Chapter 239 : Dao Heir of Mirror Moon

Chapter 239: Dao Heir of Mirror Moon

After listening to Yu Shuiyao’s account, the Patriarch’s Dharma Manifestation let out a faint laugh that made the sea of clouds roll violently.

“Oh? The Tianyan Dao Foundation... After the Founder of Mirror Moon, yet another one?”

Even he had never set foot into that mysterious realm.

This one’s potential and aptitude were so high that he might one day rival the sect’s founding ancestor.

In the future, he could very well become a True Venerable of the Divine Transformation Realm, famed across the Nine Realms and Ten Domains of the Southern Wastes!

However, if a prodigy of such potential could not be used by the sect, then it would be a calamity rather than a blessing. Should the sect invest all its resources into nurturing him, it might even end up harming itself.

There was no helping it—such talent must be kept close and personally guided, lest he stray onto a crooked path.

With that thought, the Patriarch’s Dharma Manifestation spoke in a solemn voice,

“This child’s talent is rarely seen even in ten thousand years—he is a peerless genius of our sect.”

“But one of such outstanding talent is like a blade tempered by fire—too rigid and it may snap. He must be guided patiently by a great teacher, combining strength and gentleness, so that he may pierce through the mysteries of the True Monarch realm.”

At this, the Patriarch paused slightly.

“Whose disciple is this child?”

“The Head of the Disciplinary Hall, Ninth Elder of the main bloodline, Fourth Disciple of Zhu Shaoyuan.” Yu Shuiyao’s expression remained calm. She knew the Patriarch was already considering taking a disciple, so she was not surprised.

Cultivators of great sects were all the same.

When encountering one with extraordinary talent—either they would take them in, or they would erase them in advance to prevent a future threat.

Upon hearing this, the Patriarch’s brows relaxed slightly.

Since Chen Zi’ang was Zhu Shaoyuan’s disciple, he was of the direct lineage, trustworthy and worth cultivating.

Still, out of caution, the Patriarch decided to ask one more question.

After all, Yu Shuiyao possessed an exceptionally high level of discernment. She was one of the sect’s rare true seekers of the Dao, and her evaluation carried significant weight.

“Elder Yu, in your opinion… is this one usable?”

The Patriarch’s voice was like the Heavenly Drum Thunder Sound described in the Mirror Court Scripture—even a single casual word could cause the mind of a Golden Core True Person to quake.

Yu Shuiyao lowered her gaze respectfully, but her eyes subconsciously flicked toward the Black Dragon screen.

Chen Zi’ang was the fourth disciple of Zhu Shaoyuan, while Zhu Shaoyuan was the great-grandson of the Patriarch. Their relationship was close. If she dared to say he was untrustworthy, she might as well be courting disaster.

Moreover, she truly thought highly of Chen Zi’ang and even hoped to discuss the Dao with him in the future.

“Grateful, steadfast, strong-willed, and highly perceptive—he is worthy of the sect.” Yu Shuiyao spoke meaningfully, articulating sixteen words.

“Oh?”

Surprised by Yu Shuiyao’s high praise, a bright light flared behind the Patriarch’s head—his Purple Palace Yang Spirit revolved as he used great divine power to deduce the heavenly patterns, casting divination upon fate.

Three breaths later, the Patriarch’s Dharma Manifestation revealed a trace of doubt and uncertainty in his eyes.

What was this?

With his cultivation at the peak of the True Monarch Realm—just one step short of Divine Transformation—he still could not deduce what influence Chen Zi’ang’s rise would have on the sect!

To be precise, when he calculated the heavenly patterns, Chen Zi’ang’s fate appeared completely ordinary, as if he were no different from a common cultivator.

But how could that be?

A cultivator who had forged the Tianyan Dao Foundation could never possess a mundane fate.

There was only one explanation: Chen Zi’ang might have been born to meet calamity—either a harbinger of the sect’s grand prosperity, or the omen of its downfall.

Three breaths later, the Patriarch’s voice resounded like divine decree among the clouds.

“From this day forth, Chen Zi’ang shall be promoted as the ‘Dao Heir of Mirror Moon’, enjoying the privileges of a Sect Master’s successor.”

“Furthermore, though the inheritance of the ancient Tai Void Formation Sect is of high grade, it still falls short of the peerless Golden Core method, the Fivefold Grand Taiyi Core Forging Method. The Dao Heir need not risk exploring the Tianyan True Realm.”

“Order him to return to the sect at once—this seat shall personally impart the Taiyi Golden Core Method.”

As soon as his words fell, a streak of golden light descended from the heavens.

“Disciple obeys the Patriarch’s decree.”

Yu Shuiyao bowed respectfully and received the golden jade slip.

The Fivefold Grand Taiyi Core Forging Method was a secret art never passed down lightly within the sect—its lineage traced back to the ancient Taiyi Dao Sect and could produce the supreme First-Grade Golden Core, the Taiyi Golden Core.

Sadly, the method was exceedingly difficult to cultivate. Without the Tianyan Dao Foundation, one could not even begin. Even Yu Shuiyao herself had never been qualified to see it.

From this, it could be seen that the Patriarch truly wished to nurture Chen Zi’ang.

At that thought, Yu Shuiyao raised both hands to present the Void-Drifting Formation Disk, deliberately showing a trace of hesitation.

“What is it?” the Patriarch asked.

“The Dao Heir offers this Fourth-Tier Formation Disk, the Void-Drifting Formation, and requests one wisp of Earthly Sha Essence of Ten Thousand Spirits, one wisp of Earthly Sha Essence of Eternal Verdancy, one drop of Fourth-Tier Flood Dragon Essence Blood, and one Core-Forming Pill.”

Yu Shuiyao spoke directly, relaying Chen Beiwu’s requests.

The Patriarch couldn’t help but glance at her.

These were different times.

Now that Chen Zi’ang was the Dao Heir of the sect, he was already entitled to draw upon the sect’s treasured stores of Earthly Sha Essence of Ten Thousand Spirits and Earthly Sha Essence of Eternal Verdancy.

After forming a First-Grade Golden Core, he would even qualify to obtain the Core-Forming Pill.

However, the Fourth-Tier Flood Dragon Essence Blood and the Core-Forming Pill were exceptions.

The former was far too potent for a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator to use, while the latter was a lesser substitute for the Core-Forming Pill, of lower value, refined using a Fourth-Tier Beast King’s inner core.

Its use could raise the success rate of Core Formation by forty percent.

To cultivators, if one could successfully ascend to True Monarch, there was little difference between the Core-Forming Pill and the Core-Forming Pill.

But if the attempt failed, and the Golden Core shattered, the explosive medicinal power of the Core-Forming Pill could obliterate a Golden Core cultivator.

Thus, only those of unshakable resolve and absolute confidence in their Core Formation dared to use the life-or-death Core-Forming Pill. Others would always choose the safer Core-Forming Pill.

“Elder Yu, you are certain these are Chen Zi’ang’s requested items?” the Patriarch asked evenly.

“Certain.” Yu Shuiyao replied without a flicker of emotion.

The Patriarch’s eyelid twitched.

To lie so calmly before a Nascent Soul True Monarch—Yu Shuiyao was truly daring.

But considering her talent, loyalty, and how she had never caused him headaches unlike other Golden Core elders, the Patriarch finally relented.

“Granted.”

With that single word, the sea of clouds churned—and the Dharma Manifestation of the True Monarch slowly faded away.

……

On the other side, Chen Beiwu and Deacon Zhao Heng had just returned to the outer region of the Earthly Sha Warship when they felt it shudder beneath them.

“What’s going on?” a disciple exclaimed in surprise.

“Elder Yu is returning to the sect. Those who wish to continue exploring the Tianyan True Realm may disembark and transfer to Elder Yu’s vessel,” another well-informed disciple explained.

Hearing the chatter around him, Zhao Heng’s eyes glimmered as he looked toward Chen Beiwu.

Only he knew that the reason Elder Yu was hastily returning was because Chen Zi’ang had obtained a Fourth-Tier Mystic Treasure within the Tianyan True Realm.

If he was not mistaken, Chen Zi’ang should already have entered the sight of the upper echelons—making him an unfit target for Jiang’s True Transmission.

“Senior Brother Zhao, have you seen Senior Sister Feng Yao these past days?” Chen Beiwu asked with concern.

“True Disciple Feng and True Disciple Han’s auras left by the Patriarch’s decree have long dissipated—they most likely met misfortune.” Zhao Heng answered truthfully.

The older one grew, the more one feared death.

The Tianyan True Realm was simply too dangerous. Even True Disciples could fall with the slightest mistake—he would not risk it for anything.

Thinking of this, Zhao Heng glanced around cautiously and whispered,

“It’s not just our sect. The Blazing Flame Sect, Heavy Gold Sect, Profound Sword Pavilion, and Greenwood Sect all suffered severe losses. Even prodigies like Luo Yongjie, Zhou Yuan, and Gu Jianfeng perished in the secret realm last month.”

Chen Beiwu’s pupils contracted sharply.

So his suspicions had been right—

that inheritance stele was indeed a most ominous object.

It must not be touched!