Chapter 238 : Direct to the Heavenly Ear

Chapter 238: Direct to the Heavenly Ear

“A few strands of top-grade Five-Elements Earthly Sha Qi?” Yu Shuiyao couldn’t help but let out a soft, amused laugh.

This nephew Chen truly dared to open his mouth like a lion.

Middle-grade Earthly Sha Qi was still reasonable. Although this quality of Sha Qi was rare, it wasn’t as precious as a third-tier treasure pill.

But top-grade Earthly Sha Qi of the Five Elements was another matter entirely—its value could even rival that of the third-tier Golden Palace Pill, perhaps even surpass it.

It must be known that for a Foundation Establishment cultivator to break through into the Golden Core stage, they had to gather Earthly Sha Qi to refine the True Qi within their bodies into Earthly Sha True Qi. Only then could they nurture a trace of immortal golden essence during Core Formation.

The higher the quality of Earthly Sha Qi gathered, the higher the grade of Golden Core a cultivator could form.

Within the Five Great Sects of the Earth Proliferation Territory, there existed a consensus—

for a Foundation Establishment cultivator to forge an upper third-grade Golden Core, they must at least collect one strand of top-grade Earthly Sha Qi corresponding to their cultivation method’s attribute.

Otherwise, the Golden Core formed would certainly be of the middle or even lower third grade.

The founding ancestor of the Mirror Moon Sect had once left behind four phrases:

Those who form a lower third-grade Golden Core shall never attain the rank of True Monarch.

Those who form a middle third-grade Golden Core may aspire to become True Monarchs, yet never True Venerables.

Those who form an upper third-grade Golden Core can attain True Monarchhood and may even reach Spirit Transformation.

Those who form a supreme first-grade Golden Core can attain True Monarch and True Venerable, and may one day ascend to the realm of Dao Veneration.

Thus it could be seen that the importance of top-grade Earthly Sha Qi was no exaggeration to call it a strategic cultivation resource of the Five Great Sects.

Within the sect, the top-grade Earthly Sha Qi was of the Gui Water attribute—commonly known as Ten-Thousand Nether Earthly Sha Qi. It was the extremity among all Earthly Sha, so cold that even a single strand could freeze a magic artifact solid.

The sect could collect but one strand of Ten-Thousand Nether Earthly Sha every sixty years—barely two in a century—showing just how precious it was.

When Yu Shuiyao had formed her Foundation years ago, she had overwhelmed countless geniuses of the sect and served through countless life-and-death battles before she finally earned a single strand of Ten-Thousand Nether Earthly Sha, allowing her to successfully form a second-grade Golden Core.

And now, Chen Beiwu opened his mouth to ask for several strands of top-grade Earthly Sha Qi—as if such a treasure grew like cabbage in a field—making Yu Shuiyao nearly lose her composure.

Still, to be fair, the value of a fourth-tier formation disk indeed surpassed that of top-grade Earthly Sha Qi.

Moreover, Chen Beiwu was a prodigy who had forged the Tianyan Dao Foundation. Even without applying, the upper echelon of the sect would bestow him a strand of Ten-Thousand Nether Earthly Sha. It was even possible that he could become one who forged a first-grade Golden Core.

Seeing Elder Yu’s reaction, Chen Beiwu was slightly surprised.

The Southern Wastes were rich in resources, unlike the Immortal Alliance, which strictly guarded all high-level breakthrough materials.

By reason, granting a few strands of top-grade Earthly Sha Qi should not have been a problem for the sect.

“The Ten-Thousand Nether Earthly Sha is simple enough—the sect still has some in reserve. Taking one strand out would not be difficult.”

“But the Evergreen Earthly Sha would require a decree from the Patriarch himself to be exchanged from the Greenwood Sect.”

At this, Yu Shuiyao paused slightly, her gaze turning toward Chen Beiwu. “Besides the Earthly Sha Qi, what other rewards do you desire?”

Upon hearing this, Chen Beiwu was a little disappointed.

Elder Yu’s meaning was clear.

The Ten-Thousand Nether Earthly Sha was possible; the Evergreen Earthly Sha, uncertain. To obtain it would require disturbing the Patriarch—better to ask for something else.

“If possible, this disciple would like a drop of third-tier or higher water-attribute Flood Dragon essence blood,” Chen Beiwu changed his request.

Golden Egg wished to break through the shackles of his bloodline and awaken the Golden-Horned Flood Dragon blood within. For the transformation to succeed, at least one drop of third-realm Flood Dragon essence blood was required.

To be safe, Chen Beiwu decided to obtain one drop of Flood Dragon essence blood each from the Immortal Alliance and the Southern Wastes.

One water, one wood—a powerful combination that might awaken Golden Egg’s bloodline to the utmost.

“Third-tier or higher water-attribute Flood Dragon essence blood?”

Yu Shuiyao pondered for a moment, deciding to disclose some information—to form goodwill with Chen Zi’ang, and at the same time use this chance to test the Patriarch’s attitude.

After all, with Chen Zi’ang’s talent, as long as he did not fall prematurely, his future as a Golden Core or even Nascent Soul cultivator was assured. To sit and discuss formations with her one day was practically guaranteed.

If the Patriarch chose to nurture him with the full strength of the sect, with his potential, even achieving the rank of True Venerable of Spirit Transformation would not be mere fantasy.

Thinking this, Yu Shuiyao smiled faintly and reminded, “If Nephew Chen is not in a hurry, he may apply for a drop of fourth-tier Chi Dragon essence blood.”

One would not permit another to snore beside one’s pillow.

The Xuanhao Sea Region lay not far from the Mirror Moon Sea Region, only a few million li away.

There, a fourth-tier Chi Dragon had long dwelled—over five thousand years in age—known among Earth Proliferation Territory cultivators as the Xuanhao Chi Dragon.

The Xuanhao Chi Dragon was a rare dragon species, incomparably strong. Even among Beast Kings, it was among the most formidable. Its dragon breath blackened the sea for ten thousand li, forming the unique “Ink Tide Phenomenon.”

In the past ten years, on every new and full moon, a ring-shaped tsunami hundreds of zhang high appeared in the Xuanhao Sea, drawing all the heaven-and-earth spiritual currents of the area toward one place.

According to the Patriarch’s divination, this phenomenon was no coincidence—it signified the Xuanhao Chi Dragon’s bloodline was about to evolve, preparing for Dragon Transformation.

It must be known that the Xuanhao Chi Dragon, a peak fourth-tier Beast King, already rivaled a True Monarch. If its bloodline advanced further and it shed the body of a Chi Dragon, it would become a fifth-tier Flood Dragon Sovereign—equal to a True Venerable of Spirit Transformation. That would be a grave transgression.

The Five Great Sects of the Earth Proliferation Territory could tolerate a fourth-tier Chi Dragon, but never a fifth-tier Flood Dragon.

Thus, slaying the dragon was inevitable.

Moreover, the flesh and dragon core of such a fourth-tier peak Beast King could allow the Five Sects to produce one or two more Nascent Soul True Monarchs—or even refine fourth-tier Longevity Elixirs.

In summary, if the Patriarch valued Chen Zi’ang and intended to make him the sect’s successor, he would likely not refuse such a reward request for dragon blood—indeed, he might gladly approve it.

Chen Beiwu’s pupils contracted as joy flooded his face. “Many thanks for your guidance, True Person.”

A drop of fourth-tier Chi Dragon essence blood was a once-in-a-millennium treasure. Consuming it in a place with a strong Dragon Vein, coupled with the subtle transformations from the All Laws Converge, Heaven Book of the Divine Tree and the True Spirit Diagram of the Dragon Gate, Golden Egg might well stir the floods, ascend as a Flood Dragon, and become a fourth-tier Mystic Beast in one stroke.

“No need for formality.” Yu Shuiyao slightly inclined her head, her gaze landing upon the Void-Drifting Formation Disk.

She longed to study this fourth-tier disk, yet it belonged to the Patriarch’s domain.

Seeing this, the perceptive Chen Beiwu immediately took his leave.

Only after his figure vanished did Yu Shuiyao sigh softly and retrieve the Patriarch’s decree.

Compared to before, the decree’s light spots had dimmed significantly. Roughly a hundred points of light remained—some even carried the imprints of the sect’s true disciples.

Evidently, they had all perished within the Tianyan True Realm—their cultivation paths ending there.

“Hum!”

As Yu Shuiyao circulated her mana, the decree she held aloft suddenly stirred without wind.

A sun disk hovered over her left shoulder, a moon mirror over her right; behind her head manifested a Purple Mansion Yang Spirit!

The moment this Nascent Soul Dharma Manifestation appeared, an invisible pressure swept through the entire blessed cabin.

Under this might, Yu Shuiyao’s blood and mana instantly fell silent, like a candle flame before the Great Sun—utterly unable to shine.

And this was only a single trace of a Nascent Soul True Monarch’s Heavenly-Gang Dharma Aspect, not even the True Monarch’s full descent. Such was the vast gap between a Golden Core True Person and a Nascent Soul True Monarch.

“What matter disturbs My Seat?”

An ancient, boundless voice descended from the Ninth Heaven, shaking Yu Shuiyao’s very soul.

Following the sect’s formalities, she bowed deeply and said solemnly, “Reporting to the Patriarch—our sect has discovered a peerless prodigy!”

“His name is Chen Zi’ang, twenty years of age, who has forged the Tianyan Dao Foundation, and within the secret realm received acknowledgment from the Inheritance Stele—obtaining both the Tianyan Pill and a fourth-tier formation disk…”