Longevity by Grinding Skills

Chapter 516: Chapter 516: You Shall Be the Dao Protector

The taciturn, imposing Daoist Master Hundred Peaks before him actually harbored such immense ambition.

If he succeeded, he would become a revered True Monarch within the Sect.

But... the process was fraught with peril.

To say it was a matter of life and death would be an understatement.

Xu Yunfan suppressed the tempest in his heart, his face a mask of calm. Instead, the corner of his mouth curled into a shrewd smile, one very much in the style of the Primordial Sect.

"Helping you attain the Daoist Golden Core, Senior Brother... for a task of this magnitude, I am of course willing to offer what meager assistance I can. However..."

His tone shifted, and his gaze sharpened as he stared directly at Chu Chengnan. "What’s in it for me? You should know, Senior Brother, that meddling in a Golden Core tribulation is no small matter. The slightest carelessness, and I’ll be ground to dust. With my meager Daoist Cultivation, I can’t afford to risk my life for nothing."

"And on that note, you’ve picked an excellent time for this, Senior Brother."

The True Monarchs of the Primordial Sect and the Puchen Pure Land were fighting in the Eastern Wilderness, with the Wansheng Sword Sect watching covetously from the side. As long as Chu Chengnan was fully prepared, he could, in a single instant, draw down the favor of the Fruit Position, ram his Grotto Heaven into place, and successfully merge with it. If he did all that, he would naturally ascend to the rank of Golden Core True Monarch.

His stance was clear, his meaning obvious.

The risk was immense, and the price had to be high enough. Otherwise, even if he were coerced into agreeing, turning tail and fleeing at the critical moment was a time-honored tradition in the Primordial Sect.

Upon hearing this, Chu Chengnan showed no displeasure. On the contrary, a flicker of admiration appeared in his eyes.

These were the rules of the Primordial Sect: transactions dictated by power, equivalent exchange.

"Junior Brother Xu, you are direct and to the point. That suits me just fine."

Chu Chengnan answered without hesitation, laying out his terms.

"Naturally, I won’t let you bear this risk for nothing, Junior Brother. First, I, Chu Chengnan, swear an oath here and now: if you help me with all your strength this time, then in the future, regardless of my success or failure, when you too take that final step toward your Golden Core Dao Fruit, I will exhaust all my power to protect you. I will act as your guardian, even at the cost of my own life. This is a vow of mutual aid on our path of cultivation!"

This first promise alone was incredibly weighty! The aid of a powerful guardian who was familiar with the Golden Core tribulation was of inestimable value.

Xu Yunfan simply listened, though. While Chu Chengnan was famous within the Primordial Sect for keeping his word, people who saw things through to the very end were rare these days.

Besides, if he succeeded, he would be a True Monarch, making his oath that much more potent. If he failed, he would be dead, and the whole point would be moot.

’Furthermore, by involving himself in the karma of Chu Chengnan’s attempt to form a Golden Core, he might inadvertently create tremendous invisible obstacles for his own breakthrough in the future.’

Chu Chengnan continued, "Second, regardless of my success or failure, I will give you the majority of the fortune I have accumulated over three lifetimes. The list is here."

With a flick of his finger, a mote of light—a Divine Thought containing information on countless Divine Materials and Treasure Medicines, as well as Rare and Exotic Stones—flew into the space between Xu Yunfan’s eyebrows.

Xu Yunfan’s heart shook as he briefly scanned the contents.

The items on the list were more than enough to help him cultivate his Dao Foundation to Perfection, with plenty left over to attempt a breakthrough to the Golden Core realm.

Chu Chengnan was truly a veteran Daoist Master; his accumulated wealth was immense.

What moved Xu Yunfan the most was how decisive he was, and how willing he was to part with it all.

"Third,"

Chu Chengnan’s voice carried a hint of pride. "Once I succeed, under my True Monarch’s Decree, you may enter the Primordial Sect’s Scripture Pavilion. Excluding the core inheritances, you will be free to choose one complete True Skill and two Secret Techniques, with no grade restrictions."

This meant Xu Yunfan would have a chance to access, and perhaps even obtain, inheritances on par with the Sect’s deepest foundations.

An ordinary disciple of the Primordial Sect, upon entering a Dharma Vein Dojo run by a Foundation Establishment Daoist Master, would naturally cultivate a Lower-Grade True Scripture.

To obtain an Upper-Grade, let alone a supreme, True Skill was a feat as difficult as ascending to the heavens.

He knew of several Foundation Establishment Daoist Masters within the Primordial Sect who had to accumulate resources across several lifetimes of reincarnation just to trade for a single Middle-Grade True Skill to practice. The process was arduous beyond belief.

The terms were outrageously generous.

The offer of a True Skill and Secret Techniques with no grade restrictions was especially, astonishingly tempting.

Although he already possessed two top-tier techniques, the Eight Sceneries Cloud Qi and the Divine Sky Nine Heavens Profound Vault Undying True Scripture, he believed that when it came to True Skills and Secret Techniques, the more, the better.

With his Attribute Panel, his foundations would only grow stronger and stronger.

But Xu Yunfan did not agree immediately.

The benefits were immense, but the risk—his life hanging by a thread—was very real.

He was about to open his mouth again to press for more guarantees or to refine the conditions, but then Chu Chengnan’s expression suddenly grew stern. His aura instantly began to resonate faintly with the Earth Vein Evil Qi of the entire cliff face at Cold Crow Pass.

He raised his right hand, revealing a Token in his palm. An ethereal glow coiled around it—the Clear Mist Immortal Light, a sight Xu Yunfan found both incredibly familiar and deeply awe-inspiring. It was the mark of True Monarch Qingyuan.

"Xu Yunfan, hear the True Monarch’s Decree!"

Chu Chengnan’s voice became vast and majestic, like a proclamation of Law and Dao Principles.

"Today, Chu Chengnan of Hundred Peaks, firm in his Dao Heart, seeks to inherit the Immovable Xuan Yue Golden Core Dao Fruit. His breakthrough is imminent. You, Xu Yunfan, are hereby commanded to act as his aide, to protect his Ritual, to channel the Earth Vein, and to help him achieve his Dao! This is the Decree. Obey it at once!"

VMM!

The Clear Mist Immortal Light on the Token flared brightly, transforming into a seemingly tangible command that instantly branded itself upon Xu Yunfan’s Dharma Body.

Xu Yunfan felt his Divine Soul shudder. All thoughts of bargaining vanished in an instant, replaced by a heavy sense of responsibility and an icy chill.

His face was grim as he glanced at the command branded on his arm.

His words were no longer so courteous.

"First the gentleman, then the villain, Senior Brother Chu. I’m impressed."

’For True Monarch Qingyuan to personally issue a Decree naming me... what does this mean?’

’It means Chu Chengnan’s breakthrough is extremely important to True Monarch Qingyuan’s faction—it might even be part of some higher-level plan. It also means that my own strength has caught the True Monarch’s attention. In some matters, your hands are tied.’

’Success would bring great merit. Failure...’

’The consequences were unthinkable.’

Chu Chengnan’s face showed not a shred of apology. Instead, he beamed and said, "Junior Brother, an opportunity like this is once-in-a-thousand-years. If we miss it, there may never be another. I had no other choice."

’What a bastard.’

’Then again, Chu Chengnan was upholding the traditions of the Primordial Sect perfectly.’

He took a deep breath, pushing aside all distracting thoughts. Bowing in the direction of where the Token had been, he spoke in a steady, firm voice.

"Disciple Xu Yunfan humbly accepts the True Monarch’s Decree. I will do everything in my power to ensure Senior Brother Chu’s success!"

Seeing Xu Yunfan’s reaction—especially when his junior brother raised his arm, revealing the successfully branded Decree—the last trace of doubt in Chu Chengnan’s eyes finally vanished. It was replaced by the fiery conviction of one whose victory was assured.

"Excellent! With your dedicated help, Junior Brother, I’m now another thirty percent more confident of success!"

He put away the Token and surveyed the violently churning Innate Pure and Muddy Qi. A divine light flared in his eyes.

"The time has come! If not now, then when?"

"The Primordial Sect and the Puchen Pure Land are locked in a furious battle in the Eastern Wilderness. The Celestial Secrets are in chaos, and the Laws are in turmoil. Even with a Pure Yang True Monarch presiding over the Wansheng Sword Sect, the bulk of their attention must be tied down by this earth-shattering war."

"This is a time when the world’s Destiny is in flux and the Rules have loosened. It is the perfect opportunity for the Dao Fruit’s favor to be sensed and drawn down."

"This Innate Pure and Muddy Qi erupting from Cold Crow Pass is the supreme resource I need to receive the Dao Fruit and forge my Golden Core Dao Embryo."

"And that time is now!"

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