A million years passed, and Leo remained imprisoned in the dungeon in this vast span of time. Eventually, he succumbed to old age, and his life came to an end. His soul was captured upon his death by Wu Jian, who meticulously studied it for several thousand years before finally deciding to send it to the cycle of reincarnation.
Initially, Wu Jian considered a far harsher fate for Leo's soul: breaking it apart and dissolving it completely. This would have removed any possibility of revenge, ensuring that Leo's existence ended permanently. Usually, when a soul enters the cycle of reincarnation, it undergoes a complete cleansing—its memories and impurities are wiped clean, its lifespan replenished, and it is then reborn as a blank slate. However, Wu Jian harbored lingering doubts. The mysterious system that had once possessed Leo had vanished without explanation. She feared that the system might still have some means of interfering with Leo's fate, potentially saving him from the usual erasure during reincarnation.
After long contemplation, Wu Jian chose not to dissolve Leo's soul. There were two primary reasons behind this decision. First, doing so might have damaged her own karmic luck—a risk no cultivator would take lightly. Second, breaking a soul could be perilous. Wu Jian couldn't be sure whether the system was still lying dormant within Leo's soul, and if it was, destroying the soul might inadvertently trigger something.
Despite thousands of years of painstaking research, Wu Jian found no clues about the system's origins, its nature, or its disappearance. The enigma remained as impenetrable as ever, leaving her wary of taking reckless actions. Regardless of the methods she employed, nothing seemed amiss with either Leo's body or soul. If she hadn't personally delved into Leo's memories, she might have dismissed the entire matter as a fabricated tale. To ensure thoroughness, she even sought assistance from other sects, yet none were able to uncover anything.
At one point, Wu Jian considered seeking the help of a top-tier force, one led by a true Immortal cultivator. However, she ultimately abandoned the idea. Even if such a cultivator could uncover valuable clues, they would never willingly share their findings with her. In the worst-case scenario, they might discover something significant and decide to silence her to prevent the information from leaking. In the ruthless world of cultivation, secrecy and self-preservation often outweighed alliances.
Although Wu Jian had some connections within the most powerful forces of the world, none of them were strong enough for her to risk her life by entrusting them with such a dangerous secret. At her level of cultivation, relationships rooted in trust and loyalty were exceedingly rare. Among top-tier cultivators, personal gain was the only reliable motivator, and friendships were all but nonexistent.
Over the past million years, the Taiqing Sect had made remarkable progress. All the summoned cultivators Wu Jian had brought into the sect chose to stay, becoming invaluable assets. Among them were several individuals of extraordinary talent. One of them even achieved the middle stage of the Ethereal Mastery Realm within this million-year period—a truly astonishing feat that underscored their potential.
Wu Jian's own cultivation had also advanced significantly. She had reached the level of a half-step Transcendent Being Realm cultivator. Although this level of power was still no match for a true Transcendent Being, it nonetheless elevated her status considerably. If she were to achieve full Transcendence, it would mark a turning point not only for her but for the Taiqing Sect as well. With a Transcendent Being Realm cultivator at its helm, the sect could finally relocate to a more prosperous and resource-rich area.
In the Crystal Expanse World, sects led by Transcendent Being Realm cultivators were no longer classified as bottom-tier. Instead, they would rise to the ranks of lower mid-tier sects. This advancement would bring significant benefits, including greater recognition and access to better resources.
In this world, a sect's status was intrinsically tied to the strength of its strongest member. Only those with at least one cultivator in the Ethereal Mastery Realm or higher were acknowledged as official sects by the top forces. A sect could possess all the traditional trappings—sprawling grounds, a hierarchy of elders, and a sect master—but without an Ethereal Mastery cultivator, they would be excluded from resource allocations and broader recognition.
At the bottom tier of official sects were those with just one Ethereal Mastery cultivator. While these sects were formally recognized, they were rarely taken seriously by more powerful forces. Wu Jian knew that for the Taiqing Sect to thrive in this fiercely competitive world, reaching the Transcendent Being Realm was not just a personal goal—it was an absolute necessity.
The next level of sect hierarchy includes those led by cultivators at the Ultimate Convergence Realm. These sects are still classified as lower-tier but are no longer at the absolute bottom. They have enough power and influence to occupy remote regions and establish dominance over some remote territories.
However, only sects with at least one Transcendent Being Realm cultivator can finally break into the mid-tier category. Such sects gain the opportunity to compete for resource-rich lands and areas with higher concentrations of spiritual aura, significantly improving their prospects.
Wu Jian's talent has been a key factor in her success. It has taken her just over 16 million years to reach the Half-Step Transcendent Being Realm, a feat that speaks volumes about her potential. With abundant resources, others might reach this realm even faster, but Wu Jian's achievement is particularly remarkable because she accomplished it with minimal external support. This fact underscores her extraordinary aptitude.
Still, Wu Jian knew that talent and hard work could only take her so far.
"I should join one of the top forces," Wu Jian thought.
Her current sect, the Taiqing Sect, wasn't bad. It provided a steady environment for cultivation, and she had made consistent progress under its banner. However, she was keenly aware of the limits of her current circumstances. While she could likely push her cultivation to the peak of the Transcendent Being Realm on her own, achieving True Immortality was an entirely different challenge.
True Immortality required more than talent or perseverance. Even a prodigy could fail without access to the vast resources, forbidden knowledge, and guidance offered by the most powerful sects in the Crystal Expanse World. Wu Jian knew she wasn't one of those rare, exceptional individuals who could carve their way to True Immortality through sheer force of will. Without support, billions of years might not be enough to succeed—and she didn't have anywhere near that kind of time.
Still, the question remained: should she join one of these top forces alone, or should she bring the entire Taiqing Sect with her?
Two of the most prominent top-tier sects would likely be more than willing to absorb the Taiqing Sect, provided she offered it to them. This approach came with clear advantages. For one, bringing her entire sect would earn her an immense number of contribution points right from the start. These points would give her immediate access to sensitive knowledge, rare cultivation techniques, and priceless resources, accelerating her path to higher realms.
Additionally, as long as Wu Jian conducted herself appropriately and avoided any reckless behavior, she wouldn't be removed as the leader of the Taiqing Sect. Even within the larger framework of a top-tier sect, she could retain her influence over the Taiqing Sect's affairs.
However, there were undeniable risks. If she brought the Taiqing Sect under the umbrella of a greater force, her position as the sect's ultimate authority could become precarious. In the future, it wouldn't be impossible for the higher-ups to replace her as sect leader, especially if someone more politically connected or powerful appeared.
For Wu Jian, the choice boiled down to one simple truth: for a cultivator, the ultimate goal was to ascend to higher realms. Everything else was secondary.
Many cultivators, distracted by attachments or responsibilities, forgot this fundamental truth. They burdened themselves with the welfare of their sects or families, slowing their own progress. Wu Jian, however, had no such illusions. She believed firmly that everything—even a sect she had personally built—could be sacrificed if it brought enough benefit to her cultivation.
This mindset wasn't born of cruelty, but practicality. The Taiqing Sect itself had been founded not as an act of charity, but as a means to an end: a tool for gathering resources, recruiting talented subordinates, and accumulating knowledge. It was never about offering poor, talented youths a chance to achieve immortality out of the goodness of her heart.
When stripped of appearances, Wu Jian believed that all human relationships boiled down to benefits. These benefits could be either real or illusory. Real benefits were tangible—wealth, power, resources, or prestige. Illusory benefits were less concrete but still impactful, such as the emotional satisfaction of altruism.
Helping the poor, performing good deeds, or supporting others might seem selfless, but Wu Jian regarded these actions as another form of self-gratification. For the wealthy, helping others often came down to enjoying the emotional reward of "doing good." Of course, if such actions also brought tangible benefits—such as improving one's reputation or earning loyalty—then they transcended the realm of illusion and became real benefits in Wu Jian's eyes.
Her philosophy was simple: everything in life could be measured in terms of its utility for cultivation. For Wu Jian, sacrifices were inevitable, and sentimentality was a weakness she couldn't afford. Whether she decided to bring the Taiqing Sect with her or leave it behind, the decision would hinge on one thing: which choice brought her closer to True Immortality.
For Wu Jian, tangible benefits have always taken precedence over illusory ones. Emotional gratification has never been her driving force; instead, she prioritizes tangible rewards that can aid her in advancing her cultivation. She views cultivation as the ultimate goal, and anything that contributes to that goal is worth pursuing.
Merging the Taiqing Sect into one of the top forces, however, would be a controversial move. Such an action would undoubtedly disappoint many within the sect. Some disciples, intensely loyal to the Taiqing Sect's heritage and traditions, might view this decision as a betrayal of the sect's long-standing legacy. The most devoted members might even resort to extreme measures, such as taking their own lives, rather than seeing the sect subsumed by another.
This loyalty was not born overnight but cultivated over countless years. For a leader who valued emotional connections or cared about the opinions of others, such a decision would be agonizing. After all, who would want to dishearten their most faithful followers?
Wu Jian, however, was not such a leader. She was pragmatic to the core and remained indifferent to the opinions of others. The disapproval of her disciples or their emotional distress was of no concern to her. Cultivation was the ultimate goal, and any sacrifice that brought her closer to True Immortality was a price she was willing to pay.
After careful consideration, Wu Jian resolved to merge the Taiqing Sect into one of the two top forces. The potential gains were too significant to ignore.
"Which of the two top sects should I choose?" Wu Jian wondered, her mind calculating the pros and cons of each option.