Wait, How Did My Digital Girlfriend Become a Sword Immortal? Chapter 738: The Method to Break Through

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"It's fortunate that you've acknowledged your shortcomings. From now on, you need to cultivate with dedication and push yourself rigorously; don't let your potential go to waste."

Unable to keep berating Su Qinian any longer, Chen Huaian shifted to a lighter tone and added, "Forget about the immense challenges awaiting you on the path to immortality. Even prior to ascending, opportunities to battle in foreign realms might arise. Lacking robust and powerful abilities, death could claim you in an instant!"

Su Qinian lowered his gaze, meekly taking in the lesson.

Having delivered both criticism and reprimand, Chen Huaian observed.

He steered the conversation elsewhere: "Through your journeys across various small-scale realms, have you come across instances where the realm's forces barred you from further advancement?"

At these words, Su Qinian paused briefly before affirming with a nod. "To report to the ancestor, this disciple has faced exactly that, and luckily uncovered the cause behind it."

He couldn't fathom why Chen Huaian posed the question, since someone of the ancestor's stature surely had ventured into far more small-scale realms than he had.

Yet he viewed it merely as the ancestor's way of probing his insights.

As he reminisced while explaining, he continued, "In certain small-scale realms, the Heavenly Dao falls under the dominion of cultivators who have ascended beyond its bounds. To seize total command over that realm and block the rise of rival ascenders, they compel every being within to follow the progression path they've dictated.

Should anyone attempt to elevate their existence through an alternative approach, the forces of heaven and earth will crush them down.

This crushing differs from the Heavenly Tribulation tied to immortality. That tribulation serves as both trial and penalty; survive it, and ascension remains within reach.

However, this suppression offers no trial at all. It binds cultivators strictly to the ascenders' prescribed path.

Ultimately, escape from those ascenders' grasp proves impossible."

Here, Su Qinian let out a cold chuckle. "This disciple lacks remarkable gifts, yet I once slew an ascender from a small-scale realm myself. Their power likely hovered around Nascent Soul or Unity Realm standards in the Cangyun Realm, but within their domain, they reigned as a god.

Back then, that ascender refused to let me claim my Dao Companion.

I ceased holding back my realm, stormed right to their lair, and hacked them apart!"

Chen Huaian noted Su Qinian's proud smirk, evidently lost in the memory.

My destiny rests in my hands, not the heavens'. If you block me from claiming my Dao Companion, I'll shatter your sky.

Undoubtedly, after Su Qinian's bold act, that cherished companion fell utterly under his spell.

Little surprise Su Qinian boasts so many devoted admirers, all harmonious among themselves.

Many likely originated from small-scale realms he'd liberated them from.

"What happens to a cultivator who rejects the ascender's mandated cultivation path?" he inquired further.

"Well... firstly, breakthroughs halt entirely. Secondly, the ascender becomes aware of them. Think of that path as a filter. Once flagged, you'll shine like a beacon, impossible to overlook.

Typically, such ascenders attempt to draw these exceptional talents into their designed route.

Should these prodigies unravel the ascenders' plots, the ascenders strike directly to eliminate the threat."

These revelations sent a chill through Chen Huaian's core.

Prior to arriving in the Cangyun Realm, he had slashed that Ascension Pillar with his blade.

And the ascenders Su Qinian described bore striking resemblance to the Celestial God Clan the auspicious beast had referenced.

Didn't that imply the Celestial God Clan had already spotted him?!

"When do these ascenders normally step in?"

Su Qinian met Chen Huaian's gaze. The fierce killing intent flashing there sent shivers down his back, causing him to stutter, "It's... it's when power surpasses the typical bounds of a small-scale realm...

For instance, in a realm teeming with martial artists and devoid of innate cultivators, if one suddenly emerges.

Either that one rises as the realm's chosen Son—this occurs sans ascender meddling, drawing the realm's essence to nurture them.

Or a transcendent oversees the realm, and they interfere—obey and thrive, defy and perish."

"Clear." Chen Huaian gave a nod.

Beyond the reincarnated ancients from Kunlun Immortal Palace and the demonic immortal projections like those from Great Thunder Temple.

Earth Star truly lacks any Unity Realm experts.

Ascenders such as Wang Shouyi, at Nascent Soul, mark the leading wave of standard progression for this cycle's cultivators.

Before his own push to Unity Realm, he could seamlessly join that vanguard of ascenders.

But attempting Unity breakthrough would mark him like a predator amid prey, drawing instant attention.

With this realization, Chen Huaian grew somewhat irritated.

Wouldn't every future breakthrough summon an Ascension Pillar?

Even if the Celestial God Clan overlooked him now, what of later attempts? Or the ones beyond?

Eventually, detection was inevitable.

"How did you overcome such a barrier?"

As Chen Huaian posed the question, Su Qinian grew more convinced the ancestor tested his depth of understanding.

He collected his ideas and replied gravely, "Two paths exist! Charge ahead and shatter every ascender in your way, or elevate the overall realm of that world's cultivators to merge invisibly.

Failing that, even retreating to your home realm for the breakthrough and returning risks exposure to the ascenders. By the way, ancestor, why the interest? Have you run into something like this?"

Su Qinian abruptly recalled Chen Huaian now dwelled in a 'small-scale realm', didn't he?

His power bound by the realm's celestial limits, unable to unleash full might.

Could it be... Earth Star harbored ascenders too?

And the ancestor stood on the brink of conflict with Earth Star's ascenders?!

That... that spelled disaster...

Should the ancestor battle Earth Star's ascenders, the clash could ravage the lands beyond recognition?

What fate awaited his washing machine then?

Wouldn't it crumble to worthless debris in the cataclysmic fallout from the ancestor's war with the ascenders?!

The mere thought twisted his heart in agony.

"Ancestor..." he ventured uncertainly, "Perhaps... hold off on returning for now, remain in the Cangyun Realm. Allow this disciple to head to Earth Star ahead. This disciple's cultivation... well, it's not exactly impressive either."

He rubbed his head. "Oh, yes! What about Yue, the girl? She could handle it! She's reached Nascent Soul!"

Chen Huaian eyed Su Qinian knowingly, free of suspicion.

Su Qinian's anxious fidgeting betrayed his true concerns to Chen Huaian!

He simply dreaded any confrontation with those supposed ascenders derailing his washing machine purchase.

Regrettably, he lacked the power to challenge ascenders presently.

Still, Su Qinian's details sparked fresh strategies in his mind.

By boosting Earth Star's cultivators to a higher average level, he could vanish among them undetected.

Wasn't that straightforward?

Simply keep activating the Well of Heaven, and done!

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