The ancestor is incompetent!

Chapter 215 Cultivating the Seven Fates

"You mean... Maomu?"

A barely perceptible hint of ferocity lurked in his deep, dark eyes—a thirst for blood.

“Indeed, fellow Daoist will surely be interested.” Gui Yin smiled and waved his round fan. Faint clouds floated and flowed, and all the cultivators seemed to be in a trance. Even though they were only a few feet away from the two of them, they were all in an illusion and knew nothing about the outside world.

Shen Ming did not make a move; it was best for true cultivators to know little about matters involving the Golden Core. He calmly analyzed, "Even if one has the will, one may not have the ability."

That Master Shangrui is a Four-Life Golden Core cultivator; even if you and I join forces, we're probably no match for him. What should we do?"

“Hehe, Master Shangrui is indeed one of the top Golden Core experts in the Southern Continent. If the Golden Core experts of the Three Upper Mystic Sects don’t make a move, there are only three others who can compete with him.” Guiyin stopped laughing and his face became serious. “Master Xuanqi of the Samsara Realm has cultivated for more than 5,000 years and his skills have reached the pinnacle of creation. He is already a Golden Core expert with the Four Life Perfections, which is even better than Master Shangrui.”

In addition, there is Jin Su Laolong, the master of the Jin Yuan Palace in Shang Xuan Hai, whose strength is roughly the same as that of Shang Rui Zhenren.

The last one is the Demon King of Nanchuan. Although he is still young when he becomes a fourth-life demon, he is quite powerful and can hold off that old guy Shangrui.

Furthermore, the Upper Void Myriad Cauldrons Domain, the Nine Heavens Cloud Palace, and the Mirror Abyss Profound Palace are allies; their combined attack is indeed difficult to defend against.

"If that's the case, how dare you still plot against Maomu? Even if Baili Yu has just formed his Golden Core, the three families, as allies, will naturally not stand by and watch their ally lose his Golden Core. Without several Golden Core cultivators, how can we possibly contain him?" Shen Ming's expression turned cold, clearly losing interest.

"Hehe, I was able to get Jin Su Laolong and Nanchuan Demon King to come. With these two four-life experts backing us up, I don't think there will be any disaster even if the situation is bad."

In addition, I have asked the remnant master of Wanzhou Mountain to take action. At that time, those hypocritical sword cultivators of Qianjian Sect will definitely not sit idly by and will be stopped by Wanzhou Mountain.

"As long as you agree, fellow Daoist, to help me stop the Mirror Abyss Palace in the east, Mao Mu will absolutely not be able to escape!"

Gui Yin confidently assured, "After the matter is accomplished, the Mao Wood position will be divided, and you will receive a share. In addition, a portion of the spiritual pills and medicines within the Wan Ding Domain will naturally be distributed to your disciples."

"I only need to stop the Mirror Abyss Palace? What if the Corpse Erosion Cave or the Blood Demon Sect take the opportunity to attack my sect?" Shen Ming asked cautiously.

“Fellow Daoist, you need not worry about that. The Upper Void Myriad Cauldron Domain must be eliminated as soon as possible! Heaven and Earth are interconnected. Even if other Daoist sects have grudges against the Qiling Sect, they will not cause trouble at this critical juncture,” Gui Yin assured him meaningfully.

Shenming nodded in agreement, "Since you have said so, I will do my best to stop the Mirror Abyss Mystic Palace."

“Alright, then let’s make it a nine-year period. After nine years, you can conquer the Mirror Abyss Palace and rise to great power!” Gui Yin said with a smile. “I observe that your treasure light is sometimes hidden and sometimes revealed. I think you have already refined the magic weapon. Then you need to be careful to guard against the first, second, third, and fifth calamities.”

After all, the fate of the Southern Continent is uncertain, and its destiny is unpredictable. If it makes a move that causes changes in the world, it may trigger the arrival of the Three Calamities and Five Tribulations ahead of schedule.

Ordinary Golden Core cultivators typically begin refining magical artifacts hundreds of years after ascending to their position, precisely to avoid the artifact's aura triggering changes in their own destiny.

"Oh? So that's how it is. I didn't know that." Shen Ming frowned. So the magic weapon's guiding position had such drawbacks. But now that the magic weapon was already refined and contained within his body, he could never destroy it again.

"I have just entered the realm and am not very clear about the mysteries of the Golden Core. I hope that you, fellow Daoist, can enlighten me on the mysteries of each of the seven life realms?"

“That’s easy to say.” Gui Yin put away his seriousness and chuckled, “Once you reach the Golden Core stage, you are in the Life Realm, and you seek a position that is in harmony with Heaven and Earth.”

After cultivating for hundreds of years, forging magical treasures, and consolidating one's position, one will be subject to three calamities or five tribulations within a thousand years of ascending to the throne. Surviving one calamity or tribulation is considered to have survived two lives.

The next stage is the Three Fates Realm. At this point, arduous cultivation is no longer useful. One must reach the point of competing for the Great Dao and achieve the Dao through killing!

Kill the Golden Core cultivator, seize his position, and achieve three lives!

In this struggle for the Great Dao, it is naturally best to choose a Golden Core cultivator who shares the same path and virtues. If such a cultivator cannot be found, then a Golden Core cultivator of similar rank can be used as a substitute. However, in doing so, one's strength will naturally be somewhat weaker, which is not conducive to the next realm.

The most terrifying figure recorded to date in this realm is the ancient True Lord who fixed the light of the Xun, who killed five Golden Core cultivators who had achieved four life stages.

Nowadays, every Golden Core cultivator has a True Lord as their backer, so even if they could kill them, they wouldn't dare. Therefore, many Golden Core cultivators are stuck at the second or third life stage.

When one reaches the Four Life Realm, it is like a mortal guarding an arena. All the Golden Core cultivators in the world can sense his location, and even Golden Core cultivators from mutually reinforcing or mutually restraining lineages can sense his approximate location.

Throughout the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, within the Three Realms, slaughter is everywhere. One must maintain this position for at least a thousand years before taking the final step and accumulating the authority of one's rank!

This realm is the Five Life Golden Core stage. Once one gains control, no Golden Core cultivator in the world will dare to harbor any thoughts of killing or seizing power from it; they can only accept their fate.

"Accept your fate?" Shen Ming asked in confusion, "Accept what fate?"

"Leave it to fate." Gui Yin chuckled. "The Five Life Golden Elixir only needs the Heavenly Palace to bestow a destiny for it to attempt to attain its position! Once it succeeds, wouldn't the other Golden Elixir cultivators be subject to the fate of this Heavenly Lord?"
Of course, not every Five-Life Golden Core cultivator receives a divine mandate from the Heavenly Palace, and some Golden Core cultivators, even if they do receive a divine mandate, may still fail to attain their desired rank.

"Why is that?" Shen Ming pressed.

"Because some of the Five Life Golden Core cultivators are not from their first incarnation, they were killed, suppressed, or failed to survive the Three Calamities and Five Tribulations. Their chances of reincarnating and cultivating again are even smaller."

Like that old Golden Core cultivator from the Lei family of Wushan, who reincarnated and cultivated three times, even with the Heavenly Palace's mandate, he had almost no chance of attaining the highest level. If he were to force it, his soul would be scattered, and his Dao would return to heaven and earth.

Shenming nodded and said, "So that's how it is. Then why is Master Jiang Xu also known as the Seven-Life Golden Core cultivator? His reputation is so great."

“Jiang Xu, he is a genius that is only seen once every tens of thousands of years.” Gui Yin’s eyes flickered slightly as he said this. “The current method of attaining the seven lives was passed down to heaven and earth when the Heavenly Palace was established. As for when and by whom it was created, there is no record. To this day, there are only three people who can fully master the seven lives.”

The first person is Xuanming Zhenjun, and the second person is Zhenjun who holds the position of Tianxun Guangdao.

He, Jiang Xu, is the third one!

To comprehend the Dao realm of the legendary True Lord, to grasp the authority of rank and power, and the laws of heaven and earth, is to attain the Seventh Life!
Such an existence cannot be ignored even by a True Lord. However, it is a pity that since he became one of the Seven Lives, in the current situation of heaven and earth, it is impossible for the True Lords to allow him to attain enlightenment.

Too much of a good thing will overflow, and too much rigidity will break it! It's truly a pity.

Guiyin smiled and left to continue his plans, while Chenming, who remained in the same spot, felt a deep sense of awe and unease.

The Dao returns to Heaven and Earth? The entire Southern Continent is now a product of Jiang Xu's creation. Even if some True Person were to reshape the world, they could not alter the fundamental nature of Earth. If Jiang Xu were truly dead, that would be fitting, for a Golden Core cultivator cannot escape the grasp of the True Monarchs.

However, through his connection with his true self, Shenming knew clearly that Jiang Xu was still alive!

Furthermore, not only did he survive, he also plotted against all the Golden Core cultivators from the ten sects and nine paths who came here, as well as the True Lords behind them.

Because this Southern Continent has never been a place for other Golden Core cultivators to attain their positions, but rather a place for Jiang Xu himself to attain his position!
He painstakingly planned for thousands of years to replenish the various spiritual energies of Nanjue Island, but in the end, they were just true cultivators who were about to become Golden Core cultivators, and their fundamental foundation was simply insufficient to support him in attaining the Golden Core stage.

But things are different now. There are no fewer than twenty Golden Core cultivators from the Ten Paths and Nine Continents here. Even if only a few of them perish, it will be more than enough!
A chill ran down his spine. It seemed that Jiang Xu had already figured out the secrets of the Wanxuan Immortal Sect's Earth Golden Core technique, as well as the many secrets of the Qiling Sect, and even the Xuanming methods.

One does not realize one's greatness while alive, but only after death does one know its magnificence.

Many years later, standing at the Golden Core stage, I finally understand how terrifying Jiang Xu was.

He raised his hand and waved away the psychedelic mist, and the peak masters finally came back to their senses.

His dark, inky eyes swept over the crowd, his tone carrying an unconscious killing intent. "From this day forward, the entire sect will begin preparations for war. All the alchemy, puppetry, arrays, talismans, and artifacts under the jurisdiction of the nine peaks will be refined for wartime. The General Affairs Peak will send disciples to the Tianxia Mountains, the Dugu family, the Shangxuan Sea, the Wanzhu Sea, and the Illusionary Sea Mirage to open trade routes. The Wenshan Market will be newly built outside the mountain, allowing all merchant caravans and independent cultivators to enter, solely for the purpose of exchanging goods and supplies to meet the material needs of the nine peaks within the mountain."

Wang Chaochen's heart sank upon hearing this. These were no small matters; the Nine Peaks were in for a lot of work. He asked, "Ancestor, what enemy do we intend to fight?"

Shen Ming narrowed his eyes and looked towards the northeast, saying coldly, "Naturally, it's the Blood Demon Sect!"

This demonic sect destroyed Qi Ling's previous incarnation and slaughtered countless lives of the survivors; their crimes are heinous and they deserve to be executed!

These words shocked the nine peak masters, who realized that their peaceful days were about to end.

However, some young peak masters were full of ambition and eager for a great battle to gain merit and rewards.

"The preparation period is nine years. During this time, if anyone slacks off or is passive in the fight, the laws and regulations of the mountains will not be ignored. After this battle, those who have made contributions will be rewarded. Moreover, all the spoils of the battle will belong to the disciples. If the sect confiscates them, they will be replaced with spiritual items."

Nine years from now, I hope to see a disciplined and exceptionally powerful army.

"We will keep in mind our ancestor's instructions and do our best to fulfill them!"

All nine peak masters agreed.

After Shen Ming left, Wang Chaochen spoke up: "Fellow peak masters, please come with me to the Hall of Management to discuss the details of your respective jurisdictions. This matter is of great importance and must be discussed carefully."

The peak masters naturally had no objections and all went to the Hall of Leadership.

On Qifeng Peak, in a cave dwelling.

The three true cultivators sat around the table, chatting and laughing.

Wang Fengyun studied the two people in front of him without changing his expression. He naturally knew that Qi Ling's secret technique was the "Weiyang Xuanjing". Once cultivated, one would surely die if one did not reach the Golden Core stage.

The two people before us, Wang Chaoqiu and Wang Chaoxin, both possess the supernatural power of the Earthly Branch Wei. However, there cannot be two True Lords of the Earthly Branch Wei. Therefore, one of these two must be real and the other fake, or both must be real.

He smiled and put down his teacup, then continued, "I read in the ancient books of the sect that south of the Guangyuan Mountains is a wilderness with fertile land stretching for thousands of miles. Over the past few hundred years, the phenomenon of water rising and land sinking has disappeared, and the soil here has mostly become dry soil, with the strongest 'qi' (vital energy)."

Both my junior brothers and sisters possess the supernatural powers of the Earth element; if they were to cultivate there, their progress would undoubtedly be extremely rapid.

"Oh? There's such a place?" Wang Chaoqiu immediately became interested and asked, "What about the Spiritual Qi Realm?"

“The spiritual energy rises and falls unpredictably, with areas of abundance and areas of scarcity. As for the Qi Realm, there is none yet,” Wang Fengyun said with a smile. “There are some demonic beasts hiding within, but they are at most ordinary, rootless demonic generals.”

The Demon King of Heavenly Demon Valley has attracted demons from all over the world to enter the valley, making demon generals in the vast wilderness even scarcer.

"In that case, it suits my taste perfectly," Wang Chaoqiu said with a smile. "What do you think, Junior Sister?"

“This place is good, but it’s a bit too close to the Corpse-Eating Cave. It’s probably less than 10,000 miles away. If war breaks out, I’m afraid…” Wang Chaoxin said with some worry.

“That’s not a problem,” Wang Chaoqiu said with a smile. “Just ask the senior brothers of the formation peak to set up a few more mountain-protecting formations. As long as the higher-ups don’t make a move, our combined supernatural powers will be enough to keep ordinary cultivators from escaping.”

Wang Fengyun, who was standing to the side, caught the words and smiled calmly: "That's right. Moreover, the sect also has a protective talisman bestowed by the patriarch. Even if we encounter a high-level cultivator, we can retreat with ease."

"Otherwise, Junior Sister Chaoxin, I know of another place, but it's closer to the Mirror Abyss Palace, and the natural beauty there is far inferior to that of the wilderness."

"Aren't there any within the Qiling territory?" Wang Chaoxin asked, still somewhat unwilling to give up.

“With the two patriarchs here in the Qiling Realm, the Xuanming manifests, and the Yuan Water nourishes the earth. How could there possibly be a place called Wei Tu?” Wang Chaoqiu sighed. “Our cultivation is greatly suppressed in the Qiling Realm. In addition, the Fusang Spirit Tree is no longer here, so Wei Tu cannot exist. We have no choice but to go to the outer realms.”

“That’s right. If it weren’t for the thousands of peaks in the Guangyuan Mountains, I would probably have to go to the outer regions to find a place to cultivate.” Wang Fengyun shook his head and said, “There’s nothing we can do about it. Unless you are willing to take elixirs and set up a spirit array in your cave, you can still cultivate, but the speed of cultivation will naturally be far slower.”

Hearing this, Wang Chaoxin could only say, "Then let's go take a look first, since we need to see it for ourselves."

“That’s true. There’s no better time than now. Let’s set off immediately,” Wang Chaoqiu said with a smile.

"Well... it would be safer to invite a few more fellow disciples," Wang Chaoxin suggested.

"With our supernatural powers, how could ordinary cultivators possibly be allowed to stay? Why be so timid?" Wang Chaoqiu laughed heartily and said, "Brother Feng Yun, please lead the way."

"Hehe, that's natural." Wang Fengyun smiled and led the two out of the sect.

Just as the three stepped out of the mountain gate, the Primordial Daoist on the Enforcement Peak seemed to notice them, and a meaningful smile appeared on his lips. Such a good opportunity was rare!

(End of this chapter)