NOVPUBWang Ba was even more curious about another matter:
"The competition for the personal disciples?"
Zhao Feng was slightly surprised:
"Don’t you know? Oh, right, you were in secluded meditation, it’s normal not to know..."
As he spoke, he explained:
"In the last few years, Han Jinyu, the first of the personal disciples, achieved Nascent Soul completion and automatically withdrew from the ranks. The other disciples each advanced a position, and thus the ninth personal disciple’s spot became vacant. Some within the sect with exceptional talent, who feel they have a shot at becoming a personal disciple, are vying for this ninth spot... As long as one is at the Complete Golden Pill stage and below one hundred and fifty years old, they have the qualifications to compete. Of course, if the realm is higher, the age requirement may be relaxed accordingly."
"Complete Golden Pill? Below one hundred and fifty years old?"
Wang Ba couldn’t help but look at Zhao Feng:
"Senior Brother, isn’t that exactly..."
Senior Brother Zhao prefers to keep a low profile and conceal his abilities. Even though Wang Ba was now also a Golden Core Craftsman, it was still difficult to see through his true cultivation realm at a glance. 𝓃𝓸𝓋𝓹𝓾𝓫.𝒸ℴ𝓶
"Hehe, I’m still far from it."
Zhao Feng laughed, then went on to explain:
"I am about in the early stage of the late-stage Golden Core. As you know, I use the Soul Nurturing Bead as my foundation, and the quality of this bead is limited. Despite having expended a lot of resources to compensate for it, and my previous progress has far surpassed ordinary people, it’s essentially reached its limit. To advance further is not so easy."
"However, the competition for the ninth personal disciple has become more or less clear. Unless something unexpected happens, it should be Master Jiang from Pimao Peak..."
"Pimao Peak, Master Jiang?"
Wang Ba showed a surprised expression.
In his mind, he immediately thought of the bald-headed female Cultivator.
"Is it her?"
"She’s already established a peak?"
Within the Wanfa Sect, whenever a new line of inheritance appears with a Golden Core level Cultivator, they can independently establish a peak.
Evidently, Jiang Yi, who had established the Dao of Skin and Hair, had met the conditions to establish her peak.
This slightly surprised Wang Ba.
Although someone who could create a new line of inheritance was certainly not ordinary,
hearing that she came from a small country and was able to surpass her peers in the Wanxiang Sect was indeed not an easy feat.
As they chatted casually, the two had already landed on the thatched cottage atop Xinjian Peak.
The mountain breeze blew gently.
The bamboo forest swayed.
In the distance, spring water trickled down the cliff crevices.
It all seemed very peaceful.
"Master, Junior Brother Wang Ba is here to see you."
Zhao Feng gave his respects outside the house.
Immediately, a familiar voice came from inside the house:
"Enter."
Zhao Feng gestured, and Wang Ba promptly strode inside.
Then he couldn’t help but pause in surprise.
In the simple abode lay a sword energy, both illusory and real, but Xumi’s figure was not to be seen.
"This..."
In his surprise,
suddenly, there was a slight tremble in front of him.
On that sword energy, a figure rapidly took shape.
Although the figure had grown arms, Wang Ba recognized him immediately and quickly paid his respects:
"Wang Ba pays respect to Martial Uncle Xumi!"
The figure solidified swiftly, now indistinct from a real person; it was the peak master of Xinjian Peak, Xumi, the Lonely Sword.
Xumi was even more unapproachable than Zhao Feng, his face as cold as stone at the mountaintop, naturally making others feel a sense of distance.
Zhao Feng, having brought Wang Ba inside, consciously paid his respects and left.
Now, only Xumi and Wang Ba remained inside the house.
"After your method was used, I sensed a force of creation from this world rising from within me, causing my mana, soul, and blood energy to each undergo a transformation."
Xumi suddenly spoke up.
Wang Ba was startled but quickly understood.
The other party was fulfilling their agreement, explaining his process of achieving Immortal Ascension in detail.
Wang Ba immediately pricked up his ears.
Xumi continued:
"…But this power was not real, just like a breath blown into the body."
"A breath?"
Wang Ba’s expression stiffened.
Xumi’s gaze seemed to reflect on the past:
"Yes, a breath. If there is any deficiency in the three, that breath will rapidly burst the Cultivator’s body. Unless one has incredible control, they will explode in an instant."
"Additionally, I could feel that the higher the level of the realm, the stricter the requirements for these three elements seem to become."
Instantly, Wang Ba thought of those Cultivators who had been infused with Lifespan and exploded,
as well as the distorted state of Xumi’s previous Nascent Soul.
He suddenly understood.
"So that’s how it is… The Priest of the Feather Serpent Tribe, practicing a Cultivation Method that fused the three, had no deficiency, or a very small one, which is why he survived and even advanced to Nascent Soul. The rest of the Feather Serpent Tribe Cultivators were not so."
"Due to the deficiency in his physical body, Martial Uncle Xumi almost failed, but because of his immense control, he managed to hold on... No, his Nascent Soul still seemed to have issues afterward."
As if perceiving Wang Ba’s train of thought, Xumi explained simply:
"Although I barely held onto that breath, it propelled me toward a higher level, but as I reached the brink of entering the Transforming Spirit Realm, that breath disappeared, returning to the universe ... as if a person were blown into the sky, when the wind ceases, if there is no new gust to steady them, they will fall."
"The higher they’re blown, the more severe the fallout will be."
"At that moment, as I surged toward the threshold of Immortal Ascension, about to transition, I had exhausted everything. Not only was I unable to support myself in the Transforming Spirit Realm, but my Nascent Soul also began to collapse. With no other choice, I could only hide inside my life-bound sword energy and become one with the True Spirit of the sword. Later, with Elder Ren’s assistance, I barely managed to Cross Tribulation with the sword, but the deficit was too great. It took some time until not long ago to barely make up for it…"
