Chapter 314 : Great Luo Heaven

Chapter 314: Great Luo Heaven

Chen Beiwu’s expression shifted slightly as his gaze swept over [Profound Mastiff Huodou] and [Moon-Devouring Profound Long].

These two evolution methods possessed boundless potential, both pointing toward Heavenly-Gang Mystic Beasts bearing Heavenly-Gang titles and overwhelming combat power.

However, he did not make a decision immediately. Instead, he lowered his head to look at Iron Egg and inquired through divine sense.

Iron Egg stood up and cautiously stepped forward two paces, allowing the two streaks of flowing light to circle around it as it carefully sensed the aura contained within the evolution methods.

After a long while, Iron Egg shook its head.

These two evolution methods were indeed powerful. It could even be said that they were the ultimate evolution goals countless canine beasts within the Immortal Alliance dreamed of. Yet it did not feel even the slightest stir in its bloodline.

‘No matter. There are more than just these two evolution methods here. We’ll take our time and look. We have plenty of it.’

Chen Beiwu rose to his feet. His gaze swept over the streaks of flowing light that flashed past one after another as he continued silently reciting keywords in his heart, filtering out suitable evolution methods.

Iron Egg charged ahead, grabbing a streak of blazing white light like lightning. Its nose twitched slightly before it released its forepaw and let it depart, then immediately seized another descending streak of light to carefully comprehend it.

Golden Egg tilted its dragon head slightly. Its three pairs of dragon eyes shifted back and forth, deliberately skipping over some streaks of light with particularly formidable auras.

A favored minister was already deeply favored by the emperor.

If Iron Egg were to evolve into a Mystic Beast bearing a Heavenly-Gang title and its strength soared drastically, would its current status not be shaken?

As for those light clusters whose radiance was somewhat dimmer, Golden Egg cast them a glance and revealed undisguised disdain.

Choosing an evolution method that was too weak would not do either!

Although Iron Egg frequently competed with it for favor, sooner or later it would become Chen Beiwu’s Companion Beast.

If the evolution method it selected were too weak, would that not make Golden Egg appear lacking in discernment and easily drag Chen Beiwu down?

After weighing the matter repeatedly, Golden Egg’s eyes brightened slightly as it selected an evolution method that was neither high nor low—one inferior by a notch to its Three-Aspect Profound Flood Dragon form.

‘This little fellow!’ Chen Beiwu raised a brow.

What he found most interesting about Golden Egg was that no matter what ill intentions it harbored, it never concealed them. Instead, it openly pondered them in its heart, allowing the Companion Contract to sense everything.

Moreover, even in front of Iron Egg, Golden Egg remained the same, never hiding its emotions.

It was only because Iron Egg had a steady temperament and treated Golden Egg as an immature child that it was willing to play along in this game of favored-minister rivalry.

“Bring it over for me to take a look.”

As soon as Chen Beiwu finished speaking, Golden Egg hurried over and presented the evolution method.

[Netherflame Purifying Long, born with karmic fire, possessing the might to burn sins and purify infernal prisons. It can pierce falsehood, discern all things, and hear the thoughts and karmic voices of all living beings. Though not ranked among the Heavenly-Gang, it is granted the Heavenly-Gang honorific title ‘Great Vow Luminary’.]

‘Oh? This one seems rather good.’ Chen Beiwu’s eyes lit up slightly.

Unlike Profound Mastiff Huodou and Moon-Devouring Profound Long, this evolution method gave him a more steady and restrained feeling, as though it could cleanse all distracting thoughts.

“Woof.”

For the first time, Iron Egg showed a reaction as well, its eyes revealing eagerness to try.

“Shall we tentatively settle on this evolution method, then?” Chen Beiwu sought Iron Egg’s opinion.

“Woof.” Iron Egg nodded without hesitation.

“Na.”

The Five Qi Vine sneakily glanced left and right. Seeing that no one was paying attention to it, it cautiously walked over to a rare fire-attribute spiritual plant and extended its small hand to touch it.

“Buzz!”

The moment its hands made contact, the spiritual plant instantly transformed into a cultivation method manual, startling the Five Qi Vine.

“Na.”

After glancing at the manual’s name, the Five Qi Vine immediately lost interest. It casually tossed it aside and continued wandering about stealthily.

What it liked were precious and great medicinal treasures—not cultivation method evolution diagrams it could not understand.

Seeing this, Chen Beiwu shook his head and stepped forward to pick up the manual.

[Candle-Illumination Radiant Sovereign, formed through the enlightenment of the Great Sun’s origin. Towering like a mountain, with resplendent supreme yang fire as its fur, it wields Candle-Illumination Golden Flame.

This flame is supremely yang and supremely firm—the absolute nemesis of all darkness, evil spirits, demonic qi, and cold toxins. Though not ranked among the Heavenly-Gang, it can contend against Fifth-Tier evil entities.]

Upon reading this, Chen Beiwu felt tempted.

Not being ranked among the Heavenly-Gang and lacking a Heavenly-Gang title did not mean that Candle-Illumination Radiant Sovereign, capable of contending against Fifth-Tier evil entities, was weak.

On the contrary, it only indicated that Candle-Illumination Radiant Sovereign was extremely rare and not a signature Mystic Beast of the Thirteen Immortal Sects or the Five Great Grotto-Heavens.

What tempted Chen Beiwu most was that Candle-Illumination Radiant Sovereign was formed through the enlightenment of the Great Sun’s origin—his Yuanshi Mystic Enlightenment could precisely exert its greatest effect upon it.

“What do you think of this one?”

Chen Beiwu handed the evolution method to Iron Egg.

“Woof.”

Iron Egg’s eyes revealed a conflicted expression.

Happiness had arrived too suddenly. Earlier, it had not taken a liking to a single evolution method.

Now, all at once, two evolution methods had appeared that made its bloodline tremble.

“Children make choices. If you truly find it hard to decide, you can choose both.” Chen Beiwu reminded through his thoughts.

Heavenly-Gang and Earthly-Sha evolution methods were not fixed and immutable. Moreover, he possessed the enlightenment Mystic Ability nurtured by the Yuanshi Golden Core.

Since the seniors of the Immortal Alliance could research the evolution methods of Netherflame Purifying Long and Candle-Illumination Radiant Sovereign, he too could rely on the power of enlightenment and stand upon the shoulders of his predecessors to go even further.

If it truly could not be done, Chen Beiwu did not need to stubbornly persist. He could simply choose one of the two and follow the path most compatible with Iron Egg.

“Woof!”

Iron Egg abruptly lifted its head, eyes filled with astonishment.

If possible, it wanted both paths. It wanted to walk both!

“Then we’ll take them both,” Chen Beiwu conveyed through his thoughts.

Iron Egg nodded and carefully put away the two evolution methods.

“Isn’t this a bit too outrageous—no, too dangerous?” Golden Egg blinked its dragon eyes, feeling that it might have overplayed its hand and created a great enemy for itself.

“Na.” (It doesn’t hurt to try.)

The Five Qi Vine lay lazily upon Chen Beiwu’s shoulder, its tone casual.

As long as Iron Egg still had a single breath left, it could use Five Elements Treasure Radiance to heal any injuries Iron Egg sustained during the evolution process.

This meant that the probability of Iron Egg failing while employing the evolution methods was virtually zero.

As for how strong its bloodline would become after evolving, that was beyond its control.

It was merely a Five Qi Vine. It could ensure survival, but it could not determine the strength of one’s bloodline.

Five Qi Vine yawned and cast a speechless glance at the spiritual plant before it.

What kind of lousy Returning Treasury Pavilion was this? Not a single precious grand herb could be found—only obscure and incomprehensible cultivation manuals. Just looking at them made it want to fall asleep.

Ignoring the little thoughts of his beast companions, Chen Beiwu straightened his robe, faced the empty space ahead, and respectfully performed a salute.

“Disciple Chen Beiwu has a request. I ask the Senior Guardian to reveal yourself.”

The moment his words fell, the figure of an old man in a plain Daoist robe appeared before him.

“What is it?” he asked calmly.

Chen Beiwu remained humble. “Reporting to Senior, this disciple was selecting an evolution method for my Companion Beast. I discovered that both 【Netherflame Purifying Long】 and 【Candle-Illumination Radiant Sovereign】 are highly compatible. There is hope to fuse the two into one. May Senior show leniency and allow this disciple to take both evolution methods at the same time?”

The Guardian True Venerable gave Chen Beiwu a long look, his tone leaving no room for doubt. “By decree of the Sect Master, you are permitted only to enter, select, consult, and take away one evolution method.”

Hearing this, Chen Beiwu’s expression did not change. He merely looked at him quietly.

After a brief silence, the Divine Transformation True Venerable suddenly shifted his tone. “Your request does not conform to the rules. Yet matters have their priorities. Beyond law and principle, there remain human sentiment and merit.”

“Very well. This shall not happen again.”

As his words fell, the Guardian True Venerable’s figure dissipated into the void.

“Thank you, Senior, for your fulfillment.”

Chen Beiwu gave a slight bow and left the Returning Treasury Pavilion with his beast companions.

“You think he can succeed?”

At the top floor of the Returning Treasury Pavilion, tea mist swirled. The Guardian True Venerable and the Yuqing Sect Master sat facing one another.

“Whether he succeeds or not, what does it matter? At most, it is only two evolution methods.” The Yuqing Sect Master lifted his teacup and took a sip. “Let him be.”

“You are quite generous.” The Guardian True Venerable chuckled softly before bringing up the main matter. “How was that Foundation-Laying Core Formation method evaluated?”

His ambition lay in Void Refinement, and he had long ceased involving himself in mundane affairs. Yet he could not help but pay attention to an unprecedented Budding Core method.

“Not long ago… a decree descended from the Great Luo Heaven.”

As soon as the Yuqing Sect Master finished speaking, the Guardian True Venerable’s pupils contracted slightly. The hand holding his teacup stiffened.

Great Luo Heaven?

That was the true foundation of the Upper Three Immortal Sects—and the secluded cultivation ground of their Void-Refining Dao Venerables!

Sensing his emotional fluctuation, the Yuqing Sect Master nodded faintly, his tone tinged with reverence. “This method… has entered the eyes of Dao Venerable Guangcheng.”

‘It actually alarmed that one!’ The Guardian True Venerable felt even greater astonishment. The teacup in his hand silently crumbled into powder.

Strange—truly strange.

A mere Foundation Establishment and Core Formation cultivation method had actually reached the heavens!

“The decree states that this method reveals true brilliance in the subtle. At the Foundation Establishment stage, it fixes the Primordial foundation, opens a new path, and secretly accords with the profundity of Innate Grand Unity. It holds considerable value for deduction.”

At this point, the Yuqing Sect Master smiled. “Before long, I imagine the Returning Treasury Pavilion will gain another supreme immortal art, along with several Core Formation wondrous methods.”

The Guardian True Venerable remained silent for a long time. At last, he understood why the Sect Master had made an exception for Chen Beiwu alone—even cultivating him as a successor.

He exhaled slowly. “This child is extraordinary!”

Eggs should not be placed in one basket. Yet a peerless prodigy like Chen Beiwu was already enough for certain Immortal Alliance True Venerable clans to invest in with all their strength.

It was just a pity that he stood alone without clan backing. Otherwise, one could have capitalized on this information and played the rare commodity.

Hearing this sigh, True Venerable Zixiao smiled faintly, his gaze turning deep.

As the Yuqing Sect Master, he knew far more than others. It was not only Dao Venerable Guangcheng—Dao Venerable Yuanshi had also begun to take notice of Chen Beiwu.

Jade must be polished to become a vessel.

If not for fear of stunting his growth—and because Dao Venerable Yuanshi wished to temper the young prodigy’s temperament—an imperial decree might already have descended, summoning Chen Beiwu to the Great Luo Heaven for personal instruction.

‘That old fellow Changqing truly has good fortune, having taken in such a disciple.’

True Venerable Zixiao sighed inwardly and took another sip of hot tea.

…

Qingming Peak, Water-Derivation Residence.

With a movement of divine sense, Chen Beiwu “saw” from afar a group of young prodigies standing before his cave residence’s waterfall—about nineteen of them.

These youths concealed divine radiance within, bearing extraordinary presence. Some stood with hands behind their backs upon the riverbank’s blue stones; others gathered in small groups, conversing while occasionally glancing toward the cave residence.

A very small number circulated their qi, their auras blending with the waterfall’s surging mist and the spiritual energy diffused through the mountain air—clearly meditating in cultivation.

‘These cultivators have all ranked in the top ten of the Rising Stars List.’

Chen Beiwu instantly recognized several Foundation Establishment prodigies.

After forging the Yuanshi Golden Core and announcing his public teaching of the Dao, he had instantly become the most sought-after figure within the Yuqing Immortal Sect.

Even without thinking, Chen Beiwu understood the intentions of this group.

First, they had come for the Grand Unity Foundation-Laying Wondrous Method.

Foundation Establishment prodigies wished to borrow the method to step into the Budding Core Realm and forge a First-Grade Golden Core. Golden Core prodigies hoped to use it to mend flaws in their imperfect cores.

Second, they had come to show goodwill.

No cultivation power could avoid internal factions and mountains of influence.

The Bixiao Immortal Sect was a typical example.

For factional interests, its upper echelons had reformed in vain—sometimes even at the expense of the sect’s greater good.

In terms of atmosphere, the Yuqing Immortal Sect clearly surpassed the Bixiao Immortal Sect. At the very least, its prodigies would not be suppressed without opportunity.

Yet the various Dao Venerable immortal clans would still seize the chance to befriend promising prodigies in advance—establishing networks and increasing their family’s influence and voice within the Yuqing Immortal Sect.

Thinking of this, Chen Beiwu remained calm.

Worldly relations and the instinct to pursue benefit while avoiding harm were natural laws—even the Yuqing Immortal Sect was no exception.

As for how he would respond—whether to exchange empty pleasantries, to refuse directly, or to associate only with the virtuous—that depended entirely on his own thought. This had already been decided before he chose to open his lectures.

As his escape light descended, Chen Beiwu prepared to greet them politely.

Suddenly, a youth in green robes rushed out from the crowd.

Thud!

With a dull sound, the youth knelt without hesitation, both knees striking the ground heavily.

“This student, Chi Quan, earnestly requests Master Chen to accept me as a disciple and transmit to me the Great Dao of Core Formation! I am willing to swear a Heavenly Dao oath—this life I shall eternally serve Master, attend before you, and face ten thousand deaths without regret!”

As his words fell, the atmosphere outside the cave residence plunged into deathly silence. Only the sound of the waterfall continued to roar.

Each young prodigy present froze in place, the polite smiles on their faces stiffening instantly.

Was it worth it?

A man had spirit stones beneath his knees.

To act so recklessly—discarding all face and kneeling publicly before a senior disciple—was no longer mere goodwill. It was staking everything. What difference was there between this and madness?

Ignoring the shock around him, Chi Quan looked straight at Chen Beiwu, his eyes full of candor.

Was it humiliating?

Naturally. What prodigy who entered the Yuqing Immortal Sect lacked pride?

But before a First-Grade Golden Core, all pride was illusion.

Chi Quan had been cultivated by his family since childhood. Though not a core direct descendant, he had still forged a Limit-Breaking Foundation Establishment and entered the Yuqing Immortal Sect.

Yet with aptitude inferior to his direct-line elder brother, the support he could receive was extremely limited.

That little support could not even guarantee a Nascent Soul breakthrough—let alone the forging of a top-three-grade Golden Core.

As for becoming a personal disciple of a Nascent Soul True Monarch lecturer, or even a disciple of a True Venerable?

He had tried.

But the Nascent Soul True Monarchs of the sect aimed for Divine Transformation. Their public lectures were merely to fulfill sect duties. Why would they waste time accepting disciples?

Unless one possessed supreme aptitude, insight, Companion Beast, and background all at the highest level.

Simply put, the Yuqing Immortal Sect did not lack prodigies. Only an unparalleled genius like Master Chen could receive true attention.

Chi Quan could already foresee it—if nothing changed, an ordinary sect student like him would most likely follow in the footsteps of many seniors, stopping at mid-tier Golden Core.

Such was the cruelty of cultivation within the Immortal Alliance.

Chi Quan refused to accept that fate. Having discerned Master Chen’s intent in opening public lectures, he chose to wager everything.

Success meant ascending as a dragon. Failure meant becoming a laughingstock.

Whether he could seize this chance to change his destiny depended entirely on Master Chen’s response.

‘Interesting.’

Chen Beiwu’s expression remained unchanged as he looked at Chi Quan kneeling before him. Around the youth, a Crimson Fortune Dragon coiled and drifted.

Without doubt, this was a ruthless individual whose potential had yet to be fully uncovered—someone with hope of becoming a Nascent Soul True Monarch.

But Chen Beiwu did not favor this kind of temperament.