zong had led the team.
As he had not participated, he naturally didn't recognize Chu Ning.
Now that he heard Ao Xuan mention Chu Ning's name, he immediately connected it with another piece of information they had received.
There was a Golden Core elder in Jiuhua Zong who had left for many years and recently returned.
However, the people from Daluo Zong didn't know that this returning Golden Core elder had already reached the late Golden Core stage.
Upon hearing this, Ao Xuan quickly spoke up:
"Master Du, it's somewhat acceptable that he advanced from the late Foundation Establishment to the Golden Core stage in a short time.
But after being gone for so many years, he returned as a late Golden Core cultivator from an early Golden Core one.
Don't you think... he might have obtained a Golden Spirit Plant?"
"I have the same suspicion," Du Xianming said in a deep voice.
Ao Xuan's expression turned even uglier as he heard this. The jealousy distorted his entire face.
Du Xianming spoke again, "Regardless of whether he has or hasn't, this person definitely has some opportunity.
Fortunately, he should have just entered the late Golden Core stage not long ago."
As he spoke, his gaze shifted to one of the four Golden Core cultivators, a middle-aged man with an ordinary appearance.
"Daoping, you're most likely to encounter him during the competition.
If you have the chance, injure him severely and don't let him have the opportunity to obtain the Ten Thousand Laws Spirit Fruit."
The middle-aged man was named Rong Daoping, a late Golden Core cultivator from Daluo Zong. His cultivation was even higher than that of Ao Langtian, and he had already reached the peak of the late Golden Core stage.
However, he usually kept a low profile, so his reputation within the Yunxiao Alliance was not as high as Ao Langtian's.
The reason why Du Xianming brought four Golden Core cultivators, even including someone at the early Golden Core stage like Ao Xuan, was to take a gamble.
If Jiang Cheng from Guiyuan Zong didn't make a move, then Rong Daoping had a chance to compete for the first place.
Even if Jiang Cheng did make a move, Rong Daoping still had a fighting chance. Although the odds weren't fifty-fifty, there was still a three-to-seven possibility of winning.
Upon hearing Du Xianming's words, Rong Daoping's face remained calm, and he simply nodded slightly.
A hesitant look appeared on Ao Xuan's face, but he eventually spoke up, "Elder Du, do you think there's a possibility that this Chu Ning knows about my father's whereabouts?
None of the other returned cultivators from other sects have seen him, and since Chu Ning was transmitted from a farther place, there might be a chance that he encountered my father."
Du Xianming shook his head after hearing this and sighed softly, "Ao Shizhi, you shouldn't think about this anymore.
Putting aside whether Chu Ning knows or not, even if he does, would he tell us? The relationship between our Daluo Zong and Jiuhua Zong has already deteriorated to the point of being irreconcilable."
Ao Xuan nodded lightly after hearing this, but his expression showed a hint of reluctance.
Seeing Chu Ning today had been quite a shock to him.
Back then, they had both entered the spiritual realm, yet Jiuhua Zong's long-lost Chu Ning had returned, while his father, Ao Langtian, remained missing with no news of his life or death.
What stimulated him even more was that Chu Ning had already advanced to the late Golden Core stage.
Just as they were discussing Chu Ning, in the other courtyard, Tang Xuan was also solemnly warning Chu Ning and Cen Zijin, "Be careful of the cultivators from Daluo Zong, especially Rong Daoping. I haven't seen him in many years, and I didn't expect him to have already reached the peak of the late Golden Core stage.
If Daluo Zong sends him to compete, you must be cautious."
Chu Ning nodded slightly, then fell into a brief silence before looking at Cen Zijin and saying, "Senior Tang, how about I be the only one participating in this competition?
Zijin won't sign up this time. If I can win first place, I'll be able to bring her with me.
If not, then forget it."
Cen Zijin was somewhat surprised, as she didn't know the details, but she didn't say anything.
Tang Xuan nodded gently and agreed, "That's a good idea. Although it's usual for people not to kill each other during these kinds of competitions, the alliance also doesn't allow us to go all out.
However, given the grudges between our sects, it's hard to say what they might do. It's better for Zijin not to participate."
Cen Zijin wasn't someone who liked to compete, so she didn't say anything more when she saw this.
However, she became curious about the enmity between Jiuhua Zong and Daluo Zong.
Chu Ning then briefly explained to her what he knew about the matter.
When Cen Zijin heard about how Daluo Zong had come to their door back then, she finally understood why Chu Ning had such high prestige in Jiuhua Zong.
Just as Chu Ning finished explaining, a voice sounded from outside the courtyard.
"Is Fellow Daoist Chu here?"
(End of Chapter)
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