Cultivation Starting from Choosing Augments

Shuyu True Monarch, who was currently guarding the sect, summoned Wen Suruo directly. "Don't be nervous. I just wanted to ask about this Golden Light Wanderer who everyone has been talking about."

After hearing the entire story, a flash of surprise crossed her eyes.

But she lowered her head and warned, "He does sound formidable, but his actions are a bit too aggressive and belligerent."

"Suruo, if you ever manage to take that step, remember not to be like him, running all over the place looking for trouble. You should stay within the sect and focus on your breakthroughs. Do you understand?"

After seeing the disciple off, Shuyu True Monarch returned to her seat.

Only then did she carefully recall their conversation, her brows furrowed in deep thought.

'Mastery in three paths simultaneously—Sword Dao, Body Forging, and Fire Technique. And on each path, he's nearly reached the pinnacle for a Golden Core Cultivator.'

'How many years has it been since a genius Cultivator like this appeared in the Eastern Domain?'

'The crucial thing is, the Celestial Sound Sect is in dire need of a powerful new generation just like him.'

'Looking at our own Wen Suruo... while she's a promising talent, she's clearly a far cry from the Golden Light Wanderer.'

She drew in a sharp breath. "Just where did an all-rounder like him come from?"

Shuyu True Monarch sifted through her memories but still had no clue. "This won't do. I have to go to the Scripture Pavilion and check the Ancient Texts to dig up his background."

'An ordinary Hidden Dao Lineage wouldn't warrant this much attention, but this one seems different.'

.

"His greatest strength is actually the Fire Technique?"

Inside the Five Thunders Temple, True Monarch Che Guang stood on Thunder Strike Cliff with his hands clasped behind his back, listening intently to the intelligence report on Xiao Chen.

Perhaps because it was located by the sea, the Eastern Domain had always had very few Cultivators with a Fire Spirit Root.

Naturally, the number of Cultivators who successfully cultivated Fire Techniques was also small, and there was only one sect, the Flame Manipulation Sect, that was founded on them.

'If Xiang Yiyang hadn't shown up this time, the trail would have been clear.'

'But it just so happens that an inheritor from the Flame Manipulation Sect has emerged. That's very strange. Could there be another hidden faction?'

However, True Monarch Che Guang had never heard any intelligence regarding such a thing.

"Could it be... a monster causing trouble?"

He suddenly recalled a case recorded in his sect's texts: during times when Spiritual Qi was abundant, Great Demons would take human form and pretend to be part of the Human Race to bring disaster to a region.

It was extremely difficult for a Cultivator to achieve Mastery in a Fire Technique, but some Demon Beasts with special bloodlines were naturally gifted in a particular path.

'Perhaps this is a special, not-yet-adult Demon Beast with a Tier Four bloodline.'

At this thought, a glint of killing intent flashed in True Monarch Che Guang's eyes.

'If I get the chance to meet this 'Golden Light Wanderer,' I must properly test his mettle.'

'If he really is a monster, then I'll let him have a taste of my Thunder Skill.'

「In a small pavilion within the City Lord's Mansion of Hundred Herbs City.」

City Lord Huo was once again sitting in the pavilion, slumped in his chair, pouring and drinking by himself.

Sitting opposite him was Tideng True Monarch, who was currently ignoring the fine wine before him, exclaiming in amazement as he read the official intelligence report in his hand.

"I really couldn't tell he was so formidable."

"Ah, I should have realized it sooner. How could an ordinary person produce so many Purple Gold Bodhi?"

"Old Huo, how can you still be drinking? Don't you have any thoughts on this?"

City Lord Huo tilted his head. "What thoughts should I have?"

He had never been interested in matters of the Outer Sea.

Tideng True Monarch was well aware of this and reminded him, "Don't forget, he came here to participate in the Hundred Herbs Secret Realm."

"Haven't you always felt that the Spiritual Qi consumption in the Secret Realm was unusually high, as if it were hiding some kind of secret?"

Hm?

City Lord Huo froze. He had indeed been puzzled by this.

The Hundred Herbs Secret Realm could absorb the surrounding Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi to replenish itself via a massive internal Spirit Gathering Array.

But several past Investigations, including the previously delayed opening, had all struck him as strange.

Now, with this reminder, City Lord Huo immediately frowned. "Are you saying he might know something?"

He snatched the report and read it again. "Based on this intelligence, we can basically confirm that the Golden Light Wanderer is a Hidden Sect Inheritor."

"Are you suggesting his sect might know something?"

Tideng True Monarch nodded. "Let me be blunt. How long has Hundred Herbs City existed? And how long has the Hundred Herbs Secret Realm been around?"

"These Hidden Dao Lineages always have a few Ancient Texts that have been lost to the outside world."

"According to the intelligence gathered by the Chaohui Pavilion, this Golden Light Wanderer appeared out of thin air. Before last year, there was no information about him anywhere in the Eastern Domain."

"His first known location, coincidentally, was Hundred Herbs City."

"He coincidentally arrived just as the Secret Realm was opening, and coincidentally harvested a Tier Four Spirit Grass inside, which he successfully traded for a Nine Luminaries Profound Pill."

Tideng True Monarch paused deliberately before asking, "Don't you think that's a bit too much of a coincidence?"

"After leaving the Secret Realm, he went into seclusion to cultivate for a month, then headed straight to the Sea of Darkness to seek revenge. His actions were clean, decisive, and ruthless."

"Furthermore, he prepared an escape route in advance, and to this day, the Yin Corpse Sect has found nothing."

"Judging by his methods, all of these actions were clearly premeditated and planned in advance."

"So, could his participation in the Secret Realm have also been part of that plan?"

Having said all that in one breath, Tideng True Monarch finally picked up his wine glass and took a slow sip.

"No, the matter of the Relic was unexpected."

City Lord Huo had now sat up straight. "The Golden Light Wanderer arrived on the island before last year's Sea Spirit Festival."

"But the news that the new Relic was confirmed to be opening didn't spread until after the Sea Spirit Festival."