Just as the old patriarch forced me to my death, I achieved the unity of Dao and fruition.

After everything was agreed upon, the Xuan Yang Sect issued a decree throughout the entire Western Wilderness.

Three months later, the Grand Ceremony for the Nascent Soul was held to celebrate the newly promoted Supreme Elder, Gu Changjin.

As soon as this decree was issued, the entire Xuan Yang Sect was mobilized.

The bell at the main peak tolled nine times, its spiritual light soaring into the sky.

The disciples of each peak looked up and saw the sect's grand formation slowly unfolding, with purple energy sweeping across the mountain gate, as if announcing something to the entire Western Wilderness.

The Xuan Yang Sect has gained another Nascent Soul cultivator.

If it were just a regular Nascent Soul Ceremony, it wouldn't be so grand.

But right now, the Xuan Yang Sect is at war with the Chi Xiao Sect.

Holding a grand ceremony at this time is not just about celebration.

It was both a test of the major powers and a symbol of demonstrating its own strength.

Letters of legal code were sent out of the Xuan Yang Sect and distributed to various sects, cultivation families, and independent cultivator forces in the Western Wilderness.

The Azure Crane Sect, Hundred Refinements Valley, Blackwater Alliance, Heavenly River Sword Sect, and other forces that had previously formed alliances or cooperated with the Profound Sun Sect all received invitations.

Come.

We're still friends.

Not coming.

Then Xuan Yang Sect understood.

The disciples who delivered the invitations were all very polite.

But beneath that politeness lay a very straightforward meaning.

My Xuan Yang Sect has gained another Nascent Soul cultivator.

You'd better rethink which side you should be on.

……

Chixiao Sect.

On the main peak of Crimson Flame, an old man in red robes held the magic scroll sent by the Xuan Yang Sect and looked at it for a long time.

This person's name is Li Chenyuan.

One of the Nascent Soul Supremes of the Crimson Cloud Sect.

He is also an old monster who is about to go to the front line to take charge.

A Golden Core elder nearby whispered, "Your Excellency, the Xuan Yang Sect's actions are clearly an attempt to suppress the arrogance of our Chi Xiao Sect by using Gu Changjin's Nascent Soul formation."

Li Chenyuan didn't speak immediately.

He put down the calligraphy scroll and picked up another jade slip.

The jade slip contains the information about Gu Changjin that has been collected so far.

With his lifespan nearing its end, he was pushed onto the deathmatch stage by his sect, where he killed Zhou Lieyang and returned alive. However, this brought a bloodbath to the Gu family, resulting in the extinction of the entire clan.

Then, by borrowing the bloodline's original embryo, one breaks through to the nascent soul.

As Li Chenyuan watched, he suddenly smiled.

"interesting."

The Golden Core Elder was taken aback.

Li Chenyuan tapped the table lightly.

"This Gu Changjin is quite different from those old coffins in the Xuan Yang Sect who are all talk about benevolence and righteousness."

"Play dead when you should, and strike when you should."

"Even with his entire clan wiped out, he can still get the Xuan Yang Sect to open the Great Luo Secret Treasury."

"This person is no ordinary individual."

He said this not with disgust, but with a hint of appreciation.

"Just like this old ancestor! Hahaha."

The Golden Core Elder tentatively asked, "Supreme Elder, what about this Nascent Soul Ceremony...?"

"I'm not going."

Li Chenyuan said calmly, "The two sects have already started their war. If I were to go, wouldn't that be giving the Xuan Yang Sect face?"

He casually tossed the calligraphy copybook back onto the table.

"But gifts can be given."

"You can bring the message too."

"I will tell you that I am about to go to the front line and it is inconvenient for me to come in person. I will discuss the Dao with Fellow Daoist Gu after the war has subsided."

The Golden Core Elder's heart stirred.

Fellow Daoist Gu.

This title is quite unusual.

Li Chenyuan narrowed his eyes.

"Who knows, there might actually be areas for cooperation in the future."

……

The reactions of other forces in the Western Wilderness were much more complex.

Several elders of the Qinghe Sect argued about the talisman for half a day.

"We must go. The Xuan Yang Sect has gained another Nascent Soul cultivator. If we don't go now, it would be a blatant disrespect."

"But the Crimson Cloud Sect is not to be trifled with either."

"Then just send a gift, without making any statements. You've shown up, the gift has arrived, and your words are polite—who can find fault with that?"

Hundred Refinements Valley is more realistic.

"With one more Nascent Soul cultivator joining the Xuan Yang Sect, the protective mountain array, flying boats, and magic treasures will definitely need to be replaced."

"go."

"Bring along the newly forged high-grade spiritual weapon."

"This isn't a congratulatory gift; it's business."

The Blackwater Alliance hesitated the longest.

They had some secret dealings with the Crimson Cloud Sect, but the Xuan Yang Sect's summons had already been delivered to their door. If they pretended to be dead, the Xuan Yang Sect would likely target those spiritual material veins in the Blackwater River.

Finally, the leader slammed his fist on the table.

"go."

"The person is gone, and so are the gifts."

Whether one's heart goes or not is another matter.

In an instant, undercurrents surged throughout the entire Western Wilderness.

The name Gu Changjin has completely changed from "a dying Golden Core cultivator" to a Nascent Soul old monster that must be relabeled on the desks of various sects.

……

Within the Xuan Yang Sect, discussions were also ongoing.

The disciples from each peak naturally talked most about the bloody disaster that befell the Gu family.

"Have you heard? The root of the Gu family's troubles is that Gu Jingshan practiced evil magic."

"Bloodline Primordial Law?"

"Yes, the sect has sealed it off. I heard that in order to prevent the essence blood from benefiting Gu Jingshan, the Gu family disciples took the initiative to offer their origin to Gu Taishang, which is why Gu Taishang was able to reach the Nascent Soul stage."

"This is outrageous!"

"It may be outrageous, but the elders have all accepted it."

"Moreover, the secret technique description published by the sect also states that if one does not make a voluntary sacrifice, the resentment will backfire and one will not be able to form a Nascent Soul at all, but will only become a demon and explode."

At this point, the disciples all fell silent.

Whether you believe it or not is one thing.

Whether one dares to disbelieve is another matter entirely.

Many late-stage Golden Core elders had their eyes turn red with envy upon hearing about the Bloodline Primordial Embryo Technique.

But once they received the abridged version of the instructions, they all immediately lost their enthusiasm.

It requires a special primordial embryo to carry it, bloodline of the same clan, and the origin of the golden elixir of the same blood.

They also had to make voluntary sacrifices so that no resentment would arise.

This is hardly a secret technique.

This is a crazy path that can only be forged by piling up all the right timing, location, and people.

Most importantly, the object that the primordial embryo carried is gone.

It was used by Gu Changjin.

There's no way to learn it even if you want to.

After reading it, some Golden Core elders could only make a sour remark.

"That old bastard Gu Changjin is really tough."

……

Deep in the back mountains of Xuanyang Sect.

Inside a cave that has been closed off for years.

Yun Qingli's master, Cangxuan Zhenjun, also finished reading the "Bloodline Primordial Embryo Method".

He is in the late stage of the Nascent Soul realm.

He was also the old monster who had truly protected Yun Qingli's life before.

Cangxuan Zhenjun did not care about Yun Qingli's current situation.

If it's ruined, then it's ruined.

The position of sect leader is meant for those who are capable.

What he really cared about was why Gu Changjin was able to form a Nascent Soul.

The jade slip slowly rotated in his palm.

"Bloodline forms the embryo, origin forms the bridge."

"If you offer a sacrifice voluntarily, no resentment will arise."

The more Cangxuan Zhenjun looked, the more serious his gaze became.

pity.

What a pity.

How could such an opportunity fall into Gu Changjin's hands?

What good is it for an old Golden Core cultivator nearing the end of his lifespan to break through to the Nascent Soul stage?

It's certainly a good thing that the Xuan Yang Sect has gained another Nascent Soul cultivator.

But what if we give him this primordial embryo?

He was already in the late stage of the Nascent Soul realm.

If one can use this to replenish one's original essence and take another half step forward, one may well be able to glimpse the threshold of the Divine Transformation realm.

At that time, the Xuan Yang Sect had more than one Nascent Soul cultivator.

Instead, it is a future deity.

After a long silence, Cangxuan Zhenjun finally extinguished the jade slip.

If it's gone, it's gone.

Gu Changjin has already formed his Nascent Soul, so he cannot move yet.

Only a very soft sigh remained in the cave.

……

In the northern part of the Western Wilderness, there is the Ling Shuang Sword Sect.

This place is extremely far from the Xuan Yang Sect.

Even an ordinary Qi Refining cultivator might not be able to cross the wasteland, mountains, and monster-infested areas in their entire life.

However, news about the Xuan Yang Sect's Nascent Soul Ceremony still reached this place.

On a secluded sword-shaped peak, a man in a blue robe stood on the edge of a cliff.

He was slender, carried a long sword on his back, and had a cold and indifferent expression.

Gu Qingxiao.

The young genius who was expelled from the Gu family years ago.

Calling him a genius is actually something that happened many years ago.

After being defeated by the true disciple of the Tianhe Sword Sect, his sword bones shattered and his Dao foundation was half destroyed. When he returned to the Gu family, he was expelled by Gu Jingshan.

Over the years, he has managed to reach the late stage of Foundation Establishment through sheer willpower.

It's not exactly shocking.

But for someone who has already been crippled once, it's scary enough.

A woman in white walked briskly along the mountain path.

Her name is Shen Ningshuang, and she is one of the few people Gu Qingxiao can trust in the Ling Shuang Sword Sect.

"Senior Brother Gu."

Gu Qingxiao turned around.

"Any news?"

Shen Ningshuang nodded, her expression complex.

"The Xuan Yang Sect is about to hold its Nascent Soul Ceremony."

"Your Gu family's ancestor, Gu Changjin, has achieved Nascent Soul formation."

Gu Qingxiao's eyes flickered slightly.

Gu Changjin.

He hadn't heard that name in many years.

When he was expelled from the Gu family, the old ancestor went into seclusion.

I never protected him, nor did I ever ask him a single question.

Therefore, in his heart, he had long since severed ties with the Gu family.

Shen Ningshuang continued, "There's one more thing. Something terrible has happened to the Gu family."

"Gu Jingshan practiced evil arts and sacrificed his clansmen with blood, almost wiping out the core bloodline of the Gu family."

"According to the family genealogy, you are probably one of the few surviving direct descendants of the Gu family cultivators."

Gu Qingxiao remained silent.

The mountain wind at the edge of the cliff made my sleeves flutter loudly.

Shen Ningshuang looked at him, her voice low.

"Senior Brother Gu, the sect may not be able to protect Xiaolou."

Gu Qingxiao's eyes immediately turned cold.

Gu Xiaolou.

His sister

A few days ago, I killed someone in a secret place.

Pei Shaoyuan.

He is the only bloodline descendant of Pei Xuandu, a famous rogue cultivator in the Western Wilderness who has reached the Nascent Soul stage.

Pei Xuandu, mid-Nascent Soul stage.

This person is notoriously protective of their own and also notoriously unreasonable.

They've already made it public.

Hand over Gu Xiaolou and Gu Qingxiao.

Otherwise, he would personally come to the Ling Shuang Sword Sect to demand the person.

The Ling Shuang Sword Sect would not risk a fight against a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator for the sake of a late-stage Foundation Establishment disciple.

Normally, Gu Qingxiao would have no choice but to escape with Gu Xiaolou.

But now, it seems there's another way.

Shen Ningshuang said softly, "Senior Brother Gu, you might as well go to the Xuan Yang Sect and meet that Elder Gu."

"The direct descendants of the Gu family are almost all dead. If you go back, you will be one of the few remaining bloodline descendants of that Nascent Soul ancestor."

"If he is willing to acknowledge you, Pei Xuan will have to think twice before trying to harm you and your siblings again."

Gu Qingxiao remained silent for a long time.

Then, he suddenly laughed.

"Back then, the Gu family discarded me like a worn-out shoe."

"Now, you want me to go back and acknowledge my ancestors?"

Shen Ningshuang did not speak.

Gu Qingxiao reached out and pressed his hand on the sword hilt, a sharpness that had been suppressed for many years slowly gleaming in his eyes.

"But you're right."

"A person must always find a way to live."

"Nascent Soul Ancestor".

"The direct descendants of the Gu family."

Pei Xuandu.

He looked up and gazed in the direction of the Xuan Yang Sect.

"interesting."

"Then I'd like to see if this Gu family patriarch acknowledges me, a descendant who has been expelled."