The cosmic umbilical cord, shimmering with raw power, snapped. Bai Xing tumbled into the Spiritual World, a realm that assaulted his senses with an overwhelming intensity. The air itself was a thick, potent current of spiritual energy, far richer than anything he'd ever known, so dense it felt less like gas and more like liquid light. It rushed into his lungs, burning and invigorating all at once, threatening to overload his newly formed Nascent Soul even as it promised boundless growth. The landing was not gentle; he impacted with a bone-jarring thud amidst a forest of impossibly tall, ancient trees. Their leaves, a vibrant, almost luminescent green, pulsed with an inner glow, and their gnarled roots, thick as small mountains, seemed to hum with contained power.
He scrambled to his feet, reeling, his perception of the world warped by the sheer volume of spiritual essence. Every scent was sharper, every rustle of leaves amplified, every distant roar of a spiritual beast a tremor in his very core. This was a world alive, pulsating with an immense, untamed energy, where even the soil beneath his feet thrummed with a subtle, rhythmic beat. He was a small, fragile boat suddenly plunged into a raging spiritual ocean, and the immediate sensation was one of both awe and profound vulnerability.
"We are here," Tai Bing Chi's voice, as ever devoid of discernible emotion, echoed in his mind. "The Spiritual World. Its spiritual energy is far more potent than the Mortal Realm. Be wary, Bai Xing. Every leaf, every beast, every cultivator here is saturated with it. Your Nascent Soul will acclimate rapidly, but you are exposed."
As if to punctuate Tai Bing Chi's warning, a sudden, violent ripple in the dense spiritual energy above drew Bai Xing's gaze skyward. Two dark forms descended, their auras radiating immense power, a palpable sense of hostile intent washing over the forest. Their cloaked figures obscured their faces, but the oppressive weight of their cultivation screamed one thing: Late Stage Nascent Soul cultivators. They were here, and they were hunting.
"Bai Xing! You dare defy the Heavenly Court's sanctioned ascension methods?" one of them bellowed, his voice echoing through the ancient trees. "Surrender the Immortal inheritance now!"
Bai Xing's heart pounded. He had just broken through to the Early Nascent Soul Realm, a significant achievement, but two Late Stage Nascent Soul cultivators were an entirely different caliber of opponent. Even with Old Tai's memories and his powerful Five Spiritual Roots, a direct confrontation was suicide.
"Foolish rogue!" the second cultivator snarled, launching a massive spiritual palm strike imbued with crushing force.
Bai Xing reacted instantly, drawing upon the swift movement techniques from Old Tai's vast knowledge. He weaved through the trees, narrowly evading the attack, the impact shattering several ancient trunks behind him. "Old Tai, guidance!" he thought frantically.
"Do not engage directly!" Old Tai's voice was sharp. "You cannot defeat them yet. Focus on evasion, create diversions, and draw them into an environment where your speed can be maximized. Your Five Spiritual Roots grant you unparalleled agility when fully utilized."
Bai Xing unleashed a volley of concentrated spiritual energy blasts, not to inflict damage, but to create flashes of light and sound, momentarily disorienting his pursuers. He then executed a series of intricate footwork patterns, disappearing and reappearing amidst the dense foliage, using the Spiritual World's abundant energy to fuel his movements. The two Nascent Soul cultivators, despite their superior cultivation, found themselves surprisingly struggling to keep pace with his erratic, lightning-fast maneuvers.
"He's faster than he looks!" one of them grunted, unleashing a wave of spiritual qi that swept through the forest, attempting to flush Bai Xing out.
Bai Xing felt the spiritual pressure on his Nascent Soul, but he pushed through it, drawing upon his immense determination and the sheer will to survive. He focused on drawing them deeper into the untamed wilderness, where the chaotic spiritual energy and natural formations could be used to his advantage. He conjured illusions, subtle shifts in the spiritual energy that mimicked his presence elsewhere, momentarily throwing them off his true trail.
After what felt like an eternity, but was likely only a few intense minutes, Bai Xing found a narrow, winding canyon, its walls teeming with chaotic spiritual currents. This was his chance. He plunged into it, pushing his speed to the absolute limit, using the turbulent energy to mask his movements. The two Nascent Soul cultivators, wary of the unpredictable currents, hesitated for a crucial moment. That was all Bai Xing needed. He burst out of the other end, his breath ragged, but a considerable distance now separating him from his pursuers. He could still sense their distant rage, but they were no longer directly on his heels.
He continued running for what felt like hours, putting as much distance as possible between himself and the two powerful cultivators. Finally, he collapsed near a hidden cave entrance, gasping for breath.
"That was… exhilarating," Bai Xing muttered, a wry smile on his face, despite the lingering adrenaline.
"A necessary test," Old Tai stated. "They underestimated you, as predicted. They will report your evasion, and the Heavenly Court will likely send stronger forces. Your current identity as 'Bai Xing,' the 'unlawful ascender,' is now a liability. It is time to fully embrace 'Liang Tianyu.' And," Old Tai added, "you must suppress your aura. Too much spiritual energy for a supposed new ascender will draw immediate suspicion. Hide your true cultivation to the Golden Core Peak Stage."
Bai Xing nodded. "Yes, Old Tai. Li Mei is spreading misinformation about Liang Tianyu searching for the inheritance. Now, I need to make Liang Tianyu visible, but in a way that benefits us." A plan began to form in his mind. "The Heavenly Court's sanctioned method of ascension involves joining a Spirit Sect for eight years before being transferred to the Spiritual World. Li Mei is preparing to join the Blossom Spirit Sect. What about the Heaven Spirit Sect?"
"An ambitious choice," Old Tai mused. "The Heaven Spirit Sect is one of the three Great Spirit Sects, known for its rigorous selection process. However, if you can gain entry under your new identity, it offers unparalleled resources and a degree of protection, at least initially. It would also place you in a position to gather information about those who seek 'Bai Xing'."
"Precisely," Bai Xing affirmed. "My cultivation speed under my true identity was too fast. But as Liang Tianyu, a cultivator who supposedly ascended via the Heavenly Court's 'sanctioned' path, it will appear normal. I need to demonstrate sufficient talent to gain entry, but not so much that it raises immediate suspicion. And with my aura suppressed to Golden Core Peak, I will seem like a gifted but typical new Inner Disciple."
Over the next few weeks, Bai Xing carefully cultivated, focusing not on breakthrough but on consolidating his current strength and mastering the intricate art of aura suppression. He finely tuned his spiritual energy, making it seem less like the raw, untamed power of a "wild" ascender and more in line with what a "sanctioned" cultivator might possess. He also practiced projecting the demeanor of someone who had recently ascended via the Heavenly Court's protocols.
His journey led him through several small, spirit-rich territories until he finally located the outer boundaries of the Heaven Spirit Sect. Its grandeur was breathtaking, a sprawling complex of ethereal palaces and training grounds nestled amidst floating islands.
As he approached the main entrance, two burly guards, both at the Peak Golden Core Realm, stepped forward, their gazes sharp.
"Halt! State your name and purpose," one demanded, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.
"My name is Liang Tianyu," Bai Xing stated, projecting an aura of polite confidence and maintaining his suppressed Golden Core Peak stage aura. "I have just ascended from the Mortal World, via the Heavenly Court's sanctioned transfer. I seek to join the esteemed Heaven Spirit Sect."
The guards exchanged a look. "Sanctioned transfer, you say? Many try to bypass the proper channels. We have orders to be vigilant." The other guard pulled out a jade slip and began to scan it. "Liang Tianyu... let me check the recent ascension registry."
Bai Xing felt a flicker of apprehension, but he maintained his calm. This was the gamble.
The guard's eyes widened slightly as he scrolled. "Ah, here it is! 'Liang Tianyu, ascended from Mortal World via Heavenly Court, recommended for entry into a Spirit Sect.' Your name is indeed on the list, sanctioned by the Heavenly Court itself. Unusual for one to come directly to the Heaven Spirit Sect without prior arrangements, but your records seem to be in order." He glanced at Bai Xing, a subtle nod of approval in his eyes as he perceived the "Peak Golden Core" cultivation, perfect for a promising new arrival.
The first guard lowered his hand from his sword. "Indeed. Very well, Liang Tianyu. Welcome to the Heaven Spirit Sect. You will be assigned as an Inner Disciple, given your recent ascension status and Heavenly Court recommendation. Someone will escort you to the Inner Sect residences."
Bai Xing internally breathed a sigh of relief. The plan had worked. He had outrun powerful foes, and now, through a clever deception, he had secured a foothold in one of the Spiritual World's most powerful organizations, right under the noses of those who sought to capture "Bai Xing." His path to vengeance and true immortality had just taken a calculated, deceptive, and very dangerous turn.