Chapter 228: Su Wushuang's Request

228. Chapter 228: Su Wushuang's Request

The Core Formation celebration lasted for more than half a month.

Originally Xiao Zhangqing planned a small celebration, but the news spread somehow, and more and more people came to congratulate and bring gifts.

First the major forces within Character: Liyang City, then the sects and cultivation families around Character: Liyang City, and finally even the famous sects from all corners of Da Yu's cultivation world that have offices or branches near Character: Liyang City rushed over to bring gifts.

There was no way around it; Xiao Zhangqing's Core Formation caused such a huge stir, terrifyingly large.

Radiant clouds stretched eighteen li, and Heaven sent down a Thunder Tribulation; in the several‑thousand‑year history of Da Yu's cultivation world, it was unique.

Even the Nascent Soul Old Ancestors of today's two major sects showed far less commotion during their Core Formation.

After the news spread quickly, the Seven Star Sword Sect and Xingyue Palace couldn't help but send people to probe the situation.

As the number of attendees grew, the celebration lasted longer, becoming a major event in Character: Liyang City.

The bustling atmosphere was almost comparable to a large auction held once every ten years.

But that was only the surface.

Behind the scenes, the cultivators and forces that came to congratulate Xiao Zhangqing were even more terrifying.

For example, the Dan Dao Alliance and the Nine Union Business Association, both highly influential in Da Yu's cultivation world, sent gifts.

The cultivator sent by the Dan Dao Alliance was a pseudo‑Core Formation practitioner, not Baimi Zhenren.

Because Baimi Zhenren was far away in Panlong City, the journey was too distant to arrive in time.

The Nine Union Business Association, with an upcoming collaborative auction in Character: Liyang City, happened to have a Core Formation middle‑stage guest minister present; that guest minister personally presented Xiao Zhangqing with a lavish gift and then extended an olive branch to him.

"Dao Companion Xiao, if you are willing to join the Nine Union Business Association, all conditions are negotiable!"

"I know that talents like you, a natural prodigy, dislike too many constraints, so you need not worry. The Nine Union Business Association's terms are very relaxed; it grants guest ministers great freedom, and the more talented and promising the guest minister, the greater the freedom!"

"Of course, Dao Companion Xiao, if you are willing to sign a deeper binding contract with the Nine Union Business Association, the benefits it can provide will naturally be greater."

"Dao Companion Xiao, have you heard of the deeds of 'Hong Xiu Zhenjun'? Hong Xiu Zhenjun also came from Da Yu's cultivation world; after joining the Nine Union Business Association, she was provided with all the resources needed for Core Formation cultivation, and eventually obtained the Nascent Soul opportunity, becoming a Nascent Soul Zhenjun!"

"Given Dao Companion Xiao's talent and Core Formation quality, as long as you join the Nine Union Business Association and become the second 'Hong Xiu Zhenjun', obtaining the Nascent Soul opportunity in the future is not impossible…"

Inside the cave dwelling.

The guest minister Li Chuan Zhenren of the Nine Union Business Association spoke sincerely, extending an olive branch to Xiao Zhangqing.

The promised reward was enormous, enough to dazzle.

Even the Nascent Soul opportunity was on the table.

However, despite the suspicion of empty promises, it also shows that the Nine Union Business Association values Xiao Zhangqing highly.

In fact, back then Character: Liyang Zhenren was also courted by the Nine Union Business Association, but they did not promise a Nascent Soul opportunity.

This indicates that, in the Nine Union Business Association's view, Xiao Zhangqing's potential far exceeds that of the former Character: Liyang Zhenren, and can be directly compared with Hong Xiu Zhenjun.

Hong Xiu Zhenjun, also known as 'Da Yu's Number One Romantic', was once Zhu Qingyun's fiancée.

Back then, Zhu Qingyun was infatuated with Su Wushuang and treated Hong Xiu Zhenjun indifferently; eventually the two broke off the engagement—at least on the surface.

After cutting off the marital ties, Hong Xiu Zhenjun's cultivation skyrocketed, achieving Nascent Soul at an unexpected speed!

Thus Hong Xiu Zhenjun joined the Nine Union Business Association and left Da Yu's cultivation world.

Otherwise, the power structure of Da Yu's cultivation world would have changed long ago, becoming a three‑way stalemate instead of a duel between two heroes.

"I sincerely apologize, but I have no plans to join any other faction for now. I have made a promise to reside in Character: Liyang City for a certain number of years, so I won't go elsewhere for a long time in the future."

Xiao Zhangqing declined.

Empty promises cannot move him; only concrete commitments will.

Moreover, in recent days, several major powers that span cultivation realms, such as the Nine Union Business Association and the Dan Dao Alliance, have been courting him.

Having seen many, it's no longer surprising.

However, Xiao Zhangqing did not promise to join any faction; besides receiving gifts, he also gleaned some rather important information from these major powers.

For instance, in other cultivation realms whose history and inheritance far surpass Da Yu's, there are records of Core Formation triggering Thunder Tribulations.

He is the first in Da Yu's cultivation world throughout history.

But in this domain, he is not truly the first in history.

Other powerful cultivation realms also have such records, but they are very ancient and extremely rare.

At least in the past few hundred years, none of the surrounding cultivation realms have seen a rogue Core Formation of the Heavenly Dao.

Furthermore, regarding the frontline situation between Da Yu's cultivation world and the Demon Sect Evil Cultivators, Xiao Zhangqing has become clearer over the past half month.

The reason the Demon Sect Evil Cultivators recently broke the stalemate, crossing the Cloud Mist Mountain Range to penetrate deep into Da Yu's cultivation world, was not due to poor handling or appeasement by the Seven Star Sword Sect and Xingyue Palace.

The main cause is that a Nascent Soul Zhenjun of the Demon Sect, having obtained some unknown opportunity, saw a massive power surge and appears close to breaking through the Nascent Soul Middle Stage! Nascent Soul cultivators are so few that each minor level‑up creates a striking gap in strength.

If that Demon Sect Nascent Soul Zhenjun truly breaks through to the middle stage in the future, the situation will worsen.

The two Nascent Soul Old Ancestors of the Seven Star Sword Sect and Xingyue Palace, working together, would still not be its opponent.

Nascent Soul Middle Stage is already the strongest combat power among the surrounding cultivation realms. Like the Nine Union Business Association and the Dan Dao Alliance, although they have more than one or two Nascent Soul cultivators, none have reached the middle stage.

If the Demon Sect Zhenjun breaks through the Nascent Soul middle stage, it could eventually occupy most of Da Yu's cultivation world, even if it doesn't fully conquer it.

The current turbulent state of Da Yu's cultivation world is also a key bargaining chip for the Nine Union Business Association and other major powers in courting Xiao Zhangqing.

Because if the Demon Sect were to take over, ambitious cultivators would certainly seek to flee.

Joining a faction like the Nine Union Business Association would allow an easy exit from Da Yu's cultivation world, finding a more favorable cultivation haven.

……

……

After the celebration ended.

The splendor faded.

Inside Xiao Zhangqing's cave dwelling, Gu Zongyuan and Su Wushuang remained.

"The situation... is it that bad?"

Gu Zongyuan, upon hearing Xiao Zhangqing recount the Demon Sect's passage through the Cloud Mist Mountain Range, was deeply worried.

He would rather have the Seven Star Sword Sect and Xingyue Palace resist the disadvantage; it was the friction and conflict that allowed the Demon Sect to exploit the opening.

He did not expect that the Demon Sect Evil Cultivator crossed the Cloud Mist Mountain Range by sheer force.

If development continues this way, Character: Liyang Immortal City will indeed become dangerous in the future.

It may turn from the far rear into the front line of the battlefield!

Su Wushuang likewise felt anxious.

In these past ten‑plus years, although the main forces of Baihua Valley have not entered Character: Liyang Immortal City, they have nevertheless become bound to it in a strange manner.

Moreover, if the Demon Sect truly invades most of the Da Yu Cultivation World, Baihua Valley elsewhere will also find it hard to secure a place to settle.

Seeing the two's expressions, Xiao Zhangqing inwardly sighed, thinking that being a Scattered Cultivator is still better.

No hindrance or burden, free to come and go, without having to worry about many troublesome matters.

Of course, this is predicated on being sufficiently strong and possessing enough talent (cheat).

If an ordinary cultivator can join a sect, having a backing and a steady source of cultivation resources is far better than being a Scattered Cultivator.

For the overwhelming majority of Scattered Cultivators, if they could join a sect, who would choose to wander outside?

Gu Zongyuan and Su Wushuang sighed for a while; faced with this situation, they were willing but powerless, and the war would not develop in the direction they desired.

What they could do was for the Seven Star Sword Sect and Xingyue Palace behind them to summon cultivators to the front lines; they should cooperate as much as possible, not adopt the previous "goof‑off" attitude.

Nevertheless, even if they do not cooperate, the Seven Star Sword Sect and Xingyue Palace will intensify conscription and issue policies urging all major sects to go all‑out.

In the face of the "Nation‑Lost Crisis," the petty squabbles and hatred between sects seemed much smaller.

"By the way, should I continue calling you Brother Xiao, or Senior Xiao?" Gu Zongyuan suddenly asked.

"We're both at the Core Formation Realm; why would you call me senior?" Xiao Zhangqing replied, puzzled.

"Although you are now at the Core Formation Realm… there's no outsider present, Brother Xiao, be honest: are you a Nascent Soul Old Monster possessing a body? Or perhaps a deeper, unfathomable being reborn through reincarnation?" Gu Zongyuan said earnestly.

The Foundation Establishment Realm already possesses strength capable of challenging the late Core Formation stage, and by mysterious means eliminates terrifying evil spirits; the Core Formation phenomenon directly shattered Da Yu Cultivation World's millennia‑old record.

Gu Zongyuan does not think any talent could reach such a level.

Even a monster, none are that extreme.

What he can imagine are possessions or reincarnations of beings above the Nascent Soul Realm.

Xiao Zhangqing: …

Speaking of it,

He indeed was reborn through reincarnation.

But it was not a Nascent Soul Old Monster's rebirth; merely an ordinary, unremarkable person.

Su Wushuang also wanted to know whether Xiao Zhangqing was possessed or reborn, and was curious about his current strength and how far he had progressed. However, their friendship was not that deep, so she could not ask outright; she could only stare at Xiao Zhangqing with a different look, hesitant to speak.

"No matter who I am, I'll definitely spend another thirty years in Character: Liyang Immortal City. If Character: Liyang Immortal City encounters any tricky situation, I'll certainly help. Just know that, Brother Gu," Xiao Zhangqing said.

Gu Zongyuan was momentarily stunned, then smiled brightly: "Indeed. After all, Brother Xiao you are the backbone of Character: Liyang Immortal City; the more extraordinary your background and the stronger your power, the better for the city! Now I wonder, after your tribulation, have you reached the Nascent Soul True Lord level…"

"Fine…," Xiao Zhangqing shot him an irritated glance and said, "For a long stretch ahead, I'll most likely remain in seclusion. I've just entered Core Formation; I need to consolidate my realm and strengthen my power. If there's nothing especially urgent, don't come bother me…"

Gu Zongyuan was speechless.

"An existence of your caliber still needs to seclude to consolidate the realm and boost strength? Are you really trying to match a Nascent Soul True Lord with just the newly attained Core Formation?" After issuing a farewell order, Gu Zongyuan and Su Wushuang did not linger and left promptly.

Afterwards, Xiao Zhangqing gave a few instructions to the Lin family sisters and was about to enter seclusion, when the Baihua Valley master Su Wushuang unexpectedly returned and knocked on his door again. (End of chapter)