Chapter 312 - 307: A Marriage Alliance with the Taihe Sect?

In response to Zeng Baoming’s question, Du Youqian gave a perfunctory answer: "I will continue to hone my skills and stabilize my Realm. After that, I’ll attempt to comprehend the Celestial Dao Sword. I wonder, could you introduce me to your Sect’s inheritor of the Celestial Dao Sword? I wish to witness its mature Sword Intent."

"That is a small matter. Once things here are settled, you may come to the Lingxiao Sword Pavilion at any time, True Monarch. I will appeal to the Supreme Elder to allow you to borrow our Sect’s Sword Enlightenment Pool to comprehend the Celestial Dao Sword’s Sword Intent," Zeng Baoming readily agreed.

"Then you have my thanks."

"There’s no need for such pleasantries, True Monarch," Zeng Baoming said, pulling out his wine gourd and taking a few big gulps. "GLUG GLUG GLUG. Your Human Dao Sword has reached Great Success. In the future, there will be many matters where we will need to rely on you."

Du Youqian said solemnly, "I never go back on my promises."

Soon, Cultivators from the Taihe Sect also came over, politely congratulating Du Youqian on successfully achieving Core Formation.

Du Youqian returned their courtesies in turn.

"Are you planning to hold a Core Formation Ceremony? If you need a venue or assistance with the preparations, our Sect can help," Master Wu Jiu asked.

Du Youqian shook his head. "Core Formation is a small matter. It’s not worth making such a big fuss."

Everyone who heard this wanted to roll their eyes.

’Core Formation is a small matter?’

’You know, those words are just asking for a beating.’

Du Youqian had absolutely no interest in such formalities and didn’t want to waste his time.

Besides, if he were a True Inheritor of the Taihe Sect or the Holy Blood Sect, he would receive so many gifts during his Core Formation that his hands would go soft from counting them.

But having achieved Core Formation as a Loose Cultivator in this life, he would be lucky if people even showed up to be seen. Those who wanted to show some respect might offer a few compliments and a worthless little gift.

Those who didn’t care to show respect wouldn’t bother coming at all.

There was simply no point in wasting time and energy on a ceremony with no profit to be made.

Du Youqian expressed his gratitude to Master Wu Jiu. Over the next few days, he attended several banquets hosted by the Master before preparing to take his leave.

However, on this day, a young attendant came seeking an audience. He said that the Supreme Elder of the Taihe Sect, Master Wu Fei, wished to meet with Master Baili.

The meeting was set for three days later at the Taiyi Pavilion, of course.

Du Youqian, of course, could not refuse. "Please return and inform Elder Wu Fei that I will be there at the appointed time."

After the attendant left, Du Youqian mulled it over. ’He probably wants to make a deal with me about unleashing the Human Dao Sword to stabilize the Spiritual Qi of Momenan.’

However, three days later, when Du Youqian arrived at the Taiyi Pavilion for the meeting as scheduled, he immediately realized he had been completely mistaken.

There, in a spacious and spartan room on the second floor, sat Master Wu Fei on a prayer mat.

Before him was a low table, on which sat a quaintly shaped teapot with a simple pattern and three clay teacups.

Master Wu Fei’s appearance was unremarkable, with no distinctive features.

His salt-and-pepper hair was tied in a simple Daoist bun, held in place by a single green wooden hairpin inserted at an angle.

His aura was tranquil and composed, his gaze as calm as still water—just like most of the Taihe Sect Cultivators Du Youqian had met before.

Beside him sat a Daoist Nun with her head bowed.

Her figure, with its breathtaking, mountain-like curves, was a sight to behold. Her pretty face held a somewhat shy smile.

"This is my Sect’s Master Wu Ai. She reached Core Formation twenty years ago. Master Wu Ai, this is the Master Baili I mentioned to you."

Master Wu Ai performed a Daoist salute. "It is an honor to meet you, Celestial Master."

Her movements were fluid and graceful, fully displaying her beautiful figure. The salute was a feast for the eyes.

Normally, when a Kun Cultivator first met a man she didn’t know, her movements during a salute would be more reserved.

From these details, Du Youqian began to understand. ’The Taihe Sect probably wants to win me over with a marriage alliance.’

’This Master Wu Ai... just from her Daoist name, I can tell she’s a True Inheritor.’

’Objectively speaking, this shows they hold me in high regard. The Taihe Sect doesn’t have many True Inheritors who have reached Core Formation, and female ones are even rarer.’

’There are very, very few people worthy of the Taihe Sect using a True Inheritance Core Formation Cultivator to win them over.’

’Perhaps only a True Inheritance Core Formation Cultivator from the Holy Blood Sect would be considered fully worthy.’

’But the Taihe Sect and the Holy Blood Sect have no need for marriage alliances to strengthen their ties; the two of them already rule the world together.’

’Therefore, in the last few thousand years, only a handful of True Inheritance Core Formation Cultivators from the Second-class Sects of the Profound Sects Orthodox Camp have had the honor of becoming Dao Companions with a True Inheritor Kun Cultivator from the Taihe Sect.’

But Du Youqian had no intention of accepting this beauty.

He knew rationally that accepting her would allow him to build a good relationship with the Taihe Sect.

But he had to ask himself: ’Do I need to be close to the Taihe Sect?’

’Not at all.’

Therefore, he didn’t spare the beautiful Daoist Nun a second glance and returned the salute formally. "Greetings, Master Wu Ai. Greetings, Elder Wu Fei."

Elder Wu Fei languidly picked up the teapot, poured hot tea into the three cups, and gestured for them to drink.

After all three had finished their tea, Elder Wu Fei refilled their cups. Only then did he speak, his voice deliberate. "I’ve heard that in your past life, you were a True Inheritor of the Holy Blood Sect. Is that true?"

Du Youqian was sure he already knew and was merely seeking confirmation.

Du Youqian smiled faintly. "Based on some memories of a past life that have returned to me, that is indeed the case."

Elder Wu Fei’s eyelids drooped, his Essence, Qi, and Spirit completely withdrawn. His eyes looked as murky as those of a common old man. "Oh? And may I ask who you were in your past life? Is it possible that this old man knew you?"

Du Youqian replied, "When I wielded the Blood Slaughter Sword to slay Yuan Liulang, you should have seen me."

"So it was you, You De! Forgive my disrespect. You sacrificed yourself to save the world, an act for which this old man has the utmost admiration. I wonder, how much of your past life do you remember?" Elder Wu Fei’s eyes lit up, all trace of murkiness gone.

The beautiful Daoist Nun, Master Wu Ai, who had remained silent since her initial greeting, now widened her lovely almond-shaped eyes, a flicker of disbelief in their depths.

Du Youqian smiled and shook his head. "Only fragmented images and some incomprehensible, fleeting glimpses, for the most part. There are very few clearly discernible details."

Elder Wu Fei shook his head and sighed. "What a pity. A true shame."

After a pause, he said, "You De, have you never considered returning to the Holy Blood Sect? If they knew you had awakened some of your past-life wisdom, the entire Sect would welcome you back with open arms."

Du Youqian’s expression grew a little colder. "The man I was in my past life is not the man I am today."

Of course, that wasn’t what he really thought. Possessing his complete memories, he had no trouble accepting every one of his past incarnations.

However, for most Cultivators who had only awakened a sliver of their memories, their past self was essentially a stranger.

They were unwilling to acknowledge that past person as themselves.

Elder Wu Fei naturally understood this. He sighed again, then smiled. "Your experiences in this life are also quite spectacular. A Celestial Master of the Nine Countries... that’s unheard of in the history of Momenan."

Du Youqian laughed. "It’s only because various seniors and fellow cultivators were unwilling to make things difficult for me."

The beautiful Daoist Wu Ai also let out a few soft laughs.

She felt that what Du Youqian said was true.

"You De," said Elder Wu Fei, "since you were a True Inheritor of the Holy Blood Sect in your last life, you must know that here in Momenan, there is a Teleportation Array leading to the outside world. Periodically, we select truly gifted young Cultivators and send them to the outside world before they reach Core Formation."

Du Youqian adopted a look of shocked disbelief. "Such a thing exists?"

Though Elder Wu Fei’s eyelids appeared to be drooping, he was in fact paying close attention to Du Youqian’s expression.

But Du Youqian was a master of controlling his expression; there was no way he would let the elder see through him.

Furthermore, the strengths of their Divine Senses were not far apart. Although Elder Wu Fei was in the Golden Core Late Stage, his Divine Sense was only marginally stronger than Du Youqian’s. It was not enough to overpower him, so he couldn’t break through Du Youqian’s defenses to probe his surface-level emotions and thoughts.

As far as Elder Wu Fei could tell, Du Youqian genuinely did not know.

He chuckled and sighed. "It seems you truly don’t remember, You De. I find that deeply regrettable."

With that, he proceeded to give Du Youqian a basic rundown of the Teleportation Array and all related matters.

Du Youqian put on a thoughtful expression. "I see. Can those at Core Formation or above use that Teleportation Array?"

"Of course not," Elder Wu Fei said with a smile. "However, it’s not that the Teleportation Array cannot accommodate those at Core Formation or above. It’s just that the energy required to transport someone with a Core Formation Cultivation is terrifyingly high—enough to nurture several Nascent Soul Masters in the outside world. Furthermore, the control hub for the array is split; we control one half, and the people of the outside world control the other."

"If we wish to send someone out, we must first get the approval of those on the outside. Both sides must activate their hubs simultaneously to open the array."

"And the people on the outside will not, as a rule, permit us to send Core Formation Cultivators through."

Du Youqian nodded, feigning a look of sudden realization. "I see!"

Elder Wu Fei stared at him. "Your aptitude is exceptionally outstanding. If I’m not mistaken, you must have a Celestial Spirit Root. And I have a feeling you’ve also comprehended one of the Divine Abilities, haven’t you?"

Du Youqian didn’t hide it, either. He smiled and said, "That is correct. I was fortunate enough to comprehend one of the Divine Abilities just as I achieved Core Formation."

In truth, he had been able to use the "Copper Skin Iron Bones" Divine Ability back in the Foundation Establishment Realm, as his cultivation recovered over time.

Elder Wu Fei sighed. "If that Teleportation Array were still usable, with your aptitude, you might just be able to break convention and convince the people on the outside to allow your passage."

"If it were... still usable?" Du Youqian feigned ignorance. "Has something happened to the Teleportation Array?"