novelnext Chapter 416 Titles and Paths
Chapter 416 Titles and Paths
Chapter 416 Titles and Paths
"This sparring match has truly broadened my horizons, junior brother!"
Yue Chenfeng took a step forward, and the space around him rippled as he landed on the dueling platform.
He first glanced at Su Muyu, who was slightly injured, then his gaze fell on Chen Beiwu, and he exclaimed in admiration, "A newly promoted True Monarch, who has not yet reached perfection, is able to fight to such an extent with Junior Sister Su. Even the chief of the five great cave heavens probably cannot do this."
"Senior Brother, you flatter me."
Chen Beiwu smiled calmly: "If it weren't for Senior Sister holding back at the end, I'm afraid I wouldn't even be able to stand up right now."
"Junior brother, there's no need to be so modest. A loss is a loss."
Su Muyu's gaze fell on Chen Beiwu's pale face, and she calmly said, "There are only a few Nascent Soul late-stage True Monarchs in the sect who can injure me. As for those below the Nascent Soul late stage, you are the first one."
To be fair, the gap between a late-stage Nascent Soul True Monarch and a newly promoted True Monarch is like an adult facing a child; the latter has no power to resist at all.
Junior Brother Chen was able to defeat her despite being weaker, injuring her. She was completely convinced of her defeat in this battle.
"Senior Sister Su is absolutely right."
Mo Chen nodded, his expression complex, and said, "Junior Brother Chen's strength displayed today far surpasses that of a mid-stage Nascent Soul True Monarch from beyond the realm."
The combat power of a mid-stage Nascent Soul True Monarch in the Immortal Alliance varies greatly, making direct comparison difficult.
On the contrary, the combat power of Nascent Soul True Monarchs from outside the realm is similar, making them easy targets for Nascent Soul True Monarchs in the Immortal Alliance to use as a unit of measurement for combat power.
For example, when he was in the mid-Nascent Soul stage, he could hold his own against three True Monarchs of the same realm from beyond the realm. He was considered one of the best among the Jade Purity True Monarchs of that generation, and even earned the somewhat famous title of True Monarch Yi Fa.
Compared to his junior brother Chen, his achievements in combat are truly insignificant.
"That makes sense, there's no smoke without fire!" Mo Chen thought to himself.
Normally, Mo Chen would often hear Yuqing students in the sect talking about how powerful Junior Brother Chen was, calling him a talent for refining the Void.
He simply laughed it off, thinking that these young juniors, who had not even entered the path of immortality and whose cultivation level was like a frog at the bottom of a well, dared to talk about the so-called potential for refining the void. They were truly ignorant of their own limitations.
In his opinion, while Junior Brother Chen's ability to decipher the Chaos Primordial Dao-Merging Stele and receive guidance from the Dao Venerable's will was undoubtedly a testament to his exceptional talent, his claim of mastering the Void Refinement technique was somewhat exaggerated.
How can one talk about refining emptiness without first achieving the Nascent Soul stage?
However, today's sparring match between Senior Sister Su and Junior Brother Chen changed Mo Chen's mind, and he began to believe the rumors circulating within the Jade Purity Immortal Sect.
Thinking of this, his gaze toward Chen Beiwu lost some of the condescension one would show to a junior and became more respectful.
"It's too windy and hot on this platform, why don't we move to Yunyan Residence and continue our tea?" Jiang Chuan suggested.
"Alright." Yue Chenfeng nodded slightly.
Yunyan Residence.
The four Nascent Soul True Monarchs of the Changqing lineage were enjoying tea and chatting leisurely, having a wonderful time.
Chen Beiwu rarely spoke, mostly playing the role of a listener, learning from the cultivation experience of the Nascent Soul True Monarch. However, none of the three True Monarchs present dared to ignore his presence, and they always brought up topics related to him.
As for dissuading them from competing on the life-or-death arena, Yue Chenfeng and the others did not mention it again.
The reason is simple: what Junior Brother Chen said was true; his newly promoted True Monarch was able to injure Su Muyu not long after his promotion.
Once he overcomes his weakened state and reaches the peak of the early Nascent Soul stage, his chances of defeating Xiao Yu across realms can indeed reach as high as 90%.
Given this, it would be inappropriate for them to try to dissuade him further, since Xiao Yu was the one who made the first move.
"Junior Brother Chen, do you have any thoughts about taking over the Dongming Changqing lineage?" Yue Chenfeng probed.
His ambition was to become a deity, and he had no interest in the mundane affairs of the Dongming Changqing lineage.
If his junior brother were interested in taking charge of the Dongming Changqing lineage, he would be happy to take it easy.
Upon hearing this, Su Muyu and the other two all looked at Chen Beiwu.
"That's exactly what I was thinking." Chen Beiwu nodded, making no attempt to hide his ambition.
By taking control of the Evergreen lineage and possessing its power base, his efficiency in acquiring fortune will increase significantly.
"Good, very good." Yue Chenfeng felt relieved and smiled, "I will arrange for my disciples to communicate with my junior brother regarding the handover."
It's not easy, because the second junior sister, third junior brother, and fourth junior brother are all people who don't get involved.
Now that Junior Brother Chen has taken on the responsibility, he can finally put aside worldly affairs of the sect and devote himself to seclusion to prove his Dao as a true master.
"By the way, junior brother, what title do you plan to use for your Dao-attaining True Monarch status?"
Upon hearing this, Yue Chenfeng and the other two's eyes flickered slightly as they looked at Su Muyu with curiosity.
According to the conventions of the Immortal Alliance, cultivators who have attained the Nascent Soul stage and are ranked as True Monarchs should have honorific titles to match their positions and to clarify their path.
For some cultivators, their honorific title is related to their own path and fortune, and its importance may even exceed that of their real name, so they need to be extremely careful.
But Mo Chen had already asked Junior Brother Chen once before, and now Su Muyu is asking again. Could it be that she has some good suggestions?
"Senior sister, do you have any good ideas? I've thought of two titles, but I feel they don't quite fit and need to reconsider them."
After pondering for a moment, Chen Beiwu felt that discussing the honorific title with his fellow disciples might provide more inspiration.
"Oh, what honorific title? Junior brother, could you tell me?" Su Muyu's interest grew even higher.
Mo Chen and Jiang Chuan exchanged a glance, their curiosity also piqued.
"One is Qingyuan," Chen Beiwu said.
Qingyuan?
Qingyuan Zhenjun?
Yue Chenfeng's eyes flickered slightly.
People can always be quiet, and the world will return.
Many True Lords in the Immortal Alliance have adopted the title "Changqing," but none have adopted "Qingyuan" as their title.
At least in Yue Chenfeng's memory, none of the Thirteen Immortal Sect True Monarchs had taken this title.
"Won't the name 'Qingyuan' make you seem less ambitious?" Su Muyu advised.
Junior Brother Chen is a disciple of our teacher, and is both the chief disciple of Yuqing and a disciple of Yuanshi. It seems rather ordinary for him to be given this title, which is unlikely to make him famous throughout the Immortal Alliance.
Upon hearing this, Chen Beiwu frowned slightly, his mind racing.
Purity is the foundation of destiny; tranquility embraces all things.
By cultivating good fortune and attracting good connections, good fortune will naturally come to you.
Chen Beiwu possessed the supreme treasure, the Nine Breaths of Chaos, and believed that on his path of cultivation, he needed to maintain a clear mind and not be misled by fate.
Rooted in inner peace, drawing upon the energy of heaven and earth, and transforming countless virtuous connections into a path, this is how one cultivates the true path by borrowing from beasts.
That's why he came up with the honorific title "Qingyuan".
But what Senior Sister Su said wasn't entirely unreasonable. True Lord Qingyuan sounded a bit like an old man, neither domineering nor loud enough, far less imposing than the two words "Primordial Beginning".
"Junior brother, what is your other title?"
Jiang Chuan had a different idea from Su Muyu. He thought the title "Qingyuan Zunhao" was good and wanted to hear another one for comparison.
"True Martial Arts".
When Chen Beiwu said this, the senior brother and the others were all stunned.
Zhenwu?
True means righteous, and martial means divine.
It is neither righteous nor true, neither divine nor martial; true and martial are one.
Internal cultivation leads to true immortality, while external cultivation leads to martial prowess and profound understanding of the Dao.
The more Yue Chenfeng and the others considered it, the better they felt the title was; at least it sounded much more assertive and domineering than Qingyuan Zhenjun.
Moreover, the cultivators of the Immortal Alliance use beasts to cultivate their true nature. Whether they are at the Nascent Soul stage or the Void Refinement stage, in the end, they all seek the word "truth". The word "martial arts" can also be linked with the junior brother's real name, which is very impressive.
"The title 'True Martial' carries a very high and weighty meaning, and it has considerable power. It is quite suitable for Junior Brother Chen."
Yue Chenfeng, Mo Chen, and Jiang Chuan nodded in approval, not understanding what Junior Brother Chen was dissatisfied with.
The worst thing is to compare things.
Compared to the title "Zhenwu," the more they thought about it, the more ordinary they felt that the honorific title they had chosen back then was really quite ordinary.
"Why doesn't Junior Brother take the title Dao Yi?" Su Muyu asked, revealing his thoughts.
The Tao gives birth to One, One gives birth to Two, and Three gives birth to all things.
In her view, as the inheritor of the Primordial Dao of the sect, Junior Brother Chen's choice of Dao Yi as his title not only aligns with the Primordial Dao but also better suits his cultivation path.
If Su Muyu hadn't been self-aware enough to understand the principle that "a title is like a vessel, too heavy and it will easily harm oneself," and realized that her own destiny and fortune couldn't bear such a title, she probably would have already been given one when she became a True Monarch.
"The title of Dao Yi that Senior Sister Su mentioned is also quite good. Let me think about it some more," Chen Beiwu replied.
Of all the titles, he preferred Zhenwu the most, but he felt it was too early to decide on a title now, in case the Golden Eggs and the others had new ideas and it would be difficult to change it.
"Junior brother, it's always good to be thorough in everything you do and to plan carefully before you act."
At this point, Jiang Chuan paused slightly and teased, "Hesitation only leads to trouble. If you're worried that the title you've chosen now isn't fitting, you can change it later when you become a True Venerable. Why worry so much about the title? Just follow your heart."
"
"Senior brother is right, then let's go with Zhenwu."
Chen Beiwu took a sip of tea and offered no further thanks.
"Attaining true enlightenment is not that simple!"
Hearing Jiang's joke, Yue Chenfeng shook his head.
If he hadn't been in seclusion without any clear thoughts or distractions, he wouldn't have needed to use his divine sense to leave seclusion and observe his junior brother Chen's entire process of attaining the Dao True Monarch, hoping to gain insights and make connections.
"By the way, fellow senior brothers and sisters, I have a question."
Seeing that the topic had suddenly become serious, Chen Beiwu quickly changed the subject and expressed his doubts.
After attaining the Dao True Monarch status, how should he obtain cultivation resources, such as the Infant Nourishing Liquid and the Nine-Turn Rejuvenating Pill, which are essential for the cultivation of a True Monarch in the early Nascent Soul stage?
The former was relatively easy to handle; Senior Sister Su gave him a bottle of Nascent Soul Elixir under the guise of a Nascent Soul Ceremony. The latter was more difficult.
The Nine-Turn Rejuvenating Pill is not the legendary Nine-Turn Golden Pill, but is made from nine kinds of fourth-grade low-grade mystic medicines that harmonize the yin and yang and the five elements.
This pill has extraordinary effects, capable of stabilizing the nascent soul of a Nascent Soul cultivator in the early stages, and quickly helping them overcome the weakness period that is most important to Nascent Soul cultivators, preventing them from having to sit in a state of semi-consciousness for a hundred years.
However, as far as Chen Beiwu knew, the vast majority of Nascent Soul True Monarchs in the Immortal Alliance would not purchase the Nine-Turn Rejuvenation Pill.
The reason is simple: it's expensive!
The fact that ninety percent of the Nascent Soul True Monarchs in the Immortal Alliance would rather go into seclusion than expend a large amount of cultivation resources to purchase this Mystic Pill to quickly overcome their weakness shows just how expensive the Nine Revolutions Rejuvenating Pill is.
Only some second-generation True Monarchs from Daoist Immortal Clans and True Venerable Sects did not care about this expense and were willing to exchange cultivation resources for a hundred years.
"Junior brother wants to buy the Nine-Turn Rejuvenation Pill?" Jiang Chuan was somewhat surprised.
Junior brother, didn't you come from a family that had fallen on hard times?
How come he can even afford the Nine-Turn Rejuvenation Pill? His wealth is even greater than his!
"Senior Brother Jiang, you've misunderstood," Chen Beiwu said. "Jade Purity Credits are too low in cost-effectiveness for Nascent Soul True Monarchs. I just wanted to understand how True Monarchs in sects earn cultivation resources."
You don't know the cost of firewood and rice until you're in charge of the household.
The title of Nascent Soul True Monarch sounds prestigious and powerful, and in the eyes of Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment cultivators, it represents a position of great power and influence, comparable to that of a deity.
However, when Chen Beiwu truly entered this realm, he realized what it was like.
To put it simply, the status of a Nascent Soul True Monarch is indeed very high. Even within the Jade Purity Immortal Sect, such a position would be sufficient to serve as a Lecturer, be revered by countless Jade Purity prodigies, and receive a high salary.
But to say it's low would be an understatement!
We won't mention the ethereal and elusive Refining Void Dao Venerable, nor will we mention the Nascent Soul True Venerable who is like a mountain pressing down on us.
To advance to the four stages of Nascent Soul True Monarch, from mid-stage to late-stage, peak, and perfect Nascent Soul, one needs not only spiritual roots, compatible beasts, and comprehension, but also a vast amount of cultivation resources.
Yes, that's right. The higher the Nascent Soul True Monarch realm, the more vast cultivation resources are required for rapid advancement.
Before advancing to the Nascent Soul True Monarch level, Chen Beiwu, with the help of the resources of the Southern Wilderness, could be considered moderately well-off among Golden Core True Monarchs.
They have no shortage of basic cultivation supplies, and the sect provides resources for Nascent Soul formation, so they only need to cultivate on weekdays.
However, after attaining the Dao True Monarch status, without the dowry brought by Zhiling, Chen Beiwu was practically penniless without the support of his family.
As for relying on a sect?
Sorry, you'll have to figure it out yourself.
The path to immortality lies in competition, and a Nascent Soul True Monarch is already a powerful figure.
The sect has already done enough to nurture you to the level of Nascent Soul True Monarch.
If a True Monarch expert cannot cultivate on their own or serve the sect after leaving the sect's support, what is the point of cultivating such a prodigy?
Just as jade cannot become a work of art without being carved, so too can a genius.
If an unparalleled genius is allowed to be an exception and enjoy all the sect's resources without needing to train or grow, then such a genius will eventually die under the tribulation of the Nascent Soul stage, without even having the chance to give back to the sect.
Yue Chenfeng smiled and explained, "In the Jade Purity Immortal Sect, there are roughly six paths a disciple can take to attain the Dao True Monarch status."
"One is to remain in the sect to cultivate oneself, spread the teachings, and serve as a resident lecturer or lecturer of the Yuqing Immortal Sect."
This path is advantageous because it is noble and stable. It allows one to browse the sect's cultivation classics and scriptures, and to be constantly by the side of one's teachers. It is suitable for cultivators with a calm mind who dislike worldly troubles, and safety is also guaranteed.
The only drawback is the low salary, which is insufficient to support the True Lord's daily cultivation.
Hearing this, Chen Beiwu wholeheartedly agreed.
Knowing that staying in the sect to cultivate oneself and serving as a lecturer in the Imperial Academy would provide a stable income, he asked his fellow disciples for advice.
"Secondly, one can be assigned to a post outside the region to govern a local area. Our sect's Nascent Soul True Lords can join the three major Immortal Alliance institutions: the Imperial Law Pavilion, the Worldly Affairs Hall, and the Law Enforcement Division. They can serve as Grand Scholars of the Imperial Law Pavilion, Chairpersons of the Worldly Affairs Hall, or Censors of the Law Enforcement Division, governing the affairs of a prefecture. With power in hand, they can hone their Dao heart amidst the myriad phenomena of the mortal world and the various aspects of human relationships, accumulating merits within the Immortal Alliance."
"However, once one enters the secular world, worldly affairs become entangled, and power struggles are inevitable. Every year, there are Nascent Soul True Monarchs who lose their original intentions in order to cultivate, accept massive amounts of cultivation resources, and fall from grace, are severely punished by the Immortal Alliance, and have their cultivation delayed."
Chen Beiwu raised an eyebrow.
Being assigned to a post in a remote area and burdened with affairs makes it difficult for him to extricate himself, which is not conducive to his journey to the Southern Wilderness to acquire resources.
Ultimately, even if he could potentially gain some fortune by governing a region within the Immortal Alliance, it would be far less secure than expanding his sect's territory in the Southern Wilderness and seizing that fortune.
Yue Chenfeng emphasized slightly: "Thirdly, one should dedicate oneself to the star field and become a star conqueror."
"To take this path, one must pass numerous trials before successfully joining the Star Hub, directly under the Immortal Alliance, and serving as a Star Conqueror."