Chapter 780: Branching Out

The moment the Alien Immortal lineage's sect master integrated the purple snowflake, Xu Qing opened his eyes from his cross-legged position. In a secret room within Ning Yan's mansion, just outside the Grand Scholarly Academy, a faint gleam appeared in his eyes.

He raised his head, his gaze fixed on the Grand Scholarly Academy's main gate.

"The sect master of the Alien Immortal lineage is indeed decisive."

He had, of course, arranged for that pouch to be sent. The jade slip inside openly detailed all the pros and cons, including the fact that the soul seed could be recalled with a single thought.

Evidently, the sect master found this acceptable. More than anyone else, he yearned for the Alien Immortal lineage to return to its former glory.

For this goal, he was willing to sacrifice everything.

In fact, it could be argued that the pouch was precisely what he had been waiting for. To acquire it, he was willing to bear the blame and create a stir, deliberately cornering himself with no escape.

This was a deliberate act, a tangible pledge of allegiance to the mysterious Great Accomplished individual.

Xu Qing had observed all of this recently, which was why he sent a soul seed. Through his subtle connection with the soul seed, he could sense the sect master's integration and cultivation.

This connection was one-sided.

Xu Qing's recent research had thoroughly elucidated the soul seed. This potent seed, once integrated, made it difficult for the host to detect its origin, yet the origin could clearly sense all of the host's actions.

"Based on my assessment, once the sect master integrates the soul seed, his soul threads will experience a significant surge. This, of course, presumes his soul is robust enough. I also anticipate that his advancement will benefit me."

With anticipation in his eyes, Xu Qing closed them and resumed his meditation, absorbing the exotic energies of the world and converting them into his own divine source.

This was the method he devised to increase his soul threads in his current state, though the absorption was extremely slow.

As time passed, inside the Grand Scholarly Academy, the sect master, now imbued with the soul threads, began to tremble as he circulated the Alien Immortal lineage's cultivation method. Beneath his mask, his expression showed intense exhilaration.

He clearly perceived the rapid increase in the number of soul threads within his body.

The number surged from an initial thirty thousand, increasing by hundreds every fifteen minutes. This incredible speed caused a tumultuous stir within him.

"This is the true cultivation method of the Alien Immortal lineage!"

The sect master, invigorated, continued to cultivate. He was, in fact, the most suitable individual within the current Alien Immortal lineage to integrate the soul seed.

As the sect master, he had dedicated his life to studying the Alien Immortal lineage's cultivation methods, practicing constantly. While his soul thread condensation was slow, he had always prioritized nurturing his soul, thus his soul was exceptionally robust.

This was a hallmark of the Alien Immortal lineage, a trait shared by the Divine Fusion lineage. Both required the soul to integrate with all divine bodies, making their souls more potent than those of ordinary individuals.

The integration of the soul seed caused his soul to hum powerfully. After two continuous hours of cultivation, his soul threads surpassed thirty thousand and reached forty thousand. Although the growth gradually slowed, it persisted.

Simultaneously, outside the Grand Scholarly Academy, Xu Qing sensed through the soul seed that the Alien Immortal lineage's sect master's soul threads were rapidly surging.

This surge caused the soul thread vortex within Xu Qing's sea of consciousness to spin even more rapidly. Faintly, a trace of divine source seemed to be forming within the vortex.

Though merely a trace, for Xu Qing, this was a significant replenishment, far more efficient than his usual method of absorbing exotic matter to convert it into divine source—the difference was immense.

"It works!"

Xu Qing's eyes lit up with renewed anticipation as he continued his cultivation.

The next morning, at dawn, Xu Qing arrived at the Alien Immortal lineage's White Pagoda in the Grand Scholarly Academy. Unusually, the sect master did not descend from the upper floors, which surprised the core disciples of the Alien Immortal lineage.

Ordinarily, the sect master seldom visited the upper floors, usually remaining seated in the main hall.

Only Xu Qing knew that the sect master was still cultivating; his soul threads had increased to over forty-five thousand during the night.

"At this rate, in a few days, his soul threads will surpass fifty thousand, meeting the requirement to manifest a 'Di Zi'."

As Xu Qing pondered this, he was enlisted to help produce the tabloids. The other core disciples, emboldened by the sect master's two-month declaration, had resumed their inquiries during this period.

The mysterious woman, still unaware that her identity had been compromised, was particularly active. She voluntarily joined Xu Qing's four-person tabloid group, assisting with printing and occasionally asking about their cultivation progress.

Three days passed in this manner.

At noon on the fourth day, as Xu Qing was browsing through some Alien Immortal lineage texts, a sudden, astonishing fluctuation emanated from the White Pagoda's upper levels.

This divine fluctuation caused all the Alien Immortal lineage disciples in the White Pagoda to freeze in surprise.

Xu Qing also looked up, a smile forming beneath his mask.

He had sensed it: the sect master's soul threads had surpassed fifty thousand.

Immediately afterward, a roar that reverberated throughout the Grand Scholarly Academy echoed from the White Pagoda's upper levels. The next instant, a colossal divine Di Zi flashed forth from the White Pagoda, appearing in the sky above the Grand Scholarly Academy.

Its black form and powerful aura startled the Grand Scholarly Academy. As students from various lineages fixed their gazes upon it, murmurs of astonishment spread throughout the academy.

After radiating its power and drawing sufficient attention, the divine Di Zi outside the Alien Immortal lineage's White Pagoda transformed, reverting to the sect master's form.

This sight was even more sensational.

"Is that... the Alien Immortal lineage's sect master?!"

"He manifested a divine Di Zi!"

"Has another Great Accomplished individual emerged from the Alien Immortal lineage?"

The core disciples of the Alien Immortal lineage rushed out of the White Pagoda, their eyes wide with shock as they gazed at the sect master in mid-air. Xu Qing, at the appropriate moment, also feigned surprise.

The mysterious woman, however, was truly shaken.

"I was wrong. That mysterious Great Accomplished individual isn't the sect master, but I'm on the right track. This Alien Immortal lineage... holds a significant secret!"

Seeing himself as the center of attention, the Alien Immortal lineage sect master, with his hands clasped behind his back, spoke calmly from mid-air. The cultivation changes brought by his soul thread breakthrough made his voice exceptionally profound.

"This is the path of my Alien Immortal lineage's inner technique!"

"Anyone who cultivates my Alien Immortal lineage's inner technique will, within three months at most, undoubtedly form fifty thousand soul threads, provided their soul is sufficiently robust."

The sect master's words immediately stirred the hearts of all the students witnessing the scene.

Observing their reactions, the sect master took a deep breath, his eyes resolute, and continued.

"Furthermore, starting today, my Alien Immortal lineage will break with tradition. We are preparing to open the White Pagoda widely, recruit core disciples, and impart our inner cultivation techniques, thus forging a new path for human cultivators."

Having spoken, the sect master shimmered and vanished from mid-air.

Though he departed, the news of his soul thread's Great Accomplishment and the Alien Immortal lineage's plans for widespread recruitment stirred up a storm within the Grand Scholarly Academy.

The Alien Immortal lineage's popularity had always resurfaced whenever it waned. Now, the sect master's attainment reignited that fervor, transforming the earlier ripples into a massive storm that astonished all lineages within the Grand Scholarly Academy.

Even in the imperial capital outside, the news spread, causing the Alien Immortal lineage's popularity to skyrocket. The thirteen core disciples, including Xu Qing, found themselves with no time for their own affairs, spending their days continuously receiving a ceaseless stream of Grand Scholarly Academy students.

Still, only a small number of students were truly determined to become core disciples. While many were clearly tempted, solidifying their commitment would require more time or more impactful events.

For instance, the emergence of another Great Accomplished soul thread practitioner, or a disciple whose cultivation speed visibly accelerated.

Consequently, Xu Qing began to contemplate whether to distribute another soul seed.

However, before Xu Qing could select a suitable candidate for observation, on the evening of the third day after the sect master manifested his Di Zi, Xu Qing suddenly received a sensation through the sect master's soul seed.

He noticed that the sect master's soul threads had also formed a vortex. Though not as vast as his own, it surprisingly contained snowflakes.

Their color was cyan, not purple, and while their level was inferior to his own, their function appeared similar. Moreover, they could be influenced by him, indicating a consistent origin.

Xu Qing's mind reeled. This development was entirely unexpected. Before he could investigate further, the sect master issued a decree from the upper levels, summoning him and the three other core disciples.

Each of them received a small pill bottle.

"Inside these bottles is the Inner Dao Seed of my Alien Immortal lineage!"

"Integrate it into your body, and you will gain the qualification to practice the inner technique!"

The three core disciples grew incredibly excited as they gazed at the pill bottles before them. Xu Qing's gaze swept over them, his own heart stirring. He could sense a soul seed snowflake indeed contained within each bottle.

"This Inner Dao Seed has been developed through countless years of research by our lineage. We withheld it previously due to certain hidden flaws, which have now been fully resolved, making it perfect."

"Once you absorb it, your cultivation speed for the Alien Immortal lineage's techniques will surge dramatically."

The Alien Immortal lineage sect master spoke calmly. He did not inform Xu Qing and the other three about the control issues inherent after absorbing the soul seed. His gaze, sharp as lightning, fixed on the four of them.

"Now, crush the pill bottles and begin integrating them. I will safeguard your process."

The three core disciples exchanged glances, then looked at the sect master. What thoughts raced through their minds remained unknown to outsiders, but ultimately, they chose to crush the bottles and integrate the cyan snowflakes into their bodies.

Watching the three integrate, the sect master nodded, then turned to Xu Qing, his voice taking on a majestic tone.

"Xuan Leizi, are you not going to accept our Alien Immortal lineage's Dao Seed?"

Xu Qing felt a strange sensation but did not hesitate. He crushed the bottle, allowing the small cyan snowflake to melt into his palm. The moment it entered his body, it instantly dissolved, unperceived by anyone, including the sect master.

This further accelerated the vortex within Xu Qing's body.

Satisfied, the sect master gestured for Xu Qing and the others to return, then closed his eyes and resumed meditation.

Xu Qing clasped his hands in a gesture of respect, then left the White Pagoda with the three core disciples, who were still in an emotional state. On the way back to his mansion, Xu Qing confirmed that these cyan snowflake soul seeds were indeed a branch of his own purple snowflakes.

"I didn't expect such a variation."

"I wonder what the maximum number of branch soul seeds the sect master can form is. If it's also a hundred..."

Xu Qing turned his head, gazing toward the Grand Scholarly Academy.

He had a premonition that, because of his purple soul seed, the Alien Immortal lineage might undergo a massive transformation, poised for a significant rise.

If everything proceeded normally and did not violate human principles, Xu Qing would be pleased to witness their glory.

However, if this lineage acted against human principles, he would reclaim everything.