Primordial Yang Sword

Primordial Yang Sword

Although Earth Origin Star had entered an immortal cultivation civilization and everyone's lifespan had increased dramatically, there was still a limit to it.

The Imperial Medical Academy had also conducted extensive research into lifespans.

After sampling the natural endpoints of one hundred thousand ordinary cultivators, it had determined the maximum lifespan for cultivators at each realm.

Qi Cultivation Cultivators generally lived for Two Sexagenary Cycles, or 120 years.

Foundation Establishment Cultivators lived for four Sexagenary Cycles, 240 years.

Golden Core Cultivators lived for eight Sexagenary Cycles, 480 years.

Nascent Soul Cultivators doubled that again, reaching sixteen Sexagenary Cycles—960 years.

Of course, these figures were not absolute and varied from person to person, but this was the normal lifespan of cultivators.

If one cultivated a special technique, properly practiced methods of preserving health, or consumed lifespan-extending spiritual medicine, living an extra one or two Sexagenary Cycles was possible.

As for Spirit Transformation Cultivators, examples were too scarce and there were not enough samples, so the Imperial Medical Academy had not released any information on the matter.

But judging by the previous pattern of lifespans, it should be thirty-two Sexagenary Cycles—1,920 years, nearly two thousand years.

Chen Mobai's greatest dream had originally been to successfully establish his foundation before the age of sixty.

The Imperial Medical Academy had also researched cultivators breaking through Major Realms. Its conclusion was that the success rate for challenging a breakthrough was highest before one had passed half of one's lifespan.

For example, if a Qi Cultivation Cultivator wanted to establish a foundation, it was best to do so before sixty. That was the final peak of the human body. Once past that age, no matter how carefully one maintained oneself or cultivated qi, all bodily functions would begin to decline sharply.

Chen Mobai had originally felt that he had only a one-percent chance of establishing his foundation before sixty. Though he now had the fortunate encounter of the mysterious Turtle Shell, he felt the odds were only about ten percent.

The Immortal Sect had universal cultivation—Three Hundred Million Cultivators.

Of those, only one in a hundred could ultimately cultivate to the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer.

And among those at the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer, only one in a hundred could successfully establish their foundation. When the Imperial Medical Academy analyzed the data from those successful Foundation Establishment samples, it found that more than ninety percent had been young people who established their foundation before sixty.

Once one passed sixty, with insufficient qi, blood, and Vital Energy, anyone who succeeded in establishing their foundation either had a fortunate encounter or was favored by heaven.

Foundation Establishment was already this difficult, while Core Formation was harder still. The success rate at that realm was already one in a thousand.

As for the Nascent Soul Realm above it, there was no need to say more. One might not appear even across several eras.

The Immortal Sect's current Nascent Soul Venerables were old antiques accumulated across a thousand years and a hundred eras.

Chen Mobai's aptitude was ordinary. He had never been confident about establishing his foundation before sixty, and if he spent another dozen years cultivating the Three Yang Body, he felt he would basically be done for.

So although he greatly coveted the "Pure Yang Scroll," after weighing many considerations, he decided he should honestly cultivate the "Five Elements Technique" instead.

Venerable Qingping was a fine example right before him. He had charged through the realms with this most common Qi Cultivation technique. If Chen Mobai could achieve Nascent Formation, he could then switch to cultivating the Jade Clarity Scripture. That too would be a broad, level road toward immortality.

Old Man Ding was the bad example. He had to take warning from him.

After admonishing himself twice in his heart, Chen Mobai suppressed the urge to use Big Account Azure Emperor to exchange for the "Pure Yang Scroll Qi Cultivation Chapter" once he got out.

Still, though that was what he told himself, he could not help downloading the Video of True Person Lesser Yang explaining the cultivation of the "Pure Yang Dharma Body."

At the very least, it could help him kill time in class today.

"Today happens to be Old Man Ding's class. I'll ask him about the Three Yang Body."

Muttering to himself, Chen Mobai pressed the return-to-city button.

Office.

"Teacher Ding, you were a student of Pure Yang Academy. What is the difference between the Ten Great Academies and the Four Great Dao Academies?"

After class, Chen Mobai followed the usual Rules and lagged one step behind. When he turned into the office to ask how to break the Thunder Method Restriction, he pretended his curiosity had been stirred and casually asked the question.

"Actually, in terms of student numbers and teaching strength, the academies ranked near the top among the Ten Great Academies are no different from the Four Great Dao Academies."

Old Man Ding enjoyed teaching others. After hearing Chen Mobai's question, he told him what he knew.

"So the difference lies in their techniques?"

Chen Mobai asked again, trying to steer the conversation toward the "Pure Yang Scroll."

"Supreme Origin Academy and Pure Yang Academy also possess Spirit Transmutation Great Laws. Their inheritances are in no way inferior to those of the Four Great Dao Academies."

Old Man Ding shook his head.

"Then what exactly is the difference?"

Chen Mobai did not dare bring up the Pure Yang Dharma Body directly, so he could only follow Old Man Ding's words.

"The Four Great Dao Academies possess the oldest inheritances, and each has a Spirit Transformation foundation. The founders of the Ten Great Academies also mostly came from the Four Great Dao Academies. So even if they surpass them for a time, they still keep to their proper place and do not dare call themselves the Fifth Dao Academy."

"Then what exactly are the Spirit Transformation foundations of the Four Great Dao Academies?"

There were all kinds of speculations online about these matters, with countless conflicting opinions. Chen Mobai thought Old Man Ding might know, and also wanted to guide the topic back to Pure Yang Academy, so he continued asking.

"They are all top secrets. Only those Venerables at the highest levels likely know the exact details. But of the Immortal Sect Twin Saints, one came from Wuqi Dao Academy, while the other studied at Sky Mending Dao Academy in his youth and is still that academy's nominal honorary dean."

Everyone knew the origins of the two Spirit Transmutation Ancestors.

"Still, I do know that Pure Yang Academy possesses a Fifth Tier High-grade Primordial Yang Sword. It can also be counted as a Spirit Transformation foundation!"

Just as Chen Mobai was worrying over how to turn the conversation back around, Old Man Ding himself began speaking about Pure Yang Academy.

"In the entire Immortal Sect, there are only three Fifth Tier High-grade flying swords. Before Ancestor Yuanyang passed away, he burned away his lifelong Dao Fruit to elevate this Primordial Yang Sword into being. It has already become sentient."

"Ancestor Yuanyang's eldest disciple once wielded this Sentient Flying Sword. Below Spirit Transformation, it could slay with a single stroke."

"But to refine this sword, one needs at least Nascent Soul cultivation. And refining it year after year greatly damages one's vital essence, which is detrimental to cultivation. Therefore, by the time I entered the academy, the sword had already been sealed away and enshrined in the hall. I was fortunate enough to pay respects to it once."

Hearing this, Chen Mobai felt only sorrow.

A dignified Fifth Tier High-grade flying sword had actually been sealed away because no one could refine it.

"Didn't you say that those who cultivate the Pure Yang Dharma Body have abundant vital essence? How could they be unable to refine even a Primordial Yang Sword?"

"That would require the Pure Yang Dharma Body to be fully cultivated first. Even a Nascent Soul Venerable with the Nine Yang Physique cannot withstand the Primordial Yang Sword's ceaseless daily and nightly absorption of spiritual qi. They already find their own cultivation insufficient—how could they possibly give half of their daily cultivation to a flying sword?"

Old Man Ding rolled his eyes. His words instantly struck a chord with Chen Mobai.

If it were him, before attaining the Great Dao, having to give half the spiritual power he painstakingly absorbed and cultivated each day to the Primordial Yang Sword—even if that flying sword were a Spirit Transformation magic treasure—he would object a hundred thousand times over.

Moreover, only Nascent Soul Venerables could refine the Primordial Yang Sword, and Nascent Soul Venerables all took Spirit Transformation as their foremost goal. How could they waste half their cultivation time on a single flying sword?

"Isn't it said that if a magic treasure goes too long without spiritual qi to nourish and refine it, its tier will fall? Wouldn't that waste Ancestor Yuanyang's sacrifice?"

"Don't worry. Every Fifth Tier Magic Treasure is part of the Immortal Sect's material cultural heritage. Every year, the Immortal Sect allocates a sum of Spirit Stones from the National Bank so Pure Yang Academy can nourish the Primordial Yang Sword and keep it from dropping in tier. It is just a pity that those Spirit Stones are specially earmarked and can only be used for their designated purpose. Otherwise, Pure Yang Academy could at least let the students cultivating the Dharma Body save half their time."