Chapter 28: Yuanyang Sword

Good book.

Although Earth-Star has entered a cultivation civilization, and everyone's lifespan has significantly increased, there is still a natural limit. The Grand Medical Academy has conducted extensive research on this aspect of lifespans. After sampling the maximum lifespans of 100,000 normal cultivators, they determined the lifespan limits for cultivators at each stage.

Qi Condensation cultivators typically live for two jiazi, which is 120 years. Foundation Establishment cultivators live for four jiazi, 240 years. Golden Core cultivators live for eight jiazi, 480 years. Nascent Soul cultivators double that again, to sixteen jiazi, or 960 years. Of course, these figures are not absolute and can vary from person to person, but this is generally the lifespan for normal cultivators. If one cultivates special techniques, practices proper health preservation, or consumes longevity elixirs, it is possible to live an extra jiazi or two. As for Soul Transformation cultivators, due to the scarcity of examples and insufficient samples, the Grand Medical Academy has not published any information on their lifespans. However, following the previous lifespan pattern, it should be thirty-two jiazi, which is 1920 years—roughly two millennia.

Chen Mobai's biggest dream was originally to successfully reach Foundation Establishment before the age of 60. The Grand Medical Academy also researched cultivators breaking through major realms, concluding that the success rate for breaking through a bottleneck is highest before half of one's lifespan has passed. For example, a Qi Condensation cultivator aiming for Foundation Establishment should ideally do so before age 60. This is when the body is at its peak; after this age, even with diligent Qi cultivation and maintenance, various bodily functions will begin to decline significantly.

Chen Mobai originally felt he had only a one percent chance of achieving Foundation Establishment before 60. Now, even with the opportunity provided by the mysterious turtle shell, he feels it is only about a ten percent possibility. The Immortal Sect has a cultivation population of 300 million. Only one in a hundred can eventually cultivate to the ninth level of Qi Condensation. Among those at the ninth level of Qi Condensation, only one in a hundred can successfully reach Foundation Establishment. Analyzing the data from these successful Foundation Establishment cases, the Grand Medical Academy found that over ninety percent were young cultivators who achieved it before age 60. Once past 60, with insufficient Qi, blood, and essence, those who successfully establish their foundation either possess a great fortuitous encounter or are favored by heaven.

Foundation Establishment is already this difficult, but forming a Golden Core is even harder. The success rate for this stage is one in a thousand. As for Nascent Soul, which is even higher, it goes without saying that one might not appear even across several eras. The current Nascent Soul Venerables in the Immortal Sect are ancient figures accumulated over a thousand years, or a hundred eras.

Chen Mobai's aptitude was average, so he already had little confidence in achieving Foundation Establishment before 60. If he were to spend another ten-plus years cultivating the Three Yang Body, he felt he would basically be out of luck. Therefore, although he was very curious about the *Pure Yang Scroll*, after much consideration, he decided it would be better to stick to cultivating the *Five Elements Technique* diligently. Venerable Qingping served as a good example right before his eyes; by breaking through realms with this most common Qi Condensation technique, and then transitioning to cultivate the *Jade Clarity Scripture* upon reaching Nascent Soul, it wouldn't be a bad path to immortality. Old Man Ding, on the other hand, was a bad example to learn from.

After a brief self-admonition, Chen Mobai suppressed the urge to use his main account, "Azure Emperor," to exchange for the *Pure Yang Scroll - Qi Condensation Chapter* once he logged off. However, despite thinking this, he still involuntarily downloaded the video of True Person Shaoyang explaining the cultivation of the "Pure Yang Dharmakaya." At least it could help him pass the time during today's class.

"It's Old Man Ding's class today anyway," he murmured. "I'll go ask him about the Three Yang Body." Mumbling to himself, Chen Mobai pressed the "return to city" button.

In the office, after class, Chen Mobai, as usual, stayed behind. When he went to the office to ask for advice on how to break lightning spell restrictions, he feigned curiosity and casually asked, "Teacher Ding, you're an alumnus of the Pure Yang Academy. I wonder, what's the difference between this Grand Academy and the Four Great Daoist Academies?"

Old Man Ding, who enjoyed teaching, explained what he knew. "Actually, in terms of student numbers and faculty strength, the top-ranked among the Ten Great Academies are already no different from the Four Great Daoist Academies."

"So, the cultivation techniques are different?" Chen Mobai asked again, trying to steer the conversation toward the *Pure Yang Scroll*.

Old Man Ding shook his head. "The Grand Origin Academy and Pure Yang Academy also have Soul Transformation techniques; their inheritances are on par with those of the Four Great Daoist Academies."

"Then what exactly is the difference?" Chen Mobai didn't dare bring up the Pure Yang Dharmakaya directly, so he just followed Old Man Ding's lead.

"The Four Great Daoist Academies have the most ancient inheritances, and each possesses a Soul Transformation foundation. The founders of the Ten Great Academies basically all came from the Four Great Daoist Academies. Therefore, even if they temporarily surpass them, they remain humble and dare not call themselves the Fifth Daoist Academy."

"What exactly are the Soul Transformation foundations of the Four Great Daoist Academies?" These things were widely speculated online, with many different theories. Chen Mobai thought Old Man Ding would know, and also to bring the conversation back to the Pure Yang Academy, he continued to press.

"They are all top-secret; only those venerables at the highest level would know the exact details. However, among the Immortal Sect's Twin Sages, one originated from the Dancing Weapons Daoist Academy, and the other studied at the Heaven-Mending Daoist Academy in his youth and is now its nominal honorary dean." The origins of the two Soul Transformation Patriarchs were common knowledge.

"However, I do know that the Pure Yang Academy possesses a top-grade, fifth-rank Yuan Yang Sword, which can also be classified as a Soul Transformation foundation!" Just as Chen Mobai was wondering how to steer the conversation back, Old Man Ding himself began talking about things related to the Pure Yang Academy.

"In the entire Immortal Sect, there are only three top-grade, fifth-rank flying swords. This Yuan Yang Sword was sublimated from Patriarch Yuan Yang's lifelong Dao fruit, burned to exhaustion before his passing, and has already gained sentience. Patriarch Yuan Yang's eldest disciple once wielded this sentient flying sword; below the Soul Transformation stage, one strike with it could kill. However, wielding and nurturing this sword requires at least Nascent Soul cultivation. Furthermore, prolonged nurturing would greatly deplete one's essence and Qi, which is detrimental to cultivation. Therefore, when I enrolled, this sword had already been sealed away and enshrined in the hall. I was fortunate enough to pay respects to it once."

Hearing this, Chen Mobai felt only sadness. A dignified top-grade, fifth-rank flying sword, sealed away because no one could nurture it. "Didn't you say those who cultivate the Pure Yang Dharmakaya have abundant essence and Qi? How could they still be unable to nurture a Yuan Yang Sword?"

Old Man Ding rolled his eyes, his words making Chen Mobai instantly empathize. "That's only if the Pure Yang Dharmakaya is fully cultivated. Even a Nascent Soul Venerable with a Nine Yang Body couldn't withstand the Yuan Yang Sword's daily and nightly absorption of spiritual energy. They'd find their own cultivation insufficient, so how could they give half of their daily cultivation to a flying sword?"

If it were him, before achieving the Great Dao, he would absolutely refuse to give half of the spiritual energy he painstakingly absorbed daily for cultivation to the Yuan Yang Sword, even if it were a Soul Transformation artifact. Moreover, since only Nascent Soul Venerables could nurture this Yuan Yang Sword, and Nascent Soul Venerables all aimed for Soul Transformation as their primary goal, how could they waste half of their cultivation time on a flying sword?

"Doesn't it say that if a magic treasure isn't nurtured with spiritual energy for a long time, its rank will drop? In that case, wouldn't Patriarch Yuan Yang's sacrifice be wasted?"

"Don't worry," Old Man Ding replied. "Every fifth-rank magic treasure is a material cultural heritage of the Immortal Sect. The Immortal Sect allocates a sum of spirit stones from the National Bank each year for the Pure Yang Academy to nourish the Yuan Yang Sword and prevent its rank from dropping. It's just a shame that these spirit stones are earmarked and can only be used for that specific purpose. Otherwise, the Pure Yang Academy could at least save its Dharmakaya-cultivating students half their time."