Prince Sima Shu and the others chatted idly for a few moments before they all lost interest and went back to their closed-door cultivation to heal their injuries.
Only Zhong Shenxiu was without any injuries, and as he thought about the conversations they’ve had and the competition in spellcasting earlier that day, he seemed contemplative.
"Cultivators at the Divine Power Realm spar mainly by comparing the ranks of their Divine Skills... In this regard, I have a significant advantage. Even today, had that Yellow Spring Prisoner not been restricted from using the Poison Dragon Sword, his myriad transformations, and the indestructible Stone Buddha’s Divine Skills... I probably could have finished him off sooner."
"But that’s not quite right either... The Yellow Spring Demon Flood Dragon that he had was clearly a life-preserving Divine Skill lent by a high-level being. Even if I could easily defeat this man, it might not have been possible to kill him..."
"I must not be arrogant."
"Besides, I did not expect that the Cultivation World is brewing yet another calamity..."
The so-called calamities are not necessarily Heavenly Tribulations; they can also be human-made calamities.
Cultivators themselves are a major force; the more powerful they are, the more they can stir the winds of change in the world with their singular might.
For instance, this time, it might well be an elder from the Demon Sect who is quietly contemplating a move or has developed some earth-shattering Immortal Technique and wants to challenge the status of the three great Daoist sects.
If predicted by the Taoist sects’ Immortals skilled in divination, then surely a Demon Catastrophe is approaching.
Moreover, the current momentum within the imperial court is also troubling.
The old Emperor is in poor health, and the princes are restless, vying for the Crown Prince’s position.
Even after dealing harshly with one before, there hasn’t been much retreat.
"Demon Calamities, human calamities... If there are calamities from the outside world and Heavenly Tribulations... and they all converge into one, then the force of calamity will intensify..."
Zhong Shenxiu had not truly studied the "Supreme Dragon Tiger Tribulation Suppressing Scripture," but merely speculating from Zhang Taiyi’s perspective made him apprehensive.
"When the great calamity arrives, being unprepared can easily lead to passivity... But joining the sect at this time might not necessarily be a good thing... I might end up becoming the pillar of the sect’s Divine Power Realm Disciples, fighting for the sect in all directions..."
It was not that he looked down on the Supreme Dragon and Tiger Sect, but as the spellcasting was perilous and they were all True Disciples, there would definitely be arrangements made based on how close or distant their relationships were.
Even among Immortals, private emotions and biases exist!
Otherwise, why would there be a character for "person" following the word "immortal"?
"But without joining the sect, how can I obtain the true teachings? Especially the secrets of breaking through to the Primordial Spirit, condensing the Dharma Body, and the methods to become an Immortal!"
Zhong Shenxiu’s expression changed several times: "Enough... I will take the risk. With the Nine Death Rebirth Divine Power safeguarding me, at least I have more opportunities than others."
With that thought, he glanced at the Heavenly Show System’s attribute panel:
[Realm: Divine Power]
[Spiritual Sense Divine Skills: Myriad Transformations (First-class), Nine Clear Immortal Lights (First-class), Five Elements Heavenly Escape (Second-class), Undying Heavenly Fire (Third-class), Dragon-subduing and Tiger-suppressing Divine Seal (Third-class)]
[Physical Divine Skills: Void Poison, Nine Death Rebirth (9), Indestructible Stone Buddha]
[Alchemy: Beginner Level]
[Heavenly Show Points: 212 (0%)]
[Gateway of All Paths: Opening (19%)]
"I originally had only a little over a hundred Heavenly Show Points but I’ve seen such a massive increase to this?"
Zhong Shenxiu calculated and realized that although he had only shown off a few times recently, the gains were quite substantial.
"Indeed, the higher the cultivation, the more Heavenly Show Points you can reap... However, this speed is still too slow... At least, without the scriptures, the idea of making continuous breakthroughs based on this alone is wishful thinking."
"The Gateway of All Paths has opened a bit more, hmm... If I could go to some more powerful worlds, not only would I have a more reliable means of reaping Heavenly Show Points, but perhaps I could also attempt to obtain more advanced cultivation methods..."
Previously, just being in a Martial Arts Divine world brought him many benefits.
If he were to travel to another great world, the rewards would naturally be more abundant.
Of course, Zhong Shenxiu also understood that the more vast the world, the more likely it contained dangers.
With his current strength, he might be invincible in those smaller worlds, but within a larger world, there might exist beings who could counter his Resurrection Divine Power!
Moreover, he still couldn’t figure out the principle behind this joke of a system called the "10,000 Gates"; he couldn’t be sure of the world he would travel to each time.
’Maybe... I should find an opportunity to beat it up again, perhaps then I could gain more authority. To hit 999 with one strike, that would be soaring high.’
Although he hated Golden Fingers and cheat devices when playing games, if it came to real life, he just wanted to shout, "Make it even bigger for me!"
Lost in his thoughts, Zhong Shenxiu suddenly felt a chill in his body.
He stiffly turned around, only to see a pretty woman with bright eyes and white teeth standing behind him, her eyes sparkling, and two red clouds on her face.
"Greetings, Master Ming Xue."
Zhong Shenxiu hurriedly bowed, suppressing his Spiritual Sense that kept warning him.
’This Primordial Pill Master seems a bit out of sorts... probably... she’s injured... and once injured, it becomes difficult to control, allowing a hint of power to leak out, making me feel extremely endangered... No, is her gaze fixed on me? Why do I feel like she’s looking at me as if I were food?’
A flurry of thoughts rushed through his mind.
"Have you broken through to the Divine Power Realm?" Master Ming Xue glanced at Zhong Shenxiu, composed herself, and appeared quite approving, "Nine Clear Immortal Light?"
"I have achieved it," Zhong Shenxiu humbly nodded.
"Very good... In this way, my lineage can also produce a true disciple." Master Ming Xue sat cross-legged, closed her eyes, and muttered, "For the big sect’s true inheritance, the First-class Divine Power is a prerequisite, otherwise, we would be laughed at by other sects and lose face... Long Hezi has accepted a good disciple, which is meritorious for our lineage and the sect."
Under her clothes, small lumps suddenly bulged, moving about continuously, as if countless tiny mice were scuttling beneath her skin, causing Zhong Shenxiu’s eyelids to twitch.
At this moment, Sima Shu and the others also emerged from seclusion, and upon seeing Master Ming Xue’s unusual state, they were all shocked and pale.
"I have suffered some injuries and fear it’s inconvenient to accompany you... Otherwise, if I go berserk, it would be a minor matter to injure you, but I fear... something unbearable might occur."
Master Ming Xue’s soft lips barely parted as she spoke in a gentle voice.
A large bead of sweat suddenly trickled down Zhong Shenxiu’s forehead.
’When a Primordial Pill is injured, shouldn’t one seek more protectors? To lose control and attack those nearby in frenzy?’
"You all head to Jade State first, it may not be long before you join with the reinforcements from our sect."
Master Ming Xue waved her hand, "Go now."
"We shall take our leave."
Sima Shu and the others bowed and then turned into streaks of light to depart.
Following behind them, Zhong Shenxiu suddenly felt a trace of bewilderment.
’Primordial Pills... indeed, are no longer human. Is this why Zhang Taiyi was so adamantly against becoming an Immortal?’
He didn’t object to transforming his life form to gain higher strength and longer life.
But this required two premises: one was control, and the second was self!
If he lost control and self, leaving only madness, then he would rather not.
’Who knows if this is an issue with Master Ming Xue’s own cultivation technique, or a flaw all cultivators above the Primordial Pill level share...’
’The methods of cultivation in this world, could they all have some problems?’
’No... it should be said, after several amendments of the new methods, although they have become more adapted to this world, could they also have unavoidably been influenced by the laws of heaven and earth?’