Step by Step Ascend to Immortality

Chapter 132: Chapter 121 Chu Nanhua

Although Shen Yaqin walked with a light step, she seemed to know every detail about her young disciple: "Isn't it because of the Tianhua Wall incident? The 'Supreme Secret Manual' has fallen to second place in the Heavenly Realm, and there might be another catastrophic disaster looming. Even the Taibai Sword Sect is starting to panic..."

The fall of the 'Supreme Secret Manual' to third place in the Heavenly Realm might appear insignificant on the surface, but for a top-tier sect like the Taibai Sword Sect, it was akin to a thunderbolt from a clear sky. And that mysterious Daoist scripture, still unreleased, had already claimed the top spot before even emerging into the world. Who knows what kind of storm of bloodshed and chaos it will stir once it officially appears? It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it a world-shaking calamity.

"The Taibai Sword Sect's panic is spreading, and many other sects are now watching closely. Our Shenxiao Mountain is a wonderful place, and the Han Empire is equally well-situated," Shen Yaqin continued. "Shenxiao Sect may not be the pinnacle of the Heavenly Realm, but occupying a cultivation holy land like Shenxiao Mountain has made countless sects and cultivators envious. Not only has the activity of the Supreme Demon Sect become noticeably more frequent recently, but even the Tianhong Sect has been unusually eager to show us goodwill..."

"Tianhong Sect?" Liu Suiyun inquired, his tone skeptical.

After the alliance between the Tianhong Sect and the Shenxiao Sect broke down, the Han Empire and the Jin Empire became sworn enemies. Even someone as low-ranked as Liu Suiyun preferred to die in obscurity rather than collaborate with the Jin Empire at Tianma Plains. "Is that why the entrance ceremony has been set up with such grand pomp?" he asked.

Shen Yaqin quickened her pace, and Liu Suiyun had to practically jog to keep up. "Exactly. While the Tianhong Sect is tolerable, the Supreme Demon Sect must not be underestimated. You've heard about the Pang family incident, haven't you? The Supreme Demon Sect sending this many Jindan cultivators clearly means they're plotting something big!"

Liu Suiyun nodded, realizing the gravity of the situation. "Understood, Master! Brother Fang and Brother Chen are waiting for us!"

"Master!"

Fang Mingyue and Chen Xingrui were already waiting at the entrance to the cave. Fang Mingyue, as always, was cradling a wine jar, reeking of alcohol. He embraced Liu Suiyun in a bear hug as soon as he saw him. "Junior brother, I see you've already cultivated two acres of land! The crops look promising, and all were planted with spirit cultivation techniques. When are they ready for harvest? You promised to give me two carts of vegetables for drinking snacks!"

Barely escaping from Fang Mingyue's grip, Liu Suiyun found himself covered in the strong scent of liquor. "Senior brother, it's just a trial run. When the harvest comes, I'll definitely ask for your help!"

"Good, good!" Fang Mingyue roared with laughter. "With that, we can drink to our hearts' content, free from the burdens of the mundane world..."

Liu Suiyun couldn't help but chuckle at the thought of his carefree senior brother. "Senior brother, don't place too much hope on my initial efforts!"

"No worries, no worries. As long as there's wine, everything's fine!" Fang Mingyue said offhandedly, then added, "By the way, can you plant a few more acres of spirit grain for me? Let's brew some spirit wine together!"

Liu Suiyun was just about to think of a polite way to decline when his master's wife suddenly murmured, "Nanhua is out!"

Despite his usual carefree attitude, Fang Mingyue froze upon hearing those words. In an instant, he tossed his wine jar aside and used two powerful Daoist techniques to dispel the stench of alcohol from his body. Even the traces of time on his clothes vanished silently. He appeared a decade younger, his demeanor suddenly shifting into that of a resolute and steadfast man, yet not without warmth.

The gates of the cave opened, and Chu Nanhua strode out of the mist, brimming with vitality. Fang Mingyue immediately knelt before him. "Disciple greets Master!"

Liu Suiyun and Chen Xingrui quickly followed suit. "Disciple greets Master!"

Chu Nanhua, clad in a simple yellow hemp robe and a crane cloak, wore a distant traveling hat and had a white jade belt fastened around his waist. Though his attire was plain, it did nothing to diminish his heroic presence. Appearing in his forties, the prime of a man's life, he had a wooden sword hanging by his side and wore cloud-walking shoes on his feet. With the poise of a celestial, he approached Shen Yaqin. "Yaqin, you've had a hard time these past days."

"Nanhua, we are husband and wife; there's no need to stand on ceremony. It's time to celebrate—your False Nascent Soul is formed, and the infant fire is ignited. In time, you will surely ascend to the realm of the Primordial Spirit," Shen Yaqin said, her eyes smiling.

"Hahaha," Chu Nanhua laughed heartily. "Hearing you praise me like that, Yaqin, feels better than forming the Nascent Soul itself. But we've been married for a hundred years; there's no need to flatter me so much!"

Though he spoke lightly, Chu Nanhua was grinning from ear to ear. After exchanging a few more words with Shen Yaqin, he turned his attention to his three kneeling disciples. "Mingyue, you've been drinking again?"

"Disciple greets Master!" Fang Mingyue, visibly fearful of his master, quickly replied, "I only had a few drinks with friends yesterday, and I haven't fully sobered up this morning."

Chu Nanhua shook his head. "Drink a little less. If it weren't for your indulgence, you would have long formed your Golden Core and founded your own peak by now."

Fang Mingyue bowed his head with utmost respect. "Master, if forming the Golden Core means leaving Chonghua Peak, I'd rather remain your disciple forever, even if I never form the core."

Chu Nanhua sighed helplessly. "Drink less, you stubborn one. You and I are sworn brothers at heart. If you established your own peak, it would only strengthen my hand!"

Despite being a False Nascent Soul cultivator, Chu Nanhua could only offer gentle advice, as Fang Mingyue was incorrigible. He then turned to Chen Xingrui. "Xingrui, you must also work harder. Chonghua Peak cannot be left without successors. Do not be distracted by too many duties; forming your Golden Core is the right path!"

"Disciple understands!" Chen Xingrui responded immediately. "I will lay down my duties and focus on forming my core, to better assist Master."

Finally, Chu Nanhua's gaze fell on Liu Suiyun. "Not bad! Is this the disciple you accepted on my behalf?"

Shen Yaqin smiled. "What's 'not bad' about him?"

Chu Nanhua spoke softly. "Though only at the eleventh layer of Qi Refinement, and cultivating a technique not of our peak, his heart is firmly set on the Dao. It seems he has already begun to carve out his own path. Not bad!"

"Thank you, Master, for your praise. I dare not claim such honor!" Liu Suiyun felt humbled by his master's insight. Among so many Golden Core cultivators, only his master seemed to have discerned his true potential.

Chu Nanhua smiled warmly. "Since I've just come out of seclusion, I have no grand gift for you. How about this: once the matters at Shenxiao Peak are resolved, I will personally teach you a sword technique."

"Thank you, Master!"

Chu Nanhua waved his hand. "Rise. Let's head to Shenxiao Peak. Sect Master Li has already sent a letter, asking me to go early and help hold the line."

Liu Suiyun hurried to his feet, following behind his master and senior brothers. As they walked, Shen Yaqin and Chu Nanhua chatted and laughed, occasionally mentioning Liu Suiyun. "Suiyun is also studying spiritual planting. Though he's new to it, even the disciples of Baicao Peak and Sanyang Peak have praised his talent," Shen Yaqin said with pride.

"Spiritual planting?" Chu Nanhua raised an eyebrow. "Yaqin, are you planning to have him cultivate tea? You've had that wish for decades, haven't you?"

"Your little disciple made his own choice. As his master's wife, I may be a bit biased toward him, but I wouldn't force him to cultivate tea. He chose spiritual planting himself, and even decided to grow vegetables!"

"Vegetables? Not tea?"

Liu Suiyun couldn't help but smile warmly. Finally seeing his master in person, he felt Chu Nanhua truly lived up to his reputation as a celestial being, a half-step from the Nascent Soul stage. However, deep down, Liu Suiyun had a vague feeling that his master's wife, Shen Yaqin, might be even more remarkable than her husband.

It wasn't that Chu Nanhua lacked prowess; he preferred to stay low-key, never flaunting his abilities. Yet, in Liu Suiyun's heart, he sensed that