Heaven’s Shadow

In a prestigious sect like Kunlun Sect, the tradition of passing on teachings from master to disciple has been maintained for thousands of years. From the two founding ancestors, Kun Yuanzi and Tie Luo, the flame of inheritance has continued unbroken up to the present day.

Thus, accepting disciples is a very common practice in Kunlun Sect. Generally speaking, most cultivators will take on disciples. While there are cultivators who live out their lives without accepting any disciples, such cases are extremely rare. The reason is quite simple: it’s similar to family inheritance in the mortal world. Cultivators hope that someone will inherit their hard-earned achievements and carry forward their accomplishments in the Dao. At the moment of death, most people also wish to have someone to attend to them and see them through their final days.

This is a deep-rooted aspect of human nature across the vast land of Zhongtu Shenzhou, whether one is a cultivator or an ordinary mortal. It’s difficult to escape this concern.

However, because of this, accepting disciples carries a significant weight of responsibility, especially in prestigious sects like Kunlun. The inheritance of Dao not only pertains to an individual’s lifetime but also to the rise and fall of the sect’s strength.

A mere servant disciple announcing to the world that he is accepting disciples today and tomorrow, teaching only to find his disciples to be useless, would be of no use at all.

Kunlun Sect certainly wouldn’t allow such a situation. In fact, to ensure that most young disciples can focus on their cultivation, Kunlun Sect has an unspoken rule that only cultivators at the Golden Core stage and above can take on disciples. 

Typically, reaching the Golden Core stage is a pinnacle most cultivators can only dream of throughout their lives. Cultivators who achieve the Golden Core stage are often exceptional in terms of Dao, strength, experience, and talent. Hence, accepting disciples at the Golden Core stage is a clear boundary set by Kunlun Sect.

Of course, this boundary is somewhat fuzzy. Many cultivators remain stuck at the Foundation Establishment stage throughout their lives. After reaching the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage in their later years, Kunlun Sect will make exceptions, allowing them to accept a few disciples.

In short, in Kunlun Sect, Golden Core cultivators are eligible to take on disciples!

And Su Qingjun is the youngest Golden Core cultivator in the long history of Kunlun Sect.

However, her extraordinary talent and youth have led most people, including her master Mu Yuan, to instinctively overlook the fact that Su Qingjun has indeed attained the customary qualification to take on disciples.

※※※

“You, accepting disciples?” Master Mu Yuan appeared dazed, seemingly unable to come to terms with his disciple’s statement.

Su Qingjun calmly nodded and said, “Yes, Master. I believe I am qualified for it, right?”

Master Mu Yuan pondered and suddenly realized that his disciple was indeed correct. This realization made his face darken as he paced back and forth in front of Su Qingjun, muttering, “But, but this is… this is too…”

He suddenly looked up, frowning at Su Qingjun and asked, “You’re only twenty-two years old, you know?”

Su Qingjun replied, “Yes, I know.”

“And you still want to accept disciples?”

Su Qingjun replied seriously, “In all the generations of Kunlun Sect’s ancestors, has anyone ever issued an edict that prohibits a twenty-two-year-old Golden Core cultivator from taking on disciples?”

“Uh… there doesn’t seem to be such a rule.” Master Mu Yuan scratched his head in frustration and said, “But there hasn’t been a genius like you before.”

Su Qingjun snorted and said, “Master, you shouldn’t blame me for my high talent.”

“No, no,” Master Mu Yuan quickly denied. However, his brows furrowed in distress again, “But this… it just feels a bit off, Qingjun.”

It does seem strange. Generally, young people of Su Qingjun’s age are still diligently cultivating at the Qi Refining or at most the Foundation Establishment stage. Even among all the talented young people in the world, those like her who focus solely on cultivation usually aim for higher realms such as the Nascent Soul or the legendary Divine Transformation. Who would have the distraction to take on disciples?

Even if one were to accept disciples, wouldn’t it be more appropriate to consider it at the age of fifty or sixty when their potential is mostly exhausted and their future prospects are nearly capped?

Master Mu Yuan raised his concerns, hoping to steer his obedient disciple away from what he saw as a misguided path. However, on this particular day, Su Qingjun was unusually stubborn. She insisted on accepting disciples and was unwilling to compromise.

For a prestigious sect like the Kunlun Sect, the tradition of passing teachings from master to disciple has continued unbroken for thousands of years. From the two founding ancestors, Kun Yuanzi and Tie Luo, the flame of inheritance has been carried forward until today.

Thus, accepting disciples is a very common practice in Kunlun Sect. Generally, most cultivators will take on disciples. Although some cultivators might choose to live out their lives without accepting any disciples, such cases are extremely rare. The reason is quite simple: it’s similar to family inheritance in the mortal world. Cultivators hope that someone will inherit their hard-earned achievements and continue their work in the Dao. At the moment of death, most people also wish to have someone to attend to them and see them through their final days.

This is a deeply ingrained aspect of human nature across the vast land of Zhongtu Shenzhou, whether one is a cultivator or an ordinary mortal. It’s difficult to escape this concern.

However, because of this, accepting disciples carries significant weight, especially in prestigious sects like Kunlun. The inheritance of Dao not only pertains to an individual’s lifetime but also to the rise and fall of the sect’s strength.

A mere servant disciple proclaiming that he is accepting disciples today and tomorrow, only to find his disciples to be useless, would be of no use at all.

Kunlun Sect certainly wouldn’t allow such a situation. In fact, to ensure that most young disciples can focus on their cultivation, Kunlun Sect has an unspoken rule that only cultivators at the Golden Core stage and above can take on disciples.

Generally, reaching the Golden Core stage is a pinnacle most cultivators can only dream of throughout their lives. Cultivators who achieve the Golden Core stage are often exceptional in terms of Dao, strength, experience, and talent. Hence, accepting disciples at the Golden Core stage is a clear boundary set by Kunlun Sect.

Of course, this boundary is somewhat fuzzy. Many cultivators remain stuck at the Foundation Establishment stage throughout their lives. After reaching the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage in their later years, Kunlun Sect will make exceptions, allowing them to accept a few disciples.

In short, in Kunlun Sect, Golden Core cultivators are eligible to take on disciples!

And Su Qingjun is the youngest Golden Core cultivator in the long history of Kunlun Sect.

However, her extraordinary talent and youth have led most people, including her master Mu Yuan, to instinctively overlook the fact that Su Qingjun has indeed attained the customary qualification to take on disciples.

※※※

While the two were engaged in their argument, Mu Yuan was beginning to feel increasingly frustrated when a sudden loud explosion came from beyond the distant mountain peaks. Immediately, several beams of brilliant light shot into the sky, illuminating the heavens. Soon after, the light began to dance and transform into the shapes of dragons and tigers, blazing and radiant, making it impossible to look directly at.

Mu Yuan’s face changed slightly. After observing the strange light in the sky for a moment, he told Su Qingjun that they would discuss this matter later and then soared into the sky, heading towards the source of the strange light.

Su Qingjun was also stunned by the unusual brilliance. Although the Feiyan Platform was quite far from the source, she could still feel an immense and unstoppable surge of spiritual energy, like an invisible vortex, rushing towards the place where the light originated.

This scene was exactly the kind of spectacle that cultivators dream of.

Someone had broken through the Great Life-and-Death Barrier.

Breaking through great illusions, achieving supreme power, comprehending the mysteries of the world, and seeing through the true principles of Dao, one steps into the heavens and becomes a supreme being.

That is what it means to be a True Immortal!

※※※

On this day, the events seemed to come one after another, each more significant than the last, overwhelming to the eye. Initially, there was a commotion in Kunwu City with the Su family’s public abduction of people, drawing a large crowd. Then, the scene changed abruptly when the genius Golden Core maiden of the Su family caused a stir in her own home, creating a sensation throughout the city. However, what followed made the earlier events seem insignificant.

After eleven years, the proof of True Spiritual Light reappeared on Kunlun Mountain. The prestigious Kunlun Sect, with a history of five thousand years, had once again produced a Nascent Soul True Immortal.

Aside from exceptional talent, becoming a Nascent Soul True Immortal requires immense fortune and opportunity. The Nascent Soul is the ultimate achievement in cultivation for human cultivators. At this stage, personal talent is no longer the sole determinant; opportunities, luck, and the endless supply of spiritual materials are crucial in creating a powerful Nascent Soul True Immortal. The Great Life-and-Death Barrier, notorious for claiming many talented individuals who fall just short of their peak, is the most famous and daunting chasm in the cultivation world.

The significance of a Nascent Soul True Immortal cannot be overstated, even for a prestigious sect like Kunlun. While the Divine Transformation True Immortals represent the sect’s face and strength in the True Immortal Alliance, they typically do not intervene unless the sect faces a life-and-death crisis. The Nascent Soul True Immortal, however, is the foundation of a major sect.

When the True Spiritual Light soared into the sky, Kunlun Mountain was instantly thrown into turmoil. Even the surrounding areas outside Kunlun Mountain held their breath, with people in Kunwu City momentarily forgetting the earlier excitement and gazing towards the strange light connecting with the heavens in the deep mountains.

The Kunlun Sect’s sect leader, Xian Yue, quickly arrived from Tiankun Peak. Before he arrived, several other Nascent Soul True Immortals had already appeared in the air, watching over the three-zhang peak.

Yes, the True Spiritual Light emanated from that cave.

It was from Yi Xin’s master, Dongfang Tao.

After Xian Yue, other Nascent Soul True Immortals from Kunlun Sect arrived one after another. While sect camaraderie played a part, anyone who achieved True Immortality would understand the hardships and dangers involved, making it a moment worthy of celebration.

Moreover, the moment of achieving True Immortality was marked by dazzling and unique phenomena, reflecting the cultivator’s accomplishment and Dao achievement. Although not entirely precise, the spiritual light was hard to deceive and could at least provide some indication.

Soon, the sky around the three-zhang peak was filled with figures, watching the cave and the spiritual light with silent concern. Many people were also arriving at the base of the mountain.

Yi Xin was at the forefront, standing right outside Dongfang Tao’s cave, her eyes full of surprise and anticipation as she stared at the phenomenon. Beside her, Yan Luo looked on with a complex expression, filled with mixed emotions as she gazed at the cave.

Apart from them, many others from Kunlun Sect were drawn to the scene. Of course, those with low cultivation, like servant disciples, would not be among them. Those with inherently poor talent did not even qualify to witness the True Spiritual Light and should simply return to their tasks.

In the sky above the three-zhang peak, the head of the Heavenly Soldiers Hall, Dugu Kong, stood calmly on the clouds. Beside him, He Yi looked on with a calm expression but a somewhat complex gaze at the extraordinary light.

After a moment, Dugu Kong’s voice came from the front, “If you really want to ask him, be careful. Old Dongfang has a bad temper.”

“Yes, disciple understands,” He Yi replied.