115: Even leveling up while lying down can have its troubles?

Myriad Dao Divine Mountain, small courtyard.

Chu Xuanjin lay on a rocking chair, a water screen floating before him. The scene in the screen was exactly Tianxu City in the Central Province.

Wang Duojin stood with hands on hips, spit flying as he directed a group of Disciples to change the 'Inviting Moon Tower' plaque to three grand, flowing characters: 'Myriad Dao Tower.'

The surrounding Cultivators were all as quiet as cicadas in winter, not even daring to breathe loudly.

"Sigh, how unseemly."

Chu Xuanjin took a sip of tea and shook his head.

"This is simply like bandits entering a city; it severely impacts the humble and low-profile Sect image of our Myriad Dao Divine Sect."

He said this, but the smile in his eyes could not be hidden.

Just then, he suddenly remembered something.

"Right, the battle is over, the debts are collected, it seems there are still some things to claim."

With a thought.

"System, open the rewards for that previous Sect-extermination mission."

[Ding! Opening the Mythical Grade Sect Gift Pack!]

The next second, Chu Xuanjin's Sea of Consciousness was nearly blinded by the screen-filling list of rewards.

[Congratulations to the Host for obtaining: High Grade Immortal-tier Cultivation Technique 'Nine Revolutions Reincarnation Sutra'!]

[Congratulations to the Host for obtaining: High Grade Immortal-tier Divine Ability 'Universe in the Sleeve'!]

[Congratulations to the Host for obtaining: High Grade Immortal-tier Magic Treasure 'Haotian Mirror'!]

[Congratulations to the Host for obtaining: Grade Nine Immortal Pill 'Nine Apertures Golden Pill' * one gourd!]

[Congratulations to the Host for obtaining: Supreme Grade Immortal Vein * ten!]

[Congratulations to the Host for obtaining: Lower Realm Heaven And Earth Treasures, Spirit Pills and miraculous medicines, Cultivation Technique Secret Manuals... * one warehouse!]

"Stop, stop, stop!"

Chu Xuanjin quickly called a halt.

If it kept reading, the sun would set.

With a wave of his hand, too lazy to look closely, he directly threw the massive pile of items into the top floor of the Sect Treasury.

When the Disciples' cultivation reached the required level, they could go and take them themselves.

"Next."

[Ding! Distributing Reward Two: Great Dao Origin Fragment!]

A walnut-sized fragment, Chaos-colored throughout and seemingly containing the ultimate principles of the Universe's birth and death, quietly appeared within Chu Xuanjin's Sea of Consciousness.

The moment the fragment appeared, the 'Dao' Cultivation Technique within his body began to operate on its own.

Countless profound Laws regarding time, space, Karma, and Reincarnation flooded into his mind like a divine empowerment.

He felt his understanding of this world deepen by another notch.

"Not bad, good stuff." Chu Xuanjin nodded with satisfaction.

This thing was more practical than giving him a hundred Immortal Artifacts.

"Next."

[Ding! Distributing Reward Three: Cultivation Empowerment!]

A vast and peerless force of Immortal essence, so pure it was indescribable, appeared out of nowhere and poured into Chu Xuanjin's limbs and bones.

His cultivation, which had just reached the Early-stage True Immortal stage, was like riding a flying boat, soaring all the way!

Mid-stage Profound Immortal!

Late True Immortal stage!

"Boom!"

In just a few short breaths, his cultivation settled firmly at the Late True Immortal stage, only one step away from True Immortal Great Perfection.

"It's alright."

Chu Xuanjin felt the surging power within him, his expression remaining calm.

He was already used to this feeling.

"The last one."

[Ding! Distributing the Final Reward: The entire Sect increases by one major Realm!]

Chu Xuanjin: "?"

He was slightly stunned, not yet reacting to what this meant.

The next second, a sudden change occurred!

...Myriad Dao Divine Mountain, Commercial District.

Wang Duojin was using his disciple token to remotely control his Empire of commerce in the Central Province, muttering to himself.

"That 'Hundred Herbs Hall', change it to 'Myriad Dao Grand Pharmacy'! All Medicinal Pills are 20% off!"

"That 'Artifact Refining Pavilion', change it to 'Myriad Dao Divine Weapon Shop'! We support trade-ins, and if there aren't enough Spirit Stones, you can pay in installments!"

He was speaking with great enthusiasm when suddenly, an indescribable and mysterious power descended from the Void Realm, enveloping him!

"Holy crap!"

Wang Duojin only felt the spiritual energy in his body start to go wild, as if it had been injected with chicken blood!

The originally incredibly firm Late Soul Transformation Stage Bottleneck was as fragile as paper before this power!

"Crack!"

With a crisp sound, the Bottleneck shattered!

A terrifying aura far exceeding Soul Transformation erupted from his body!

Void Refining Stage!

And it wasn't the Void Refining Initial Stage!

It was Inte... Late Void Refinement Stage!

"What... what the heck?"

Wang Duojin stared blankly at his hands, completely stunned.

He pinched himself, grimacing in pain.

It wasn't a dream!

He, Wang Duojin, while lying at home directing work, had somehow mysteriously jumped from the Late Soul Transformation Stage to the Late Void Refinement Stage?

This was more ridiculous than a meat pie falling from the sky!

This was clearly dragon meat falling from the sky!

The same scene was happening in every corner of the Myriad Dao Divine Sect.

Deep within the Sword Tomb, Ye Chenfeng, who was in a fierce battle with an Ancient Sword Soul, had his Sword Intent soaring to the skies, his cultivation rocketing from the Middle Stage of Body Integration all the way to the Middle Stage of Mahayana! The Sword Soul that was originally evenly matched with him was instantly dispersed by the aura erupting from him.

In the Medicine Garden, Gongsun Yan, who was watering Immortal Plants, was surrounded by ten thousand rays of divine light, her cultivation jumping directly from the Middle Stage of Golden Core to the Middle Stage of Nascent Soul Stage!

Even those Utility Disciples with low Aptitude who were still in the Qi Refining Stage all seemed to have taken a massive tonic, breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Stage on the spot!

Across the entire Myriad Dao Divine Mountain, for a time, the glowing lights of Breakthroughs rose one after another, and the Spiritual Qi surged like boiling water.

All the Disciples were completely dumbfounded.

"What's going on? I was just sweeping the floor, how did I reach Foundation Establishment?"

"I was just sleeping! I woke up and I'm at the Nascent Soul Stage?"

"The Sect... did the Sect just give us a benefit? This benefit is way too hardcore!"

Just as everyone was discussing in a flurry, not knowing what to do.

A lazy yet supremely majestic voice echoed in everyone's mind.

"What's all the noise about?"

"It's merely the rewards for annihilating three major forces. You're all making such a fuss; where is your decorum?"

"Everyone, go and stabilize your cultivation! If anyone is flighty or impatient, report to the Confinement Room yourself!"

It's the Sect Master!

Every Disciple's heart shivered, followed by a surge of fanatical worship and excitement!

Mission rewards!

Just mission rewards could allow everyone in the entire Sect to increase by a major Realm!

What a Heaven-Defying feat!

What a terrifying Divine Ability!

"Sect Master is awesome!"

Someone was the first to shout it out.

Immediately after, cheers like a mountain tsunami echoed throughout the entire Divine Mountain.

"Long live the Sect Master!"

"Myriad Dao Divine Sect, number one in the world!"

...In the small courtyard, Chu Xuanjin listened with satisfaction to the cheers of the Disciples, feeling that this round of showing off was perfectly timed.

But the next second, he could no longer smile.

Because that mysterious power, after upgrading all the Disciples and Elders, actually split off a wisp and landed on him.

"Eh?"

Chu Xuanjin was stunned.

Following that, his cultivation, which had just broken through to the Late True Immortal stage, once again began an uncontrollable surge!

True Immortal Great Perfection!

"Crack!"

Another sound of a Bottleneck shattering.

An aura far exceeding a True Immortal, containing the power of profound and mysterious Laws, erupted from his body!

Profound Immortal!

Early-stage Profound Immortal!

Mid-stage Profound Immortal!

Late Stage Profound Immortal!

When that power completely dissipated, Chu Xuanjin's cultivation settled firmly at the Late Stage Profound Immortal.

He sat blankly on the rocking chair, unable to recover for a long time.

"Wait... the entire Sect increases by one major Realm...?"

He realized it.

It seemed there was nothing wrong with that.

But... this was too fast!

Chu Xuanjin pulled up his attribute panel and looked at the blinding four characters 'Late Stage Profound Immortal,' falling into deep thought.

[Myriad Dao Divine Sect]

[Sect Master: Chu Xuanjin]

[Realm: Late Stage Profound Immortal]

...[Personal Disciples: 7]

1. Ye Chenfeng

[Realm: Mahayana Middle Stage]

2. Su Linger

[Realm: Early Integration Stage]

3. Wang Duojin

[Realm: Late Void Refinement Stage]

4. Zhao Wuyou

[Realm: Mahayana Late Stage]

5. Gongsun Yan

[Realm: Nascent Soul Middle Stage]

6. Ye Wushang

[Realm: Body Integration Great Perfection]

7. Bai Jinnian

[Realm: Nascent Soul Late Stage]

---

[Core Disciple: 1]

Zhao Wuji

[Realm: Body Integration Middle Stage]

"Tsk tsk."

Chu Xuanjin looked at the luxurious and almost perverted cultivation list of his Disciples and nodded with gratification.

Ye Chenfeng and Zhao Wuyou were in the Mahayana stage.

Placed in the entire Azure Cloud Continent, they were already Earth Immortals who could walk sideways and were ready to undergo Tribulation and Ascension at any time.

Su Linger, Ye Wushang, and Zhao Wuji were also great powers of the Body Integration Stage.

Even Gongsun Yan and Bai Jinnian, who had the lowest cultivation, were in the Late Stage of Nascent Soul, enough to be considered ancestors of their own Sects.

This lineup, let alone unifying the Azure Cloud Continent, would be more than enough even if they flipped the continent over and kicked it like a ball.

"Not bad, not bad, they've finally all grown up."

Chu Xuanjin closed the panel with satisfaction.

But just then, an extremely uncomfortable feeling surged up.

It wasn't pain, nor was it weakness.

Rather, it was a sense of restraint.

A suffocating feeling of being suppressed and unable to stretch, originating from the depths of his Soul.

It was like a two-meter-tall giant being forcibly stuffed into a one-meter-square iron box, only able to curl up tightly, finding even breathing difficult.

The Profound Immortal power within him was like a sleeping giant dragon; every time it wanted to turn over, it would be suppressed back by the 'box walls' of this world.

"Sigh, here it comes."

Chu Xuanjin sighed.

He knew this was the Law of the Lower Realm plane rejecting him.

His power had already far exceeded the limits that this world could accommodate.

Although the 'heaven-shading umbrella' given by the System could prevent him from being detected by the Heavenly Dao and having the Ascension Lightning Tribulation descend.

But this fundamental conflict originating from his Soul and the Laws of Heaven and Earth could not be shielded.

The most critical part was that this sense of restraint also brought an extremely serious side effect.

He was starting to feel sleepy again.

A deep-seated exhaustion, as if he hadn't slept for tens of thousands of years, flooded over him like a tide.

His eyelids grew heavier and heavier.

His spirit became more and more listless.

He felt that if he didn't find a place to lie down, he might fall asleep and die on the spot the next second.

"This is troublesome."

Chu Xuanjin forced himself to stay alert and began to think of a solution.

There were only two paths before him.

First, ascend immediately.

With his current strength, tearing through the world barrier and ascending to the Upper Realm was just a matter of flicking his finger.

But what about the Disciples?

Although the Myriad Dao Divine Mountain could be taken away as an independent space, being carried with him.

But the Disciples' cultivation was still too low after all.

Ye Chenfeng and Zhao Wuyou were okay; at the Mahayana stage, they barely reached the threshold of Ascension.

But what about the others?

A group of little fellows in the Body Integration and Nascent Soul Stages following him to the Upper Realm where Laws were complete and Immortals were everywhere—wouldn't they be pure cannon fodder?

They would be crushed by the Laws of the Upper Realm until they couldn't breathe.

Moreover, he knew nothing about the situation in the Upper Realm.

If he just showed his face and was detected by some passing great power who noticed the System and secrets on him, that would be a disaster.

The second path was to continue staying in the Lower Realm.

Wait until the Disciples' cultivation all reached the Mahayana stage, and then take them all to ascend together.

This was the most stable method.

But the problem was, how long would this process take?

Ten years? A hundred years?

He had to endure this worse-than-death sleepiness for a hundred years?

By then, he feared he would have slept until he became a fossil.

The more Chu Xuanjin thought about it, the more his head ached.

"Forget it, forget it, I won't think about it."

He waved his hand, deciding to take it one step at a time.

There's always a way when the car reaches the mountain; at worst, he'd just sleep every day.

Anyway, the Sect was now on the right track, and the Disciples were all capable of handling things on their own. Whether he, the Sect Master, was there or not seemed... about the same?

Thinking of this, Chu Xuanjin's heart suddenly relaxed.

He gave a yawn.

He couldn't take it anymore, he really couldn't hold on.

He wobbled back to the Bamboo Hut, lay on the bed, and fell into a deep sleep... From then on, the Disciples of the Myriad Dao Divine Sect noticed a strange phenomenon.

Their majestic and powerful Sect Master, who was already elusive, became even more mysterious.

Before, although the Sect Master often acted as a hands-off manager, he would occasionally drink tea in the small courtyard, bask in the sun, or on a whim, point out the Disciples' cultivation.

But now, the gates to the Sect Master's small courtyard were closed all day long.

Even Personal Disciples like Ye Chenfeng and Su Linger, when they went to pay their respects, could mostly only hear one or two incoherent sleep-talks coming from inside the courtyard gates.

"Revered Master... what kind of seclusion is he in?"

Wang Duojin stood outside the small courtyard, scratching his head with a look of confusion.

"I don't know." Ye Chenfeng shook his head, a hint of doubt in his eyes. "Revered Master's aura is as deep as the sea; I completely cannot fathom it. Perhaps it is some kind of cultivation that returns to one's true self."

"I think Revered Master looks like he's... sleeping." Gongsun Yan tilted her head and said in a small voice.

Everyone: "..."

This guess was too ridiculous for anyone to dare believe it.

But as time went on, the saying that the Sect Master was in 'Slumber Seclusion' still quietly spread among the Disciples.

The Sect Master became a legend.

A legend who lived in everyone's respect and worship, yet was almost never seen by anyone.

And the Myriad Dao Divine Sect, this terrifying war machine that no longer had the Sect Master personally driving it, did not stop. Instead, under the leadership of several Personal Disciples, it began to turn with an even more rapid momentum.

The landscape of the entire Azure Cloud Continent also welcomed an unprecedented and drastic transformation because of this.

---

The End!