Chapter 96

All the disciples sat down cross-legged . The long-haired man sat cross-legged, smiled, and said, “There are 20 new disciples today . It’s truly a joyous occasion for our Archean Mountain . ”

20? Shouldn’t there be 21? Meng Chuan, Princess Li Ying, Zong Sha, Chu Yong, Yan Feng, and the other new disciples were slightly taken aback . They couldn’t help but look around . The youngest Yan Chitong was also here today .

Ji Yuantong is missing! Meng Chuan paid careful attention and sensed that Ji Yuantong wasn’t in the pavilion .

Out of the new batch of disciples, only Ji Yuantong was missing .

The long-haired man smiled indifferently . “If there’s anything you want to ask, you can speak . ”

“Master . ”

Immediately, a youth with sword-like eyebrows and glistening eyes—who sat towards the back—stood up and bowed respectfully . “I’ve been cultivating the Azure Lotus Divine Body for three years . I have only cultivated the Azure Lotus Divine Body to the Fire Water Symbiosis realm . Do I continue cultivating?”

“You’re too slow . The Azure Lotus Divine Body has a total of seven steps . You have only reached the second step—Fire Water Symbiosis . You won’t master it in twenty years . You can abandon it and switch to a high-grade Godfiend body,” said the long-haired man . “Also, you should focus on your sword art more . You haven’t reached the Realm of Intent after three years . That’s also too slow . ”

“Yes,” replied the young man respectfully as he made his decision .

He had put in too much effort into the Azure Lotus Divine Body for three years . He had even overlooked his sword techniques . He knew that there was little hope to cultivate the Azure Lotus Divine Body, but he was unwilling to accept it . He still had hope . However, his master’s words made him give up completely .

After all, if one did not become a high-grade Godfiend within ten years, they would be expelled from the inner sect!

I’ll just become a high-grade Godfiend! I’ll focus on my sword techniques . If my sword art is profound enough, it can make up for the huge gap between high-grade and transcendent-grade Godfiend bodies .

“Master . ” Another thin, hunchbacked youth stood up and said respectfully, “I’ve been cultivating the Lightning Devastator Fiend Body for six years . I finally reached the Seventh Refinement realm five days ago . Do I absorb heavenly lightning for the Life-and-Death juncture or attempt the Eighth Refinement?”

Seventh Refinement? Immediately, many disciples looked at the hunchbacked youth in surprise .

As long as one reached the Lightning Devastator Fiend Body’s Seventh Refinement and had reached the Realm of Intent, one could challenge the Life-and-Death juncture and become a Godfiend .

That would mean an additional transcendent-grade Godfiend expert for Archean Mountain .

Seventh Refinement? Meng Chuan’s eyes lit up when he heard that .

He had chosen the Lightning Devastator Fiend Body . He knew that this formula required the world’s baneful aura to cultivate the Godfiend body . Every time he successfully improved his body with the baneful aura, it would be considered a refinement . The more one refined their bodies, the more precious and powerful baneful auras would be needed . According to records, one could refine their bodies a maximum of nine times .

Nine refinements meant perfection . When one’s body was sufficiently robust, one could forge the perfect Lightning Devastator Fiend Body during the Life-and-Death juncture by drawing heavenly lightning unto themselves .

In reality, the baneful aura was extremely harmful to the physical body . It also dealt damage to one’s consciousness . Even though many genius disciples had strong wills, once they reached the third or fourth Refinement, their bodies would not be able to withstand it . If they absorbed even more baneful aura to cultivate, their bodies would fail . Every refinement was a transformation, and the danger level would rise correspondingly .

“It wouldn’t be worth it to give up after cultivating for six years . Continue to the Eighth Refinement before becoming a Godfiend,” said the long-haired man with a smile . “Of course, if you haven’t reached the Eighth Refinement by the ten-year limit, give up immediately and attempt the Life-and-Death juncture to become a Godfiend . Becoming a Godfiend in ten years is a cast-iron rule of Archean Mountain .

“A mortal’s body and lifeforce peaks at the age of twenty . It remains stagnant between the ages of twenty to thirty with very slight drops in lifeforce . Once thirty and older, one’s lifeforce will decrease rapidly . Such Godfiends won’t have a promising future . Cultivation skyrockets in difficulty with an aging body . Therefore, you must become a Godfiend before the age of thirty . ”

“Yes,” all the disciples responded in unison . The hunchbacked man also responded respectfully before sitting down cross-legged .

The surrounding disciples looked at him differently . No matter what happened, he had already reached the Seventh Refinement! He was destined to become a transcendent-grade Godfiend .

With 200 plus disciples learning of it, the top family clans in the Great Zhou Dynasty would soon know of his achievement .

…

The long-haired man answered each disciple’s questions about their cultivation . Be it about Godfiend body cultivation, weapon techniques, mental willpower, and even the troubles one encountered when challenging the Nine Mystical Caves; he could answer them all .

Halfway through, King Calm Sea’s fifth son—Xue Feng—stood up and asked, “Master, I still can’t pass the Nine Mystical Caves, and I feel like I’m still far from success . Master, please give me a clear answer . When will I be able to pass the Nine Mystical Caves?” He had been on the mountain for ten years, but he was unable to leave the mountain . He was somewhat anxious . He also wanted to fight demon monarchs with his fellow disciples .

He was very powerful, much stronger than many of the Godfiends that had descended the mountain . However, he could not pass the Nine Mystical Caves!

“If your strength increases like it was in the past, you can leave the mountain in three years,” said the long-haired man . “If you have a major breakthrough, it’s possible to leave the mountain within half a year . ”

“I understand,” replied Xue Feng as he sat down cross-legged .

In recent decades, he was Archean Mountain’s most dazzling disciple . As King Calm Sea’s most outstanding son, his strength was extraordinary . The family had groomed him with all their might . The number of natural treasures he had consumed far exceeded his siblings . His Godfiend foundation was five times more robust than an ordinary genius’s . He had become a transcendent-grade Godfiend at age 15, and he had also mastered an ultimate move from the Black Metal Sutra . He had achieved the Sword Soul at 22 years of age .

It made the other disciples look up to him . Jiang State’s Xiao Yunyue could barely compete with him .

Archean Mountain’s requirements to allow him to descend the mountain were extremely stringent . The Nine Mystical Caves test was also extremely difficult . They didn’t allow him to leave the mountain easily . If he did not have the ability to protect himself, he would probably be assassinated by the demons once he left the mountain .

…

The question-and-answer session lasted for nearly six hours .

The Supremacy’s lecturing happened three times a month at the Grotto-Heaven Pavilion . It happened on the 5th, 15th, and 25th of every month .

Therefore, disciples didn’t have many troubles over a span of ten days . It just took a long time because nearly 70% of 200 plus disciples asked questions .

“Since nobody has any more questions,” the long-haired man smiled as his gaze swept across the new disciples and said, “I’ll talk about what the new disciples are most concerned about since they are here today . Many of you chose transcendent-grade Godfiend formulas . Give them a try first! If you see any hope in three years, you can persevere! If there’s a slim chance after three years, give up cultivating the Godfiend Body early .

“For the first three years, one cannot cultivate a Godfiend body for more than four hours a day . One should spend more time on weapon techniques and saber techniques . If one is sufficiently skilled with their weapon, they can still fight an enemy one realm higher . One must not stop cultivating their weapon techniques for a single day .

“As for the weapon techniques, how should one choose?

“The best ultimate techniques of our human race come from the Black Metal Sutras . There are sixty-two Black Metal Sutras on Archean Mountain,” said the long-haired man . “However, one needs to become a Great Solar Godfiend and condense an Essence Soul before they can accept the Black Metal Sutra legacies .

“Before this, there’s no way to receive an intent legacy . All one can do is read the text, diagrams, and other descriptions . The Black Metal Sutra legacies are ten times more difficult to cultivate without intent guidance .

“The ultimate techniques within the Black Metal Sutras are divided into three types—Heaven, Earth, and Man . The latter can be read for reference, but the former two are very profound . You’ll study them your entire lives . As there is an intent legacy, cultivating Heaven-level Godfiend arts will be much easier than the Black Metal Sutras . If one cultivates a Heaven-level Godfiend art to perfection, its strength will match a Black Metal Sutra ultimate technique .

“Amongst Heaven-level Godfiend ultimate techniques…”

…

The Supremacy explained everything one needed to know with great detail . It was much clearer than what Meng Chuan and the others had learned after reading the books in the library cave .

Many people gained a clearer understanding of Godfiend cultivation .

“Let’s end the lecture today . You are dismissed . ” The long-haired man stood up and left .

“Safe travels, Master . ” said the disciples respectfully .

Many disciples began to head out in groups .

“Meng Chuan, come to the Grotto-Heaven Pavilion in two hours . ” A voice sounded in Meng Chuan’s ears .