CHAPTER 983: CHAPTER 763: FAREWELL

Ming Zun quickly departed.

Gu Jinlai held the Moonlight Order, his Divine Thought slightly sensing.

Indeed, the information about him erasing Divine Spirit Nie Yu and Divine Calamity Yuan Mou had been completely wiped, replaced by two four-star Merits.

In terms of procedure, one Divine Spirit and one Divine Calamity are worth this amount.

If it were any less, he could appeal to the highest Military Department.

"At least, apart from two four-star Merits, there is also a Supreme Immortal Skill and a place to study at the Honorable Daoist Mansion."

Gu Jinlai commented.

These things are quite valuable.

According to Ming Zun, they are close to a five-star Merit.

He should be satisfied.

"However, I thought that by risking my life to earn this merit, I could exchange it for three thousand Immortal Artifacts to forge a Small World, thus safeguarding Blue Star..."

He murmured to himself.

Ultimately, he didn’t utter a single word, just gazed deeply in the direction where Ming Zun had left.

Then he applied to leave the Red Moon Realm and head to the Hidden Dragon Star Domain where the Honorable Daoist Mansion is located.

...

Three days later.

On a tall tower in the Red Moon Realm.

Donghua Golden Immortal, Ling Sheng, Li Luo, Gongshu Yun, Black Abyss, and others gathered to bid farewell to Gu Jinlai.

"Hahaha, no wonder you didn’t go with us to hunt the Evil God Avatar. You really amazed us all in one fell swoop, directly dealing with Divine Calamity alongside Chi Tianyuan. Incredible!"

"The Honorable Daoist Mansion is akin to having one foot in the Immortal Domain! Many official disciples of the Fire Cloud Palace, Light Council, and Void Sword Sect will go to great lengths to enter the Honorable Daoist Mansion. Every spot is incredibly precious! For Ancient Golden Immortal to attain the Honorable Daoist Mansion, next time we meet, he might be an Honorable Daoist-level figure."

"Wishing you a splendid and boundless future on this journey."

Several Golden Immortals clasped hands in congratulation.

Although they had only been acquainted for a year before Gu Jinlai joined the second rescue team, their interactions during that year were extremely harmonious.

Moreover, it was apparent to perceptive individuals that Gu Jinlai’s cultivation at the Honorable Daoist Mansion promised an unlimited future, so naturally, they wanted to foster good relations.

"I appreciate your kind words."

Gu Jinlai politely responded.

"Honorable Daoist Mansion... the Outer Mansion is one thing, but the Inner Mansion is called Immortal Preparatory, Immortal Golden Immortal..."

Donghua Golden Immortal looked at Gu Jinlai with envy.

As Sect Master of East Splendor Sect, he fought hard on the front lines to earn Merit. For what reason?

Wasn’t it all for the hope of breaking through to the Realm of Immortal Golden Immortal, to uphold the future of East Splendor Sect?

But in reality, the further the cultivation of a Golden Immortal progresses, the harder it becomes.

The Great Dao compatibility from ninety percent to ninety-nine percent is one level, and ninety-nine percent is another.

Before achieving immortality, maintaining adequate Great Dao compatibility consumes considerable Divine Sense.

Initially, it’s a bit easier, as the compatibility with the Great Dao isn’t high, maintaining such a state isn’t too burdensome on the Divine Sense.

But when it reaches seventy percent, eighty percent, or even ninety percent, the expenditure in Divine Sense increases exponentially.

Especially after ninety percent, any lapse in concentration, any carelessness leads to failing.

No man is perfect, no metal is flawless.

Before ninety percent, it’s akin to driving a fully loaded truck on a mountain road; when reaching eighty percent, the vehicle gradually accelerates, at ninety percent, the road narrows.

And between ninety to one hundred percent, the vehicle is already overloaded.

Any little negligence results in a tragic accident.

Crashing the car is one thing; it’s merely the loss of money for repairs, a few years wasted.

But if it ends poorly, car destroyed, life lost, there’s only regret.

Therefore, between top-tier Great Dao Golden Immortals and Immortal Golden Immortals, despite only a tiny difference, it torments countless people.

Those with determination fare better, directly moving to the front lines for a deadly struggle, hoping to break through in a desperate fight.

Most Golden Immortals at this stage simply give up on striving, indulging in enjoyment.

After all, as Great Dao Golden Immortals, even around the Heart of the Cosmic, they enjoy elite status and can access lifestyles beyond others’ imagination.

Donghua Golden Immortal belongs to the former group.

In recent years, he has ventured into the starry sky, often encountering life-and-death dangers, yet he remains uncertain about his future breakthrough into the Immortal Golden Immortal Realm.

Considering Gu Jinlai’s gained qualification to study at the Honorable Daoist Mansion, saying he isn’t envious would be impossible.

"My Master arranged for Fairy Yun Xia from Falling Rosy Clouds Sect, who practices the Flowing Light Path, hoping that during our Great Dao compatibility reaching 90%, we can engage in Divine Union Cultivation and comprehend the Immortal Dao. Yet I brought gifts to visit, without even seeing that Fairy Yun Xia, even though we were willing to offer three top-grade Immortal Devices as a bride price..."

Hei Yuan sighed: "If I could obtain the qualification to study at the Honorable Daoist Mansion like Daoist Gu, let alone offering a bride price, I imagine there would even be Golden Immortals coming to hope of joining me in achieving immortality."

Hei Yuan’s words received unanimous nods from a few people.

The so-called Divine Union Cultivation is where two Golden Immortals’ Great Dao stimulate each other, constantly collide, and integrate, achieving mutual progress and ultimately breaking through to ascend into immortality together.

Since the battle between Divine Spirits and Evil Gods, the reason immortal Golden Immortals amongst cultivators can quickly emerge and fill gaps is due to the Great Powers bringing such magical techniques from the Heart of the Cosmic.

"The best time for Divine Union Cultivation is the moment when Great Dao compatibility reaches 99%. At that moment, dual cultivation breaks the shackles and steps into the Immortal Realm together. Time doesn’t wear, a thousand tribulations don’t extinguish, leaving behind an eternal beautiful legend. Your current Great Dao compatibility is not yet at 70%; it’s early, and you have time to find a suitable Daoist Companion."

Gu Jinlai comforted with a word.

"I’ve cultivated for over thirty-six thousand years now. As time goes by, the power of time continuously erodes the Golden Immortal’s spirit. When the Golden Immortal’s spirit is not active, it will also feedback into the Divine Sense and Great Dao, lowering the threshold for the Great Dao’s ’stimulus’ reaction. Everyone knows that the best effect is at 99% Great Dao compatibility for Divine Union Cultivation to break through, but how many can reach 99% within thirty thousand years?"

Hei Yuan smiled wryly, glancing at Donghua Golden Immortal: "Among us, Donghua has the highest talent, yet after forty thousand years of cultivation, his Great Dao compatibility is merely 91%. Attaining 99% is exceedingly difficult."

His words seemed to resonate with Donghua: "Decades ago, I indeed felt a sense of watching the rise and fall of storms with an unruffled heart. It’s because I sensed such changes in the spirit that I chose to rush to the front line, partly for obtaining cultivation materials, and partly... hoping to extend the ’active’ time of the spirit through the training stimulus of life-and-death combat."

"Donghua Golden Immortal doesn’t intend to start that step of Divine Union Cultivation yet?"

Gu Jinlai asked.

His words caused Li Luo nearby to involuntarily pay close attention in listening.

However, Donghua Golden Immortal hesitated for a moment and still said: "Let’s wait and see."

He sighed: "The effect of dual cultivation will diminish with repeated sessions, just like too much stimulation; even if Great Dao collides and integrates intensely, it will gradually numb and naturally fail to achieve Breakthrough. So let me wait for my Great Dao compatibility to improve some more before considering Divine Union Cultivation."

"The accumulation of years from forty thousand years of cultivation, to maintain the spirit’s ’active’ just by life-and-death combat on the front lines may not be easy, so do it sooner..."

"Daoist Gu, you may not know."

Gongshu Yun directly said: "Donghua has an agreement for Divine Union Cultivation with the daughter of the Sect Master of Hundred Refinement Sect, but that Golden Immortal just has over twenty-three thousand years of age, with a Great Dao compatibility of already 94%, plus recently been studying at the Fire Cloud Palace..."

Ling Sheng promptly started "ahem ahem."

Gongshu Yun seemed to recall something too and abruptly stopped.

Donghua Golden Immortal saw this and was open-minded: "Nothing to hide, the other party simply looks down on me. Many, after becoming Golden Immortals, choose someone of equal status, position, and talent to establish an early agreement for union cultivation. However, less than half truly reach the end, not that adding me would make much difference."

He took a look at Gu Jinlai: "Ultimately what we rely on is only ourselves."

Gu Jinlai smiled and nodded.

"Alright, let’s not talk about such dispiriting topics. Daoist Gu, may you rise promptly upon your departure, let us here wish Daoist Gu soon to attain immortality and become an Honorable Daoist."

Donghua Golden Immortal said, bowing hands congratulating.

Others followed suit.

Gu Jinlai responded to each in turn.

...

An evening of farewell lasted a day.

The next day, Gu Jinlai arrived at the Military Department’s material exchange office, exchanged two four-star Merits for two Supreme Immortal Swords and a top-notch Star Shuttle, then boarded the Transport Ship heading straight to the Hidden Dragon Star Domain where the Honorable Daoist Mansion is located.

The reason for not exchanging cultivation books of the Time Path or the Three Realms Five Elements Technique that he formerly wanted is because at the Honorable Daoist Mansion, these are mostly semi-free.

Especially some ordinary books, Immortal Techniques, are free to browse.

This is why many cultivators strive tirelessly to enter the Honorable Daoist Mansion for study.

Even the less favored direct disciples of some Immortal Venerables enjoy better treatment than members of the Honorable Daoist Mansion.

The variety of conveniences they enjoy surpasses those of the Fire Cloud Palace, Light Council, and Void Sword Sect official disciples, only slightly less than True Disciples.

This is why many disciples from top forces try everything to gain membership in the Honorable Daoist Mansion.

...

The Transport Ship traversed gate after gate, taking a little over a month, finally arriving at the Hidden Dragon Star Domain situated behind the New Fire Star Sea.

Compared to the Cold Moon Star Domain, which is filled with war fortresses and a large amount of military devices, warships, and top-notch cultivators, the overall pace of Hidden Dragon Star Domain is undoubtedly more relaxed.

Here, not only commerce is prosperous but also filled with rich academic atmosphere.

The various academies and sects established here are countless, including divisions of the Fire Cloud Palace, Light Council, and Void Sword Sect.

But regarding weight, they are still inferior to the Honorable Daoist Mansion.

Because the Honorable Daoist Mansion was established by the Great Powers jointly, belonging to Heart of the Cosmic-level institutions, existing in every region of the Six Realms, Eight Desolates, and Four Seas.

"Ordinary books, Immortal Techniques are free to browse... Considering such a unique environment in the Honorable Daoist Mansion..."

Gu Jinlai viewed the Honorable Daoist Mansion’s information: "Let’s set a small goal first, to learn all the cultivation techniques representing the Three Thousand Great Dao."