Chapter 463 - 458: Obediently Hand Over the Inheritance

Two pieces of news spread like wildfire, reaching every corner of Momenan in no time at all.

The first was that Master Baili, the Qingxu Tongxuan Guanmiao True Monarch, who had been missing for two hundred years, had reappeared in the Human World.

In this appearance, with just a single finger and a single sword strike, he killed the two Demon Sect members with the highest Cultivation and the greatest skill in Magical Combat.

The Demon Sect wasn’t destroyed, but that one finger and one sword strike had broken its back.

It was said that after the Holy Blood Sect Elders, Blood Sacrifice True Master and Huang Bo Master, fled back to their Sect, they lived in constant terror. At the slightest disturbance, they would frantically ask, "Is the True Monarch attacking?"

The other piece of news was that Master Wu Ai, the Heaven-Supporting White Jade Pillar of the Taihe Sect, had passed away.

This legendary figure, who had led the Profound Sects Orthodox Sect for two hundred years after the disappearance of both Master Wu Fei and the Qingxu Tongxuan Guanmiao True Monarch, had seen his final curtain fall.

All those who knew of the situation sighed with sorrow.

But those who knew the *true* situation were all filled with envy...

Who wouldn’t be envious of being taken to the outside world for reincarnation?

Some people also wanted to hitch a ride and leave Momenan with him.

After all, Momenan’s life force was severed. There was no path forward.

It had been a long time since anyone in the world had achieved Core Formation. Even the rising stars of the Major Sects, hailed as the most promising candidates, were considered so more out of hope than any real belief that they could actually succeed.

Now, Master Wu Ai was gone, and the Lingxiao Sword Pavilion no longer had a Cultivator who had reached Core Formation using the Celestial Dao Sword.

From now on, there was no one left to regulate the world’s Yin Yang or comb through its earth qi for Momenan.

In a few more years, even the currently living Core Formation Masters might not be able to maintain their Cultivation. They might even suffer a drop in their Realm.

Their only alternative was to be like those from the Demon Sect, using the Holy Blood Sect’s Secret Technique to absorb the Essence Blood of others to extend their lives.

But even that Secret Technique, which could break the limits of one’s Celestial Lifespan, could not be used indefinitely.

In short, Momenan was beyond saving.

Those who managed to get on good terms with Du Youqian naturally wanted to hitch a ride.

But after learning of the dangers along the way, most of them gave up on the idea.

Even the Qingxu Tongxuan Guanmiao True Monarch couldn’t guarantee a safe passage. For Cultivators who hadn’t reached Core Formation through a Body Refining Technique, attempting that passage was certain death.

Why waste one’s precious life on something that meant certain death?

It was better to live out the rest of their days in dignity and leisure in the Momenan World...

***

Atop a green mountain, a gentle breeze swept by.

A monkey was chasing butterflies in the grass.

A young man with handsome, refined features and a somewhat detached expression sat casually, a wine gourd in hand. Every now and then, he would lazily take a sip.

Most of the time, he stared listlessly at the cotton-like clouds around him, exuding an idle laziness.

If one looked closely, they would discover that there was nothing beneath him; he was simply sitting on a ball of air.

Yet he sat as steadily and comfortably as if there were a real stone stool beneath him.

"Elder! So this is where you were." Master Hui Feng arrived on a Flying Sword, her robes fluttering as if she were an Immortal.

Flying over to Du Youqian, she hopped off her Flying Sword, glanced at his strange sitting posture, and held out her hand.

Du Youqian glanced at her with a smile and tossed the wine gourd over.

Master Hui Feng wiped the mouth of the gourd with her sleeve, then tilted her head back and took several big gulps. GLUG GLUG GLUG.

Du Youqian watched with a pained expression, forcing himself not to tell her to stop.

Master Hui Feng finally stopped, content. She wiped her mouth with her sleeve, tossed the wine gourd back to Du Youqian, and let out a burp.

"HIC... Shuangxi Wine truly lives up to its reputation. I heard that many, many years ago, an Unparalleled Great Demon wiped out the Shuangxi Sect with a single breath. It was only re-established later with the support of the Demon Blood Sect and the Taihe Sect. Some clever descendants even managed to restore the Brewing Art that made the old Shuangxi Sect famous. Elder, I heard you’ve reincarnated before. You must have tasted the wine from the old Shuangxi Sect. How does it compare to the taste now?"

Du Youqian said faintly, "The crisp sweetness is about the same, but the old wine had a more lingering aftertaste."

Master Hui Feng thought for a long time before nodding. "I think I understand."

Du Youqian asked her, "Why were you looking for me? And how did you find me?"

Master Hui Feng laughed. "I followed that Demon Child and found you! Everyone knows he wants you to take him away from Momenan."

Du Youqian knew who she was talking about.

Huang Bo, the rising star of the Holy Blood Sect.

Oh, no, he was the mainstay of the Holy Blood Sect now.

Master Hui Feng continued, "I came to ask you a few things. When I saw you fight that day, I didn’t understand it at all. It was a level of power beyond my comprehension. But I could clearly feel that your Cultivation was also suppressed to Golden Core Perfection. Why was it so easy for you to kill those Late Stage Golden Core cultivators, as if you were slaughtering chickens and dogs?"

"No, you’re mistaken," Du Youqian said seriously.

Master Hui Feng stared at him expectantly, waiting for him to deliver some profound insight.

Du Youqian corrected her with a grave expression, "Slaughtering chickens and dogs is much harder than killing them."

Master Hui Feng found it difficult to maintain her expression.

In the end, she let out a dry "heh heh" to show her respect.

’I don’t believe a word you’re saying, but you’re my elder, so it would be rude to argue.’

Du Youqian smiled. "You think I’m bragging. But think a level deeper. Do I need to brag? If I’m not bragging, why would I say that? And if I am bragging, what purpose would it serve to do so in front of you?"

Master Hui Feng scratched her head, a bewildered look on her face. After a moment, she said, "Elder, I’ve never been the sharpest person. Could you please be more direct? Don’t use these enlightening questions. I don’t get it."

Her bluntness left Du Youqian at a loss.

Du Youqian had a rather good impression of her, and since she was Zeng Baoming’s grand-disciple, he felt a certain connection and wanted to offer her some guidance.

’But it seems this gal’s Comprehension isn’t very high...’

So, Du Youqian gave up on trying to enlighten her. He thought for a moment, then explained in simple terms, "The reason I said slaughtering chickens and dogs is much harder than killing them was to make a strong impression on you."

"Oh!" Master Hui Feng’s eyes lit up in realization. "So, Elder, you really were just bragging, weren’t you!"

"..." Du Youqian didn’t want to get sidetracked by her train of thought. Pretending he hadn’t heard, he continued, "You might think that the two I killed were among the best of the Core Formation Cultivators. You might believe that if they were in the outside world, they could probably even defeat a Nascent Soul Cultivator, or at least last a few rounds against one."

"You’re right. I can tell you that those two truly could exchange blows with a Nascent Soul Cultivator. However, that would be a very weak Nascent Soul Cultivator. And me? I am someone who could actually kill an average Nascent Soul Cultivator while still in the Golden Core Realm. And now, I have already advanced to Nascent Soul... Although I’m suppressed by the Momenan World, my Magical Combat ability is still at the Nascent Soul Level. Moreover, I’m one of the strongest among Nascent Soul Cultivators. To put it this way, an average Nascent Soul Cultivator could be proud just to survive ten moves against me. Only someone with the Direct Inheritance from a Major Sect could fight me back and forth if we were at the same Realm."

Master Hui Feng’s eyes widened, her gaze filled with a clear, simple-minded vacancy.

’Alright... I guess I shouldn’t expect a Sword Cultivator to be too bright.’

Sword Cultivators have sharpness, they have pride, and they have combat intelligence.

But beyond that, they have nothing else. The Sword Cultivators themselves say, "Nothing exists beyond the sword." How could one expect them to ponder and summarize things?

Du Youqian sighed and said simply, "In short, I am just far, far stronger than they are. My understanding of the rules, my understanding of Swordsmanship, is far beyond theirs. The result is that even with my Realm suppressed, killing them is no more difficult than slaughtering chickens and dogs. I know every single one of their weaknesses. Every move they could possibly make is already within my expectations. In my eyes, they have nowhere to hide."

An inexplicable light flashed in Master Hui Feng’s eyes. It was clear she was trying hard to think.

But in the end, her gaze turned vacant. "Okay, I get it. I understand. Elder, when do you plan to leave Momenan?"

From her expression, Du Youqian knew she didn’t understand, but he didn’t plan to explain any further.

"Soon. I plan to visit every Sect. Oh, except for the Holy Blood Sect and the Lingxiao Sword Pavilion."

"Why?"

"You don’t need to know."

Master Hui Feng nodded and bowed deeply. "Alright, Elder. I will pray for you and Elder Wu Ai. Farewell, for we shall not meet again."

Du Youqian smiled and returned her bow with a slight nod. "We shall not meet again."

Du Youqian was going to visit every Sect to make a copy of their entire Inheritance.

This included Cultivation Techniques, Secret Techniques, the notes of predecessors, Cultivation Insights, and so on.

Of course, he wouldn’t dare move all of these things to the Four Principles Sect, but he was now qualified to start creating his own Secret Techniques.

He certainly couldn’t create a Scripture-level Cultivation Technique.

A Decision-level Cultivation Technique was also out of the question. A complete Decision-level technique could be cultivated to the Void Step Realm, and he was still a long way from that.

However, he could start by creating Cultivation Techniques that went up to the Golden Core Level, which would be enough for the Four Principles Sect.

Besides, there was no need to rush into creating techniques. For now, it was enough to use these things to strengthen his own foundation.

One day, his long accumulation of knowledge would lead to a sudden burst of progress.

As for why he was excluding the Holy Blood Sect and the Lingxiao Sword Pavilion...

He had already fleeced the Holy Blood Sect dry.

He had already learned the most profound Sword Intent of the Lingxiao Sword Pavilion.

Besides, the Lingxiao Sword Pavilion had been too generous to him back then. Bullying them would make him feel a little embarrassed.

As for the other Sects, he had no such reservations.

’Just hand over your Inheritances obediently!’