Chapter 476: Karma

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

When Tong Zhongqiu was in the realm of Immortal Cloud City, he rarely paid attention to the affairs of the surrounding sects because they were usually taken care of by Gong Guanzhi.

As a result, his memories of the Primordial Sword Sect remained in the distant past, with the sect’s martial arts being incomplete, and the highest cultivation level reaching only the late stage of the Aperture Tempering realm.

Even when he arrived at the Boundless Sea this time, Tong Zhongqiu only glanced briefly at the Primordial Sword Sect and found that it had not undergone any major changes.

But this was a normal phenomenon. After all, when the sect’s martial arts were flawed, it was difficult for the sect to make significant progress. Being able to maintain their current position without declining could be considered as effective leadership.

“Who has achieved a breakthrough?” Tong Zhongqiu looked at Gong Guanzhi and asked in a deep voice.

Reaching the Combined Aperture Tempering realm was extremely difficult, and it had unexpectedly occurred within the Primordial Sword Sect. Based on what Tong Zhongqiu had seen that day, those two individuals who were in the late stage of the Aperture Tempering realm were not young anymore.

One of them was even approaching the end of their lifespan, suffering from a depletion of vitality, and might not live for more than a few years.

Under such circumstances, it shouldn’t have been possible for someone to break through to the Combined Aperture Tempering realm. Even if those two individuals tried desperately and risked their lives to achieve a breakthrough, the only possible outcome would be death, with no other possibilities.

Breaking through to the Combined Aperture Tempering realm is not something that can be achieved by simply risking one’s life. If risking one’s life could truly alter one’s destiny and make reaching the Combined Aperture Tempering realm possible, then the status of this realm wouldn’t be as revered.

Even within the vast Thousand Feathers Alliance, the status of the Combined Aperture Tempering realm is transcendent, far higher than that of the Aperture Tempering realm.

On the path of martial cultivation, risking one’s life may result in the loss of life itself.

“His name is Chen Fei, here is his information.”

Gong Guanzhi took out a jade slip and handed it to Tong Zhongqiu. Before coming, Gong Guanzhi had already prepared information about Chen Fei. After all, he was also curious about Chen Fei.

Tong Zhongqiu accepted the jade slip and let his consciousness enter it. After a moment, Tong Zhongqiu’s gaze moved away from the jade slip.

“He went from being a Cultivator in the Bone Tempering realm to the Combined Aperture Tempering realm in less than ten years since he joined the Primordial Sword Sect?”

Tong Zhongqiu looked at Gong Guanzhi, his expression unchanged, but Gong Guanzhi immediately felt a sinking feeling in his heart.

Gong Guanzhi understood that Tong Zhongqiu was questioning why the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect had never noticed such extraordinary talent. If Gong Guanzhi, as the current Sect Leader, had been unaware of such a significant development, then his leadership had certainly been lacking.

“He concealed his true cultivation level. What he showed to the outside world was only the initial stage of the Aperture Tempering realm,” Gong Guanzhi quickly whispered.

To go from the Bone Tempering realm to the initial stage of the Aperture Tempering realm in just a few years was indeed exceptional talent, but it was still within an acceptable range.

After all, during the competition among the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect’s core disciples, Chen Fei had already shown great potential and had fought evenly against Shen Tucang, the second-ranked core disciple of the sect.

At that time, everyone could see that Chen Fei had outstanding talent, but it was just that – outstanding. Breaking through from the Visceral Tempering realm to the Aperture Tempering realm was often a stumbling block for many cultivators, which could delay progress for several years or even result in failure.

However, Chen Fei successfully broke through just one year later. Due to his previous performance in the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect, people had already had expectations, so they quickly accepted this development.

The Immortal Cloud Sword Sect had no shortage of Aperture Tempering realm cultivators, and although Chen Fei’s talent was exceptional, it was likely that his highest achievement in life, after joining the Primordial Sword Sect, would be reaching the late stage of the Aperture Tempering realm.

With the resources available in the Primordial Sword Sect, it would still take him decades to achieve that level.

At that time, the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect had been preoccupied with the sudden appearance of the Divine Flame Sect, causing them to lose interest in Chen Fei, and after he defeated Shen Tucang in front of many people, his status remained relatively unchanged.

In the eyes of the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect, Chen Fei’s exceptional talent was acknowledged once again, but that was the extent of it.

“With such talent, if not hidden, I estimate he wouldn’t have had the opportunity to grow,” Tong Zhongqiu sighed slightly while caressing the jade slip in his hand.

The jade slip also mentioned one thing: when Chen Fei first arrived in Immortal Cloud City, the first sect he had wanted to join was actually the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect.

As the dominant force that reigned supreme for miles around at the time, the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect naturally attracted many people who aspired to join this powerful sect.

Unfortunately, due to the recruitment strategy of the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect at the time, Chen Fei’s age was clearly on the older side, and his cultivation level was completely inadequate. He was directly blocked from entering the sect’s gates.

He didn’t even have the opportunity to undergo the entrance test because the sect would keep records of those who took the test.

Without even leaving a record, it was evident that he hadn’t even stepped inside the sect’s gates.

Someone who eventually reached the Combined Aperture Tempering realm, a realm that should have originated from within their own Immortal Cloud Sword Sect, had been denied entry at their doorstep.

It couldn’t be said that the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect’s method of recruiting disciples was wrong at the time. Due to the chaos of the era, a large number of people had come to Immortal Cloud City, and the sect had to use this method to select high-quality disciples from the pool.

However, it just so happened that Chen Fei was overlooked like an unpolished gem.

It could only be said that Chen Fei truly had no fate with the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect.

In theory, this was understandable, but when Tong Zhongqiu thought about such a hidden dragon who had missed the opportunity to join the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of discomfort.

A Combined Aperture Tempering realm cultivator in their early thirties— even in the talent-rich Thousand Feathers Alliance, such individuals were few and far between. The only possibility for the emergence of such a young Combined Aperture Tempering realm cultivator was within the few major forces of the Thousand Feathers Alliance.

Those forces possessed significant strength, with Combined Aperture Tempering realm peak experts among them. Only at such a level would someone as young as Chen Fei appear within the sect.

But unfortunately, the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect had once had the chance to have such a talent, and in the end, they missed out on everything.

“I understand this matter now. You may go,” Tong Zhongqiu said to Gong Guanzhi, waving his hand slightly.

“Guanzhi takes his leave!” Gong Guanzhi looked at Tong Zhongqiu’s expression and felt as if Tong Zhongqiu had aged a bit more. He couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

But now, no matter what was said, it couldn’t change the fact that a Combined Aperture Tempering realm cultivator emerged in the Primordial Sword Sect. Gong Guanzhi bowed respectfully to Tong Zhongqiu and slowly left the courtyard.

Tong Zhongqiu looked at the pine tree in the courtyard and a self-deprecating smile appeared on his face.

The Immortal Cloud Sword Sect had tried everything to produce another Combined Aperture Tempering realm cultivator from within, but until now, there hadn’t been any results. Although there were cultivators at the peak of the Aperture Tempering realm within the sect, it was still unclear whether they could ultimately succeed.

After all, within the Thousand Feathers Alliance, there were many martial artists with peak Aperture Tempering realm cultivation, but only a few of them would eventually break through successfully.

Tong Zhongqiu himself had no confidence that the luck would fall on the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect’s side.

Thinking of Chen Fei, Tong Zhongqiu couldn’t help but sigh once more. Was it really the case that fate had deserted the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect?

“Hu!”

Suddenly, a sound of breaking through the air came from the distance. Tong Zhongqiu raised his head and immediately saw the newcomer, who turned out to be Yu Shoucheng from the Yu family.

Just as the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect’s protective formation was about to activate, Tong Zhongqiu deactivated it, allowing Yu Shoucheng to land in front of his courtyard.

“Apologies for the uninvited visit,” Yu Shoucheng said, bowing to Tong Zhongqiu.

“No problem, please have a seat.”

Tong Zhongqiu waved his hand and welcomed Yu Shoucheng into the courtyard. Currently, the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect had an alliance with the Yu family, and the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect owed much of its stability within the Thousand Feathers Alliance to the support of the Yu family.

Therefore, the two factions had a very harmonious relationship at present. Yu Shoucheng’s direct arrival, though somewhat unexpected, wasn’t a major issue.

“The matter concerning the Primordial Sword Sect, you should have heard about it, right?” Yu Shoucheng took a seat in front of Tong Zhongqiu and went straight to the point.

Yu Shoucheng had come here today because he had heard this news not long ago.

At the time, Yu Shoucheng had been quite surprised as well. After all, having spent several years in the vicinity of Immortal Cloud City, the Yu family was very knowledgeable about the surrounding powers.

In Yu Shoucheng’s eyes, the Primordial Sword Sect was like many other Level Six forces in the Thousand Feathers Alliance, without any outstanding features.

Of course, hundreds of years ago, the Primordial Sword Sect had its glory days, and it even had a Combined Aperture Tempering realm inheritance. However, over the years, their martial techniques had become incomplete, and the Primordial Sword Sect had long lost its former glory.

Such situations were common in the Thousand Feathers Alliance, where once a Combined Aperture Tempering realm cultivator was lost, the sect’s strength immediately declined, and sometimes it never recovered.

In Yu Shoucheng’s view, the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect was also trending in this direction. Fortunately, with the arrival of the Boundless Sea, Tong Zhongqiu might have a chance to obtain a life-extending spiritual material.

As long as there was a life-extending spiritual material, Tong Zhongqiu could live for several more decades, and by then, the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect might have a chance to produce a new Combined Aperture Tempering realm cultivator and continue the sect’s glory.

“Just heard the news, and here you are,” Tong Zhongqiu smiled faintly, but there was no humor in his eyes.

Seeing Tong Zhongqiu’s expression, and thinking about the information related to Chen Fei, Yu Shoucheng understood. Anyone who missed the opportunity to recruit a Combined Aperture Tempering realm cultivator in their early thirties would likely have a similar mood.

If Yu Shoucheng were in Tong Zhongqiu’s position, he might even be furious.

“We all witnessed Chen Fei’s potential, and both of us come from the same place. It’s such a waste not to bring someone like him into the alliance,” Yu Shoucheng said in a low voice.

“He may not agree, after all, both of us have our fair share of troubles,” Tong Zhongqiu shook his head.

Even though Jian Jinsheng from the Divine Flame Sect wasn’t in the Boundless Sea right now, there was a high probability he would arrive soon, and everyone knew that Jian Jinsheng had a significant chance of breaking through to the mid-stage of the Combined Aperture Tempering realm within the next few years.

Forming an alliance with the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect would mean bearing the consequences associated with it. Anyone in Tong Zhongqiu’s shoes would need to carefully consider whether it was worth it.

Furthermore, the Yu family also had its share of troublesome matters and wasn’t much better off than the Immortal Cloud Sword Sect. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have discovered the passage and come to hide in Immortal Cloud City. “A Third Grade Secret Realm, is this weighty enough?” Yu Shoucheng said in a low voice.

“Do you want to allocate a portion of the Third Grade Secret Realm to the Primordial Sword Sect?”

Tong Zhongqiu’s expression subtly changed upon hearing Yu Shoucheng’s words. This offer was indeed tempting..