Chapter 530 - 500: So It Was You (2)

Chapter 530: Chapter 500: So It Was You (2)

But right now, he had no leads on a Main Cultivation Method. Moreover, his battle with Xiang Banshan was certain to draw attention from all corners, which would inevitably include covert actions from the Star Constellation Sea.

For safety’s sake, it was unwise for him to appear in the public eye while he was the center of attention.

Threats from the Star Constellation Sea’s Demon Race, Sects that didn’t want to see an Unparalleled Sword Cultivator rise... the dangers came from all sides. He couldn’t be too careful.

’If he hadn’t interfered, I’d still be on White Python Mountain, enjoying pleasant conversations with all those Nascent Soul True Monarchs. Perhaps one of them might have obtained a Top-Tier Cultivation Technique inheritance and would have been willing to trade or sell it, unrestricted by Sect regulations.’

A Cold Radiance flashed in Bai Zichen’s eyes. He had already formed a great enmity with Xiang Banshan. His vow to settle the karmic debt within a hundred years was no empty threat, but a sincere intention.

’Once I have a way to escape from a Divinity Transformation Cultivator, I’ll follow Brother Ge’s example and go block the gates of the Nine Tribulations Sect... Xiang Banshan has forced me to risk using a backup plan ahead of schedule. His crime is unforgivable! I just never expected that the person behind the mask would be him.’

Bai Zichen found a blue-green stone and sat down, retracting his aura until it was nearly imperceptible.

The environment here wasn’t suitable for Cultivation, so he decided to try visualizing the Qing Emperor Longevity Sword within his Sea of Consciousness instead.

He wasn’t attempting the step-by-step, assisted method of breaking it down into its three components—the Wood God Skill, the Sword Nurturing Technique, and the Sword-Encompassing Technique. Instead, he was trying to achieve it all at once, just as he had when he stepped into the river of black and white and became a favored child of time.

Cyan Radiance flowed as the Sword Light took shape, and the Power of Time gathered from all directions.

But just as it was all about to merge into one and form the Qing Emperor Longevity Sword, his foundation began to tremble, and the attempt ended in failure.

He wasn’t bothered. If it could be mastered so easily, the method of breaking it into three parts wouldn’t have been created in the first place.

The Nascent Soul True Monarchs of the Fish Dragon Sect treated the Qing Emperor Longevity Sword as their ultimate trump card. They dedicated all their time to it, possessed generations of experience, and still required several hundred years to truly master it.

「Two days later.」

A stout, rotund Cultivator came flying over on the wind.

His Daoist Robe was embroidered with countless stars, and on his back was a depiction of the void of space, drawing one’s gaze into its depths.

It was actually one of the Nascent Soul True Monarchs from White Python Mountain, Zhuo Xiong of the Celestial Star Sect.

At a glance, all Daoist Robes from the Celestial Star Sect looked the same, but upon closer inspection, one would notice that the positions and number of stars on them differed.

It was said that these differences reflected each True Monarch’s unique comprehension of Astrology, which was manifested in the Star Map on their robes.

"Greetings, True Monarch Bai... After the banquet ended, there was the usual small gathering, which is why I was delayed. Everyone was so astonished by your strength that no other topics could even come up. I estimate it won’t be long before Sects start sending representatives to the Northern Domain to request establishing relations with the Qingfeng Sect."

Zhuo Xiong descended from his cloud, bowing with an excited expression.

"I truly didn’t expect the Star Palace’s Guiding Envoy, Po Jun Star Monarch, to be a Nascent Soul True Monarch from the Celestial Star Sect. I thought he was an Elder from some Sword Sect..."

Bai Zichen’s gaze swept back and forth over him, his expression devoid of joy or anger, as if trying to see right through the Cultivator before him.

In terms of both physique and the Cultivation Techniques they used, Po Jun Star Monarch and Zhuo Xiong were polar opposites. Normally, no one would ever connect the two.

However, Bai Zichen possessed a Star Palace Decree. He had wrapped it in a wisp of power separated from his Ziwei Dazzling Thunder Sword, ensuring no one could use the Token to track him.

Conversely, it allowed him to sense other Cultivators who also possessed a Star Palace Decree at close range.

This reverse-location ability only worked when the target was extremely close—specifically, within a hundred zhang.

Bai Zichen had been discreetly eliminating suspects and soon narrowed it down to the last few individuals.

When he emerged from the formation to deal with Xiang Banshan, he had intentionally removed the restriction on his Star Palace Decree.

Since Po Jun Star Monarch had not altered his facial features when he saw him, he would naturally know that the Sword Cultivator from that day was not the real ’Gu Chongxuan’, but the living Sword Immortal from the Northern Domain.

And just as expected, after sensing the aura of the Star Palace Decree, Zhuo Xiong had left White Python Mountain, made an excuse to shake off his junior brother Zhang Zishou, and secretly followed Bai Zichen’s trail.

"Your true identity isn’t Gu Xuanzhong of the Cyan Lotus Sword Sect, but Bai Zichen of the Northern Domain. You certainly had me fooled as well."

Zhuo Xiong beamed. His recruitment target was far more valuable than he had anticipated, which made him ecstatic.

He knew he was no match for Bai Zichen anyway. The stronger his opponent’s Sword Dao Realm, the harder it would be for him to refuse the temptation of the Taibai Sword Sect’s Trial Secret Realm, and the closer they would be to meeting the conditions to open it.

On his own, Zhuo Xiong felt he would end up just like his predecessors: stuck outside the Trial Secret Realm until the day he died of old age.

"Now that we both know each other’s true identities, I wonder if you have considered joining the Star Palace... I’ll say it again: this matter has a hundred benefits for you and not a single drawback. If you don’t believe me, I can sign a Heavenly Dao Contract in addition to a Dao Heart Oath."

"Does your previous offer of the Taibai Sword Pill and entry into the Trial Secret Realm still stand?"

"Of course it does. All members of the Star Palace have the right to freely enter and exit the Trial Secret Realm. That’s been a rule since the day the Star Palace was founded. Furthermore, our Secret Realm is different from the Grotto Heaven Secret Realms controlled by other Sects. It doesn’t have a single entrance. No matter where you are, you can enter the Secret Realm as long as you have the corresponding Magic Formulas."

Zhuo Xiong patted his round belly and immediately made a Dao Heart Oath, swearing not to reveal the true identities of Star Palace members or to plot against and harm one another.

At the same time, he took out a Heavenly Dao Contract and, using Demon Beast Essence Blood as ink, SWISH SWISH, he began writing several rules on it with a brush.

The Heavenly Dao Contract was created by a Divinity Transformation Cultivator who specialized in the Karma and Retribution Path. Unlike a Dao Heart Oath, it was not vague and left no room to be circumvented.

For example, Zhuo Xiong’s Dao Heart Oath stated he would not betray Bai Zichen’s identity, and that violators would suffer the torment of Five Thunders Bombarding the Head and eternal damnation in the Demon Realm. However, if he were to reveal the information just before his death, he would face no backlash or punishment.

But the Heavenly Dao Contract was different. In the same scenario, the moment you tried to speak, the Great Dao of Karma would intervene, causing you to instantly forget the content.

Only when Nascent Soul True Monarchs were involved in matters of top-level secrecy that required both parties to maintain confidentiality would they consider using one.

In terms of value, a Heavenly Dao Contract was equivalent to a Tier Four Top-Grade Spiritual Object. It was time-consuming and difficult to create, and only High-Tier Cultivators could afford to use them.

The crucial part was that it required a Divinity Transformation Cultivator skilled in the Karma and Retribution Path to add the finishing touch.

Thus, with each Heavenly Dao Contract used, there was one less in the world, and they were always in short supply on the market.

Zhuo Xiong had directly requisitioned this one from the Celestial Star Sect’s treasury, and he didn’t feel the slightest bit of regret using it on this occasion.

This was especially understandable after witnessing Bai Zichen’s performance today.

To defeat a Great True Monarch at such a young age... his future could no longer be described as simply "limitless."

A simple Dao Heart Oath would never be enough to put the other party at ease; only by signing a Heavenly Dao Contract could things be slightly better.

Bai Zichen reviewed every clause to ensure there were no ambiguities or errors, then signed and sealed it.

The two of them slit their fingers. A crimson contract seal, like a fiery bird, circled back and forth over the contract before finally settling on their true names.

"Please, True Monarch, enter the Secret Realm with me. I will tell you everything about the Star Palace on the way..."

Zhuo Xiong murmured an incantation, and a spatial rift clearly appeared above his head.

This was not the kind of spatial rift one would encounter during Ascension, but a stable, fully formed spatial passage that could be entered and exited with ease.

As long as he wasn’t worried about being discovered, he could even enter and exit the Secret Realm directly from within the Celestial Star Sect without any issue.

Bai Zichen followed close behind. With the double guarantee of a Dao Heart Oath and a Heavenly Dao Contract, he could feel the other party’s sincerity.

’He must need my help to further open the Trial Secret Realm. Otherwise, he wouldn’t be acting so deferential.’

Upon entering the Secret Realm, he was greeted by the sight of several hundred pavilions, all wooden structures. The level of Spiritual Qi was clearly much higher than in the outside world.

At the same time, as far as the eye could see, a crystal dome resembling an overturned wok lid had sealed off the center of the Secret Realm.

’This Grotto Heaven Secret Realm is almost the size of several commanderies in the Liang Country. As expected of a place left behind by the Taibai Sword Sect...’

Bai Zichen followed Zhuo Xiong to a solemn palace that stretched out as far as the eye could see.

"Fellow Daoist, please choose a mask. From now on, you can use it as your designation to prevent other members of the Star Palace, besides me, from learning your true identity."

Zhuo Xiong had, at some point, already put on the Priest mask. His figure and voice both changed, and he once again took on the appearance of Po Jun Star Monarch.