Chapter 542 - 493: A Complementary System

Chapter 542: Chapter 493: A Complementary System

"This trip was well worth it..."

Chu Mu was filled with an indescribable feeling.

The monopolization of knowledge and resources was the norm in the Cultivation Immortal Realm.

Within the clear, pyramid-like class structure, the higher one climbed, the more obvious and severe this monopoly became.

It was just like when he had undergone Core Formation. Only after his Immortal Golden Core had already formed did he belatedly learn of the mysteries of Golden Core Grade.

Although Loose Cultivators were free and unfettered, and he had indeed achieved true freedom with his skills in Pill and Artifact Creation,

the greatest disadvantage of being a Loose Cultivator was precisely this.

Though he used his Pill and Artifact Creation skills to gather knowledge and resources, there was clearly a considerable amount of information that was simply beyond his reach.

Just like the mysteries of the Golden Core back then, as a Foundation Establishment Realm Loose Cultivator, he could only interact with Cultivators of the same level.

Those who knew the secrets of the Golden Core were invariably the Core Disciples of major powers. They would have sworn a Dao Heart Oath long ago and would never be permitted to leak such information.

Now that he was in the Golden Core Realm, his fame had alleviated the situation, but this high degree of knowledge monopoly inevitably still existed.

But this Nascent Soul Great Power’s lecture and demonstration of techniques, covering everything from the Qi Cultivation Realm to the Nascent Soul Realm, was an undeniable boon for him—even if it was just a rough framework rather than an exhaustive explanation.

At the very least, it illuminated the path forward, making the general direction of his Immortal Dao Cultivation much clearer.

As the Essence of Spiritual Radiance slowly faded, Chu Mu glanced at the Light Curtain Panel. Just as he expected, his Skill Level in the Great Sun Scripture, which had been increasing at a snail’s pace, had leaped forward thanks to the insights from the lecture.

It was comparable to several years of his own bitter Cultivation!

’Working in isolation is no longer viable...’

Chu Mu sighed softly.

In Immortal Dao Cultivation, the Qi Cultivation Realm and the Foundation Establishment Realm were still just a process of quantitative-to-qualitative change in one’s Essence, Qi, and Spirit.

In this process, external forces played nearly a hundred percent of the role.

In these two realms, even someone with the worst aptitude could easily succeed as long as they had enough external resources.

But upon reaching the Golden Core Realm, after the initial fusion of Essence, Qi, and Spirit, Immortal Dao Cultivation was clearly no longer just a simple process of quantitative-to-qualitative change.

Or rather, that process was only one part of Cultivation in the Golden Core Realm. While still important, it was no longer a stage where one could get on the fast track just by piling up resources.

Cultivation in the Golden Core Realm—the initial fusion of Essence, Qi, and Spirit and the nurturing of the Immortal Golden Core—already involved many profound and mysterious concepts. It was like the Cultivation of Saber Intent, which required not only flashes of Spiritual Light and insight but also long-term, cumulative comprehension and a deeper understanding of the entire Immortal Dao Cultivation system.

Continuing to cultivate in isolation as he had before was clearly becoming unfeasible at his current realm. Even with the Spiritual Radiance Blessing, his efforts would yield half the results.

Chu Mu fell into a thoughtful silence. Then, as if he had remembered something, he waved his hand, and a Jade Scroll hovered over his palm.

As his Divine Sense flowed, all the information recorded in the Jade Scroll entered his perception.

The Jade Scroll was from Xu Changqing. It didn’t contain any Cultivation Techniques or Secret Skills, but rather a rough record of a Sword Dao Cultivation System.

The Sword Pill.

A Cultivation System distinct from the Immortal Golden Core and Bloodline Demon Transformation paths.

Just a few short passages, only several thousand words, were enough to clearly present this Cultivation System before Chu Mu’s eyes.

After about a quarter of an hour, Chu Mu put down the Jade Scroll.

He frowned slightly. Thinking of something, he suddenly looked up at the sky. Traces of the technique demonstration remained, but that Tier Four True Cultivator of Saber Intent was long gone.

’Overlord Saber True Master... is he also from this Cultivation System?’

Chu Mu’s brow twitched as understanding dawned on him.

No wonder he had felt a strange sense of dissonance when comparing the Overlord Saber True Master’s demonstration and lecture to his own Cultivation.

Although the Immortal Dao Cultivation and Bloodline Demon Transformation systems were different, they became largely similar after Tier Three. Both focused on condensing an Immortal Golden Core and pursuing the path of Breaking the Core to Form the Infant.

But this Sword Pill system was not like that at all.

Instead, it used Sword Intent as its core. The product of the initial fusion of Essence, Qi, and Spirit was a Sword Pill.

The goal of Sword Pill Cultivation was not Breaking the Core to Form the Infant, but the pure path of the Sword Dao.

One forms the Pill with Sword Intent, then practices Quenching Technique, Concentrating Spirit, and Body Refining. A single Sword Pill in the abdomen signifies the pursuit of the Sword Dao’s purity and extremity.

The Magical Power one cultivated was Sword Essence, the spirit one cultivated was Sword Intent, and the body one cultivated was the Sword Body.

Everything was centered around the Sword Pill as the core of the system.

Even up to Tier Four, it was still the path of Sword Pill Cultivation, not the traditional Breaking the Core to Form the Infant.

’It’s probably like... a deeper extension of the Void Nether Saber Scripture...’

Chu Mu mused.

He had once obtained the Void Nether Saber Scripture from the Longevity Sect, which was a similar system.

It used Saber Intent as its core, with Quenching Technique, Concentrating Spirit, and Body Refining.

Even though he cultivated the Great Sun Scripture, a purely Fire Attribute, Supreme Yang and Firm Method,

under the influence of the Void Nether Saber Scripture and its sharp, fierce Saber Intent, his own Essence, Qi, and Spirit were inevitably infused with its ferocity. Amidst the Supreme Yang and Firmness, there was also an ultimate sharpness and piercing might.

However, he majored in the Great Sun Scripture, and only used the Void Nether Saber Scripture as a support Secret Skill to temper his Essence, Qi, and Spirit.

According to this Sword Pill system, if he had majored in the Void Nether Saber Scripture, the subsequent extension would probably have been this Sword Pill system... or rather, a Saber Pill system?

Chu Mu pursed his lips, an unconcealable look of longing in his eyes.

Though it was just a few short passages, an ordinary person would probably be completely bewildered and unable to glimpse its wonders.

But as a True Cultivator of Saber Intent himself, he naturally knew just how profound and terrifying this Sword Pill Cultivation System that pursued ultimate purity would be.

Based on the records in this Jade Scroll, the concept of "Unrivaled Attack" would probably be taken to a whole new level under this system.

Sword Intent solidifies into Sword Essence, making every wisp of Magical Power as sharp and fierce as Sword Intent itself. Sword Intent quenches the Sword Body, turning the body into a sword, a treasure. It was a terrifyingly extreme Body Refining Skill, an overbearing path where every single move was lethally sharp.

Not to mention, the core of Sword Intent still lay in the Divine Soul...

Essence as the sword, Qi as the sword, spirit as the sword—ultimate purity was ultimate sharpness, and also the ultimate Man-Sword Unity.

With such a system, one wouldn’t even need a Lifebound Treasure. Every movement, even a single word or a glance, would be an extension of Sword Intent.

The existence of a Lifebound Treasure would, on the contrary, destroy this ultimate purity.

"What a pity..."

As countless thoughts swirled, Chu Mu shook his head with a sigh. He let out a breath, his enthusiasm waning.

He had formed his Core long ago, and only now learned of this Cultivation System. It was, after all... a little too late.

His own Cultivation System was already basically solidified.

With Saber Intent as its core, he had a system of Secret Skills to support the tempering of his Essence, Qi, and Spirit, and it provided him with Unrivaled Attack as a means of Protecting the Dao in Battle.

With the Great Sun Scripture, or rather, the Great Sun True Flame as its core, he had a Supreme Yang and Firmness system based on the evolution of his True Flame.

As long as he could find other Heaven and Earth Spiritual Flames for his Great Sun True Flame to devour, or find a place rich in the Fire Attribute to nurture his True Flame for many years, his True Flame would transform. And the Great Sun Scripture, with the True Flame as its core, would inevitably transform along with it.

And his other Lifebound Treasure, the Nine Dragon Prison Suppression Tower, also had the Great Sun True Flame as its core. Its potential was limitless, and its Mighty Power was equally terrifying.

One system centered on the Great Sun True Flame, the other on Saber Intent. After his many years of Cultivation on the Immortal Path, the two systems had long since formed a relatively complementary and mutually reinforcing structure.

Especially after his successful Core Formation, this synergy had become almost completely solidified.

If he were to change it now, it would mean negating this entire synergistic structure...

He casually tossed the Jade Scroll into his Storage Space, not bothering to dwell on it. He was actually quite satisfied with his current, stable Cultivation System.

Whether it was Saber Intent or his True Flame, both were paths to great power. The devouring and evolution of his True Flame, in particular, held limitless potential.

"Senior, the Alliance’s auction is about to begin."

Just then, a Maid knocked on the door from outside. Her voice passed through the Sound Transmission Array Prohibition and entered the room.

"Alright, Chu understands."

Chu Mu flicked his sleeve, and the Array Prohibition in the room dispersed.

Outside, two Maids stood respectfully.

"This way, Senior."

Led by the Maids, Chu Mu walked down the corridor. From the viewing rooms on the side, Cultivators from various factions also emerged one after another, led by their own Maids.

Chu Mu remembered clearly having seen several Nascent Soul Great Powers when he arrived, including the Sword Dao Nascent Soul from the Longevity Sect.

But now, those Nascent Soul Great Powers were nowhere to be seen.

"My father has gone to the Overlord Saber Alliance to negotiate with the Overlord Saber True Master."

At that moment, a sound transmission from Xu Changqing arrived.

"Father has already given instructions. The Nine Heavens Profound Gold will be pulled from the auction. After the auction is over, it will be given to you, fellow Daoist."

"My thanks, fellow Daoist."

Chu Mu glanced at the Longevity Sect disciples following Xu Changqing, nodded slightly, and replied with his own sound transmission.

With the strength of his Divine Sense, and with the Nascent Soul cultivators absent, it was impossible for the other cultivators of his realm present to detect the transmission.

Xu Changqing acknowledged, seemingly understanding Chu Mu’s concerns. He said no more and quickly led the Longevity Sect disciples away.

Having received a definitive answer, Chu Mu seemed to relax considerably. Led by the Maids, he strolled leisurely for a while before stopping in front of a grand hall in the Southwest direction of the plaza.

The hall was dozens of meters high and covered an area of over ten mu. It had no walls, only a ring of gilded wooden pillars supporting the towering, circular structure.

When Chu Mu entered, it was already bustling with people. The great hall was not much different from a typical Auction House.

Inside the hall was a raised auction stage and neat rows of tables and chairs. On the second floor, a ring of private rooms overlooked the entire hall.

Each private room was constructed with floor-to-ceiling windows. Above the window frames were small, upright plaques inscribed with the names of the factions occupying the rooms.

Longevity Sect, Righteous Alliance, Celestial Star Alliance...

Chu Mu scanned the area and, sure enough, in a room to his front-left, adjacent to the Nine Heavens Sect’s room, hung the plaque of the True Understanding Pavilion.

"This way, Senior."

The Maid led Chu Mu through the crowd and up the stairs. After walking along the second-floor corridor for a short while, he stepped into the private room belonging to the True Understanding Pavilion.

The room was spacious, nearly a hundred square meters in size. The side facing the auction stage was a huge crystal curtain wall, which offered an almost unobstructed view of the entire auction floor.

Behind the crystal curtain wall was an exquisite set of tables and chairs, upon which Spirit Wine and Spirit Fruits were already neatly arranged.

"You may leave."

Chu Mu glanced at the two Maids waiting respectfully at the door. After speaking, he waved his hand, and an Array Prohibition sealed the room, instantly cutting off the outside noise.

Chu Mu closed his eyes, feigning rest, but his mind returned to the lecture and demonstration he had just witnessed. The Essence of Spiritual Radiance flowed as every minute detail of the Nascent Soul’s teachings replayed in his mind, and he began to analyze and comprehend them piece by piece...

...