Chapter 759: Dao Seed? Immortal Spiritual Root? Samsara Memories?

Chapter 759: Dao Seed? Immortal Spirit Root? Memories of Reincarnation?

Ever since arriving at the eleventh level of Kunxu, Lord Ciji had been sent—alongside other Nascent Soul Sovereigns—to a training academy.

The entire school operated within a sealed environment. Aside from certain designated activities, they were forbidden from wandering freely across Level 11.

Still, the campus sprawled vast as a small city, complete with every conceivable facility and an abundant supply of cultivation resources—more than sufficient to meet the basic needs of Nascent Soul cultivators.

Besides Lord Ciji’s cohort, the city already housed numerous Sovereigns who had ascended from Levels 7 through 10. Most were preparing for outsourced assignments on behalf of sects; a smaller number were newly promoted Nascent Souls like herself, all undergoing training here.

Among peers of equal cultivation, Lord Ciji—who had broken through less than two years ago—naturally garnered little admiration or respect.

At their stage, what truly mattered was one’s relationship with the sect.

Many among those who’d risen from Levels 7 to 10 were seasoned veterans, destined to remain in the sect handling outsourced duties within Kunxu Levels 11 and above. They enjoyed partial sect benefits and instinctively regarded themselves as superior.

In contrast, newcomers like Lords Ciji and Qingmu—summoned from Level 5 merely for training before returning home—were met with thinly veiled disdain by these “outsourced” Sovereigns.

Lord Ciji understood this well. Though she’d once ruled her domain unchallenged between Levels 2 and 5, here in the sect’s heartland, she was just another Nascent Soul summoned upward for instruction—no longer free to act as she pleased.

Only now, after reviewing the latest list of accepted Sect Administrators, did Lord Ciji finally feel a surge of confidence. She approached fellow Sovereigns at random, eager to discuss the sect entrance examinations.

Radiant divine light rippled around her as she appeared before yet another Nascent Soul Sovereign.

Lord Ciji: “The sect exams must be difficult, right?”

Veteran Sovereign: “Difficult? It’s like scaling heaven itself! Take Level 11’s exam—countless candidates squeeze onto a single narrow bridge. Many have blood ties to sect disciples yet fail decade after decade…”

Lord Ciji listened patiently, then asked earnestly, “I have a student who resolved to join the sect back in his undergraduate days. Has it really become this competitive? Do you think he still has a chance?”

The veteran scoffed, mocking her naive hopes, then launched into a lecture about how vanishingly slim the odds were for lower-level cultivators, how fiercely the sect had tightened admissions in recent years…

Frowning slightly, Lord Ciji murmured, “Could I have misjudged him?”

She projected the new acceptance roster and pointed to one name: “Zhang Yu—True Lord Zhuyi, graduate of Wanfa University… judging by these details, he must be my disciple.”

The Sovereign before her eyes widened abruptly. His expression shifted instantly, his posture subtly shrinking—as if, without realizing it, he’d grown half a head shorter in her presence.

With newfound courtesy, he said, “Lord Ciji, your teaching methods are truly exceptional.”

One by one, Lord Ciji sought out other Sovereigns—asking about exam difficulty, double-checking whether she’d misread the list, or inquiring whether the Yufa Pavilion was some obscure, powerless department.

Even those outsourced Sovereigns who’d previously looked down most scornfully upon Lords Ciji and Qingmu—and despised all Ten-College Nascent Souls—found themselves utterly deflated that day. Some glanced at the roster, pursed their lips, and walked away; others forced smiles and hurried to greet Lord Ciji.

Only within their private chat groups did bitter whispers surface:

*“So what if he passed the Sect Administrator exam? To hear some people talk, you’d think he’d been named Sect Master.”*

Others sneered behind closed doors: *“Now that he’s ‘ashore,’ who knows if he’ll even remember his old master?”* 😊

Yet regardless of such murmurs, gaining entry into the sect remained deeply enviable—even among Nascent Soul cultivators, this aspiration burned fiercely.

After all, in today’s Kunxu, the sole path to the pinnacle of immortality lay within the sect.

Especially for Nascent Souls: only by entering the sect could one hope to advance further.

And should one’s disciple or student gain sect admission—even casual future favors would bring boundless benefits.

Lord Ciji, once unrivaled in the lower levels, had felt stifled ever since arriving at Level 11’s training academy. Only now did she finally breathe freely again, head held high.

“Nie Lian,” she called out, “help me check—there are too many names here. How many of our Wanfa students made it into the sect?”

As she spoke, she projected the full acceptance list, its columns dense with names, and turned to Lord Nie Lian with genuine appeal.

Nie Lian glanced briefly, then snapped irritably, “Getting into the sect doesn’t mean they’ll remember you. Haven’t you heard what some cultivators sacrifice just to pass the exams?”

“Zhang Yu succeeded so quickly—he must’ve paid a heavy price.”

Lord Ciji smiled faintly. “Zhang Yu is different. He’ll remember me—his master.”

Nie Lian curled his lip. “We’ll see. Let’s wait and see if he visits you once he arrives.”

Lord Ciji huffed. “He’s just become a Sect Administrator—of course he’ll be busy. What does it matter if he doesn’t visit right away?”

She enlarged the projection and began searching. “Come on, Nie Lian—I’ll help you too. Let’s find which post your disciple landed!”

Nie Lian swept his sleeve and turned away. In the next instant, he dissolved into a streak of divine light, leaving only his voice echoing behind:

“No need. I, Nie Lian, rely on no student or disciple. My path to immortality rests on my own strength alone.”

Nearby, Lord Yin Quan scanned the acceptance list repeatedly, then sighed softly. “None of mine made it?”

Meanwhile, Zhi Pan of Vajra University turned to Qingmu beside him and remarked, “I never imagined Zhang Yu would actually enter the sect.”

Recalling how he’d once refined Zhang Yu’s Nascent Soul core, he added, “Qingmu, you still remember the three favors you promised to help with, right?”

Qingmu replied evenly, “Of course I remember—but that was my promise, not Zhang Yu’s obligation.”

Zhi Pan shook his head. “Qingmu, Zhang Yu has only just entered the sect. This is when your bond is strongest. If you get a chance to contact him, act quickly—cash in while you can.”

“We’ve cultivated long enough to know… people change. And once inside the sect, change comes faster.”

“Haven’t you heard what’s happening on Level 11? The longer one stays in the sect, the less they acknowledge ties outside it.”

“Those few students from Wanfa who got in—they won’t consider themselves Wanfa disciples much longer.”

Qingmu fell silent, gazing at Zhang Yu’s name on the list, suddenly struck by a strange sense of aging.

This feeling wasn’t born of physical or spiritual decline, but from comparing himself to Zhang Yu.

“My potential caps at Nascent Soul—that’s my limit.”

“But Zhang Yu’s future holds infinite possibilities.”

“The path ahead in the sect… there’s little more I can offer him now.”

At that thought, Qingmu felt anew the bittersweet truth: his disciple was flourishing, striding toward vast horizons, while he himself stood rooted in place, watching that back grow ever more distant.

…

After finishing his speech, Zhang Yu returned to the Research Institute aboard a flying vessel.

As Zhang Yu departed, Deng Bingding received a message from his superior deity: 👍👍👍

Seeing three thumbs-up, Deng’s heart leapt with excitement—he knew the higher-ups were thoroughly pleased with today’s arrangements and Zhang Yu’s address.

He resolved then and there to throw himself into promoting the sect exams, ideally securing Zhang Yu’s participation in several more events.

“If I distinguish myself by managing the normalization of sect admissions… maybe I can climb another rung.”

Deng understood well: with sect exams becoming routine, countless tasks awaited across Levels 1 to 10—and within them lay abundant merit, coveted by legions of deities.

Too many sought to make their mark in this process, hoping for promotion.

Meanwhile, on his way back, Zhang Yu encountered Bei Wufeng, Jin Jun, and Yan Qianji.

The trio had left the lab and rushed all the way to Kunxu Level 5 to welcome him—only to discover they weren’t alone. Many shared their intent, especially with Heaven Court actively dispatching crowds, rendering them nearly invisible.

Fortunately, they still held nominal positions under Zhang Yu. After some coordination, they finally boarded his flying vessel.

Upon seeing Zhang Yu, all three grew noticeably stiff—after all, he now bore the title of Sect Administrator, as if separated from them by an invisible, thick barrier.

But Zhang Yu saw through their unease at once and said casually, “You’re planning to take the sect exams next year too, right?”

“Ask whatever you want. I’ll answer what I can.”

Reassured by his familiar, approachable demeanor, Yan Qianji found his courage and blurted, “True Lord, you haven’t refined your body into a Dharma Husk, nor relied heavily on Husks for daily movement or cultivation—is that to train yourself? Does it boost exam success?”

Zhang Yu sighed wryly. “I wouldn’t recommend it.”

“I simply couldn’t afford it earlier, then ran out of time later. Once I’m in the sect, I’ll definitely refine and strengthen my body properly.”

For the rest of the journey, Zhang Yu shared insights on the sect exams, leaving all three feeling profoundly enriched.

Meanwhile, Deng Bingding had also sent over a new invitation for activities. Zhang Yu selected a few to attend and declined all the rest.

Zhang Yu knew that since he would be heading to the sect in a month, there was still much he needed to accomplish during this remaining time.

“During my initial days in the sect,” he mused, “I likely won’t enjoy the same freedom I have down here right now.”

“As for artifact refinement… once I join the Yufa Pavilion, I probably won’t have many opportunities for it—at least not for a while.”

“I must make the most of this final month, preparing thoroughly to lay a solid foundation for my path ahead in the sect.”

After some contemplation, Zhang Yu already had a clear plan for how to spend the next thirty days.

…

Inside the laboratory, Zhang Yu closed his eyes for a moment before opening them again to study the blueprint designed by Ye Xingli. “Senior sister,” he asked, “what do you think of this design?”

At that moment, Zhang Yu was collaborating with Ye Xingli on designing a Foundation Establishment–stage magical artifact.

His purpose was clear: to elevate Ye Xingli’s Dao Seed, “Lingyun Qixin” (Spiritual Resonance Artifact Heart), to Level 2.

To achieve this, they needed to jointly complete the designs for ten Foundation Establishment–grade artifacts.

The task itself wasn’t particularly difficult—but over the past two years, wave after wave of pressure and crises, enemy after formidable enemy, had left Zhang Yu utterly overwhelmed.

Whether it was his early all-out push toward Golden Core, then later his desperate sprint toward Nascent Soul, or his efforts to advance the Immortal Sect’s cultivation techniques, design spatial artifacts, or prepare for the sect entrance exams—each matter had arrived more urgently than the last. None could be delayed, and together they consumed nearly every ounce of his time and energy.

Under such relentless demands, Zhang Yu hadn’t even had the chance to upgrade his own foundational stats or refine his myriad techniques—how could he possibly spare attention for something like the “Lingyun Qixin” Dao Seed?

Fortunately, now at last, he finally had the breathing room to focus on its advancement.

Ye Xingli looked at the silk stockings they were co-designing and thought inwardly, “Junior brother… even amidst such overwhelming busyness, he’s taking the time to personally guide me in artifact design?”

In her view, what benefit could Zhang Yu possibly gain from working with her on low-tier artifact designs? The only plausible explanation was that he wanted to help her improve—and nothing else made sense.

Moreover, the position she intended to apply for at Wanfa Sect was directly related to artifact refinement.

“Is junior brother guiding me like this because he hopes I’ll secure a spot in the sect’s artifact-refinement division?”

Thinking of how Zhang Yu not only intended to bring her along but was also investing so much of his precious time to instruct her, a sudden notion flickered through Ye Xingli’s mind: “He’s poured so much into me already… Could it be… he wants to be my dad?”

Recalling what she’d learned from Starfire True Lord about sect customs, Ye Xingli couldn’t help but muse inwardly, “If it’s junior brother… I wouldn’t mind at all if he became my dad.”

With that thought, she gazed at Zhang Yu with solemn determination and declared, “Junior brother, I will definitely get into the sect.”

Meeting her fiery resolve with a nod, Zhang Yu replied warmly, “Senior sister, I know you can do it.”

Ye Xingli tilted her head slightly. “By the way, junior brother… why are we designing silk stockings?”

Zhang Yu answered, “Ah Zhen is heading to Tianjian Sect soon. I probably won’t see her for a long while, so I want to prepare as much as I can for her—stocking up on silk stockings is just one part of that.”

“After all, silk stockings are easy to wear and serve as intimate gear—occupying a unique space between spirit armor and standard artifacts. I believe they’re the ideal equipment for cultivators of all kinds.”

“I plan to start with some basic models to build experience, then eventually craft a Nascent Soul–grade pair specifically for her.”

…

Inside a quiet meditation chamber,

Zhang Yu pressed one hand firmly against Yu Xinghan’s back, channeling steady streams of spiritual power into his companion’s body.

He was helping Yu Xinghan increase his cultivation base to further advance the Three-Eyed Divine Ability.

Zhang Yu thought silently, “Once we enter the sect, Yu Xinghan and I will be assigned to different posts. We’ll likely be separated for some time—I won’t be able to assist him with upgrades anytime soon.”

“If I can raise the Three-Eyed Divine Ability by one level before joining the sect, it should significantly aid my future work in the Yufa Hall.”

Although the Three-Eyed Divine Ability had undergone two transformations through eldritch rituals, its rank on the Dao Seed Spectrum had remained unchanged.

Now, all Zhang Yu needed was to help Yu Xinghan push his spiritual power above 8,000 units to trigger the upgrade.

Yu Xinghan had broken through to Golden Core nearly two years ago, and his current power level was drawing ever closer to that threshold.

Feeling Zhang Yu’s continuous infusion of energy, Yu Xinghan couldn’t help but sigh inwardly, “What a true brother!”

Reflecting on their shared journey, Yu Xinghan knew without doubt that Zhang Yu was the companion he trusted most.

“If I weren’t restricted by my primary gender identity—and if I absolutely had to choose a man for dual cultivation—I’d pick you. Even Master Starfire would come second.”

“Thanks for your kindness,” Zhang Yu said with a slight pout. “But if such a ‘good thing’ ever really happened, I’d still recommend you go with Starfire True Lord.”

…

Beyond Ye Xingli and Yu Xinghan’s Dao Seeds, there was also Bai Zhenzhen’s—another one Zhang Yu hoped to upgrade before entering the sect.

After all, Bai Zhenzhen was admitted to Tianjian Sect, which meant she’d be stationed even farther away than either Yu Xinghan or Ye Xingli once inside.

Yet Zhang Yu harbored a specific concern regarding the next stage of Qinglian Sword Embryo’s evolution.

“The Qinglian Sword Embryo has already ascended from Heavenly Spiritual Root to Divine Spiritual Root.”

“And throughout our time at the academy, each of its upgrades has grown increasingly powerful.”

Zhang Yu could sense that the next evolution… might well surpass even the realm of Divine Spiritual Roots.

“Could it become a Celestial Spiritual Root? Will the Qinglian Sword Embryo transform into one?”

He wasn’t certain—but he wasn’t willing to gamble.

Thus, before attempting the upgrade, he intended to consult an old acquaintance to gather intelligence: if Bai Zhenzhen possessed a Celestial Spiritual Root, would she face trouble within Tianjian Sect? And if so, was there any way to avoid or mitigate it?

Gazing at Kuang Tianqing before him, Zhang Yu asked, “Has Reincarnation Corporation agreed to my request?”

Through prior discussions with Kuang Tianqing, Zhang Yu had forged a cooperative arrangement with Reincarnation Corporation.

After aiding Kuang Tianqing’s successful interview using the *Hell Soul-Cleansing Scripture*, Zhang Yu had earned the right to access a deceased person’s memories via the Reincarnation System.

Today was the day to fulfill that agreement.

Kuang Tianqing nodded. “Authorization has been granted from above. You may now attempt to activate the *Hell Soul-Cleansing Scripture* to commune with the cycle of reincarnation and retrieve a memory.”

Zhang Yu gave a brief nod, closed his eyes, and began circulating the *Hell Soul-Cleansing Scripture*.

Moments later, a figure violently writhed free from within his body—as though a self-aware doppelgänger was slowly peeling itself out of Zhang Yu’s very flesh.

Watching the being emerge from his own form, Zhang Yu let out a soft, weary sigh. “Long time no see.”

It takes a lot of time to organize an outline—I haven’t finished yet. Today’s chapter is short by over 900 words; I’ll make it up later.

(End of chapter)