Du Youqian couldn’t say his feelings for the Sect ran deep, but he wasn’t entirely without sentint, either.
There was much about the Sect he didn’t approve of, but he also understood its frequent helplessness.
Besides, he’d been a True Disciple for ten years, enjoying a steady supply of the Sect’s resources. To now plan on just packing up and leaving... it would be a lie to say he felt no guilt.
But the Sect hadn’t invested resources in him because he was kind and devastatingly handso; they did so because he had the potential to grow and elevate the Sect’s standing.
So... Du Youqian set himself a goal: he would break through to the Golden Core realm within three lifetis, at most.
When that ti ca, he would find a way to repay them. He would either train a cultivator with Tier Three Cultivation Techniques for the Zhongxuan Sect or raise a Core Formation master—if not a Golden Core, then at least one at the Fake Pill realm.
This would help the Zhongxuan Sect achieve its promotion.
That way, he could at least repay the Zhongxuan Sect for the nurturing they had provided him in this life.
After making a silent vow to one day repay the resources he’d consud in this life several tis over, Du Youqian began to consider how to exhaust his lifespan and reincarnate as quickly as possible, while also stirring up so trouble to boost his evaluation.
In truth, with his ability to reincarnate, he could have just laid low and avoided all risk.
In so of the web novels Du Youqian had read many lifetis ago, the protagonists took laying low to the absolute extre.
But after so serious thought, Du Youqian decided he couldn’t be like that.
For one, he was constrained to ten reincarnations. What if he laid so low that he failed to break through to the Nascent Soul realm within those ten lives?
For another, even laying low required a certain degree of strength.
Otherwise, any random cultivator at the Foundation Establishnt Middle to Late Stage could kill him with a wave of their hand. Wouldn’t it be infuriating to suffer such an ignominious death one day?
In this world, the ones who get killed aren’t always the ones who did sothing wrong.
His strategy was to hide and wait out the storm when faced with a powerful enemy, but to proactively stir things up when opportunities arose. This would raise his evaluation, improve his Spirit Root, and hopefully, let him accumulate enough for a Celestial Spirit Root as soon as possible.
He would strive for a higher Cultivation and greater strength for self-preservation in each successive life. At the very least, he wouldn’t be passively praying that others wouldn’t harm him. That was more in line with Du Youqian’s personality.
There was another reason that cented Du Youqian’s resolve: in the last several thousand years, not a single cultivator above the Golden Core realm had appeared in Monan.
The ceiling for this land seed to be permanently fixed.
Of course, Du Youqian could also live out the full lifespan of a Golden Core expert in every life before reincarnating. He could hole up in a small place like Monan for five hundred, even five thousand years, reincarnating again and again as a Golden Core overlord.
After ten such carefree lives, he would simply pass away from the world for good.
But if he made that choice, he would no longer be Du Youqian.
Besides, Monan was known as the Land of the Dead Spirit. If he laid low for too long and the Spiritual Qi here continued to dissipate, what would he do if it beca impossible to even break through to the Core Formation realm?
This wasn’t just a wild guess. According to historical records, the number of Core Formation Great Powers in Monan thousands of years ago was far greater than it is today.
Once Du Youqian made up his mind, he was a man of swift and decisive action.
First, he applied to the Sect for permission to travel for three years.
Every disciple applied for such a journey before reaching Foundation Establishnt. The duration varied—three to five years, sotis even ten or twenty.
But for soone like Du Youqian—a True Disciple and one of the Sect’s few master alchemists—it was inadvisable to be away for too long.
Otherwise, the Elixir supply for the Sect’s higher-ranking disciples would run short.
But a three-year journey was hardly excessive.
While Profound Sects Orthodox Sects valued secluded, arduous Cultivation, they didn’t advocate for working in isolation for extended periods.
When one’s Cultivation hit a bottleneck, sheer hard work in seclusion was often not enough to break through.
Only by venturing out could one broaden their horizons and elevate their mindset. Experiencing the ten thousand distractions of the Red Dust, the bustling mortal world, and then returning to one’s true self without losing one’s way—this was essential for laying the ntal groundwork for future Cultivation.
Du Youqian’s reasoning was sound. He was already at the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer.
After the Sect Leader had bestowed upon him a Dragon Kui Purple Extre Pill, he was, in everyone’s eyes, not far from reaching the Qi Cultivation Eighth Layer.
It was the perfect ti to start thinking about the push from the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer to Foundation Establishnt.
Traveling at this stage, with a decent ability to protect himself, was perfectly logical.
Thus, the Sect’s leadership didn’t give it a second thought and readily approved his request.
The only issue was that the Sect Leader wanted to assign a Foundation Establishnt Elder to act as Du Youqian’s Guardian.
A True Inheritor leaving the Sect under the protection of an Elder was a sign of the Sect’s profound care and concern.
However, Du Youqian had his own secret plans; there was no way he could agree to that.
After much back and forth, he finally persuaded the Sect Leader to drop the idea by claiming he intended to travel in Concealnt, like a Mortal, to experience the Red Dust.
Before he left, he cashed in all his points for every Tier One and Tier Two Inheritance available among the sixteen Cultivation Techniques.
He also took an advance on his next three years of Contribution Points to redeem two more Dragon Kui Purple Extre Pills. Under normal circumstances, this would have been impossible; to put it bluntly, the Sect leadership was pulling strings for him.
In the end, Du Youqian packed up everything he had gained during his years as a True Disciple and drifted away from the place he had called ho for a decade.
Outside the Sect’s main gate, he turned to look back.
The gate stood majestic and imposing, wreathed in clouds and mist.
From a distance, he could still sense his own residence cave.
Ten years had passed in a flash. He had learned so much here.
Regrettably, he hadn’t made any real friends. He barely had any contact even with his master or the likes of Master Xia.
And then there was Master Lei. He feared he would never have the chance to repay the favor he owed her.
There was also Pei Guangming, his friend from a different generation with whom he’d turned from foe to friend. It was a pity they would have no more opportunities to sit and discuss the Dao.
’When we et in the next life... by the ti I break through the Mystery of the Womb, Pei Guangming will likely have already turned to dust.’
The immortal path was just like this. Loneliness was its eternal the.
Du Youqian turned away and left without a second glance, his steps firm.
First stop: Wenzhe City.
When Du Youqian found the Little Fatty, the guy was in the Garrison Office, ditating and practicing his Breathing techniques.
After leaving his post, Du Youqian had recomnded to the Sect that the Little Fatty be his successor.
A True Disciple had at least that much influence.
The Garrison Office was a far cry from the desolate place it had been during Du Youqian’s tenure. Now, hundreds of won, each with their own unique charm, flitted about like a flock of chattering birds.
So might have been envious of such a scene, but Du Youqian only found it noisy.
The scene reminded him of his past life as the Pri Minister of the Wu Kingdom.
He rembered how he had exhausted his mind and spirit just to keep his own backyard from catching fire—to prevent his wives and concubines from having a small skirmish every three days and a major battle every five. All so the world would praise him with a single line: "His household is virtuous, his wives and concubines live in harmony." The stress had made his hair turn gray prematurely.
Driving out the armies of the Qi Kingdom hadn’t been nearly as exhausting.
’The Little Fatty is in his elent right now.’
’If I were to see him again in a few years, he’d probably be wearing a frown as well!’
’Of course, I doubt I’ll be around to see it.’
After catching up with the Little Fatty, Du Youqian left him so high-quality Elixirs and a few Middle and Upper Grade Magical Artifacts, then quietly departed.
The Little Fatty had no idea that this would be the last ti he would see "Brother Yuanqing" in this lifeti.
He was as jovial as ever, even teasing, "Brother Yuanqing, when are you going to run off to the Heavenly Emotions and Oceanic Resentnts Sect? If you went, you could at least vie for the position of a True Inheritor and stomp that vicious Demoness under your foot."
’You’ve got that backward,’ Du Youqian thought. ’She’s the one who stomps on .’
’Then again, having her soft little feet give a back massage... it’s actually quite comfortable. I have no idea where she learned such a technique... or rather, foot-technique.’
Without waiting to see the Little Fatty’s reaction to discovering the Elixirs and Magical Artifacts, Du Youqian quickly departed the Feixian Peak Blessed Land.
He then headed straight for the Marketplace ntioned in the Jade Scroll that Chen Yingzhi had given him—a place called "East Sea," located within the Yu Kun Mountains.
Why was a Marketplace in the Yu Kun Mountains called "East Sea"?
’Perhaps the "Sea" refers to a sea of clouds,’ he mused.
When Du Youqian arrived outside the East Sea Market, he looked down at the endless sea of cotton-white clouds beneath his feet and felt his spirit soar.
The sight was at once majestic and grand, yet filled with a delicate beauty in its details. It felt as if it could cleanse the soul, washing away all restlessness and scheming, leaving one feeling more open and magnanimous.
The faint shadow of guilt that had been clouding Du Youqian’s heart over his actions toward the Sect vanished without a trace upon seeing this sea of clouds.
The East Sea Market was massive.
It was said to have two Second-class Sects as its backers, with a Fake Pill Cultivator stationed there year-round.
As a result, the East Sea Market was extrely well-regulated and orderly.
Whether one was buying or selling, their safety was guaranteed.
Du Youqian strolled through the Marketplace, selling a few items and purchasing a few others.
On the west side of the Marketplace was a large square where hundreds of Cultivators who couldn’t afford to rent a shop had set up stalls.
Here, legends were told of people striking it rich overnight by discovering a hidden treasure, as well as tales of pitiful stall owners who’d misjudged their wares and sold a self-concealing Treasure for pennies.
Every mont, a new drama of joy, anger, sorrow, or delight played out.
Du Youqian wanted to try his luck as well, but alas, he didn’t have a cheat ability like "Golden Eyes." Treasure-hunting attempts: failed, failed, and failed again.
His interest waning, Du Youqian finally made his way to a small shop with a sign that read: "Qingfang Tea House."
It was a tiny shop; you could see from one end to the other at a glance.
The only person inside was a young Kun Cultivator. Her Cultivation was at the Qi Cultivation Middle Stage, and while she wasn’t stunningly beautiful, she had a serene and gentle air about her.
The mont she saw Du Youqian, she greeted him with a warm smile.
"Honored custor, are you here for tea, or for Spirit Plants?"
Du Youqian smiled. "Sothing else."
The Kun Cultivator sized him up. "I don’t understand."
Du Youqian didn’t beat around the bush. "I was sent here. I believe you sell the information I’m looking for."
"Oh, I see. What information does Fellow Daoist require?"
Du Youqian smiled. "The person who sent has the surna Chen. She is an Inner Disciple of the Heavenly Emotions and Oceanic Resentnts Sect. She should have left a specific piece of information for . Please check if you have it. If not, no matter. Just pretend I was never here."
The Kun Cultivator blinked. Her previously plain features suddenly ca to life, taking on a flirtatious charm. "I understand. Please wait a mont, Fellow Daoist!"
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