Chapter 142: The Departure of the Enchanting Butterfly

Ge Qian moved swiftly, and countless fierce winds erupted from the ground around him, vanishing instantly only to reappear moments later above the golden calamity clouds that had already lost more than half their power.

Having advanced to the Nascent Core stage, Ge Qian was capable of traversing the void to stabilize his form. With a single powerful sweep of his arm, he unleashed a golden force with a strength of one hundred thousand, striking the calamity clouds fiercely.

Forming the hand seal to cast “Turning Point,” the golden defensive barrier of the calamity clouds proved ineffective and was smashed solidly.

The clouds shuddered in pain, fracturing extensively. Ge Qian grabbed with one hand and executed “Cutting Off the Source,” instantly extracting twenty percent of the golden energy from the calamity clouds, channeling it into his own bones to enhance his power.

The calamity clouds, formed from the laws of heaven and earth and yet to gain consciousness, reacted purely on instinct. They immediately rolled and transformed into countless golden blades that surged toward Ge Qian.

His gaze sharpened, and with a hand seal, he cast a spell. Countless fierce winds swirled madly in the air before he employed “Substitution of Beams and Pillars.”

In an instant, their positions switched, and the whirlwind swiftly relocated the calamity clouds out of the area.

Next, Ge Qian used “Fated Three Lives” to lock onto the sapling in his dantian, directly transferring the calamity clouds into the tree. The branches trembled, absorbing the clouds and yielding a drop of pure crimson-gold primordial liquid.

The calamity clouds, after all, were a manifestation of the world’s laws, containing true primordial essence that few could harness. Most only knew how to disperse it. Someone like Ge Qian was a rare exception.

This drop of primordial gold liquid merged into Ge Qian’s body, causing his aura to surge explosively. The surrounding air trembled with successive bursts.

The first layer of his Body Refinement Technique, the Crimson Yuan Golden Body, had finally broken through to the second layer, the Vitality Wood Body.

Dai Yue’s face displayed disbelief. If she herself faced such a golden energy calamity, she would certainly employ several powerful treasures just to resist.

Observing Ge Qian was truly witnessing a prodigy. Despite the dangers, the benefits he reaped were clear. Once he survived this golden source calamity, he would surely gain the sect leader’s favor and receive full support—a prospect brimming with advantage.

Her heart filled with envy, yet she was a woman of prudence and immediately sought to cultivate a good relationship with Ge Qian.

With a gentle smile, she said, “Junior Brother Ge, congratulations on advancing to the Nascent Core stage and your promotion to Great Elder. As your senior sister, I present to you a bottle of Spirit-Nourishing Pill, which is highly effective in consolidating cultivation and combating heart demons.”

With that, her jade hand waved, and a delicate jade bottle shot swiftly toward Ge Qian.

A flash of golden light revealed Ge Qian’s true form. He reached out and caught the bottle, smiling warmly.

“Thank you, Senior Sister Dai Yue, for this Spirit-Nourishing Pill. It is truly a timely gift, and I shall remember this kindness. I must also thank you for gifting me the ‘Six Paths Sword Art,’ without which I could not have achieved my current success.”

Upon hearing this, the Nascent Core cultivators around him erupted in astonishment.

The “Six Paths Sword Art” was almost universally known. Though immensely powerful, it was rarely mastered due to its massive spiritual energy demands and the need to comprehend the Six Paths—making it extremely difficult to cultivate. That Ge Qian had reached the Nascent Core stage practicing this art spoke volumes about his unique insight into the Dao.

Dai Yue’s cheeks flushed red. She recalled how she had casually assigned a disciple to help Ge Qian select his cultivation method, never expecting him to reach such heights.

Had she known earlier, she would have brought him into her Fire Wave Peak sect. Now, she could only regret.

Softly, she said, “Junior Brother, you are a peerless genius. I recognized it early on, which is why I had the disciples present you with the ‘Six Paths Sword Art.’ It seems my judgment was correct.”

Ge Qian smiled slightly, clasped his fists toward the Nascent Core cultivators present, and said respectfully, “Brothers and sisters, though I have advanced to the Nascent Core stage, my foundation is still unstable. I will enter seclusion for a time to consolidate. When I emerge steady, I will certainly visit you all to exchange cultivation experiences.”

A short, spirited elder who had been observing Ge Qian’s tribulation from the shadows stepped forward. This was Gu Tian, the Great Elder of the sect. Having just returned from a minor temple, he had been in seclusion on Celestial Star Peak, struggling to break through his bottleneck. Hearing of someone crossing the tribulation, he had assumed it was someone who had already advanced to the Infant stage.

Emerging from seclusion and arriving at Chaos Ridge, his eyes brightened. “Is this not Ge Qian, the last fortunate disciple from the minor temple?”

He had once accepted Ge Qian as a registered disciple and used primordial pill energy to anoint him. Since then, he had paid him no mind. Unexpectedly, in just a few short years, Ge Qian had advanced to the Nascent Core stage, bringing honor to his name.

He immediately manifested his form and said, “Disciple, focus on consolidating your cultivation. I will not let anyone disturb your training. You have not disappointed me. It seems you truly remembered my teachings and did not slack off. As a reward, I will present you with a treasure.”

Though reluctant, he bit his lip to seize the opportunity to gain glory before all. He produced a fierce black long hook that radiated angry energy.

“Disciple, this Heavenly Wrath Hook was obtained by chance from an ancient grotto. Your body cultivation techniques are well-suited to wield it.”

Ge Qian’s dantian surged with wrathful sword energy, nearly breaking free, clearly thrilled.

He suppressed the energy with a thought and respectfully said, “Thank you, Master, for this precious gift.”

Reaching out, he grasped the Heavenly Wrath Hook firmly.

Gu Tian looked at the envious expressions around him and laughed heartily. “Dismiss, everyone. My disciple must consolidate his cultivation!”

The crowd exchanged a few pleasantries before dispersing through the void.

Dai Yue thought to herself how sharp Gu Tian’s judgment was to seize the initiative. Yet, no one could buy regret. She glanced at a striking young female Nascent Core cultivator beside her and gave a subtle signal.

The girl blushed and followed Dai Yue through the void.

After sending off the others, Gu Tian vanished in a series of flashes and said, “When you have consolidated, come to Celestial Star Peak to find me.”

Ge Qian nodded, surveying the ravaged grotto with lingering apprehension. At that moment, a snow-white, three-tailed spirit fox appeared before him—none other than Little White.

Little White had now ascended to a third-rank spirit fox, having consumed the pills Ge Qian provided and spent a year cultivating to reach this level.

She could speak human language and traverse the void.

Ge Qian was not surprised. When the golden source calamity arrived, he had scouted with his divine sense and found no sign of the fox, so he had relaxed.

Mei Die spoke to Ge Qian for the first time, her voice like heavenly music. “Congratulations on your advancement to the Nascent Core stage. Ahead, I have already prepared a temporary grotto for you to consolidate your cultivation.”

Ge Qian did not mind that Little White, now a third-rank spirit beast, had yet to call him master.

Smiling slightly, he nodded. “Little White, you have reached third rank. We have always been friends. If you wish to leave, you may, but remember—when I am absent, never fall into the hands of others. They will turn you into their spirit beast.”

With that, he summoned the King of the Six Paths, carrying the Asura Pill, and absorbed it into his body.

In a few flashes, he entered the grotto prepared by Little White, sat cross-legged, and began consolidating his cultivation.

Mei Die’s expression shifted unpredictably several times. Gritting her teeth, she broke through the void and left the Celestial Star Sect, stopping in a desolate valley.

Looking back toward the sect, tears welled in her eyes.

She had been framed by Li Qing. Her sister, Xiao Yue, was missing, her fate unknown. This time, she vowed to lead all the beasts of Ten Thousand Demon Mountain to storm the Benevolent Sect and rescue her sister.