Chapter 558: Chapter 556: Core Formation Falls_1

“Based on past experiences, if I were to break through to the Nascent Soul Stage, the cultivation level rewards from the second-grade Glowworm Grass Light Group would decrease significantly, which contradicts with the massive amount of cultivation needed for advancing to a new realm.”

“Now that I have succeeded in mutating this third-rank Ice Glowworm Grass, once I break through to the Nascent Soul Stage, the reward from the Light Cluster should not be as pitiful as from the second-grade.”

Lu Xuan reflected in his heart.

“The next thing to do is to mature this mutated spiritual seed and experiment how much cultivation reward the White Light Group can bring.”

“In addition, I should try to get as many Ice Glowworm Grass spiritual seeds as possible.”

He looked at the spiritual seed in his hand and sighed.

The new spiritual seed had changed a bit compared to the previous ones.

The surface of the deep blue slender spiritual seed was filled with many light blue snowflake patterns. Holding it, one could feel a trace of icy chill seeping into the skin.

He carefully stored the Ice Glowworm Grass spiritual seed and continued to examine the remaining mutated spiritual seeds.

In the end, he found a total of five Ice Glowworm Grass spiritual seeds. The rest either became useless during the successive mutation processes or were used again by Lu Xuan for further mutations in the hopes of getting more Ice Glowworm Grass spiritual seeds.

Though it seemed unlikely, Lu Xuan was still willing to try for more improved spiritual seeds.

One day, he went to the Sword Hall to hand in his fourth-grade Sword Peacock that he had grown earlier.

As a Sword Hall Disciple, he could apply for the ownership of this Sword Peacock through the Sword Hall. However, since Lu Xuan already possessed the fifth-rank Spectral Splitting Shadow Sword Grass, he didn’t want to waste the opportunity on the fourth-grade Sword Peacock. It would be better to exchange it for some Sword Marks instead.

The number of disciples entering and exiting the Sword Hall was fewer than usual. Lu Xuan didn’t see the familiar figure of Shen Ye, so he found an acquaintance from the Sword Hall high level and handed over the Sword Peacock.

Seeing the satisfied expression of that elder brother, he received five hundred Sword Marks as a reward for cultivating the Sword Peacock.

Just as he was about to leave the Sword Hall, his spiritual sense sharply detected the discussion between two Sword Hall disciples not far away.

“Brother Zhou is so unfortunate. He suffered such a severe injury, I don’t know when he will recover.”

“Yeah, I thought getting a fifth-rank treasure was a great opportunity, but I didn’t expect the unexpected to happen. He was besieged by demons.”

“Looking at it this way, I don’t know if it’s a blessing or a curse to get that fifth-grade magical artifact.”

Brother Zhou, fifth-grade magical artifact…

Lu Xuan immediately thought of Zhou Qi from Black Star City.

“Two junior brothers, please wait. I overheard your discussion just now. I wonder if the person in your conversation is Brother Zhou Qi from the Sword Hall?”

Lu Xuan stopped the two and asked.

“Yes, it’s indeed that Brother Zhou.”

One of the young cultivators nodded and replied.

“What danger did Brother Zhou encounter? It seems quite serious.”

“A few days ago, Brother Zhou was brought back to the Sect by Core Formation Elder Uncle. His condition is not good.”

“According to the Elder Uncle, he encountered several peculiar demons in the Black Demon Abyss that specialize in divine soul attacks using evil techniques. It was hard to defend against. Brother Zhou’s divine soul was heavily damaged and he fell into a coma most of the time. Even when he occasionally awakes, he’s in a crazy state of losing his mind.”

“Treasures that can heal the divine soul are scarce, let alone in the case like Brother Zhou. It took several tries just to restore a little bit.”

“An Elder Uncle who is good at this kind of healing technique in our sect checked on him, it may take decades for him to fully regain consciousness, and there is a significant risk of changes during this period.”

The two of them told Lu Xuan, their words full of sympathy for Zhou Qi.

Having to spend decades to heal the damage to the divine soul, his cultivation path had basically come to an end. Even the fifth-grade magical artifact could not make up for the loss.

“The price is indeed a bit too high.”

Lu Xuan echoed.

Although he had suspected Zhou Qi before and had used the Void Nightmare Eye to monitor him for a while, he ultimately confirmed there was no abnormality. In addition, Zhou Qi had been quite polite to him in Black Star City, so Lu Xuan felt somewhat regretful upon hearing this news.

“Demonic creatures skilled in soul manipulation, fortunately, I’m protected by the fifth-rank Clear Dragonfly Feather Robe. If I encounter them, I’m not at all apprehensive and can even counter-attack with the equally ranked Soul Piercing Needle.”

“Hmm, my methods are quite varied.”

He returned to his cave dwelling, pondering how he should handle such situations if he were to encounter them.

“Hmph, why think so much? Surely, there’s no chance of encountering such demonic creatures within the Sect, right?”

After reaching this conclusion, Lu Xuan couldn’t help but chuckle. Regardless, he will continue to stay in the Sect, living out his days in peace.

The news of Brother Zhou being seriously injured was quickly pushed to the back of his mind. All his focus was placed on the multitude of spirit plants in his Spirit Field, leaving him with no time to care about anything else.

Only when he was out did he hear various news from the likes of Liu Su and others.

That day, he was inspecting the numerous Spirit Plants in his Spirit Field.

“Boom!”

Suddenly, a resonating and deep bell tolled throughout the Sect. The sound echoed across all the mountain peaks and cave dwellings.

Nine successive bell tolls, each resonant with a somber tone of grief and loss.

Lu Xuan stood in the furrows of his Spirit Field, dazed, recalling the rules of the Sect he had learned when he first entered.

These nine clock strikes represented the passing of an important figure within the Sect.

As expected, an aged voice echoed in his ears.

“Our esteemed cultivator, True Man Qingxu, who was in the Nascent Soul Stage for over two centuries, has fallen into the hands of demons in the Black Demon Abyss. Let all disciples observe a moment of silence.”

“Golden Core Real People has fallen?”

Lu Xuan was greatly shocked.

He stood still, observing a moment of silence. It took a long time for his mind to clear.

He had met the fallen True Man Qingxu before – Ge Pu, a disciple of the genuine teachings of the Sect, introduced Lu Xuan to the real man because he wanted to comprehend a Mystic Technique,

Seeing that he was skilled at cultivating spiritual plants, and had an incomplete secret realm, he let him cultivate the fifth-rank Pure Luli Tea.

Unexpectedly, he had fallen silently in the Black Demon Abyss.

To his knowledge, True Man Qingxu has been in the Nascent Soul Stage for many years, possessing the cultivation of the mid-term of Nascent Soul stage, proficient in the ways of pills and talismans, and was very powerful.

“To make a Golden Core mid-stage real man fall, how terrifying are the demons that have invaded this world?”

Lu Xuan was lost in a whirlwind of thoughts.

True Man Qingxu had asked him to cultivate the fifth-rank Pure Luli Tea, and if he fell, and there was no close family or direct disciple to claim it, Lu Xuan might reap the benefits.

But his heart did not feel the slightest thrill, and his expression was extremely solemn.

He had initially thought that the protection of the Sect and the possession of numerous fifth-rank treasures were a guarantee for his safety. But now it seems that the situation was not as secure as he thought.

If the demons from the Outer Realm could easily kill a Golden Core true man, what if they were stronger and more numerous? Could they attack the Sect and kill the Primordial Infant True Monarch?

If he were to encounter those powerful demons, how should he respond?

With treasures at his disposal, his strength might be equivalent to that of an early-stage Golden Pellet cultivator, but a golden pill mid-stage real person had already perished.

His confidence was shaken greatly.

“Can’t a man even farm quietly?”

Lu Xuan softly sighed.

“Now, all I can do is to watch how long the Cultivation World and the Sect can hold.”

“As for me, I should stop worrying too much. It’s often said that tall people will stand firm when the sky collapses. So, I should concentrate on farming, reap high-grade reward clusters. That’s the right path.”