Chapter 241 : Purple Qi from the East

Chapter 241: Purple Qi from the East

With Elder Yu accompanying him, the process of retrieving Earthly Sha Qi from the Hall of Mysteries went extremely smoothly.

Opening the jade box, the first thing Chen Beiwu saw was a wisp of inky-black, mist-like Sha Qi.

Its form resembled a coiled dragon, writhing and flowing, yet it continuously exuded a bone-chilling, sinister aura.

This was the Ten-Thousand-Souls Earthly Sha, ranked ninth in the Record of Earthly Sha Qi of the Southern Wasteland. It belonged to the utmost yin, water-shaped Qi, and alongside the third-ranked “Absolute Earthly Sha,” it was jointly known as Absolute Heavens Ten-Thousand-Souls.

‘What a pure Ten-Thousand-Souls Earthly Sha!’

Chen Beiwu’s eyes lit up slightly. He then opened another jade box, revealing a liquid gas inside, emerald like jade.

The two strands of Sha Qi formed an interesting contrast—one was piercingly cold, the other brimming with vitality—forming a subtle balance in the void.

“Ten-Thousand-Souls Earthly Sha was harvested from a place of extreme darkness. Evergreen Earthly Sha came from the land where Innate Primal Wood resides,” Yun Cang explained. “These two strands of Earthly Sha Qi are considered top-tier Golden Core materials even in the entire Southern Wasteland.”

“However, these two strands are mutually reinforcing and restraining. For ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators, using them to refine mana is dangerous—one misstep would result in death and Dao dissolution. Daoist, you must be cautious when refining Earthly Sha.”

Chen Beiwu put away the two jade boxes. “Many thanks for the warning, True Person.”

For those building Foundation in haste, acquiring one strand of top-grade Earthly Sha Qi corresponding to the five elements of their technique would guarantee forming a First-Grade Golden Core.

But Chen Beiwu’s goal was not merely a First-Grade Golden Core—it was the superior [Yuanshi Golden Core].

That was a Golden Core named after the first sect master of the Yuqing Immortal Sect, a mighty figure. Its strength was self-evident, far beyond the imagination of Southern Wasteland cultivators.

Though the Hunyuan Golden Core recorded on the inheritance stele sounded grand, in Chen Beiwu’s eyes, it didn’t compare to the Yuanshi Golden Core in the slightest.

After all, the former came from the declining Tai Void Formation Sect, while the latter belonged to the supreme immortal methods of the Yuqing Immortal Sect. Even a fool would know which to choose.

However, the Yuqing Nine Revolutions Yuanshi Pill Canon was extremely difficult to cultivate. Even though Chen Beiwu practiced breath-holding and Qi-nurturing with the Nine Breaths every night before meditating on this immortal method for two hours, he still only had a shallow grasp and hadn’t entered the doorway.

But he was clear on one point: to achieve Nine Revolutions Core Formation and nurture the Yuanshi Golden Core, one must, as the technique’s jade slip said—collect Yu-Void Earthly Sha Qi, forge the five-element treasure radiance using the Five Qi Vine, and refine it with Yuanshi Ancestral Qi.

Chen Beiwu had collected the Ten-Thousand-Souls and Evergreen Earthly Sha in advance to first assemble two strands of treasure radiance (Earthly Sha), then seek a chance to contract the Five Qi Vine and gather the remaining three.

“Let’s go. It’s time to meet the Ancestor.” Yu Shuiyao turned her gaze toward Taiyi Island, her tone calm.

Upon hearing this, Yun Cang’s heart tightened.

Even though he was now a respected Golden Core True Person, he still hadn’t had the fortune to meet the sect’s Ancestor.

So this was the status of a Daoist?

…

Atop Taiyi Peak.

An ancient, austere hall floated above the sea of clouds at the summit, with two crimson-scaled giant beasts coiled on either side of the main gate.

Each beast had two pairs of curved dragon horns on its head, golden pupils like fire, and bodies covered in red scales. Their tails ended in trident-like shapes, resembling burning flames, exuding the pure majesty of flood dragons.

Chen Beiwu narrowed his eyes, instantly recognizing what these spirit beasts were.

【Name】: Fire-Scaled Flood Dragon

【Element】: Fire

【Bloodline】: Third-Tier, Mid Grade

【Bloodline Advancement】: Flame-Scaled Chi (Fourth-Tier, Mid Grade Mystic Beast), Chixiao Dragon (Fifth-Tier, Low Grade Origin Beast)

【Appraisal】: Though a flood dragon, the Fire-Scaled Flood Dragon contains dragon-beast blood, with limited potential. Without a great opportunity to defy fate, its bloodline cannot advance.

Upon spotting the visitors, the two Fire-Scaled Flood Dragons opened their eyes and unleashed the aura of third-realm demon generals, then lay down calmly again and closed their eyes.

‘Third-realm flood dragons reduced to gatekeepers for the Ancestor!’ Chen Beiwu’s eyelid twitched.

He knew that cultivators in the Southern Wasteland revered dragons, capturing them as mounts or even food. But using two Golden Core flood dragons as gatekeepers was simply too extravagant.

One must understand, in the Mountain-Smothering Realm, two gatekeeping flood dragons under the Ancestor's command would each be rulers of their own mountain ranges—Golden Core True Persons wouldn’t dare provoke them.

At the foot of the thousand-step jade staircase before the hall, Elder Yu softly instructed, “The Ancestor usually cultivates within. Remember, once inside, do not look directly at the Ancestor’s Dharma Appearance.”

Chen Beiwu nodded and followed Elder Yu up the stairs.

“Buzz!”

Reaching the end of the staircase, the heavy palace doors opened automatically, releasing a vast, ocean-like pressure.

At the center of the hall, a majestic figure sat cross-legged amid five-element mists.

These mists sometimes turned into Azure Dragons and White Tigers, sometimes into Vermilion Birds and Black Tortoises, and finally transformed into Yellow Dragons entering the body. The cycle of the five elements illustrated a profound Dao rhythm.

“Greetings, Ancestor,” Yu Shuiyao said.

“Disciple Chen Ziang greets the Ancestor,” Chen Beiwu saluted according to sect rules.

“Not bad. A fine Tianyan Dao Foundation.”

As a light laugh echoed, the five-element mists slowly dispersed, revealing an elderly man with silver hair and a youthful face.

His posture was upright like a pine, hair as white as snow, complexion ruddy like a child’s, with a golden vertical mark between his brows, seemingly rotating with the five elements.

Yet what shocked Chen Beiwu the most was that the Ancestor’s aura of fortune was not the red-dragon auspicious glow, but strands of purple radiance—neither cloud nor haze—impossible to describe.

These strands formed seven layers of violet halos behind the Ancestor’s crown, making him look like a deity descending to the mortal realm.

‘Above Red-Dragon Auspiciousness… it’s Purple Qi from the East!’ Chen Beiwu’s pupils shrank.

If golden fortune represented the limit of the third tier, and red-dragon fortune represented a Nascent Soul True Monarch, then could this Purple Qi from the East signify a Soul Formation True Venerable?

No, that wasn’t right!

If the sect’s Ancestor were truly a Soul Formation True Venerable, he would have long held a Soul Formation Ceremony and invited all River Evolution cultivators to offer tributes and celebrate.

‘I mustn’t think any further!’

Chen Beiwu activated the Guarding-the-One Mirror to cleanse distracting thoughts and no longer pondered fortune.

Otherwise, in front of such a mighty figure as the sect’s Ancestor, he might inadvertently expose the secrets he carried.

Noticing Chen Ziang’s reaction, Zhu Wuya was unsurprised.

Over the years, every sect Golden Core who met him had been overwhelmed in spirit.

For Chen Beiwu, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, to barely maintain composure under a True Monarch’s presence already reflected remarkable aptitude and temperament.

“Do you know why I summoned you here?” Zhu Wuya’s voice wasn’t loud, yet it struck the heart, compelling cultivators to speak their innermost thoughts.

“Forgive this disciple’s dullness. I beg the Ancestor for guidance,” Chen Beiwu replied neither servile nor overbearing.

To his surprise, the very next moment, the Ancestor raised a hand, and five divine lights shot from his fingertips, weaving a grand vision upon the palace dome.

Eastern green Qi formed an immortal tree; western white light turned into blades and arms; southern red flames became a sea of fire; northern black waters coalesced into a cold abyss; and central yellow Qi solidified into a mountain—vaguely manifesting five ancient existences.

“This is the sect’s Core Formation secret method, Five-Fold Great Taiyi Core-Refining Method.”

The Ancestor’s voice turned ethereal. “Watch closely. I shall teach you only once!”

As the words fell, the grand vision dissolved into a stream of light that shot into Chen Beiwu’s forehead.

“Boom!”

Under the wash of this Dao rhythm, Chen Beiwu’s mind instantly plunged into a blank void.