Cultivating with Top Enlightenment Chapter 759 - 320: Going Solo
Previously on Cultivating with Top Enlightenment...
Qi Keqing politely refused the fifty miniature rule fragments presented by Ning Qi, opting instead for a Soul-Searching Plate, before joyfully guiding the Fuyao Realm army away.
Once they had left, the cultivators from the Profound Truth Realm stayed gathered high in the air, their gazes burning with anticipation as they stared at Ning Qi, eager for his directives.
Ning Qi scanned the crowd, taking a brief moment to reflect.
All at once, he passed the compass he held to Sword Ancestor.
Sword Ancestor accepted it instinctively, puzzled by the move, and asked, "Lad, why are you handing this to me?"
Ning Qi grinned abruptly and replied, "What if we put you in charge of leading the Profound Truth Realm army from here on?"
"Ah?" Sword Ancestor appeared mildly taken aback.
Ning Qi explained, "Since I've now reached Integration Perfection and gained Domain Master strength, sticking with the army won't help me or you all anymore..."
He trailed off, yet Sword Ancestor grasped the point right away.
Sword Ancestor recalled that earlier Chi Xiazi, who also journeyed solo.
As Domain Masters, both Ning Qi and Chi Xiazi could stand in for a full domain's forces on their own.
Should they always remain glued to their companions, the foes they'd face would rarely pose a real threat.
Can't keep having the Domain Master fight while the rest just observe, or the army battle as the Domain Master stands by, right?
In the past, Ning Qi's power had been too limited, so traveling with the group allowed mutual support. But these days, that setup clearly isn't optimal.
With this in mind, Sword Ancestor glanced at Ning Qi and responded, "Got it, we'll follow your plan."
Ning Qi gave a nod, then proclaimed to the entire army:
"I'm about to depart from the group. From now on, obey Sword Ancestor's commands. Take the Soul-Searching Plate I've provided and seize every node."
His announcement stunned the crowd, leaving them mute for quite a while.
Disciples of the Infinite Sword Sect coped with it more steadily; having trailed their Sect Leader Senior Brother for ages, they trusted Ning Qi had weighed all angles, so they chorused:
"We shall obey the Sect Leader Senior Brother's command with respect!"
Yet the expressions of folks from other Profound Truth Realm sects shifted in diverse ways, as though their main support had crumbled.
After all, the Profound Truth Alliance had formed thanks to Alliance Hierarch Ning Qi.
In their minds, Ning Qi held far more importance than the whole Infinite Sword Sect combined.
Sword Ancestor Sword Shocking's exceptional gifts even outshone Fuyao Realm's Qi Keqing, making him a fine choice to command the Profound Truth Realm army.
Still, next to Ning Qi's dazzling presence, Sword Ancestor inevitably paled in comparison.
For Ning Qi had guided them to triumph in multiple clashes, proving pivotal in every skirmish.
In those prior fights, be it Ning Qi's secret array or his takedown of the toughest adversaries, such efforts formed the bedrock of their successes.
They dreaded imagining the Profound Truth Realm army's fate without Ning Qi!
Noticing the lingering quiet, Ning Qi challenged, "What, do the cultivators of my Profound Truth Realm cling to the Alliance Hierarch like timid weaklings?"
His sharp words riled them up, flushing their cheeks with embarrassment.
Before a single voice rose in reply,
Ning Qi continued, "Array Cultivators, come forward. I'll impart the full hidden array to you and provide an auxiliary array base I've personally forged. Your future accomplishments rest on your own efforts!"
From the Profound Truth Realm army, every array cultivator soared out, eyes gleaming with thrill and a touch of anxiety as they faced the Alliance Hierarch.
During their travels, they'd pored over the Alliance Hierarch's hidden array yet failed to fully grasp it.
Now, with direct guidance from the Alliance Hierarch plus the matching array base, they burned to give it a go.
Even if they fell short of the Alliance Hierarch's mastery, they'd surely outdo the Fuyao Realm army's hiding methods.
Xia Xing, leader of Celestial Star Upper Sect, declared, "The Alliance Hierarch has steered us past countless trials. It'd be shameful if we kept depending on him for all things, so we're ready to step up!"
Those array cultivators behind him echoed as one, "We'll pour everything into keeping the army's arrays running smoothly!"
Ning Qi nodded approvingly, then turned his gaze to the rest.
"From the tests of those earlier battles, I'm confident you can now shoulder major duties in the Realm of War. If I linger by your side, sure, I'd safeguard you, but it'd stunt your progress. As cultivators, the path of cultivation is one we ultimately tread solo."
At last, the group responded together, "We get it!"
Ning Qi offered a serene smile and assured them, "Don't worry, I'm not cutting ties entirely with the army. Chi Xiazi stands ready to aid the Vermilion Bird Immortal Sect anytime. Have you all forgotten about my Teleportation Gate?"
The revelation surprised them at first, but soon delight spread across their faces.
Of course, how could they overlook that fearsome skill of the Alliance Hierarch?
Previously, he'd erected a teleportation array in the Profound Truth Realm, allowing him to summon a Teleportation Gate at will.
Back then, they'd mused that once in the Realm of War, with the Alliance Hierarch's Teleportation Gate, they'd descend like divine troops, bridging vast distances in a blink to strike any target.
Ning Qi gestured toward the Soul-Searching Plate in Sword Ancestor's grip, delivering the ultimate reassurance, and stated:
"I've given you this node-detecting compass, far superior to the one I handed Qi Keqing. With it nearby, I can always locate you precisely and teleport right to you in an instant, so charge ahead fearlessly."
"Yes!"
"Alright then, Sword Ancestor will now guide the Profound Truth Realm army to claim every node in this War Realm. Meanwhile, as Alliance Hierarch, I'll venture forth alone to wipe out all the mighty threats in this War Realm that might endanger your lives!"
His declaration made it clear to all just how deeply Ning Qi had planned ahead.
The Alliance Hierarch's decision to part ways aimed to preemptively eliminate the War Realm's greatest dangers, clearing the path of deadly opponents for them.