Chapter 476: Is the method you mentioned your own?

"A nascent Dao Fruit wielder, a Half-Immortal?!" Lu Baqian's scalp tingled when he heard the threat from Venerable Black-and-White.

After entering the Tribulation Transcending stage, he officially joined its circles, gradually understanding its immense power and the future direction of cultivation. The goal for cultivators at the Tribulation Transcending stage was to forge a nascent Dao Fruit. A nascent Dao Fruit signified the ability to grasp an incomplete rule unique to oneself. Even an incomplete rule allowed one to surpass all other Tribulation Transcending cultivators.

If Venerable Black-and-White wasn't bluffing, and the Grand Preceptor of Dayu was truly a Half-Immortal, then they were in serious trouble. The ancestors of the various supreme sects also recognized this problem and found it particularly thorny.

Most Integration stage cultivators knew little about nascent Dao Fruits or Half-Immortals, but seeing the grim expressions of the Tribulation Transcending ancestors, they realized the Grand Preceptor of Dayu was more formidable than anticipated.

Lu Baqian observed Lu Yang, the acting sect master, and noticed his expression was perfectly calm. Sure enough, despite this junior temporarily serving as acting sect master and being groomed as the next leader, he clearly wasn't yet privy to such high-level topics as nascent Dao Fruits and Half-Immortals. Otherwise, his demeanor wouldn't be so placid. Lu Yang, however, was preoccupied with handling the incessantly chattering Immortal, so he paid no attention to Lu Baqian's gaze.

"What's a Half-Immortal? I can flatten one with a single punch! In ancient times, Half-Immortals would kneel to hear me lecture!" the Undying Immortaless declared boldly, dismissive of Half-Immortals. She sat in her lounge chair, swaying back and forth, her skirt fluttering to reveal a stretch of fair calf. After all, Half-Immortals were not true Immortals. Despite the multitude of Half-Immortals in ancient times, only five of them had achieved true immortality.

"Second-in-command, do you want a nascent Dao Fruit? I'll give you one."

"Can't only Tribulation Transcending cultivators forge nascent Dao Fruits?" Lu Yang asked, surprised, as this conflicted with his current knowledge.

"What nonsense! With me here, I can practically force a nascent Dao Fruit into you," the Undying Immortaless guaranteed confidently.

Lu Yang firmly shook his head, refusing. He harbored rebellious thoughts, aiming to establish his own lineage and break away from the Undying line.

"A Half-Immortal... is indeed somewhat troublesome," Yun Zhi murmured softly. If a Half-Immortal, hidden within the celebration, were to suddenly launch an attack, even immediate subjugation would result in casualties. "However, there's no need to worry. Dao Seeking Sect has methods to deal with Half-Immortal sneak attacks," Yun Zhi reassured everyone.

"Does Dao Seeking Sect have a Half-Immortal?" Lu Baqian probed tentatively.

Yun Zhi's cold gaze was his only answer. Everyone gasped, realizing that even if the sect didn't have a Half-Immortal, they certainly possessed means to counter one.

"Should we return to our sects to bring our supreme treasures to assist?" Qiu Jin'an asked, noting that the five great immortal sects remained united in critical moments.

Yun Zhi shook her head. "Supreme treasures all have their own specific uses; there's no need to easily bring them out of the immortal sects."

"Understood." Since Yun Zhi said it wasn't necessary, then it truly wasn't. Qiu Jin'an could tell she wasn't just saving face, but was genuinely confident.

"What about these Dayu cultivators then?"

"For now, they'll all be confined within the treasure box. You all contributed to suppressing them, and after the celebration, rewards will be distributed based on your merits," Yun Zhi stated. After all, they had helped with both the fighting and the interrogations, saving her a great deal of trouble.

Everyone's eyes lit up. They felt that coming to Dao Seeking Sect for this celebration had been truly worthwhile, even if they had taken a beating. The Dayu cultivators themselves weren't valuable, but the information they possessed was, especially the locations of their hidden treasures. Cultivators who had slept since ancient times typically hid themselves and their treasures in two different locations. This was their entire fortune, their capital for future struggles in a new era. Among these treasures were many natural resources and rare materials that had long become extinct, making their value immeasurable. Even if a few first-rank sects divided a single treasure hoard, they would still gain immense riches.

Dao Seeking Sect had already profited; Yun Zhi had used harsh interrogation methods to extract the treasure locations from Venerable Calamity, Venerable Darkthunder, and others. When Lu Yang returned from Hanshui City, he had seen the Grand Elder in the Mission Hall instead of Senior Brother Dai Bufan because Dai Bufan had been instructed by Yun Zhi to go excavate treasures.

The crowd streamed out of the treasure box and appeared on the street. The participating prodigies were dumbfounded by this sight. These were all lofty figures, yet how had they emerged from a box? While they were undoubtedly talented, they still had a long way to go before achieving fame comparable to these great figures. Any mishap on this path could prevent them from reaching the pinnacle. Moreover, among these individuals were not only Integration stage cultivators but also the legendary Tribulation Transcending cultivators. Tribulation Transcending cultivators rarely appeared; most cultivators would never encounter one in their entire lives.

The prodigies whispered amongst themselves, unable to conceal the excitement in their eyes: "Look at that one, isn't that Venerable Yiqi from the Qi Control Sect? Our sect received help from Venerable Yiqi, and we have a portrait of him."

"And Venerable Puppet, the strongest puppeteer! Legend says his puppet strings can control people like puppets."

"That's the newly ascended Tribulation Transcending sect master, Lu Baqian."

"My goodness, so many Tribulation Transcending cultivators!"

"Did you see Sect Master Lu? He's actually chatting and laughing casually with these great figures, not nervous at all!"

"He truly lives up to his reputation as the designated next sect master. If it were me, I'd be too nervous to say a word."

"Indeed."

Of course, Lu Yang wasn't nervous speaking with Integration or Tribulation Transcending cultivators; he wasn't even nervous speaking with Immortals.

Venerable Yiqi suddenly realized something: "Wait, there are three Tribulation Transcending cultivators and over thirty Integration cultivators in the treasure box. The box alone can't hold them."

The treasure box vibrated violently, as if those inside were thrashing about, trying to break free.

"It's fine," Yun Zhi said. She bit her finger and lightly drew a blood seal on the box. The treasure box immediately stopped vibrating and became still.

Venerable Yiqi looked at Yun Zhi strangely, recalling his own miserable experience debating with her. "The method you mentioned, for Dao Seeking Sect to deal with Half-Immortals... could it be you?" he wondered.

Yun Zhi returned the treasure box to its owner, Luo Hongxia: "This treasure box holds three Dayu Tribulation Transcending cultivators. Please guard it carefully, Palace Master Luo."

Luo Hongxia nearly dropped the box.

"Rest assured, Fellow Daoist Luo, Fellow Daoist Yun has added a seal to the treasure box; there will be absolutely no problem," someone said.

"Yes, yes, even if there were an issue, it would be fine. Everyone here will help you," another chimed in.

Everyone gathered around Luo Hongxia, or rather, around the treasure box, for what it contained was immense wealth.

After giving her instructions, Yun Zhi extended her divine sense. She first went to the assembly point specified by the Dayu cultivators but found the Grand Preceptor wasn't there. She then expanded her divine sense to search within Dao Seeking Sect's grounds, but still couldn't find him.

"Senior Sister, have you found the Grand Preceptor of Dayu?"

Yun Zhi regretfully shook her head. "No. If he's still within Dao Seeking Sect, there are two possibilities: either it's the effect of his nascent Dao Fruit, or he temporarily opened up a separate space."

"I will continue to search for his traces. The celebration can proceed as scheduled."