Chapter 522 - 497: Requesting a Sword Test from the Great True Monarch

Chapter 522: Chapter 497: Requesting a Sword Test from the Great True Monarch

Even when the Nebula Saints intervened, they couldn’t trace the true culprit. They could only vent their anger by annihilating a few groups of Tribulation Cultivators, and the matter was left unresolved.

After that, the Celestial Star Sect finally began to slow its roll, learning to share the benefits and let everyone get a piece of the pie instead of taking everything for themselves.

And their Sect Cultivators never again died without reason.

Now, after more than three thousand years of development, the Celestial Star Sect was strong enough in every aspect to be called a Super Sect.

There was just one weakness that left them unable to hold their heads high.

Among the eight Nascent Soul Cultivators in the sect, not a single one was a Great True Monarch.

It was as if the Nebula Saints had used up all the favor the Great Dao had for the Celestial Star Sect. The Late-Stage Nascent Soul Realm had become an insurmountable chasm for everyone else.

Generation after generation of Cultivators had been trapped at this stage, so much so that it had nearly become a Heart Demon for the Celestial Star Sect’s Cultivators.

The few Nascent Soul True Monarchs were all striving to break through to the next realm. Only Zhuo Xiong believed his own successful Nascent Soul formation had been a fluke and that he had almost no chance of advancing further.

He had voluntarily taken on the sect’s mundane affairs so that his martial brothers could have more time for closed-door Cultivation.

Sect administration, receiving visitors, assessing rewards and punishments—all of the Celestial Star Sect’s day-to-day affairs were piled on him.

Zhuo Xiong was portly and magnanimous, kind to all, and never argued with his fellow sect members. He was a famously nice guy.

Whenever disputes arose among sect members, he was the one they asked to mediate.

"Senior Brother Meng was right. That Bai Zichen really came!"

On the high platform, long banquet tables were arranged. Seated among the guests was a young man with red lips and pearly teeth, his hair styled in sun-and-moon double topknots. He wore a fiery red robe, embroidered with a colorful phoenix on the front and a great fenghuang on the back.

A vermilion mark adorned the spot between his brows. He sat askew on his rush cushion, the very picture of a carefree and unrestrained youth.

This was none other than the star of today’s event, Han Chaoran, the youngest Nascent Soul True Monarch of the Five Phoenix Sword Sect. Along with Gu Chongxuan of the Cyan Lotus Sword Sect, they were known as the "Shuang Xuan," the two most promising Sword Cultivators of the new generation.

"The world is full of capable people; talent is not found only in the Central Domain. The Taibai Sword Sect also started out in the Western Realm..."

The True Monarch beside Han Chaoran wore a fishtail-shaped golden crown, its silk ribbons tied in a qiankun knot. With his silver beard, white hair, and transcendent bearing, he looked every bit the immortal.

"Since he is a guest invited by Junior Brother Meng to offer congratulations, you must not be impolite, Junior Brother Han."

"Yes, I understand."

Han Chaoran, who had been eager for a challenge, reluctantly settled back into his seat. He had no choice but to listen to his senior brother.

Great True Monarch Ma Youx was nearly five hundred years his senior and had guided him from his Core Formation all the way to the Nascent Soul Realm.

Though they were not officially master and disciple, their relationship was one in all but name. 𝑓𝑟ℯℴ𝓂

No matter how impulsive Han Chaoran was, he always listened to Ma Youx when it came to serious matters.

A moment later, Bai Zichen stepped onto the high platform and felt countless curious gazes fall upon him, so intense they felt tangible.

He hadn’t expected a simple inauguration ceremony to attract so many Cultivators. There were even a dozen or so Nascent Soul True Monarchs present.

A gathering of this scale could only be assembled so easily in the Central Domain.

In the Northern Domain, this would be almost all the True Monarchs of the four nations gathered together.

Unless it was for a major event like the destruction of Zengguang Immortal City, it would be impossible to assemble such an impressive lineup.

Moreover, two of them were Great True Monarchs whose gazes alone exerted an intangible pressure on him.

"Bai Zichen of the Qingfeng Sect has come uninvited, please forgive my presumption. Hearing that True Monarch Han’s dojo was completed, I came to offer my congratulations and perhaps ask for a cup of Spirit Wine."

Bai Zichen’s expression was calm as he performed a Daoist salute, then turned to the side to bow in respect.

"This junior pays his respects to the Great True Monarchs."

This Elder Cultivator with the immortal-like bearing seemed amiable, but he felt like a Bladeless Flying Sword, his true sharpness concealed.

But Bai Zichen believed that if this man were to act, the result would be Earth-Shattering and unstoppable.

Based on his Spiritual Sense alone, this Great True Monarch Ma Youx was far stronger than the Joyful Sect’s Saintess; he felt they weren’t even on the same level.

Against the Saintess, as long as he could outlast the projection of her Purple Mansion Treasures, Bai Zichen was fully confident he could at least remain undefeated.

If he steeled his heart and played all his trump cards, victory was not out of the question.

But facing Ma Youx, he felt nothing of the sort. The man was simply unfathomable, as deep as an abyss, as vast as the sea.

’I really shouldn’t have underestimated Late-Stage Nascent Soul Cultivators. There are clear differences in strength even among Great True Monarchs...’

"A guest is a guest. Little Friend Bai is a grandmaster of the world’s Sword Dao; your visit brings great honor to our Sect. Please, take a seat and partake in the Spiritual Cuisine."

Ma Youx pointed, and another small table and rush cushion flew over to appear beside Meng Dongye.

After taking his seat, Bai Zichen silently observed the other Nascent Soul Cultivators present, trying to deduce their identities and origins from their clothing and appearance.

A line of serving maids brought out dish after dish of Spiritual Cuisine and placed them on the tables.

Amidst the clinking of glasses and cheerful conversation, Xiang Banshan, who had been silent the entire time, suddenly spoke. "True Monarch Bai is from the Qingfeng Sect. I presume you are from the same sect as that Ge Cang?"

As one of only two Great True Monarchs at the banquet spoke, everyone else consciously fell silent.

If Ma Youx had the bearing of an immortal, looking every bit the righteous cultivator, then Xiang Banshan, who was also at the Late-Stage Nascent Soul Realm, was far inferior in appearance and temperament.

With his dark skin and hemp clothes, he looked more like an old farmer who toiled in the fields.

"He is indeed my senior brother."

Bai Zichen’s heart skipped a beat, and he set down his wine cup.

He had already learned the identity of the other Great True Monarch from Meng Dongye, so he wasn’t surprised that the man was singling him out.

Xiang Wanyi, the one Ge Cang had soundly defeated, was Xiang Banshan’s own son.

A father and son both reaching the Nascent Soul Realm was a celebrated tale in the Cultivation Realm.

Because of this, the Nine Tribulations Sect had practically become the Xiang Family’s personal domain, with them seizing the vast majority of power.

Xiang Wanyi was originally seen as the heir to his father’s mantle, destined to lead the Sect, but his near-total defeat at the hands of an obscure Nascent Soul Cultivator from the Northern Domain was a huge blow to his prestige.

"My worthless son engaged in Combat with Ge Cang. His skills were lacking, and he was defeated. There’s nothing to be said about that... But that Ge Cang was relentless. After winning, he still struck a vicious blow against Wanyi, leaving his physical body shattered by Divine Thunder and his meridians charred to cinders."

Xiang Banshan spoke calmly, as if he were recounting the events impartially from a bystander’s perspective.

"My son was already at the Peak of the Early-Stage Nascent Soul Realm, on the verge of a breakthrough. After this battle, whether he replaces his body or repairs his meridians and completes the Refinement of the chaotic Thunder Dao True Intent rampaging inside him, it will cost him at least two or three hundred years. True Monarch Bai, tell me, what can wash away the enmity of having one’s path to the Dao obstructed?"

"Once you step into the arena, life and death are of no concern."

Bai Zichen acted as if he didn’t detect the chilling intent in the Great True Monarch’s voice, remaining as calm and unruffled as if he were speaking to an ordinary Nascent Soul True Monarch.

"Brother Ge is an upright and honorable man. I fear there is more to this story. Has the Great True Monarch investigated this thoroughly? You mustn’t let yourself be deceived."

Only now did Bai Zichen realize that Ge Cang had not only defeated Xiang Wanyi, but had also destroyed the man’s physical body with a Supreme Thunder Technique.

From what he knew of Ge Cang, his senior brother was no saint.

His scholarly appearance was reserved for his own people. If truly provoked, he was capable of ruthless acts, such as pursuing an enemy Cultivator for hundreds of thousands of miles just to slaughter their entire family, young and old.

Most likely, Xiang Wanyi had found himself at a disadvantage but refused to surrender, instead attempting to turn the tables with a Secret Technique or by activating a Spiritual Treasure.

That must have been what provoked Ge Cang to transform into a Thunder Sea, recklessly pushing his Thunder Skill to its absolute limit.

After all, he possessed the Thunder God True Body and had no fear of the backlash from his Thunder Skill, which would normally injure the user before the enemy.

And once the Profound Nether Qi Formless Divine Thunder was unleashed at full power, not even Ge Cang could control its intensity. Xiang Wanyi could only be considered unlucky.

Bai Zichen sensed that Xiang Banshan’s strength was somewhere between that of Ma Youx and the Joyful Sect’s Saintess.

If they were to fight to the death, it was still uncertain who would emerge victorious.

Of course, the more likely outcome was that there would be no fight at all.

After all, they were on the Five Phoenix Sword Sect’s territory. For guests to engage in lethal Combat would reflect poorly on everyone involved, regardless of who won.

"Fellow Daoist Xiang, today is the celebration for Junior Brother Han’s dojo inauguration. Let’s not discuss other matters. The dispute between your son and Ge Cang has nothing to do with Little Friend Bai. In the future, you can take it up with Ge Cang himself."

As expected, Ma Youx stepped in to mediate. As long as no conflict broke out on White Python Mountain, all was well.

"Fine. I will give Fellow Daoist Ma face and not make things difficult for a junior like you. When you see Ge Cang, remember to pass on a message for me: he has ten years to come to my Sect with his hands bound, kowtow, and admit his mistake. Otherwise, I will travel to the Northern Domain and rip out his roots!"

Xiang Banshan’s disdainful gaze shifted away, returning to his own calloused palms as he studied them intently, as if he had just bestowed some great mercy.

"Fine. Just fine!"

Bai Zichen was seething. His eyes filled with cold killing intent as he lifted a round-bellied bronze jar and drained the fiery Spirit Wine within.

The idealized image of the Central Domain that Meng Dongye and the others had given him was shattered. In the end, the Cultivation Realm was still a world where the strong preyed on the weak.

The Central Domain merely wore a thicker cloak of civilization than the Northern Domain, but its fundamental nature was no different.

"There’s no need to wait ten years. I, Bai Zichen of the Qingfeng Sect, ask you, Great True Monarch, to a trial by sword!"