Chapter 134: The Foundation of the Great Path

Entering the interior of the rattan sphere, Pang Yue was immediately struck by a radiant sight. Before him stretched an endless sea of celestial flowers from the Heavenly Mansion, various flowering trees, and rare herbs, all competing to bloom in full splendor.

A vast, boundless floral ocean unfolded before the two of them. Above this sea of blossoms floated over a hundred magnificent pavilions and towers gilded with gold and jade, interspersed with various sizes and styles of gazebos and terraces, faintly visible in the mist.

Verdant greenery hovered in the air, with rich clouds spreading across the ground, fragrant light extending for miles, shining as brilliantly as embroidered clouds. The pavilions glittered with silver lamps, jade bridges arched gracefully like rainbows, flying corridors dripped with vermilion, rainbows condensed into violet hues, and auspicious light radiated in countless streams, filling the surroundings with a thousand miles of auspicious mists.

Immersed within, one’s vision broadened amidst the glow of flowers and precious aura, the entire domain illuminated in splendor, evoking admiration and awe.

Ren Shuying chuckled softly, then led Pang Yue to ascend one of the towers, entering a jade pavilion within. “You may stay here with peace of mind for a few days. I will seek medicine for Sister Luanjing. Once she recovers, we can depart without hurry.” Knowing Pang Yue had no intention of lingering long, Ren Shuying gently urged him to stay.

Pang Yue did not refuse and settled in, beginning to refine the Chaos Thunder Seal. Upon returning to the sect this time, he intended to apply for the status of a true disciple. Afterwards, he would choose to cultivate the Nine Swords of the Human Emperor.

Twenty years later, when the Ten True Disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect were to be assessed, he would strive to secure a place among them again. If successful, gaining access to the sect’s vast resources would allow him to accumulate strength and break through to the Golden Core in one decisive attempt.

If not, he would consider other methods — traversing the Celestial Sky Market to obtain cultivation resources and then reconsider the Golden Core breakthrough. By then, his true self should have reached the realm of a perfected Dao foundation, beginning preparations for the Golden Core stage.

The road ahead was long and arduous, but as the saying goes: “To walk is to arrive.”

Soon after Ren Shuying left, she returned carrying a single spiritual pill. The two administered it to Pei Luanjing, and after several days of waiting, Luanjing gradually awakened with ease.

This ordeal caused a subtle shift in Luanjing’s attitude toward Ren Shuying. The two women then sent Pang Yue away and privately conferred within the embroidered pavilion for half a day before emerging hand in hand. Their demeanor was as intimate as true sisters, with no trace of estrangement.

Several days later, Pang Yue finally succeeded in refining the first seal of the Chaos Thunder Seal’s restrictive formation. Afterwards, he and Pei Luanjing prepared to take their leave.

Ren Shuying escorted them to the teleportation island, where they used the teleportation array to return directly to the Heavenly Sword Sect.

…

At the Heavenly Sword Sect’s Cloud Soaring Peak, within a secluded chamber of a cave dwelling, a small square azure stone seal floated silently before Pang Yue. Its knob was shaped like a vividly lifelike Kui dragon, its eyes gleaming with electric light.

This seal was one of the nine great spiritual treasures from his past life—the Chaos Thunder Seal.

Yet at this moment, Pang Yue was not refining the seal. His eyes were half-closed, his expression otherworldly and detached.

The Innate Infinite Tablet emitted a clear, pure light, enveloping him completely. Within, countless runes swirled, exuding profound mystic energy.

Earlier, while refining the Chaos Thunder Seal’s restrictive formation, a sudden stroke of spiritual inspiration struck him. Through analogy, he gained a deeper understanding of the “Lead Cloud Thunder Prison” technique among the Nine Celestial Views.

Unable to resist, he activated the Innate Infinite Tablet, following this insight to continue deducing, further elevating the power of the Lead Cloud Thunder Prison to a new height.

He immersed himself in this realm of enlightenment, unaware of the passage of time.

After an unknown span, a faint, ethereal sword chime resounded throughout the Water Mansion.

Immediately, a wave of perfect divine aura surged upward like the rising morning sun.

Unusual phenomena erupted atop Cloud Soaring Peak!

Radiant clouds appeared on the horizon, cascading in brilliant hues.

Within the glow, countless profound runes flowed, brimming with Dao resonance.

On the snow-covered summit, pure light spread, and white lotus pods silently emerged, blooming in unison in an instant.

The lotus leaves swayed, and the thick spiritual energy rippled like waves all around.

Inside a simple stone hut amidst the snow, Yang Su, the senior disciple of Cloud Soaring Peak, rose to his feet and stepped outside.

Spiritual light surged around him, transforming into a faint sword light that suddenly vanished.

Within his cave, Pang Yue awakened leisurely and sensed the surrounding celestial phenomena, his heart instantly enlightened.

“The senior brother has formed his Golden Core!” he thought.

Moved, he exited the cave just in time to see the sword light that Yang Su had become, heading straight toward the Six Pavilions in the sky.

At Cloud Soaring Peak, several streaks of escaping light appeared, all gazing upward.

These were Cloud Soaring Peak disciples. They felt mixed emotions watching the lingering celestial phenomena atop the peak.

Joyful because the peak had finally produced another Golden Core cultivator, slightly enhancing its standing within the sect.

Yet regretful because Yang Su had abandoned the path of the Ten True Disciples and the foundation of the primordial spirit, choosing mediocrity instead.

Historically, Cloud Soaring Peak had once been prosperous and glorious.

But during a battle with Demon Island under the previous peak master’s leadership, the Cloud Soaring lineage was nearly wiped out.

Among the demons were prodigious elites!

All members of Cloud Soaring Peak had participated in that battle but were almost slaughtered by a Golden Core demonic beast.

The former peak master barely escaped, thanks to a last resort bestowed by the Heavenly Sword Sect’s Supreme Elder.

For a long time afterward, the peak was left with only the former master.

Later, he took in Yang Su as his disciple.

Yang Su, inheriting his legacy, had been with him the longest.

Gradually, more people arrived at Cloud Soaring Peak — some orphans brought up from the mountain’s base by the former master, some assigned by the sect, others admitted through connections.

Nearly all were taught by Yang Su as he stood in for his master.

Years ago, the peak master had entered seclusion at the Star Palace to break through to primordial spirit but was defeated and perished.

Pang Yue surmised he had failed at the “Life Tribulation.”

Golden Core cultivators must endure three great tribulations—Human, Life, and Heavenly—to achieve perfection, completing the nine transformations of the Golden Core and ultimately breaking through to primordial spirit.

Throughout history, the Daoist world of the Eastern Sea had countless cultivators, yet the Dao foundation realm blocked ninety percent of them.

The Golden Core stage blocked ninety-nine percent of the remaining ten percent.

In the end, those who could break from Golden Core to primordial spirit were exceedingly rare.

Even great sects like the Heavenly Sword Sect, which produced ten true disciples each generation, saw only a handful reach primordial spirit.

Becoming a true disciple merely opened a sliver of possibility for breaking through.

Whether one ultimately succeeded depended on countless obstacles.

Pang Yue stood in the void, unsure why Yang Su, having just broken through to Golden Core, hurried off to the Six Pavilions.

He pondered briefly, then calmly stepped onto a cloud and ascended toward the high heavens.

Before long, he arrived at the Heavenly Sword Sect’s Transmission Pavilion.

The sect comprised three palaces, six pavilions, and seventy-two peaks.

Within this Transmission Pavilion were vast collections of secret scriptures, voluminous and expansive.

Besides the sect’s five primordial spirit Dao paths and seventy-two Golden Core sword techniques, all other secret arts, talismans, formations, and skill manuals—except those classified as forbidden—were open to Heavenly Sword disciples.

The so-called forbidden arts were those related to primordial spirit Dao, demonic techniques, and evil methods gathered from elsewhere.

To cultivate or study these required at least the Golden Core stage.

Today, Pang Yue came here to apply for the true disciple review, seeking qualification to cultivate the five primordial spirit Dao paths.

The five primordial spirit sword techniques of the Heavenly Sword Sect were foundational methods that could establish the basis of great Dao, with orderly transmission and profound heritage.

This was also the sect’s core foundation for establishing its legacy.