https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-385-Such-Unscrupulous-Individuals-Exist/12550223/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-387-Fusion-of-Spiritual-Qi-and-Primordial-Power/12550225/
Chapter 386: Nascent Soul, Deservedly the First
Chapter 386: Nascent Soul, Deservedly the First
Whether it was Du Xianming or Lu Yuezhang, they both looked at Chu Ning with astonishment on their faces.
It wasn't just because of what Chu Ning had said, but because he remained calm and unaffected by Du Xianming's oppressive aura.
Nascent Soul cultivators were on a completely different level from Golden Core cultivators, not just because of their more profound cultivation and possession of a Nascent Soul and Samadhi True Fire, but also because of their soul power.
The soul pressure of a Nascent Soul cultivator far surpassed that of a Golden Core cultivator.
Even someone like Jiang Cheng, who was at the peak of the late Golden Core stage and had a strong soul, would find it challenging to withstand the soul pressure of a Nascent Soul cultivator directly.
Yet, both Du Xianming and Lu Yuezhang could see that Tang Xuan hadn't intervened to assist Chu Ning.
Despite this, Chu Ning was able to speak calmly under the soul pressure exerted by Du Xianming, a peak early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator.
This surprised the two Nascent Soul cultivators greatly.
However, Chu Ning paid no heed to the astonishment in their eyes and continued, "Your Great Luo Sect's enmity with my Nine Floret Sect is well-known. As a senior Nascent Soul cultivator, you should set aside our sects' grievances. My companion is both my Dao Companion and an elder of my sect; there is nothing inappropriate about that. As for your accusation of recruiting a Golden Core cultivator to participate in the competition, that's simply preposterous."
Chu Ning scoffed, "While it's true that our sect has recently added a few friends as elders, when have we ever arranged for them to take part in the competition? Which sect would be so foolish as to think that the other sects' cultivators are as weak as those from your Great Luo Sect? It's merely your sect's jealousy because you couldn't obtain the qualification. Isn't this shameful?"
"What a silver tongue you have!" Du Xianming's eyes narrowed at Chu Ning's taunts, and the cold light in his eyes intensified.
He unleashed his soul pressure to its maximum, like a towering mountain pressing down on Chu Ning.
Yet, Chu Ning remained unaffected, his voice calm as he said, "If any Golden Core cultivator from your Great Luo Sect disagrees, I'll stand right here and accept their challenge. Even if I lose and give the qualification to your sect, what of it? But do you dare?"
As soon as these words left his mouth, the entire place erupted in an uproar once more. However, everyone's gazes weren't on Chu Ning but on Du Xianming and the viewing platform of the Great Luo Sect.
"Chu, don't be arrogant!"
"How arrogant! I'll teach you a lesson!"
"Chu, do you think the Great Luo Sect has no one to stand against you?"
The three Golden Core cultivators from the Great Luo Sect, feeling the weight of everyone's stares, couldn't hang back any longer. They flew out and headed straight for the high platform.
Chu Ning looked at them calmly, his expression unruffled. Then, he turned his gaze back to Du Xianming.
"Does the Great Luo Sect want to compete?"
Hearing these words, Du Xianming twitched his mouth. He had witnessed Chu Ning's previous battle with Jiang Cheng, and now, under his strongest soul pressure, Chu Ning remained unperturbed.
Du Xianming was well aware that none of the Golden Core cultivators from his sect could match Chu Ning.
He had never imagined that his attempt to create trouble for the Nine Floret Sect would backfire so spectacularly, leaving him in such an awkward situation in front of the numerous cultivators from the Cloudsoar Alliance.
At this moment, he was finding it hard to back down.
"Good! Good!" Du Xianming laughed angrily.
In the next moment, his figure disappeared from his original spot and reappeared three zhang away from Chu Ning.
At the same time, a cold voice rang out across the entire arena. "A mere Golden Core cultivator dares to speak to a Nascent Soul senior in such a manner. Today, I shall teach you a lesson!"
"Wait!" Lu Yuezhang's expression changed as he sensed Du Xianming's actions, and he quickly called out to stop him.
He flashed forward, his figure also appearing in front of everyone.
The other cultivators in the arena were filled with astonishment. They hadn't expected Du Xianming, a Nascent Soul cultivator, to be so infuriated by a junior like Chu Ning that he would take action himself.
What surprised them even more was that Tang Xuan, who was closest to Chu Ning, hadn't made any move at all. He looked as though he hadn't even had time to react.
As everyone wondered about this, they saw a giant sword suddenly appear in front of Chu Ning.
It shimmered with five-colored light, its power far surpassing that of the Fire Spirit Sword.
Just as Du Xianming reached out to strike Chu Ning, the giant sword slashed down, aiming straight at Du Xianming.
Du Xianming immediately sensed the power behind Chu Ning's control of the giant sword.
He had never imagined that Chu Ning would react so quickly, and his first reaction was not to dodge but to counter-attack.
He coldly harrumphed, and the giant hand he had formed with his spiritual power grabbed at the giant sword in the air, intending to forcibly take it from Chu Ning.
Judging from the situation, he was planning to forcefully seize Chu Ning's sword.
However, if Du Xianming had truly reached the mid-Nascent Soul stage, he would have had a suppressive advantage over Chu Ning.
But right now, even at the peak of the early Nascent Soul stage, he was facing Chu Ning, who possessed formidable spiritual sense and profound spiritual power.
Trying to casually take away Chu Ning's life-bound treasure was not going to be easy.
The giant sword collided with Du Xianming's hand, and the five-colored radiance on it flickered violently before disappearing.
In the blink of an eye, the giant hand that Du Xianming had transformed from his spiritual power also dissipated under the force of that strike.
Blocked by this attack, Du Xianming's figure stalled.
The Five Elements Spirit Sword flew back and returned to Chu Ning's hand.
"Du Xianming!"
At this moment, Tang Xuan finally reacted and stood between Du Xianming and Chu Ning.
"What are you trying to do? As a Nascent Soul cultivator, you dare to attack a junior? Aren't you ashamed?"
Lu Yuezhang also quickly arrived beside Tang Xuan, and his gaze toward Du Xianming held a hint of displeasure.
"Fellow Daoist Du, don't forget your identity."
Even though Du Xianming had lived for over a thousand years, his face still twitched in embarrassment.
If his attack had managed to injure Chu Ning or take away his treasure, then even if Tang Xuan objected, the worst that could happen would be a fight between the two of them.
Or, after Lu Yuezhang spoke up, he could just return the treasure, having at least salvaged some dignity after losing face.
But Du Xianming never expected that after witnessing Chu Ning's previous battle with Jiang Cheng, he would still have underestimated him.
Despite his extremely sudden attack, Chu Ning had blocked it.
The speed of Chu Ning's reaction, brought about by his powerful spiritual sense, far exceeded his imagination.
Moreover, the might of the Five Elements Spirit Sword had also posed a slight threat to him.
Now, with Lu Yuezhang and Tang Xuan clearly not going to give him another chance to attack, how could he not feel frustrated?
He was in a difficult position.
Lu Yuezhang was no ordinary man, and he could naturally see Du Xianming's predicament. Without waiting for the other party to speak, he continued, "Fellow Daoist Du, since Fellow Daoist Chu's companion is his Dao Companion and also an elder of the Nine Floret Sect, and thus our ally from the Cloudsoar Alliance, let's put this matter to rest, shall we?"
Du Xianming finally had a chance to save face, and he quickly cupped his hands and said, "The arrangements are, of course, up to Fellow Daoist Lu."
After he finished speaking, he no longer looked at Chu Ning and directly flew away from the high platform.
Seeing that even Du Xianming's direct attack had failed to gain the upper hand against Chu Ning, the Golden Core cultivators from the Great Luo Sect didn't dare to say anything more and quickly flew away as well.
This turn of events caused the complexions of the many cultivators looking at the high platform to become extremely complicated.
On the viewing platform of the Returning Origin Sect, even Jiang Cheng, who had expressed his admiration for Chu Ning after losing to him earlier, had a slight change in expression.
"Fellow Daoist Chu, you didn't use your full strength when you fought me earlier, did you?"
There was a hint of disbelief in Jiang Cheng's tone.
He had clearly seen that the giant sword treasure Chu Ning had used later was far more powerful than the previous spirit sword.
The others naturally realized this as well.
Thinking that Chu Ning had managed to hold his own against a peak early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, they couldn't help but reveal astonished expressions.
On the high platform, although Chu Ning couldn't see everyone's expressions, he could guess what they were thinking.
And this was exactly what he wanted.
After defeating Jiang Cheng, Chu Ning was nominally the number one Golden Core cultivator in the Cloudsoar Alliance.
While he would gain the admiration of many, there would also be those who doubted him.
After all, Chu Ning was young and previously unknown within the Cloudsoar Alliance, so it was natural that he wouldn't be as unanimously acknowledged as Jiang Cheng.
Perhaps some other Golden Core cultivators from other sects would come to challenge him in the name of seeking guidance or exchanging insights.
Because whoever defeated Chu Ning would become the top Golden Core cultivator in the Cloudsoar Alliance.
That would truly be a nuisance.
However, the situation would be different after this exchange with Du Xianming.
Chu Ning had achieved his goal of establishing his dominance without revealing his full hand. That was why, when he had sensed that Du Xianming might make a move, he had immediately transmitted his voice to Tang Xuan, telling him that there was no need to rush into action.
As expected, even Lu Yuezhang now looked at Chu Ning with a hint of appreciation in his eyes.
After announcing the results of the competition and the assembly time for the next day, and waiting for the other sect cultivators to leave, Lu Yuezhang turned to Tang Xuan and said, "Friend Tang, your Nine Floret Sect truly has an abundance of talented individuals!"
Upon hearing this, Tang Xuan burst into hearty laughter.
"Chu Ning is indeed a talented member of our sect. It took us many years to find someone like him."
Lu Yuezhang then turned to Chu Ning and said, "To be able to withstand the soul pressure of a Nascent Soul cultivator with only a late Golden Core cultivation and to launch such an attack, your future is boundless."
"By the way, our sect's Snow Tolerance junior disciple owes you a debt of gratitude for your assistance earlier. This old man thanks you as well."
After some polite exchanges, the group dispersed and returned to their respective residences.
As soon as they arrived back at their small courtyard, Tang Xuan burst into loud laughter.
"How refreshing! That old man Du Xianming has always wanted to lord it over our Nine Floret Sect, but today we finally made him lose face.
Chu Ning, well done! I haven't felt this exhilarated in many years!"
Seeing Tang Xuan's cheerful laughter, Chu Ning also smiled and said, "Sect Master Tang, our sect has you and the Sect Leader, both of whom are Nascent Soul cultivators.
Now we also have thirteen Golden Core cultivators, so our Nine Floret Sect's strength has actually surpassed that of the Great Luo Sect.
From now on, we will have many more opportunities to celebrate."
Tang Xuan nodded and then looked at Chu Ning with a sense of emotion.
"Actually, what I'm truly waiting for is the day when you reach the Nascent Soul stage.
When that happens, I will die without regrets!"
"Nascent Soul..." Chu Ning murmured these two words, a gleam flashing in his eyes.
He was quite confident about advancing to the Nascent Soul stage.
With the dual spirit species in his body, he should be able to reach the late Golden Core stage peak.
He also had the Spirit Nurturing Fruit, which could increase the probability of successfully condensing a Nascent Soul.
All he needed now was time.
Of course, he couldn't tell Tang Xuan everything at this moment.
Tang Xuan didn't continue the conversation on this topic but instead said, "Tomorrow, you will enter the Cloudsoar Forbidden Land and consume the Universal Tree Spirit Fruits. It's about time I told you about some things."
As soon as Tang Xuan said this, Chu Ning and Cen Zijin exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with curiosity.
"You should have heard from the Sect Leader that the spirit fruits of the Universal Tree can enhance your physical body, spiritual power, and soul.
However, he didn't tell you the specific reason, because there is a requirement within the alliance that those who haven't consumed the Universal Tree spirit fruits are not allowed to know about this matter."
Tang Xuan paused for a moment before continuing, "The reason for their effectiveness is that within the Cloudsoar Forbidden Land, there exists a type of energy that is even more potent than spiritual energy."
"A type of energy that's more potent than spiritual energy?" Chu Ning's eyes widened in surprise at these words.
His first instinct was to think of the Primal Origin Power. On Primal Origin Island, due to the presence of Primal Origin Power, there was no spiritual energy.
However, Chu Ning quickly dismissed this guess.
Because he then thought of the droplet of Primal Origin Power within his body, and if Primal Origin Power was indeed more advanced than spiritual energy, then it wouldn't be suppressed in places where spiritual energy existed.
Tang Xuan didn't know what Chu Ning was thinking at that moment, and he continued, "Indeed, after being absorbed by the Universal Tree, this energy is contained within the spirit fruits, hence their remarkable effects.
The fruits only take two to three days to mature.
To be safe, you will enter the forbidden land ahead of time.
So, if you enter the Cloudsoar Forbidden Land and the fruits aren't ripe yet, seize the opportunity to cultivate and absorb the energy of that world. Although the effects won't be as significant as the fruits after a hundred years of absorption by the Universal Tree, it will still greatly benefit you."
Chu Ning's eyes flickered as he heard these words, and he asked, "Can we absorb that energy by cultivating our techniques?"
(End of Chapter)
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