The Duo's Suicidal Scheme

Natasha's unauthorized departure did not cause much of a stir in Kamar-Taj. Most people did not even know about it.

Meanwhile, Natasha, who had been confined to the sect, threw herself into cultivation, hoping to reach the Qi Refining Realm soon so she could go out and see her family.

During that time, Natasha found an opportunity to ask Feng Xu whether her family could also join the Ethereal Ascension Sect.

Feng Xu neither refused nor agreed to Natasha's request. He only said that it depended on their aptitude and affinity with immortality.

Though Natasha did not quite understand, Feng Xu's little follower, Ancient One, stepped in to explain it clearly.

The general meaning was that teachings could not be passed on too lightly. Things obtained too easily would never be cherished.

Thus, joining the sect required not only aptitude but also passing certain trials, much like Kamar-Taj's former system.

Natasha understood as soon as she heard that explanation.

After all, every mage who entered Kamar-Taj had undergone Ancient One's tests.

Even when she became Feng Xu's disciple, she had spent an entire night in an icy valley and nearly frozen to death.

Having thought it through, Natasha cultivated even more diligently, hoping to lift her confinement soon and bring her family here to see whether they had the aptitude and affinity with immortality.

Over the next few years, the entire Ethereal Ascension Sect fully settled into its stride, finally resembling a true immortal sect of the Cultivation World.

Its territory was no longer limited to the tiny village of Kamar-Taj. It had expanded outward several dozen times over.

Ancient-style buildings covered hills large and small. Nourished by spiritual energy, even the nearby animals had become ethereal and remarkably spirited.

The sect's disciples gradually formed distinct factions, each occupying different mountain peaks.

There was Weapon Refining Peak, favored by those who enjoyed crafting weapons and equipment; Alchemy Peak, where those who researched pill refinement gathered; Divine Talisman Peak, for those fond of talismans; Blade and Sword Peak, for those who used blades and swords as weapons; and more.

Back when they had been mages, their physiques simply could not support living atop those peaks, so they had all crowded into the more comfortable environment of Kamar-Taj.

But now, everyone was a sturdy Body Tempering Realm cultivator. Naturally, they no longer wished to live in such an ordinary place.

Only towering peaks that pierced the clouds were worthy of their grandeur!

Naturally, Ancient One was extremely dissatisfied with this change.

With the expansion of the territory, he had to use even more spiritually charged materials to expand the Spirit-Gathering Formation.

However, Feng Xu immediately suppressed Ancient One's dissatisfaction.

In Feng Xu's words, how could cultivators all huddle in one tiny place to cultivate? It would be a laughingstock if word got out!

And so Ancient One tragically became a heartless Spirit Stone-producing machine, responsible for creating enough Spirit Stones for the Spirit-Gathering Formation.

After all, only he and Feng Xu in the entire sect could condense spiritual energy into Spirit Stones, so this miserable task naturally fell to him.

Fortunately, Ancient One had many clones, and he finished producing all the Spirit Stones in less than a week.

Still, after the area expanded, the spiritual energy became somewhat thinner than before. The main reason was that the Time Stone could no longer keep up.

Although the Time Stone was an embodiment of laws and contained an enormous amount of energy,

its essence was equivalent to a running faucet.

Its maximum output was only so great. Any more, and they would have to rip the faucet off entirely.

They obviously could not rip it off, so Ancient One began eyeing the Space Stone inside S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Tesseract.

Just as he was agonizing over whether to make a move for the Space Stone and whether to alter the future's course, his two disciples became restless first and started stirring up trouble.

On Spirit-Commanding Peak.

Mordo and Kaecilius approached Natasha with a magic book from the Scripture Pavilion.

"Senior Brothers, what is this?"

Seeing the two holding a magic book with furtive expressions, Natasha was confused.

"Natasha, we came to share something good with you!"

An excited smile spread across Mordo's dark face. He waved the magic book in front of Natasha before continuing.

"Hasn't the sect's spiritual energy become thinner? We came up with a great way to get a huge amount of spiritual energy!"

"A way to get a huge amount of spiritual energy?" Natasha's eyes instantly lit up.

What perfect timing!

She had been worried that her cultivation speed was too slow. By the time she reached the Qi Refining Realm and her confinement was lifted, Yelena might already be having her second child.

She had not expected Mordo and Kaecilius to bring such good news!

Forming a sword-finger seal, she summoned several Golden Armored Warriors to bring over chairs, tea, and pastries, then said excitedly,

"Senior Brother Mordo, Senior Brother Kaecilius, I knew I had not misjudged you. Please, sit down and explain it slowly!"

After the two sat down, Mordo stopped Kaecilius, who was about to speak. "He's not good with words. I'll explain."

As he spoke, he opened the magic book in his hands and laid it flat on the wooden table before them.

"This book is called the Book of Cagliostro. It records time magic and dark magic."

"Of course, we neither need nor can use time magic, but dark magic is different. It is the key to obtaining spiritual energy..."

Seeing Mordo drag things out and deliberately leave them in suspense, Kaecilius immediately flew into a rage.

"Quit spouting nonsense!" He stepped forward and shoved Mordo aside.

Kaecilius quickly flipped the book to the page describing the Dark Dimension, then continued where Mordo had left off.

"Simply put, this book records dark magic related to the Dark Dimension, and the Dark Dimension is a place overflowing with spiritual energy."

"So what we need to do is use this dark magic to contact the Dark Dimension, secretly draw upon its abundant spiritual energy for cultivation, or even sneak into the Dark Dimension to cultivate!"

After Kaecilius finished in one breath, Mordo nodded and added,

"The energy inside the Dark Dimension is extremely abundant. It can easily increase our cultivation speed two or threefold!"

There was too much information in their words, and Natasha's mind froze for a moment.

"Wait, I'm a little confused. Let me sort this out first."

Natasha grabbed her hair and pondered carefully for quite a while before swallowing and asking cautiously,

"Is the master of the Dark Dimension named Dormammu? Ancient One's sworn enemy, a dimensional demon god whose strength is at least that of a Human Immortal and possibly as high as a Mysterious Immortal?"

"Uh... it should be him." The two answered quietly, their expressions awkward.

They had not expected Natasha to know about Dormammu, and they immediately worried that she would not dare participate.

"What do you mean, 'should be'!? It's obviously him!"

"It's one thing for you two to court death, but now you're trying to drag me into it too!"

Natasha had not even reached the Qi Refining Realm. She could not imagine what would happen if she provoked a demon god even stronger than Ancient One!

She was still young. She had not even had a boyfriend yet, and she had absolutely no desire to die young!

Thinking of this, she quickly waved her hand and had the Golden Armored Warriors carry away the tea table, chairs, and pastries, before throwing the two men out as well.

"Goodbye, farewell. I won't see you out!"