120: No miracles, no breakthroughs

“When did you, kid, Break through to the Sixth Layer of Qi Refining?” Ancestor Qingyun asked helplessly.

Liu Xuan withdrew his sword finger, bowed respectfully, “Disciple Broke through not long ago. These past few days, I’ve been stabilizing my Cultivation, so I didn’t have time to report to Revered Master.”

“Forget it!”

Lin Qingyun thought carefully; he, as Revered Master, truly hadn’t taught Liu Xuan anything.

Talismans were self-taught, Cultivation Techniques and swordsmanship were also self-taught, so it was normal for him not to know.

“Are you really not considering going to the Heavenly Sword Sect? With your talent, that’s where you can truly unleash your potential.”

Lin Qingyun genuinely felt that Liu Xuan staying in the Red Pine Sect was a waste of his talents. Staying here was completely squandering his potential.

Liu Xuan nodded, “Disciple lives very comfortably in the Sect. All the achievements I have today are given by Revered Master and the Sect. The Sect is my home, and I don’t wish to travel far.”

The Sect was indeed Liu Xuan’s home. His dozens of children and wives lived in the Talisman Hall.

In the future, as his children grew up and new children were born, the Sect would become his Liu Family’s ancestral land.

As for Nascent Soul Sects like the Heavenly Sword Sect, Cloud Top Sect, and Peach Blossom Sect, and the broader world, he would leave it to his children to explore!

Once they achieved success and gained some status, Liu Xuan would then enjoy the blessings... “You, kid, are really...”

Lin Qingyun wanted to say that Liu Xuan lacked ambition and drive, but such things couldn’t be forced, and saying it wouldn’t mean much.

If Liu Xuan were a Disciple of his Lin Family, or a Disciple who had apprenticed under him since childhood, he would definitely scold him.

But Liu Xuan had joined halfway, and the Revered Master and Disciple hadn’t spent much time together; their relationship wasn’t actually deep, more of a transactional one. Saying too much would only harm their relationship.

From a utilitarian perspective, Liu Xuan’s willingness to stay in the Sect was even better for his Lin Family, so there was no need to say more.

Lin Qingyun finally understood: this kid Liu Xuan had monstrous talent, but no great ambition. He even hid his talent, unwilling to draw attention, just wanting to live a stable life.

He heard that Liu Xuan spent most of the Spirit Stones he earned from drawing Talismans on his Concubines and children, not considering the future at all—it was outrageous!

‘To still be able to Cultivate to the Sixth Layer of Qi Refining at twenty-five and Revered Master the Sword Intent that no other Disciple in the entire Red Pine Sect has managed—the Heavenly Dao is truly unfair!’

A Foundation Establishment Ancestor like Lin Qingyun actually felt jealousy towards Liu Xuan.

“Forget it! Have it your way.”

Lin Qingyun waved his hand, “I, your Revered Master, am not proficient in the Dao of the Sword, but I have collected many ancient texts and Secret Manuals of swordsmanship. If you need anything, you can tell me.”

“Thank you, Revered Master!”

“Disciple actually has no interest in the Dao of the Sword; I just practice it for fun when I’m bored.”

“Compared to the Dao of the Sword, Disciple prefers the Dao of Talismans.”

“Oh?”

“Why?”

Lin Qingyun was amused. This kid Liu Xuan was sometimes quite serious, and sometimes liked to talk nonsense.

“Talismans can be sold for money!”

“Hahaha!”

Lin Qingyun laughed heartily, “You’re wrong there, actually the Dao of the Sword is more profitable!”

He pointed to the Red Pine on the mountaintop and said, “Immortal Revered Master Xiao is a pure Sword Cultivator. The entire Sect earns Spirit Stones for him, and even all Cultivators in the Red Pine territory pay tribute to him with Spirit Stones.”

“Uh...”

It seemed that was indeed the case.

Ultimately, in the Immortal Realm, Cultivation and strength are the foundation. How can making money be as fast as robbing money?

...Three days later.

The Spiritual Qi on the mountaintop changed again. Blood-red Spiritual Clouds, like a sunset, began to swirl anew, like an inverted tornado, pouring into a spot on the mountaintop.

“Revered Master, Ancestor Wang Qiao should have successfully passed the first two stages and is now starting the final one, right?” Liu Xuan asked.

Lin Qingyun nodded, his expression somewhat wistful, his emotions extremely complex. Old Man Wang Qiao had actually reached this step.

If his talent had been a bit better, and he had also Broken through to Peak Foundation Establishment, with his relationship with Immortal Revered Master Xiao, perhaps it would be him Breaking through now.

Opportunity! Sometimes, a small difference can be a world apart.

“Ancestor Wang Qiao successfully passed the first two stages, so does the probability of his Breakthrough increase? What percentage of success does Revered Master estimate for him now?”

“Twenty percent, perhaps!”

“The first two stages were relatively simpler with the help of the golden core spirit item. In the final stage, the golden core spirit item only serves to protect life and offers no actual help. Whether he succeeds or not depends entirely on himself!”

Lin Qingyun still felt that Wang Qiao’s success rate was not high; he even thought he had overestimated it at twenty percent.

It wasn’t that he didn’t have faith in his friend Wang Qiao, but Breaking through to Golden Core was truly too difficult!

Among these nearby Golden Core Sects, every few decades, there would always be one or two Peak Foundation Establishment Cultivators who would attempt a Breakthrough.

Lin Qingyun had never heard of anyone succeeding. Those without Golden Core True Person support to purchase golden core spirit items died directly, and those with golden core spirit items also failed, disappearing after a period of time.

The Red Pine Sect, Ice Pool Sect, Free and Easy Sect, and Broken River Sect—these four Golden Core Sects were not called by these names before; all four Golden Core True Persons originated from the Heavenly Sword Sect.

Among the nearby Golden Core Sects that Lin Qingyun knew of, only the Nether Fire Sect’s Golden Core True Person was a Disciple from their own Sect.

No choice!

The essence of a Sect is not actually for Legacy, nor for nurturing Disciples.

The essence of a Sect is for lower-level Cultivators to serve upper-level Cultivators. Except in special circumstances, even Geniuses have to work.

The value of a Genius is in the greater value that can be obtained after they are nurtured, not in the Genius themselves.

If Immortal Revered Master Xiao wasn’t nearing his great limit, and the Xiao Family had no promising talents, he wouldn’t have fully supported Wang Qiao’s Core Formation.

A Sect like the Red Pine Sect, with only one Golden Core True Person, itself is unlikely to Cultivate a Golden Core True Person... On the morning of the eighth day.

The ‘inverted’ tornado of Spiritual Qi on the mountaintop suddenly became chaotic. At first, it swayed slightly, then gradually became uncontrollable.

Half an hour later.

“Boom~”

A violent explosion, and the turbulent Spiritual Clouds burst open. The terrifying energy fluctuations were guided and released by the Formation.

“Buzz~”

The Sect Grand Formation itself vibrated, rippling like water. If there hadn’t been the Sect Grand Formation protecting it, the mountain itself would probably have exploded.

“Alas!!”

A faint sigh seemed to come from the sky, carrying a deep sense of regret.

He failed!

Needless to say, everyone could see that no miracle had occurred.

As the Sect Formation fluctuated, several terrifying Divine Senses withdrew from the Formation outside the Red Pine Sect.

Most were Golden Core True Persons who had come to watch the excitement. If Wang Qiao had truly Broken through, it would have had some impact, more or less, on the balance of power among the nearby Sects.

The excitement was over, no miracle had occurred, and most Golden Core True Persons left directly.

If Wang Qiao had successfully Broken through, they could have visited to offer congratulations and forge a good relationship.

With Wang Qiao’s Breakthrough failure, there was no need to visit now. Firstly, it would carry a hint of mockery, and secondly, a failed Breakthrough was not worth their efforts to befriend.

However, a young man-like Golden Core True Person was an exception. He appeared outside the Formation, clearly relieved, and muttered to himself, “To be able to last until the eighth day, you gave this Immortal Revered Master quite a scare!”