Chapter 485: Is That Method You Mentioned Yourself?

"The possessor of a rudimentary Dao Fruit, a half-immortal?!" Lu Baqian felt his scalp tingle with numbness upon hearing the Black-White Venerable's threat.

Since stepping into the Tribulation Transcendence stage, he had formally entered its elite circle and gradually come to understand its immense power, as well as the direction of his future cultivation.

The goal of a Tribulation Transcendence cultivator was to condense the rudiment of a Dao Fruit.

A rudimentary Dao Fruit meant one could master an incomplete rule belonging uniquely to oneself, and even an incomplete rule allowed one to reign supreme over all others in the Tribulation Transcendence stage.

If the Black-White Venerable was not bluffing and the State Preceptor of Great Yu truly was a half-immortal, matters would become troublesome.

The ancestors of the various supreme-grade sects also realized this problem, suddenly finding the situation rather thorny.

Most of the Body Integration stage cultivators knew little about rudimentary Dao Fruits and half-immortals, but seeing the grim expressions on the faces of the Tribulation Transcendence ancestors, they realized the Great Yu State Preceptor would be far harder to deal with than imagined.

Lu Baqian observed the expression of Lu Yang, the acting sect master, and found it entirely composed.

As expected, although this junior had temporarily assumed the role of acting sect master and was being groomed as the next leader, he was still unqualified to touch upon high-end topics like rudimentary Dao Fruits and half-immortals.

Otherwise, his expression would not be so casual.

Lu Yang was currently busy dealing with the incessantly chattering fairy and had no energy to notice Lu Baqian's gaze.

"What's so great about a half-immortal? This immortal can flip one over with a single punch! In ancient times, half-immortals had to kneel just to listen to my lectures!" the Immortal Fairy said grandly, completely disregarding the rank.

She sat on a reclining chair, swaying back and forth, her skirt fluttering with the motion to reveal a glimpse of her snowy-white calf.

A half-immortal was not a true immortal, after all.

There were so many half-immortals in the ancient era, yet hadn't only the five of them achieved immortality?

"Second Master, do you want a rudimentary Dao Fruit? This immortal can gift you one."

"Isn't it only possible to condense a rudimentary Dao Fruit at the Tribulation Transcendence stage?" Lu Yang asked in surprise, as this seemed to contradict the intelligence he had gathered.

"Listen to you. With this immortal around, I can stuff a rudimentary Dao Fruit right into you if I want to," the Immortal Fairy guaranteed with absolute certainty.

Lu Yang shook his head firmly in refusal; he harbored thoughts of rebellion and wanted to establish his own independent lineage, breaking away from the Immortal line.

"A half-immortal... is indeed somewhat troublesome," Yun Zhi murmured softly. A half-immortal hidden within the celebration could cause casualties even if subdued instantly upon striking.

"However, there is no need for everyone to worry. The Inquiring Sword Sect has its ways of dealing with a half-immortal's sneak attack," Yun Zhi comforted the crowd.

"Does the Inquiring Sword Sect possess a half-immortal?" Lu Baqian asked tentatively.

He was answered only by Yun Zhi's cold look.

Everyone gasped, realizing that even without a half-immortal, the sect possessed methods to counter one.

"Should we return to our sects to request the assistance of our supreme treasures?" Qiu Jin'an asked, noting that the five great immortal sects remained highly united at critical moments.

Yun Zhi shook her head. "Supreme treasures each have their own purposes. There is no need to bring them out of the immortal sects lightly."

"Very well."

Since Yun Zhi said it was unnecessary, it truly was unnecessary; Qiu Jin'an could tell this was not a matter of pride, but of absolute certainty.

"Then, as for these Great Yu cultivators..."

"Keep them confined in the treasure box for now. You seniors have done well to suppress them, and after the celebration concludes, they will be distributed among you according to your merits," Yun Zhi said.

After all, they had assisted in the fighting and interrogation, saving her a great deal of trouble.

The crowd's eyes grew fervent, feeling that coming to the Inquiring Sword Sect's celebration was truly the right choice this time; even getting beaten up beforehand would have been worth it.

The Great Yu cultivators themselves were not worth much; what was valuable was the intelligence they held, especially regarding the locations of hidden treasures.

Cultivators who slumbered since ancient times usually hid themselves and their treasures in two different places; this was their entire wealth, their capital for competing in the future great era.

Among these treasures were many natural resources and exotic gems that had long since gone extinct, possessed of immeasurable value.

Even if a few first-grade sects divided a single treasure trove among themselves, they would eat until they were fully satisfied.

The Inquiring Sword Sect had already reaped benefits; Yun Zhi had used harsh interrogation to extract the treasure locations from the Scourge Venerable, the Mysterious Thunder Venerable, and others.

When Lu Yang returned from Hanshui City, he had met the First Elder in the Mission Hall instead of Senior Brother Dai Bufan because Dai Bufan had been instructed by Yun Zhi to go dig up the treasures.

The crowd filed out of the treasure box one after another, appearing on the main street.

The geniuses who had come to participate in the tournament were dumbfounded by the sight. These were all lofty, unattainable figures; why were they all coming out of a box?

It was true they possessed talent, but they still had a long way to go before making a name for themselves and becoming figures of equal renown to these great personages; any mishap along this path would bar them from ever reaching the summit.

Particularly since among these people were not only those of the Body Integration stage, but also legends of the Tribulation Transcendence stage.

Tribulation Transcendence cultivators usually lived in seclusion; most cultivators would never glimpse one in their entire lives.

The geniuses discussed in hushed tones, unable to conceal the excitement in their eyes. "Look at that one, is that not Venerable Yiqi of the Qi Refining Sect? Our sect once received his help, and we possess his portrait."

"And Venerable Kui, the strongest puppeteer. Legend has it his puppet threads can control a person completely."

"That is the newly ascended Tribulation Transcendence cultivator, Sect Master Lu Baqian."

"My heavens, so many Tribulation Transcendence cultivators!"

"Did you see Sect Master Lu? He is actually talking and laughing with these great figures, showing no stage fright at all!"

"As expected of the designated next-generation sect master. If it were me, I would have been too nervous to speak long ago."

"Who wouldn't be?"

Lu Yang naturally felt no nervousness speaking with those of the Body Integration or Tribulation Transcendence stages; he felt no nervousness even when speaking with immortals.

Venerable Yiqi suddenly realized something. "Wait, there are three Tribulation Transcendence and about thirty Body Integration cultivators inside the treasure box. The box alone cannot possibly hold them."

The treasure box began to vibrate violently, as though the people inside were crashing about wildly to break free of their shackles.

"No matter."

Yun Zhi bit her finger and lightly drew a bloody seal upon the treasure box. The box instantly ceased its vibrations, returning to absolute tranquility.

Venerable Yiqi looked at Yun Zhi with a strange expression, recalling the miserable scene of his own discourse on the Dao with her.

When you said the Inquiring Sword Sect has a method to deal with a half-immortal, could that method perhaps be you?

Yun Zhi returned the object to its rightful owner, handing the treasure box back to Luo Hongxia. "Three Great Yu Tribulation Transcendence cultivators are confined within. Please keep it safe, Palace Master Luo."

Luo Hongxia nearly failed to hold the treasure box steady.

"Rest assured, Fellow Daoist Luo. Fellow Daoist Yun has already added a seal to the box; nothing will go wrong."

"Yes, exactly. Even if something happens, it won't be a problem; we are all here to help you."

Everyone crowded around Luo Hongxia, or rather, crowded around the treasure box, for what was contained within was pure wealth.

Having finished her instructions, Yun Zhi extended her divine sense, first visiting the gathering location disclosed by the Great Yu cultivators, only to find the State Preceptor was not there. She then swept her divine sense across the entire territory of the Inquiring Sword Sect, yet still failed to find him.

"Senior Sister, did you find the Great Yu State Preceptor?"

Yun Zhi shook her head with regret. "I did not. If he is still within the Inquiring Sword Sect, there are two possibilities: either it is the effect of his rudimentary Dao Fruit, or he has temporarily carved out an independent space."

"I will search for his tracks. The celebration may proceed as normal."

(End of Chapter)