Chapter 73: History and Legacy

The night passed uneventfully.

Since their last encounter, Elder Brother Fang had not reappeared, as if he had forgotten about the new disciples entirely. On the contrary, Doude’s group became increasingly active, gathering thirty-plus individuals for collective cultivation, creating quite a formidable presence.

Chen Luo paid them no heed, continuing his solitary practice.

Within his room, Chen Luo closed his eyes and began sensing the free-flowing spiritual energy outside. The world here possessed much denser spiritual energy compared to the Yue Kingdom’s Great Mausoleum. Even without specific times, it was possible to cultivate normally, with spiritual energy available throughout the day, not just during dawn and dusk—a realization that came after Chen Luo reached the second level of Qi Refinement.

“By reversing the True Immortal Classic at the Heavenly Lake and Valley Spirit star positions, you can suppress the wood and thunder spiritual roots to some extent, utilizing only the water spiritual root. This will enhance your Qi Refinement speed by half a layer,” suggested the mummified brain.

This advice offered a novel cultivation technique based on Chen Luo’s existing knowledge. However, such a minor improvement could not significantly impact Chen Luo’s progress.

“I’ve been exposed to too few immortal cultivation scriptures, limiting my understanding.”

Chen Luo pondered the underlying reasons.

Even the most exceptional genius must first undergo a learning phase before rising. Currently, his own limited accumulation was hindering him.

While Longevity Daoist had imparted some basic knowledge of immortal cultivation to Chen Luo, it was largely outdated and rudimentary, far behind the current state of the cultivation world.

With such a foundation, even with his sharp intellect, he couldn’t devise a perfect plan for advancement.

“I’ll have to wait until reaching the Divine Lake Immortal Sect to find ways to enhance my understanding. Until then, I must diligently continue my Qi Refinement practice.”

Sighing, Chen Luo suppressed his restlessness and embarked on another round of tedious cultivation.

Fortunately, the mummified brain instinctively provided numerous suggestions, enabling his progress in Qi Refinement to surpass that of ordinary disciples with three spiritual roots, albeit marginally beneficial.

Finally, after ten days of arduous travel, the flying boat pierced through the cloud sea and entered a secluded region dense with forests.

Below stretched a vast lake, shimmering under the sunlight.

Dimly, powerful aquatic beasts could be seen moving beneath the water’s surface. As the flying boat passed overhead, several formidable fish-like creatures followed its path submerged below.

“Truly magnificent,” Chen Luo marveled.

Since they were now within the vicinity of the Divine Lake Immortal Sect, no one continued their cultivation inside their rooms.

Chen Luo stood at the edge of the flying boat, gazing down at the schools of fish below. From these creatures, he sensed multiple potent energies; among them, the aura emanating from the lead fish was stronger than that of Song Yan, the formal disciple who escorted him. These were undoubtedly mid-stage Qi Refinement beast cultivators. In the Yue Kingdom, just one of these fish could potentially annihilate the entire nation.

“This is the Divine Lake Formation surrounding our Divine Lake Immortal Sect, established by our founding Ancestral Master. Any cultivator entering these waters without permission will be relentlessly attacked by the Dragonfish beneath,” Song Yan explained to the newly admitted disciples, recounting the history of the Divine Lake Immortal Sect.

This was his assigned duty for the day.

“Dragonfish!” Gasps echoed through the crowd, even startling Chen Luo.

He hadn’t anticipated the Divine Lake Immortal Sect’s might, capable of breeding Dragonfish.

“Not pure-blooded Dragonfish, actually second-generation hybrids developed by Elder Ke from Beast Control Peak. Their strength is equivalent to the peak of the Qi Refinement stage,” Song Yan clarified with a smile.

When he first joined the sect, the legend of ‘Dragonfish’ had frightened him too. Later, he learned that these creatures were imperfect hybrids created by Elder Ke using snake and deer demons, more intimidating in appearance than actual prowess. To true experts, they were hardly significant.

“So, they’re hybrid beasts.”

The crowd collectively sighed in relief.

“Still, hybrid beasts are quite formidable. Achieving the peak of Qi Refinement isn’t something ordinary individuals can attain. Out in the world, such beings could establish their own cult cultivation family,” someone whispered softly.

Song Yan did not elaborate further on this point.

“The flying boat returns, enter the Immortal Sect!”

On the surface of the flying boat, a massive emblem emerged.

Over the distant Divine Lake, divine light from the formation appeared, scanning the entire vessel. After confirming the occupants’ identities, a designated area to the left of the Immortal Sect’s entrance opened up. Guided by the formation, the flying boat descended within it.

Rumble!

Following a ground-shaking movement, the giant timbered turtle beneath the flying boat settled onto the ground. Its limbs retracted, and countless supports extended from the edge of its shell, firmly anchoring it to the earth.

With this, the flying boat officially entered the Divine Lake Immortal Sect.

“Everyone, disembark.”

Elder Brother Fang reappeared once more, leading the two genius disciples ahead as they descended towards the ground first.

Doude and others also noticed these two prodigies; during their journey, they had interacted with them frequently, even providing numerous resources. Together, they formed something called a ‘Cultivation Society.’ Some waved greetings at the geniuses upon seeing them, but unfortunately, the duo walked past as if not noticing, leaving the members of the ‘Luxury Nation Cultivation Society’ feeling disheartened, suspecting they might have been deceived.

“I gave all my spirit stones to him,” someone whispered reluctantly amidst the crowd.

Someone in the crowd couldn’t resist whispering softly, hoping to catch their attention.

Alas, they were ignored completely.

From the moment they disembarked, a new chapter of their lives had begun. How much value could be placed on promises made in the mundane world now? These aspiring individuals sought to cling to the geniuses’ influence, but those prodigies also had their own agendas. One could only blame themselves for being naive and not anticipate others’ ulterior motives.

Once everyone had left the flying boat, the giant timbered turtle stretched its body, causing a wave of air to surge around it. As the turtle moved, intricate immortal scripts appeared on its back. With a mighty heave, its colossal form took flight once again, heading towards the mountain’s entrance outside.

The sect’s flying boat wasn’t solely dedicated to receiving newcomers; it had other duties to fulfill as well.

“Dear fellow Shidi and Shimei, I am Su Tianyao, the Outer Sect’s senior disciple. Welcome to the Divine Lake Immortal Sect.”

After guiding them to the entry platform, Elder Brother Fang, Song Yan, and the others departed. Their task was complete, leaving the next phase to another group of disciples.

In front of the white jade plaza, a handsome youth clad in azure robes addressed the group of over two hundred newcomers.

“Our Divine Lake Immortal Sect, established three thousand six hundred years ago, has endured five calamities and thirteen tribulations under three generations of founding ancestors. Within the sect, there are ten main peaks: the central Divine Lake Peak, Pill Peak known as Medicine King Peak, Artifact Peak named Divine Fire Peak, Formation Peak called Star Compass Peak, and Talisman Peak titled Heavenly Scroll Peak.”

As these newly joined disciples listened to Outer Sect’s Eldest Disciple Su Tianyao, their hearts swelled with excitement, further intensifying their aspirations towards the Divine Lake Immortal Sect. The sense of pride that comes from being part of a venerable and deeply rooted sect is easily evoked, often leading one to mistakenly feel personally invested in this heritage.

Standing amidst the crowd, Chen Luo heard the charismatic spiel from the eldest apprentice-brother and felt a strange sense of familiarity.

‘Reminiscing about my time as a grave digger in Qingya County, it seems our adviser spoke similarly about its history.’

After a moment of contemplation, he had an epiphany.

Now, as he listened to the content being shared by the eldest apprentice-brother, his initial sense of pride vanished, replaced by a feeling of hollow grandiosity.

There was no substance, only empty rhetoric.