"I didn't expect such a low-key Genius to be lurking in our Heavenly Star City!"
"Yes, he's only a little over one hundred and sixty years old. Compared to him, we…"
"What's the use of Cultivating fast? He might get stuck at Core Formation. There have been people like that before."
Among the Star Palace Elders, some found Li Feiyu astonishing, while others grew jealous and spoke sarcastically.
Such is the myriad of life, and Nascent Soul Cultivators are no exception.
"Alright, quiet down everyone!" The white-robed old man at the head said, "Now, what we need to discuss is what mission to assign him."
This white-robed old man was the Star Palace's Law Enforcement Grand Elder, at the peak of the Nascent Soul Middle Stage. He was the foremost person below the Star Palace Double Saints, with unfathomable strength.
Seeing the Grand Elder speak, everyone quieted down and began to ponder carefully.
A Yellow Face big man said, "Since he himself requested to avoid troublesome matters, then just assign him a hunting mission. However, although the items he requested are merely a few methods or Medicinal Pill Formulas, they are still sought after by countless Core Formation Cultivators. Therefore, the choice of person cannot be simple."
The Law Enforcement Grand Elder said, "I heard from Xingfeng that he is quite confident in his strength. Then let's assign him to deal with the two most difficult targets from the Sect of Righteousness and Devilry."
"Haven't we been troubled by those two for some time now?"
The Yellow Face big man said, "Is the Grand Elder referring to Scarlet Fire Old Freak and Wan Wusheng?"
"They are both at Core Formation Major Achievement and are among the Cultivators most likely to advance to Nascent Soul in the Chaotic Star Sea within the next fifty years. If we can eliminate them, it would indeed be a great help to our Star Palace, resolving our current troubles and preventing the Inverse Star Alliance from gaining two more Nascent Soul Cultivators. It's killing two birds with one stone."
Another person said, "It would naturally be good to eliminate them, but those two, one is a Disciple of the Six Dao and the other is a Disciple of Wan Sangu. Their Divine Abilities and Magic Treasures are extraordinary. Can that Li Feiyu handle them?"
"Furthermore, Xingfeng also said that he must be given the remuneration first, and confirm that the Core Formation method is effective and feasible before he will accept the mission."
"Nowadays, effective methods for Core Formation are becoming rarer. I'm afraid he won't agree."
The Law Enforcement Grand Elder said, "Then give him several kinds. Let him judge whether they are useful or not. As for the mission, it will be those two. If he is unwilling, then we give up."
"If he wants to form a Nascent Soul, how can he do so without paying a price? In the past, those who were not members of the Star Palace would not even be given this opportunity."
The Law Enforcement Grand Elder made the final decision. The Yellow Face big man sent people to gather information on Scarlet Fire Old Freak and Wan Wusheng's whereabouts. Once confirmed, it would be sent to Li Feiyu, along with the relevant mission details.
After Cultivating for a few days, Li Feiyu sent Gu Mingyang away from Heavenly Star City. Of course, he also gave him life-saving trump cards, but these trump cards had limited uses. Before he left, Li Feiyu repeatedly urged him to act cautiously, avoid causing trouble, and not trust others easily.
After Gu Mingyang left, Li Feiyu sent people to inquire about the Gu Family's situation. He felt that if Gu Mingyang died, he would have to choose another person.
Although it wasn't an oath, he had to keep his word.
If he said he would return a Core Formation Cultivator to the Gu Family, then he would do his best to achieve it.
However, he was quite surprised to hear that Gu Changfeng's descendants had actually been exterminated, and it seemed this incident had happened quite some time ago.
Li Feiyu could only ask Xing Jueyi to have someone investigate. He didn't have that kind of free time right now.
If the Gu Family was destined for such a fate, he was helpless.
After all, Gu Changfeng could not guarantee that his descendants would continue their Legacy forever.
Immortal Cultivation families, one after another rise, one clan after another perishes, all are merely passersby in the long river of time.
Conflicts of power, a ruthless chaotic world.
Li Feiyu returned to his Immortal Cave, Cultivating while waiting for news from the Star Palace.
Two months later, a white-robed, refined middle-aged Cultivator from the Star Palace arrived at Li Feiyu's Immortal Cave.
He was at the Core Formation Early Stage, which Li Feiyu saw through at a glance, but he could not discern Li Feiyu's strength.
"Are you Li Feiyu, Fellow Daoist Li?"
Li Feiyu nodded. The refined Cultivator said, "I am a Star Palace Protector, my surname is Wu."
"This time, I've brought your mission, as well as the items you requested. Would you like to see the mission first, or the mission reward?"
"Let's see the mission first."
Wu nodded, and a Jade Slip flew out of his Storage Pouch, landing in front of Li Feiyu. "This details the mission targets, as well as where they will most recently appear."
Li Feiyu swept it with his Divine Sense, his brows slightly furrowing, and he muttered to himself, "Core Formation Major Achievement, Scarlet Fire Old Freak and Wan Wusheng of the Ten Thousand Dharma Gate."
He looked up, smiled, and said, "Your Star Palace truly thinks highly of me."
"What you requested are also not ordinary items. If it weren't for the current war, unless you joined the Star Palace and became a part of it, it would be impossible to obtain them."
"Then let's look at the remuneration. If it doesn't meet my expectations, then let's forget about it. Two Core Formation Major Achievement Cultivators, and Personal Disciples of two Nascent Soul Late Stage Great Cultivators—I'm afraid your Star Palace couldn't deal with them yourselves, which is why you're throwing them to me."
Wu smiled, "Our Star Palace is full of talented individuals and has ruled the Inner Star Sea for thousands of years. How could we not have anyone?"
Li Feiyu smiled without speaking, taking the other Jade Slip he handed over.
Inside were three methods. The first was Dual Cultivation; by Dual Cultivating with a Core Formation stage female Cultivator of a special primordial yin constitution, the chance of forming a Nascent Soul could be increased by at least half a percent. The higher the female Cultivator's Realm, the greater the chance of improvement.
The second was a Pill Formula called Jinyuan Pill. However, only the name of the Medicinal Pill and the required Spirit Medicine and Demon Beast Inner Core were listed; the refining method was absent.
The Jinyuan Pill was refined with a Level Seven Water-Fire Spirit Beast Inner Core as the main ingredient, combined with five to six thousand-year-old Celestial Spirit Fruit, Purple Heart Grass, and Ice Ling Flower. It used the power of water and fire to increase the chance of forming a Nascent Soul, potentially boosting it by up to two and a half percent.
A note mentioned that the older the Spirit Medicine, the stronger its effect, with ten thousand-year-old ones possibly achieving maximum efficacy.
The last was a secret art called Five Elements Breaking Nascent Soul Art. It involved completing the Five Elements Spiritual Root and, through this secret art, burning the power of the Spiritual Root at the cost of lowering Spiritual Root Aptitude, which could increase the chance of forming a Nascent Soul.
As for the success rate, it depended on the Aptitude of the Spiritual Root.
However, it stated that while this method was feasible, no one had ever succeeded because no Five Spiritual Root Cultivator had ever reached the Core Formation Major Achievement Realm.
Nevertheless, upon seeing this method, Li Feiyu's eyes lit up.
"My Spiritual Root was originally Acquiredly enhanced and can be Acquiredly supplemented. Could it be that heaven wants me to use this method?"
"However, it doesn't state the success rate, so I can't put all my eggs in one basket. I must have multiple preparations."
After reading, Li Feiyu looked at Wu, smiled, and said, "These methods are indeed feasible, but each one is quite difficult."
Wu smiled and said, "If forming a Nascent Soul were simple, wouldn't the Inner Star Sea be overflowing?"
"That's true, but the remuneration you're offering isn't enough. Only three methods, not enough for me to risk my life. After all, they are Personal Disciples of Nascent Soul Late Stage Great Cultivators; the risk is too great."
"Moreover, as their Disciples, they likely lack neither Divine Abilities nor Magic Treasures. Even an ordinary Nascent Soul Cultivator might not be able to defeat them."
"Then what else do you want?"
"I want the Demon Beast Inner Core needed for the Jinyuan Pill."
Wu had long known that cooperation wouldn't be so simple, so he had already prepared a backup plan.
"Our Star Palace currently doesn't have a Level Seven Water-type Inner Core, but we do have another Fire-type Spirit Beast Inner Core."
"We can provide you with locations where Water-type Spirit Beasts have appeared. If you can truly kill Scarlet Fire Old Freak and Wan Wusheng, I believe that once found, you will surely be able to kill it and obtain its Inner Core."
After a pause, Wu stared at Li Feiyu and said, "This is already the greatest concession our Star Palace can make. If you are still unwilling, then the deal is off."
Li Feiyu said, "I can accept this mission, but you must give me the remuneration first. Give me the refining method for the Jinyuan Pill and the Five Elements Breaking Nascent Soul Art secret art first. As for the information on the Water-type Spirit Beast and the Fire-type Spirit Beast Inner Core, you can give them to me after the task is completed."
"This…"
"Your Star Palace is, after all, a super force. Are you afraid that a mere Core Formation Cultivator like me would break the contract? I should be the one who's afraid."
"And after completing the mission, I will designate an island for the final transaction."
After a brief hesitation, Wu said, "I need to go back and ask for instructions on this, as those items are not within my authority to use."
"Then you'd better hurry. If it takes too long, and their whereabouts change, don't blame me if I can't find them."