Chapter 360 - 355: First-rate Faction

A year and a half later, Du Youqian achieved Core Formation.

This time, he seized the opportunity of starting his Cultivation over from the Qi Cultivation Realm to re-master the Celestial Dao Sword. However, the final, critical step of his Core Formation wasn’t achieved by forming a Sword Pill.

But the newly reforged Celestial Dao Sword was still far more powerful than it had been in Momenan.

’Perhaps he was just more skilled with it.’

’Perhaps he was on the right path this time.’

’Or perhaps... the Celestial Dao of the Human World was simply different from the Celestial Dao of Momenan.’

In any case, his Celestial Dao Sword could now be used as a conventional technique, its power almost on par with the most formidable sword styles in the Blood Slaughter Sword Scripture.

To Du Youqian’s greatest surprise, as he formed his Core, a Seed of Sword Intent for the Human Dao Sword—one he hadn’t even known was incubating—silently appeared within his Golden Core.

So, after he successfully achieved Core Formation, the complete Human Dao Sword had returned.

Of course, he currently lacked the Power of Human Dao to augment his Sword Control, so the Human Dao Sword was much weaker than it had been in Momenan.

But this was a good sign.

’If I can condense the Seed of Sword Intent for the Human Dao Sword this smoothly in future reincarnations, it can become another one of my crucial techniques.’

And just as Zeng Baoming had said all those years ago, while the Celestial Dao Sword and Human Dao Sword lacked the sheer, cutting lethality of the Blood Slaughter Sword Scripture, they possessed unique strengths in sealing and suppression that were worthy of deep study.

A Cultivator who only possessed methods of slaughter was a rather pathetic thing.

A true Great Power Cultivator was omnipotent.

They could take a life, and they could also give it.

When faced with an enemy difficult to kill, one with an overly tenacious Life Force like a Great Saint of the Demon Race, they could also be sealed away.

The Heartless Sword and the Emotional Sword from Zong Wu True Monarch’s Sword Collection Annotation could be skipped; they weren’t very meaningful.

Neither of these two styles of Swordsmanship had any particularly outstanding features. To an ordinary Cultivator, they might be Top Grade, but to Du Youqian, whose standards had been raised by the Blood Slaughter Sword, they seemed a bit unimpressive.

The Celestial Dao Sword and the Human Dao Sword, however, were truly profound in concept and rich in meaning.

Du Youqian planned to study them constantly whenever he had free time.

If the opportunity arose, he also needed to see if Zong Wu True Monarch’s Sword Collection Annotation circulated in the Human World.

’Does the Human World’s version of Zong Wu True Monarch’s Sword Collection Annotation have any differences or unique aspects?’

Additionally, after achieving Core Formation again, he wanted to try comprehending another Divine Ability.

The Seven Transition Celestial Dance Scripture required mastering at least seven Divine Abilities during the Golden Core Stage.

Otherwise, one’s Cultivation would halt at the Nascent Soul Realm, unable to advance to Divinity Transformation.

And for the Supreme Cave Truth Nine Revolutions and Nine Transformations Celestial Dance Scripture, it was a minimum of nine Divine Abilities.

’Only a true genius could learn it.’

Comprehending a single Divine Ability was often a protracted process. It could take decades, even centuries, of doing nothing but focusing on comprehension, with no guarantee of success.

’How many centuries does one have to spare in the Golden Core Realm?’

So, really, who in the entire world was qualified to practice this Cultivation Technique?

Unless this world, like some of the immortal cultivating novels Du Youqian had read before, had Holy Lands or Hidden Sects with unimaginable resources, capable of producing generation after generation of extraordinary geniuses.

Otherwise, one or two such prodigies would likely appear in the entire world only once every few hundred or even a thousand years.

Fortunately, Du Youqian could carry all the Divine Abilities he comprehended into his next life. All he needed was to keep accumulating them.

Just as Divine Abilities cannot defy fate, talent can never beat a cheat.

’With a cheat, you can do whatever you want...’

For some unknown reason, after passing through the Thunder Tribulation again this time, Du Youqian felt that his Physique, Divine Sense, and other aspects were all somewhat stronger than when he had formed his Core in Momenan.

Moreover, his Golden Core was also more solid.

One had to remember, he had been a Body Refining Cultivator in Momenan...

He had also observed other formidable Core Formation cultivators in the Human World but hadn’t noticed this phenomenon in anyone else.

The Core Formation Masters he had encountered were all quite ordinary, with nothing special about them.

’Could it be a mutation caused by the Tribulation Thunder tempering my body during my second Core Formation?’

’If that’s the case, then perhaps repeatedly dispersing my Golden Core and forming it anew would be a good way to solidify my foundation, enhance my potential, and increase my chances of breaking through to Divinity Transformation and Void Step.’

Du Youqian also considered whether the "Seven Transitions" and "Nine Transitions" of the Celestial Dance Scripture required more than just possessing seven or nine Divine Abilities.

’Could it be that you have to form a Core seven or nine times?’

This conjecture was too audacious.

For an ordinary Cultivator, it was also impossible to achieve.

However, if he had the chance in the future, Du Youqian was determined to give it a try.

The moment this thought occurred to him, he had a sudden premonition—a feeling that came from the heart—that this Supreme Cave Truth Nine Revolutions and Nine Transformations Celestial Dance Scripture might be the foundation of his Enlightenment.

Or perhaps it was the *opportunity* for his Enlightenment—a necessary factor for him to ultimately achieve it, but not the Cultivation Technique through which he would do so.

In short, if he could obtain the complete Supreme Cave Truth Nine Revolutions and Nine Transformations Celestial Dance Scripture, his future would benefit immensely.

With his Divine Ability "Knowing the Celestial Mandate," Du Youqian had great faith in these sudden premonitions.

He made a firm mental note to prioritize the search for the complete Supreme Cave Truth Nine Revolutions and Nine Transformations Celestial Dance Scripture.

However, in the Human World, obtaining high-level Cultivation Techniques and Secret Techniques was more difficult than in Momenan.

Momenan was, after all, a land of Inheritance.

All the good stuff had been crammed into Momenan.

For instance, in the Holy Blood Sect, True Disciples at the Foundation Establishment Realm could practice the Crimson Scripture of Profound Mystery and Spiritual Mechanism.

But according to Kang Yinghe, in some of the Major Sects he knew of, one had to be a True Inheritor at the Golden Core Realm at least—and some even required the Nascent Soul Realm—to be taught a True Scripture.

Before reaching the Golden Core or Nascent Soul Realm, they could only practice simplified versions.

Just like in the Holy Blood Sect, where ordinary Inner Sect Disciples could only practice the Red Phoenix General’s Qi Circulation Technique.

And in the Human World’s branch of the Holy Blood Sect, it was likely that even True Disciples were restricted to the Red Phoenix General’s Qi Circulation Technique before reaching the Nascent Soul Realm.

Therefore, obtaining the complete Supreme Cave Truth Nine Revolutions and Nine Transformations Celestial Dance Scripture would probably be an extremely difficult task, but it was one worth spending immense effort on.

Once the Thunder Tribulation had passed, Du Youqian deactivated the Grand Array.

The ordinary members of the Zouma Gang were still buzzing with discussion, wondering which hidden expert had successfully achieved Core Formation.

Meanwhile, Kang Yinghe, Wei Wei, and the others, along with the Zouma Gang’s New Gang Leader, a Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivator named Laudfen, came to pay their respects and congratulate Du Youqian at the first opportunity.

Laudfen, despite his somewhat delicate-sounding name, was a rugged-faced man who possessed the unique personality of the Endless Desert Sea region: a mix of cunning and boldness.

In a place with such a harsh environment, people with this kind of personality were the most likely to survive.

Cunning enough to avoid being deceived; bold enough to easily make friends.

Du Youqian had originally intended for him to be a transitional Gang Leader.

But after observing him from the sidelines during this period, Du Youqian saw that he was doing quite well and was no longer in a hurry to take center stage.

"You can go and announce that a Core Formation Master has emerged within the Zouma Gang, and from now on, we are officially a first-rate power," Du Youqian instructed. "However, do not reveal my identity. If anyone asks, just say that the Zouma Gang’s Left Guardian is the one who formed his Core."

Laudfen agreed without hesitation.

As for adding a new title like "Guardian," that was a trivial matter.

Even though the gang factions of the Endless Desert Sea had never had so-called "Guardians" before.

But from now on, "Guardian" would surely become the exclusive title for the strongest member of a gang.

If Du Youqian had a system, he probably would have gotten a notification: "Laudfen Loyalty +1, Laudfen Loyalty +1."

And when Kang Yinghe came in, the system would likely have been spammed with: "Kang Yinghe Loyalty +10, Kang Yinghe Loyalty +10..."

Kang Yinghe, who had always been outwardly respectful but inwardly reserved and feigned compliance, completely let go of his pride and restraint.

If he were a woman, he probably would have stripped and offered himself to Du Youqian’s bed tonight.

Before Du Youqian, his attitude was nearly sycophantic. "Congratulations, my Lord! Felicitations, my Lord! To achieve Core Formation in your thirties is simply the mark of a genius among geniuses! You are destined for Divinity Transformation and Void Step in the future. To be able to follow you, my Lord, is this subordinate’s greatest fortune!"

"Alright, enough with the flattery," Du Youqian said with a slight smile. "I said I would fully support your own Core Formation. Do you believe me now?"

After his second Core Formation, Du Youqian had resumed using the authoritative "I" to refer to himself.

He felt that without even the Cultivation of the Core Formation Realm, using such a title was just laughable—like a monkey in a hat.

Only upon reaching Core Formation did one truly earn the right to use it.

As for the title "Qingxu Tongxuan Guanmiao True Monarch," he wouldn’t be using it for now. ’That’s for a future reincarnation,’ he thought.

Kang Yinghe bowed his head. "This subordinate never dared to doubt you, my Lord. Your every word is as solid as the Nine Tripods, your every promise worth a thousand gold. By following you, my Lord, this subordinate will naturally have a meteoric rise!"

"Heh! Work hard, and I won’t treat you poorly."

After dangling this carrot for Kang Yinghe, Du Youqian accepted the congratulations from Wei Wei and the others.

Finally, it was Li Fei’s turn, along with the dozen or so children she had brought with her.

He had saved her for last, of course, because she was one of his true confidants, and these children required more care and attention; they couldn’t be given a perfunctory greeting.

Though he called them children, the oldest among them was already in his early twenties, while the youngest were still small children.

Because they had been adopted gradually over time, their ages varied greatly.

With just a glance and a brief sweep of his Divine Sense, Du Youqian grasped their innermost thoughts completely.

Children didn’t yet know how to hide their feelings well.

Among these children, there was friendship, competition, and even some mutual animosity. This was all normal.

’Every group has its factions; it’s unavoidable.’

But what satisfied Du Youqian was their admiration and trust in him, which was so full it was practically overflowing.

’I have to say, Li Fei really knows how to brainwash people.’

After the children left, Du Youqian gave Li Fei a private lesson, explaining difficult points in her Cultivation. In the end, he even rewarded her with a Top Grade Magical Artifact.

For Li Fei, however, perhaps what made her happiest wasn’t resolving the difficulties in her Cultivation, nor was it receiving a reward that would make others green with envy.

It was probably the two hours Du Youqian spent with her.