Chapter 200: Heading to the Pill Dao Alliance

200. Chapter 200: Heading to the Pill Dao Alliance

Having a Second Avatar, Xiao Zhangqing found that not only did his strength jump a large notch, but even the speed of his cultivation growth accelerated.

With a single sword that intimidated over a dozen Immortals and left a legend among many high-ranking figures in Character: Liyang Zhenren City, becoming the true hidden stabilizing needle, what those people did not know was that after another two years, Xiao Zhangqing finally advanced his cultivation to a complete Foundation Establishment.

"Finally I can form a Pill!"

Even though his strength had long ago been comparable to Pill-forming Immortals, and now he was virtually unbeatable in the Pill Refinement realm, when the moment finally arrived to actually form a Pill, Xiao Zhangqing couldn't help feeling a surge of emotion.

"A cultivator like me, whose true combat power already reaches the Nascent Soul True Lord level yet has not formed a Pill, must be a rarity throughout history, right?"

In the present age, whether in the Da Yu Cultivation World, the neighboring cultivation realms, or even among Demon Sect Evil Cultivators, no one has ever heard of a Pill-forming Immortal who could stand shoulder to shoulder with a Nascent Soul True Lord.

The strongest are only at the level of Character: Liyang Zhenren.

Yet between Character: Liyang Zhenren and a Nascent Soul True Lord there remains an insurmountable chasm; they cannot be compared.

Therefore, if he wishes to breach the Nascent Soul realm, he must flee to another country to seek opportunity.

As for someone like Xiao Zhangqing, whose cultivation is only at Foundation Establishment yet rivals a Nascent Soul True Lord, even fictional tales wouldn't dare write that! Because people in this world, no matter how many fates they encounter, cannot comprehend a 'hanged bastard'.

"I should go to the Pill Dao Alliance to request a Condensed True Pill..."

Xiao Zhangqing took out the special Token that Zhu Youlong had given him years ago.

This Token was not only made of a rare, precious material, but its sealing technique was uniquely crafted by a Nascent Soul True Lord who excelled at restraints.

Thus, even other Nascent Soul True Lords could not replicate the Token.

The Pill Dao Alliance uses it as a credential, so no mistake would occur.

"Over a decade ago I eliminated the Blood Crow Immortal, avenging my master Pill Master Zhu's sect for the deep blood sea grievance; now going to the Pill Dao Alliance to exchange for a Condensed True Pill, I've already given the Alliance ample time."

Xiao Zhangqing thought.

He definitely needs the Condensed True Pill.

Even though he now possesses a Heavenly Spirit Root and his foundation is considered the foremost in the current Cultivation World, the massive bottleneck that countless cultivators find hardest to cross is not that difficult for him.

But the ever‑steady Xiao Zhangqing insists on raising his certainty to the utmost, aiming for zero percent error and striving for a full hundred percent.

And for a precious Pill of this caliber, aside from the Pill Dao Alliance there truly is no better source.

It's not only unattainable for Scattered Cultivators; even the great millennial families and top sects treat Condensed True Pills as strategic supplies.

In a bustling place like Character: Liyang Zhenren City, Condensed True Pills are also a rarity seen only once in many years.

The reason the former disciple Guangqin Immortal betrayed his sect was precisely because Condensed True Pills harbored resentment toward his master Character: Liyang Zhenren, right? Besides Character: Liyang Zhenren's own motives to accumulate more, the Pill is simply so precious that obtaining even a single grain is extremely difficult.

Especially premium Condensed True Pills, the difficulty is even greater.

Given Xiao Zhangqing's current strength and status, he could wait, have Gu Zongyuan devise a way, and surely obtain Condensed True Pills within Character: Liyang Zhenren City, but there is no need.

Even if Gu Zongyuan were willing to provide Condensed True Pills for free, Xiao Zhangqing could not accept such a favor without cost.

He would rather go to the Pill Dao Alliance to request them.

The Condensed True Pills of the Pill Dao Alliance were originally his, so taking them is entirely justified, with no embarrassment or debt owed to anyone.

However, Xiao Zhangqing now faces a choice.

Should he personally go to the Pill Dao Alliance's branch in the Da Yu Cultivation World? Previously Xiao Zhangqing would never have had this dilemma; to obtain Condensed True Pills he would have to make the trip himself, as the Alliance could not deliver the Pill to his doorstep.

But now that he has a Second Avatar, in theory he could send the avatar to the Alliance branch while his original self remains in Character: Liyang Zhenren City.

In the past two years, Xiao Zhangqing has tried many times, dispatching his avatar away from Character: Liyang Zhenren City to travel, and under normal circumstances there have been no issues.

The only possible inconvenience is that when the original self and avatar exceed a certain distance, information may not sync promptly.

At that time, although the original self still maintains a link with the avatar and can accurately sense each other's direction, detailed events encountered by the avatar cannot be synchronized instantly.

Only simple command exchanges are possible.

For example, encountering danger or a recall for promotion.

Detailed communication, however, is impossible.

However…

Even without detailed exchange, once the avatar returns to his side, the experiences will synchronize immediately, which is not a serious problem.

……

After pondering for a while, Xiao Zhangqing ultimately decided to go himself to the Pill Dao Alliance branch.

First, with his current strength, the Da Yu Cultivation World is virtually undefended against him; as long as he doesn't act recklessly and attract a siege from the Seven Star Sword Sect and Xingyue Palace—two major Nascent Soul sects—other dangers amount to nothing for Xiao Zhangqing.

Even if a Nascent Soul Old Ancestor from either of those two sects were to hunt him alone, Xiao Zhangqing is confident he could retreat unscathed.

Secondly, the Pill Dao Alliance branch lies tens of thousands of li from Character: Liyang Zhenren City; if the original self does not go, information certainly cannot sync in time.

Xiao Zhangqing still wants to know immediately what happens. Moreover, when he was weaker he naturally kept a low profile, avoiding venturing out.

But now his strength is sufficient, so he can travel and explore.

After all, his goal is not limited to the Pill Refinement realm but to higher realms beyond the Nascent Soul.

Reaching the Nascent Soul realm requires tribulation, which includes the Heart Demon Tribulation.

Traveling widely and broadening knowledge will be beneficial for the future Heart Demon Tribulation.

"Lord, are you preparing to leave Character: Liyang Zhenren City for a while?"

Lin Zixi heard this, his eyes instantly brightened, and he said happily, "Will the ancient city lord agree? Isn't it that you must reside in Character: Liyang Zhenren City for thirty years?"

Over the years, the Lin sisters have long shed their image as unsophisticated 'country girls' from Nanshan Fang, becoming respectable Foundation Establishment cultivators who have witnessed the splendor of the cultivation world and broadened their outlook.

Their greatest wish back then was to one day experience a bustling place like Character: Liyang Zhenren City; now they are somewhat weary of it.

After all, they have lived in Character: Liyang Zhenren City for a dozen or twenty years.

They have begun to look forward to the outside world and want to go out for a walk.

"I made a pact with Character: Liyang Zhenren that during these thirty years I am not required to stay in Character: Liyang Zhenren City continuously. Going out for a year or two in the middle is permissible."

Xiao Zhangqing looked at Lin Zixi's hopeful face, smiled and shook his head, "However, this time I will go out alone, and you two sisters should stay obediently in Character: Liyang Zhenren City…"

"Huh?" Lin Zixi's face instantly shifted from surprise to disappointment, looking pitiful, wanting to ask to be taken along, but fearing that Xiao Zhangqing would think she was a burden, thus she remained silent.

It was older sister Lin Ziyu who was more sensible, stepping forward, taking her younger sister's hand and saying, "Lord, if you have business, just go handle it. My sister and I will wait for your safe return in Character: Liyang Zhenren City."

Xiao Zhangqing nodded.

This time the outing won't be long.

Even if counted fully, it won't exceed three years at most.

Compared with a cultivator's long lifespan, even a Foundation Establishment cultivator lives two hundred years, so three years is brief; therefore there's no need to bring the Lin sisters.

Moreover, although he will personally go to fetch the Condensing True Pill, when he reaches the Dan Dao Alliance branch office, he will inevitably send a clone to scout, and his true self may not act directly.

Currently his clone is an absolute secret, and the Lin sisters are still unaware; if they were to follow, it would cause trouble.

Being alone, traveling and acting are both simpler.

……

……

Da Yu Cultivation World Northwest Region.

It is said that many years ago the geography here was extremely harsh, perennially frozen, with three quarters of the year snowing, and mortals could hardly survive.

Thus mortal nations and towns are few.

Only cultivators gather in the land of spirit veins.

Later, a Transformation God Venerable arrived here and, with his all‑penetrating divine power, forcibly altered the environment, turning the perpetually bitter‑cold region into a place with spring‑like climate year‑round.

Therefore today Da Yu Cultivation World Northwest Territory is exceedingly prosperous, with both mortals and cultivators abundant.

There is also a rumor.

The Transformation God Venerable who altered the environment is the founding ancestor of the Seven Star Sword Sect!

Of course, this ancestor is not the true founder of the Seven Star Sword Sect, but rather its patriarch, one of the disciples of that Transformation God Venerable!

In other words, the Seven Star Sword Sect's lineage derives from that Transformation God Venerable.

For millennia, the Seven Star Sword Sect has dominated the most prime lands of Da Yu Cultivation World Northwest Territory, an undisputed behemoth.

Under the Seven Star Sword Sect's rule, within ten thousand li there is no other Foundation Establishment sect, and in this vast prosperous land only their sect alone remains.

The nearest Foundation Establishment sect to the Seven Star Sword Sect is already the Giant Wood Sect in the far west.

The Giant Wood Sect lies over ten thousand li from the Seven Star Sword Sect, which is already quite distant even for cultivators.

Moreover, the Giant Wood Sect's location lies beyond the range altered by that Transformation God Venerable, situated in desert and Gobi, where mortals can hardly survive; hence the Seven Star Sword Sect never invaded the Giant Wood Sect.

Of course, another reason is that the Giant Wood Sect is not to be underestimated.

Historically, the Giant Wood Sect may be even older than the Seven Star Sword Sect, and it possesses the sect‑guardian "Divine Tree"; even a Nascent Soul True Lord would not be able to defeat it.

For nearly a hundred years, the Dan Dao Alliance's branch office was established in Character: Liyang Zhenren City.

Since the newly appointed steward bore a life‑and‑death feud with Character: Liyang Zhenren, the branch was relocated.

Now, the Dan Dao Alliance's branch is situated within the jurisdiction of the Seven Star Sword Sect. (End of chapter)