Chapter 470 - 431: Abnormal Transformation of the Sword Intent

Chapter 470: Chapter 431: Abnormal Transformation of the Sword Intent

Time flowed on. Several months passed in the blink of an eye since Chu Mu’s return to Chixia.

To any Cultivator, a few months was an insignificant amount of time.

But for Chixia Island, these past few months had brought about an earth-shattering transformation.

The appearance of a newly ascended Golden Core True Master naturally meant that the existing hierarchy of interests would be shattered and reorganized.

In the wake of this sudden rise, countless factions of all sizes from across the tumultuous Vast Sea, many of them like stray dogs without a home, flocked to the banner of the True Understanding Pavilion.

In just a few short months, the True Understanding Pavilion skyrocketed from a single shop in Chixia City to one of the city’s preeminent powers.

The True Understanding Pavilion’s signs spread like a virus, rapidly appearing all over Chixia City and quickly expanding to all corners of the Vast Sea Cultivation Immortal World.

And Chu Mu, the source of it all, calmly stepped into the ranks of the Golden Core Cultivators of the Vast Sea Cultivation Immortal World.

Given the current situation on Chixia, it was natural that a good number of Golden Core True Masters had gathered there.

Reaching Golden Core Cultivation naturally granted him a ticket to interact with other Golden Core Cultivators.

A series of exchange meetings for Golden Core Cultivators completely pulled Chu Mu into the upper echelons of the Vast Sea Cultivation Immortal World.

Although compared to other Golden Core Realm experts, Chu Mu was practically destitute.

But his reputation for Pill and Artifact Dual Proficiency had long been circulating throughout the Vast Sea Cultivation Immortal World.

After Chu Mu casually revealed that his Alchemy Skill and Artifact Refining Skill had reached Tier Three, his fame for Pill and Artifact Dual Proficiency began to spread among the Golden Core level of the Vast Sea Cultivation Immortal World as well.

As for the war in the Chixia Sea Area, Chu Mu didn’t pay it much mind due to his injuries. After briefly learning the details, he declined numerous invitations, using the excuse that he had just achieved Core Formation and his Cultivation had not yet stabilized.

As for himself, aside from occasionally attending some Golden Core Realm gatherings, he spent the rest of his time at leisure in the backyard of the True Understanding Pavilion.

One day, in the early hours of the morning, Chu Mu sat in the stone pavilion in his courtyard, perusing an Array Book. Outside the pavilion, his few cheap disciples stood respectfully, answering the occasional questions he posed to test them.

After a round of testing, the morning sun was just beginning to rise.

Facing the still-impassive Chu Mu, they all appeared uneasy, waiting in silence.

After a long while, Chu Mu finally set down the Array Book in his hands and looked at his cheap disciples, his gaze as tranquil as an old well.

These cheap disciples were merely the product of an agreement born from mutual interest. He naturally didn’t care much for them, let alone feel any deep affection.

The factions behind his cheap disciples had paid the price he demanded, and in return, he fulfilled his end of the bargain by training them to become Artifact Refiners.

It was a purely teacher-student relationship, not the master-disciple bond of one who passes down their legacy. Nothing more.

From what he had seen in the test just now, they had all stepped through the gateway of the Artifact Refining Skill and had already walked some distance down the path.

The original agreement had been fulfilled.

Chu Mu pondered for a moment before speaking, "I have taught you everything I was supposed to."

"The path of an Artifact Refiner is one of practice. If you continue to stay here with me, you won’t learn much else of use..."

"Master!"

As he spoke, the disciples immediately dropped to their knees with a THUD.

"Master, I don’t want to leave, I..."

Chu Mu waved his hand, forcibly pulling them to their feet, and scolded, "This is not a life-and-death parting. Don’t be so dramatic!"

"How about this: the True Understanding Pavilion has been expanding recently, and the various branches are in dire need of manpower. You should each choose a location to hone your skills for a while. You can make your decisions later."

With that one sentence, Chu Mu made his decision final. He didn’t give them another chance to speak, simply gesturing with his hand. The disciples could only depart in dejection.

Chu Mu shifted his position slightly, then picked up the Array Book again and resumed reading with single-minded focus.

To him, everything in the outside world could be temporarily ignored.

The most important thing was to fully recover from his injuries as soon as possible.

And now that the Demonization Erosion had been completely purged, his recovery had entered the fast lane; it shouldn’t take much longer.

He could also use this time to properly sort out his Cultivation path after stepping into the Golden Core Realm.

The Light Curtain Panel appeared in his vision.

Back in the Demon Realm, after he had swung that most fearless blade at the hundred-zhang-tall Ancient Halberd, he had felt a vague premonition. Now, with the Demonization Erosion purged and his injuries healing, a clue seemed to be re-emerging.

On the Light Curtain Panel, after the entry for his Saber Technique, which was described as "Skill Nears the Dao," something seemed to be gestating. Faint text would appear, but he could never make out what it said.

As for his own perception...

Chu Mu closed his eyes slightly, his Divine Sense sinking into his Sea of Consciousness. Beneath his crystal-clear Divine Soul rested that bright, pure Divine Soul Saber.

The saber suppressed his Sea of Consciousness, its sharpness seeming capable of shattering all things as it flowed within. A faint ripple, following the instinctual circulation of the Void Nether Saber Scripture, slowly swept over every part of his Divine Soul, every inch of his flesh, and every wisp of his Magical Power like a gentle spring breeze.

Tempering, refining...

It was no different from before.

But in the unseen world, Chu Mu could feel a strange sensation. It seemed this bright, chilling Divine Soul Saber was somehow different than before.

But just like with the Light Curtain Panel, he couldn’t perceive what exactly had changed.

Yet Chu Mu had a strange premonition. This mystery, like trying to see flowers in a fog, was likely limited by his damaged Essence, Qi, and Spirit! Or rather, it was limited by the unhealed crack in his Golden Core.

Once his injuries fully healed, this feeling of seeing flowers in a fog should dissipate, and the transformation originating from his Saber Intent should fully reveal itself.

The Light Curtain Panel in his vision faded away. Chu Mu slowly rose to his feet and went into the courtyard, where several Spirit Plant Puppets were still busy at work in the Spirit Fields.

Years ago in the Deep Sea, he had personally experienced the secret machinations of that Sword Dao Nascent Soul, followed by the self-detonation of a Golden Core. His Cave Mansion on the Immortal Mountain had been obliterated in that explosion.

Although he received a rather generous compensation afterward, the Spirit Medicines he had planted there were clearly destroyed in the blast.

Fortunately, he had also planted many Spirit Medicines here at the True Understanding Pavilion, and over the years, the scale of these Spirit Fields had repeatedly expanded.

To this end, he had not only refined several Spirit Plant Puppets but had also found a Spirit Plant Master Cultivation Technique suitable for a Bloodline Cultivator for Chang Er to study, letting him look after these Spirit Fields.

The Demon Beast Bloodline he had bestowed upon Chang Er this time was of the Earth Tier Lower Grade, a famous Wood Attribute Demon Beast from the Demon Beast Atlas.

The Bloodline Divine Techniques it could awaken were also famous Spiritual Plant-related Divine Techniques, said to be able to accelerate the growth of Spiritual Plants and increase the chances of their mutation.

Paired with the Spirit Plant Master Cultivation Technique he had specifically collected, it was practically a certainty that Chang Er would become an outstanding Spirit Plant Master...

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