Chapter 144: Resolution

“Shizun.”

Chen Luo swiftly bowed in respect. Upon seeing Daoist Wuwei again, he felt the same sense of unfathomable depth as before.

“I didn’t expect you to be the first one back.”

Daoist Wuwei’s voice remained as calm as ever. Compared to several years ago, his aura had grown even more potent, indicating a deeper cultivation base.

“Thirteenth Layer of Qi Refinement, Perfection - I knew you wouldn’t disappoint me.” Daoist Wuwei discerned Chen Luo’s current realm effortlessly. However, when his gaze swept over Chen Luo’s forehead, it paused momentarily. Unlike others, Daoist Wuwei primarily cultivated the Xin Mo Art, making him highly sensitive to forces like cursed magic.

“The cursed magic from Guo Mountain County, truly fortunate you survived.”

Hearing Daoist Wuwei’s words, Chen Luo felt relieved and hopeful.

“Shizun, please help me remove the cursed magic.”

With such readily available resources, Chen Luo did not hesitate to seek assistance. This was one of the greatest advantages for sect disciples; unlike solo cultivators who must bear all burdens alone, they could rely on their sect’s support, avoiding misfortunes that might otherwise overwhelm them due to minor issues.

“Do you know why we haven’t sealed off Guo Mountain County?”

Daoist Wuwei gestured and began explaining Guo Mountain County to him. As the peak lord of Wu Dao Peak, he naturally had knowledge about such a place jointly sealed by the three sects.

“It cannot be fully contained.”

Cannot be fully contained? This was news to Chen Luo, significantly differing from the rumors outside.

“Guo Mountain County is quite peculiar. Unless absolutely necessary, avoid going there in the future.”

After offering this brief warning, Daoist Wuwei shifted the topic. His gaze once again settled on Chen Luo.

“You were right not to rush Foundation Establishment blindly. Solo cultivators have limited perspectives, often focusing only on reaching that milestone. However, Foundation Establishment is merely the beginning of the cultivation path. With your rare hidden constitution, you stand a high chance of eventually attempting Core Formation. I advise you to carefully choose your path before Foundation Establishment, cultivating the foundation most suitable for your own grand destiny.”

As Daoist Wuwei spoke, he waved his hand, sending forth a white token.

“This signifies your status as an Inner Sect disciple. With it, you can access the Inner Sect’s archives at Divine Lake Peak. I’ll cover the merit points upfront; you can repay me after achieving Foundation Establishment.”

“Many thanks, Shizun.”

Chen Luo accepted the token gratefully. Although Daoist Wuwei was not particularly attentive to most disciples, he proved to be quite supportive towards those he genuinely recognized.

The notion of returning merits only after reaching Foundation Establishment was merely a casual remark. After all, could a Qi Refinement cultivator earn merits as swiftly as a Foundation Establishment cultivator?

“As for the curse on you…”

Having addressed matters related to cultivation, Daoist Wuwei’s gaze shifted back to Chen Luo’s forehead. His eyes pierced through Chen Luo’s body, revealing twisted black energy within.

Dimly, it seemed as if he glimpsed a three-inch-tall, pitch-black straw figure.

As Daoist Wuwei observed, the straw figure eerily moved, its crimson eyes glaring fiercely, attempting to expel Daoist Wuwei’s spiritual presence.

“Soul-Binding Curse, indeed troublesome. Yet…who gave you the audacity to harm my disciple?”

Daoist Wuwei raised his hand, summoning a gust of wind within the hall. Gray and white energies coalesced at his fingertips. Instantaneously, the surrounding paintings appeared to ‘come alive,’ accompanied by faint sounds of women’s laughter echoing in the background.

Before Chen Luo could react, Daoist Wuwei swiftly raised his hand, and with a flash of light, he pressed his index finger onto Chen Luo’s forehead.

The black and white energies surged forth, instantly striking the straw figure’s head.

Crack!

It seemed as if something shattered under this touch.

In that instant, Chen Luo felt like his head had been struck by a blunt object, causing blood to flow from his eyes, ears, nose, and mouth.

Fortunately, the force arrived quickly and dissipated just as fast.

Soon, it vanished entirely, transforming into a warm current that flowed back into his body.

Instantaneously, Chen Luo experienced a sense of lightness, as if the shackles binding him were forcibly broken by another power. The soothing energy radiated outward from his forehead, filling him with immense relief. Even his divine soul within rejoiced, its strength significantly enhanced now that the cursed magic’s influence was dispelled.

A predicament unsolvable for solo cultivators outside was resolved on his very first day back in the sect.

“Done.”

Daoist Wuwei retracted his index finger, and the energy in the hall gradually subsided. The flickering paintings on the walls stilled, as if everything before had been merely an illusion.

“Go now and prepare for Foundation Establishment. The resources required can be acquired within the sect; it will merely take some time.”

Having completed his task, Daoist Wuwei retracted his power, closed his eyes, and resumed his earlier composed demeanor.

“Many thanks, Shizun! Disciple takes his leave.”

Chen Luo bowed respectfully before exiting the hall.

As the doors shut, layers of mist rose within the chamber, and indistinct figures emerged from the paintings on the walls. A veiled woman, draped in flowing black aura, floated behind Daoist Wuwei, wrapped her arms around him, rested her chin over his shoulder, and gazed towards the closed doors with dreamy eyes, softly murmuring:

“Your disciple is quite intriguing.”

Ignoring her, Daoist Wuwei simply opened his palm.

In his hand, unnoticed until now, lay a three-inch straw figure. This was the very curse placed upon Chen Luo by the evil cultivator during their Foundation Establishment confrontation, which he had just extracted.

“Guo Mountain County,” Daoist Wuwei muttered, memories flooding his mind.

Daoist Wuwei murmured about this place, memories of numerous past events resurfacing in his mind.

Unaware of what transpired behind him, Chen Luo had other matters to attend to.

After removing the cursed magic, he planned to visit Divine Lake Peak. As the main peak of the Divine Lake Immortal Sect, its vast library was accessible only to Inner Sect disciples. Chen Luo sought suitable paths for Foundation Establishment, and the legacies found there were indispensable.

‘Chance of Foundation Establishment: 80%, Core Formation: 40%, Nascent Soul Condensation: None.’

In his thoughts, the mummified brain once again provided feedback.

“The probability for Foundation Establishment has increased, but Core Formation and Nascent Soul Condensation remain unchanged,” Chen Luo observed the changes within himself, gaining a clearer understanding of the ‘path’ Daoist Wuwei mentioned.

For solo cultivators, their focus solely lay on reaching Foundation Establishment; they rarely considered subsequent stages due to lack of resources and strength.

Standing upon the shoulders of the Divine Lake Immortal Sect, Chen Luo did not wish to be as limited as solo cultivators. With the assistance of the mummified brain, he felt confident in setting higher goals for himself.

For instance, becoming an immortal first.

Descending from Wu Dao Peak, Chen Luo headed towards the main peak of Divine Lake.

As he walked through the sect, he noticed a significant decrease in the number of people present. Throughout his journey, he hardly encountered anyone, especially at Beast Taming Peak. Once bustling with activity, it now lay desolate due to Peak Lord Elder Ke’s betrayal. Passing by its entrance, Chen Luo paused to observe for a moment.

‘With so few people on Beast Taming Peak, does that mean no one is guarding the burial grounds at the rear?’

Chen Luo’s thoughts began to race.

When he initially joined the sect, he had considered offering to guard the tombs behind other peaks, but back then, he was promptly turned away without a chance. Now, amidst the sect’s turmoil and rebuilding, this presented itself as a rare opportunity for him, despite being a severe setback for the entire sect.

After passing Beast Taming Peak, Chen Luo visited Xingdou Peak and Medicine King Peak, finding them equally sparse in population.

While walking, a figure approached him head-on.

Chen Luo paused and glanced at the person, feeling a vague sense of familiarity—as if they had entered the sect together. However, he couldn’t recall their name specifically. The other disciple evidently didn’t recognize him either, passing by without giving him more than a glance.

Upon reaching the main peak, Divine Lake Peak, Chen Luo effortlessly cleared the checkpoint using his Inner Sect disciple token.

With no hindrances, he swiftly arrived at the library. After the responsible disciple deducted his merit points, they allowed him entry.

Standing at the entrance, Chen Luo observed that compared to Wu Dao Peak’s library, the one on Divine Lake Peak was significantly larger, seemingly stretching endlessly before his eyes.

The cultivation techniques and secret arts were neatly organized. Chen Luo walked towards a bookshelf on the left and casually pulled out a booklet:

‘Bean Scattering Technique.’

Surprised, he hadn’t expected to randomly find a divine ability. On Wu Dao Peak, only the Peak Lord, Daoist Wuwei, could master such high-level techniques; here, it was simply displayed for anyone to access.

As Chen Luo scanned further along, he discovered there were over twenty similar bookshelves. If each shelf contained divine abilities of this caliber, then the main peak must hold at least two hundred different techniques.

“Truly deserving to be called the main peak.”

Chen Luo put down the ‘Bean Scattering Technique’ and continued browsing through other books. Each tome provided only brief introductions; to learn the actual divine abilities, one had to spend merits to purchase their corresponding jade slips.

The rules of the immortal sect remained unchanged.

After reviewing all the divine abilities, Chen Luo selected five that corresponded with the Five Elements attributes. With Shizun Daoist Wuwei generously covering the expenses, it would be remiss not to take advantage of his support.

Having studied these five divine abilities, Chen Luo felt an instant surge of understanding. Within his externalized minds, the Five Phases Foundation Establishment brains rapidly processed the information. Drawing upon their perspectives, an unprecedented familiarity washed over him, as if he had learned these divine abilities long ago. This sensation allowed Chen Luo to swiftly grasp and master them, enabling proficient usage.