Chapter 475 - 470: Nascent Soul Middle Stage

Du Youqian didn’t answer Ling Hua’s probing question directly, only offering a faint smile. "Your Spirit Roots are Gold-Water Dual Spirit Roots. The Water Spirit Root is Top Grade, and the Metal Spirit Root is Middle Grade, correct?"

Ling Hua wasn’t surprised that Du Youqian knew this. In her eyes, Du Youqian’s image was immeasurably grand and mysterious.

"That is correct."

Du Youqian pondered for a moment, then said coolly, "The *Shenxiao Purple Clouds Reflecting Jade Divine Inner Scripture*. This Cultivation Technique might suit you. Although it’s also a Taoist Sect technique, it doesn’t have strict requirements for Spirit Root Attributes. Your Gold-Water Dual Spirit Roots are suitable for its cultivation."

For the first time, Ling Hua seemed to hesitate. "Master, isn’t that a Taihe Sect Cultivation Technique?"

"It is."

"This disciple is not a member of the Taihe Sect. I’m afraid it would be inappropriate to practice their fundamental Cultivation Technique?"

"It’s fine," Du Youqian said, completely unconcerned. "With me here, you just focus on practicing."

He wasn’t the least bit afraid of the Taihe Sect’s Void Step Lords or Harmonization Emperors sensing that an outsider was practicing their core technique and flying a sword over from thousands of miles away.

’It’s not like they’d be striking him down, anyway.’

’And just look at my disciple.’

’She has the looks, she has the figure.’

’Put her in a Daoist Robe, and with that beauty, that charm... Tsk tsk. I ask you, would you have the heart to strike her down?’

Of course, the most fundamental reason was that Ling Hua only needed to claim she was a cultivator from the Momenan Taihe Sect.

All Du Youqian had to do was give the order, and the little Taihe Sect in Momenan would add her name to the sect’s list of disciples.

It was just that simple.

’Surely no one believes that the little Taihe Sect, after being abandoned by the Human World’s Taihe Sect for several hundred years, is still unwaveringly loyal, right?’

Ling Hua said, still hesitant, "Ah, then this disciple will obey Master’s command."

"Right, although you’ve changed your Cultivation Technique and our faction isn’t a pure Taoist Sect, you should continue to wear Daoist Robes from now on."

Ling Hua was taken aback.

"You look better in a Daoist Robe," Du Youqian said honestly.

The monkey at his side shook its head.

It didn’t think this female human was very good-looking.

At least, not as good-looking as that Daoist Nun from years ago who often carried Du Youqian’s scent.

With Little Wukong on his shoulder and Ling Hua in tow, Du Youqian left the Endless Desert Western Domain and traveled to the Eastern Domain.

He should have sent the souls of Fang Hua and the others for reincarnation as soon as possible, but he also needed to get Ling Hua settled, so he took a detour first.

In the Eastern Domain, Du Youqian found an Immortal City primarily inhabited by the Human Race but which permitted the Demon Race to enter, and he rented an abode.

Du Youqian protected Ling Hua as she underwent Scattering and Re-Cultivation. He used a Secret Technique to disperse her Dao Foundation and Magical Power into her limbs, bones, and organs as they dissipated, using them to nourish her Essence Blood.

This way, even if Ling Hua was well over sixty years old when she attempted Foundation Establishment again, she wouldn’t fail due to the decline of her Essence Qi.

Under Du Youqian’s guidance, Ling Hua quickly grasped the basics. She was a perfect match for the *Shenxiao Purple Clouds Reflecting Jade Divine Inner Scripture*. Her cultivation progressed by leaps and bounds, far exceeding the performance expected of someone with Top Grade Gold-Water Dual Spirit Roots.

While Ling Hua swiftly retraced the path of Qi Cultivation and Foundation Establishment, Du Youqian stood guard for her while also attempting to erase the Restriction and Divine Sense imprint within the Tier Five Jade Ruler.

However, True Monarch Zhaoxiang Guangde must have been at the Divinity Transformation Late Stage. His Cultivation, Divine Sense intensity, and mastery of Arrays all surpassed Du Youqian’s imagination.

His attempts were time-consuming but yielded little progress.

He estimated that he could only wear away the imprint and Restriction on the Jade Ruler through a slow, grinding effort.

Then again, whenever he thought about how he had bluffed the incredibly powerful True Monarch Zhaoxiang Guangde silly—so thoroughly duped that he’d have helped count the money after being sold—Du Youqian felt the urge to laugh out loud.

Although, he had to admit, that didn’t count as true skill.

Still, Du Youqian believed that it wouldn’t be long, a few hundred years at most, before he could rely on his own true strength, not bluffs, to win over True Monarch Zhaoxiang Guangde.

On many occasions, he had picked up the Inheritance Jade Scroll that recorded the Tier Six Puppet Technique, Divination Art, and Array formations, as well as Tier Five Refining and Talisman Making, but he had never opened it.

These were things that required deep immersion to learn.

And right now was not the right time.

Although an itch gnawed at his heart like a cat’s claws, he used his supreme willpower to refrain from reading it.

One day, after another attempt at wearing down the imprint, Du Youqian suddenly felt the opportunity for his own breakthrough arrive.

He had no time for Ling Hua or Little Wukong. He immediately entered seclusion and began to charge the bottleneck that had once been an impassable chasm but was now within his grasp.

Spiritual Qi surged like a vortex, sweeping toward the small abode and nearly draining the entire Immortal City of its Spiritual Qi.

「In the City Lord’s Mansion.」

A City Guard Cultivator rushed in to report. "My Lord!"

The City Lord had her back to him, gazing in the direction of the Spiritual Qi vortex’s center. She raised a slender, flawless jade-like arm and waved it gently, the Golden Bell on her wrist chiming. "I am aware. A Nascent Soul Master is breaking through. Make sure no one disturbs him. Otherwise, if his breakthrough fails and he decides to vent his anger, I fear it will bring devastation upon the city."

"Yes, my Lord." The City Guard Cultivator, having received his orders, immediately went to make the arrangements.

He returned shortly after. "My Lord, outside that Elder Nascent Soul’s abode, a Tier Three Demon King is standing guard, allowing no one to approach. We had initially thought it was just a common wild beast, never expecting it to be such a powerful Demon. This is our failure. Please punish us, Master!"

"No matter," the City Lord said, still with her back to them, her beautiful hair cascading down. "Then do not approach. Just set up a defensive perimeter from a distance."

After her subordinates left, the City Lord continued to gaze at the center of the Spiritual Qi vortex, her mind filled with thoughts.

’I happened to learn that in eighty years, a predecessor’s grotto will appear. It may contain a Divinity Transformation Spiritual Object, and more importantly, the key for my race to break through to become Tier Five Demon Emperors. It is agonizing to know of this but lack the strength to acquire it. When this person first entered the city, I felt a faint connection to him. A later Divination revealed that he is the most suitable person to explore that grotto with.’

’Once he successfully breaks through, how should I go about getting acquainted with him? A sudden visit will likely make him wary. Besides, if he is unwilling to travel with me, I can’t just give him the information about the grotto for free.’

A month later, the Spiritual Qi vortex finally dissipated.

This meant that the Nascent Soul Cultivator’s breakthrough had reached its conclusion.

Such a smooth breakthrough also indicated that the cultivator’s foundation was exceptionally deep!

This was not surprising. The City Lord mused that if this cultivator was indeed the most suitable Human Race Cultivator to explore the grotto with her, his strength certainly couldn’t be lacking.

After all, the Direct Inheritance disciples from many major Human Race Sects, as well as Transformed Demon Kings from powerful races, would also be competing for it.

Anyone even slightly lacking in strength would just be serving themselves up as a free meal.

’Seeing the Tier Three Demon Monkey by his side, and how genuinely loyal it is to him, I know his attitude towards the Demon Race is not poor. If I talk to him properly, I should have a chance to persuade him.’

Several days later, sensing that the Spiritual Qi around the abode had returned to normal and that the Demon Monkey was no longer stopping people from approaching, the City Lord sent a formal invitation with the signature: City Lord, Zhuge Qing.

That afternoon, Zhuge Qing, dressed in her finest, arrived at the entrance of the abode.

"Fellow Daoist, I, Qing Yi, have come to visit as arranged. Might you spare a moment to see me?"

"City Lord Zhuge, please come in."

The City Lord lifted the hem of her long skirt and stepped inside.

Several beautiful Foundation Establishment Realm Maids followed behind her—one holding a fan, one a vase, one a Sword, and one a Duster. The entourage was quite impressive.

The monkey had run off to cause trouble somewhere; this Immortal City was not particularly hostile to Demons.

Du Youqian sat in the main seat of the central hall, his gaze falling upon the City Lord.

She was a Kun Cultivator who appeared to be in the bloom of her youth. Her fair skin was so delicate it looked like it would break at a touch. Her beautiful hair seemed to have a life of its own, faintly glowing. Her pair of hazy Peach Blossom Eyes held an innocent, worldly-unaware look, and even her long skirt couldn’t completely conceal her pair of long, slender legs.

And... not only was she beautiful, she was a Transformed Great Demon.

A Core Formation Cultivator might not have been able to see through her disguise, but to Du Youqian’s eyes, the Demon Qi continuously released by her Demon Core was as conspicuous as a candle in the night.

The faint sense of threat emanating from her told Du Youqian that her strength was not to be underestimated.

Of course, Du Youqian held no prejudice against the Demon Race, so his expression remained unchanged.

After observing her for a moment, Du Youqian took the initiative to bow. "My recent breakthrough in your esteemed city has caused quite a disturbance. I hope City Lord Zhuge will forgive my impertinence."

City Lord Zhuge Qing smiled warmly. "Fellow Daoist was following the will of heaven and the hearts of men. What crime is there to speak of? I, Qing, have long been wondering what kind of outstanding talent Fellow Daoist might be. To witness your grace today truly brings me great joy. If Fellow Daoist has some leisure time in the coming days, might you grace the City Lord’s Mansion with your presence for a banquet? Qing will certainly offer you my utmost hospitality."

Du Youqian was somewhat perplexed. This City Lord Zhuge was being a little too enthusiastic.

’I’m just passing through. Is all this really necessary?’

After a moment’s thought, he probed, "Does City Lord Zhuge perhaps have something to ask of me? If so, please, feel free to speak directly."