The so-called Ascension Conference would have been more aptly named the Ascension Path Conference.
After all, the rogue cultivators who distinguished themselves merely gained a chance to advance to the Foundation Establishment Stage.
And the Foundation Establishment Stage was only the beginning of the path to immortality.
But Daoist Yimu, whom Elder Wu had taken away, was different.
With his already heaven-defying single spirit root and a Core Formation Stage cultivator as his master, reaching the Core Formation Stage was merely a matter of time.
Perhaps in three years, perhaps five, perhaps ten—he would certainly become another Core Formation Stage elder!
Time was no obstacle. It was simply a question of sooner or later.
The Core Formation Stage! One could soar through the skies and burrow through the earth, command demonic beasts and magic treasures, and live for five hundred years.
Only after Daoist Yimu, Han Yunzhi, and Elder Wu had ridden the enormous centipede out of sight beyond the horizon,
did the many rogue cultivators on the Heavenly Mist Terrace sigh, rally their spirits, and prepare for the arena battles about to begin.
Watching all five of his clones successfully enter the five major sects, Naruto revealed a smug smile.
It was like a cuckoo laying its eggs in other birds' nests and letting them hatch its young.
Naruto would use those five major sects and their resources to nurture his five clones into Core Formation Stage cultivators.
Once they reached the Nascent Soul Stage someday, it might even be possible to take control of several sects and then unite all the immortal cultivation sects of the Yue Kingdom.
Of course, the Wood Release Clone would have a heavier burden.
During the war in which the demonic sects invaded the Yue Kingdom a few years later, he would follow