Lord Shenxiu-Chapter 954: Journey Afar

'It can already be confirmed, this realm is not formed by an illusion, it might very well be Taikuangtian, or a portion of Taikuangtian…'

Within the secret golden chapter, Zhong Shenxiu also began to ponder.

Over these four years, continually coming into contact with external information has given him a deep understanding of this realm.

'This is a purely mortal-flow cultivation world, qualifications do not count for much, as long as there are enough resources, even a useless person can attain immortality!'

'Here, the suppression of realms is extremely terrifying, if both parties are in good condition, challenging across a major level is nonexistent! Foundation Establishment killing Qi Refinement, Golden Core killing Foundation Establishment, need no more than a few moves…'

'However, ancient records describe that there once was a Late-stage Golden Core, who at the cost of severe injury, escaped the pursuit of a Nascent Soul Early Stage, and was hailed as a once-in-a-millennium supreme genius, who indeed later cultivated into a Divinity Transformation Patriarch and ascended to the Spirit Realm.'

Ascension! Spirit Realm!

These are two extremely important concepts.

Zhong Shenxiu even suspects that the former Taikuangtian had already been shattered, or divided into several major domains like the Seven Luminaries Heaven.

And the world in which Lu Wen Yuan currently resides is undoubtedly at the lowest level!

'Moreover… I always feel that the Dao lineage of this realm is flawed!'

Zhong Shenxiu, having received partial inheritance of the Ancient Immortal Method of Taihuangtian, can naturally see that the current cultivation world's methods are vastly different from the ancient methods.

One might even say, apart from the similar realm names, they are entirely different paths.

"This is very interesting… Could it be that this place, as an ancient battlefield, is carrying out a competition of Dao lineages?"

From this perspective, the defeat of the Ancient Method Cultivators and the dominance of the mortal-flow cultivators reveal quite a lot.

"Should I… spread the Dao?"

Just as Zhong Shenxiu raised this notion, a gigantic terror emerged within his heart, as if seeing the shadow of death.

This made him realize that if he were to spread a new method recklessly in this world, he would be involuntarily caught up in a supreme war with almost certain death!

"Moreover, I don't even know which supreme figure left behind this mortal Dao lineage, which side they stand on, or their attitude towards me…"

Zhong Shenxiu sighed: "Could it be… that I can only cultivate Lu Wen Yuan to the so-called 'Divinity Transformation' stage and then use his ascension to smuggle into the Spirit Realm to gain more information?"

This realm's Dao lineage highly values aptitude.

The single spirit root is considered the best, known as the Heavenly Spirit Root, followed by the rare spirit root and the dual spirit roots.

Then it's Lu Wen Yuan's turn with his triple spirit root, which is considered average, yet better than the false spirit roots of four and five, thereby categorized as mid-level.

And his disposition?

After years of observation, Zhong Shenxiu felt… it's also average.

Knowing when to advance or retreat, acting cautiously, these are basic qualities of cultivators in this realm.

"So, it all relies on opportunity… With me giving you such a boost, if you still can't reach Divinity Transformation within a millennium, I'll just kill you outright and find another host!"

Zhong Shenxiu secretly set a small goal for Lu Wen Yuan.

...

In reality.

Lu Wen Yuan sighed heavily.

If he could choose, he would definitely stick to cultivating within the family like before.

By concealing his cultivation level, he was able to easily complete the assigned tasks, thus saving a lot of time for cultivation.

As for not having family resources to support? For someone as well-funded as him, that's completely not a problem.

However…

Upon reaching the tenth level of the Qi Refinement period, his Green Wood Technique could progress no further, and he must seek Foundation Establishment opportunities.

Therefore, he can only end his current peaceful life and go out to seek opportunities.

Regarding the family?

The last time the family's resources were depleted in vain, for at least fifty years, they can't be relied upon.

Moreover, as Lu Cidi gradually approaches the end of his lifespan, there's even a risk of the family's destruction!

Understanding all this, Lu Wen Yuan reported to the family the next day and directly took a long leave to go out in search of opportunities.

At this moment, Lu Wen Yuan is not particularly noticeable in the clan, just a small inconspicuous member.

Yet, an elder from the clan's Task Hall remembered him, holding his hand with sincere advice about the dangers outside.

Lu Wen Yuan spread his hands, indicating that without the tribute, and if he didn't go out to seek resources, his cultivation would be stagnant.

Seeing this, the elder of the Task Hall was helpless as well; knowing the family's poor situation, seeing that Lu Xiaotian's failure in Foundation Establishment directly affected the cultivation of Qi Cultivation disciples for decades to come, could only agree, letting Lu Wen Yuan seek his own path outside.

...

Once Lu Wen Yuan left Taiching Mountain, he headed eastward.

His target was the 'Dan Ding Sect' ten thousand miles to the east!

This sect's power was comparable to the Feiyun Sect and was also a subordinate sect of the No-Origin Sect, yet it was renowned in the Liang Country's cultivation world for its alchemy skills.

Lu Wen Yuan estimated that his spirit root aptitude was moderate, his cultivation wasn't bad, and with his alchemy skills, joining this sect would be no problem at all.

And it was said that Dan Ding Sect had great favor towards alchemists, and due to their advanced alchemy techniques, every furnace batch of Foundation Establishment Pills they crafted outnumbered the Feiyun Sect's by several folds.

Regardless of joining Dan Ding Sect, over there, it might be easier to get a hold of 'Foundation Establishment Pills'!

"With my aptitude, relying on a single Foundation Establishment Pill for Foundation Establishment is somewhat risky, but it's okay, now my mana can maintain elixir pills for several days without degradation…"

"When the time comes, I can completely collect multiple Foundation Establishment Pills and take them together… It'd be best to mix in a real pill among them, then Foundation Establishment would be guaranteed!"

Lu Wen Yuan often undertook family tasks and even encountered rogue cultivators before, thus had experience with long journeys.

This time going out, he stored all his cultivator items in his storage bag, disguising himself as an ordinary person in the Jianghu, blending with the mortal caravan, though slow on the road, but safe.

Half a month passed by.

On this day, Lu Wen Yuan disguised as a tea merchant, carrying two loads of tea leaves on a horse, blended into a mortal caravan.

"Brother Lu, you're brave to travel alone, my respect to you."

Within the convoy, a chubby man with a black mole on his face said with a laugh, "The Beiyang Road isn't safe, but Brother Lu, your skills are quite solid, one round trip earns more than I do in three months at a shop…"

"Not at all, it's just hard-earned money."

Lu Wen Yuan adeptly laughed it off.

At that moment, his expression changed as he discreetly glanced towards the east.

Before long, two figures, one chasing and one escaping, approached the caravan.

Lu Wen Yuan immediately recognized they were both cultivators, the woman in black in front was roughly at the fifth or sixth level of Qi Refinement, and the man chasing her was stronger, at the eighth level of Qi Refinement.

"We in this caravan, don't meddle in others' affairs!"

The chubby man who spoke earlier smiled as he shared his experiences, advising the caravan to avoid these two suspicious 'martial arts people'.

Suddenly, the man chasing from behind saw the woman was running too fast and feared she would rush into the caravan, escape in the chaos, so he slapped his storage bag, and two black iron claw magic artifacts glowed with spirit light, one clawed towards the woman, while the other unexpectedly flew towards the convoy, seemingly intending to disperse the crowd ahead of time.

"Cultivator!"

The chubby man's face instantly turned pale.