Chapter 507: Late Golden Core Stage

Had it been Lu Yang, he calculated that if he were to achieve immortality, he would likely be even more of a salted fish than the Immortal Fairy herself, basking in the sun all day long, flipping from front to back, back to front, and then heading up to sleep on the sun itself at night.

If there was a realm above the immortals, and yet another realm above that, when would cultivation ever come to an end?

"Fairy, you once mentioned that replacement is also a form of being forgotten. Could the ownership of your recipe manuscript changing from you to Yingtian Immortal also be a form of replacement?"

The Immortal Fairy's eyes lit up as she clapped Lu Yang on the shoulder. "Eh, when you put it that way, it actually makes sense. Someone must have taken me out, used some profound method to erase all traces of my existence, and credited everything of mine to Yingtian Immortal. And here I thought that grandson Yingtian was just jealous of my talent and plagiarized me while I was away."

"Truly, a child worth teaching!"

"It is 'a disciple worth teaching'."

Lu Yang secretly thought that Yingtian Immortal would have to be suffering from severe food poisoning to want to forcibly claim her authorship.

"Is there anyone among the Four Immortals capable of erasing your very existence?"

The Immortal Fairy furrowed her brow in deep thought, running through the capabilities of the Four Immortals but failing to find a single match. "No, none of their methods could possibly achieve this."

The mortal and the immortal conferred for a while longer, but they could deduce nothing more of use.

To say Yingtian Immortal killed the Fairy was not entirely certain; perhaps Qilin Immortal and the others had also usurped the Fairy's authorship.

Relics of the immortals were scarce to begin with, and things belonging to the Immortal Fairy were rarer still.

Unless they could discover the heritage buried in the North Star that the Immortal Fairy had mentioned, which surely contained records of ownership from which they could deduce a clue or two.

Just as the two were chatting about the imminent end of the Acting Sect Master's term and what to do after retirement, the Eldest Senior Sister returned, bringing the State Preceptor with her.

Though no sound could be heard, judging by the State Preceptor's twisted visage and heart-rending expressions, it was likely that the curse had not yet been lifted.

"Eldest Senior Sister, can the power of the State Destiny not break the curse?"

"It can, but the Emperor of Xia is unwilling to lift it." Eldest Senior Sister casually tossed the State Preceptor aside.

"Why? Weren't Old Meng and Sect Master Qiu's curses lifted?" Lu Yang asked in confusion.

"To be precise, they weren't lifted, but rather shared equally."

"Shared equally?"

"That is to say, relying on the power of the State Destiny, the curse was distributed evenly among everyone. The result of this sharing is that everyone will marry fifteen minutes later than their original destiny. This level of sharing is acceptable."

"But the State Preceptor's curse is too severe. If it were distributed to everyone, the consequences would be unimaginable."

Lu Yang understood. No wonder the Emperor of Xia refused to undo the seal for the State Preceptor; if it were him, he wouldn't be willing either.

"Then for now..." Lu Yang glanced at the State Preceptor, who was still relentlessly rolling on the ground.

"Let him keep screaming for now, until we think of a solution."

"Alright."

There was no other choice but to leave him be. If they tried to search his soul, the State Preceptor's mind was in utter chaos from the Seven Tribulations and Eight Sufferings, making it impossible to extract anything.

If they were to refine him directly into an artifact spirit—setting aside that the Fifth Elder could not yet refine a half-immortal level treasure—even if it were possible, given the State Preceptor's current condition, it would only yield a cursed immortal treasure, its efficacy heavily compromised.

"The yin energy in the Prison Peak is too heavy. It is not good to stay here long. You should head back first."

Yun Zhi then spoke to the Immortal Fairy, "Senior, you did well during your time as Acting Sect Master. I am quite satisfied."

The Immortal Fairy rubbed her nose, feeling a bit carried away. "A mere sect is nothing. With my talent, I could even be an emperor. Just watch me catch a few more Tribulation Transcendence cultivators later to continue being the Acting Sect Master."

"In a moment, I will visit the stronghold mentioned by the Black and White Venerable. According to him, there is still one Tribulation Transcendence cultivator in a state of slumber whom the State Preceptor did not awaken. However, only the State Preceptor knows where this cultivator sleeps. I will see if any relevant clues can be found in the stronghold."

The Eldest Senior Sister bade the two leave first. After they departed, she called forth the Grand Master who suppressed the Prison Peak.

"Grand Master, this is the second State Preceptor of the Great Yu, Jin Buqun. He shall be confined here for now. Be cautious when guarding him; he has formed the embryonic form of a Dao Fruit, which should be the embryonic form of the Karma Dao Fruit."

Previously, the Grand Master felt that as a dignified Tribulation Transcendence cultivator, suppressing the Prison Peak was more than within his capabilities, serving as a way to continue contributing to the sect after retirement.

Now, he felt he had vastly overestimated himself; suppressing the Prison Peak was far too difficult a task for him.

"Grand Master, do not worry. He is deeply trapped in the Seven Tribulations and Eight Sufferings, unable to extricate himself. He can barely protect himself, let alone break out of prison."

Fearing the Grand Master might still be uneasy, Yun Zhi laid down another layer of formations within the cell holding the State Preceptor.

Shortly after, she departed for the secret realm where the State Preceptor's group had hidden.

Leaving the Prison Peak, Lu Yang instantly felt the burden on his shoulders lighten considerably.

The grand celebration had concluded smoothly, the prestige of the Heavenly Court Sect had been broadcasted far and wide, the Great Yu State Preceptor's faction had been captured, and the Fairy's two-month Sect Master trial voucher had expired.

Time to cultivate!

Three months passed.

Lu Yang sat cross-legged, the two swords Qingfeng and Mingyue hovering on either side of his body, emitting a faint, ethereal sword intent.

The Invincible Core rotated slowly, continuously absorbing external spiritual energy, creating a vortex of spiritual energy within his dantian that spun faster and faster.

He pressed his index and middle fingers together, pointing toward the heavens, and let out a soft shout: "Break!"

With this single gesture, Lu Yang's aura burst forth, like a mountain torrent breaking its banks, surging down a thousand miles, unstoppable.

The Qingfeng and Mingyue swords clashed, their sword qi intertwining, leaving deep sword marks upon the grass.

The sword intent was far sharper and more irresistible than ever before.

"Late Golden Core stage."

Two years since entering the sect, and he was now at the late Golden Core stage.

Lu Yang arose with a smile, sensing the changes within himself. His current self could easily defeat the self from three months ago.

During these three months, he had cultivated in seclusion, never stepping a single foot outside the sect. He hadn't even agreed when Meng Jingzhou asked him to go out.

After the grand celebration, his fame was at its peak. The entire world knew that the Wandering Sect possessed a disciple named Lu Yang, the number one cultivator of the mid-Golden Core stage who had valiantly fought the Young Sect Master of the Heavenly Court Sect to a draw.

Some people completely disregarded the fact that he was the disciple of the Wordless Daoist and came to propose marriage, which showed just how determined they were.

There was another reason Lu Yang did not go out: if he went out and encountered another Tribulation Transcendence cultivator, wouldn't the Fairy have to become the Acting Sect Master all over again?

The plunder of the Great Yu cultivators' heritage was proceeding in an orderly fashion. Eldest Senior Sister had first visited the stronghold and brought back everything of value.

Following that, various major sects launched operations based on the treasure troves disclosed by the Great Yu cultivators. With two or three sects assigned to one Great Yu cultivator, they dispatched people together to explore.

The Wandering Sect sent out the First Elder, leading a team to excavate the treasure trove disclosed by the Black and White Venerable.

As a late Tribulation Transcendence powerhouse, the Black and White Venerable possessed treasures too numerous to count, leaving Lu Yang completely dazzled.

Just a few days ago, Lu Yang received news that the Great Yu State Preceptor, after enduring the torment of the Seven Tribulations and Eight Sufferings for three whole months, had finally tortured himself to death. His soul was shattered, a truly wretched end.

(End of Chapter)