The Infinite Dao Sect was known for being less restrictive compared to many other sects, which made it an attractive option for those seeking greater freedom in their cultivation journey. After weighing the pros and cons for some time, Wu Jian finally decided to join the sect.
The process of joining the Infinite Dao Sect was surprisingly simple. She sent a formal letter to the sect's headquarters in the Crystal Expanse World, expressing her intent to join. Not long after, her application was accepted without any issues. The only requirement was to swear a simple oath. Similarly, all the elders and supreme elders of her previous sect, the Taiqing Sect, were given an ultimatum: either take the oath and align themselves with the Infinite Dao Sect or leave the Taiqing Sect entirely. The overwhelming majority of the members chose to swear the oath, with only a handful opting to leave.
Once everything was finalized, Wu Jian was rewarded handsomely for her decision. She received a substantial amount of contribution points, which she immediately used to exchange for an abundance of cultivation resources. These resources proved instrumental in her rapid progress. Within less than 50,000 years, she officially broke through to the Transcendent Being Realm, an extraordinary feat for any cultivator.
The gap between the Ultimate Convergence Realm and the Transcendent Being Realm was immense, both in terms of power and status. Wu Jian's breakthrough brought about significant changes in her position within the sect. Upon joining the Infinite Dao Sect, she was initially granted the title of Guest Elder, a respectable rank. However, after her advancement to the Transcendent Being Realm, her status was elevated further to that of a Guest Great Elder.
As a Guest Great Elder, Wu Jian gained access to more privileged sect resources, including advanced markets and exclusive discounts on lower-grade items. However, these benefits came with strict conditions. All items obtained through sect discounts were strictly for personal use. Any member caught abusing these privileges by reselling items on the black market faced severe consequences. Like most major sects, the Infinite Dao Sect had little tolerance for such violations.
Interestingly, not all sects followed this strict policy. For example, the Immortal Jade Hall, renowned for its trade and commerce focus, permitted its members to resell discounted goods. However, Wu Jian had no interest in such practices. Her cultivation needs were well met, and she had no shortage of wealth. Thus, despite its more lenient policies, she had no regrets about not joining the Immortal Jade Hall.
After her breakthrough, Wu Jian did not pause her cultivation efforts. Instead, she diligently consolidated her realm and continued her pursuit of true immortality. Sect administrative duties were delegated to other supreme elders, allowing her to focus entirely on her cultivation. Although the Infinite Dao Sect occasionally assigned missions to its members, the current era was one of peace. As a result, none of the tasks posed any significant danger or difficulty. Furthermore, each completed mission rewarded a generous amount of contribution points, which proved invaluable in her cultivation journey.
...
Five million years passed.
In this relatively short span of time, Wu Jian achieved the mid-stage of the Transcendent Being Realm, a rate of progress that was nothing short of miraculous. Such rapid advancement would have been unthinkable without the abundant resources she acquired through contribution points. Wu Jian invested these resources wisely, ensuring her foundation remained solid and stable—a critical factor in her eventual goal of achieving True Immortality.
Rather than hoarding her contribution points for future breakthroughs, Wu Jian prioritized using them to strengthen her cultivation at every stage. This meticulous approach paid off, as a solid foundation is crucial when striving for immortality. Many cultivators in history had fallen into the trap of advancing too quickly without fortifying their foundations. Countless such individuals became stuck in the Transcendent Being Realm, unable to progress further. Some were even forced to start their cultivation journey anew, with most failing to succeed and ultimately perishing with deep regret.
Determined to avoid such a fate, Wu Jian spared no expense in acquiring the finest pills and resources to bolster her cultivation. She was methodical and patient, taking great care to consolidate her realm and strengthen her foundation at every step. Her extravagant approach to cultivation was not wasteful; instead, it was an investment in her long-term success.
Through her diligence, Wu Jian exemplified the wisdom of learning from the past. The failures of others served as a cautionary tale, motivating her to strive for perfection in her cultivation journey. Each step she took was deliberate, ensuring her foundation was as unshakable as a mountain. Her unwavering commitment to her path marked her as a true prodigy among the members of the Infinite Dao Sect.
...
Twelve million years passed.
The immortal cultivation world remained remarkably stable, with no major wars or catastrophic events on the horizon. These millions of years were largely uneventful, passing without any world-shaking incidents. For Wu Jian, however, they were a time of steady progress.
By this point, Wu Jian had reached the late stage of the Transcendent Being Realm, a significant advancement in her cultivation journey. Unlike her earlier breakthroughs, this one took her over 10 million years to achieve. The slower pace was due to the reduced availability of resources compared to her earlier stages. Despite this, Wu Jian maintained her patience and diligence, ensuring her foundation was as solid as ever. She knew that rushing at this stage could lead to instability, and she was determined to cultivate it with care and precision.
Meanwhile, the Taiqing Sect had undergone a complete transformation. The leadership and structure of the sect were vastly different from what they had been 17 million years ago. The former team of supreme elders, who had been at the helm during the transition to becoming a branch of the Infinite Dao Sect, had long since retired or relocated. Many took advantage of their newfound status within a top-tier force and moved to the headquarters of the Infinite Dao Sect in the Crystal Expanse World, seeking better opportunities.
At present, the highest-ranking cultivator in the Taiqing Sect was none other than Wu Jian herself, at the late stage of the Transcendent Being Realm. Below her, the sect's leadership was far less impressive. The de facto sect leader was a single cultivator at the early stage of the Ultimate Convergence Realm, a significant gap in power and influence compared to Wu Jian. However, she showed little interest in managing the sect's affairs.
Wu Jian's priorities were clear: as long as the Taiqing Sect continued to generate profits and contribute contribution points, she had no intention of involving herself in its day-to-day administration. Her role was more symbolic than functional, as both the ancestor of the Taiqing Sect and a Guest Great Elder of the Infinite Dao Sect. Her elevated status granted her a substantial share of the sect's earnings. In fact, Wu Jian personally received 50% of all profits generated by the Taiqing Sect, while the remainder was divided between taxes owed to the Infinite Dao Sect and the shares allocated to other elders and disciples of the Taiqing Sect.
The Infinite Dao Sect itself operated on a decentralized system. Local branches, such as the Taiqing Sect, were required to pay taxes ranging from 5% to 25% of their earnings to the headquarters, depending on their size and profitability. This system was designed to foster autonomy, allowing branches to flourish without excessive interference. In most cases, joining the Infinite Dao Sect proved to be a lucrative decision for smaller sects, as it often enhanced their income rather than diminishing it. Membership in such a powerful force brought with it numerous advantages that outweighed the costs.
For example, after becoming a branch of the Infinite Dao Sect, the Taiqing Sect gained the prestigious status of being part of a top-tier force. This eliminated the constant worry of defending themselves against external threats. With their security guaranteed, the sect could focus entirely on enhancing its operations and profitability. No rival forces dared to even contemplate attacking a branch of the Infinite Dao Sect, knowing the consequences would be dire.
The benefits extended beyond mere protection. As part of a top force, the Taiqing Sect gained access to a wealth of expertise. They were able to hire master alchemists, weapon refiners, and spiritual farmers from the Infinite Dao Sect, who taught them advanced techniques and methods to maximize their output. This guidance led to a dramatic improvement in the quality of the Taiqing Sect's products and exports. Today, the sect's offerings were far superior to what they had been in the past, thanks to their newfound skills and resources.
While being affiliated with a top force carried significant advantages during peacetime, it came with risks during times of war. Major sects often treated their guest members and smaller branches as cannon fodder in large-scale conflicts, sending them into the most dangerous battles. However, in the absence of war, being part of a top force was overwhelmingly beneficial. For the Taiqing Sect, these peaceful times allowed them to thrive and grow without fear of external threats, solidifying their position as a prosperous branch of the Infinite Dao Sect.
As the years continued to pass, Wu Jian remained focused on her cultivation, keeping herself above the mundane concerns of sect administration. For her, the journey toward True Immortality was the ultimate goal, and she was determined to pursue it with unwavering resolve.
...
Twenty million years later.
Cultivation became increasingly arduous as Wu Jian grew stronger. Adding to the challenge, her initial reserve of contribution points had long been depleted. Without the overwhelming abundance of resources she had enjoyed earlier, her progress slowed considerably. These factors combined to make it a painstaking journey to reach the peak of the Transcendent Being Realm.
In total, it took Wu Jian 37 million years to advance from the early stage to the peak of the Transcendent Being Realm. While this was certainly within the range of normal for cultivators of her level, it was not considered particularly exceptional. The difficulty of cultivation at such advanced stages was not a matter of skill alone; even the most talented individuals could be hindered by resource scarcity, mental strain, or the overwhelming passage of time.
Although Wu Jian's cultivation level had reached astonishing heights, her behavior and mentality remained largely unchanged. She had long been aware of the mental toll that came with extended lifespans and took deliberate steps to safeguard her mind against the ravages of time. Without such precautions, the accumulation of countless years could lead to unpredictable shifts in one's mental state, including apathy, numbness, or even insanity.
To combat this, Wu Jian practiced a time-tested technique known as "will preservation." This method involved separating and storing a portion of her will in an isolated space, allowing her to periodically reset her state of mind. By using this preserved will, she could ensure that her mental state remained stable and consistent, maintaining clarity and focus over the ages. For instance, she could reset her mind to a state of concentration, determination, or even calm detachment whenever needed.
The effects of time were inescapable, even for the most powerful cultivators. Without intervention, one might lose motivation, become emotionally numb, or succumb to existential despair. The will preservation technique offered a practical solution to these challenges, though it was far from the only method available. Some cultivators relied on advanced spells to directly alter their mental and spiritual states, but such approaches often carried significant risks and unintended side effects.
The applications of will preservation extended beyond simple mental resets. For instance, partners could save their emotions and reset their feelings for each other periodically, ensuring that their love never faded. Similarly, warriors in battle could reset their minds to specific states—such as bloodthirsty, calculative, or alert—to gain an edge in combat. More advanced practitioners even experimented with combining or blending different wills to achieve nuanced mental states, such as being both calm and aggressive, or analytical and intuitive. However, meddling with one's will in such ways was not without danger. A single mistake could result in unpredictable mental shifts or permanent damage. As such, most cultivators opted for the safer approach of resetting their minds to a single, unambiguous state at a time.
Seated cross-legged in a quiet meditation chamber, Wu Jian took a deep breath and focused her thoughts. Her mind was clear, her resolve unshakable. After countless eons of effort, she had finally reached the absolute peak of the Transcendent Being Realm. There was no further progress to be made on her current path. The only way forward was to achieve the ultimate goal that every high-level cultivator aspired to: True Immortality.
"The time has come," she thought, her gaze steady and determined.
Reaching into her storage ring, she retrieved a small, crystalline bottle glowing faintly with spiritual energy. This was a bottle of concentrated will, painstakingly prepared for this very moment. With practiced precision, she used the bottle to reset her state of mind, aligning her thoughts and emotions with unwavering focus and determination.
"Now," she murmured softly, her voice barely audible, "let's begin."
With her mind clear and her will sharpened, Wu Jian began to delve deeply into her thoughts, planning her next steps. Achieving True Immortality would require more than raw power or resources. It was a journey that demanded unparalleled mental clarity, spiritual strength, and an unyielding resolve. She understood the risks involved—many had tried and failed, their spirits shattered and their bodies destroyed. Yet, for Wu Jian, failure was not an option.
Years of preparation, countless battles, and millennia of cultivation had all led to this pivotal moment. Now, as she sat in silent meditation, Wu Jian prepared to embark on the most challenging and transformative journey of her existence.
.