New Blossoms and Old Leaves Form Their Own Path; New Frost in White Hair, an Old Protector Guards the Young (Extra Chapter for Alliance Leader Lin Hao)
Winter has passed and spring has arrived. The early spring mornings are still quite cold. The winter snow has melted, and the icy river water gurgles and flows onto the bluestone where women sit and wash clothes. Surprisingly, it is mixed with some fresh blood.
Not long after, a corpse floated to the surface of the river. The messy, slick hair covered the face like a black hat. The body was swollen and rotten, clearly indicating that it had been dead for a long time.
Soon, a third, a fourth, appeared one after another; some of the corpses were already skeletons, their Flesh and Blood devoured as if by fish...
Looking ahead, it turned out that a thick layer of ice had melted and broken, and the bodies that had sank into the river were now floating to the surface as the ice melted.
Looking further afield, the plains were littered with corpses, a truly horrifying sight.
This place was clearly once a Battlefield, but the fighting appeared to be a one-sided massacre.
Two streaks of light swept across the sky, then suddenly stopped, circled around, and floated onto the river. Looking at the floating corpses below, they couldn't help but sigh.
"The cultivators of the Soul Devouring Sect are truly despicable. They kill wherever they go, even taking the souls of these mortals. What value do these mortal souls have anyway?"
From within one of the streaks of light, the sound of a woman gritting her teeth could be heard.
It's ironic, really. Human life is cheap, and in the dead of winter, when there's no food and famine strikes, many people starve to death. Some even resort to cannibalism. This woman had witnessed such tragic scenes in her younger days.
But now that I'm in a different place, seeing Devil Cultivator slaughtering mortals makes me feel indignant and empathetic. I don't know what kind of empathy this is. Perhaps it's because the mortals of my realm are like pigs I raise, and I can't tolerate the Devil Cultivator of the Western Regions slaughtering them?
Another veiled woman with striking beauty said, "Let's go. The battle between the various sects is fierce, and we don't know how long it will last. Although this place has been recaptured, there may still be Devil Cultivator lingering here. It's not advisable to stay any longer. Let's return to our sect first."
The woman, who appeared to be a subordinate, exclaimed in surprise, "Young Miss, you... you're not planning to go back to your Lineage to ask Luo Family Ancestor to intercede for you? You're going straight back to the sect? This..."
The veiled woman shook her head and said, "I'm not going back. Even the patriarch has been alarmed by this matter. I still need to go back and explain things clearly. Even if I am punished, it won't be too severe. Don't worry."
If I were to plead with the Luo Family Ancestor, I fear the agreement I made with Luo Family Ancestor a year ago would have to be nullified."
"Damn it, it's all that Chen's fault, Miss. Your punishment by the sect is all his fault. He's hiding something, he has many secrets, but he hasn't told us his secrets. In my opinion, we should use Xu."
"Shut up! Xi'er, I told you not to make things difficult for Xu Wei."
Besides, I was unaware of Chen Dengming's secret, and I genuinely didn't know where he was back then.
Even if the sect asks me this time, I only need to answer that I plan to secretly search for him, find him, and confirm that he has a secret before reporting to the sect, so as to avoid starting something but finishing it halfway and wasting the sect's manpower and resources.
As a result, with the invasion of Devil Cultivator from the Western Regions, it's quite normal that I haven't had a chance to find him.
"Miss, you've always been smarter than me. I'm just worried. But Xu Wei, she's of low intelligence, and she's still alive thanks to you. Even if you use her to find Chen Dengming, she'll be repaying a debt of gratitude, won't she?"
"Don't worry, she'll repay your kindness. You need to treat her well so she can help me better. Don't make things difficult for her, understand?"
"Oh"
A flash of light, and two streaks of Escape Light swiftly flew away on their magical artifacts.
Inside the cave abode of Chen Dengming, of the Evergreen Sect.
A powerful spiritual force suddenly erupted, and tangible ripples of Spiritual Qi spread through the air in waves, visible to the naked eye. The tables and chairs inside the cave abode trembled slightly, and dust fell from the roof.
After a while, Chen Dengming's spiritual power gradually subsided. He State of Mind calm and composed, unperturbed by this expected breakthrough.
With a little concentration, one can observe the change in state.
"Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivator [Chen Dengming]"
Lifespan: 85/338/684
Spirit Root: Metal, Wood (Superior Grade 50/100)
Martial arts: Omitted
Daoist Techniques: <Evergreen Merit> (Level 4, 0/10000), <Chen Family Daoist Magic Chapter> (Master, 21/100), <Reverse Glory Spring Return Technique> (Beginner, 97/100), <Spiritual Texts> (Proficient, 66/100), others omitted.
He broke through to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage in a natural and uneventful way. His breakthrough in minor realms was simply a matter of progressing from the Cultivation Method to the level of cultivation, without any bottlenecks whatsoever. As a result, his Lifespan Limit was extended once again.
However, having my Lifespan Limit thirty years is still a pretty good feeling.
This time, he broke through a minor realm simultaneously with the breakthrough of the Evergreen Merit, resulting in a double boost that Lifespan Limit to skyrocket.
Upon careful calculation, the Evergreen Merit, having been cultivated from level one to level four, has now extended his lifespan by sixty years, making it the most Foundation Establishment Cultivation Method and truly worthy of being the Evergreen Sect's signature Cultivation Method.
Ordinary Foundation Establishment Technique Method, such as the <Reverse Glory Spring Return Technique>, only increase lifespan by ten years after learning them.
The Evergreen Merit can extend one's lifespan by an additional five years. Even if an ordinary person doesn't have his cheat Golden Finger for extending lifespan through cultivation, normally cultivating to the fourth level can extend their lifespan by twenty years.
Apart from that, no other Technique Method made any breakthroughs during this period.
Ultimately, it's because Chen Dengming has mastered all the Technique Method he has learned to the point of proficiency, even mastery.
Even a first-tier, tenth-level Technique Method like the <Golden Gang Spirit Venerable>, which is only Qi Refining Stage Technique Method, consumes a great deal of Spiritual Qi.
Even with Chen Dengming's High-grade Spiritual Root aptitude, it would take him at least a thousand practice sessions to advance this technique from proficiency to master level, which is truly difficult.
"Fortunately. After the breakthrough, the fourth level of the Evergreen Merit only requires 10,000 proficiency points to cultivate, which is only 1,000 points higher than the third level."
Based on this, I should be able to break through to the fourth level within two hundred days, but the fifth level...
After a quick internal calculation, Chen Dengming realized that it was simply unrealistic for him to break through to the Foundation Establishment Late Stage within the next two years.
Normally, the difference in Law Power between each minor realm of the Foundation Establishment Realm increases several times over.
Even if we calculate based on a one-to-one ratio of effort to reward, to cultivate multiple times the Law Power, one would need to put in multiple times the effort.
Therefore, just like when one is in the Foundation Establishment Early Stage and the Evergreen Merit reaches the first to third levels, the proficiency level of the Cultivation Method increases from three thousand to six thousand and then to nine thousand.
During the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, the proficiency level of the Evergreen Merit Cultivation Method would likely need to increase by tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, and even hundreds of thousands each time to roughly match the doubling of magical Law Power, progressing from the fourth to the sixth level.
Of course, this is just his personal speculation, and Chen Dengming cannot confirm the specifics.
"If my guess is correct, it would take me at least three years to reach the Foundation Establishment Late Stage. Adding the time I spent before, my cultivation speed is actually about the same as Senior Sister He's."
Chen Dengming did the math carefully, shook his head, and sighed, marveling at Senior Sister He's incredible spending power.
He has Golden Finger.
Senior Sister He is rich; that's the power of money.
Of course, the opponent's Spiritual Root Potential Higher Vehicle also very strong, and their normal cultivation speed is not bad.
Now that he has broken through, Chen Dengming has temporarily ended his two-month seclusion and is preparing to go out for some fresh air, check on the condition of the Gu Refining Field, and personally prepare another batch of Gu Creatures.
At the same time, I also inquired about the situation at the front, reported the good news of my breakthrough to Senior Sister He and the others, and then continued my cultivation in peace.
Half a day later.
After finishing his work at the Gu Refining Field and collecting one and a half High-grade Spirit Stone as profit from the past two months, Chen Dengming went to the letter shop. Looking at the unclaimed bounties inside, he felt a sudden toothache.
It's just asking about a Cultivation Family, not finding someone in a vast sea of people on Battlefield, why is it so difficult?
"Steward Sun, how is the situation at the front?"
Chen Dengming then inquired about the news from the Qi Refining Steward of the Letter Shop.
Generally speaking, the place with the best information within a sect is the Letter House.
Upon hearing this, the elderly Qi Refining Steward hurriedly and respectfully said, "Oh, Martial Uncle Chen, you can just call me Nephew Disciple. I can still rely on my seniority in front of the disciples and be called a steward. It's too much of an honor for you to call me steward."
"Hey, you old Sun, you must be eighty or ninety years old this year, right?"
"I'm only forty-one years old this year. If I call you my junior Nephew Disciple, wouldn't that make me sound old?"
Chen Dengming made a joke, which made several female disciples nearby burst into laughter.
Deacon Sun repeatedly said that it was absolutely necessary, but he also felt quite fond of this young junior uncle, and immediately told him everything he knew.
"In the northwest corner, the Heavenly Dao Gate Sect decisively defeated the Devil Cultivator. The current sect leader of the Heavenly Dao Sect personally intervened, severely injuring a Nascent Soul Old Monster Devil Cultivator Devil Lord Shenshan, and completely forcing the invading Devil Cultivator out of the Eastern Region. The war in the northwest corner of the War Zone can be considered over."
"In the southeast corner Shu Sword Pavilion Master, True Lord Shu Sword, made a move, single-handedly fighting two Devil Lords to a draw. This caused the Devil Cultivator camp to retreat three thousand miles, almost withdrawing from the northern corner."
"The battles in the northeast and southwest corners are still very intense. The Nascent Soul Nascent Soul True Lord the Longevity Sect, the Five Elements Escape Sect and the Dragon Transformation Sect in the southwest corner have not yet made a move, and are being relatively cautious."
"That's quite cautious. The wars in the northwest and southeast corners are almost over, but we haven't made a move here yet."
After learning about the current situation in the four War Zone, Chen Dengming felt somewhat depressed.
Deacon Sun added, "Martial Uncle Chen, a formidable figure arrived in our northeast corner half a year ago; he's Devil Cultivator from the Soul Devouring Sect."
The Soul Devouring Sect is less Devil Cultivator and more a ghostly sect. They are ruthless and merciless, Soul Guiding Banner are extremely difficult to deal with.
"The Soul Devouring Sect? This sect seems somewhat similar to the Yin Ghost Sect on the Ten Thousand Mile Frontier. Could there be some connection between them?"
Chen Dengming felt puzzled.
Deacon Sun sighed, "The battle situation on our side is quite dire for now. It's said that our sect's Uncle Wang and Uncle Guan, who were sent out last time, were both injured and may have to return to recuperate soon."
Chen Dengming was startled upon hearing this.
Wang Feixuan and Guan Le got injured so quickly?
It's only been two months since they went there.
If these two return from the Battlefield, I'm afraid the sect will have to select more people to go to the War Zone.
He frowned slightly, then his brows relaxed.
What's meant to come will come; worrying is useless.
Sometimes, it's better to be decisive and burn everything cleanly when things are in a tangled mess.
If Liang Yunsheng really chooses him in the next batch of candidates, there's no point in running away.
Because life always presents us with choices. You can escape once, but you can't escape every time. Most of the time, you get what you pay for. The more you escape, the more you pay for it—for example, going back to being Rogue Cultivator.
This is also a good opportunity to find out about the Luo Family.
"Now that the northwest and southeast corners have been recovered, it proves that the situation is developing in a positive direction, just as Senior Brother Liang said. I imagine that the three patriarchs of the Longevity Sect are also making plans in the northeast corner."
Chen Dengming felt relieved, considering that the War Zone was now past winter and the fighting was not as intense as before. He had avoided the danger period, and he had to thank Senior Sister He for that.
Turning around, he rode his Black Cloud Leopard to visit his fellow Senior Brother and inform them that he had broken through to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.
After receiving many congratulations and encouragement from his Senior Brother, he returned and arrived at He Yingyu's cave abode, only to find that his senior sister was not cave abode.
"Strange, Senior Brother Liang, Senior Brother Ma, and Senior Sister He are all absent from the Mountain Gate on the same day."
Chen Dengming was slightly surprised, and had a vague feeling that something might have happened.
After pondering for a moment, he took out Sound Transmission Jade Talisman and sent a message to He Yingyu, informing her that he had broken through to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage.
He then returned to his cave abode and continued to cultivate diligently, trying to accumulate as much strength as possible before being selected to go to the War Zone.
At the same time.
The northeastern border, near a gap in a large mountain near Turtle Snake Peak.
A blazing inferno descended, engulfing a powerful, towering Demon Beast the size of a small mountain on the ground, threatening to set the entire earth ablaze.
The Demon Beast roared angrily, its voice spreading out in almost tangible sonic ripples, deafeningly loud and radiating an astonishing spiritual power.
Its massive body was covered in hair that gradually turned crimson, exuding a bloodthirsty and frenzied aura that repelled the flames. Its power caused the three people floating in the air around it to change color.
Just then, a streak of Cyan Light flashed across the sky, followed by a muffled thunderclap that made people's ears ring.
The Great Demon suddenly shuddered violently, and a large spray of blood accompanied by a streak of Cyan Light shot out from its back. The frenzied aura on its body instantly ceased, and it collapsed to the ground with a thud, as if a mountain of gold and a jade pillar had been overturned.
"Changchun Thunder Sword! Sect Leader!"
The three people in the air were overjoyed and immediately turned around, only to see a golden dot of light appear in the distant sky.
In a flash, the golden light arrived instantly, hovering not far in front of the three people like a small sun radiating spiritual light and intense pressure.
Golden Core Great Cultivator -- True Person Changchun Qiu Feng!
"Sect Leader, you've come at just the right time. Otherwise, if this beast went berserk, it would be troublesome for the three of us to deal with it."
Upon seeing the Qiu Feng appear, Liang Yunsheng laughed heartily and immediately glided forward to meet it.
Qiu Feng's spiritual power receded, Golden Light dimmed and subsided, shrinking into the golden core in his chest, revealing him as a tall, slender Daoist.
Despite being thin, he did not give the slightest impression of being weak.
His entire body seemed to be constructed of steel bars, concealing astonishing power.
He had a long, narrow face, and his eyes shone with an unusual brilliance. At this moment, he looked at Liang Yunsheng, He Yingyu, and Ma Cai, who were coming to greet him, with a smile on his lips.
"It's the three of you again this time? Didn't you bring that newbie out to get some experience?"
Liang Yunsheng laughed heartily, "Senior Brother, we should take care of newcomers, as you said. This Mountain Opening Savage Bull Demon is, after all, Foundation Establishment Late Stage demon Demon Beast, with a violent temper and prone to rage. Devil Cultivator rely on this Demon Beast to cause destruction."
"Even the three of us felt it was dangerous; a slight misstep could result in injury, let alone bringing along a newcomer?"
Upon hearing this, He Yingyu echoed his sentiments, feeling relieved and thinking to herself that Senior Brother Liang still cared for Junior Brother Chen.
Qiu Feng shook his head and smiled, "We should cherish them, but they are still necessary to go through the trials of the Battlefield. Although we, the cultivators of the Evergreen Sect, do not want to cause trouble, it does not mean that we are afraid of trouble."
I heard that this Nephew Disciple Chen has already broken through to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, which is good news.
Now that the Soul Devouring Sect has come knocking on our door, too many people have died, and no one can escape unscathed.
Now that Nephew Disciple and Nephew Disciple Wang are injured, I plan to send them back first.
"Junior Brother Chen has broken through to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage?"
He Yingyu and the other two looked surprised and exchanged bewildered glances.
However, the sect leader actually knew about this news before they did.
He Yingyu's heart stirred, she glanced at Liang Yunsheng, and then fell silent.
It seems that someone must have spoken to the sect leader Qiu Feng, about something.
She had previously spoken well of Chen Dengming, giving this junior Junior Brother with whom she had a good relationship some time to prepare, and preventing him from being the first to rush into Battlefield.
However, this plea for leniency has likely been over-interpreted, causing dissatisfaction among many Senior Brothers.
At this point, one must not say anything more; otherwise, one would lack a legitimate reason to retaliate.
After chatting for a while, Qiu Feng left Liang Yunsheng behind to talk and give him some instructions.
"Now that we've figured out this Nephew Disciple Chen's background, to avoid troubling him, let's not let him know for now."
"Sect Leader, I know. In fact, I have already subtly told him during the sect meeting that our Longevity Sect is not interested in that Sha Star's Martial Immortal lineage. We have our own lineage."
With Junior Brother Chen's intelligence, he naturally understood. It was only natural that he hadn't confessed. After all, that Sha Star had caused such a commotion; anyone connected to him would feel uneasy. By the way, what did the upper sect say?"
"The sect leader said that they would first treat him as a promising talent and nurture him normally. If he can truly walk the same path as that Sha Star on his own, it will be a blessing for our sect. Perhaps in the future, hehehehe. You know what I mean."
Even if he doesn't escape that path, I think with the talent he's shown so far, he still has a good chance of reaching the Golden Core stage in the future. He's quite a talent."
"And his cultivation speed..."
"The Southern Xun is a strange place. What does it matter if it produces a Sha Star and a genius? Everyone has secrets. The key is to see which side this person is from."
"Right now, both the Wonderful Sound Sect and the Moon Reflection Sect are looking for him, but he is currently the one our Longevity Sect has decided to appoint."
"Then why didn't you protect him instead of sending him to the War Zone, Senior Brother?"
"Geniuses may be born in a comfortable environment, but Heavenly Pride cannot. Doesn't our Longevity Sect have many geniuses?"
There are too many. But Heavenly Pride are extremely rare, or even nonexistent.
I see this child wants to learn our way, a steady and leisurely path to advancement. This won't do; it's not the path for Heavenly Pride. Human lifespan is limited, and even we Longevity Sect cultivators must seize every moment in our cultivation.
He sits within the sect, and we, the senior members, fight to the death for him—what does that amount to?
Normally, he should also go through some trials. If something goes wrong, we'll cover for him; if there's real danger, we'll shield him. That's the right way to train him."
"Then..."
"Go ahead and make the arrangements. But remember, continue to play dumb; don't put too much pressure on him."
(It's the end of the month, please clear out your monthly votes, there will be an extra chapter tomorrow if you get 200 monthly votes)
Just to clarify, I forgot to mention the life-extending effect when I upgraded Evergreen Merit before, and I corrected it today. This is a problem caused by not updating the panel much, which led to the omission. Oops, but it's fixed now and won't affect anything.