Chapter 49
Translator: penny
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Immortal Path Conference (7)
Foundation Establishment Perfection topples the Dharma Twin Hands of a Core Formation Perfection!!
This was an utterly shocking event.
Anyone in the cultivation world who knew even the basics of 'common sense' would scold such nonsense with a sharp "Don't spout rubbish—go inside and get some sleep!"
It was already absurd for a Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivator to fell a mid-Core Formation foe in a single blow, let alone triumph over a Core Formation Perfection.
Win or lose in the finals, the tale of Yong Yoo—a heavenly prodigy of the High Heaven Sect—would undoubtedly reverberate across the entire Central Plains cultivation realm.
No wonder people had begun calling him the Unbound True Person.
It was a title bestowed upon Yong Yoo, a Foundation Establishment cultivator who had toppled a Core Formation expert, signifying a being 'unfettered by realms.'
True Person, True Lord, and Venerable One were common honorifics in the cultivation world.
You called someone a True Person if their minor realm outstripped yours, a True Lord for a major realm difference, and a Venerable One if they transcended many major realms beyond.
However, these were typically used in ambiguous relationships—not close enough for familiarity, yet not openly hostile—where open respect was due.
Even then, such honorifics were reserved for those with Nascent Soul-level might or higher, where clashing would mean massive losses.
Affixing 'True Person' to a cultivator at or below Core Formation—let alone mere Foundation Establishment—was extraordinarily rare.
Yet no one could deny the title clinging to Yong Yoo, and before the final Dao Debate even began, the name Unbound True Person had seeped deep into people's hearts.
"Haha! Unbound True Person, indeed!"
"Has there ever been a Foundation Establishment monk called a True Person?"
"More than deserving of the name."
As events unfolded this far, even the elders who had initially fretted over whether it was wise to hype Yong Yoo—questioning if he was truly a heavenly prodigy—now beamed with joy, chuckling heartily.
They uncorked precious liquors they'd cellared since reaching Nascent Soul, raising toasts in celebration.
Among them were Nascent Soul Perfection elders plagued daily by heart demons as their lifespans dwindled, yet even they savored the wine with delight today.
"Who would've thought we'd witness the birth of a heavenly prodigy in our generation?"
"A Heavenly Spiritual Root bearer wouldn't surprise us this much, but a Three Elements Spiritual Root doing that?"
"With Dao combat talent like his, he won't end up dying futilely under rival sects' suppression like other prodigies!"
A heavenly prodigy shook the cultivation world merely by being born, but that very fact drew suppression from every sect save their own.
Hence the saying: "Heavenly prodigies never fully mature."
In that light, the emergence of a prodigy with such exceptional Dao combat aptitude was joyous news. Futile death was now unlikely.
"A Three Elements Root is a pity, but so what? We'll make up for it!"
"Exactly. Look how he breezed through ten years of secluded cultivation. The cave steward said he truly cultivated nonstop for a decade, only practicing spells in the final five days."
The elders' fondness for heavenly prodigies was simple.
Geum Yang-pyeong had been one.
That single heavenly prodigy had founded the High Heaven Sect, a colossal orthodox sect enduring for tens of thousands of years.
It spoke volumes about the power and influence one fully matured prodigy could wield.
How could an orthodox sect not cherish its prodigies?
For a behemoth like High Heaven Sect, support for Yong Yoo would simply increase. Smaller orthodox sects would reorganize entirely around their prodigy.
"Yong Yoo said he'd cultivate the Five Skandhas Enlightenment Art I procured, right? Surely the latter divine abilities were damaged."
"Yes, that's correct."
"I'll have to do some legwork. It's not a unique sect method—should be able to find an intact copy with the full latter half."
"The Dual Fate Scripture progresses slowly, so we should set up a Spirit Gathering Array in his cave abode to boost spiritual energy density."
Even during the break before the final championship Dao Debate, the elders focused their talk on Yong Yoo over the event itself.
Initially dominated by chatter about Yeom Suk, all attention had pivoted to Yong Yoo once his prodigy status was confirmed.
"What has everyone discussing so merrily?"
At that moment, Geum So-ryeo—who had been away from the sect for years seeking fortuitous encounters—returned, taking her empty seat and speaking up.
"Elder Geum!"
"Welcome back!"
The elders greeted her warmly, inquiring about her health, her gains, and more.
"Thank you all for your concern."
"Elder Geum, your vital energy seems badly wounded—what happened?"
"There was a Black Tortoise in the primordial secret realm."
"A Black Tortoise?!"
The elders gasped at the divine beast's mention.
"Fortunately, with nearby sects' elders, we kept it from emerging, but the seal's unstable. No telling how long it'll hold."
"Heavens."
"The Black Tortoise—a colossal turtle spirit beast whose shell spans ten thousand zhang, scraping the heavens. The twin serpents on its head and tail are long and thick enough to encircle the entire shell."
"Yes, a grand sight. Gazing upon it brought enlightenment. I feel a breakthrough coming."
The elders lit up at Geum So-ryeo's news of reaching Soul Transformation 4th Layer.
Some Nascent Soul Perfection elders felt pangs of envy, but none dared show it.
Geum So-ryeo—the Geum clan genius hailed as the finest since Geum Yang-pyeong—was no one for lesser elders to provoke.
"Oh, and Mun Yoo was in that primordial secret realm."
"Mun Yoo?"
"...! You mean that criminal who betrayed the sect and fled?"
"Yes. The Black Tortoise interfered, so I couldn't eliminate him. He escaped the realm—who knows where he is now."
"Give us his approximate location; Enforcement Hall will dispatch disciples."
"Much appreciated. Oh, he's already reached Core Formation, and his body has degenerated into a yokai—mind that."
The elders were stunned by Geum So-ryeo's words.
"Heavens. Already Core Formation. With such talent, why...?"
"Enough, Elder Yi. Talent means nothing. He failed to guard his Dao Heart and fell to yokai degeneration—a house of cards waiting to collapse."
"Precisely. Steadfast Dao Heart comes first. Talent second."
The elders grumbled about Mun Yoo before circling back to Yong Yoo.
Geum So-ryeo was startled to hear Yong Yoo hailed as a heavenly prodigy within High Heaven Sect, now bearing the moniker Unbound True Person.
Her disciple apparently possessed even greater aptitude than she'd imagined.
Thrilled at her disciple's prodigy status, Geum So-ryeo smiled softly, gazing down at the Dao Debate arena.
Watching her disciples' radiant talents shine before such a vast crowd, in this place of glory, filled her with boundless joy.
Yeom Suk.
Yong Yoo.
Whichever received the fortuitous encounter from High Heaven Sect's primordial secret realm, their brilliance was sure to bloom spectacularly.
Geum So-ryeo thought this as she fiddled with the storage pouch holding the encounter she'd prepared for Do Mun-hyang.
"Master, please take this..."
"This is?"
"A formation tool I crafted with my meager skills. It disrupts spatial awareness."
Before heading out for the final Dao Debate, I examined the formation tool from Ahan.
She'd seemed constantly busy with something—this must've been it. I carefully slipped the multi-layered bracelet formation onto my arm.
"Thank you, Ahan. I'll be back victorious."
"I'll await your triumph, Master."
Yeom Suk and I ascended the Dao Debate arena simultaneously.
The deep crater from the Daybreak Jade Seal and the arena's wreckage had been neatly repaired, so the Immortal Path Conference proceeded without issue.
Upon reaching the arena, Yeom Suk gazed up at the elders' seats without glancing my way.
Following his gaze, I spotted Geum So-ryeo—absent before—now seated there, smiling down at us.
"Master... please watch over me."
So thrilled by his master's arrival, Yeom Suk steeled his resolve and finally turned to me. Spotting my gear, he scanned me head to toe and asked:
"What's with the armor?"
To bring my all against Yeom Suk, I'd donned every hidden card: the dharma treasures Geum So-ryeo had crafted for me.
Crown: Nether Heaven Child Golden Coronet. Body: Literary Tiger Water Robe and Tiger Dragon Wind Armor. Waist: Vast Bounty Gourd Bottle and storage pouch with talismans and pills. Arms: Refined Flying Sword, Nine Child Needles, Ahan's formation tool, and spell-amplifying dharma treasure.
Tempted to provoke him, I flashed a grin.
"Master commissioned the artifact forger herself to custom-make these for me."
Oh, that hit home.
I chuckled at Yeom Suk's face darkening instantly.
Pure bluff in my laugh.
He's no Han Chun-oh.
His expression twisted like a wrathful deity, yet his Dao Heart rippled not, his abundant spiritual power showed no gaps—Yeom Suk's mind was airtight.
That face was mere show.
No tricks, then. Crush him head-on.
As the rowdy spectators quieted, the referee—timing for peak attention—introduced us.
"The climactic Dao Debate of the glorious 155th Immortal Path Conference! Yong Yoo versus Yeom Suk! Yeom Suk versus Yong Yoo! Both combatants, please uphold decorum and debate without lingering grudges!"
I immediately assumed stance and bowed.
"Direct Disciple of High Heaven Sect's Sea Severing Peak, Yong Yoo."
"Direct Disciple of High Heaven Sect's Sea Severing Peak, Yeom Suk."
"Dao Debate—begin!"
The instant the referee signaled, Yeom Suk surged forward with Murk Escape Art.
If he thought the taunt left an opening, he'd counter here.
I backpedaled with Water Escape Art without looking, and the Yeom Suk barreling toward me erupted in massive spiritual power, dissolving into dust.
"...!"
Unleashing defensive clouds from the Tiger Dragon Wind Armor to block the blast, I clicked my tongue at Yeom Suk standing exactly where he'd started at the debate's outset.
Clone Art and Illusion Art? When did she swap clone and true body?
No time to analyze.
I knew from the original tale he wielded talismans for swift spells and divine powers, but this fast?!
Yeom Suk moved again, unleashing five or six spells that blanketed all directions and rained down on me.