Nine Evolutions of the True Spirit

Nucleus Island was a medium-sized island with a unique location at the center of the Northern Region.

The island was once a barren land deprived of all resources, lacking a single spirit vein or any spirit herbs. Despite that, the island still became the center of attraction for the many sects in the region due to its location. As a result, an agreement was reached where every sect would contribute a basic spirit vein to create an intermediate spirit vein which was then placed at the center of the island. The sects then built compounds and facilities around the island, turning the former wasteland into a neutral region where sects could trade and hold conferences.

With the nurturing of the spirit vein, its strategic location, and the investment from the many sects, Nucleus Island soon prospered. The ten strongest sects had occupied most of the island’s land, leaving only a portion for the other sects and clans.

On this day, an elderly and young cultivator walked out of the island’s teleportation formation. The pair immediately headed towards a palace located right at the island’s center.

The palace was a property of the Zhen Ling Sect. As they got closer, Lu Ping saw the name of the palace engraved on a massive metal plate nailed above the entrance. The palace was called the Frozen Mist Palace.

Tian-Hu stopped in front of the entrance, and said, “The other Great Ancestor stationed on the island is Great Ancestor Tian-Xue. I assume you know already, but my advice is to just keep quiet and listen. She’s quite a strict person and can be particularly mean. Tian-Lin and Tian-Ling are pretty disobedient, but even they have never found the courage to disobey her. As Tian-Ling’s disciple, you had better watch out when you speak to her.”

Knowing that Tian-Xue was one of the three mid-level Law Avatar Realm Great Ancestors in the sect, and one of the two pillars the Zhen Ling Sect relied on to repel the Xuan Ling Sect’s Dao-Sheng, Lu Ping didn’t dare to even think about offending this elder. In fact, he was worried that she would give him some trouble because Tian-Ling was his master.

“Bah. There’s nothing I can do about it, right? I’m just a junior to them. No, I’m more than just a junior. I’m a junior with insignificant strength. If my master was around, I assume Great Ancestor Tian-Xue would lecture her. She won’t make it difficult for her, but things wouldn’t be the same for me…or maybe not. After all, I’m two generations younger, so she probably won’t bring herself down to my level and trouble me. Then again, it’s tough to tell.”

Troubled by these thoughts, Lu Ping followed Tian-Hu into the palace and met with Tian-Xue.

Despite appearing to be in her forties, Tian-Xue was still a beauty. Unlike the formal attire his master always wore, Tian-Xue wore clothing that resembled her straightforward personality.

“It’s been years since we last met. How have you been, senior sister?”

“I’m dying!” Tian-Xue’s sharp words left her tongue like steel swords. “Can you imagine dealing with all these shameless b*stards every day on this stupid island? Do you know how angry I get when I’m dealing with them? Meanwhile, look at you fools! Hiding in Tian Ling Mountain and using the excuse of safeguarding the sect? Then there’s that idiot who went all the way to the Eastern Ocean to have a vacation, leaving me here all alone. Me! A lady! You men from the sect are really capable!”

Lu Ping lowered his head immediately. Despite being in the mid-level of the Core Forging Realm, he almost failed to control the urge to laugh after hearing her words.

On the other hand, Tian-Hu seemed to have gotten used to Tian-Xue’s way of speaking. He smiled awkwardly, and replied, “Senior sister, you’re the pillar of the sect. This island is the center of all the sects in the region; you’re here because everyone in the sect thinks that only you are strong enough. If you quit, the island will fall into the hands of the Xuan Ling Sect’s Dao-Yan!”

“How dare he!” Tian-Xue raised her brows and squeezed the words out. “I’ll cut him down!”

“Of course you would!” Tian-Hu hurled aside his pride as a Great Ancestor of the sect and continued flattering. “Senior sister is a powerful cultivator and the third strongest in the sect. Wait. No. You’re the second strongest in the sect. Overwhelming a Mid Avatar Realm cultivator from the Xuan Ling Sect is definitely not a problem for you!”

Lu Ping captured a minor detail during their conversation. When Tian-Hu referred to Tian-Xue as the third strongest cultivator in the sect, he hurriedly changed his words as soon as he saw Tian-Xue raising her eyebrows.

Tian-Xue waved her hand impatiently, and said, “Shut up. To enter the alchemy conference, one has to be at least a master alchemist. This young rascal. That one over here. Is he that naughty Tian-Ling’s disciple? The one they call Water Sword Immortal? Ermm… Lu…”

Lu Ping couldn’t help but sigh. He reckoned that Tian-Xue was perhaps the most lawless in the sect, but it couldn’t be helped. After all, she was one of the sect's three mid-level Law Avatar Realm Great Ancestors. She had the power to do whatever she wanted in the sect. As long as she did not plan to betray the sect, no one would even try to reason with her.

Lu Ping stepped forward and greeted her politely.

A hint of surprise flickered in her eyes as Lu Ping felt her gaze scanning him from head to toe in a split second. Tian-Xue said, “You dare to accept the title they gave you when Mo Jian-Li of the Yu Jian Sect won’t even call himself a Sword Immortal. I’m also told that you’re cultivating alchemy at the same time. Do you even have time for that?”

Yu Jian Sect was the only sect in the North Ocean that cultivated the way of the sword, and Mo Jian-Li was the Great Ancestor of their sect.

Abiding by the advice Tian-Hu had given him, Lu Ping kept his words short and brief. “I’ll do my best.”

“Brat, the conference is not easy to enter, especially for someone as young as you. You achieved something others took centuries to achieve; do you think they will act neutral toward you? You’re bound to be harassed by the participants even when you have Tian-Hu’s recommendation.”

Tian-Hu’s expression turned serious, “Huh? Did you receive some news? A new master alchemist won’t be given trouble when the person is recommended by someone else. Why would someone make things difficult for Lu Ping?”

“Who else besides the Xuan-Ling Sect would dare to provoke us? Xuan-Qin is to be blamed for this!” Tian-Xue rolled her eyes in response.

“Wei Xu-Ren is here?” Tian-Hu’s expression twisted again.

“Yes. He’s also become the second grandmaster alchemist in the Xuan Ling Sect; he’s here with that old and foolish Dao-Li. They’re here to brag and retaliate. If Xuan-Qin was around, we could have still emerged victorious, but this young man? Hmph.”

Lu Ping completely ignored the disdainful expression on Tian-Xue’s face. When Wei Xu-Ren was still in the fourth level of the Core Forging Realm, he was no match for Lu Ping in terms of alchemy. However, the crucial point was that it was a competition of alchemy skills, not cultivation level.

Tian-Hu glanced at Lu Ping, and added, “This is all Xuan-Qin’s fault. When Wei Xu-Ren challenged her to an alchemy battle, Xuan-Qin deliberately humiliated him after she triumphed against him. Her words pissed him off so much that the anger caused him to faint, consequently turning him into a laughingstock. It’s only reasonable that he’s returned to seek revenge.”

“Look at you! Are you even fit to be a master? How could you say that? Wei Xu-Ren was the one that picked a fight with Xuan-Qin. Is Xuan-Qin wrong when she was merely retaliating? Did you not hear the mocking words and tone that Wei Xu-Ren used? Why do you think Xuan-Qin ran away? You and Tian-Ling didn’t even stand up for her!”

At that, Tian-Hu smiled bitterly and kept quiet. Lu Ping stood silently behind him with his head lowered, appearing deep in thought. Tian-Xue glanced at Lu Ping and realized that Tian-Hu didn’t wish to bring up the past in front of a junior, so she sneered. “Little brat, I can tell that you’re talented. You’ll eventually know about these incidents in the future. You may be the mischievous Tian-Ling’s disciple, but I won’t make things difficult for you just because of that.”

Tian-Xue’s tone changed suddenly as she said, “However, if you disgrace yourself and the sect during the conference, then you can’t blame me for punishing you! I’ll send you to the bottom of the ocean to mine for five years!”

“Then, if I don’t shame myself, do I get a reward?” Lu Ping raised his head and stared into Tian-Xue’s eyes with confidence.

Surprised by Lu Ping’s question, Tian-Xue and Tian-Hu looked straight at him. After seeing Lu Ping remain calm and steady in front of Law Avatar Realm Great Ancestors, Tian-Xue was enraged. “That’s your responsibility! Are you trying to threaten me with the sect’s honor?”

Lu Ping inwardly reprimanded Tian-Xue immediately. “I grew up in the sect. The sect is my home and where I belong. Do you think I would allow anyone to humiliate our sect just because there was nothing in it for me?”

“But…” Tian-Xue’s voice sounded again, “If you could get the recipe for the five years Longevity Pellet, I will reward you handsomely even if you make a fool out of yourself. If you don’t disgrace us and obtain the recipe, I’ll give you three precious items from my collection.”

“Deal!” Lu Ping replied firmly and enthusiastically. Tian-Hu watched on with an indescribable expression, while Tian-Xue simply smirked.

The reason why Lu Ping confronted Tian-Xue was because of how she had addressed his master. Additionally, she was obviously on the same side as Xuan-Qin. Although he didn’t know what happened back then, he knew that Xuan-Qin was the reason why his master and her husband became enemies.

Lu Ping already had the recipes for the five and ten-year Longevity Pellets in his hands. However, the ten years' recipe was far too astonishing even for the North Ocean. As a result, he wouldn’t reveal it recklessly.