40: Qingyuan Shengde Yanling Zhenren!

Several months passed in the blink of an eye.

The fifth day of the second month, the fifth year of Huangtian.

The ice and snow on Cangqing Mountain had begun to melt; spring was awakening, and greenery was everywhere.

The morning sun was bright and beautiful.

Deep within the mountainside of Cangqing Mountain, two Golden Eagles were huddled together on a towering ancient tree several arm-spans wide, showing their affection.

However, upon seeing Yu Xuzi approach, they immediately spread their golden wings and flew toward him with cheerful cries.

They smelled a fragrance!

"Your noses are certainly sharp!"

Yu Xuzi smiled and reached out both hands, stroking the crest feathers on the heads of the two Golden Eagles.

"Ga-gu— Ga-gu—"

The two creatures chirped incessantly, their sharp golden beaks pecking directly toward the Storage Pouch at Yu Xuzi's waist.

"Don't be in such a hurry!"

Yu Xuzi pushed them away and took a porcelain bottle from his Storage Pouch, pouring out two pale yellow Medicinal Pills that emitted a faint spiritual light.

In an instant, a rich, exotic fragrance spread out.

"Today is your lucky day!"

"These are genuine Tier 1 Spirit Pills. I used three whole Spirit Medicines to refine just these two!"

"Now is the perfect time for your Breakthrough into Yao Beasts!"

He placed the Spirit-Feeding Pills before the two Golden Eagles.

The Golden Eagle pair looked at each other, gave a soft cry of gratitude, and lowered their heads to carefully swallow the Medicinal Pills.

The moment the pills entered their bellies, they transformed into a warm current that flowed down their throats and into their bodies, nourishing them.

In a flash.

The bodies of the two Golden Eagles began to tremble slightly, a faint golden light shimmered around them, and a weak Demonic Qi began to emerge.

Their bones made "crackling" sounds as their bodies slowly grew larger, and their feathers became even more golden and brilliant, as if forged from pure gold.

Their sharp, knife-like golden beaks curved slightly, and conspicuous crimson serrations appeared, while the iron talons beneath their bellies gradually took on a deep bronze-brown hue, covered in patterns resembling scales.

These were the hallmarks of the Wind-Chasing Golden Eagle!

A moment later, the auras of the two Golden Eagles surged abruptly.

The male's wingspan had exploded to five zhang, and the female's was four zhang wide; they had truly become massive behemoths.

"Li— Li—!!!"

Their excited cries echoed through the mountains in turn as a gale swept up dust in a sudden explosion, and wind blades filled the air, shredding countless plants and trees.

The Yao Beast Wind-Chasing Golden Eagles were born!

...Meanwhile, in the Central Continent.

Kang Country.

As the largest nation in this world, Kang Country's territory spanned approximately thirty thousand li from east to west and fifty thousand li from north to south.

It occupied most of the Central Continent, covering a vast area.

At the same time, Kang Country was one of the few remaining Cultivator nations in this world!

And without a doubt, it was the largest among them!

The royal Family of Kang Country was a cultivation Family, presided over by several Dao Foundation Ancestors, and their ancestors had even produced a Xuantai True Person.

Additionally, many Cultivators from cultivation clans held important positions within the Dynasty.

Not just in the government, but also in the military.

Within Kang Country and its neighboring nations, there were over a hundred cultivation Sects of various sizes, along with tens of thousands of Loose Cultivators and organized Cultivator markets.

It was as if the final essence of the entire world was preserved here.

Compared to the impoverished Southwest region, this place actually looked somewhat like a true "Cultivation World."

Of course, it wasn't that much better.

The grand trend of the age of decadence could not be reversed by human effort; it was simply that the peripheries of the continent were always one step ahead.

Everyone knew that in not many years, the Cultivation World of the Central Continent would also fall into the mundane world.

Qingyuan Sect.

The undisputed overlord of Kang Country!

Even the overlord of this entire Cultivation World!

Not only because of its immense strength, but more so because it possessed the last human Profound Fetus Cultivator of this world:

[True Person Yanling of Qingyuan Sacred Virtue]

Perhaps he was also the last Tier 3 being in this world... although there were rumors in the Cultivation World that Tier 3 Yao Kings of the Yao Race still existed deep in the ocean, though few had ever seen one.

Inside the magnificent hall, there was a heavy silence.

True Person Yanling sat upright upon a jade platform.

His body appeared exceptionally thin and small beneath the vermillion pillars of the hall; his wide, dark-blue Daoist robes hung loosely on his withered frame, looking as if a gust of wind could blow him away.

Only those eyes, which had witnessed five hundred years of wind and rain, remained as clear as water, reflecting the dozens of figures waiting silently in the hall.

"You have all come."

His voice was like wind blowing over dry leaves, hoarse yet clear.

"Reporting to Immortal Master, everyone is here..."

The one speaking was the Grand Elder of the Qingyuan Sect—Venerable Weiyun, a Late Stage Dao Foundation Cultivator.

Behind him were eleven Dao Foundation Elders, and further back were thirty-six Core Disciples.

"Sit, everyone sit."

True Person Yanling lightly lifted his wrist, every movement seemingly an immense effort. "Today is not a lecture on the Dao; there is no need for formality."

Everyone took their seats in turn, the sound of prayer mats rubbing against the floor echoing through the hall.

No one spoke; even their breathing was intentionally hushed.

Everyone's face was clouded with sorrow.

They knew what this meant.

The Sect Master's Lifespan had reached its end; the last Immortal Master of the Cultivation World was about to pass away.

"My allotted time is coming to an end."

True Person Yanling came straight to the point, his tone very calm. "It should be within this year."

Muffled gasps came from the crowd; some had reddened eyes, some lowered their heads, and some looked uneasy.

True Person Yanling's gaze slowly swept across them.

It was a look of reminiscence, and also a farewell.

Every person present was someone he had watched grow up since they began their cultivation.

Now, however, he was to go before them.

"In the age of decadence, the Heavenly Dao is flawed, and the spiritual essence is exhausted."

"This trend cannot be defied by human strength; therefore, there is no need to feel pity for me."

"I have summoned you for this audience today to entrust you with the future."

He leaned forward slightly, a corner of his Daoist robe slipping down to reveal a wrist like a withered branch.

"After I am gone, the outside world will be like a pack of wolves circling; the Qingyuan Sect may face a crisis, and it will all depend on you..."

"Sect Master, how shall we endure?"

Grand Elder Venerable Weiyun asked, his voice trembling.

Although their Qingyuan Sect had twelve Dao Foundation Elders and would remain the absolute number one Sect in the world even without True Person Yanling!

But in today's Cultivation World, there were still over sixty known Dao Foundation Cultivators in total!

The Qingyuan Sect did not have an absolute advantage.

Although a Xuantai True Person was a being far beyond the Dao Foundation level, with Divine Abilities and Daoist techniques so powerful that no amount of Dao Foundation Cultivators could pose a threat!

But once True Person Yanling passed away... it was hard to say how long the Qingyuan Sect's current interests and status could be maintained.

"Everyone is a Dao Foundation Cultivator!"

"If I can't beat the Qingyuan Sect alone, can't I just unite with others?"

The Legacy of an Immortal Master and the foundation of the world's number one Sect—one didn't even need to think to know how much envy they would incite!

True Person Yanling remained silent for a long time, still not answering the Grand Elder's question, but instead turned to bring up a sensitive topic.

"In the depths of your hearts... are you still complaining that I haven't cleared away the threats for you before I leave?"

As soon as these words were spoken, the faces of those below changed drastically, and they all knelt and shouted, "Your Disciples would never dare!"

"You wouldn't dare?"

True Person Yanling sighed deeply. "Then that means you still do?"

Now, no one dared to speak.

In fact, within the Qingyuan Sect, there had always been a private sentiment:

That was the hope that Sect Master True Person Yanling would purge the Cultivation World before his passing!

At the very least, kill those outside Dao Foundation Cultivators and concentrate all resources to support the Qingyuan Sect... only then could the Qingyuan Sect's Legacy be guaranteed.

Perhaps there would even be a chance to survive the age of decadence.

Not only did the Disciples have such thoughts, but True Person Yanling knew that even several Dao Foundation Elders thought this way.

However, he had always strictly refused this.

It did not align with his path of cultivation.

"Yanling! Yanling!"

"This Daoist name represented his ambition."

What a pity.

"Alas..."

A sigh echoed within the grand hall.

The Disciples did not dare to look up, and no one knew exactly what True Person Yanling meant.