What does my ancestor's pregnancy have to do with me, a mere servant?

From the time she condensed her Nascent Soul in the Taixu Secret Realm four hundred years ago until now, excluding the time spent stabilizing her foundation in the early stages, she has been truly striving to break through to the mid-Nascent Soul stage for over a century.

She tried all sorts of elixirs, all sorts of cultivation methods, she tried secluded cultivation, and she tried traveling and seeking enlightenment.

Given her current spiritual root quality and cultivation speed, it would take her at least two to three hundred years to naturally break through to the mid-Nascent Soul stage.

The world of cultivation is never short of surprises.

"If this disciple can elevate Master's spiritual root to the level of Earth Spiritual Root, or even Heaven Spiritual Root," Lin Yuan said calmly.

"Breaking through to the mid-Nascent Soul stage is just a natural progression."

"Even the realm of Nascent Soul will no longer be a mirage."

The stone chamber remained quiet for several breaths.

"Grandmaster knows what is more important," Lin Yuan added as a final blow.

Shen Guiyan remained silent for a long time.

"The spot is yours."

"I will also provide you with resources for body cultivation. Spirit stones, medicinal herbs, secret techniques—make a list of whatever you need. I will have someone deliver them to Black Crow Mountain within three days."

She stood up. Her dark purple skirt swayed gently in the breeze.

"After the Taixu Secret Realm ends, you will need to perform exercises for me regularly. The frequency and duration will be discussed later."

Her gaze suddenly sharpened.

"Furthermore, this matter must not be revealed to the other four patriarchs of the sect. If even a whisper of it leaks out, not only you, but also those three girls, I will not tolerate it."

"make a deal."

Lin Yuan cupped his hands in greeting.

Then he raised his head.

"However—I want both of these spots."

The atmosphere inside the stone chamber suddenly froze.

Shen Guiyan stopped moving.

"Two spots?"

"You, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, have far too much of an appetite."

Lin Yuan thought to himself, "It's as if you just asked for a Nascent Soul Ancestor's spiritual root transformation service. Who has the bigger appetite is still uncertain."

But he remained outwardly calm.

"Grandmaster, you are wise. Those who enter the Taixu Secret Realm are all elite Golden Core cultivators from various sects. The competition for a spot in the core area is fierce and cutthroat, a true survival of the fittest."

Lin Yuan looked directly into Shen Guiyan's eyes.

"Even if my foundation is strong, I am still only at the late Foundation Establishment stage. If I enter such a dangerous place alone, even if I form my core first, I will still be a novice at the early Golden Core stage. Facing the Golden Core elites of the major sects, I would be optimistic if I survive by the nine out of ten times."

He paused for a second.

"Without a protector who is absolutely trustworthy and strong enough, I'm afraid I won't be able to bring back my head."

The Great Void Secret Realm opens only once every hundred years. It holds countless opportunities—ancient elixir formulas, lost cultivation techniques, and rare and precious materials abound. Every cultivator who enters is filled with envy and greed.

"This disciple needs to bring someone in," Lin Yuan said.

Shen Guiyan stared at him for a long time.

Fifty core slots.

Each spot represents an opportunity that could change a cultivator's destiny. In the thousands of years of history of the Chu Kingdom's cultivation world, most of the Nascent Soul ancestors emerged from that ancient spirit-gathering array and transformed into butterflies.

Even if one fails to form a Nascent Soul on the spot within the formation, the chances of breaking through in the future will greatly increase after experiencing the baptism of the Great Dao resonance.

She herself was a nascent soul that condensed in the Taixu Secret Realm four hundred years ago.

The Nascent Soul patriarchs of each sect value the quota extremely highly. This is not only an excellent opportunity to cultivate their personal disciples, but also a key means to expand their own power and influence.

If a disciple successfully forms a Nascent Soul after entering a secret realm, her authority as the master, her power to allocate resources, and her status within the sect will all rise accordingly.

just now.

A Foundation Establishment stage outer disciple not only wants to take one spot, but also demands all of them.

It's like asking her to erase the future of her two personally trained disciples, whom she has painstakingly nurtured for nearly decades.

This price—

Shen Guiyan quickly weighed the options in her mind.

He lost two opportunities to nurture younger generations, but in return, he could break through to the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm and even glimpse the path to the Divine Transformation realm.

What's there to hesitate about?

"it is good."

Shen Guiyan spoke. Her voice suddenly turned cold, carrying a chilling quality like a winter's deep pool.

But just when Lin Yuan thought the deal was done.

Shen Guiyan's figure suddenly disappeared from the stone bench.

There were no signs whatsoever.

There wasn't even a ripple in the air.

The next moment—

She appeared before Lin Yuan.

The two were less than a foot apart.

Shen Guiyan's exquisite and aloof face was almost touching Lin Yuan's. Her superior gaze was so close, and a dark purple light flowed deep within her pupils, like two compressed nascent soul flames.

She was half a head shorter than Lin Yuan. But the imposing aura emanating from her superior position gave Lin Yuan the illusion of looking up at her.

"You young man, you certainly have first-rate courage."

Shen Guiyan's voice was cold and clear. Her dark purple skirt billowed violently with the surge of spiritual energy, and her long hair flew wildly in the still air.

"But aren't you afraid—"

She slowly raised her right hand. Her slender index finger, about an inch away, touched the space directly in front of Lin Yuan's brow. A wisp of dark purple spiritual light condensed at her fingertip, cold and dazzling.

"I'm not buying your act at all!"

"Should we just capture you?"

A spark of inspiration danced at my fingertips.

"With your skills as a fifth-grade alchemist, plus those unorthodox methods that can purify spiritual roots—I could easily imprison you and exploit you day and night until you're completely drained of your last bit of value."

The heavy spiritual pressure, as if it were materialized, pressed down on Lin Yuan's shoulders, back, and chest from all directions.

The physical foundation of the early stage of the Transcendent Realm was fully revealed at this moment.

The physical body, at the Transcendent Realm, withstood the Nascent Soul spiritual pressure that was enough to force an ordinary early-stage Golden Core cultivator to their knees.

"Our grandmaster naturally possesses such strength."

"But since I dare to reveal this heaven-defying method, I cannot entrust my life and fortune entirely to my master's compassionate heart."

After Lin Yuan finished speaking,

Then he raised his head.

Those dark eyes stared directly at Shen Guiyan's face, which was so close to his.

"This disciple has already prepared for the worst."

"Whenever my disciple is in danger—whether it is being imprisoned, silenced, or forcibly abducted—my pre-arranged contingency plan will be activated immediately."

"At that time, the communication talismans hidden in the five major markets of Chu will all explode simultaneously. The intelligence channels of Tai Xuan Immortal Sect, Medicine King Valley, Wanfa Sect, and the Chu royal family will receive all information about the disciple within half a month."

"In less than three months, the entire cultivation world of Chu will know that the Xuan Yin Sect is hiding a cultivator who can refine the earth's spiritual roots."

He tilted his head slightly.

"Grandmaster believes that if the entire cultivation world of Chu, all Nascent Soul cultivators, and even Nascent Soul powerhouses, were to flock together to compete for disciples."

"Can the Xuan Yin Sect hold out?"

"Grandmaster—can you keep this opportunity for yourself?"

After saying this last sentence, Lin Yuan fell silent.