Chapter 130: Different Realms, Different Outcomes!

After joining the Xuanhua Sacred Land, Cao Xuan would eventually realize the importance of this decision, even if he did not care at the moment.

It was a simple truth: if you are not a friend, you are a competitor.

Should Cao Xuan rise to a high-ranking position within the Xuanhua Dao Sect in the future, weakening the Ziyang Sword Sect by destroying the Sword Cleansing Pool would naturally be a strategic option. How many Daoist successors and secret realms of the six great sacred lands had perished over the years due to such calculated maneuvers? Being plundered was one thing—there might be a chance to reclaim what was lost later—but once something was destroyed, it ceased to exist entirely.

After listening to the arguments, Cao Xuan found himself weighing two primary choices. The Ziyang Sword Sect offered the best terms, followed by the Xuanhua Dao Sect. As Qing Xuzi had pointed out, regardless of the cultivation wager, Xian Xiangqiu was at the Xuanhua Dao Sect. As the saying goes, those near the water enjoy the moonlight first; regardless of whether other sects possessed goddesses of comparable stature, he could at least be certain of her presence there.

"Cao Xuan, what is your intention?" Ancestor Qingmu asked. "With the representatives of all six sacred lands present, you should provide a definitive answer now!"

Ancestor Qingmu’s meaning was clear: if he committed now, the matter would be settled openly, preventing any unforeseen complications. Things would be far less predictable in private. After all, the Jade Maiden Sect and the Blood-Transforming Divine Sect—the two sacred lands privately referred to as the Demonic Sects—were not joking matters. Furthermore, the neutral Sacred Dragon Temple was no better; should they decide he was "fated" to join them, Cao Xuan might truly find himself dragged off to become a bald monk.

Cao Xuan closed his eyes in contemplation. To be honest, he was unsure what to choose. He had just arrived in the Central Plains and, while he had heard much about the six sacred lands, he had no personal impression of them.

Suddenly, he recalled the two options presented when he gave the Rhinoceros Jade Pendant to Meng Weizhi:
[1. Directly obtain 120 Rhinoceros Jade Pendants!]
[2. Complete the mission to increase the reward quality by 120 times, depending on the extent of the mission's completion!]

He had selected option two. While this did not affect his choice of a sacred land, he wanted to see what the mission was to ensure he wouldn't be unable to complete it after joining a sect.

[Mission: Conquer Meng Weizhi within three days!]

"That's it?" Cao Xuan was slightly stunned, but he quickly calmed down. The less specific the mission, the more hidden conditions it usually entailed. The second option explicitly stated that the reward depended on the degree of completion. This implied there were various ways to "conquer" her. Through analysis, Cao Xuan deduced it likely involved both body and mind—the mind being her favorability, and the body being self-explanatory.

"In other words, this mission must be completed within the Qingyun Sect!"

With that thought, Cao Xuan asked, "If I choose a sacred land, do I leave immediately, or do I stay until the conclusion of the Qingyun Rosy Cloud Cave?"

Ancestor Qingmu did not hesitate. "Naturally, you wait until you emerge from the cave before departing..."

As he spoke, Ancestor Qingmu suddenly grasped Cao Xuan's underlying concern. Although Cao Xuan was highly valued by the six sacred lands for his status as a sword cultivator, he was still only at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage. There was a world of difference between achieving the Golden Core stage before or after thirty. While it might seem like a difference of only a few years, every elder present knew that the "Golden Core by thirty" was not just a threshold; it had practical significance. The difference in resource consumption for subsequent cultivation was immense. Some could advance a thousand miles a day with a single pill, while others might exhaust entire bottles of pills for minimal gain, wasting vast resources struggling against bottlenecks.

Cao Xuan, at only twenty years old, seemed to have ten years of time left, making the breakthrough seem trivial. Yet, in reality, it was possible to remain stuck for ten or twenty years without making any progress at all. By asking this, Cao Xuan was setting a subtle test. If he emerged from the Qingyun Rosy Cloud Cave without having achieved the Golden Core, his age would be irrelevant—a non-Golden Core cultivator was simply that.

Because of his question, both Ancestor Qingmu and the Sword Immortal Qingyin, who held the highest expectations for him, fell silent. She had never doubted his ability to reach the Golden Core; she had even envisioned him entering the Sword Cleansing Pool to awaken a Sword Spirit Root. After all, the only requirement for entering the pool was the comprehension of Sword Intent.

The Ziyang Sword Sect had seen many "geniuses" whose early progress was unstoppable, only for them to be trapped at the Golden Core or Nascent Soul stages for a lifetime. But it was not unheard of for such a person to suddenly comprehend Sword Intent, enter the Sword Cleansing Pool, and soar to new heights. Thus, in the eyes of Sword Immortal Qingyin, his spirit root was secondary; comprehending Sword Intent was paramount.

However, she suddenly considered more. A Sword Spirit Root was comparable to a Heaven-grade Spirit Root, but one had to understand that there was a vast gulf between a first-refinement and a ninth-refinement Heaven-grade Spirit Root, or even a Flawless Spirit Root. The Sword Cleansing Pool had a drawback: a Heaven-grade Spirit Root was already too saturated to be refined into a Sword Spirit Root. If Cao Xuan achieved a first-refinement Sword Spirit Root, he would have no opportunity to improve it further. She was the prime example—a first-refinement Heaven-grade Spirit Root who, despite possessing the Clear Wind Sword Body and a fifth-grade cultivation talent, could no longer enhance her roots.

Therefore, whether Cao Xuan entered the pool at the Foundation Establishment stage or the Golden Core stage could result in a significant difference in the quality of the refined Sword Spirit Root.

Both Sword Immortal Qingyin and Qing Xuzi spoke almost simultaneously: "Naturally, we shall wait until you emerge from the Qingyun Rosy Cloud Cave before making plans."

Cao Xuan nodded. Since he wasn't leaving immediately, that was good; he still had time to win over Meng Weizhi. But his expression stiffened. *Wait, friends, are your stances really this fluid?*

Under Cao Xuan’s gaze, both Qing Xuzi and Sword Immortal Qingyin looked away—one studying the rafters of the great hall, the other intently examining the masonry. They had no choice; while they favored him, they were eager to see the result. If he could achieve the Golden Core, they could secure even greater benefits for him upon returning to their sects.

"Cao Xuan, focus on your breakthrough. The Ziyang Sword Sect will not go back on its word!" Sword Immortal Qingyin declared.

As her voice faded, Qing Xuzi added with a mature tone: "Indeed. As long as you are willing to join the Xuanhua Dao Sect, I will accept you into the fold even if you do not achieve the Golden Core this time!"