Chapter 42: Chapter 40: Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer
Under normal circumstances, even a True Disciple might be subject to extortion or obstruction during certain procedures.
But no one dared to cause trouble for Du Youqian.
This was because, not long ago, a foolish Inner Disciple at the Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer—a supposed genius with an Upper Grade Spirit Root, though his brain didn’t quite work right—had been egged on by a few words. He had stormed over to confront Du Youqian, demanding that he surrender his position as a True Successor Candidate.
He even pestered Du Youqian, demanding a Magical Combat with the True Successor candidacy as the prize.
Du Youqian couldn’t even be bothered with him.
Three days later, the so-called genius had his Cultivation crippled and was expelled from the Sect.
The entire Sect was in an uproar. He had an Upper Grade Spirit Root!
The Zhongxuan Sect might have been great once, but now they were merely one of the Fourth-class Sects.
To the Sect in its current state, every single disciple with an Upper Grade Spirit Root was a priceless treasure.
For the last few hundred years, every person with an Upper Grade Spirit Root had been a True Successor Candidate.
This was because Cultivators with an Upper Grade Spirit Root had a very high probability of reaching Foundation Establishment.
In ten or twenty years, he could have become a pillar of the Sect.
In the future, he might even have reached Foundation Establishment Peak, with a chance of ascending to the Golden Core realm.
For someone with an Upper Grade Spirit Root, even positions like Sect Leader or Supreme Elder were well within reach.
And yet, he was ruthlessly expelled!
In truth, if one looked closely, while he had said some outrageous things, he hadn’t actually attacked.
No matter how you looked at it, his expulsion seemed excessive.
Thus, everyone learned how serious the Sect was about this matter. They were willing to sacrifice a disciple with an Upper Grade Spirit Root to make an example of him.
No one dared to target Du Youqian anymore.
At least, not for the next seven years.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
On the edge of a cliff, a handsome young man performed his Breathing exercises as he faced the rising sun.
With each light and even breath, vast swathes of rosy clouds were drawn into his abdomen, as if he were inhaling all the air around him.
When he exhaled, the boundless clouds were expelled once more. They swirled in a beautiful, dense mist, refracting the sunlight to form a seven-colored rainbow that adorned the cliff like a celestial garden.
His Circulation complete, the young man opened his eyes, a starlight glimmering within their depths.
’Seven years have passed. After switching to the Sect’s Foundation Technique, the Purple Qi Jade Essence Technique, I’m still only at the Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer. I really underestimated the difficulty of Cultivation. Although the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer isn’t far off, I’m still pessimistic when I think about the path ahead.’
’The time it normally takes to go from the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer to the Eighth Layer is longer than going from the First Layer to the Seventh Layer combined. For me, that will be a little over ten years.’
’Then there’s the Eighth Layer to the Ninth Layer, and the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer to Great Perfection, not to mention any potential bottlenecks... I’m already thirty-two. The chances of me reaching Qi Cultivation Perfection before I’m sixty by just following the standard path are practically nonexistent.’
’Though Master did tell me that in a few years, a Secret Realm in the Yu Kun Mountains will open to the young disciples of several nearby Sects. The risks are immense, but so are the rewards. He wants me to actively pursue this, hoping I’ll find some fateful opportunity to help me reach Qi Cultivation Great Perfection and break through to the Foundation Establishment Realm before I’m sixty, or even fifty.’
’But I have no intention of taking such a risk. I’ll avoid it if I can. Even if the Sect forces me into the Secret Realm and I can’t get out of it, my top priority will be survival. I absolutely will not fight over treasures.’
’It seems the hope of reaching the Foundation Establishment Realm in this life through normal Cultivation is slim... I hope I can acquire some more Spirit Roots in this lifetime, and at least add one point to my Fire Spirit Root. I’ll aim to have a Middle Grade Spirit Root in my next life!’
Du Youqian still planned on joining the Chongzhen Sect to get revenge on the disciples and grand-disciples of the Little Eyes Daoist.
But the minimum requirement for joining the Chongzhen Sect was a Middle Grade Spirit Root.
If he couldn’t even get into the Chongzhen Sect, then his revenge would just have to wait a few more lifetimes.
"Brother Yuanqing! Brother Yuanqing!"
A stout young man came running over, completely out of breath.
Du Youqian stood up and gave him a blank look.
"It’s... it’s terrible, Brother Yuanqing!" The Little Fatty bent over, hands on his knees, gasping for air.
Du Youqian fought the urge to roll his eyes. ’Got to maintain my image,’ he reminded himself.
"Is all this drama really necessary?"
’A Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer Cultivator getting this winded after running a few steps? He must be a phony.’
Sure enough, the Little Fatty instantly stopped panting, his back no longer ached, and he straightened up with a grin. "Brother Yuanqing, how do you always see right through me!"
"Probably because I’m not an idiot."
"...I get the feeling you’re insulting me."
"No, I’m not insulting you."
The Little Fatty’s name was Guo Mingsheng.
He had a Middle Grade Spirit Root and had joined the Sect a few months after Du Youqian.
His personality was decent enough—if you ignored the fact that he was a bit dim-witted, slightly ugly, lacked any perseverance or willpower, and had the emotional intelligence of a rock. Other than that, he was great.
Guo Mingsheng shrugged. "Brother Yuanqing, you haven’t forgotten, have you? Starting tomorrow, anyone in the entire Sect, aside from the True Disciples, can challenge you."
Du Youqian smiled faintly. "Is that so? I’d almost forgotten. Whatever’s coming, let it come."
Guo Mingsheng studied Du Youqian’s expression for a long moment before shaking his head. "Brother Yuanqing, what ace are you hiding up your sleeve? We’ve all been talking, and everyone agrees you’re in a dangerous spot. Do you know who’s challenging you tomorrow?"
Du Youqian didn’t seem concerned in the slightest. "With so many people lining up to challenge me, how would I know who it is?"
Guo Mingsheng chuckled slyly, rubbing his fingers together. "I can tell you, Brother Yuanqing. However..."
Du Youqian stated flatly, "I could just walk into a crowd, and someone would be bound to tell me."
"...You’re so smart, Brother Yuanqing!"
Du Youqian’s lips twitched. ’Why is it that when you call me "smart," I feel like I’m being mocked?’
"A lot of people are champing at the bit to challenge you tomorrow and snatch the True Successor candidacy. But after one person put the word out, everyone else backed off." Guo Mingsheng’s expression grew serious.
"Oh?" Du Youqian’s interest was piqued. "Could it be the one known as the top expert beneath the True Disciples, Senior Sister Meng Yushan? I hear she’s acclaimed as number one among the fifth-generation disciples in Magical Combat, Alchemy, Artifact Refining, and Talisman Making."
’I can’t speak for the others, but number one in Alchemy? Heh.’
Guo Mingsheng just shook his head. "Brother Yuanqing, you’re thinking too small."
Du Youqian stared at him, his face a mask of indifference.
"Ai, Brother Yuanqing, haven’t you considered it? The Sect only forbids *True Disciples* from challenging you."
Du Youqian frowned. "You’re saying the person challenging me tomorrow isn’t a fifth-generation disciple?"
"Yup. You’re so smart, Brother Yuanqing."
’Oh, thank you so much. Could you please stop calling me smart? Especially coming from you.’
Du Youqian thought for a moment. "There are plenty of fourth-generation disciples who aren’t True Disciples. Take the Treasure Hall, for instance. Several of the fourth-generation Vice Hall Masters were never True Disciples. But they wouldn’t be shameless enough to step up and challenge me personally, would they? If they win, fine. But if they were to lose by some fluke, wouldn’t their lifelong reputation be ruined?"
The thought of all those fourth-generation disciples getting involved gave Du Youqian an instant, massive headache.
