"Someone who possesses a rudimentary Dao fruit—a half-immortal?!" Lu Baqian felt a tingling chill run across his scalp upon hearing Venerable Black-White's threat.
Having stepped into the Tribulation Transcendence stage, he had formally entered the circle of Tribulation Transcendence cultivators, gradually coming to understand the immense might of this realm as well as the path of cultivation that lay ahead.
The goal of a Tribulation Transcendence cultivator was to condense a rudimentary Dao fruit.
A rudimentary Dao fruit signified the mastery of an incomplete rule unique to oneself. Even if incomplete, such a rule still reigned supreme over all ordinary Tribulation Transcendence cultivators.
If Venerable Black-White was not merely bluffing and the Imperial Preceptor of Great Yu truly was a half-immortal, things were going to be troublesome.
The old ancestors of the various super-rank sects recognized this issue as well, instantly feeling the weight of the situation.
Most of the Body Integration cultivators did not know much about rudimentary Dao fruits or half-immortals, but seeing the grim expressions on the Tribulation Transcendence ancestors, they realized that the Great Yu Imperial Preceptor was far more formidable than imagined.
Lu Baqian observed Lu Yang, the Acting Sect Master, and saw that Lu Yang looked as calm as ever.
*As expected. Even though this junior has temporarily taken up the mantle of Acting Sect Master and is being groomed as the sect's next leader, he still lacks the qualifications to touch upon high-level concepts like rudimentary Dao fruits and half-immortals.*
*Otherwise, his expression wouldn't be so placid.*
Lu Yang, however, was simply too occupied dealing with the chattering fairy to notice Lu Baqian's gaze.
"What's the big deal about a half-immortal? I can flatten one with a single punch! In the ancient era, half-immortals knelt just to listen to my lectures!" the Immortal Fairy declared grandly, paying no heed to half-immortals.
She sat on a reclining chair, swaying gently back and forth. The hem of her skirt shifted with the movement, revealing a glimpse of fair, slender calves.
A half-immortal was not a true immortal, after all.
There had been so many half-immortals during the ancient era, yet hadn't only five of them achieved true immortality in the end?
"Second-in-Command, do you want a rudimentary Dao fruit? I can give you one."
"Can't only Tribulation Transcendence cultivators condense a rudimentary Dao fruit?" Lu Yang asked in surprise. This seemed rather different from the information he had gathered.
"What nonsense are you talking about? With me here, I can cram one into you even if I have to force it!" the Immortal Fairy promised with absolute certainty.
Lu Yang shook his head in resolute refusal. He harbored rebellious ambitions; he intended to establish his own faction and break away from the Immortal Lineage.
"A half-immortal... is indeed rather troublesome," Yun Zhi murmured softly. If a hidden half-immortal were to launch a surprise attack during the grand celebration, casualties would inevitably occur even if they were subdued immediately.
"However, there is no need for everyone to worry. The Dao Seeking Sect has a way to handle an ambush by a half-immortal," Yun Zhi comforted the crowd.
"Does the Dao Seeking Sect have a half-immortal?" Lu Baqian asked tentatively.
He was met only by Yun Zhi's aloof, indifferent gaze.
The crowd drew in a sharp breath. From the looks of it, even if they did not possess a half-immortal, they definitely had the means to counter one.
"Do you need us to return to our sects and request our supreme treasures to assist?" Qiu Jin'an asked. In critical moments, the Five Great Immortal Sects remained remarkably united.
Yun Zhi shook her head. "The supreme treasures each have their designated purposes. They should not be removed from the immortal sects lightly."
"Understood."
Since Yun Zhi stated it was unnecessary, it truly was unnecessary. Qiu Jin'an could tell that this was not out of vanity or pride, but genuine confidence.
"Then what about these Great Yu cultivators...?"
"For now, keep them all locked in the treasure box. You seniors have rendered great service in subduing them. Once the celebration concludes, they will be distributed among everyone according to merit," Yun Zhi said.
After all, they had assisted in the fighting and interrogations, saving her a great deal of effort.
The crowd's eyes burned with eager anticipation. They felt that coming to the Dao Seeking Sect for the celebration had truly been the right choice; even though they had been beaten earlier, it had all been worth it.
The Great Yu cultivators themselves were not particularly valuable; what was priceless was the intelligence they held, especially the locations of their hidden treasures.
Cultivators who had slumbered since ancient times usually hid themselves and their treasures in two distinct locations. Those treasures represented their entire fortunes—their capital for competing in the upcoming struggle of the Golden Age.
Among these riches were countless extinct heavenly treasures and earthly treasures of immeasurable value.
Even if several first-rank sects had to divide a single treasure hoard among themselves, each would still reap immense windfalls.
The Dao Seeking Sect had already profited. Through severe interrogation, Yun Zhi had extracted the locations of treasure troves from Venerable Calamity, Venerable Xuanlei, and the others.
When Lu Yang had returned from Hanshui City and met the Grand Elder in the Mission Hall instead of Senior Brother Dai Bufan, it was precisely because Dai Bufan had received instructions from Yun Zhi to go excavate the treasures.
The crowd filed out of the treasure box one after another, reappearing on the street.
The prodigies gathered to compete in the tournament were completely dumbfounded by the sight. These were all unreachable, towering figures—how had they all just emerged from a box?
It was true that they possessed great talent, but they still had a long way to go before making a name for themselves and standing on equal footing with such figures. Any unexpected mishap along that path could cost them the chance to ascend to the pinnacle.
Above all, among this group were not only Body Integration cultivators, but also legendary Tribulation Transcendence masters.
Tribulation Transcendence figures lived in divine seclusion; most cultivators never saw one in their entire lifetimes.
The young prodigies whispered among themselves, unable to conceal the excitement in their eyes: "Look over there! Isn't that Venerable Yiqi from the Qi Control Sect? Our sect once received guidance from Venerable Yiqi, and we have a portrait of him!"
"And Venerable Kui, the greatest puppeteer! Legend has it that his puppet threads can take control of living people as if they were puppets!"
"That's the newly ascended Tribulation Transcendence Sect Master, Lu Baqian!"
"Heavens, so many Tribulation Transcendence masters!"
"Do you see Sect Master Lu? He's actually chatting and laughing with those great figures, completely unfazed!"
"As expected of the chosen successor for the next generation of sect masters! If it were me, I'd have been too nervous to speak a single word."
"Who wouldn't be?"
Lu Yang naturally felt no nervousness talking to Body Integration or Tribulation Transcendence cultivators—he did not even feel nervous speaking to an immortal.
Venerable Yiqi suddenly realized something. "Wait. The treasure box holds three Tribulation Transcendence masters and around thirty Body Integration cultivators. The box alone won't be able to keep them confined!"
The treasure box began to shudder violently, as though the captives inside were charging blindly into the walls in an attempt to break free.
"No matter."
Yun Zhi bit her fingertip and lightly traced a mark of blood across the treasure box. The box instantly ceased trembling and returned to stillness.
Venerable Yiqi looked at Yun Zhi with a strange expression, recalled the wretched sight of his own Dao debate with her, and had an epiphany.
*The Dao Seeking Sect's countermeasure against a half-immortal... could that countermeasure be you?*
Yun Zhi returned the object to its rightful owner, handing the treasure box back to Luo Hongxia. "Three Great Yu Tribulation Transcendence cultivators are sealed inside. Please keep it safe, Palace Master Luo."
Luo Hongxia nearly failed to keep a steady grip on the box.
"Rest assured, Fellow Daoist Luo. Fellow Daoist Yun has added a seal to the treasure box, so nothing will go wrong."
"Indeed, indeed! Even if something does happen, it won't be an issue; we are all right here to help you."
The crowd crowded around Luo Hongxia—or rather, around the treasure box, for trapped inside was an unimaginable fortune.
Having wrapped up matters here, Yun Zhi extended her divine sense. She first checked the rendezvous point divulged by the Great Yu cultivators and found that the Imperial Preceptor was not there. Expanding her divine sense further to scour the territory of the Dao Seeking Sect, she still found no sign of him.
"Eldest Senior Sister, did you find the Great Yu Imperial Preceptor?"
Yun Zhi shook her head with regret. "I did not. If he is still within the Dao Seeking Sect, there are two possibilities: either it is the effect of his rudimentary Dao fruit, or he has temporarily opened an isolated space."
"I will search for his trail. The celebration may proceed as scheduled."
Chapter 485