Chapter 143: A Loss, Qingyin Scored a Bargain!

Qingxuzi paused for a moment before continuing, "The fact that he could form a Nine-Pattern Golden Core has little to do with you, does it?"

"If Nine-Pattern cores were so easy to form, every Sacred Land would have cultivated all their disciples into Nine-Pattern masters!"

"To put it bluntly, you might have provided some help, but Cao Xuan must possess extraordinary innate talent."

Fairy Qingyin felt a chill at Qingxuzi’s words. Though she felt guilty—knowing she had barely helped beyond providing a few pills and setting up a temporary spirit-gathering array—she knew that claiming she had provided the foundation of a Sacred Land would be an exaggeration; she didn't even possess the resources of a third-rate sect.

However, she let out a cold snort. "You’re right, Cao Xuan is indeed deserving!"

Without blushing or missing a beat, she added, "I had expected these precious materials to help him form a Seven-Pattern Golden Core at most."

"I never imagined his foundation was so solid, and that he was so perfectly matched with our Ziyang Sacred Land's 'Ziyang Sword Scripture.' Breaking through to a Nine-Pattern Golden Core in one go was truly unexpected even for me."

Hearing Fairy Qingyin’s words, even Xuedizi couldn't help but exclaim, "You taught him the 'Ziyang Sword Scripture'?"

"You dared to pass down a lineage classic before he was even inducted into the Ancestral Hall? Aren't you afraid the Sacred Land’s Enforcement Hall will come for you?"

Fairy Qingyin knew she couldn't back down now. She trusted that Cao Xuan understood how much the Sword Spirit Root, awakened in the Sword-Washing Pool, had helped him, and that he wouldn't expose her.

Putting on a brave front, she snapped, "What of it? As a Sword Master of a lineage, do I not have the right to choose a successor who has grasped Sword Intent?"

Hearing this, the Sacred Land elders present fell silent.

Indeed, for a disciple with Supreme Spirit Root talent to break through to a Nine-Pattern Golden Core, they found it hard to believe that Fairy Qingyin hadn't invested heavily. In fact, deep down, they told themselves this was the most logical explanation. Otherwise, if he had achieved this without any support, his cultivation talent would be even more heaven-defying than Xian Xiangqiu’s.

Turning decay into magic, defying fate, and achieving a Nine-Pattern Golden Core with a Supreme Spirit Root.

Moreover, looking at the patterns and Taoist essence of this core, it was likely a flawless, peak-tier Nine-Pattern Golden Core.

Nine-Pattern Golden Cores were already legendary and rarely seen; flawless ones were even rarer. Everyone present felt a pang of regret, as if they had missed out on a fortune.

As Fairy Qingyin had implied, if she had truly imparted the "Ziyang Sword Scripture" to Cao Xuan, any attempt to snatch him away would be tantamount to starting a war between the Sacred Lands. After all, this wasn't just about stealing a disciple; it carried the suspicion of coveting a Sacred Land’s secret manual. Unless one were a legendary Immortal, who would dare to lay claim to the classics of the major Sacred Lands?

Qingxuzi opened his mouth, intending to suggest they abolish the classic, but he shook his head and dismissed the thought before speaking.

Finally, he could only say with a touch of bitterness, "It is a pity that his spirit root is only a Supreme Spirit Root. Even an Earth Spirit Root would be better. His future path will not be easy!"

Qingxuzi’s words made the others from the various Sacred Lands feel slightly better. They all nodded, seemingly agreeing that Cao Xuan’s future path would be difficult.

Fairy Qingyin nodded. "Indeed, the spirit root is his only shortcoming!"

At this moment, she tried her best to restrain herself, recalling all the unhappy things from the past few thousand years to keep from smiling. After all, she couldn't be the only one enjoying the success of having such a stellar disciple; she had to let others suffer a little too.

Yet, a faint sense of bitterness lingered among them. The major Sacred Lands all possessed profound heritage and methods to improve spirit roots, though the gains were usually modest—perhaps only enough to reach an Earth Spirit Root. But with Cao Xuan’s cultivation talent, perhaps his future achievements wouldn't be too low.

...

After returning the token of the Xuanhua Taoist Sect to Ancestor Qingxu, Cao Xuan spoke with Fairy Qingyin and returned to the station of the Azure Cloud Sect from Yunzhou.

Since he had already broken through to the Golden Core stage, he no longer needed the quota for the Azure Cloud Mist Cave. Returning it was a way of repaying his sect for their cultivation. Though Cao Xuan’s success relied mainly on his own efforts and a little help from his system, he knew he couldn't have reached this point without the platform provided by the sect.

Even now, Cao Xuan could hardly believe he was a mid-stage Golden Core cultivator.

"A 2,300-fold rebate—it’s terrifyingly powerful!"

He had only made a small attempt, yet he had saved himself from countless detours. Even Cao Xuan hadn't anticipated this.

...

"That is roughly how it happened. I am now a direct disciple of the Ziyang Sacred Land!"

Listening to Cao Xuan’s brief description, the surrounding Peak Masters clicked their tongues in private, though they felt it was perfectly reasonable. They all knew Cao Xuan’s future achievements would be high, but they hadn't expected him to reach the Golden Core stage so quickly.

Moreover, they were unaware that Cao Xuan had omitted details, saying only that he had broken through and been accepted by the Sacred Land. Had they known everything, it would have caused another uproar, especially since Sect Master Yu Qingsong of the Yunzhou Azure Cloud Sect was only in the mid-Golden Core stage himself.

Yu Wan’s expression was complex as she said with concern, "Cao Xuan, I know you are gifted, but remember that there is always someone better."

"In the Central Province, the Golden Core stage is nothing. Do not become arrogant or complacent just because you have achieved this."

In Yu Wan’s heart, if they were back at the Yunzhou Azure Cloud Sect, she could protect Cao Xuan no matter what trouble he caused. But here in the Sacred Land—no, even in the Central Province’s branch—she had already seen that Golden Core cultivators were everywhere. If Cao Xuan were in the Sacred Land and something went wrong, there would be no one to look after him.

Cao Xuan smiled and said, "Master, don't worry. You know how much I prefer a quiet life."

"Besides, I am going there to cultivate, not to make enemies!"

"I heard that once you reach the Nascent Soul stage, you can leave the Sacred Land periodically to rest."

"And after breaking through to the Deity Transformation stage, you can bring your family up the mountain. I will strive to break through as quickly as possible and bring you up with me!"

Yu Wan blushed and patted him. "Flatterer, what family!"

Of course, no one present thought much of it; in their eyes, the bond between master and disciple was like family. After she spoke, Yu Wan’s expression dimmed slightly, though she quickly masked it.

In her view, let alone Deity Transformation, it would be impressive if Cao Xuan reached the Nascent Soul stage within a few hundred years. A Golden Core cultivator lived for five hundred years, and a Nascent Soul cultivator for five thousand. She had seen Yu Qingsong at the Golden Core stage when she first joined the sect over a hundred years ago, and he was still at that stage today.

Cultivation was cruel; a hundred years passed in the blink of an eye. Each realm was a world of its own. It would be an achievement for her to even reach the Golden Core stage. She wondered if she would live long enough to see Cao Xuan reach the Nascent Soul stage and come back to visit.

She considered Cao Xuan a "genius"—otherwise, he wouldn't have been accepted by the Sacred Land—but given her limited perspective, she felt he would only be an "adequate" disciple in the Sacred Land, where there were simply too many powerhouses.

Still, she wouldn't dampen her disciple's spirits and kept these thoughts to herself.

At this moment, Li Yao, uncharacteristically, remained silent, keeping her head lowered.