Chapter 240: Pursuer of the Dao True Lord, Red Sleeve True Lord

"Nascent Soul True Lord! This Xiao Zhangqing possesses the methods of a Nascent Soul True Lord!!"

Blood‑soaked Zhu Qingyun, upon hearing the words "Get lost", could not even mind the Xingyue Palace army marching with him and was the first to turn and flee alone by flying away.

He was terrified, frightened.

Just now, he truly felt his life hanging by a thread.

If Xiao Zhangqing harbored murderous intent, his death would be certain.

Yet to crush him so easily, even without much effort annihilating his entire legion, is definitely a dimensional‑reduction strike.

No Core Formation cultivator could achieve that! Even the highest‑quality Core Formation Perfection falls far short of such terrifying power.

Xiao Zhangqing's four successive swords shattered his pride, confidence and anger completely!

Yet this elder forced the Core Formation Perfection cultivator Zhu Qingyun, whose ambitions were sky‑high, to obediently stand behind and wait, daring not to disturb the elder's fishing mood.

"None of the above. I, a junior, was wounded a year ago during Core Formation when Xiao Zhangqing caused a celestial anomaly and brought down a Thunder Tribulation. This youth, having just completed Core Formation, can already fuse the power of heaven and earth into his sword qi! I wonder if he possesses some treasure…" Zhu Qingyun answered truthfully, but with a hint of scheming.

The Pursuer of the Dao True Lord had heard the rumors.

He hails from Xingyue Palace, where the Nascent Soul Old Ancestor resides; his understanding of the Nascent Soul realm is naturally far greater than that of other Core Formation cultivators.

Back when Red Sleeve True Lord had not yet become a Nascent Soul True Lord, he was noticed by the Nascent Soul elder of the Nine‑Alliance Trade Guild and taken as a disciple.

But in reality? He was forced, having no choice, to do so!

He forcibly annexed a Core Formation sect and demanded to forcibly marry its sect leader as a Dao Partner; once spread, it badly tarnished Xingyue Palace's reputation.

To sever the disciple's marital ties and avoid leaving a spiritual flaw, the other party's Nascent Soul realm master forced Zhu Qingyun to proactively break off the engagement and tear up the marriage contract! Moreover, to preserve Red Sleeve True Lord's face and reputation, Zhu Qingyun was forbidden to publicize the matter, nor to tell outsiders that Red Sleeve True Lord initiated the divorce.

Of course, even if the golden dragon carp were ten times more precious, it would mean nothing to Zhu Qingyun; he wouldn't even glance at it in ordinary times.

Even if Xiao Zhangqing, after a hundred years, successfully formed a Nascent Soul, as long as he remains at the Nascent Soul Initial Stage, he would not be overly wary.

The location of the Xingyue Palace sect is Wangyue Immortal City.

In front of him, an elder wearing a straw hat and raincoat was fishing.

If that kid Qin Feng came asking for help, he would gladly stretch his limbs and wouldn't find it troublesome.

The Pursuer of the Dao True Lord has lived nearly seven hundred years; there is no kind of person he hasn't seen, no plot or scheme he hasn't experienced.

Disregarding his injuries, Zhu Qingyun exhausted all his strength to employ an evasion technique, turning into a flash of firelight that vanished swiftly into the sky.

Even during the Nascent Soul process, one might luckily survive most of the preceding tribulations, but the probability of overcoming the final Heart Demon Tribulation is exceedingly low.

Xiao Zhangqing's sword techniques undeniably wield the might that comes only from fusing heaven and earth's power! "Could it be that causing a celestial anomaly during Core Formation, with a Thunder Tribulation descending, grants one a portion of the Nascent Soul True Lord's divine abilities?"

Zhu Qingyun's face went rigid.

Being scolded with "Get lost", he couldn't even feel insulted; instead, he felt as if granted a great pardon and was immensely relieved.

But the Old Ancestor said so, and he clearly dared not rebut, let alone add any scheming or embellishment.

An aberrant Core Formation cultivator of the Heavenly Dao, the Pursuer of the Dao True Lord valued highly, but to speak of any aversion would be unnecessary.

After a single breath's sprint of over a thousand li, he finally halted; the other several Core Formation masters of Xingyue Palace and hundreds of Qi Refining Realm cultivators were left far behind.

Even a Nascent Soul True Lord would covet a treasure that enables Core Formation cultivators to wield heaven and earth's power.

……

For the Nascent Soul realm Old Ancestor of Xingyue Palace, it is even more so.

This wound was caused by the star‑force intermingled in the sword qi.

And the previous strengths no longer hold much advantage after attaining the Nascent Soul.

The Old Ancestor meant that Xiao Zhangqing mobilized heaven and earth's power by himself, not through a treasure? He doesn't believe it.

"Then, Old Ancestor, please intervene!"

Hearing this, Zhu Qingyun slightly frowned.

And this is also out of respect for Zhu Qingyun's former fiancée, the current Nascent Soul cultivator Red Sleeve True Lord.

Zhu Qingyun, seeing this, hurried forward to flatter and helped open the fish cage.

Watching the fish enter the cage, the elder finally looked at Zhu Qingyun, and, slightly surprised, asked: "Why are you injured like this? Didn't you go to Liyang Zhenren City to look for that Su Wushuang? How come the old ghost Sword Seven happens to be in Liyang Zhenren City, also vying for Congenital Jade Liquid for his disciples, or is Liyang Zhenren returning, and has already formed a Nascent Soul?"

The Pursuer of the Dao True Lord could permit Zhu Qingyun to act under Xingyue Palace's banner as he wishes; forcing Baihua Valley and Su Wushuang, and turning a blind eye, would already be the greatest indulgence.

"So it's a golden dragon carp, Old Ancestor, what a fine catch!"

Red Sleeve True Lord, his former fiancée, has been the source of countless behind‑the‑scenes mockery he has endured over the years.

He means that Xiao Zhangqing possessing Nascent Soul True Lord's methods already at the Core Formation realm must have an exceptionally rare treasure.

Zhu Qingyun, just let it be.

Zhu Qingyun hurriedly and earnestly said, "Old Ancestor, this is different. Xiao Zhangqing is so arrogant that he would never, like Liyang Zhenren, be sly and slip away. He clearly told the junior that he would stay in Liyang Zhenren City, waiting for you, Old Ancestor, to come find him personally. Moreover, Old Ancestor, you don't know how terribly reckless this youth is, how many harsh words he has spoken; he doesn't regard you at all…"

Only one's realm is the fundamental factor that can truly crush an opponent.

Heavenly Dao Foundation Building has never appeared in the several‑thousand‑year history of the Da Yu Cultivation World, but it is clearly recorded in several neighboring cultivation realms.

Even he himself is a legend of the Cultivation World. "Regardless of the circumstances, obtaining Su Wushuang's virgin Yin cannot be achieved by me alone."

Even with a late‑stage Core Formation cultivation, mighty magical power, and combined with a holy healing elixir, it would still take more than a year or two to fully eradicate.

He smiled and shook his head: "Xiao Zhangqing? Interesting, interesting… Heavenly Dao Foundation Building, so extraordinary? To be able to wield heaven and earth's power. No wonder he's the little fellow who broke the millennia‑long record of the Da Yu Cultivation World."

After all, if he dies, everything is gone.

Only that the nature of Heavenly Dao Foundation Building remains unknown, how it differs from ordinary Core Formation.

When danger temporarily receded and the threat to his life vanished, Zhu Qingyun's 'ambition' gradually resurfaced.

Its value is almost comparable to a single Foundation Building Pill.

Thus, in this great lake, tens of thousands of low‑level Qi Refining Realm cultivators make a living by catching fish.

"Xiao Zhangqing, Xiao Zhangqing! Who exactly is this youth? Why… although he has only just completed Core Formation, can he already wield heaven and earth's power?"

About the length of a incense stick's burn.

The golden dragon carp is a rare spirit fish native to this great lake, extremely hard to catch.

"Alright." Zhudao Zhenjun waved his hand and interrupted, "Since this kid dares to stay in Liyang Zhenren City, openly letting the Nascent Soul Old Ancestor go after him shows he has enough confidence, not fearing me, the Old Ancestor. A heavenly prodigy like this must not be offended lightly."

Zhu Qingyun thought with lingering dread.

Zhu Qingyun was uncertain and suspicious in their heart.

As long as one can live, dignity and such can be discarded.

The Nascent Soul Old Ancestor of Xingyue Palace had already learned of his years of scheming, learned that Su Wushuang is a Xuan Yin Dao Body, and also agreed to let Zhu Qingyun take the "Congenital Jade Liquid".

A flash of evading light fell by the lake; at this moment his superficial sword wound had almost healed, but the deep flesh damaged by the sword qi still throbbed with a maggot‑like bone‑gnawing pain that would not subside.

His accumulation was fairly deep, his talent and aptitude decent, but his scheming was too profound, his character not pure enough; his zeal for the immortal path was sincere, yet it was a crooked road.

The Golden Dragon Carp, whose strength was not weaker than a mid‑late Qi Refining Realm cultivator, in the old man's raincoat seemed like an ordinary carp; once hooked, its struggling was useless, only a few tail wags.

By the wide lake shore, misty rain hung, the surface rippled with tiny waves, and reeds swayed with the wind.

One month later.

The Nascent Soul realm is completely different from the previous stages.

However.

Suddenly, Zhudao Zhenjun seemed to recall something and changed tone: "Why don't you go plead with Hong Xiu Zhenjun? I recall she owed you a favor back then, right?"

He was not very optimistic about Zhu Qingyun forming a Nascent Soul.

As an old‑school Nascent Soul cultivator, Zhudao Zhenjun, though still in the Nascent Soul Initial Stage, was already quite adept at wielding Heaven and Earth power, and could easily discern the special injuries that such power inflicted on cultivators.

Although in the Cultivation World the strong are revered and any action is justified if one's cultivation is high enough, a member of a prestigious orthodox sect must still mind a bit of face.

He saw through Zhu Qingyun's ulterior meaning at a glance.

Otherwise, how does it differ from Demon Sect Evil Cultivator? How to rally people's hearts?

Many previous shortcomings will be remedied after the Nascent Soul stage.

He still wants Su Wushuang, to obtain that Congenital Jade Liquid that can raise his Nascent Soul formation chance by twenty percent!

Zhudao Zhenjun rehung the fish, cast the rod, and then leisurely asked: "Little Zhu, since Su Wushuang has taken Xiao Zhangqing as a backing, what are you planning? Still intend to force her to hand over the Congenital Jade Liquid?"

The world thinks he is foolish, abandoning a Nascent Soul Zhenjun's fiancée for Su Wushuang.

Thus Zhu Qingyun can only shoulder the blame alone, mocked by countless people…

Therefore Zhu Qingyun's internal injuries cannot escape his perception.

The old man emitted no magical aura; even the light drizzle could not be parting, and he could only shelter under his raincoat, appearing as an ordinary mortal elder, inferior even to a low‑level Qi Refining Realm cultivator.

As a Nascent Soul Zhenjun, his knowledge of the many rumors in the Cultivation World far surpasses that of ordinary cultivators.

The float on the lake surface quivered slightly, then a large black float; the old man seized the moment, lifted the rod, and a gold fish about the size of a palm, with horns on its head, was hauled up.

Zhudao Zhenjun chuckled lightly, "Since Xiao Zhangqing can already harness Heaven and Earth power, his threat level is not far below that of Liyang the Immortal back then. When Liyang the Immortal fled to another country, he left threatening words, which have kept the Seven Stars Sword Sect from daring to act against Liyang Zhenren City all these years… What do you think, can Xingyue Palace provoke such a serious internal menace?"

Even if he obtains a Xuan Yin Dao Body, raising the chance by twenty percent, Zhudao Zhenjun believes Zhu Qingyun's success rate will not exceed fifty percent.

No matter how monstrous a Core Formation cultivator, even one who unprecedentedly undergoes Soul Transformation into a Primordial Spirit at the Golden Core stage, there remains a great gap to the true Nascent Soul realm.

Zhu Qingyun nodded, "The Congenital Jade Liquid is definitely still with Su Wushuang, not handed to Xiao Zhangqing. I, the junior, have been scheming for nearly a hundred years, have invested too much effort, and cannot bear to give up like this! I ask the Old Ancestor to intervene personally this time, to punish Xiao Zhangqing, make him know the difficulty and retreat, and not meddle in the relationship between me and Su Wushuang."

Otherwise, even if Zhu Qingyun holds a high position in Xingyue Palace with Core Formation Perfection, they could not act under Xingyue Palace's banner to do such oppression of men and women.

Now the Old Ancestor actually wants him to go plead with Hong Xiu Zhenjun?

Zhudao Zhenjun said slowly, "Although I don't know exactly what's up with that kid Xiao Zhangqing, his ability to wield Heaven and Earth power indicates he has already undergone Soul Transformation and formed a Primordial Spirit. So for such a heavenly prodigy, even if I personally intervene, I might not be able to defeat him; at least he likely has self‑preservation power and can retreat from me, which is why he dares such arrogance, staying in Liyang Zhenren City without fleeing."

"A heavenly prodigy like this, Xingyue Palace cannot make an enemy of him lightly."

"Therefore I have you go plead with Hong Xiu Zhenjun; if she and I join forces, that little Xiao Zhangqing will naturally be easy to handle, not worth fearing."

"Without surprise, Hong Xiu Zhenjun should come to Da Yu Cultivation World in a while. Then, little Zhu, you will be the intermediary; I also wish to have a chat with her." (End of chapter)