Ding! Congratulations, Host, on receiving a massive amount of cultivation foundation!
Ding! Congratulations, Host, on receiving one copy of the Scripture of Non-Action!
Ding! Congratulations, Host, on receiving the Nine-star Emperor Weapon, the Heaven-Swallowing Profound Jar!
Ding! Congratulations, Host, on receiving the Heaven and Earth Wonder, All-Reach Profound Powder!
Ding! Congratulations, Host, on receiving one Eight-star Great Emperor Experience Card!
The notifications faded, replaced by a seismic surge of energy. An incomparably pure spiritual essence flooded Lu Xuan’s body, crashing through his meridians like a tidal wave. His internal world roared, shaking violently. The intense, pleasurable sensation was overwhelming, a peak experience that left him utterly euphoric.
Lu Xuan’s cultivation began to skyrocket instantly.
Saint King Realm!
Half-step Emperor Realm!
One-star Quasi-Emperor!
...
He finally settled at the Three-star Quasi-Emperor realm.
Lu Xuan slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air, feeling an unprecedented sense of power. This was his true Three-star Quasi-Emperor realm, not reliant on any temporary experience card.
His divine sense flowed out like a mighty river, clearly perceiving every detail of the surrounding world. Now, as a Three-star Quasi-Emperor, coupled with the Invincible Stance he had recently gained, he could cross an entire major realm and achieve an Instant Kill against any One-star Great Emperor, whether they were at the initial stage or the late-stage Great Perfection. The Invincible Stance made no distinction.
Lu Xuan clenched his fist, power surging beneath his skin. He felt that a single punch would be enough to collapse Chen Changsheng’s entire cave dwelling, reducing it to dust. This was the terrifying power of a Quasi-Emperor.
Beside him, Chen Changsheng frowned slightly upon seeing Lu Xuan’s strange, blissful state. “Fellow Daoist Lu Xuan... M-Master, what is happening?”
Lu Xuan, still basking in the afterglow, smiled. “I’m fine.”
Chen Changsheng nodded, observing him cautiously.
Lu Xuan took a moment to examine his internal body. What he found was strange: despite reaching the Quasi-Emperor realm, his internal world remained pitch black, like a dark abyss, resembling a dim, dead star. This was in stark contrast to his first disciple, Ji Fuyao, and his second, Ye Chen, whose internal worlds were vast, resplendent, and crystalline, like newly formed galaxies.
Lu Xuan shrugged internally. Well, that confirms it. I really do have a Congenital Cultivation Waste Body. All for naught if I try to cultivate myself. Looks like I’m stuck with the ‘lying flat’ method.
He focused his intent, and a trace of Dao and Essence flowed from his body—the combined power of the Grand Dao Scripture, the Heaven-Burning Art, and the Desolate Heaven Art. Every Quasi-Emperor needed to forge their own Dao. Lu Xuan now had his, derived from his disciples, yet superior to theirs.
Moments later, Lu Xuan calmed his mind and began examining the Scripture of Non-Action.
A Nine-star Emperor-tier technique!
He probed the jade slip with his divine sense and immediately saw the spiritual formulas.
“Non-Action of the Dao, Dao of Non-Action. Non-Action yet Action, Action yet Non-Action. Act in Non-Action, serve in Non-Action, serve in Non-Action…”
Lu Xuan felt the profound mystery of the text. It made his brain itch. He quickly realized the technique was incomplete, but the core essence was present. Clearly, this was tailor-made for Chen Changsheng, whose path of Non-Action and minimizing Causality was meant to achieve Longevity.
Lu Xuan glanced at Chen Changsheng, who still looked utterly dejected, unable to accept his new status as a disciple. He had gone from being a carefree Emperor-tier Magnate in the Southern Wilds to Lu Xuan’s apprentice. He needed a moment of peace.
However, Chen Changsheng knew that everything in the world was predetermined by fate. During their three-day confrontation, he had secretly performed Divination. The resulting hexagram confirmed their master-disciple fate was sealed by Causality. This was why he had ultimately ceased fighting Lu Xuan.
Lu Xuan smiled faintly, then turned his attention back to the system rewards. He looked at the Heaven-Swallowing Profound Jar in the system space.
A Nine-star Emperor Weapon!
“That name sounds familiar,” he muttered. “What’s this thing used for?”
The System immediately explained: “The Heaven-Swallowing Profound Jar is a Nine-star Emperor Weapon. It can devour Heaven and Earth, devour Emperor Weapons, and devour living beings. Furthermore, it possesses a special ability: it can contain both Eerie Power and Ominous Power!”
Lu Xuan was slightly stunned. It can contain Eerie Power and Ominous Power? He had previously used the One-star Emperor Weapon, the Grand Dao Lock, to absorb the Eerie Power from Ye Chen. This jar was clearly far superior.
He sent his divine sense into the jar, only for it to be instantly annihilated in the boundless internal space. It was vast and limitless. I wonder just how much Eerie Power and Ominous Power this thing can hold?
Next, Lu Xuan examined the Heaven and Earth Wonder, the All-Reach Profound Powder. The system space held a massive basin of it.
Lu Xuan asked, “What is this stuff for?”
The System explained: “The All-Reach Profound Powder is the essence of thirteen Emperor-tier spirit herbs. Its formation requires extremely harsh conditions, including the essence of Heaven and Earth Principles, and tens of thousands of years of evolution to form even a small vial.”
Lu Xuan was dumbfounded. Tens of thousands of years for a small vial? But I have an entire basin here!
He took a sniff. A faint, pleasant aroma wafted up. “This smells like it could enhance flavor and freshness,” he mused. “I’ll add some when I cook later.”
System: “…”
Finally, Lu Xuan looked at the Eight-star Great Emperor Experience Card, which lasted for one day. Overall, he was very satisfied with the rewards.
But the main event was still to come: Chen Changsheng’s cultivation and insights had not yet synchronized.
Lu Xuan checked Chen Changsheng’s system panel.
[Third Disciple: Chen Changsheng.
Realm: Two-star Great Emperor (?).
Techniques: Scripture of Salvation, Earth Evasion, Fire Evasion, Water Evasion…
Insights: Dao of Array Formations, Dao of Medicine, Dao of Alchemy, Dao of Puppetry, Dao of Talismans, Dao of Longevity, Dao of Life and Death…]
Lu Xuan was completely shocked. This third disciple knows way too much! Wait a minute. Why is his realm only Two-star Great Emperor? And what’s with the question mark?
“System, what’s going on with the third disciple’s realm?” Lu Xuan asked.
The System remained silent.
Lu Xuan twitched an eyebrow. Aha! There’s a hidden secret here! This kid is definitely still practicing Ultra Low-Profile cultivation. He’s hiding his true strength.
Whatever. Don’t sweat the details.
At that moment, the System’s voice sounded in Lu Xuan’s ear. “Host, synchronize third disciple’s cultivation now?”
Lu Xuan replied, “Synchronize!”
Boom!
A vast ocean of cultivation foundation surged into Lu Xuan’s meridians, overwhelming him like a tsunami. His body trembled slightly, filled with that familiar, mystical, and pleasurable sensation.
His cultivation began to surge again!
Three-star Quasi-Emperor!
One-star Great Emperor!
Two-star Great Emperor!
...
It finally halted at the Four-star Great Emperor initial stage!
Lu Xuan let out a soft breath. This feeling was incredibly refreshing. He felt the power of the Emperor realm surging within his internal world, the Dao and Essence radiating brilliant divine light through his meridians. Yet, his own desolate internal world remained dark and dead, impossible to illuminate or perceive. Invisible and unsearchable.
Lu Xuan mused internally. Perhaps my physique is also a heaven-defying one?
But it didn't matter now. He was a Four-star Great Emperor, capable of Instant Killing Five-star Great Emperors!
In less than a year since taking Ji Fuyao as his first disciple, he had gone from the Qi Refining Stage to the Four-star Great Emperor realm. This is insane! And that was despite Chen Changsheng’s cultivation being “suspiciously low.” If the synchronization had been complete, he would be even stronger. He was truly not the same person he was a year ago.
Lu Xuan’s mood soared. He received minor notifications about synchronizing Ji Fuyao and Ye Chen’s cultivation, but the feedback was negligible, like a light drizzle. This was understandable; the gap between the Emperor realm and the Profound Saint realm was immense.
Looks like I need to find a way to quickly boost my first and second disciples’ realms, Lu Xuan thought.
The System asked again, “Host, synchronize third disciple’s insights now?”
Lu Xuan felt a thrill of excitement. “Synchronize!”
Boom!
Endless, profound insights flooded Lu Xuan’s mind. It was an indescribable feeling. In the sea of his divine sense, dozens of light clusters shone like stars, radiating dazzling brilliance. The Dao of Array Formations, the Dao of Puppetry, the Dao of Alchemy, the Dao of Talismans, the Dao of Longevity, the Dao of Life and Death… Chen Changsheng knew far too much!
And Lu Xuan’s synchronized insights were instantly doubled, reaching an incredibly terrifying height. The Dao of Array Formations, the Dao of Puppetry, and the Dao of Alchemy all instantly stepped into the Transcendent Realm!
Beyond Perfected Mastery was the Transcendent Realm. This meant Lu Xuan’s comprehension of these Daos was now top-tier in the Southern Wilds. The harvest this time was truly massive!
Lu Xuan felt extremely pleased. He looked at Chen Changsheng and smiled. “Changsheng, since you have formally acknowledged me as your master, I shall bestow upon you a master’s gift.”
Chen Changsheng was slightly taken aback. He didn't actually lack techniques or Emperor Weapons; he had forged his own Dao.
Lu Xuan pulled out the Heaven-Swallowing Profound Jar and handed it over. “Changsheng, what do you think of this item?”
Chen Changsheng took it, a flicker of surprise in his eyes. “A Nine-star Emperor Weapon! A supreme killing treasure!”
Lu Xuan smiled faintly. “This is the Heaven-Swallowing Profound Jar. It can devour Emperor Weapons, devour living beings, and devour Heaven and Earth. It can also contain Eerie Power and Ominous Power.”
Chen Changsheng shook his head, returning the jar to Lu Xuan. “Master, I do not need an Emperor Weapon.” It was a weapon of slaughter, incompatible with his Dao.
Lu Xuan didn't press the issue. He took out the jade slip containing the Scripture of Non-Action and gave it to Chen Changsheng. “Perhaps this technique will be of some help to you.”
Chen Changsheng accepted the slip and probed it with his divine sense, silently reciting the spiritual formulas. The next instant, he was utterly stunned.
“Non-Action of the Dao, Dao of Non-Action. Non-Action yet Action, Action yet Non-Action. Act in Non-Action, serve in Non-Action, serve in Non-Action…”
This was perfectly tailored for him! The Scripture of Non-Action elucidated the fundamental principles of the Dao of Life and Death and the Dao of Longevity.
Lu Xuan smiled. “Changsheng, your previous cultivation path in the Southern Wilds followed the route of ‘Non-Action,’ but it was too superficial.”
Chen Changsheng listened intently.
Lu Xuan explained, “Non-Action is for the sake of Action. Do not confuse the means with the end. We cultivators must know what to do and what not to do.”
Chen Changsheng fell into deep thought.
Lu Xuan continued, “You must also reconsider the Dao of Causality. Avoiding Causality is only the first layer. The key is to be immersed in Causality, yet remain untouched by it. Apex Great Emperors must carry Causality forward, because at that level, it is impossible to avoid.”
Chen Changsheng suddenly realized the truth. “Master’s words are absolutely correct!”
A flash of lightning crossed his mind. When it came to the path of Ultra Low-Profile cultivation, his master was far, far superior.
The world believed Lu Xuan was a Qi Refining Stage waste, unaware that he was an Apex Great Emperor of the Southern Wilds. His disciples, Ji Fuyao and Ye Chen, were heaven-defying, yet his master remained within the Grand Dao Sect, untouched by Causality. This was because his master’s karma had been subtly shifted onto an imaginary figure.
Even if Lu Xuan were to reveal his power, powerful figures like the Tianyuan Old Ancestor would refuse to believe it, convinced that Ji Fuyao and Ye Chen had another, hidden backer. This was the true path of Ultra Low-Profile, the genuine way of stability.
With this realization, Chen Changsheng said, “Master, I would like to return to the Grand Dao Sect in a few days. Is that acceptable?”
Lu Xuan nodded. “That is fine.” He understood that Chen Changsheng needed time to process his new reality.
Chen Changsheng pointed to the adjacent cave dwelling. “Master, you may rest in that cave dwelling for the next few days.”
Lu Xuan suddenly asked, “Oh, right, one very important thing.”
Chen Changsheng straightened up. “Master, please speak.”
Lu Xuan asked, “Can you cook?”
Chen Changsheng froze. “No.”
Lu Xuan chuckled. “Then you must learn. Also, you can give me those insight jade slips of yours. I might be able to give you some pointers.”