Lu Yang realized that his mindset had become somewhat ungrounded recently and forced himself to rapidly cool down and assess his combat strength.

As the strongest Golden Core Stage cultivator to advance to the Nascent Soul Stage, capable of challenging opponents above his level, he was not incapable of fighting against those in the early stages of Spirit Transformation, especially if he added his wits to the equation; he might even be able to overcome early-stage Spirit Transformers.

This meant that he possessed the combat strength of an early-stage Spirit Transformer.

Furthermore, by invoking divine possession, seeking help from Fairy Eternity, and using the Imitation Fist technique taught by his Eldest Senior Sister to summon her, he could increase his combat strength to a whole new level.

All these advantages combined, he could indeed hold his own against an Immortal.

"Elder Lianyi, would you be interested in becoming a guest cultivator of our Seek Dao Sect?" the Eldest Senior Sister proactively invited.

"Become a guest cultivator of your Seek Dao Sect?" Jiang Lianyi wore a strange expression. As the true ruler of the Demon Nation and Phoenix Ancestor, the foremost figure below Immortals, and having just fought you to a standstill, her status stood clear; how could she join your Seek Dao Sect?

Moreover, she hadn’t yet heard what benefits came with being a guest cultivator of the Seek Dao Sect, nor what obligations it entailed.

The Eldest Senior Sister paused, then added, "Immortal Sister is the first guest cultivator of our Seek Dao Sect."

"Such a sincere invitation is difficult to decline!"

A smile appeared at the corner of the Eldest Senior Sister’s mouth. "Then let us welcome Elder Lianyi to the Seek Dao Sect."

"Elder Lianyi will be the second guest cultivator of our Seek Dao Sect. However, since Elder Lianyi’s public identity is one of the Four Imperial Protectors of the Heavenly Court, openly joining our Seek Dao Sect could lead to speculation about the relationship between the Heavenly Court and our sect, so we kindly ask that Elder Lianyi keep her guest status confidential."

"That makes sense. So what are the benefits of joining your Seek Dao Sect, and what exactly would I need to do? For instance, is there a requirement for how long I need to stay with the Seek Dao Sect?"

"Having you as a guest cultivator is already an honor for the Seek Dao Sect; we wouldn’t dare to restrict your freedom. However, should the Seek Dao Sect face danger in the future, we hope that as a guest cultivator you could lend a hand."

"In return, should you take a fancy to something from the Seek Dao Sect, just let me know, and I shall gift it to you. You will also have access to places like the Scripture Pavilion."

Jiang Lianyi thought it over; she didn’t consider it a loss, and Immortal Sister was also a guest cultivator.

If she managed to find Ao Ling and he became a guest cultivator of the Seek Dao Sect, then he would also have to address her respectfully as Senior Sister.

It was a clear win-win.

As for the offerings of the Seek Dao Sect, she had no interest in them at the moment.

The Scripture Pavilion was a good place; it held the densest concentration of knowledge in the Cultivation World, and was worth a look.

"What does Elder Lianyi plan to do next?"

Jiang Lianyi thought for a moment and spoke seriously, "This world thirty thousand years in the future is unknown to me, so I plan to explore this unfamiliar Cultivation World and search for clues about my husband and Xiao Ling. If I could also find clues about the other three Immortals, that would be even better."

"That is how it should be."

The Eldest Senior Sister took out a jade token and offered it to Jiang Lianyi.

"What is this?"

"A map of the Cultivation World; there may be slight discrepancies in the details, but the overall layout should be correct."

Jiang Lianyi did not hesitate, "Then I thank the Master for this."

It would seem distant to decline amongst one’s own, after all.

"As for Junior Brother Lu, now that you have stepped into the Nascent Soul Stage, you should devote yourself to composing the Nascent Soul Stage section of the ’Mind Seeing Method.’ I shall review it afterward."

Lu Yang suddenly felt immense pressure and his head began to ache; his heart, which had warmed up since his return from the Demon Territory, chilled once more.

I’ll have to write down the cultivation techniques; I’m afraid I won’t be able to leave the Scripture Pavilion for the next month.

"Do you want to go to the Scripture Pavilion with me, Elder Lianyi?" Lu Yang, seeing that Jiang Lianyi seemed interested in going to the Scripture Pavilion, took the initiative to invite her.

"That sounds good."

The Eldest Senior Sister casually wrote a note and handed it to Jiang Lianyi, "Show this note to the person guarding the entrance of the Scripture Pavilion, and they will let you in."

Before Jiang Lianyi descended the mountain, she altered her appearance to prevent other members of the Dao Seeking Sect from recognizing her.

The two descended the mountain and saw many disciples of the Dao Seeking Sect running in one direction, seemingly to join in the excitement.

"Is that... the direction of Old Meng’s abode?"

Lu Yang remembered that Old Meng said he was going to break core to reach Nascent, fearing that he was now having a breakthrough to the Nascent Soul Stage.

He changed his mind on the spot and headed for Old Meng’s abode.

Arriving later than others, Lu Yang saw Meng Jingzhou’s abode crowded with many senior brothers, senior sisters, junior brothers, and junior sisters waiting to witness the spectacle. Lu Yang and Jiang Lianyi could only stand at the back.

Jiang Lianyi had a good impression of this little fellow who had been with Lu Yang all along, possessing Nirvana True Fire and such exuberant Yang Qi that even the Phoenix Tribe, famous for its pure Yang, couldn’t compare with him.

Outside Meng Jingzhou’s abode, one marvel after another unfolded: endless swirls of purple Qi circling the mountain peak, golden lotuses bursting forth from the ground and taking root, and Arhats’ illusory shadows chanting scriptures among a series of other phenomena, creating a far greater commotion than when Lu Yang made his breakthrough to the Nascent Soul stage.

No wonder so many people rushed over to watch.

Countless senior brothers and sisters pointed and admired the spectacle, marveling at Meng Jingzhou’s talent.

"Look, the purple Qi is enshrouding; that’s the Purple Qi Talisman that costs ten thousand contribution points to exchange for one!"

"There’s also the Falling Golden Lotus Talisman; a single golden lotus is worth five thousand contribution points, and it seems there are more than a hundred here!"

"And the Buddhist chants, the Arhat illusory shadows… my heavens, how many contribution points must have been spent?"

"Listen, there’s the cry of a phoenix; could it be the mythical phoenix undergoing Nirvana?!"

In terms of financial strength, few in the Dao Seeking Sect could rival Meng Jingzhou. Even cultivators at the Divinity Transformation Stage expressed their astonishment, admitting that they would never dare to spend so extravagantly.

Lu Yang’s eyes twitched slightly; he and Old Meng had originally planned to make a bit of a spectacle when breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage upon returning to the sect. After all, a cultivator only gets one chance in a lifetime to do it, so of course, they wanted to make it grand.

This was an inspiration he got from listening to Immortal Sister recount how Immortal Jiuchong achieved Immortality.

He just didn’t expect that Old Meng would make such a big commotion.

Old Meng’s talent was not much different from his own. The breakthrough to the Nascent Soul stage was just a matter of a moment’s thought. The fact that the spectacle had been going on for half an hour and still no breakthrough had occurred, like constipation, could only mean one thing—he was waiting for the spectacle to nearly finish before he broke through.

No sooner had this thought crossed Lu Yang’s mind than the phenomenon changed again. Arhats chanted sutras, their sonorous Buddhist scriptures capable of purifying the soul, and shadows of ancient ancestors appeared, forming a circle as if performing a sacred offering, kneeling before Meng Jingzhou’s abode. A Great Power flicked a flower into a smile, providing a blessing…

The mighty aura of the Nascent Soul broke through the abode, piercing the heavens, and everyone present could feel the formidable presence of this Nascent Soul.

"Look, Junior Brother Meng has two Nascent Souls!"

Above the abode, two Nascent Souls bearing Meng Jingzhou’s likeness were curled up, heads to feet, radiating supreme energy.

Gradually, the two Nascent Souls’ rotation sped up, creating a perfect circle.

A senior brother watched the two Nascent Souls intently and slowly remarked, "It looks remarkably like the Tai Chi Diagram, with the two Nascent Souls rotating and a line that flows like water separating them in the middle, symbolizing one Yi Yang and one Lianyi!"

Lu Yang, "…"

Why is this the first time I’m hearing that the Tai Chi Diagram is one Yi Yang and one Lianyi.