Chapter 287 - 312: Golden Tripod True Master, What is Super Grade? The Advent of Gui Chen

"Dozens of Nine Tribulations cultivators and three Returning Void cultivators. What a show of force."

Linjiang Daoist’s gaze narrowed.

A cultivation at the Nine Tribulations Realm already placed one among the ranks of the powerful. Within the Dayu Immortal Dynasty, sects and clans were as numerous as trees in a forest, but few factions could dispatch dozens of Nine Tribulations Realm experts at once.

The Gui Chen Sect had a long history, and its power and influence had surged in the last millennium. They didn’t just recruit disciples from across the land; they also took in Loose Cultivators, Evil Cultivators, and even Demon Cultivators as Guest Ministers.

It was therefore no surprise that they could dispatch dozens of Nine Tribulations Realm experts. After all, each of the Thirteen Provinces of the World was vast, and each one was home to a considerable number of Nine Tribulations Realm powerhouses.

Even if only a small fraction of them chose to join the Gui Chen Sect, the number would have grown terrifying over the years.

’So many Nine Tribulations Realm Cultivators... No wonder they can challenge every Daoist in the world who holds a Divine Position...’

Nianxin Daoist Child also heard the sound of tearing through the sky. He looked up, sighing in admiration.

It was the first time he had ever seen so many Cultivators, and most of them were at the Nine Tribulations Realm.

’Their Flying Swords are stained with thick Evil Qi and a surging Power of Incense that refuses to dissipate.’

’It seems a great many Daoists have died at their hands.’

A chill ran through Linjiang Daoist.

One of the sword lights, immense and powerful, suddenly dove straight for Golden Radiance Mountain.

BOOM!

Amidst the churning True Qi, a young Daoist stood in mid-air and announced in a resonant voice:

"Is Lijiang Master of Golden Radiance Mountain available? I am Chu Ping, a disciple of the Gui Chen Sect, requesting an audience!"

The young Daoist was tall and imposing, carrying himself with a heroic and dignified air.

His voice was like the ring of a sword whistling through the air, piercing straight through the Grand Array of Golden Radiance Mountain and echoing thunderously within its gates.

But because of the Grand Array, he could not see what was happening inside.

’Chu Ping?’

Linjiang Daoist had an idea and glanced at Nianxin Little Daoist Child beside him.

The boy immediately understood his master’s intent. He sighed helplessly before calling out in a loud, clear voice:

"May I ask if the Daoist Master from the Gui Chen Sect has come on urgent business? My master was injured some days ago and is in seclusion to heal. He is unable to receive guests at this time."

"Unable to receive guests?"

In mid-air, Chu Ping’s brow furrowed slightly.

’So Lijiang Master is truly unavailable?’

Nianxin Daoist Child glanced at Linjiang Daoist beside him, and the older man nodded.

And so, he replied in a loud voice, "My master is indeed in seclusion and truly cannot receive guests. If you have urgent business, Daoist Master, please feel free to tell me. I will be sure to relay the message once he emerges."

’Truly unavailable, then?’

Chu Ping’s eyes glinted, and he called out:

"Since the True Master is injured and unable to receive guests, then I shall not disturb you."

With that, a sword light as brilliant as a rainbow shot into the sky, vanishing in an instant.

Inside the mountain gates, Nianxin Daoist Child breathed a sigh of relief. "These Gui Chen Sect members don’t seem as overbearing as the rumors claim," he said, puzzled.

"Sigh... With you being so naive, I fear you’ll be doomed beyond redemption after I’m gone..."

Linjiang Daoist’s expression grew solemn. Hearing his disciple’s naive words, he couldn’t help but sigh.

"The Gui Chen Sect is already locked in a fierce struggle with the Gui Dao Mansion. They’re completely overwhelmed. Why would they choose this critical moment to offend another faction?"

"Besides, with this Mountain Protection Array, even if those three Void Realm Cultivators attacked with their dozens of Nine Tribulations Realm experts, I could still take more than ten of them down with me."

Within the Dayu Immortal Dynasty, across the Thirteen Provinces of the World, was the Gui Chen Sect truly the only power?

The Gui Chen Sect may be powerful, but could it really make an enemy of every faction in the world?

After all, some of the other Major Sects and great powers were also capable of challenging the Gui Chen Sect.

And unlike those Daoists, their own strength wasn’t affected by Divine Positions and Incense.

WHOOSH!

A hundred miles from Golden Radiance Mountain, a streak of sword light shot into the air.

Chu Ping’s expression was grim.

Not far from him, another Daoist spoke.

"Did that Linjiang Daoist refuse to come out?"

"That’s right. The old bastard didn’t say a single word. He’s clearly unwilling to show himself."

Chu Ping’s expression was foul.

"That’s to be expected. Few in this world dare to make enemies of those Daoists. But once the Sect Leader’s plan succeeds, they’ll learn to be afraid when we come to settle the score."

Another middle-aged Daoist snorted.

Then, looking puzzled, he added:

"What I’m more curious about is this: we’ve been in Desolate Province for half a day and searched over a hundred cities, but we haven’t found a single Daoist in any Gui Dao Mansion or Daoist Temple."

"Did those feeble Daoists really manage to vanish without a trace?"

The others also frowned.

As more and more experts joined the Gui Chen Sect, their own losses had been heavy, but the Daoists had suffered even greater casualties.

Many Daoists had already retreated from the Outer Realm battlefields, returning to their home provinces and prefectures.

"A Divine Position may be a Longevity Technique, but it’s also a leash. Since ancient times, no Daoist with a Divine Position has been able to leave their domain for long. That was a rule set down by the Netherworld Venerable Master long ago."

"They’re definitely still in Desolate Province. They can’t leave on short notice."

Chu Ping sneered.

"Killed our people, destroyed our branch sect, and now they think they can just walk away unscathed? The world doesn’t work like that."

"If we keep searching, we’ll find them eventually. I refuse to believe they can just vanish into thin air."

An old Daoist burst out laughing. "The Gui Dao Mansion? They’re just a bunch of pathetic worms who’ve lost their master!"

"If Emperor Yu hadn’t taken the Netherworld Venerable Master into consideration back then, he would have stripped these Daoists of their Divine Positions long ago."

Most of the Divine Positions these Daoists held belonged to the Yin Department Divine System, a system jointly created by the Netherworld Venerable Master and the upper echelons of Da Yu.

Now that the Netherworld Venerable Master was gone, certain members of the Dayu Immortal Dynasty’s upper echelon naturally coveted these longevity-granting Divine Positions.

If the Immortal Dynasty’s leadership hadn’t held back from acting against these Daoists for some reason, there would be no role for the Gui Chen Sect to play.

"Exactly!"

"Let’s go kill these pathetic worms and seize the Divine Positions from their bodies!"

"Let’s go!"

The group of Gui Chen Sect members departed with long, sharp cries, leaving only searing, silvery-white trails in the air.

They hung in the sky, refusing to dissipate for a long time.

...

"What does ’Super Grade’ mean?"

Inside a thatched hut, Su Bai listened to Jin Yunfeng’s question and pondered for a moment before answering.

"When a Martial Artist first begins their training, whether using weapons like blades and spears or their bare hands, they rely purely on their physical body. These are called skills."

"If they progress further and possess exceptional comprehension, they can create powerful sets of moves. These are called Cultivation Techniques."

"Cultivation Techniques can be roughly divided into nine grades. First Grade is the most basic, and Ninth Grade is the pinnacle of what is possible for mortals."

"Some powerful Cultivation Techniques are derived from Divine Techniques. These are generally of a high grade—usually Fourth Grade, Fifth Grade, or even higher."

"With great fortune and extraordinary comprehension, one might obtain a Cultivation Technique that surpasses the Ninth Grade. This type of technique is what we call Super Grade."

"A Super-grade Cultivation Method transcends mortal limits. If you cultivate it to a high enough Realm, Moving Mountains and Filling Seas becomes a simple matter."

"Moving Mountains and Filling Seas... a simple matter?"

Jin Yunfeng was astonished.

Super Grade!

’He’d never imagined such a terrifying Cultivation Technique existed in the world.’

"Correct."

Su Bai’s eyes glinted as he said with a smile, "Super-grade Cultivation Methods exist beyond the nine-grade mortal classification. Only the core members of great powers would even know they exist, and obtaining one is harder still."

"For example, those Gui Chen Sect Elders I killed before had high Cultivation—they were Void Realm Cultivators—yet the best Cultivation Technique any of them had practiced in their entire lives was merely Ninth Grade."

They might have known about Super-grade Cultivation Methods, but they were unable to obtain one.

’In my view,’ Su Bai thought, ’only those at the level of a Feathered Transformation Great Power would even have a chance to obtain a Super-grade Cultivation Method.’

After all, he himself only possessed one technique that had reached the Super Grade: the Fourth Immortal Golden Body Transformation.

As for the Dragon and Phoenix Immortal Scripture, that was a Divine Technique, so Su Bai didn’t count it among them.

This just went to show how precious Super-grade Cultivation Methods truly were.

Before, a single strand of hair from the Leader of Gui Chen Sect had been able to absorb Heaven and Earth Essence Qi by itself, transform into a long black dragon, and strike down an ordinary Returning Void cultivator from an immense distance.

In Su Bai’s opinion, the man must have been practicing either a Super-grade Cultivation Method or a Super-Grade Divine Technique.

"I see..."

Jin Yunfeng said, a look of dawning realization on his face.

"I once read some ancient texts and saw a few old records."

"They say that long ago, there was a Golden Tripod True Master who broke through to achieve Ascension to Immortality. With a single finger, he tore the heavens and subdued a peerless Great Demon. The finger technique he used must have been a Super-grade Cultivation Method, right?"

"Correct."

Su Bai gave a slight nod.

Having viewed the memories of countless criminals, he had heard of this Golden Tripod True Master as well.

He was a Great Power who had achieved Ascension to Immortality millions of years ago, creating a Super-grade Cultivation Method called the "Heaven-Sundering Finger."

But over the long eons, the sect he founded had long since vanished into the river of time.

However, his "Heaven-Sundering Finger" was passed down. It was now the Tower-Suppression Technique of Jin Xiao Pavilion, a renowned Major Sect within the Dayu Immortal Dynasty.

"It’s still hard to imagine."

Jin Yunfeng shook his head.

Although he had once stumbled upon a Daoist Scripture by a stroke of luck and managed to set foot on the Martial Dao, the best technique in that scripture was only a Seventh Grade Cultivation Technique.

He had never even seen a Nine-grade Technique, let alone a Super Grade one that surpassed the Ninth Grade.

After the two chatted for a while, Su Bai suddenly raised his right index finger.

HUM!

With a point of his finger, ripples spread through the empty air, quickly forming a circular Profound Light Mirror.

The image in the Profound Light Mirror gradually sharpened, zooming in from a great distance.

Soon, it had crossed countless mountains and valleys, finally settling on a scene outside a forest.

"You’ve been listening for so long. Do you have any brilliant insights to share?"

On a dilapidated official road beside the forest, a white-robed Daoist ambled along at a leisurely pace. He moved like a great scholar roaming the world, completely relaxed and at ease.

His every movement seemed to carry the momentum of the heavens and the earth.

"Who is that?"

Jin Yunfeng’s heart jolted, and he quickly focused his gaze on the image.

The next moment, his blood ran cold.

The man wore a spotless white Daoist Robe and no crown. His black hair fell to his shoulders, his eyes were as deep as the ocean, and his aura was unfathomable.

Many people within the borders of Da Yu would have recognized this man.

After all, throughout Dayu’s Thirteen Provinces, in cities large and small, in counties and prefectures, there were Daoist Temples with his portrait hanging inside.

And he was none other than the Leader of the Gui Chen Sect!