Steady Mortal Path: Starting from Obtaining the Golden Core Inheritance

Half a day later.

"This Qinglan Sect may seem to be a large and powerful family, but it is so stingy that it dares to treat me so disrespectfully. It is not as polite as the Nangong Family and the Fengling Chamber of Commerce. I will not come here again."

Master Wu Fu rode his brand-new flying magical artifact, muttering curses under his breath.

Six months ago, the Nangong family suddenly approached him and invited him to become their talisman-making master.

This unexpected good news surprised and delighted Master Wu, but also left him greatly puzzled.

Many years ago, when the war between the two great cultivation worlds of Yue and Zhou was most frequent, there was a great demand for strategic materials such as pills, magic weapons, and talismans. The market prices were extremely high, and there was no market for them.

However, almost all the independent craftsmen, including Wu Fushi, were recruited by various forces, and the number of talisman-making tasks initially set was increased year by year.

Faced with the high market prices, Wu Fushi couldn't resist the temptation and secretly made talismans to sell, making a considerable profit.

However, as the price of talisman-making materials continued to rise, the cost of talisman-making increased. Moreover, his own skill in making second-tier talismans was limited, and each mistake would waste a lot of precious materials, which made Wu the Talisman Master very distressed.

This led to the idea of ​​cutting corners and saving costs.

In the process of making talismans, find cheap materials to substitute for better ones, so that even if the drawing fails, the loss will not be too great.

The finished second-tier spell talismans are still sold at the price of genuine spell talismans.

Over time, some cultivators who purchased talismans from Wu the Talisman Master ended up losing battles against enemy cultivators on the battlefield due to misjudging the power of the talismans.

At best, they might underperform, get injured, and have to flee; at worst, they might suffer severe injuries and be captured or killed by cultivators from the Great Zhou Dynasty.

This situation is becoming more and more common over time.

Some cultivators who had purchased Wu Fushi's talismans were lucky enough to survive the battlefield, and their first priority was to find the source of the talismans.

Finally, the cultivators followed the clues and found Wu Fushi, the culprit.

Because of his damaged reputation, Master Wu was almost universally hated during that period.

The Nangong family originally decided to punish him severely, but it seems that some of their own cultivators pleaded for leniency. In the end, they decided to give Wu Fushi a minor punishment as a warning, and at the same time, they incorporated him into the conscription team and sent him to the battlefield.

Master Wu was extremely conscious of his life. Although the talismans he sold to others were slightly flawed, the ones he kept for himself were all top-quality.

Relying on these magical symbols, he was as slippery as an eel, escaping death many times on the battlefield. Although he also suffered some wounds that were difficult to heal, he managed to save his life.

In the years that followed, he quietly wandered from one immortal city to another, selling talismans to make a living.

When the Nangong family found Master Wu a few days ago, his first reaction was that they wanted to settle old scores, and he was terrified.

He was shocked to learn later that it was actually his former disciple, Lin Changsheng, who had returned.

Not only that, Lin Changsheng also transformed himself into a Golden Core True Person!

In an effort to win over Lin Changsheng, the Nangong family sent people to find him and offered him generous terms to become their talisman-making master.

Recently, under the instruction of the Nangong family, he has been inquiring about Lin Changsheng's whereabouts.

"This rebellious disciple, after achieving great success in his cultivation, didn't even bother to come and visit, leaving his master to suffer alone!"

"If it weren't for my meticulous instruction in talisman-making techniques back then, how could you, my rebellious disciple, have achieved what you have today!"

Wu Fushi said angrily.

Just then, a deep voice suddenly came from the horizon.

"Are you Lin Changsheng's master?"

The sound was like a thunderclap, exploding in Wu Fushi's ears!

It made him feel his blood and energy surging, his magical power disordered, and he could hardly control himself.

"Nascent Soul... True Lord..."

Master Wu was having difficulty breathing, his face was deathly pale, and he was horrified.

As a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he had witnessed the turmoil in the Yue Kingdom over the past few decades and had seen many ordinary Golden Core cultivators, but none of them had ever been able to exude such power.

Such imposing presence could probably only be found among the legendary Nascent Soul True Monarchs.

"Greetings, True Lord!"

Master Wu instantly became respectful, suppressing his discomfort, and urged his magical artifact to land and pay his respects.

To use a magical artifact to escape while a Nascent Soul True Lord is right in front of you, and to remain suspended in the air, is disrespectful.

Before long, the sky was filled with swirling clouds.

A young man with wooden wings on his back fell from the clouds.

The young man with wooden wings was dressed in a strange Taoist robe, with a dignified expression, and surrounded by a strange blue light.

"Since you are Lin Changsheng's master, do you have any news about your disciple?"

His deep voice carried an air of authority, making it impossible to discern his emotions.

The young man with wooden wings was shrouded in a layer of blue mist, obscuring his expression, but Wu Fushi could feel the other's gaze and felt as if he were being watched.

“I dare not deceive you, True Lord. Lin Changsheng is actually only my disciple in name. He has been independent for over a hundred years now, and I haven’t seen him for decades.”

"My recent search was nothing more than an attempt to take advantage of his status as a Golden Core cultivator and see if I could gain some benefit from it."

Wu Fushi looked terrified and uneasy, his whole body tense, as if he was afraid of angering the other party.

"Hey, you're quite frank, young man."

In the sky, the young man with wooden wings watched with great interest.

He then slightly raised his hand and waved it, and a beam of green light 'whooshed' through layers of void, entering Wu Fushi's body without warning.

"If you hear any news about your disciple within six months, you can contact me at 'Listening Wind Pavilion'. Otherwise, he will be assimilated by this magical power and become my 'wooden puppet'."

The Nascent Soul True Monarch casually left behind a sentence, then flapped his wooden wings and disappeared back into the clouds.

As the immense aura of majesty dissipated, Wu Fushi collapsed to the ground with a thud.

He disregarded his current disheveled state and immediately used his divine sense to examine himself.

Before long, he found a greenish-blue 'seed' in his heart. No matter how he tried to expel it by circulating his magic, the seed remained intact. In fact, because it absorbed a lot of his own magic power, the seed swelled up a bit.

"This rebellious disciple, you've really grown quite bold, actually managing to provoke a Nascent Soul True Monarch!"

"It's such a pain for me, a talisman master, to take you as my disciple!"

"What a tragedy..."

Wu Fushi looked dejected, muttering curses to vent his bitterness.

……

On this day, Chen Huizhen was meditating and circulating her energy in the sect when she suddenly sensed an extremely unfamiliar and enormous aura of magical power enveloping her.

"True Lord Yuanying?"

"How could a strange Nascent Soul True Monarch have descended upon my Qinglan Sect?"

Chen Huizhen looked astonished. After a moment's thought, she got up and went to a secret room, where she activated a small communication array.

Not long after, the three Golden Core elders of the Qinglan Sect went out together.

"I am unaware of which Nascent Soul senior has graced us with his presence. I apologize for not greeting you properly."

Chen Huizhen secretly sized up the unfamiliar young man with wooden wings on his back in front of her.

He then smiled and bowed, showing great warmth and generosity.

"My Daoist name is 'Kuimu,' and I have come here to find someone."

The young man's gaze swept over the three Golden Core cultivators in front of him, his tone indifferent.

Upon hearing the title of Nascent Soul True Monarch, Chen Hui Zhenren showed a thoughtful expression, but a hint of confusion quickly flashed in her beautiful eyes.

In the nearby cultivation world, there are basically only a few Nascent Soul True Monarchs, and it seems that no one has heard of this 'Puppet Wood True Monarch'.

True Monarch Kui Mu was clearly coming for the Qinglan Sect, and True Person Chen Hui had no choice but to extend a warm invitation.

In the main hall where the sect entertains distinguished guests.

The Qinglan Sect presented a variety of rare delicacies, including some Tier 3 materials and rare resources.

Kui Mu Zhenjun, completely absorbed in the moment, embraced two female disciples of the Qinglan Sect, seemingly oblivious to everyone else, and calmly enjoyed the wine and medicine.

Three Golden Core cultivators from the Qinglan Sect accompanied them cautiously from the side.

"Whom is 'True Lord Kuimu' seeking? Is there anything we juniors can do to serve him?"

With a beaming smile, Chen Hui Zhenren personally poured a full glass of spiritual wine for Kui Mu Zhenjun, casually inquiring from the side.

"I heard that a few days ago, a junior named Lin broke through here, and I came here for this person."

Kui Mu Zhenjun downed a cup of spiritual wine and spoke slowly.

"Master Lin Fu?"

"Master Lin left our sect more than half a year ago, and his whereabouts are unknown. Could it be... that he offended the True Lord?"

Upon hearing this, the three Golden Core cultivators in the hall were all taken aback. They exchanged glances briefly, and finally, Chen Hui cautiously probed for an answer.

In response to Chen Huizhen's doubts, Kui Mu Zhenjun merely glanced at her with a half-smile.

The next moment, a bulge suddenly appeared on the floor of the hall.

A slightly strange wood-attribute aura emanated from it, and a huge plant bud burst out with a 'whoosh'.

Soon, as the flower bud bloomed, a 'wooden person' emerged from it, exuding an aura of wood.

Immediately afterwards, a powerful and threatening aura emanated from the wooden figure.

"Late-stage Golden Core cultivator!"

In the arena, Chen Huizhen and the other two Golden Core elders of the Qinglan Sect were shocked to discover that the seemingly wooden 'person' in front of them actually possessed a cultivation level similar to that of a Golden Core Perfection cultivator.

Upon closer inspection, they discovered that the 'wooden figure' had dry skin resembling tree bark, and its appearance was both human and woody, while retaining both human characteristics and plant features.

Before the group could observe further, the 'wooden figure' unleashed a powerful aura of wood attribute and attacked Chen Hui Zhenren first.

Unlike the usual balanced, peaceful, and ever-renewing wood element, the wood element aura erupting from this 'wooden person' was slightly violent.

In the blink of an eye, the 'wooden figure' appeared in front of Chen Hui Zhenren. A strange wood-attribute aura surged out like gray mist, and wherever it passed, the ground and the surface of the stone pillars emitted a 'sizzling' sound.

"Junior sister, be careful! This aura is corrosive!"

The elders of the Qinglan Sect behind them were shocked to see this and quickly offered a warning.

Before the words were finished, Chen Hui Zhenren on the other side still had a magical protective shield around her body. At the same time, she retreated several feet and summoned a huge gauze tent treasure to cover the three elders and resist the gray mist.

'Crunch…'

As the 'wooden figure' surged with magical power, it suddenly shook off specks of 'wood chips'.

As the sawdust fell onto the gauze curtain, it began to take root and sprout, growing into gray vines at a visible speed, and in the blink of an eye, it covered the entire gauze curtain.

The fine roots of the gray wooden vines pierced into the gauze curtain, continuously absorbing the magical energy within to grow and strengthen. In no time, they completely enveloped the three Golden Core cultivators of the Qinglan Sect.

Even the three Golden Core cultivators, with their keen senses, were horrified to discover that even their own internal energy was constantly flowing out of their bodies and being absorbed by these strange vines.

"What kind of magical power is this?!"

"It can actually absorb the magical power of us Golden Core cultivators!?"

The three men looked on with surprise and disbelief, their hearts filled with utter horror.

As a Golden Core elder of the Qinglan Sect, his personal wealth, including magical artifacts and treasures, as well as his reserves of magical treasures, far surpasses that of ordinary Golden Core cultivators.

But I have never seen such a strange method before.

"These vines must be removed as soon as possible, otherwise the longer it is delayed, the worse it will be for us."

Three Golden Core elders, including Chen Huizhen, were trapped inside and discussed how to break the deadlock.

In the end, the three of them used their own methods to break through the gauze curtain from the inside and get away from these strange gray vines.

'boom! ’

'boom! ’

'boom! ’

A tremendous noise erupted from within, and three streams of internal energy instantly shredded the gauze curtains along with the gray vine doors.

The three Golden Core elders of the Qinglan Sect retreated and surrounded the 'wooden figure', ready for battle.

“Eh…what is this?”

Chen Huizhen suddenly realized that her body was covered with tiny wood chips.

The other two elders arrived in the same manner.

'Crunch…'

Accompanied by a strange noise, the wood shavings on the three people quickly turned grayish.

The next moment, tiny roots condensed and pierced into the three people's bodies, releasing a numbing toxin.

'Plop.'

'Plop.'

'Plop.'

The three of them instantly stiffened and became paralyzed, collapsing uncontrollably to the ground.

"Tsk tsk, this is the strength of a Golden Core cultivator within a local major sect. It's really rather weak. They can't even handle a mere 'wooden puppet' under my command..."

Kui Mu Zhenjun glanced at the three people who were lying on the ground with incredulous expressions, and said with a disappointed look.

After withdrawing his gaze, he casually instructed the wooden puppet standing respectfully to the side: "Do not harm these people. I will need their help to find people later."

"Yes, Master."

The wooden puppet's voice was no different from that of an ordinary person, and it responded respectfully.

Just then, as if sensing something, True Lord Kuimu looked more solemn in his eyes and gazed into the distance in a certain direction.

"The local Nascent Soul True Monarch is quite fast, but I wonder how much he's capable of."

As he spoke, a strange blue light enveloped Kui Mu Zhenjun, and he flew up and disappeared from the hall.

A few breaths later, they reappeared thousands of feet in the sky.

At this moment, the wooden wings on the back of True Monarch Kuimu reappeared, and his strange blue aura stirred up the gale in the sky.

Opposite to True Monarch Kuimu stood a young man in a white Taoist robe, his hands behind his back. Facing the terrifying gale that could easily crush even a Golden Core cultivator, he remained unmoved, his demeanor clearly extraordinary.

In contrast to the turbulent atmosphere surrounding True Monarch Kuimu, the area around the man in the white Taoist robe was remarkably calm.

The entire sky, under the influence of the auras of the two Nascent Soul True Monarchs, took on two completely different appearances.