Northern Derivation Chapter 36: Preparations Before Secluded Cultivation

All the cultivators present stared intently at Mo Hao, making his skin crawl. Among the eighteen cultivators were undoubtedly the Golden Core masters, each representing one of the sect's peaks. Though Mo Hao appeared composed on the surface, his hands, tightly clasped in his lap, were slick with sweat.

"Are there so many Golden Core masters that they’ve become as cheap as cabbages? Is this all for a mere apprenticeship ceremony?"

Just then, Jiang Jianfeng spoke: "Fellow Daoists, it is rare for us, the Golden Core cultivators of the nineteen peaks, to gather like this. I have two major matters to discuss with you today."

Before Jiang Jianfeng could finish, a portly cultivator sitting to Mo Hao's front right interrupted with visible impatience: "Sect Master Jiang, every time you summon us, you spout a mountain of nonsense. Can you be brief today? I have a furnace of pills currently refining. You dragged me here in such a hurry—if there is something urgent, speak it; if not, this meeting is a waste of my time."

Jiang Jianfeng was not angered by the interruption; he simply nodded repeatedly. "The first matter concerns the Fluorescent Mist Secret Realm. As you all know, the realm holds countless treasures. It was once a place for ancient cultivators, but an immensely powerful predecessor transformed it into a realm accessible only to Foundation Establishment cultivators. The three major sects have joined forces to limit our Void Sword Sect to only ten spots. These ten spots are unalterable for the next three years, so the top ten disciples from the Great Competition must each offer a drop of blood for verification. Furthermore, this will be the last opening of the Fluorescent Mist Secret Realm within the next century!"

"What? The last time?"
"Is this true?"

A commotion broke out below. Several cultivators looked genuinely unsettled, which puzzled Mo Hao. These were high-ranking Golden Core masters; even great storms should not disturb them so. Why...?

Mo Hao turned to the young acolyte beside him, who chuckled and explained: "The Fluorescent Mist Secret Realm is shared only between our Void Sword Sect and the three major sects; other sects cannot enter. This is why our sect can stand above all others except those three."

Mo Hao nodded. With the rise and fall of the sect at stake, it was natural for these esteemed masters to show some alarm, though most of the others merely nodded, as if they had already known this would be the final opening for a century.

Jiang Jianfeng addressed the Golden Core masters: "Indeed. This will be the ninth opening, and as it is a number of extreme significance, this first matter is that you Golden Core masters must protect the Foundation Establishment disciples who placed in the top ten. For those peaks that did not produce a top-ten disciple, you must still ensure the safety of these ten."

Jiang Jianfeng glanced at the portly cultivator, who remained silent. With the sect's prosperity at stake, he could not afford to complain without facing the disdain of the other peaks.

"The second matter is that I am taking my final disciple, Mo Hao. You all know I swore to take only three in my lifetime. You all know my first, Shen Yun, who guards the Heavenly Demon Cave, and my second, Meng Xin, who cultivates in isolation at Ren Peak. This third disciple is Mo Hao. His cultivation is still shallow, so I will state clearly before you all: I do not care about his life or death while he is training outside the sect, but if anyone within the sect deliberately targets him, they are targeting me. Mo Hao, come here!"

Mo Hao stepped forward, thinking, "My Master is laying down the law for these Golden Core masters on the very first day. My life in the sect will be much easier now. He may be a bit eccentric, but he is certainly protective."

Jiang Jianfeng took Mo Hao's hand, produced a small dagger, and pricked his finger. A drop of blood emerged. As Mo Hao winced and pulled his hand back, Jiang Jianfeng used a wooden tablet to absorb the blood. Mo Hao felt a strange, intimate connection to the tablet, as if his own life force were flowing through it. Jiang Jianfeng tucked the tablet into his storage bag. Before Mo Hao could grasp what had happened, the eighteen masters were whispering: "It seems the old man considers this boy the apple of his eye, keeping his Life-Bound Soul Tablet personally!"

"Life-Bound Soul Tablet?" Mo Hao had overheard them. He felt a rare surge of emotion. Since Xuan Fengzi had left, he had wandered from his village and faced death repeatedly; only Han Qing had shown him such genuine concern. Now, he knew that if his soul tablet flickered, Jiang Jianfeng would surely find him to rescue him.

Soon after, Jiang Jianfeng ended the meeting. As the others departed on their flying swords, Jiang Jianfeng gestured for the acolyte to leave and kept Mo Hao behind. Once they were alone, Jiang Jianfeng said: "Mo Hao, you are my disciple now. I am a straightforward man. Before we proceed, I must ask you two questions. You must answer truthfully."

Mo Hao nodded, sensing the sudden gravity in Jiang Jianfeng’s tone.

"Do not be nervous. The first question: Do you possess the Five Elements Spirit Veins?"

Mo Hao was puzzled—Jiang Jianfeng could have checked this himself—but he nodded. Jiang Jianfeng’s eyes glinted with intensity.

"The second question: Are you practicing the 'Heavenly Remnant Divine Scroll'?"

Mo Hao was not surprised, as he had used the 'Imitation Divine Art' on the sword platform repeatedly. He assumed the art was famous enough that it would be strange if it went unnoticed.

Jiang Jianfeng nodded. "In that case, I will give you three gifts. The first is the Life-Bound Soul Tablet; as long as you are within a thousand miles of me, I can sense you. The second is this."

He produced a tattered scroll from his bag. Mo Hao’s heart raced—it was the second volume of the Heavenly Remnant Divine Scroll, corresponding to the Foundation Establishment stage. Mo Hao flipped through it, finding the method to condense the Five-Colored Divine Light. The first volume had only taught how to extract it from the creature Liu Chi; this volume allowed him to refine it for his own use.

Jiang Jianfeng then handed him a set of silver needles—a mid-grade flying needle artifact. Such weapons were harder to forge than defensive artifacts and were rarely seen on the market. They were prized for their ability to pierce defensive gear silently and lethally.

Mo Hao bowed deeply. Jiang Jianfeng waved him off. "I am a man of my word. I asked you two questions, and now I need your help in return."

"Master, please command me. I will do everything within my power."

Jiang Jianfeng nodded, noting the caution in Mo Hao's promise. "The Fluorescent Mist Secret Realm opens in three years. There is a treasure—a fan—sealed in a location within the realm. It has no wards, but it is surrounded by Five-Colored Divine Light. You must use your own Five-Colored Divine Light to protect your arm and retrieve it. Beware, however: the realm is full of Foundation Establishment-level beasts, and you must also guard against the other cultivators, some of whom are half-step into the Foundation Establishment stage."

Jiang Jianfeng spoke into a talisman and cast it away. "I have issued an order. You may access any pill or technique you need in the sect. Remember: practice well and stay focused. Do not be greedy for quantity at the expense of quality. I will be going into seclusion. If you have questions, ask your Senior Sister Meng Xin. You may go."

After leaving, Mo Hao was led by the acolyte to his new residence near the Inner Sect. He was told that Senior Sister Meng Xin had also moved to the Inner Sect and that he should use a provided talisman to contact her.

Mo Hao returned to Ren Peak to pack. He found Tan Ya, who seemed troubled. When asked, she hesitated before whispering: "Mo Hao, many cultivators want to take us as disciples, but with your high ranking in the competition, I fear we will not be under the same master."

Mo Hao laughed. "My dear junior niece, is that what you are worried about?"

He explained that he had joined the Sect Master’s lineage and that his Senior Sister had agreed to take Tan Ya as a probationary disciple, noting her incredible strength. Tan Ya was overjoyed, her disappointment vanishing instantly.

After parting with her, Mo Hao headed to the alchemy chambers. With Jiang Jianfeng’s token, he began gathering large quantities of Spirit Awakening Pills and the costly Heart-Clearing Pills. The other disciples watched in shock as he cleared the shelves, but Mo Hao, focused on his goal of reaching the second level of the late Foundation Establishment stage, did not hesitate for a moment.