Chapter 427: Core
Chapter 427: Core
"Yes, I am a disciple of the Master, my name is 'Black Dragon'!"
Fang Xing performed a respectful bow.
The giant ape spoke, its voice like thunder: "Mount Boundless has always embraced all, regardless of background... Joining is simple. Entering the 'Vast Void Illusion' means you've joined, and you can go to the Ten Thousand Stars Hall to receive tasks and earn merit points. These points can be exchanged for Soul Core Pills, various inheritances, and even personal guidance from powerful beings."
'Sounds like a large-scale task platform, seems pretty good?'
Fang Xing's heart stirred, feeling that even if he wasn't part of the core, having access to this platform would greatly benefit his growth.
"But you are a disciple of Qing Hua, so naturally, you're different from those ordinary members!"
The giant ape, with hair like the burning Chaos Heavenly Great Sage, continued, "Your 'Boundless Token' is specially made. As soon as you enter, you become a full disciple, able to take on more tasks and access more detailed information... But even full disciples are not considered 'core members' of Mount Boundless... 'Core members' are cherished, even without tasks, they receive cultivation from Mount Boundless. Every spot is precious, do you understand?"
"Black Dragon understands."
Fang Xing was well aware that the core members of any major power were essentially reserve forces for Celestial Immortals and Demons. Aside from exceptional talent, the terrifying resource consumption, and the most important factor was 'loyalty'!
Those not raised from a young age within the power, if cultivated to Celestial Immortal or Demon level, might rebel, causing even greater losses.
For someone like him, without background or foundation, even if he went to the Azure Emperor Palace, becoming a Demon Prince would be unlikely.
As long as the talent pool is large enough, there will always be geniuses selected.
Unless... they are so astonishingly talented that even Celestial Immortals and Demons would be stunned.
For example, Fang Xing's talent in the Time Doctrine, which, at this moment, only the Boundary Spirit Serpent Maiden knew about.
"Following Mount Boundless' rules, all members can attempt the Star Tower... If you can reach the seventh floor, you'll become a 'core member' immediately!"
The Chaos Heavenly Great Sage smiled, "When challenging the Star Tower, your essence energy and physique will be restricted to the Ninth Stage of the Mortal Realm. No treasures can be brought in, and you can only rely on your own law perception, secret techniques, combat experience, and talent! Generally, those who can pass the seventh floor of the Star Tower have at least reached the fourth level of doctrine insight!"
The fourth level of doctrine insight is the 'Master-level' proficiency in law perception, allowing one to condense the rules' power into a 'Law Body'.
The previous Demon Prince, Fu Shan, had reached this level.
"Does the Great Sage want me to challenge the Star Tower?"
Fang Xing's heart stirred.
Although he hadn't yet reached the 'Master-level' proficiency in any law, his space and time laws were exceptionally powerful.
If combined with the 'Coiling Snake Secret Technique', he might even be a match for ordinary Demon Princes.
To join a power and become a core disciple, this virtual test was already very simple.
"Hehe... If the Chaos Heavenly Great Sage recommends someone, it would be a joke to still need to challenge the Star Tower! I have one core member spot left, and I'll give it to you."
The giant ape waved his hand, and a stream of light entered Fang Xing's body.
Fang Xing suddenly received a message from the 'Vast Void Illusion', informing him that he had become a core member of Mount Boundless, unlocking numerous privileges. He could even enter Mount Boundless with his true form and strength.
"Th-thank you, Great Sage."
He quickly expressed his gratitude, not expecting to bypass the assessment.
"You may go..."
The Chaos Heavenly Great Sage waved his hand above the Chaos Ocean.
Fang Xing couldn't help but follow and exit the grand hall.
After his figure disappeared, the giant ape that had guided him appeared above the Chaos Sea: "Master... Although you can directly recommend core members, bypassing the assessment might easily lead to rejection from other full and core members... Isn't this unfair to Black Dragon? Should I remind him?"
"No need..."
The Chaos Heavenly Great Sage sat cross-legged, "I owe Qing Hua a small favor, and giving him a core member spot settles this debt... After becoming a Celestial Demon, it's best to sever all karmic ties. Otherwise, when you achieve unity, these ties will only become obstacles..."
"I see."
The giant ape nodded, understanding that the Master didn't hold Black Dragon in high regard.
After all, the Blue Flower Empress had perished countless years ago. Although there was a slim chance of resurrection for a fallen Great Virtuoso, it was incredibly faint.
The living were always superior to the dead.
If Black Dragon were to start as a full disciple and be cultivated gradually, it would truly show care for his future.
Now, with this promotion and all the necessary resources provided, the debt is settled, and there's no need for further attention.
"Qing Hua's karmic ties were heavy, and her cultivation of the Life Law made her overly compassionate. With too many karmic threads, she eventually fell. When you become a Celestial Demon, you must learn from her lesson."
The Chaos Heavenly Great Sage began to teach his disciple, "The 'Chaos Heavenly Forty-Nine Sticks' I passed to you, how far have you comprehended it?"
"This disciple is dull; in the seventeenth stick, there are still some doctrines I haven't grasped..."
Upon mentioning this, the giant ape immediately put Black Dragon out of his mind and sincerely sought guidance.
"Hmm... I've only practiced it once."
The Chaos Heavenly Great Sage stood up, causing a towering wave in the Chaos Ocean.
...
"Virtue Not Matching Rank, Disaster Will Follow!"
After leaving the grand hall, Fang Xing examined the benefits of being a core member and found them to be quite impressive.
Not only is there a supply of special resources every year, but they can also prioritize some tasks with extremely generous rewards.
Some special task locations even contain supreme opportunities that are not open to full or ordinary members.
"As a core member, you have an annual quota of 10,000 merit points, which can be exchanged for many rare treasures..."
Fang Xing slightly opened the exchange list and glanced at it a few times. He found that a regular Primordial Soul Treasure only cost around 100 merit points.
"I don't need the Essence Spirit Pill, but the Soul Core Elixir is pretty good..."
This Soul Core Elixir is a peculiar liquid that can only be refined by Great Virtuosos of the Heaven Immortal Realm using Yuan Stones as the main ingredient. It can rapidly strengthen the essence spirit and greatly benefit the cultivation of the Essence Spirit Realm.
If there is enough Soul Core Elixir, one can quickly cultivate to the ninth level of the Essence Spirit Realm.
"Such a huge benefit, given directly to me, is this trying to overwhelm me?"
Fang Xing was a bit speechless, "It seems that the Great Sage doesn't really care about me... After all, our relationship has lasted for so long."
"But for me, I can make it work!"
He immediately flew to the cave dwelling assigned to him as a core member, preparing to carefully examine the exchange list and redeem the items he urgently needed.
Although the Heaven-Defying Great Sage didn't seem to care much about him, to be fair, he had already done quite well.
No one is born to treat you well, except for your parents.
Some Great Virtuosos might not even pay much attention to their own direct disciples.
...
In a certain area of Boundless Mountain, there were numerous majestic peaks, and each core member had a peak as their territory.
When Fang Xing arrived, another peak suddenly rose, which was his Black Dragon Peak!
"Hmm? Has Boundless Mountain gained another direct disciple?"
"Congratulations to this brother."
"Let's have a drink together some other day."
Congratulatory voices came from the neighboring peaks, including both humans and demons.
Suddenly, another surprised voice sounded, "I checked the Star Tower rankings, and there's no record of a new seventh-layer disciple recently..."
"So, it's a direct recommendation from a Great Virtuoso? That person must have something extraordinary about them..."
Fang Xing ignored these comments and returned to Black Dragon Peak to seclude himself.
...
On a fiery peak.
Several human cultivators were drinking and eating meat.
Within the Vast Void Illusion, they could simulate all kinds of delicious food from the outside world, many of which even Celestial Immortals or Demons would rarely get to taste.
"I've checked, the newcomer is named 'Black Dragon', and he was directly recommended by the Heaven-Defying Great Sage."
A green-skirted woman with a charming smile took a sip of her wine.
"The Heaven-Defying Great Sage, is he from the demon race?"
A youth in a red robe with long red hair all over his head snorted coldly.
Although Boundless Mountain claimed to treat everyone equally, there were definitely factions within, especially between the human and demon camps, which had a poor relationship.
"What? Brother Fire Spirit, what are you planning to do?"
A green-robed swordsman with a smile asked.
"Naturally, I'll test Black Dragon's abilities..." Fire Spirit, with his head full of red hair, took a vicious bite of the huge meat stick in his hand, "A direct recommendation from a Great Sage might be an unparalleled genius, or it might just be favoritism... Don't forget about Kunyuan Son, who also became a core member directly but died in the Peach Valley Secret Realm, causing great embarrassment to Boundless Mountain!"
Upon mentioning this, both the swordsman and the green-skirted woman's faces turned pale.
"So, it's very normal for me to test Black Dragon's abilities, isn't it?"
Fire Spirit smiled slightly, "Right now, Black Dragon's strength is unclear, and those demon core members might not be that close to him..."
The logic was simple; they had all climbed the Star Tower step by step and had the pride of geniuses.
If Black Dragon's strength was insufficient, then he wouldn't be worthy of associating with them, this was the consensus among the core members of both humans and demons.
This concept was even more deeply rooted among the demons!
"I've already sent a challenge letter..."
Fire Spirit said, "Even if I lose, I'll make a friend..."
Unfortunately, a day passed, then two days...
Fang Xing didn't respond at all.
Instead, the news of Fire Spirit's challenge spread, attracting the attention of many core members.
"This Black Dragon..."
Fire Spirit couldn't help but feel annoyed.
...
Inside Black Dragon Peak.
Fang Xing didn't bother with information about random cats and dogs, but instead carefully studied the rules of Boundless Mountain.
When he couldn't overturn the entire chessboard, he became the most conservative beneficiary of the rules.
"Hmm... Boundless Mountain has numerous inheritances, and I can choose one related to time, to study alongside the Azure Flower Trilogy... After all, the Azure Lotus Scroll mainly focuses on the Life Law, and there's not much involvement with the Time Doctrine, except for the Flame Dragon Soul Core Art..."
"Secret realms, treasures..."
"Renowned teachers... Wow, even the ninth level of the Essence Spirit Realm is this expensive, and the Soul Core Tyrant, Celestial Immortals, and Demons are even more terrifying... These merit points aren't enough... I can't afford it..."
"As for tasks, there's no rush... I'll carefully select them first."
"Hmm... Core members aren't permanent, and there's still a chance of falling. Every ten years, there's a ranking for core disciples, and the last three will be demoted to full disciples, even forbidden from challenging the Star Tower for a century, unable to regain core member status..."
"At the same time, if one's age exceeds 500 years, they will also lose their core member qualifications..."
(End of Chapter)
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