DiploNovel Chapter 371 : A Dangerous World
Chapter 371 : A Dangerous World
His smooth advancement to Golden Core Completion had been within Chen Beiwu’s expectations.Given the solidity of his foundation and the accumulation within his Golden Core, even without consuming Blazing Yang Liquid, he could have relied on steady effort, spending a dozen or even several decades to break through.
Yet the ‘Pure Yang Soul Tempering’ of Blazing Yang Liquid had instead caused Chen Beiwu to spend more time than expected, remaining in seclusion for a full forty years.
However, such a heavenly treasure was naturally extraordinary in effect.
At this thought, Chen Beiwu’s mind stirred slightly as he carefully sensed the changes in his cultivation.
“In terms of the physical body, the transformation is fairly average—only about twenty percent stronger than at Golden Core Peak.”
He lightly clenched his fist. Without circulating mana, the sound of wind and thunder erupted, enough to withstand a Third-Tier High-Grade Magical Artifact head-on.
This was the formidable aspect of the Primordial Dongzhen Azure Radiance Commanding Myriad Tribulations and Myriad Spirits Immortal Art.
Unlike body cultivators who had to painstakingly temper their blood, flesh, bones, and organs, Chen Beiwu only needed to contract a Heavenly-Gang Mystic Beast with powerful bloodline as a Companion Beast. Through the power of the Companion Immortal Art, he could possess a body far surpassing Golden Core cultivators of the same rank, comparable to Mystic Beasts of the same realm.
It was precisely for this reason that Chen Beiwu had been able to barely control the supreme killing move, Myriad Spirits Tribulation Transformation State.
Had it been an ordinary Golden Core Peak cultivator, the moment they unleashed Myriad Spirits Tribulation Transformation State, their body would likely have collapsed under the explosive surge of power and they would have perished on the spot.
“As for mana, the Primordial True Qi within my dantian’s qi sea has been refined by the Yang Spirit Prototype. Its capacity has increased by fifty percent and it now carries a trace of properties approaching Heavenly-Gang True Qi.”
With a thought, Chen Beiwu gathered Primordial True Qi into his right palm. He could vaguely sense its connection, accommodation, and even resonance with the spiritual mechanisms of heaven and earth, as though a single strand of qi could give birth to myriad forms of spiritual energy.
“As for divine sense, its coverage now extends twelve thousand zhang—perhaps comparable to a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator.”
His divine sense spread soundlessly, instantly enveloping mountains and rivers within a radius of seven hundred and fifty li.
Within this vast area, whether it was the growth of plants, the flow of earth veins, or cultivators conversing, everything clearly reflected within his mind.
Yet more wondrous than all this was the trace of pure yang attribute added by ‘Pure Yang Soul Tempering’. It granted his condensed Yang Spirit Prototype a hint of the might of a Purple Mansion Nascent Soul. The penetrative power and resilience of his divine sense were far beyond what they had been at Golden Core Peak.
His intuition told him that even without using Myriad Spirits Tribulation Transformation State, he could now contend with a newly advanced Nascent Soul True Monarch through divine sense alone.
“Hehe, I’m about to advance to a Fourth-Realm Beast King too!”
Golden Egg’s eyes shone with undisguised joy.
After Chen Beiwu advanced to Golden Core Completion, through feedback from the Companion Contract and these decades of seclusion, its cultivation years rose from nine hundred fifty-five to nine hundred ninety-nine—only one step away from becoming a Fourth-Realm Beast King, standing alongside Five Qi Vine.
“Na!”
Five Qi Vine yawned, looking rather fatigued.
It disliked seclusion and cherished freedom. This session had yielded it the least benefit.
Even with feedback from the Companion Contract, forty years of seclusion had not allowed it to break through to the Fourth-Realm Beast King stage.
“Woof.”
Iron Egg looked toward Chen Beiwu, a trace of concern in its gaze.
This retreat had greatly benefited it as well—its cultivation years leapt from eight hundred eighty-eight to nine hundred seventy-nine, smoothly entering the domain of Golden Core Completion.
But compared to its own progress, it cared more about Chen Beiwu’s breakthrough.
For after Golden Core Completion, the next step was Nascent Soul True Monarch.
This hurdle was extremely difficult. Even among the Immortal Alliance’s prodigies, many had failed to break through and perished.
“Relax. A mere Nascent Soul True Monarch cannot stop you or me.”
Sensing Iron Egg’s emotions, Chen Beiwu reached out and gently rubbed its head in reassurance.
Whether in the Immortal Alliance or in the Southern Wastes, he could easily obtain Purple Mansion Nascent Infant Pill and Core-Forming Pill.
Thus, forming a Nascent Soul would not be difficult for him. The real difficulty lay with Golden Egg, Iron Egg, and Five Qi Vine.
Within the Immortal Alliance, Fourth-Tier Core-Forming Mystic Medicine was rare—especially the Fourth-Tier Profound Pill that assisted Heavenly-Gang Mystic Beasts in advancing to Beast King realm: 【Myriad Spirits Transformation King Pill】.
This pill was extraordinary. It required refining the essence of over ten thousand different Treasure Beasts and treasure medicines of varying attributes and races, supplemented with Heavenly-Gang Mystic Milk and a Beast King inner core.
When a Third-Realm Beast General at full cultivation consumed Myriad Spirits Transformation King Pill, it could use the power of myriad spirits to harmonize and perfect its bloodline, awaken its hidden origin power, clarify its future path, and increase its probability of advancing to Beast King by forty percent.
If a titled Heavenly-Gang Mystic Beast consumed it, the stimulation of its bloodline could raise the chance of advancing to Fourth-Realm Beast King to eighty percent.
In terms of value, Myriad Spirits Transformation King Pill even surpassed Purple Mansion Nascent Infant Pill, far beyond any exotic flame.
That was why Chen Beiwu could obtain three exotic flames from the Sect Master, yet not a single Myriad Spirits Transformation King Pill.
As the Sect Master had said, both Myriad Spirits Transformation King Pill and Purple Mansion Nascent Infant Pill were strictly controlled strategic resources of the Immortal Alliance. Only direct-line cultivators at Golden Core Completion could obtain them.
Given his talent, he would sooner or later become the Chief of the Immortal Sect. At that time, Yuqing Immortal Sect would naturally prepare one Myriad Spirits Transformation King Pill and one Purple Mansion Nascent Infant Pill for its Chief, without requiring him to queue.
But Chen Beiwu had not contracted just one Companion Beast, but three—Golden Egg, Iron Egg, and Five Qi Vine.
Sometimes the problem was not scarcity, but inequality.
To whom should that single Myriad Spirits Transformation King Pill be given? Chen Beiwu had yet to decide and felt quite troubled.
Of course, Core-Forming Pills from the Southern Wastes could serve as substitutes, though their effect was far inferior. Otherwise, Chen Beiwu would not be so conflicted.
“Even without pills, it doesn’t matter. A mere Beast King can be broken with a flick of the finger.”
Golden Egg raised its three heads proudly, confidence undisguised.
“Na!”
Five Qi Vine raised both hands in agreement.
“Very well. I admire your confidence. But there’s only one Myriad Spirits Transformation King Pill. How do you plan to divide it?” Chen Beiwu asked faintly.
Iron Egg immediately shook its head, indicating it did not need it and could use Core-Forming Pill instead.
Golden Egg and Five Qi Vine exchanged hesitant glances.
“The victor shall be king. For fairness, how about the three of you compete when the time comes? Whoever stands last gets the pill,” Chen Beiwu proposed.
The three little ones nodded in unison, having no objections.
With the distribution issue temporarily settled, Chen Beiwu did not leave seclusion and continued consolidating his cultivation.
The next morning, he ended his practice and decided to come out of seclusion.
Taking out his phone from his storage ring, he saw the screen filled with messages.
Opening his parents’ messages, his brows lifted.
It was not bad news, but good news.
During his seclusion, both his parents had broken through to Foundation Establishment, becoming one of the few Foundation Establishment couples in Pingchen Township.
After replying briefly to assure them of his safety, Chen Beiwu opened Xu Ziqing’s messages.
‘What a pity,’ he sighed inwardly.
Thirty-five years into his seclusion, Xu Ziqing had spent a great price to acquire a Tribulation-Breaking Golden Core and attempted Core Formation.
But she ultimately fell short, failing at the last moment. She suffered severe hidden injuries and nearly perished. For years since, her cultivation had stagnated as she focused on healing.
‘Given our past ties, helping her once would not hurt.’
Sensing the hidden pessimism within her messages, Chen Beiwu pondered before sending her a reply.
Empty words of comfort were useless and might only worsen her mood.
He understood well that if an Immortal Alliance cultivator failed Core Formation once, a second attempt would suffer greatly reduced probability due to damaged Dao foundation. One might remain stuck at Foundation Establishment for life.
So he offered not consolation, but another path toward becoming a Golden Core True Person.
“Buzz!”
Seeing Xu Ziqing’s reply, Chen Beiwu frowned.
She had declined?
Though surprised, he did not press further and turned to reply to Xu Lingling.
Unlike Xu Ziqing, with Blazing Flame Tiger and Earthly-Sha Treasure Beast Scarlet-Patterned Scorchfire Serpent protecting her, Xu Lingling had successfully formed her core—though not First-Grade, but a promising Second-Grade Golden Core.
After a brief exchange, asking her to look after Xu Ziqing’s emotions, he opened Sister Qin’s message.
“???”
Seeing the final message, Chen Beiwu’s pupils contracted.
What was going on?
Since when had Sister Qin become so reckless—choosing to enlist for an expedition into a foreign world for the sake of a Tribulation-Breaking Golden Core, and not just any world, but the extremely dangerous Cangyuan World with its terrifying mortality rate?
Unlike previous newly discovered worlds of the Immortal Alliance, Cangyuan World was one even Divine Transformation True Venerables had warned disciples not to enter.
Though Sister Qin’s Foundation Establishment Completion cultivation was decent, in a war between two worlds, she would be no more than an ant.
He exhaled slowly, noticing no reply had come.
Clearly, she was already within Cangyuan World.
Or perhaps she had already fallen there, leaving no remains.
…
Meanwhile, at Nine Refinement Sect.
Xu Lingling looked at her inseparable former best friend, her expression complex.
“Beiwu said he had a way to help you form your core. Why did you refuse?”
At those words, Xu Ziqing’s hand beneath her sleeve clenched into a fist, veins bulging.
“I don’t want Beiwu to see me in such a miserable state,” she said with a self-mocking smile.
Turning away, she gently touched the corner of her eye and cheek, speaking resentfully:
“After failing Core Formation and damaging my Dao foundation, wrinkles have already begun to appear. Had I known, I would have paid the price back then to buy Beauty-Retaining Pill.”
‘Is this ignorance of her own beauty, or humble-bragging?’ Xu Lingling’s mouth twitched.
In her eyes, time had not diminished Xu Ziqing’s beauty, but instead lent her face, now free of girlish innocence, greater elegance and softness.
Especially now, the melancholic aura unique to mature women made even Xu Lingling’s heart stir.
And this was called miserable?
Then had the Jade-Faced Shark she once shared with Xu Ziqing died in vain?
“Where are these wrinkles you speak of? I don’t see any,” Xu Lingling sighed.
“Lingling, there’s no need to comfort me. Once I take Beauty-Retaining Pill, I’ll go explain things clearly to Beiwu,” Xu Ziqing said, gazing at the sea of clouds.
…
Qingming Peak, Water Evolution Residence.
Chen Beiwu called Senior Sister Su to inquire about the Immortal Alliance’s progress in the Cangyuan World expedition.
Among those he knew, only a Nascent Soul True Monarch like Senior Sister Su, with her wide connections, would have swift intelligence.
“Why are you suddenly asking about this, Junior Brother?” Su Muyu sounded surprised.
Due to her master’s warning, she had not joined this expedition.
“A friend of mine joined after I entered seclusion. I want to know the situation,” Chen Beiwu replied honestly.
“Which Immortal Sect is your friend from? What is their cultivation and name?”
“Yunmiao Upper Sect, Foundation Establishment Completion, Chen Qin.”
“Wait a moment. I’ll ask around.”
Fifteen minutes later, her voice returned.
“Junior Brother, you should prepare yourself.”
“Please speak plainly, Senior Sister.”
“The environment of Cangyuan World is unusual. The Immortal Alliance’s campaign progress is extremely slow. According to official statistics, the mortality rate has reached eighty percent.”
“Eighty percent?” Chen Beiwu’s brows furrowed deeply.
With such a rate, how could a mere Foundation Establishment Completion cultivator survive?
“Yes. But your friend is not on the casualty list—she’s on the missing list.”
He instantly understood the implication.
The missing list was nearly the same as the death list—just without a confirmed body.
“Junior Brother, forgive me for saying this. Though Cangyuan World is a middle-thousand world, Fifth-Realm Beast Sovereign auras have appeared repeatedly during the war. Cultivators below Divine Transformation entering that world are, more often than not…”
She left the sentence unfinished.
The reason for the high mortality in Immortal Alliance frontier campaigns was simple.
Each expedition followed a probing principle—deploying weaker cultivators first. The first wave always consisted of those below Golden Core.
This was not coldness, but necessary strategy and experience.
When facing an unknown world, its depth and danger were unpredictable.
Nascent Soul True Monarchs and Divine Transformation True Venerables rarely risked entering personally.
In past campaigns, certain peculiar middle-thousand worlds had even birthed beings approaching half-step Void Refinement, causing severe losses.
Why not dispatch Void-Refining Dao Venerables to suppress such worlds with overwhelming force?
Because small-thousand, middle-thousand, and great-thousand worlds differed in carrying capacity.
A true dragon could not swim in shallow waters.
It was not that the dragon was weak—but that shallow waters were too fragile to bear it.
Void-Refining Dao Venerables were too vast in existence; only great-thousand worlds could contain them.
Forcing a true body into a middle-thousand world would disrupt its laws—or even hasten its destruction.
The compromise was to send an avatar—but even that risked harm to the Dao Venerable.
Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment cultivators, by contrast, were easiest to train, most numerous, and most cost-effective.
Even if all perished, the Immortal Alliance’s foundation would remain intact. Through encounters, ambushes, and deaths in battle, they would transmit valuable information back, allowing higher authorities to assess the new world’s value and threat level.
Thus, over time, the Immortal Alliance’s frontier campaigns were largely conducted by low-rank cultivators responsible for reconnaissance—though the rewards were generous.