60: Heart-to-heart talk between master and apprentice

In the small courtyard.

Li Tingyue sighed deeply.

Recalling the events of this afternoon, he felt stifled.

Indeed, in the world of cultivation, only strength matters. If you lack strength, even if others rob you, you must welcome them with open arms.

He waved his hand, setting up a barrier to prevent their conversation from leaking out.

Then, with a bitter smile, he said:

"Brother Jiang, you don't know, the reason for setting up the barrier today was for the Immortal Cave of that Nascent Soul Realm expert."

"According to the three bandits from the Xuanhuang Domain, the reason this Immortal Cave of a Nascent Soul Realm expert is so coveted is because this Nascent Soul Realm expert was Daoist Dan Shuzi."

"He was a Nascent Soul Realm Alchemist!"

"His Immortal Cave not only contains ordinary Medicinal Pills, but also the Nascent Soul Tribulation Pill, which can increase the chances of Golden Core Cultivators breaking through to the Nascent Soul Realm!"

"Of course, what's most precious isn't just these, but also the Pill Formulas he treasured, and... his Legacy!"

"However, if it were just these, it wouldn't be enough for these outside forces to go to such lengths to come to our side. I suspect there's an even greater Opportunity within this Immortal Cave!"

"But the key is in their hands, and if they don't say anything, we can't do anything."

As Li Tingyue spoke, his heart began to race.

He picked up a piece of spiritual meat with his chopsticks, dipped it in the sauce, and put it in his mouth.

After exclaiming "Delicious!", he continued.

"Just the Opportunities revealed on the surface are enough to make the forces of our Cang Ling Domain envious."

"We also know that by revealing it, they didn't intend to monopolize it, so that long period of time was actually a struggle over the allocation of spots."

"How is it?!"

Jiang Ning quickly asked.

He was also salivating.

Not to mention that this relic is related to the Male Lead and Female Lead, just the Alchemy techniques and the Medicinal Pills that can increase a Cultivator's chance of breaking through to the Nascent Soul Realm are exactly what he needs.

Moreover, an Immortal Cave belonging to a Nascent Soul Realm expert, and a wealthy Alchemist at that—how could he not have some powerful Cultivation Techniques?

Li Tingyue said in a deep voice:

"For the Golden Core Realm, only Early Stage Golden Core Cultivators from the Cang Ling Domain are allowed to enter, and the three major sects can only send one Early Stage Golden Core Cultivator each;"

"For the Foundation Establishment Realm, only Early Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators from the Cang Ling Domain are allowed to enter;"

"There are no restrictions below the Foundation Establishment Realm."

Jiang Ning was stunned.

"They're treating the Cang Ling Domain as an Opportunity to exploit!"

"Isn't that the truth!" Li Tingyue took a sip of immortal peach peach, feeling it wasn't enough. "On our territory, they want to use the lives of our domain's experts and Geniuses as stepping stones."

"And we can only agree."

"Don't you think that's stifling?"

Jiang Ning also sighed.

Only Early Stage Golden Core Cultivators were allowed to enter because the experts they brought were all Middle Stage Golden Core Cultivators.

Even if the Golden Core Cultivators of the three major sects and some Loose Cultivator Golden Core Cultivators banded together, they couldn't do anything against them.

As for those Early Stage Foundation Establishment or Qi Refining Realm Disciples... they were purely meant to be whetstones for their Geniuses.

Although there were Golden Core Cultivators watching, it wouldn't matter even if Cultivators at Foundation Establishment Perfection entered, but they were too lazy to bother with flies and didn't want to be distracted by the junior battlefield.

What immense confidence.

To think of challenging Foundation Establishment Cultivators at Qi Refining Perfection!

But even knowing their intentions, the Cang Ling Domain still had to agree.

Besides being unable to defeat them, there was another reason: they hadn't pushed things to the extreme.

The Realm difference wasn't great, and in fact, among the juniors, the Cang Ling Domain even had a Realm advantage. This was hope, the hope that would make the Cang Ling Domain throw themselves into the fire.

Once people have a glimmer of hope, they won't burn their bridges.

However, this meant... his Early Stage Golden Core cultivation could no longer be hidden.

"Even if they're unhappy, everyone is flocking to it. This is the greatest Opportunity in the Cang Ling Domain in nearly a thousand years."

"Indeed."

Li Tingyue cupped his hands, getting to the main point of the day.

"Brother Jiang, I came here at the behest of our Old Ancestor. Our Old Ancestor is at the Middle Stage Golden Core Realm..."

Jiang Ning understood.

Perhaps the Li family's Golden Core Old Ancestor hadn't expected to suffer a disadvantage due to being too high in Realm.

"Brother Li, rest assured, I have received the Li family's kindness. On this trip, if I can see that Nascent Soul Tribulation Pill, I, Jiang, will definitely strive for it."

Li Tingyue hummed in response.

But in front of such powerful forces, getting even one would be good enough; how could he strive for more?

Would those three Middle Stage Golden Core Cultivators allow him to obtain two by himself?

The Li family's intention this time was actually just to hold onto some hope, not truly expecting Jiang Ning to obtain anything significant.

While Shen Jinhuan and Li Yunxi were eating hotpot.

Their ears perked up, listening intently to the conversation between the two "elders."

Upon learning that Jiang Ning was also going to enter the Nascent Soul Cave Abode, Shen Jinhuan was startled. Had he... reached the Golden Core Realm?

As Jiang Ning and Li Tingyue chatted, their conversation naturally turned to the younger generation.

Li Tingyue said, "This trip is dangerous, so I don't plan on letting Yunxi go. If Brother Jiang encounters any difficulty with my Li family's Disciples inside, I hope you will look after them."

"No problem, it's only natural."

Jiang Ning looked at Shen Jinhuan.

"I want to go!"

Shen Jinhuan saw through Jiang Ning's intentions at a glance.

Jiang Ning was helpless.

He couldn't dissuade the young girl with her temperament. Rather than letting her sneak in, it was better to have her by his side.

A few pots of immortal peach peach were quickly consumed.

After seeing off Li Tingyue and his daughter.

Jiang Ning looked at the crescent moon in the sky.

Li Tingyue had just said that the Immortal Cave would open in three days. The forces from outside the domain needed to rest, and the forces of the Cang Ling Domain also needed to formulate corresponding strategies.

Shen Jinhuan, meanwhile, was looking at Jiang Ning.

"Huanhuan."

"Hmm."

"Nothing you want to ask?"

"I want to wait for Revered Master to tell me himself."

Jiang Ning chuckled, "Do you still remember the jade box your Uncle Li gave me back then, the Medicinal Pill for breaking through a Realm?"

Shen Jinhuan suddenly understood.

So Jiang Ning had told her back then!

It was for breaking through a Realm!

She had just naively thought it was a Breakthrough in a minor Realm.

But when did Jiang Ning break through to Foundation Establishment Perfection...? Shen Jinhuan thought for a while and remembered a day when she noticed Jiang Ning looked much younger and more handsome.

Presumably, that day was when Jiang Ning achieved Perfection.

Shen Jinhuan felt a little afraid. If she hadn't suppressed her temper back then and had instead sought an Opportunity to ambush Jiang Ning, she would have faced a Golden Core Cultivator!

Shen Jinhuan felt a sense of melancholy and a touch of bitterness.

She had lain dormant, waiting for revenge, and hadn't Jiang Ning also hidden his Realm, waiting for her to seek revenge?

Both of them... were hiding.

Shen Jinhuan spoke hoarsely, "Revered Master, if during this time, I tried to kill you, what would you do?"

"I would keep you confined by my side. I cannot bring myself to kill you, nor will I allow you to kill your Revered Master to prove your Dao."

Jiang Ning took a deep breath.

"Huanhuan, this Revered Master is, after all, indebted to you."

"Furthermore, whether you believe it or not, this Revered Master is indeed no longer your original Revered Master. Not a single part of him, person or soul, remains the same."

Shen Jinhuan hummed in response.

She thought, if he wasn't, how could it be that neither his person nor his soul remained the same? Could he have been in disguise all along? Wasn't this just playing with her?

But if he was the same person, then how could Jiang Ning's Realm have advanced so rapidly? Cultivators don't have a concept of a 'second spring'; they only decline with age.

Shen Jinhuan fell into deep thought.