75: Chapter 75 Nascent Soul Clash, Great Battle Imminent

News of Liu Ruyan successfully reaching Core Formation and manifesting a phenomenon spread like the wind throughout the entire Azure Cloud Sect.

For a time, Danxia Peak was bustling with visitors, with Elders and Disciples from various peaks coming in an endless stream to offer their congratulations.

And as Liu Ruyan's "Dao Companion," you also managed to steal the spotlight in a big way.

"Have you heard? Senior Sister Liu's success in forming her Golden Core is all thanks to her Dao Companion, Tang Xun!"

"Yes, I've heard it too! It's said that the Breakthrough Pill Senior Sister Liu used while Undergoing Tribulation was personally refined for her by that Tang Xun! And it was a top-grade one at that!"

"My god! A High-Rank Grade 4 Alchemist! He's only sixty years old? That's too much of a Prodigy!"

To this, you only smiled slightly, keeping your achievements and fame hidden.

"Just kidding, I'm a man with a cheat. This small scene is just a light drizzle."

...

The days that followed returned to peace.

After Liu Ruyan reached Core Formation, she began seclusion to stabilize her Realm.

And you were happy to be idle. Every day, besides Alchemy, you would study various Cultivation Techniques and classics "borrowed" from your Senior Brother, and occasionally, you would even offer guidance on Master Liu Changfeng's Alchemy.

That's right, guidance.

Your current attainments in Alchemy have completely surpassed your Master.

There were several times when Liu Changfeng encountered a Bottleneck while refining a high-Rank Medicinal Pill and couldn't figure it out, but in the end, it was you who, "accidentally" dropped a hint, allowing him to suddenly see the light.

This made Liu Changfeng feel a deep sense of frustration, even while feeling gratified.

"Sigh, the new generation surpasses the old, and the old generation is left behind."

Liu Changfeng lamented this more than once in front of you.

"Master, you are overstating it," you would say with a "humble" expression every time. "My meager attainments are all due to your excellent teaching. Without you, there would be no me today."

These words made Liu Changfeng feel incredibly comforted inside.

"Look, look! This is what it means to respect the teacher and the Dao! This is what it means to be humble and patient! I, Liu Changfeng, have lived a life worth living by taking on a Disciple like Xun'er!"

Now, the more he looks at you, the more pleased he is, wishing he could pass on everything he has learned in his life to you.

He even considered the idea of having you take over his position as the Head Elder of Danxia Peak.

Of course, he quickly extinguished this thought himself.

"No, Xun'er is still young, and his cultivation is only at the Middle Foundation Establishment Stage. Handing such a heavy burden to him now would affect his cultivation. Let's wait until he reaches Core Formation; let's wait until he reaches Core Formation."

He did not know that your true cultivation had already reached the peak of Early-Stage Core Formation.

Whenever you wanted, you could enter the Core Formation Mid-stage.

...

Ninety years old.

You have entered the Core Formation Mid-stage, while your public cultivation remains at the Middle Foundation Establishment Stage.

Perhaps the Heavenly Dao was jealous of your smooth sailing; in these forty-five years, you didn't draw a single colored trait.

On this day, you were in your Immortal Cave, studying a rare book on ancient Restrictions.

After these decades of "Dual Cultivation," your Divine Sense, under the blessing of the [Divine Sense Double] green trait, has become exceptionally powerful.

You estimate that your current Divine Sense strength is probably no less than that of an ordinary Early Stage Nascent Soul Cultivator.

A powerful Divine Sense gives you a unique advantage when learning and comprehending skills that require a large amount of Divine Sense, such as Formations and Restrictions.

You are now not only a High-Rank Grade 4 Alchemist but also a Grade 2 Formation Master.

Just as you were immersed in the ocean of knowledge, unable to extricate yourself.

"Boom—"

A deafening roar suddenly came from the far horizon outside the Sect.

Immediately after, the entire Azure Cloud Sect shook violently, as if an earthquake had occurred.

You lifted your head abruptly, your Divine Sense instantly spreading out, probing towards the direction the sound came from.

You saw that in the sky hundreds of miles outside the Azure Cloud Sect's mountain gate.

Two figures, like gods, were fighting fiercely.

One figure was wrapped in blinding Golden Light, and every move caused the world to shake and the wind and clouds to change color. In his hand, he seemed to hold a giant golden sword, and every swing could slash out a terrifying Sword Qi that was a thousand zhang long.

The other figure was shrouded in monstrous Devilish Qi, his actual appearance unclear. He just stood there simply, and around him, countless ghost shadows and skeletons condensed from Devilish Qi were roaring and screaming.

The golden Sword Qi struck the Devilish Qi, like a clay ox entering the sea, and was instantly swallowed without a trace.

"Nascent Soul Stage! It's Nascent Soul Old Monsters fighting!"

Your heart sank abruptly.

You recognized the figure wrapped in Golden Light; it was the Grand Elder of the Azure Cloud Sect, and the only Late Stage Nascent Soul great Cultivator of the entire Northern Region's Righteous Path—Golden Light.

And that guy with the monstrous Devilish Qi, needless to say, must be a peerless titan of the same level from the Demonic Path.

"What was bound to come, has finally come."

You muttered to yourself, your eyes becoming incredibly grave.

You remembered that in your second simulation, it was because these two old monsters were fighting.

And you died in the aftermath of this great battle when you were ninety years old.

"That time, I was at the Qi Refinement Stage. Facing a battle of this level, I didn't even count as cannon fodder; I could only be slaughtered."

"But this time..."

You felt the surging magic power within your body, and a cold, sharp light flashed in your eyes.

"This time, I am a Core Formation True Person! What can the mere aftermath of a Nascent Soul battle do to me?!"

Just then, the Restriction on your Immortal Cave's stone door was opened from the outside.

Liu Ruyan rushed in, looking anxious.

"Tang Xun! It's bad! Outside... outside..."

"I saw it," you interrupted her, speaking with a calm expression.

"Then... what should we do now?" Liu Ruyan asked, somewhat flustered.

The Nascent Soul Old Monsters' battle, with its world-destroying power, had completely exceeded her understanding.

"Don't be afraid."

You stepped forward, took her cold hand, and pulled her to your side.

"If the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up. Our Azure Cloud Sect isn't that easy to topple."

You looked at the two light orbs in the distant sky, as dazzling as the sun, and said slowly.

"However, these peaceful days are likely at an end."