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

Three months later, the Xuan Yang Sect's Nascent Soul Ceremony officially began.

On this day, the Xuan Yang Sect's mountain gates were opened wide, and the bell on the main peak rang nine times in succession.

Purple mist filled the sky, and spiritual clouds paved the way. Flying boats stopped outside the mountain gate, and guests from various sects entered in turn.

The Azure Crane Sect has arrived, the Hundred Refinements Valley has arrived, and the Blackwater Alliance has arrived as well.

Even some cultivation families that usually had ambiguous relationships with the Xuan Yang Sect and secretly bet on both sides all arrived with generous gifts.

Nobody's stupid.

The war between the Xuan Yang Sect and the Chi Xiao Sect is one and the same thing.

The fact that Xuan Yang Sect has gained another Nascent Soul Grandmaster is another matter entirely.

If they don't come now, it means they're putting their attitude on the table.

Whether they come or not is important, but what gift they bring is even more important.

Gu Changjin sat on the high platform of the main peak.

He wore a greyish-white robe, and his face still looked somewhat old, but no one who saw him would mistake him for that dying old Golden Core cultivator.

Nascent Soul.

These two words alone are enough to intimidate.

Even though Gu Changjin was just sitting there quietly, it felt like a mountain pressing down on everyone's hearts.

Zhou Xuanyue sat to the side and said with a smile, "Fellow Daoists, today is the Nascent Soul Ceremony of Elder Gu of our Xuan Yang Sect. Elder Gu has gone through a life-or-death ordeal, breaking through and rebuilding, and has now formed his Nascent Soul. This is truly a blessing for our Xuan Yang Sect and also a blessing for the righteous path of the Western Wilderness."

The Golden Core cultivators from various sects below all stood up.

"Congratulations to Elder Gu on attaining the Nascent Soul stage!"

May the Supreme Dao flourish forever!

"The Xuan Yang Sect has gained another pillar of strength; congratulations!"

Gu Changjin nodded slightly, not in a hurry to speak.

Only after all the sounds had subsided did he slowly raise his eyes.

"There's no need for such formalities, everyone."

The sound wasn't loud.

It felt as if it were falling directly into everyone's ears.

Those Foundation Establishment disciples were shocked, feeling their minds clear up, and the previous noisy and chaotic thoughts were completely suppressed by these words.

Some people gasped in surprise on the spot.

"This is the Nascent Soul stage?"

"Just a casual remark, yet it could stir one's soul."

An elderly Golden Core cultivator beside him took a deep breath.

"Don't speak recklessly. The Nascent Soul Ancestor's divine sense is so powerful that even if you or I were to lose our composure for a moment, we might not escape his detection."

The young disciple immediately shut his mouth.

Gu Changjin looked at the audience and spoke slowly.

"The most difficult thing about breaking through from the Golden Core stage to the Nascent Soul stage is not spiritual power, not elixirs, and not external objects."

"And in a single word, 'fragment'."

"The elixir of immortality is like life itself, yet also like a cage."

"When a cultivator reaches the Golden Core stage, they often entrust their entire Dao, soul, lifespan, and magical power to that single core. But to become a Nascent Soul cultivator, one must personally shatter what one relies on most."

"If you can't bear to break it, you'll be trapped in the elixir forever."

"If you break the wrong thing, you will die and your soul will perish."

"Only when the shattering is correct can one hear the cry of an infant asking a question."

The cultivators below the stage held their breath in disbelief.

Especially those Golden Core cultivators, their eyes gleamed.

Gu Changjin didn't say much.

They also didn't reveal the true method for breaking through the infant's barrier.

However, the key to understanding that is spoken by a Nascent Soul cultivator is itself a matter of opportunity.

An elder from the Qinghe Sect, in the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm, couldn't help but sigh, "Elder Gu's words, though seemingly simple, directly address the mental barrier to breaking through to the next realm. Ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators might not be willing to explain it so clearly."

An elder from Hundred Refinement Valley nodded in agreement: "No wonder Elder Gu was able to break through to the next realm when his lifespan was almost over. Such a temperament truly shows his ruthlessness."

They are ruthless.

That's a very tactful way of putting it.

The people around understood, but no one dared to respond.

The Gu family had just been wiped out not long ago.

Some things are better left unsaid.

The ceremony lasted until sunset.

Everyone who was supposed to come has come, everyone who was supposed to give gifts has given gifts, and everyone who was supposed to make a statement has made a statement.

Gu Changjin has shown his face and preached, so his status as a Nascent Soul Supreme is now completely secure.

As soon as the ceremony ended, he found Zhou Xuanyue.

"Fellow Daoist Zhou."

Gu Changjin smiled gently.

"When will the Great Luo Secret Treasury, which was promised before, open?"

Zhou Xuanyue's lips twitched slightly.

That old man really doesn't wait a moment longer.

But he couldn't deny it now that he had already said it.

"Now is fine."

Zhou Xuanyue sighed and sent a message to the other elders.

Soon, the four Nascent Soul cultivators from their respective family factions, along with Gu Changjin, gathered at the back mountain of the Xuan Yang Sect.

Then, an aged voice came from the deep mountain cave.

"Now that everyone's here, let's go."

Gu Changjin looked up.

The owner of that voice was none other than Yun Qingli's master, True Lord Cangxuan.

Late stage of Nascent Soul.

He was the same old monster who had protected Yun Qingli's life from afar before.

The group of people vanished into the depths of the back mountain.

The mountains here are extremely high, yet the spiritual energy is contained within, as if all spiritual energy is suppressed underground.

Cangxuan Zhenjun did not appear; only his voice came from the depths of the cave.

"Gu Changjin, now that you have reached the Nascent Soul stage, you are the supreme leader of the sect."

"Let bygones be bygones."

"From now on, do your best for the sect."

Gu Changjin cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, his smile sincere.

"Fellow Daoist Cangxuan, rest assured."

"I have been nurtured by the sect for hundreds of years, so naturally I will prioritize the sect."

Both of them spoke very politely.

But they both knew the truth in their hearts.

Turn the page?

Turn over a fart.

Given the chance, who wouldn't want to kill whom?

But now is not the time.

Zhou Xuanyue coughed lightly, breaking the false harmony.

"Let's unlock the secret."

Six Nascent Soul cultivators attacked simultaneously.

boom!

The earth's veins behind the mountain trembled.

Hidden array patterns lit up from within the mountain, like a giant beast that had been sleeping for many years slowly opening its eyes.

From deep underground, a rumbling sound like chains being dragged could be heard.

Gu Changjin scanned the area with his divine sense, and a slight thought stirred within him.

Surprisingly, there is also a small fragment of a hidden cave here.

No wonder it could hide the Great Luo Secret Treasure.

The true strength of the Xuan Yang Sect does not lie in the treasure trove on earth.

Below the treasure vault, in a secret hidden space separated by fragments of the cave.

The magical power of the six Nascent Soul cultivators was simultaneously poured in.

A phantom stone gate slowly rose from the mountain's belly.

Ancient patterns are carved on the door, resembling clouds and fire, or perhaps some long-lost script from the Central Plains.

Zhou Xuanyue's expression was solemn.

"Fellow Daoist Changjin, the secret treasure can only be opened for ten breaths."

"Within ten breaths, retrieve one item."

"Do not take more than necessary, and do not force anyone to keep what is not yours."

"Otherwise, it will be rejected by the hidden formation, and may even damage the nascent soul."

Gu Changjin nodded.

"clear."

The moment the stone door opened, his figure was sucked inside.

The light and shadow shifted before my eyes.

Gu Changjin appeared in a gray, hazy space.

Treasures floated all around.

A broken sword, an ancient mirror, a jade box, and a tattered array plate.

There were also some strange objects whose purpose he couldn't immediately discern.

Almost the instant he entered the secret realm, the Dao Fruit deep within Gu Changjin's soul suddenly trembled.

It wasn't a slight feeling, but a longing.

A strong desire!

Gu Changjin stopped in his tracks.

Zhou Xuanyue's voice immediately came from outside.

"Fellow Daoist Changjin, choose quickly!"

"The secret treasure only lasts for ten breaths!"

Gu Changjin's lips curled into a slight smile.

He got it.

Daoguo was reminding him.

These innate spiritual beings, nurtured by heaven and earth, can actually be refined by the Dao Fruit into the Returning to One Dao Essence.

What is Guiyi Daoyuan?

He deduced the cultivation method, infused his cultivation with energy, cleansed his soul, and replenished his foundation.

That was his real hard currency.

If we can only rely on the slow recovery of my Dao traces, the speed will ultimately be too slow.

But now, there's another way.

Gu Changjin's gaze swept across the area and instantly locked onto a charred, broken root in a corner of the secret storage.

The remaining root was no more than an arm's length, its surface withered and cracked, as if it had been struck by lightning countless times.

Yet, within the crack, wisps of silver-purple lightning could be seen moving about.

The remnant root of the innate Thunder Spirit Wood.

It looks dilapidated.

Its aura was also inferior to that of the magical treasures beside it.

The vibration of the fruit of the Tao is precisely caused by it.

Without the slightest hesitation, Gu Changjin raised his hand and grabbed the broken root, putting it into his sleeve.

next moment.

Ten breaths have passed.

He was completely expelled from the secret realm and returned to the stone gate outside the back mountain.

The stone gate slammed shut.

The gazes of several Nascent Soul Grandmasters fell almost simultaneously on the charred, broken root in his hand.

Then, a subtle silence fell over the room.

Zhou Xuanyue blinked.

The red-robed Supreme Being was also taken aback.

That's it?

There are so many good things in the Great Luo Secret Treasury, and you chose a piece of broken wood?

Or is it just a remnant?

The group immediately felt a sense of balance.

I don't feel bad anymore.

I don't feel bad at all anymore.

Zhou Xuanyue even showed a genuine smile.

"Fellow Daoist Changjin has excellent eyesight."

"Although this is a remnant root, it still bears the name of innate thunder spirit wood. If used in thunder-type divine abilities, or integrated into one's natal spirit sword, it can add some thunderous power."

The other elder immediately nodded in agreement.

"Not bad, not bad."

"The power of thunder is fierce and domineering; if used properly, it can indeed be very effective."

Gu Changjin looked like he had learned a lot.

"What you fellow Daoists say makes sense."

"That's what I think too."

He looked down at the remaining roots, as if making a casual remark.

"Perhaps one day I will be lucky enough to reach the Tribulation Transcending Realm, and this item may be able to block a trace of the tribulation lightning for me."

The expressions of the several Nascent Soul Grandmasters froze simultaneously.

Tribulation Transcending?

You really have wild ideas!

Zhou Xuanyue coughed twice.

"Fellow Daoist Changjin has lofty aspirations, which I admire."

"However, it is best to take the path of cultivation one step at a time."

Gu Changjin nodded with a smile.

"Of course, of course."

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, everyone dispersed.

Once all the scents had dissipated, the smile on Gu Changjin's face slowly faded.

He looked down at the remnant root of the Innate Thunder Spirit Wood in his sleeve.

He appeared calm on the surface, but inside he was overjoyed.

The Dao Fruit was still vibrating.

This is not an ordinary remnant.

This is a primordial spiritual object that can be refined into the Dao Yuan.

In his hand was the small pot that could accelerate the growth of spiritual herbs.

After all, the small pot can accelerate the growth of medicinal herbs.

Is it possible to raise innate spiritual creatures?

Even if only a tiny bit can be raised.

Even if it only increases by a little bit each year.

That is also a continuous source of the Dao Yuan.

A glint of light flashed in Gu Changjin's eyes.

"it is good."

"This is the true secret of the Great Luo."