My Informative Cultivation Life

"Indeed, it's a tremendous benefit!" Yang Ji nodded, glanced forward, and saw a palace amidst the sea of clouds ahead. He then said to everyone, "Let's go over there!"

The group flew into the great hall where it was very tranquil. A lamp that burned eternally emitted a strange fragrance. Yang Ji took a whiff and his thoughts became immensely clear, as if he had consumed an Enlightenment Pill, and information immediately showed up: [Dragon Ganoderma Fragrant Enlightenment!]

This fragrance actually has the effect of enlightenment?

Yang Ji was astonished, and when he looked at the eternal lamp he discovered that the lamp oil was actually [Dragon Fat] from a Ten-Clawed Immortal Dragon and the lamp wick turned out to be [a Hundred Thousand-Year Enlightenment Ganoderma!]

Wow, what extravagance!

Yang Ji exclaimed in his heart and it was at that moment he noticed an old man with wide purple robes and white eyebrows like drifting hair, sitting cross-legged below the eternal lamp, as if in meditation, completely silent and motionless.

Behind his head was a Yin Yang pattern with two figures seated within it, one in a black robe and one in a white robe, and they bore the exact same appearance as the white-browed elder. They were discussing scriptures, debating the Dao, and arguing over laws, each revealing profound Daoist truths.

[Wuji Immortal Scripture!] Yang Ji recognized the information from the pattern of the Taichi at a glance.

Following that, he also noticed the old man's cultivation level, which turned out to be a [Nine Tribulations Immortal], just one step away from becoming a True Immortal, likely the guardian of the Minor Immortal Realm.

It made sense, the Minor Heavenly Realm had gathered countless geniuses from within the Sect. If it were attacked, the loss would be too great, so it was normal to have a strong protector.

Yang Ji also came into contact with a hint of the Sect's powerful heritage for the first time and quickly bowed respectfully, saying, "Disciple Yang Ji, greets the Ancestor!"

The other disciples also bowed deeply, not daring to be disrespectful.

The elder did not open his eyes or speak but threw out five Jade Tokens and pointed behind the great hall, then became quiet again.

Not daring to ask more questions, the group took the Jade Tokens and followed the direction pointed to by the elder, flying towards the back of the great hall through the endless sea of clouds, and came upon a series of Endless Palaces.

They even saw several rainbows flying back and forth, clearly indicating that the palaces behind were places where the Sect's disciples cultivated.

"The Jade Tokens in our hands must be the keys to open the doors of the Cultivation Palaces!" a youth guessed.

The group nodded in agreement.

"Eh, there are newcomers!"

"Indeed new disciples, look, they're holding Jade Tokens in their hands."

"Do any of you recognize these people?"

"They look somewhat unfamiliar, with a million disciples in the Sect and a thousand True Disciples, who can recognize them all?"

"That's true!"

"Eh, isn't the one in the lead... Yang Ji?"

"Yang Ji? That name sounds familiar. Isn't he... the Yang Ji who won first place in the Immortal Sword Sect's sword appraisal competition hundreds of years ago?"

"Exactly, I've seen him before. I didn't expect him to come to the Minor Immortal Realm too!"

"Oh? Yang Ji? I'll go meet him and see what skills he has to have won the sword appraisal competition!" a youth joked.

"Are you the Yang Ji who won the Immortal Sword Sect's sword appraisal competition last time?"

Suddenly, a heavy voice wafted through the air, carrying an oppressing force.

Right after, a white cloud appeared in the sky, free of any mundane aura, descending down. Standing on the white cloud was a purple-robed youth holding a longsword, with arching eyebrows, emanating a compelling presence.

Swish, swish, swish!

Soon, several streaks of light flew over, alighting beside him, all of them exceptional-looking young talents.

At this moment, inside the Endless Palace, many geniuses also noticed the scene in the distance.

"That's Senior Brother Zheng Xun!"

"Senior Brother Zheng Xun has left his closed-door cultivation? Decades ago, he fought fiercely against Senior Brother Mi Luo for three days and nights before admitting defeat. I thought he would seek out Senior Brother Mi Luo for a rematch after his period of intensive cultivation. Who is he facing now?"

"I don't recognize him, but this person must be someone special since he has drawn Senior Brother Zheng Xun's attention."

Many were fixated on the scene unfolding in the distance.

Zheng Xun advanced with a dignified expression, stepping on a cloud that moved slowly beneath him, and Yang Ji actually felt an invisible pressure oppressing his mind. There was no obvious exertion of True Qi on the surface, but rather an implicit pressure deep within his own psyche, as if the other could pose a threat to him.

"Interesting, this person is formidable, no less powerful than Zhan Xiao. I didn't expect to encounter such a genius just upon entering. It seems the Sect really is teeming with talent," Yang Ji thought to himself with a light chuckle, not the least bit intimidated.

"Senior Brother, I know this person, his name is Zheng Xun, and he is a powerful genius. Zheng Xun achieved success at a young age, traveling the world with his sword, moving south and striking north, killing countless experts of the Demonic Path. He practices terrifying secret techniques and is incredibly strong.

He has completed numerous hell-level missions for the Sect and has fought against the clones of Daozi many times, always able to retreat coolly and composedly," said a young man who came with Yang Ji, sending his words through a focused transmission.

"He's fought Daozi's clones and escaped unharmed every time? He must have some skill!" murmured Yang Ji.

This was the man who now stood in front of Yang Ji.

"Is it you who won first place at the Sword Appraisal Assembly?" the resonant voice sounded once more, bearing down with pressure as Zheng Xun stopped ten paces away from Yang Ji.

"Correct," said Yang Ji with a slight smile. "What do you want?"

Knowing that the visitor bore ill intentions, Yang Ji naturally wasn't going to be too polite.

"Nothing much, just wanted to see for myself how capable you are, to so easily surpass a host of Daozi and True Disciples to win first place at the Sword Appraisal Assembly. I want to know if it was just luck, or if you actually possess the strength!"

Zheng Xun said imposingly, looking at Yang Ji. "In my view, you just got lucky. As for strength, heh, if you had any, you wouldn't have only qualified to enter the Minor Immortal Realm after so many years of cultivation."

"What, are you looking for a fight?" Suddenly, Zhan Xiao coldly spoke from the side.

"Hmm?"

Upon hearing this discordant voice, Zheng Xun's face darkened immediately: "Who are you? Do you think you're a match for me?"

"The two Senior Brothers need not act; I alone am enough!" Suddenly, a young man beside Yang Ji stepped forward; he clearly knew of Yang Ji's strength and by speaking up, he seemed to be showing goodwill to Yang Ji.

"Oh? Interesting!" Zheng Xun sneered coldly.

Whoosh!

The sword was unsheathed, and even the specters were startled.
Discover stories at empire

There was virtually no time delay, as terrifying Sword Qi directly pressured the young man's face.

Fast! Fast! Fast! The sword move was like the first ray of Holy Light born from the opening of the heavens, pursuing the sun and the moon, permeating the mystery of the Heavenly Secret.

Slice!

A bloodstain appeared on the young man's face.

Zheng Xun's Sword Intent was unstoppable, inescapable, and no dodging was possible. As soon as the sword left its scabbard, the young man felt an enormous terror inundate his mind, rendering him incapable of using any technique to counter, the sheer terror of that one sword completely dominating his emotions, and the oppressive force of that one sword thoroughly crushing his will.

Having reached this realm of cultivation, becoming a Nascent Soul True Monarch, which one of these experts hadn't been tempered through a thousand trials? With a Primordial Spirit of pure yang, their wills were not easily broken, but at this moment, his completely crumbled.

Will shattered, and his combat prowess plummeted.

It was just one sword strike, with a ghostly and unpredictable move, the young man's face was cut open, blood flowing out; clearly, Zheng Xun had held back, otherwise, that sword strike would have split him in two, severely damaging his vitality.

With the Sword Light unleashed, his face was covered in blood; and as the Sword Light retracted, it seemed as if no sword had ever been drawn at all.

Zheng Xun smiled faintly, with the sword still cradled in his arms, no one could see clearly which sword was hidden within the scabbard.

"You couldn't even withstand one of my sword strikes? You think you're fit to be my opponent? Another thousand years of cultivation still wouldn't give you any hope," he said in an indifferent tone, but his words struck hard against one's self-confidence.

"Senior Brother is indeed remarkable!" The young man, indeed a genius himself, was shockingly calm at this time, activating his True Qi to evaporate the blood on his face, and the cut started to heal.

"Junior Brother Yang, what do you think of that sword strike?"

Zheng Xun turned around, facing Yang Ji again with a smile.

"Mediocre," replied Yang Ji.

(Thank you to Lonely Star—Soul for the 1500 coin reward.)