Collecting Protection Money, the Astral Battlefield

Dongfang Yueming silently remembered everything Hong Ling said.

[It seems that even at the Nascent Soul Realm, Divine Ability are indispensable.]

[And... the more the better!]

Beside her, Qin Rushuang slowly came back to her senses from the realization that she was about to break through.

She bowed respectfully to Hong Ling.

"Thank you for your guidance, Master! This disciple will now go into seclusion!"

"Wait a minute!"

However, Hong Ling chuckled and waved her hand, stopping her.

"No rush, no rush."

"Little Shuangshuang," she said with a grin, pointing to Dongfang Yueming, who was also deep in thought, "While you haven't broken through to the Nascent Soul yet, it's perfect timing to take him to collect... 'protection money' in a couple of days."

"Protection fees?!"

Upon hearing this, Dongfang Yueming and Qin Rushuang were stunned at almost the same time!

Qin Rushuang quickly realized what was happening, and a hint of helpless exasperation flashed in her clear, cold eyes.

Dongfang Yueming, on the other hand, looked completely bewildered.

[What's going on?!]

Seeing his puzzled look, Qin Rushuang could only explain, "Our Martial Sect commands a... small world."

"Back then, we intervened and helped one of the factions consolidate their rule."

In return, they would periodically send us a batch of "offerings".

"However," she paused, then added, "That world is merely an incomplete Profound Grade world. The limit its world origin can support is only a Golden Core level expert."

Upon hearing this, Dongfang Yueming finally understood. But he was also somewhat shocked!

[To rule... a world?!]

[The Holy Land's foundation is indeed extraordinary!]

"Hehe~" Just then, Hong Ling's voice came again, "This time, all the 'protection money' we collected is yours~"

She looked at Dongfang Yueming, her large, dark eyes blinking, filled with an undeniable command.

"Young man, now that you've received the spirit stones, you must cultivate diligently and take care of us in the future!"

"What?!"

Upon hearing this, Dongfang Yueming felt an indescribable joy well up in his heart.

It was a bit of a surprise~

[But... these points were practically handed to me for free!]

He bowed to Hong Ling.

"Sect Master, rest assured! This disciple will certainly live up to your expectations!"

"Hehe~" Hong Ling nodded in satisfaction.

Meanwhile, Qin Rushuang watched this scene with a raging storm raging in her heart!

She never dreamed that her master would value this new disciple so much!

They even went so far as to entrust him with the offerings of their entire subordinate world?!

[What kind of magic does this guy possess?!]

However, just thinking about Hong Ling's ambiguous words, a faint blush involuntarily rose on her pretty face.

"Oh, right," just then, Dongfang Yueming suddenly remembered something and asked, "Sect Master, I... want more Divine Ability."

Upon hearing this!

The strange feeling in Qin Rushuang's heart was instantly replaced by endless helplessness!

[This guy...]

[here we go again!]

Doesn't he know that Divine Ability are something that can only be encountered by chance and cannot be sought?!

[He's only just grasped one principle, and he's already so greedy?]

[Wouldn't the best approach be to first cultivate one's existing Divine Ability to Minor Accomplishment or even Major Accomplishment level of mastery?]

However, upon hearing this, Hong Ling smiled.

"It's very simple."

She looked at Dongfang Yueming and slowly uttered four words.

"... Astral Battlefield!"

"What?!"

Upon hearing this, Dongfang Yueming felt a chill run down his spine!

A deep sense of solemnity flashed across Qin Rushuang's pretty face in an instant!

"Divine Ability, besides relying on one's own foundation and comprehending them on one's own."

"There's another, simpler, and more... direct way to obtain it."

That is...

"... plunder!"

Hong Ling's voice turned slightly colder.

"On the Astral Battlefield, slay those geniuses from other realms! Even other Golden Core cultivators!"

"Plunder the Law Fragment contained within them!"

"In this way, you can acquire new Divine Ability! Even nourish and strengthen your own Divine Ability, causing them to undergo... transformation!"

Upon hearing this, Qin Rushuang instinctively wanted to speak up and stop them!

"Master! No!"

The Astral Battlefield is just how... brutal!

Even someone like her, with her "Nine-Transformation Golden Core," was at risk of perishing there at any moment!

Sending a "newcomer" who has just broken through to the Golden Core there...

This is practically sending him to his death!

But the words stuck in her throat.

We cultivators are, by nature, to contend with Heaven, with Earth, and with humanity!

True strength cannot be cultivated in a greenhouse.

He would have to face this path sooner or later.

"Since that's the case..."

Hong Ling looked at Qin Rushuang, who seemed to want to say something but hesitated, a sly glint in her eyes.

"Then, I'll leave it to you."

"Little Shuangshuang ~"

"Take him to the Astral Battlefield first, let him 'practice' a bit."

"Then, let's go collect 'protection money'!"

"Yes, Master."

Qin Rushuang took a deep breath and nodded solemnly.

A moment later.

Two streaks of light tore through the sky and left the Martial Sect Mountain.

Storm Mountain.

Inside the sect's main hall, the atmosphere was solemn and dignified.

Sect Master Feng Xiaotian sat cross-legged, with an ancient bronze mirror floating in front of him.

On the mirror's surface, shimmering light reflected a vaster, and even more... majestic world!

"Ancestor..." Feng Xiaotian's voice was filled with boundless awe, "You... you saw it all?"

"I saw it."

From the other side of the mirror came a voice, ancient yet filled with boundless majesty.

"The Immortal-Abandoned Continent has long suffered from a decline in spiritual energy. Now, with the reappearance of Dao-Grade, it signifies that a brand new era is about to begin."

"At that time, all realms will converge, and geniuses will vie for supremacy! Our Storm Mountain will not fall behind!"

"I have already dispatched the 'Wind Envoy,' carrying the sect's most precious treasure, who will arrive soon."

"You'd better watch yourself."

"Rest assured, Ancestor!" Feng Xiaotian's spirits lifted upon hearing this! "This disciple will certainly..."

After he finished speaking, the brilliance on the mirror faded, and it returned to calm once more.

Feng Xiaotian slowly stood up, his eyes blazing with unprecedented... ambition and... fervor!

"Someone come here!"

"Sect Master!" A Golden Core elder strode in.

"How's the situation with the Martial Sect?" Feng Xiaotian asked coldly.

"Reporting to the Sect Master," the elder's face was filled with undisguised jealousy and... resentment, "The identity of that prodigy who triggered the ' Nine-Transformation Golden Core ' phenomenon has not yet been ascertained. All we know is that he is a newly recruited disciple of the Martial Sect."

"Nine-Transformation Golden Core... Heh... What a Martial Sect!" A chilling killing intent flashed in Feng Xiaotian's eyes! "Why hasn't such a peerless genius appeared in my Storm Mountain?!"

He paced slowly, his voice as sharp as a cold wind!

"Pass on my order!"

"Send someone to make contact with that prodigy!"

"Tell him that Storm Mountain is willing to pay any price to recruit him!"

"If... he refuses to submit..."

His eyes flashed with murderous intent!

"... Then, annihilate it completely!"

"Sect Master!" The elder exclaimed in alarm. "No!"

"That sect leader of the Martial Sect... that sect leader's strength is unfathomable! If we anger her..."

"Hmph!" Feng Xiaotian sneered disdainfully upon hearing this, "So what if she's strong?!"

"The Martial Sect is nothing but a rootless duckweed!"

"In the ' Upper Realm,' they have no foundation whatsoever!"

"And my Storm Mountain is backed by the ancestral court of the Azure Realm! Does she dare to touch me?!"

Just then, another disciple tumbled and crawled in!

"Report!"

"Sect Master! We've just received news! That Martial Sect prodigy has left the Martial Sect Mountain with Qin Rushuang!"

"Oh?" Feng Xiaotian's eyes lit up upon hearing this! "Where are you going?!"

"Star... Astral Battlefield!"

"What?!"

Upon hearing this!

All the elders present were utterly horrified!

"That's... that's incredibly daring!!"

"A newly awakened Golden Core actually dares to go to the Astral Battlefield?!"

"He... doesn't he fear death?!"

However, after a brief moment of shock, Feng Xiaotian revealed an extremely cruel smile!

[Truly... heaven is helping me!]

[At the Martial Sect Divine Mountain, perhaps I still cannot defeat you.]

[But, in the Astral Battlefield...]

That's a lawless land where even Nascent Soul cultivators can perish!

He no longer hesitated, his voice icy and chilling!

"Pass on my ' Wind God Token '!"

"Fate, Elders 'Wind' and 'Forest', emerge from seclusion immediately!"

"Next, gather the six Late Golden Core elders representing 'Mountain,' 'Fire,' 'Thunder,' 'Marsh,' 'Heaven,' and 'Earth'!"

"Have them set off immediately! Head to the Astral Battlefield!"

"At all costs!"

"... Snipe this brat!"

"Metropolitan!"

All the elders present were once again completely stunned by this insane order!

[Two Golden Core Perfection! Six Late Golden Core!]

[In order to assassinate a newly awakened Golden Core cultivator...]

[They actually sent nearly half of Storm Mountain's Golden Core Realm top-tier combat force...?!]

However, faced with Feng Xiaotian's unquestionable, icy gaze...

Everyone immediately knelt down on one knee!

"I will obey... the sect leader's decree!"