OBS Chapter 1415 The Great Evolution God
Chapter 1415 The Great Evolution God
Chapter 1415 The Great Evolution God
At the edge of the vast Mulan Grassland, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth had not yet completely subsided. The air still carried the pungent smell of the clash between highly toxic corrosive substances and domineering flames, as well as subtle fluctuations from the tearing of space by immense force.
Below, countless cultivators from Tiannan who had come to admire the place fell silent, their expressions frozen in utter shock, as if they had been immobilized.
The deathly silence was shattered by a sharp, incredulous roar.
“Ancestor, how could you possibly fight him to a draw… Impossible! He’s just a mid-Nascent Soul cultivator…” Wei Lichen’s face turned ashen as he rushed to Wei Wuyai’s side, his voice trembling with excitement, his eyes filled with resentment and humiliation.
In his view, his ancestor was a symbol of invincibility, and this prestige was the basis for Wei Lichen's rampage in Tiannan. Now, however, it was shaken by an "unknown" mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator. How could he accept this?
Wei Wuyai's face was ashen. He abruptly turned his head, his gaze piercing Wei Lichen like lightning, his eyes containing undeniable authority and a hint of barely perceptible weariness. His lips moved slightly, the latter half of his stern rebuke being transmitted directly into Wei Lichen's mind via a secret telepathic technique: "Shut up! You idiot!"
Wei Lichen was so shocked by the telepathic message that he instinctively shrank back.
Wei Wuyai's telepathic message continued to echo in his mind, carrying a tone of exasperation: "Idiot, didn't you see? If we continue fighting, it will only result in mutual destruction! Do you think I'm giving him face? It's because of the circumstances! This kid... is incredibly strange!"
Wei Lichen felt extremely wronged, and his lips moved slightly.
“But he’s clearly only at the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm…” Wei Lichen transmitted his voice again, his voice filled with resentment and doubt.
"Is he just an ordinary mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator? I've roamed the Southern Heaven for over a thousand years and have seen countless geniuses and prodigies! This kid cultivates both body and magic, his body-refining technique has reached the pinnacle, and he withstood my Ten Deadly Poisons Technique without being at a disadvantage! And then there's his strange spiritual fire..."
Wei Wuyai paused in his telepathic transmission, his tone somewhat unnatural: "That spiritual fire, in all my years of life, I have never seen such a domineering and sinister thing! Its troublesome nature is definitely no less than my Ten Deadly Poisons! Once you touch even a little bit, not to mention that your physical body will be instantly burned to ashes, I'm afraid even your nascent soul will not be able to escape the calamity of being refined! My intuition is absolutely correct!"
Seeing Wei Lichen's face, still filled with resentment but without any consideration for the dangerous consequences, Wei Wuyai felt a surge of intense disappointment and anger: "In your eyes, is the life of the ancestor less important than the little bit of fame you gain from fighting over a woman?!"
These words were like ice water poured over his head, instantly extinguishing most of Wei Lichen's resentment. He shuddered violently, all color draining from his face. Yes, what had enabled him to achieve his current status, power, resources, and even act with impunity in the early Nascent Soul stage?
Wasn't it just the prestigious title of Ancestor Wei Wuyai, the number one cultivator in the South? Once the Ancestor truly perished, or was severely injured and his reputation was damaged, Wei Lichen's good days would be over. Those who were usually so respectful to him would probably be the first to pounce on him and tear him to pieces. Realizing this, Wei Lichen's back was instantly soaked with cold sweat, and all his grievances and resentment turned into fear and lingering dread.
"Grandfather, your grandson dares not..." Wei Lichen's voice trembled slightly during the transmission, and he lowered his head deeply, not daring to look into Wei Wuyai's eyes again.
Just as the thousands of cultivators at the scene were still immersed in the shocking news that "Wei Wuyai actually fought to a draw with a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator," a news that was enough to shake the landscape of the Tiannan cultivation world, and had not yet fully digested it, an even more jaw-dropping scene occurred.
Wei Wuyai's solemnity and murderous aura receded like the tide, replaced by a gentle smile that was as refreshing as a spring breeze. He straightened his slightly disheveled robes, the poisonous mist around him dissipated, and he slowly and calmly floated toward Qin Hao, who had also concealed his golden body.
Under the stares of countless stunned gazes, Wei Wuyai stopped about ten feet away from Qin Hao, solemnly cupped his hands in a salute, and said loudly, "Fellow Daoist Zhang's supernatural abilities are astonishing, and his magical power is profound! I have truly broadened my horizons today! I never imagined that such a brilliant young talent as you could emerge within the territory of our Nine Kingdoms Alliance. It is truly a blessing for our Nine Kingdoms Alliance and for Tiannan! This exchange between Fellow Daoist Zhang and me can be described as an unexpected friendship, and it has been thoroughly enjoyable! I wonder if Fellow Daoist Zhang has some free time? This place is too crowded and noisy for a detailed discussion. How about we find a quiet place, brew some tea, and exchange our cultivation experiences?"
This gesture was incredibly humble, completely unexpected by everyone. Among the crowd below, the Fairy of the Hidden Moon Sect, the Old Ancestor Linghu of the Yellow Maple Valley, and others all showed disbelief and deep apprehension in their eyes—Wei Wuyai actually took the initiative to show goodwill and seek peace with a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator?!
Qin Hao looked at the formidable cultivator from Tiannan who had humbled himself before him, his mind racing. He could barely contend with Wei Wuyai's ten deadly poisons—poisons that were utterly corrosive and impossible to defend against—thanks to his golden body at the peak of the third level of the Heaven-Supporting Demonic Art and the Asura Sacred Flame. He truly lacked a perfect countermeasure. The depth and unpredictability of the opponent's poison techniques far exceeded his expectations.
If they continue fighting, as Wei Wuyai said, it will most likely result in a lose-lose situation, and may even affect Yuan Yao and Yan Li. This is not the outcome Qin Hao wants.
Moreover, the path of cultivation is long, and many exceptionally talented individuals have been burdened by empty fame and perished for the sake of momentary pride.
Wei Wuyai's decisive act of lowering himself and taking the initiative to seek peace at such a critical moment, when everyone was watching and the reputation of "Number One in the South" was at stake, truly earned Qin Hao's admiration.
Thinking of this, Qin Hao's face also showed a gentle smile. He returned the greeting with a cupped hand, his voice clear and resonant, echoing throughout the surrounding area: "Fellow Daoist Wei, you flatter me. As the number one cultivator in Tiannan, you are renowned and your cultivation is extraordinary. I, Zhang, have long admired your name. It is truly my honor to be able to exchange a few words with you today. To be able to exchange insights with you is an opportunity I have long sought. I would be so kind as to accept your invitation and invite you to our humble abode in Qingxu Sect for a chat!"
"Hahaha, good! Fellow Daoist Zhang, please!" Wei Wuyai clapped his hands and laughed heartily, appearing very pleased.
The two exchanged a smile, and the tense atmosphere that had filled the air instantly vanished. Then, two streaks of light shot into the sky, as fast as lightning, heading towards the Qingxu Sect of the Northern Liang Kingdom, disappearing into the horizon in an instant.
Only countless cultivators remained on the grassland below, staring in disbelief and bewilderment. They looked in the direction where the two had disappeared, then at the traces of battle left on the ground, unable to recover from this dramatic turn of events and the shock it had caused for a long time.
The number one cultivator in the south... took the initiative to invite a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator to have tea and discuss the Dao? This world seemed to have been completely overturned before their eyes.
Xuan Chengzi and the others from Qingxu Sect were so excited that they trembled all over, their joy almost bursting out of their chests—this meant that Qingxu Sect's greatest crisis had been resolved!
To put it less accurately, the Qingxu Sect is already on the path to rise.
……
Inside Qin Hao's private cave dwelling on the main peak of Qingxu Sect, the place is heavily guarded, brimming with spiritual energy, and completely isolated from outside prying eyes.
The main hall of the cave dwelling was simply yet elegantly furnished. Qin Hao and Wei Wuyai sat on either side of a jade table, one as host and the other as guest.
Dressed in elegant palace attire, Yanli gracefully presented two cups of steaming, fragrant spiritual tea. The aroma was intoxicating, carrying a subtle hint of herbal essence and a faint, eerie scent.
Wei Wuyai picked up the white jade teacup, gently sniffed it, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes. He took a sip; the tea was warm and smooth as it went down his throat, releasing a pure spiritual energy, while the peculiar, otherworldly aura became even more pronounced. He put down the teacup, looked at Qin Hao, and asked with interest, "Fellow Daoist Zhang, this tea... is quite unique. The aroma is elegant yet contains a hint of... hmm, an indescribable wildness? I consider myself to have tasted many spiritual teas from the southern lands, but I have never seen such a variety. May I ask what rare spiritual plants this tea is made from?"
Qin Hao smiled slightly, picked up his teacup and took a sip before calmly replying, "Fellow Daoist Wei is indeed a tea connoisseur. This tea was prepared by me in my spare time. The other ingredients are quite ordinary, but I have added a main ingredient—a special companion herb that grows deep within the lair of a level seven demon beast."
"Companion Grass?" Wei Wuyai's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he nodded thoughtfully. "I see! No wonder I always felt that the aura contained in this tea was quite peculiar, possessing both the purity of a spiritual plant and a trace of the domineering aura of a savage demon beast. Companion Grass from a level seven demon beast's lair... indeed rare. Only spiritual herbs nurtured in such an environment could possess such characteristics." He paused, then changed the subject, looking at Qin Hao with a probing smile. "However, as far as I know, high-level demon beasts above level seven have long since disappeared from the Tiannan region, haven't they?"
These seemingly casual words were actually laced with hidden meaning. Wei Wuyai was probing the origin of Qin Hao's demon-accompanying grass, and thus speculating on the source of his astonishing cultivation and treasures. After all, it was common knowledge that Tiannan was resource-scarce, making it difficult for a prodigy like Qin Hao to emerge.
Qin Hao's expression remained unchanged, still smiling, his eyes calmly meeting Wei Wuyai's probing gaze: "Fellow Daoist Wei is right, level seven demonic beasts in the Southern Heaven are indeed hard to find. However... just because they are not easy to find does not mean that they are completely extinct, or... do not exist in certain special places. What do you think, Fellow Daoist?"
Upon hearing this, Wei Wuyai gave Qin Hao a deep look, then laughed heartily, seemingly accepting the vague answer. He waved his hand self-deprecatingly, "That's right! I was indeed ignorant and narrow-minded. The cultivation world is vast and boundless, full of extraordinary people and events. There are always secret realms we haven't been able to reach and wondrous things we haven't known. Fellow Daoist Zhang's fortune is profound, far beyond what ordinary people can achieve!"
In his mind, Qin Hao's powerful body-refining technique, which could rival his own, the extremely strange spiritual fire, and the demonic herb that was clearly not from Tiannan... all the clues pointed to a legendary place—the Great Jin! That holy land of cultivation, rich in resources, with a long history and countless powerful figures! Only there could a prodigy like Qin Hao be created.
The topic was left unresolved, and both sides tacitly moved on. Wei Wuyai's expression turned serious, and he steered the conversation toward a more practical direction.
"Fellow Daoist Zhang," Wei Wuyai put down his teacup, his tone becoming solemn, "It is truly a blessing for our Nine Kingdoms Alliance to have such a brilliant and talented individual as you. The Mulan people are currently stirring and repeatedly invading our borders; a major war in the future may be unavoidable. In order to unite the forces of Tiannan and jointly resist foreign aggression, I, as the leader of the Nine Kingdoms Alliance, sincerely invite you to join our Nine Kingdoms Alliance Council of Elders!"
Seemingly worried that Qin Hao might decline due to his status as a guest elder of the Qingxu Sect or the perceived tediousness of the tasks, Wei Wuyai immediately added, "Fellow Daoist, rest assured, the Nine Kingdoms Alliance Elder Council is not a constraint. The alliance itself has a relatively loose structure, and members of the Elder Council do not need to be responsible for the specific mundane affairs of the various sects and factions within the alliance on a daily basis, possessing considerable autonomy. Only when the Mulan people launch a large-scale invasion, endangering the entire Tiannan cultivation world, will the members of the Elder Council be required to gather together to discuss strategies for resisting the enemy and coordinate the forces of all parties. Of course, as a member of the Elder Council, you will also receive a generous resource offering from the alliance every year, including spirit stones, pills, materials, etc., and we will never let you contribute for nothing."
Wei Wuyai stared intently at Qin Hao, awaiting his reply. Extending this invitation was a well-considered decision. Winning over Qin Hao would not only resolve the previous conflict stemming from Wei Lichen, but also significantly enhance the Nine Kingdoms Alliance's top combat strength.
The addition of a being capable of rivaling a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator would greatly boost the Nine Kingdoms Alliance's confidence in their fight against the Mulan people, and even give them an advantage when facing the Heavenly Dao Alliance, the Six Demonic Sects, and the Righteous Dao Alliance.
Qin Hao tapped his fingers lightly on the jade table, pondering for a moment. Joining the Elders' Council meant a deeper nominal connection with the Nine Kingdoms Alliance. But as Wei Wuyai had said, the actual constraints were minimal; the primary obligation was to fight the Mulan people. He had long been aware of this; as a guest elder of the Qingxu Sect, he would inevitably participate in the war when the Mulan people invaded. Now, with the added status of elder, he would not only receive a substantial stipend but also gain a certain degree of influence and resource mobilization within the alliance—a win-win situation.
Thinking of this, Qin Hao raised his head, met Wei Wuyai's gaze, smiled, and cupped his hands, saying, "Alliance Leader Wei has been so kind in inviting me. If I were to refuse again, I would be ungrateful. The Nine Kingdoms Alliance has contributed to protecting Tiannan, and as a member of it, I should do my part. I will accept this position in the Elders' Council!"
"Great! Hahaha! That's wonderful!" Upon hearing this, Wei Wuyai's face immediately broke into a genuine smile of joy, and he said "great" several times, appearing extremely satisfied.
"With Fellow Daoist Zhang joining us, our Nine Kingdoms Alliance is like a tiger with wings. On behalf of the entire Nine Kingdoms Alliance, I, Wei, welcome Elder Zhang!"
With the business settled, the atmosphere became even more harmonious. Wei Wuyai glanced at Wei Lichen, who was standing to the side, still looking somewhat uneasy, and said in a deep voice, "Lichen, come here!"
Wei Lichen stiffened, but still quickly stepped forward, bowed deeply to Qin Hao, his head bowed low, his voice filled with obvious shame and awe: "Fellow Daoist Zhang... I was blind and arrogant before, offending you and even offending Fairy Yuan Yao! Please forgive my ignorance and recklessness, Fellow Daoist Zhang!"
Qin Hao looked at Wei Lichen, who stood before him with his head bowed and eyes lowered, and felt little emotion. He was just a spoiled brat; if it weren't for his powerful ancestor, he would have been dead countless times over. Considering Wei Wuyai's proactive and sincere efforts to curry favor, Qin Hao decided not to bother with him.
He said calmly, "Young friend Wei, you are too kind. It is inevitable for young people to be competitive. Let's let bygones be bygones for your sake."
……
For the next two days, Wei Wuyai stayed at Qingxu Sect as promised, and together with Qin Hao, they set up a restriction deep within the cave and began a pure exchange of cultivation experiences.
As the foremost cultivator in Tiannan, an ancient monster who had lived for over a thousand years, Wei Wuyai possessed an exceptionally broad knowledge and rich experience. His conversation was filled with classical allusions, and he was intimately familiar with the various schools of cultivation techniques, strange tales, and spiritual herbs and poisons of Tiannan and the surrounding regions. Qin Hao benefited greatly from his insights, especially regarding the profound understanding of poison techniques, which gave Qin Hao a deeper understanding of how to better defend against and counter such supernatural abilities.
Qin Hao not only cultivated both body and magic, but also demonstrated a profound understanding of formations, talismans, and even some unorthodox secret techniques during their exchange. His understanding far surpassed that of a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, and was even comparable to Wei Wuyai's. He frequently uttered insightful theories and unique cultivation perspectives, causing Wei Wuyai to fall into deep thought and gain significant inspiration. This was naturally due to the vast amount of cultivation manuals accumulated by the Star Palace over thousands of years. This knowledge had already been scanned and entered into Qin Hao's database by his AI, and after analysis and integration, it became part of his knowledge system.
The two-day exchange was conducted in a harmonious and enthusiastic atmosphere. The last vestiges of resentment Wei Wuyai felt from the "draw" had largely dissipated, replaced by a deeper sense of apprehension and respect for Qin Hao's potential and background. He was even more convinced that this young man must have been to, and might even have been from, the Great Jin Dynasty! Otherwise, there was no way to explain his skills and knowledge, which far surpassed those of the Southern Realm. Qin Hao was also happy to let the other party maintain this "reasonable" misunderstanding.
……
During the two days that Wei Wuyai and Qin Hao were enjoying tea and discussing the Dao in the Qingxu Sect's cave, an even more explosive and disruptive piece of news than "Wei Wuyai appeared and issued a challenge" swept through the entire Tiannan cultivation world like a hurricane!
"Wei Wuyai, the number one cultivator in Tiannan, fought a battle with an elder guest of the Qingxu Sect at the border of the Mulan Grassland... and the battle ended in a draw!"
The news initially seemed like a fantasy, and was scoffed at by all the cultivators who heard it, who considered it nonsense and a rumor spread by the Qingxu Sect to save face.
"What a joke! How could Senior Wei fight to a draw with a mid-Nascent Soul cultivator?"
"That Qingxu Sect must be bragging! Senior Wei could crush a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator with a flick of his finger!"
"This is utterly absurd! This rumor is outrageous!"
However, as more and more cultivators from different sects and regions who had personally witnessed the battle returned one after another, and described the earth-shattering battle on that day with great confidence and vivid description, the entire Tiannan cultivation world was plunged into an unprecedented uproar and shock!
Countless people described how Qin Hao's powerful physical body, shining with golden light, withstood Wei Wuyai's terrifying Ten Deadly Poisonous Mist;
It describes how the dark blue flames incinerated everything, even Wei Wuyai's trump card, the poison of the Viper Corpse, was powerless against it;
It describes how the earth-shattering collision between the two tore the sky apart and shook the earth;
Finally, it describes with unparalleled clarity how Wei Wuyai took the initiative to stop fighting, personally announced a draw, and invited Qin Hao to Qingxu Sect to discuss the Dao!
The irrefutable facts, corroborated by countless testimonies, shattered all doubts. The entire cultivation world of Tiannan was in an uproar!
Internal workings of the Nine Nations Alliance:
"My goodness! A mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator... going head-to-head with a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator? And they even fought to a draw?! Zhang Tie... is he even human?"
"This...this is simply an unprecedented event in thousands of years! In the history of Tiannan, has there ever been a precedent of a mid-Nascent Soul cultivator being able to contend with a Grand Master?"
"You guys think... if he breaks through to the late Nascent Soul stage in the future, wouldn't he be... truly invincible below the Deity Transformation level?"
"Hiss... This is terrifying! What incredible luck did the Qingxu Sect have!"
"That can't be said, can it? It seems that Zhang Tie is relying on some extremely powerful body-refining technique, which happens to counter Alliance Leader Wei's poison technique? If he were to face Venerable Zhiyang or Old Demon Hehuan, he might not necessarily come out on top?"
"Hmph! Even if there is a restraining relationship, it is still extremely terrifying! If it were you or me, even if our techniques were restrained, could we withstand a single move from Alliance Leader Wei? Could we force Alliance Leader Wei to take the initiative to sue for peace? Zhang Tie's strength is definitely at the level of a Grand Cultivator! With him and Alliance Leader Wei in charge, the Nine Kingdoms Alliance is truly as stable as Mount Tai!"
……
Inside the cave of the Old Demon of the Joyous Union Sect, after listening to his disciple's report, the leader of the demonic path turned ashen-faced, crushing the jade bead he was playing with into powder: "Old Ghost Wei... was actually forced to a draw by a mid-stage cultivator? What's that kid's background? Investigate! Investigate him thoroughly for me!"
In a secret location of the Righteous Path Alliance, Venerable Zhiyang stroked his long beard, his eyes gleaming: "Cultivating both body and Dharma, able to withstand Fellow Daoist Wei's poisonous techniques? And that spiritual fire... interesting. It seems that Tiannan is about to change."
Several Nascent Soul cultivators who led the Heavenly Dao Alliance gathered together, their expressions grave: "The Nine Kingdoms Alliance was originally headed by Wei Wuyai, and now they have added Zhang Tie, who can rival a Grandmaster... This is a shift in power..."
……
Xi Kingdom, Ancient Sword Sect. When news arrived that Zhang Tie had fought Wei Wuyai to a draw, the Fire Dragon Child, who was in seclusion and still somewhat troubled, suddenly opened his eyes and burst into a hearty laugh!
"Hahaha! Good! Well done, Zhang Tie! What a draw! Hahaha!"
Since his defeat in three moves by Qin Hao, although the Ancient Sword Sect, Falling Cloud Sect, and Hundred Crafts Academy remained silent due to the bet and the compensation of the demon core, rumors circulated among the higher-ups of the Tiannan cultivation world about "Fire Dragon Child being defeated in three moves by a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator." Some cultivators who had grudges against him even secretly mocked him for being unworthy of his reputation and for disgracing Nascent Soul cultivators. This left him extremely frustrated, yet helpless.
Now, Qin Hao has completely proven just how terrifyingly powerful he is with a draw against the number one cultivator in Tiannan! Being able to withstand three moves from such a figure is no longer a disgrace, but rather a testament to his glory!
"Hmph! Now let's see who dares to gossip! Being able to withstand three moves from Zhang Tie is my skill! If you trash went up there, you'd probably be smashed into mincemeat in one move!"
The Fire Dragon Boy's pent-up frustration vanished, replaced by a sense of triumph and a greater sense of clarity in his Dao. Those who had once mocked him were now likely humiliated.
In the forbidden area of the Luoyun Sect in the Yunmeng Mountains, Elders Cheng Tiankun and Lü Luo sat facing each other. The spiritual tea in front of them had long since gone cold, and their faces were filled with bitterness and regret.
"Sigh..." Cheng Tiankun sighed deeply, his voice filled with endless regret: "One wrong step leads to another! Junior Brother Lü, you and I...we were truly blind!"
Lu Luo also looked worried and shook his head repeatedly: "Who could have imagined...who could have imagined! Back then, 'Zhang Tie' defeated Fire Dragon Boy in three moves and was actually hiding his strength. Who could have predicted that he would actually...actually become strong enough to rival Wei Wuyai!"
Cheng Tiankun slammed his fist heavily on the jade table, lamenting, "I regret it so much! If only we had been more decisive and generous! Even if we had given up half of the Luoyun Sect's reserves to recruit him... what a magnificent sight our Luoyun Sect would be now! We would have easily surpassed the Ancient Sword Sect and the Hundred Crafts Academy, becoming the leader of the three sects of Yunmeng! Even... even in the entire Tiannan region, our Luoyun Sect's influence would have been greatly enhanced! But now... we've watched helplessly as that impoverished Qingxu Sect, clinging to this golden thigh, soared to the heavens... Alas! We've squandered this chance to rise to the top!"
In my frustration, I wish I could turn back time and go back to wake myself up.
……
The biggest beneficiary was undoubtedly the Qingxu Sect.
Those disciples who had secretly fled the sect out of fear of Wei Wuyai's retaliation returned one by one after hearing the news, weeping and pleading that they had been blinded by greed and begging for the sect's forgiveness. Although Xuan Chengzi was contemptuous of them, he mostly chose to let bygones be bygones in order to maintain morale.
Moreover, many independent cultivators with excellent qualifications and cultivation levels, as well as cultivators from small families and sects, came to Qingxu Sect seeking to join its ranks, resulting in an explosive growth in the number of Qingxu Sect disciples and its overall strength.
Besides, the biggest change came from the other five factions in Yue Kingdom. Led by the Hidden Moon Sect and Yellow Maple Valley, followed by the Giant Sword Sect, Blade Transformation Dock, and Heavenly Palace Fortress, the leaders or elders of each faction personally visited Qingxu Sect with generous gifts, showing great courtesy and respect to Xuan Chengzi, which was in stark contrast to their previous isolation and exclusion.
They not only took the initiative to befriend Qingxu Sect, but also returned double the benefits and mining resources they had previously seized from Qingxu Sect. They even allocated some additional benefits to Qingxu Sect in order to ease tensions and foster closer ties in the future.
Xuan Chengzi truly experienced what it means to "borrow the tiger's power" and what it means for "when one person attains enlightenment, even his chickens and dogs ascend to heaven."
Because of Qin Hao's formidable reputation for fighting against powerful cultivators, even mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivators like Fairy Ni Chang and Ancestor Linghu greeted him with smiles and spoke to him with great courtesy. The early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators from the three sects, including the Giant Sword Sect, treated him almost as a fellow Daoist of the same generation, adopting extremely humble postures.
Of course, Xuan Chengzi was well aware that Qingxu Sect's current prosperity was entirely due to Qin Hao's formidable combat power, which was enough to intimidate all sides. Qin Hao's agreement with Qingxu Sect was merely to protect the sect for five hundred years. If Qingxu Sect failed to cultivate new Nascent Soul cultivators after five hundred years, its current flourishing state would inevitably crumble and vanish like a mirage. This placed unprecedented pressure on him and further solidified his determination to dedicate all resources to cultivating the sect's core disciples.
……
Two days later, Wei Wuyai, accompanied by Wei Lichen, who was now much more docile but with mixed feelings, bid farewell and left Qingxu Sect.
Qin Hao then announced that he would continue his seclusion.
The area inside and outside Qingxu Gate gradually returned to its former order and tranquility from the bustling crowds.
However, Qin Hao did not immediately enter into deep seclusion for cultivation. Several days after Wei Wuyai left, he quietly left the cave with Yuan Yao and Yanli without alerting anyone.
Half a year later.
Above a boundless, sand-swept desert, a dark green streak of light sped along at incredible speed; it was Qin Hao's Black Dragon Boat.
This place is a vast desert stretching tens of thousands of miles, separating the southern regions from the far west. The environment here is extremely harsh. Not only are there constant sandstorms that obscure the sky and reduce visibility, but more troublesome is the presence of a natural force field within the desert that severely interferes with a cultivator's spiritual sense, making it difficult to discern directions and easily leading to disorientation. For Foundation Establishment cultivators and even some Core Formation cultivators, traversing this desert is an extremely dangerous task.
However, for Qin Hao, who was at the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm and whose divine sense far surpassed that of others of the same level, this interference was nothing. His powerful divine sense forcefully broke through the interference, firmly locking onto the direction. The Ink Dragon Boat was also incredibly fast, and it only took about a month to cross this sea of death and arrive at its destination—the far west.
Qin Hao's goal for this trip was clear: the Thousand Bamboo Sect, which controlled the cultivation world in the far west.
Faced with a Thousand Bamboo Sect headquarters staffed only by Golden Core cultivators, Qin Hao didn't even bother to make a move. Yuan Yao and Yan Li were simply crushing a group of cultivators whose highest level was only Golden Core.
The two women didn't even use many powerful supernatural abilities; they simply relied on their Nascent Soul stage spiritual pressure and a few spells to wipe out the current high-ranking elders of the Thousand Bamboo Sect. The entire Thousand Bamboo Sect headquarters was instantly leaderless and plunged into chaos.
Subsequently, under the guidance of a branch leader of the Thousand Bamboo Sect who was already terrified and desperate to save his life, Qin Hao and his group easily entered the core forbidden area of the Thousand Bamboo Sect.
After a thorough investigation using his divine sense, Qin Hao quickly located a secret chamber that was extremely well hidden and protected by ancient restrictions.
After breaking through the restrictions and entering, they discovered dozens of exquisitely crafted puppets, each with power comparable to a late-stage Core Formation cultivator, displayed within the secret chamber. These puppets were of little value to Qin Hao at the moment, so he allowed Yuan Yao to disassemble and collect them one by one, intending to use them for future research or as rewards for his disciples.
Qin Hao focused his divine sense on the puppets, and finally, inside one of the seemingly ordinary, even somewhat broken puppets, he keenly detected an extremely weak but exceptionally condensed and ancient aura of unusual divine sense fluctuation.
"Found it." Qin Hao's lips curled up slightly as he confirmed that this wisp of divine consciousness was indeed a remnant soul of the extraordinary predecessor who had been trapped for thousands of years and created the world-shaking "Great Evolution Technique"—the Great Evolution Divine Lord!
After a frank and open conversation and negotiation, the remnant soul of the Great Evolution Divine Lord, who had experienced many vicissitudes, agreed to pass on the complete follow-up techniques of the Great Evolution Manual, as well as the essence of his lifelong research in puppetry, to Qin Hao.
As agreed, Qin Hao took out a piece of carefully prepared Soul-Nourishing Wood for the remnant soul of the Great Evolution God Lord to rest and recuperate, relieving the pain of his soul power dissipating.
After the deal was struck, Qin Hao was satisfied and did not linger there. He took Yuan Yao, Yan Li, and the Soul-Nourishing Wood that housed the Great Evolution God, and embarked on his journey home in the Ink Dragon Boat.
Just as Qin Hao and his group returned to the Qingxu Sect cave, weary from their journey, and were about to begin studying the new techniques of the Great Evolution Manual, they unexpectedly discovered a floating communication talisman emitting a faint blue light outside the cave's protective barrier.
Qin Hao used the communication talisman to probe the sound, and a familiar yet steady voice resounded in his mind:
"Senior Brother Zhang, Han Li requests an audience..."