Chapter 99: Urgent Return to the Sect — Zheng Huo Joins to Repay a Favor
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Ju Long’s words weighed heavily on Yu Xian’s heart.
Four Nascent Soul cultivators, over thirty Core Formation powerhouses, hundreds of Foundation Establishment, and tens of thousands of Qi Condensation rogue cultivators…
What kind of monstrous force was this!?
Even among the great sects of the Eastern Continent, only Xuantian Sect might match such numbers.
The rest?
Overwhelmed, completely outclassed!
But Yu Xian quickly took a deep breath and calmed his anxiety.
“It’s not that simple… You can’t judge strength by numbers alone.”
After all, rogue cultivators were still rogue cultivators.
Even those Nascent Soul experts from the alliance were only cooperating temporarily. At their core, they didn’t trust one another.
None of them would go all-in.
They’d always hold back.
On the other hand, White Cloud Sect had three Nascent Soul Elders, a dozen Core Formation elders, hundreds of Inner Sect Foundation Establishment disciples, and twenty to thirty thousand Qi Condensation outer disciples.
Not all of them, perhaps, but most would fight with everything they had for their sect.
And let’s not forget the Protective Mountain Formation.
Yu Xian firmly believed:
“There’s no way the alliance can break the formation!”
His master must be safe—he had to be!
“I… I’ve told you everything…” Ju Long gritted his teeth, trying not to scream. Yu Xian had stopped crushing his arm, so the remaining pain was bearable.
His eyes, bloodshot and desperate, pleaded for mercy.
“I’m already crippled… I’ll never be able to get revenge…
Fellow Daoist, just treat this like a fart and let me go, please…”
Yu Xian glanced at him coldly—then really let go.
A flash of hope lit Ju Long’s eyes… but deep within, hatred surged.
That flicker of joy turned instantly to pure fear.
His pupils reflected a sudden sword gleam—then came silence.
Yu Xian flicked the Jade Spirit Sword, and casually took Ju Long’s storage pouch and his fourth-grade defensive artifact.
Then, turning to Zheng Huo and the others, he said:
“The situation is urgent. I won’t chat any longer.
I must return to White Cloud Sect immediately. Farewell!”
With that, Yu Xian turned and sped off into the distance.
“This…”
Zheng Huo froze again. But soon he raised his hand and shouted to the others:
“Fellow Daoists! The world is descending into chaos!
Even rogue cultivators can no longer remain carefree.
The Rogue Alliance is too ruthless—oppose them, and you’re dead!
So I intend to join White Cloud Sect!
Everything in this market—take what you want!
I’m leaving!”
He formed hand seals and chased after Yu Xian at full speed.
The other thirty or so Qi Condensation cultivators were stunned.
Only after watching Zheng Huo disappear did someone suddenly snap out of it and rush toward a nearby building.
Seeing this, the others quickly rushed back into the market.
With its owner, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, gone, and his blessing given, the entire market was up for grabs.
As for following Zheng Huo to White Cloud Sect?
“Are you kidding? From here to the sect, a Foundation cultivator needs a month.
We’d take one or two years on foot!”
“Daoist Brother! Daoist Brother!”
As Yu Xian rushed forward, someone shouted from behind.
He frowned and slowed down, turning to look.
It was Zheng Huo, riding a gust of wind beneath his feet, catching up quickly, eyes glowing with excitement.
“Thank you for waiting, Daoist Brother!
I wish to travel with you to White Cloud Sect, and offer what little strength I have to help break the siege.
Would you allow me to accompany you?”
Yu Xian looked at him with a frown.
“You want to go with me to White Cloud Sect?”
“Exactly!”
Zheng Huo’s face was solemn and respectful.
“You saved my life, Daoist Brother!
That’s a tremendous favor—a debt not just to me, but to my market, and to White Cloud Sect itself!
Though I’m only an early-stage Foundation cultivator and weak in strength, I still want to fight alongside you.
Even if it’s like a drop of water to extinguish a fire, I will give it my all!”
Yu Xian’s gaze deepened.
He looked at Zheng Huo for a moment before nodding.
“Very well. Come with me.”
No hesitation. No interrogation. No extra questions.
If he wanted to come, then come.
Zheng Huo’s eyes lit up with gratitude.
This trust from Yu Xian ignited a rare fire in his heart—a passionate resolve.
Yu Xian turned and began running again.
Zheng Huo formed seals and summoned a wind-type spell, keeping pace by gliding just above the ground.
In truth, body cultivators weren’t faster than spell cultivators.
If anything, spell cultivators had the edge in long-distance travel—except for the need to form hand seals.
That’s why the key was to never let a body cultivator get close.
If a spellcaster could create distance and cast spells freely, the body cultivator was at a serious disadvantage.
That’s why spellcasters far outnumbered body cultivators.
It wasn’t about effort or willpower—
“We’re all cultivators. Who among us lacks perseverance?
Who hasn’t endured countless hardships?”
If body cultivation had more advantages, everyone would be doing it.
But it didn’t. And in the later stages, breakthroughs became nearly impossible.
Among dozens of Core Formation spell cultivators, not even one body cultivator might break through.
As for Nascent Soul?
In all of Eastern Continent, there wasn’t a single body cultivator who had made it that far.
Because once one reached Nascent Soul, the physical body became far less relevant.
The tide of history favored spell cultivation. That was Heaven’s Will.
Even Yu Xian, though he had refined his body to a level comparable to Foundation Establishment, still cultivated Wanshou Wood Spring Art—a spell cultivator’s path.
As they traveled, Yu Xian avoided showing anything unusual to Zheng Huo.
He didn’t want him to know about Cloud Crane or the beast pouch.
So he played the part of a body cultivator, and nothing more.
But after three hours of running, he began to feel fatigued.
He stopped, sat cross-legged, and began circulating energy to recover.
This wasn’t a battle.
If your body was tired and you didn’t rest, you’d have no strength if danger appeared. That could be fatal.
Zheng Huo landed beside him, breathing slightly heavily. After such intense travel, he too had used up a lot of energy.
He also sat cross-legged to recover, while smiling and saying:
“Daoist Brother, your body is truly incredible!
We’ve run over 500 li (250km) in three hours!
Everyone says body cultivation is difficult, but you’ve reached such a level—truly admirable!”
Yu Xian shook his head.
“Just a brute, really.
You soar through the air, barely using stamina, while I feel fatigued.
If battle breaks out, I’ll be at half strength, while you’ll still be fresh.”
“Ah, Daoist Brother, you’re wrong there.”
Zheng Huo waved his hand, smiling.
“Body cultivation shines not now—but in the future.
Once you switch to spell cultivation, your refined body will make it easier to form a Core.
Even if you’re only at Qi Condensation Great Perfection now, once you break through to Foundation Establishment, you’ll be dual-cultivated in both body and magic.
Ordinary Foundation cultivators won’t stand a chance.
I’m nothing next to you!”
“Oh?”
Yu Xian raised an eyebrow, curious.
“A powerful body helps in Core Formation too?”
Zheng Huo blinked. Seeing Yu Xian was genuinely unaware, he understood:
“This brother must be a secluded cultivator—someone focused entirely on bitter cultivation.
No wonder he’s advanced so far at such a young age.”
He smiled and explained:
“As everyone knows, when a cultivator at the peak of Foundation Establishment forms a Core, the heavenly laws refine their body—enhancing defense, resistance, and longevity.”
“Now, if your body is already strong—stronger than most Gold-Skin, Jade-Bone cultivators—then heaven’s refinement will focus more on the Core itself.
That boosts your success rate greatly.”
“That’s the benefit of body-and-spell dual cultivation.
But it’s extremely time-consuming and resource-heavy.
Most can’t make it before their lifespan runs out.”
“But you, Daoist Brother—you’re already incredibly strong and so young.
When you reach peak Foundation Establishment, you’ll likely have at least 30% higher Core Formation success!”
“I see…”
Yu Xian nodded lightly and cupped his hands.
“Thank you for explaining, Daoist Friend.”
“You’re too kind!”
Zheng Huo returned the salute with a laugh.
“Just a small matter. I’ve wandered the world for decades.
Though my cultivation isn’t high, I’ve seen a lot.
If you have questions, feel free to ask—I might know something.”
Yu Xian nodded but asked nothing more. He focused on resting.
After half an hour, he stood up.
Zheng Huo, already recovered, rose as well.
“Daoist Brother, though your spellcasting speed is slower than Foundation-level flying techniques, you could still use movement spells to assist your body, speeding up your journey.”
Yu Xian’s eyes lit up.
He had forgotten about that.
He couldn’t use Soaring Cloud Technique—it made him float ten zhang above ground, which was slower than running.
Same for Gale Wind Spell.
But—Swift Wind Step would work perfectly!
He formed a hand seal. A gust of wind surged beneath his feet, and his speed increased by more than 20%!
“Hahaha!”
Zheng Huo laughed joyfully, flying ten-plus zhang in the air, keeping pace behind Yu Xian.
In just moments, both disappeared into the depths of the mountain forest.
