Chapter 188 : Determining Aspirations

Chapter 188: Determining Aspirations

‘What bargaining chip did the Yuqing Immortal Sect offer to make Chen Beiwu’s attitude so resolute?’

Thinking of this, Zhao Wuchen no longer hesitated and brought out the trump card he had specially prepared these past few days.

“Buzz!”

Zhao Wuchen extended his palm toward Chen Beiwu, revealing a perfectly round, golden-like pill resting in his hand.

“This is?” Chen Beiwu’s pupils contracted.

Just from smelling the faint medicinal fragrance seeping from the pill, the liquid mana within his dantian’s qi sea immediately became extremely active, as if it would condense into a Dao Foundation and ascend to Foundation Establishment at any moment.

“This is the Tribulation-Breaking Golden Core I promised you earlier. A Foundation Establishment peak cultivator who consumes it can shatter the bottleneck and form a core, increasing the probability of reaching the Golden Core stage by forty percent.

If you are willing to join the Bixiao Immortal Sect, this Tribulation-Breaking Golden Core will be yours.” Zhao Wuchen stared directly into Chen Beiwu’s eyes.

The Tribulation-Breaking Golden Core was priceless—something countless peak Foundation Establishment cultivators within the Immortal Alliance desired yet could not obtain.

If Chen Beiwu entered the Bixiao Immortal Sect but failed to achieve Flawless Qi Refining, Zhao Wuchen’s offering of such a treasure might very well draw harsh blame from his master afterward.

But sometimes, risk was also opportunity.

If Chen Beiwu succeeded in attaining Flawless Qi Refining, Zhao Wuchen’s insistence on recruiting this prodigy against opposition would earn him great merit in the eyes of the sect’s higher-ups.

“Apologies, True Person Zhao.”

Under Zhao Wuchen’s expectant gaze, Chen Beiwu averted his eyes from the Tribulation-Breaking Golden Core and shook his head.

“What do you want? We can still negotiate.” Zhao Wuchen’s eyes narrowed, unwilling to give up.

He truly valued Chen Beiwu.

After all, this was a prodigy who had only fallen to Gu Qinghan.

Chen Beiwu’s mind raced as he tactfully refused: “What I want is the follow-up cultivation methods of the Supreme Sutra of Boundless Salvation of Taiyuan and a Biluosong.”

“In that case, I respect your decision.”

Hearing Chen Beiwu’s request, Zhao Wuchen put away the Tribulation-Breaking Golden Core and straightforwardly rose to leave.

As a core disciple of Bixiao Immortal Sect’s dual branches, he knew very well how highly the sect’s higher-ups valued Biluosong.

Biluosong was no mere third-tier treasure beast—it was a rare, special one with boundless potential that could accompany a cultivator in growth all the way to the fifth-tier spirit beast realm.

By rights, such a creature should only be allocated to the sect’s most exceptionally gifted talents.

But within the Bixiao Immortal Sect, the matter of Biluosong was already long decided.

Needless to say, even if Chen Beiwu succeeded in Flawless Qi Refining, he would not qualify for a contract with Biluosong.

‘What a pity.’ Zhao Wuchen cast a final glance at Chen Beiwu before departing.

Had Chen Beiwu requested something else, negotiations could have continued.

But Biluosong was tied to the vital interests of both branches.

Compared to interests, so-called reforms touted by the sect’s higher-ups were nothing more than slogans—not up for discussion at all.

After sending off True Person Zhao, Chen Beiwu turned and noticed a middle-aged cultivator of immortal bearing suddenly standing outside his cave residence.

“Student Chen, I am Ai Jing, recruitment teacher of Dongxuan Immortal Sect. Are you interested in learning more?”

“Please, Teacher Ai.” Chen Beiwu nodded.

A guest deserved respect—especially when the guest was the divine-sense incarnation of a Golden Core True Person himself.

“Student Chen, have you considered changing your aspiration and joining the Dongxuan Immortal Sect?”

After a brief introduction to his sect, Ai Jing directly extended the invitation.

“Many thanks for True Person’s regard, but I already plan to apply to the Yuqing Immortal Sect.”

Hearing this, Ai Jing was not surprised.

Whether in strength, ranking, or resources, the Yuqing Immortal Sect far surpassed the Dongxuan Immortal Sect.

Better to be a phoenix’s tail than a chicken’s head.

If he were Chen Beiwu, he would also choose the Yuqing Immortal Sect.

“Student Chen, why not hear the terms that Dongxuan Immortal Sect can offer before making your final decision?” Ai Jing smiled.

“Please speak, Teacher Ai.”

“For your Golden Scale Fish to evolve its bloodline into a Gold Dragon Carp, it must temper its body repeatedly with Metal Essence Fiend. The Dongxuan Immortal Sect can provide you with three strands of Metal Essence Qi.” Ai Jing offered his conditions.

On the Immortal Alliance’s official website, the price of Metal Essence Qi was comparable to that of the Tribulation-Breaking Golden Core.

Three strands of Metal Essence Qi were equal in worth to three Tribulation-Breaking Golden Cores.

Of course, due to demand, the Golden Core pill was far rarer and thus far more valuable in practice.

So, what the Dongxuan Immortal Sect offered was about on par with Bixiao Immortal Sect.

Seeing Chen Beiwu’s expression remain calm, Ai Jing continued: “Student Chen must also know—whether for the Golden Scale Fish or the Gold Dragon Carp—if you want its bloodline to evolve into a flood dragon, you’ll need a drop of Third-Realm Flood Dragon Essence Blood and a dragon-vein-converging lake for the transformation ritual.”

Chen Beiwu’s eyelid twitched as he looked at Ai Jing in shock.

“If you are willing to join the Dongxuan Immortal Sect, aside from three strands of Metal Essence Qi, we can also provide a drop of Third-Realm Flood Dragon Essence Blood and access to a dragon-vein-converging lake,” Ai Jing said confidently.

The prospect of a Companion Beast transforming into a flood dragon was an irresistible temptation for most cultivators. He believed Chen Beiwu was no exception.

“Isn’t flood dragon transformation forbidden by the Immortal Alliance?” Chen Beiwu asked in surprise.

“You can’t do it on Sky Abyss Star, but that doesn’t mean you can’t do it outside the domain,” Ai Jing explained with a smile.

Chen Beiwu’s heart pounded.

He had to admit, the Dongxuan Immortal Sect’s offer was the most generous yet, tailored precisely for him.

Even if Golden Egg could one day undergo flood dragon transformation in the Southern Wastes, Chen Beiwu would still need a legitimate explanation to the Immortal Alliance on how his Companion Beast transformed.

Seeing the stirrings in Chen Beiwu’s eyes, Ai Jing chose not to press further, waiting instead for his reply.

Truthfully, if Chen Beiwu were not possibly the peerless latent dragon prophesied by True Venerable Dongming, the Dongxuan Immortal Sect would never offer such riches.

“Can the Dongxuan Immortal Sect help me resolve the follow-up cultivation methods of the Supreme Sutra of Boundless Salvation of Taiyuan?” Chen Beiwu probed.

The sect’s terms were too good—so good that his instincts told him something was amiss.

Chen Beiwu even suspected that this recruitment attempt might be a result of him triggering an Orange Opportunity.

Ai Jing did not say whether they could or not, but instead tactfully suggested:

“The Dongxuan Immortal Sect houses countless Legendary-Grade cultivation methods, each pointing straight to the Divine Transformation stage, none inferior to the Supreme Sutra of Boundless Salvation of Taiyuan.

For instance, the Dongxuan Jade-Pivot Heavenly River Record, the Taiyi Sea-Suppressing Demon-Subjugating Scripture, and the Supreme Dongzhen Water-and-Wood Radiance Art.”

“Once you join our sect, you can freely choose among these Legendary-Grade methods to switch to. There is no need to remain fixated on the Supreme Sutra of Boundless Salvation of Taiyuan.”

Hearing this, Chen Beiwu’s heart immediately steadied.

Abandoning his cultivation of the Supreme Sutra now to switch to another method would mean discarding years of hard work—abandoning the Flawless Qi Refining realm already within his grasp.

This was something Chen Beiwu could not accept.

He expressed gratitude for Ai Jing’s regard while firmly stating his intent to apply to the Yuqing Immortal Sect.

With Yuqing’s name as a shield, Ai Jing, though displeased, could only flick his sleeve and depart Chen Beiwu’s cave residence.

“Whew.” Chen Beiwu exhaled a heavy breath.

From True Person Ai’s reply, he had keenly gleaned a key detail.

That was—the Dongxuan Immortal Sect could not suppress Bixiao Immortal Sect, but the Yuqing Immortal Sect could.

Clearly, the strength of the Upper Three Immortal Sects was far beyond his imagination.

If he could distinguish himself within the Yuqing Immortal Sect, demonstrating sufficient strength and talent, he too would likely gain the qualification for flood dragon transformation outside the domain.