Chapter 559

Chapter 559: New Knowledge of Cultivation

Cheng Yuweng had initially planned to argue his case if an ordinary elder went to the Misty Sect. But when he saw it was Tian Yunzi leading the delegation—and bringing Ye Yun along—he immediately fell silent.

Tian Yunzi’s cultivation reached the pinnacle of the Nascent Soul stage, widely regarded as the closest to sainthood in the Great Qin Empire. His status was so exalted that even the imperial family treated him with deference. In a land where saints were rare, those at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage represented the highest combat power.

Divine Grace Palace maintained its position as the second-ranked power in the empire not only through hidden strength but also because of Tian Yunzi and Yu Qingzhi. Both stood at the pinnacle of the Nascent Soul stage, though Tian Yunzi was slightly stronger.

With Tian Yunzi personally escorting Ye Yun to the Misty Sect, every detail of the day’s events would be exposed. Cheng Yuweng knew he’d face severe punishment.

Though unwilling, Cheng Yuweng had no choice—the situation had spiraled beyond his control.

“Then let’s depart at once,” Cheng Yuweng said, eager to flee Divine Grace Palace.

“No need for haste. It’s late—we’ll leave tomorrow. After the contest, I must brief Ye Yun on your sect’s rules to avoid future conflicts,” Tian Yunzi dismissed. This wasn’t a casual trip but a mission to reclaim owed debts, and complications were inevitable.

Cheng Yuweng bit back his protest. Leaving immediately would’ve been reckless. He needed time to prepare—and to shift blame onto Jun Ruolan.

He motioned for Cang Ye and Murong Wuqing to follow him to the guest quarters.

“Elder Cheng, I haven’t seen Ye Yun in ages. I’ll catch up with him now,” Murong Wuqing declared.

“Absolutely not!” Cheng Yuweng snapped. “You’re a Misty Sect elite with knowledge of the Saint’s Secret Vault. Wandering here risks leaking secrets—who’ll take responsibility?”

Murong Wuqing’s face hardened. “I’m informing you, not asking permission.”

A prodigy like Murong Wuqing answered to no one. Social niceties meant nothing to him—cultivation was his sole focus. Having left the Jin Kingdom with Ye Yun nearly a year prior, both had advanced shockingly fast. Murong Wuqing had barely reached the Golden Core stage when departing, yet now stood at the peak of the Seventh Level. His true power rivaled Third or Fourth Level Nascent Soul Ancestors—a feat Ye Yun would’ve deemed impossible without Shu Anshi’s example.

Ye Yun’s pulse quickened as Murong Wuqing approached. Though his own progress stemmed from the Heart of Immortals and Demons—Marrow Cleansing enhancing his physique and soul—Murong Wuqing’s leap from first-level Golden Core to seventh-level peak in a year defied belief. Such speed might be unmatched in the empire’s last thousand years.

Here was a true genius, talent eclipsing all.

Ye Yun suspected Murong Wuqing’s aptitude even surpassed Shu Anshi’s. Though both were seventh-level peak, Murong Wuqing’s shorter time since condensing his Golden Core left him slightly weaker. Once their pills broke and they reborn into the Nascent Soul stage, Murong Wuqing might outpace Shu Anshi in reaching the Fifth Level.

A marginal talent gap, but decisive.

“Brother Wuqing!” Ye Yun stepped forward.

Murong Wuqing roared with laughter, crushing Ye Yun in a bear hug before clapping his shoulder.

“Ye Yun! Never thought we’d meet here!”

“You vanished without a word last year. I feared we’d never reunite—yet here we are!”

“Long story. We’ll talk tonight—properly.” Murong Wuqing’s eyes flickered meaningfully around them.

Ye Yun caught the hint instantly. “Of course! If time allowed, I’d demand ten days of your company.”

“No need. The three-day journey to Misty Sect suffices. Now that we’ve reconnected, visits between sects—or joint expeditions—are simple.”

Ye Yun’s eyes gleamed. “Perfect.”

Cheng Yuweng’s face twisted as Murong Wuqing ignored him entirely, chatting warmly with Ye Yun. Poisonous resentment flashed in his eyes, murderous intent surfacing briefly.

Behind him, Cang Ye stood silent, blood staining his robes, watching Cheng Yuweng with icy detachment.

In Absolute Heart Peak’s back mountain courtyard, Ye Yun and Murong Wuqing sat facing each other. Outside, the Divine Feather Vulture King and Tongtong huddled together, mischief undoubtedly brewing.

"Ye Yun, I never expected you to come to Divine Grace Palace and become Tian Yunzi’s inner disciple. This truly surprised me! Do you know Tian Yunzi’s reputation in the Great Qin Empire? He’s called the Nascent Soul Ancestor closest to sainthood, just half-step away from transcending mortals," Murong Wuqing said while surveying their surroundings.

Ye Yun nodded. "I’ve heard rumors, but they say transcending to sainthood is extremely difficult. It seems few have succeeded in the last thousand years."

Murong Wuqing chuckled. "That’s just hearsay. Though saints are rare, how could none emerge in a millennium? Divine Grace Palace, Misty Sect, and the royal family all have saints – their exact numbers unknown. These saints enable the three major powers to control the Great Qin Empire’s cultivation realm. Without them, smaller sects would overwhelm the giants through sheer numbers – how could they tolerate three powers monopolizing resources?"

Ye Yun’s pupils contracted. "Divine Grace Palace truly has saints?"

Murong Wuqing nodded. "Naturally. Perhaps multiple."

Ye Yun fell silent. If saints existed, his plans regarding the royal family needed adjustment. Retrieving the third soul fragment of Ancestor of the Sword Path from the palace would prove harder than expected.

Moreover, who knew what complications might arise if saints intervened with the Saint’s Secret Vault?

Murong Wuqing guessed his thoughts. "Worried saints will interfere with the Secret Vault? Don’t be. The Immortal Sword Sect’s vault doesn’t interest true saints. Once they transcend, worldly matters become trivial. They only emerge during sect crises."

Ye Yun suddenly stood, eyes blazing. With Murong Wuqing, he needed no pretense.

Saints have their own world!

What did this mean? Were there numerous saints?

Murong Wuqing laughed at Ye Yun’s astonished query. "Impossible! I meant saints perceive existence differently – they see higher realms. Untranscended cultivators don’t register in their vision. Only at the Nascent Soul’s pinnacle might we glimpse their world."

Ye Yun nodded, realizing his misunderstanding. He’d imagined saints forming their own society – an alarming concept implying countless saints.

But this notion quickly faded. The Great Qin Empire had few Ancestors at Fifth Level Nascent Soul stage, let alone saints. Even in Moon Goddess Palace’s territory, saints were rare. As Tongtong said, Lingxiao City mainly hosted Nascent Soul Ancestors above fifth level – saints remained scarce.

"Brother Wuqing, since we’re far from Jin Kingdom, let’s drop sect titles. I’ll call you Brother Wuqing," Ye Yun suggested.

Murong Wuqing understood. Their Heavenly Sword Sect origins traced back to remnants of the Immortal Sword Sect that once dominated the empire – dangerous knowledge if exposed.

"Agreed," Murong Wuqing nodded, clasping Ye Yun’s shoulder.

"Brother Wuqing, you hadn’t condensed your Golden Core when leaving. Yet within a year, you reached peak Golden Core! This speed shames me – you’re truly monstrous!"

Murong Wuqing smiled. "I long could’ve reached Foundation Establishment’s pinnacle but suppressed myself. Sage Huo Yun taught me excessive suppression was futile. Perfecting each cultivation stage violates heaven’s laws. The moon waxes and wanes – perfection prevents growth. So I released my cultivation, condensing Golden Core upon leaving Jin Kingdom."

Ye Yun’s eyes blazed with revelation. This contradicted everything he knew – even geniuses like Zhuge Chong and Shu Anshi pursued stage perfection.

If heaven’s laws were incomplete, how had new species emerged? Legends said only immortals and demons existed at creation’s dawn. Perfection couldn’t explain humans and demons.

Ye Yun glimpsed a new cultivation paradigm – potentially world-shaking. Though uncertain of its validity, this perspective offered valuable insights.

Murong Wuqing continued, "I stumbled on this truth. Coupled with fortuitous encounters upon reaching Great Qin Empire, my cultivation skyrocketed. Half a year ago, I reached Third Level Golden Core stage yet could challenge sixth-level cultivators avoiding heavenly tribulation. The Misty Sect noticed and recruited me."

"And in six months, you ascended from third level to peak Golden Core, rivaling Nascent Soul Ancestors! Truly inhuman!" Ye Yun shook his head ruefully.

Murong Wuqing turned serious. "Your talent surpasses mine. You chose the Cleansing Immortal Heart Technique – scorned for millennia. With ordinary techniques, you’d already be at sixth-level Golden Core, facing tribulation."

Ye Yun shook his head. "No matter. Having chosen this path, I’ll persist. My progress isn’t slow. The technique’s difficulty lies in resource scarcity and balancing body with true qi. As Divine Grace Palace’s elite and Tian Yunzi’s inner disciple, resources won’t lack. As for heavenly comprehension and balance – I’m confident."

His confidence stemmed from fusing three types of rare spiritual energy with sword intent to condense his Golden Core – unprecedented in millennia. Few in ten thousand years could match this, especially after comprehending fundamental laws of lightning, ice, fire, and space. These pure foundations promised easier advancement. Combined with sword intent born at creation’s dawn, his potential dwarfed even Murong Wuqing and Shu Anshi’s.

What power might emerge from merging sword intent with elemental laws?

None dared imagine.