Cultivators Are So Weak in This World

Chapter 558 - 525 Steadfast 1

Soon enough, the banquet hall was opened from the inside, and someone began to lead the guests in.

Lu Meisha and her companion didn’t stay long with Zhang Rongfang before heading inside to take their seats.

"Aren’t you going?" Lu Meisha glanced at Zhang Rongfang, who was still standing there.

"I’ll go in later, you go ahead." Zhang Rongfang smiled. His purpose for being here wasn’t the banquet itself, so it didn’t matter if he went in or not.

"Alright." Lu Meisha decided to find him after taking her seat.

She could now see through it; since he was willing to go through so much just to have a chance encounter with her,

it would be unreasonable for her to keep holding back.

Love should be a mutual pursuit.

So...

She wasn’t sure what she was thinking, but as she turned around, she walked lightly towards the hall, feeling much better.

"You... you’re not actually..." Her friend, Han Lusi, appeared to notice something.

"No, it’s not what you’re thinking." Lu Meisha immediately refuted, glancing at her friend’s skeptical face with resignation.

"Stop thinking about it, let’s go in."

From the sidelines, Zhang Rongfang watched the two women enter the hall with the crowd, while some people approached to make small talk.

They seemed to have good connections, but in reality, many wanted to get closer to the Mu Chi Manor people.

After all, Mu Chi Manor now belonged to the noble Spirit People family,

one of the few grand noble families that hadn’t been purged.

"Sorry, I’m a little late." Just as Zhang Rongfang was about to check the time on a clock nearby, a familiar voice came from his right.

He turned to see a woman in a pure white long dress, with a white headband, black hair like a waterfall, and eyes like ink.

The striking contrast of her red lips felt like a drop of blood on snow, exceptionally eye-catching.

"It’s all good, you’re not late at all." Zhang Rongfang squinted. What he noticed first wasn’t her beauty, but her recently improved body technique.

A sudden speculation flashed in his mind.

"Did you... have a breakthrough?"

"Yes... I succeeded just yesterday." The Celestial Maiden replied. "The transition, the heart cultivation, the gathering of intent—it was indeed difficult. But... I truly succeeded..."

Her eyes were unfocused, gazing at Zhang Rongfang as if looking beyond him.

Zhang Rongfang opened his mouth, unsure what to say.

He realized that the Celestial Maiden seemed to have achieved not only the transition of the Extreme Realm but possibly a breakthrough in the Grandmaster realm as well.

"How about we talk somewhere else?" he suggested.

"Okay."

The two of them walked at a moderate pace, led by an attendant, bypassing the venue’s side to enter a secluded garden.

The garden featured a pavilion draped with white gauze, reflecting the Celestial Maiden’s favorite style.

Inside the pavilion was another person—a figure with white hair, wearing a thick copper mask and dressed in blue.

Zhang Rongfang’s vision in the dim light perceived the figure, slightly furrowing his brow.

He couldn’t see through the mask... it seemed to be made from the material used for divine statues.

Moreover, his gaze fell on the figure’s back, seeing a sword strapped there.

In martial circles, not many used swords.

Due to material limitations, swords weren’t usually for constant slashing, and they lacked the power of a knife.

In many cases, swords were more ornamental. Yet this person...

"Please sit." As Zhang Rongfang approached, the figure smiled slightly and gestured to a cushion.

"And you are?" Zhang Rongfang glanced at the Celestial Maiden, who seemed distracted, standing beside the masked figure, almost willingly taking a subordinate position.

"I’m also with the Retrogression Society, you could say I’m an elder. This time, I came to see you in person." The masked figure spoke with an ancient, clear voice, yet it carried a strange reverberating hum, indistinguishable in gender.

"Have you made a decision?" Zhang Rongfang sat down, questioning.

Since their active protection last time, he understood that the Retrogression Society’s attitude towards him was likely more favorable and serious than he had imagined.

"A decision, of course, but... it seems there are things the sect leader hasn’t shared with us yet?" the masked figure said with a smile.

"How should I address you?"

"Call me Yun." The masked figure replied.

Yun...

The name carried certain implications.

Zhang Rongfang pondered the name before looking up earnestly.

"You should understand, there’s nothing absolutely perfect in this world, including the Dao foundation."

"But we can’t take risks, perhaps the sect leader isn’t aware." Yun’s smile faded. "In the United Nations, although King Mu Li has superficially submitted, he has secretly attracted many disciples from the Human Immortal Temple. Now, the United Nations’ King Mu Li’s palace resembles the Human Immortal Temple more than the Temple itself."

Zhang Rongfang was momentarily stunned.

Since his last conversation with King Mu Li, he had a feeling that the man would eventually stir up trouble.

I didn’t expect things to really start happening now.

"It seems even the Sect Leader isn’t aware. That’s good." Upon seeing Zhang Rongfang’s expression, Yun instantly understood something and relaxed his tone.

"Have you... bestowed a new Dao Foundation secretly?" Zhang Rongfang suddenly asked.

Before, he had granted the Rebellion against gods a direct Bloodline, and anticipated something like this would occur.

"Indeed... however... the effect is far inferior to what the Sect Leader personally bestowed," Yun sighed.

"So you are here?"

"Yes. It’s just unclear what the Sect Leader thinks? What are the necessary conditions?" Yun replied.

This is a plan to mass-produce a first-generation Bloodline!

Zhang Rongfang fell into thought. He didn’t respond for a moment.

"In the current situation, does the Sect Leader still believe there is room for reconciliation between us and the deities?" Yun said indifferently. "They are currently fighting internally, but once they’ve settled, sooner or later they’ll divert their efforts elsewhere. If preparations aren’t made now, then...."

"It seems you’ve already attempted it...." Zhang Rongfang replied calmly. "May I ask, why are you all so determined to confront the deities?"

The Righteous Alliance, Rebellion against gods, this organization has always been hidden behind the scenes, mysterious and unpredictable, but why do they oppose the deities, where does such profound hatred come from.

This was something Zhang Rongfang had not uncovered.

"Why?" Yun chuckled, but this laugh was entirely different from before. It carried a tinge of resolute understanding.

"In this world, there are always those who refuse to live under the deities. There are always those who yearn for the freedom of the wind in the forests. There are always those who have been oppressed by Spirit People for too long."

"Warriors, civilians, avengers, and many more who join for other reasons. Perhaps everyone’s reasons for joining are different at first.

But after joining, everyone shares a common goal. That is...."

Yun paused.

"Refusal!"

Refusal...

Zhang Rongfang pondered over these two words.

"Willingness to accept the falsehoods offered by the deities. Longevity, power, status, all are granted by them. But did you ever know, these are things that should have been ours. It was they who took them away, and then gave us some minor so-called grants." Yun lamented.

Suddenly, Zhang Rongfang began to understand.

Rebellion against gods... Rebellion against gods.... This name fundamentally carries meaning.

"Alright, having said so much, we sincerely invite the Sect Leader again, to join the organization and resist the deities together.

After all, the Sect Leader has already become a thorn in their side, fighting alone, why not unite to keep warm? Help each other out?"

Yun’s words made sense, and indeed, Zhang Rongfang had no reason to refuse joining.

Now, he alone was holding the pressure from Yue Shi, but in reality, the Human Immortal Temple was already seen as adversaries by the deities’ forces. Eventually, it would be targeted for extermination.

Zhang Rongfang realized this and had always tried to explore the depths of the deities alone.

And by joining the Rebellion against gods, his situation wouldn’t worsen but in fact, he might gain more benefits.

But.....

The first thing Zhang Rongfang thought of was Yue Shi.

If he joins the Rebellion against gods, then.... if Yue Shi opposes the Rebellion against gods, how should he position himself? Would his power and Bloodline become a force against Yue Shi?

Apparently sensing his hesitation.

"Regarding Sect Leader Yue, the Sect Leader can decide independently whether to participate. Moreover, the Sect Leader might have misunderstood us." He said softly.

"Actually, due to the Extreme Realm’s will, many Grandmasters are free individuals, the Rebellion against gods has no means to restrict them, everyone can come and go freely, and combat the deities in their own way, this is our common goal."

"Sorry. I now only wish to have a few peaceful years, keeping a distance from these matters; I haven’t made any plans." Thinking of this, Zhang Rongfang still politely declined.

The Rebellion against gods treated him well, Emperor Jiang, Celestial Maiden, Ran Xinyue, and the previous protection, all remembered in his heart.

But currently, he doesn’t have an urgent need to join; based on his development, as long as he continues to endure and persevere, his attributes will steadily increase, making him progressively stronger.

Therefore, he’s not in a hurry.

"If that’s the case..." Yun seemed to have also seen through Zhang Rongfang’s thoughts. "The Sect Leader should deliberate carefully."

"Mr. Yun, the Celestial Maiden now, truly..." Zhang Rongfang didn’t finish his words before seeing the other raise his hand slightly.

"Condensing one’s own intent is actually the fundamental gap between a Grandmaster and a Great Master. A Grandmaster possesses merely the desire for strength, whereas a Great Master needs to ascertain the truly strongest intention within.

Everyone, deep inside, carries something they will never abandon or give up, regardless. It could be a person, a memory, an object, or even a dream..."

Apparently, the Celestial Maiden had found her own.

Zhang Rongfang felt a sense of awe. At this moment, the Celestial Maiden shared a certain resemblance with the Great Masters he had known.

If a Grandmaster is characterized by indomitable spirit, then a Great Master is marked by stronger physical prowess through prolonged final form.

Simultaneously, the cohesion of mind and will forms an influence, allowing one to overpower opponents without fighting.

How to condense such influence is the key to breaking through the ultimate level of Great Master.

"Now the Celestial Maiden has successfully crossed that step... she has her own influence." Yun sighed, "This achievement in the organization, reaching this step so swiftly, is extremely rare."

With thoughtful consideration, Zhang Rongfang spoke again, seeking insight into several aspects of influence for Great Masters.

The counterpart was straightforward, answering everything. Without careful discernment, it would be impossible to tell this Yun was also someone from the Extreme Realm.