Translator: CinderTL
"Go to the Chiyang Sword Sect!?"
Qin Zhou was momentarily stunned, then quickly responded, "Well... actually, when we received this news, several of our hidden pawns in the Taixu Sword Sect had already been exposed while attempting a rescue. The Chiyang Sword Sect had laid a Net of Heaven and Earth around her, and those hidden pawns... they were all trapped within."
He spoke gravely, "That area has now become a Net of Heaven and Earth."
"If we can't save her, then let it be."
Li Chunjun didn't force the issue.
He glanced at Qin Zhou, "You should understand that the connection between her and us was severed sixteen years ago."
"That may be so, but..."
Qin Zhou gave an awkward smile, "After all, she is your mother."
Li Chunjun understood his implication.
This wasn't just about whether to rescue her or not; it also concerned the reputation of Li Chunjun, the Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy.
Those within the Taixu Sword Sect and the Chiyang Sword Sect who knew of his relationship with that "mother" were aware, but others were not.
They would only think that the prestigious Taixu Sword Sect couldn't even protect the close relative of its own Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy. What prestige did it have left?
Similarly, they would also think that the Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy was cold and heartless towards his own kin. How could others expect to be treated sincerely by him?
Investing in him might just end up nurturing an ungrateful wolf.
Even if they cooperated with him, they would have to be mentally prepared for a potential stab in the back from such a heartless and unrighteous person.
The negative impact was too significant.
"You don't need to involve yourselves too much in this matter."
Li Chunjun stated, "Moreover, my going to the Chiyang Sword Sect doesn't mean I'm going to rescue her or willingly step into the trap they've set."
He had just completed his equipment enhancement and was going to the wild map to grind monsters and level up.
That was all.
"This..."
Qin Zhou was momentarily at a loss for words.
Li Chunjun looked at him.
This True Core cultivator was indeed a good-natured person, often considering the emotions and thoughts of others in his actions.
But...
Because he considered others too much, he lacked strong opinions of his own and often hesitated in his decisions.
Therefore, Li Chunjun didn't say much more.
However, as he was about to set off alone, he thought of something.
He looked at Qin Zhou, "Have you been at Flaming Phoenix Peak for a long time?"
"Yes."
Qin Zhou immediately replied, "Before coming to Blue Star, I grew up at the Flaming Phoenix Peak in the branch sect."
"Do you know Senior Sister Jiang well?"
"Of course."
Qin Zhou smiled, "I could say I watched her grow up."
Li Chunjun pondered slightly, "Her origins... are different from other Flaming Phoenix Sword Cultivators?"
As he spoke, he pointed to a stone bench nearby, "Tell me about it."
Qin Zhou, recalling the recent interactions between Jiang Wanyu and Li Chunjun, wasn't surprised by his inquiry.
After sitting down on the stone bench in the pavilion, he organized his thoughts, "I remember I once told you that Junior Sister Jiang is... somewhat similar to you."
"Yes."
Li Chunjun calmly addressed the issue, "Abandoned by her parents."
"Junior Sister Jiang's situation is somewhat similar in that regard."
Qin Zhou continued, "In the path of cultivation, although there are many distinctions between minor realms, fundamentally, it boils down to four major realms: Qi Refining, Spirit Refining, Void Refining, and Dao Unification. Among these four, the most unique one is the Void Refining realm."
"Void Refining?"
Li Chunjun slightly raised his head.
This matter involves Void Refining? "Core Formation, Nascent Soul, Primordial Spirit—even if one can initially attain longevity, in the end, their lifespan is limited to a few thousand years. Moreover, unless relying on external forces, they can never step out of their own world. Only by advancing further, refining the spirit and returning to the void, harnessing the power of the void, can one transcend this realm and achieve boundless existence."
Qin Zhou glanced at Li Chunjun: "Since ancient times, many worlds have had legends of ascending to immortality, shattering the void, and transforming into a rainbow to ascend. Without exception, these legends all point to the realm of Void Refining."
"What does this have to do with Senior Sister Jiang's background?"
"Of course, it's related. You should know that Core Formation is about perfectly controlling one's essence, qi, and spirit, while Nascent Soul is about allowing the already perfect body to undergo a second round of vitality. Because this step begins with the cultivator growing anew like an infant, it is named 'Nascent.'"
Qin Zhou paused: "Even if a Primordial Spirit True Monarch manifests their Primordial Spirit in the world, roaming freely, their essence still cannot be separated from their physical body. If their body is destroyed while their spirit roams, it would be a fatal blow to the True Monarch, forcing them to seize another body to be reborn."
At this point, his tone slightly intensified: "But when it comes to Void Refining… cultivators have already shed their dependence on the flesh and blood body. They gradually merge with the power of the void."
"Shedding dependence on the physical body and merging with the void…"
"Correct."
Qin Zhou nodded: "Cultivators at this stage can no longer pass on their power through genetic inheritance. Even if they can regenerate from a drop of blood, they cannot give birth or nurture new life."
He quickly added: "Senior Sister Jiang's parents were both prodigies who had activated the Flaming Phoenix Power, and both came from prominent families within the Flaming Phoenix lineage. To strive for Void Refining, they naturally should have left behind an excellent bloodline. However, both were arrogant and disdainful, unwilling to delay their cultivation for the sake of procreation. It wasn't until they were forced by the elders of their clans that they reluctantly gave birth to a daughter…"
Li Chunjun listened, slightly enlightened.
"That would be Junior Sister Jiang."
Qin Zhou sighed: "After giving birth to Junior Sister Jiang, the two of them directly distanced themselves from their clan, secluded themselves to cultivate, and pursued Void Refining. All these years, they have never seen her once. Because of this, Junior Sister Jiang became disheartened and chose to leave her family, coming to the Blue Star Minor Realm."
Li Chunjun listened in silence. In comparison, Jiang Wanyu's background was indeed somewhat similar to his.
No wonder, after he arrived at Flaming Phoenix Peak, Jiang Wanyu had taken such good care of him.
On one hand, it was because the two of them, aside from Jiang Yuqiu, were the only ones on Flaming Phoenix Peak who had activated the Flaming Phoenix Bloodline.
On the other hand…
Similar life experiences made her empathize with him. She didn't want him to end up in the same situation, so she spared no effort in helping him.
So much so that she even gave him the fifth-grade void material that was clearly left for her by her family.
In reality…
Unlike Jiang Wanyu, whose parents had never seen her, at least he had both parents until he was three years old.
"The Flaming Phoenix lineage is most suited for the path of Sword Cultivation, but the step of Refining Sword into Core is a chasm that few can cross. Countless Flaming Phoenix Sword Cultivators have fallen here. Over time, the number of people in our Flaming Phoenix lineage has dwindled. Although we are not lacking in strong individuals, without enough younger generations to grow and carry on the glory of the Flaming Phoenix lineage, it will eventually fade into obscurity."
Qin Zhou was somewhat reflective.
They too belonged to the Flaming Phoenix lineage of cultivators.
Unfortunately, without the ability to activate the Flaming Phoenix Power, they were merely ordinary cultivators with a decent fire attribute Spirit Root. At best, they could reach the Nascent Soul stage, but they were destined to be of limited use.
"The future is uncertain," Li Chunjun said.
He didn't intend to dwell on the topic: "Gather the team members."
"Should we seek instructions from the Peak Master and the Sect Leader?"
"No need, just inform them later."
Li Chunjun knew without guessing that Jiang Yuqiu and Huan Ming would never agree to him going to the Chiyang Sword Sect at this time.
In their view, it was best for him not to go anywhere before he achieved the Golden Core stage.
Even after achieving the Golden Core, it would be best for him to act as a stabilizing force, delivering decisive blows at critical moments to avoid being targeted and losing the impact of a trump card.
But Li Chunjun clearly wouldn't accept such an arrangement.
"I will head to the front lines to annihilate the Core Formation cultivators of the Chiyang Sword Sect! I will make them understand the cost of their actions! Whether you join me is your own choice."
With that, Li Chunjun soared on his sword, heading straight out of Flaming Phoenix Peak.
"Sword Prodigy, wait for me. We are willing to follow you, through heaven and earth, without hesitation," Qin Zhou said, quickly following on his sword while sending messages to summon Jiang Yuxue and others.
Soon, streaks of sword light shot up from Flaming Phoenix Peak, catching up with Li Chunjun as he flew out of the Taixu Sword Sect.
"Sword Prodigy, we're here."
"The battle between East Province and Great Shang has concluded. Should we change our approach to enter the Chiyang Sword Sect?"
"Haha, we are willing to advance and retreat with the Sword Prodigy!"
The three of them followed, each expressing their stance.
Among them, Jiang Yuxue had been actively gathering information about the Chiyang Sword Sect, preparing for Li Chunjun's potential move to strike into their territory.
As it turned out...
That was indeed the case.
She had thought Li Chunjun would wait a full year before making another move, but unexpectedly, he was heading straight for the Chiyang Sword Sect as soon as he emerged from seclusion.
"Are Zuo Tian, Jun Zhou, and Yi Feng still stationed in East Province?" Li Chunjun asked.
"True Inheritor Disciple Zuo has returned to the sect, but the other Golden Core cultivators are still monitoring the movements of the Chiyang Sword Sect in the Great Shang direction," Jiang Yuxue quickly responded.
"Returned to the sect?" Li Chunjun understood.
Even Zuo Tian, a True Inheritor Disciple, had withdrawn to the sect. It seemed the Taixu Sword Sect's recent attempt to forcefully occupy the Great Shang territory of the Chiyang Sword Sect had ended in failure.
No! Not just failure.
It should be called a complete defeat.
They had mobilized dozens, even hundreds of Core Formation cultivators to invade the Chiyang Sword Sect, creating such a commotion that all eight sects knew about it, but in the end...
All bark and no bite.
Under the joint pressure of the surrounding sects, they had to retreat back to East Province in disgrace, even halting their previous invasion of Great Shang and their patrols of Lake Province and Xuanzhou.
What else could this be but failure? However...
With the Taixu Sword Sect ending their campaign so abruptly and taking no further action in recent days, did that mean the Chiyang Sword Sect's plot to assassinate him using Qin Chuan, Fang Yushu, and Zhao Bai would go unpunished?
Was that assassination attempt in vain? Since the Taixu Sword Sect couldn't seek justice for him, now that he had the ability, there was no reason he couldn't take matters into his own hands.
With this thought in mind, he directly asked, "If I recall correctly, the Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy holds authority superior to that of a True Inheritor Disciple, correct?"
"Of course, the wartime authority of the Flaming Phoenix Sword Prodigy is second only to the Sect Leader. In critical moments, they can even make discretionary decisions without following the Sect Leader's orders!" Jiang Yuxue immediately responded.
"Good! Have Jun Zhou and Yi Feng send me the current distribution of Core Formation Cultivators from the Chiyang Sword Sect who are outside the sect. At the same time, order them to summon all Core Formation Cultivators!" Li Chunjun commanded coldly, "Cross the border! Break through the pass!"
(End of the Chapter)
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