Beast-Taming Cultivator from Two Realms

Chapter 89: Mirror Flower, Water Moon

“Since the Moon-in-Water Mirror did not issue any warning, nor did it display any abnormal phenomena, it indicates that this little fellow’s spiritual root aptitude was mediocre. He did not possess a top-grade Heavenly Root, and his sense of belonging to the sect was not strong.”

At this point, the phantom of the Spirit Talisman Pavilion paused slightly: “Why not let this old woman suffer a little loss, and allow him to enter the Spirit Talisman Pavilion?”

Upon hearing this, all the Golden Core True Persons present knew very well what was going on.

The Second Elder of the Transmission Pavilion wanted to accept a disciple in order to resolve her Dao lineage problem. They could understand that, so they merely gave Chen Zi’ang a few words of praise, but had no intention of taking him as a disciple.

But the Fourth Elder of the Spirit Talisman Pavilion was different!

  She did not value Chen Zi’ang’s talent or aptitude at all. It was simply due to a personal grudge—she wanted to cut in and make things difficult for Old Monster Zhu.

“It’s only the matter of an Outer Qi Refining disciple’s belonging. Elders, please decide as you wish. I shall not interfere.”

As soon as the voice fell, the Golden Core phantom from the Formation Pavilion rippled and slowly dissipated.

Seeing this, the other pavilion elders’ phantoms also vanished one after another, clearly unwilling to be drawn into the struggle between the Artifact Refining Pavilion, Transmission Pavilion, and Spirit Talisman Pavilion.

In an instant, only four Golden Core phantoms remained in the Personnel Pavilion.

“Since both Second Elder and Fourth Elder are unwilling to yield, why not hand the choice to this disciple himself?” The Grand Elder of the Alchemy Pavilion spoke.

According to sect rules, newly admitted disciples of the entry sequence were free to choose which cultivation method they would practice.

If Chen Zi’ang chose a sect method that aligned with that of Second Elder or Fourth Elder, it would prove there was a bond of master and disciple. At that time, she would persuade Junior Brother Zhu to give some face.

On the other hand, if Chen Zi’ang chose a method that did not align, then matters would proceed as per the sect’s unspoken rules, and he would still enter Junior Brother Zhu’s tutelage as usual.

“Agreed.” The Fourth Elder of the Spirit Talisman Pavilion gave a slight nod.

Hearing this, Second Elder of the Transmission Pavilion furrowed her brows.

Her original thought was to have a proper contest with Junior Brother Zhu.

Whoever won, Chen Zi’ang would become the disciple of that victor.

But since their senior martial sister had spoken thus, she could not publicly refute her face.

“Then let it be as Senior Sister said,” Second Elder replied.

“Very well.” The Grand Elder of the Alchemy Pavilion gave a slight nod, her gaze landing upon the Moon-in-Water Mirror.

With her vision, she naturally could see that Chen Zi’ang harbored many secrets. Yet she had no intention of prying.

After all, Chen Zi’ang was of loose-cultivator origin. Without some inherited legacy, it would have been impossible for him to reach the Eighth Level of Qi Refining at just sixteen years of age.

Compared to those secrets, what she cared about more was Chen Zi’ang’s temperament—whether he was worth spending resources to cultivate.

‘Clear in enmity and gratitude, valuing loyalty and righteousness—he is indeed a fine seedling!’

After reading the Moon-in-Water Mirror’s evaluation, the Grand Elder of the Alchemy Pavilion stirred her thought. Her divine sense avatar rippled away and dispersed.

……

On the other side, atop Water Moon Peak.

Chen Beiwu followed behind the female cultivator, passing through grand halls, crossing several courtyards and attics.

Not until he beheld an ancient hall of a thousand years did the veiled female cultivator finally halt her steps.

“Enter.” She suddenly spoke.

【Transmission Pavilion】

Seeing the three ancient seal characters inscribed upon the great hall’s plaque, Chen Beiwu paused slightly.

Noticing him stand still, the female cultivator spoke calmly: “New disciples may enter the Transmission Pavilion to select a cultivation method. The specific selection process—you will learn once inside.”

Hearing this, Chen Beiwu walked to the front of the hall. Just as he was about to stretch out his hand to push open the doors, they suddenly swung open on their own. A flood of moonlight surged forth, enveloping him completely.

With a sudden whirl of heaven and earth, when Chen Beiwu opened his eyes again, the surrounding starry sea revolved, with countless brilliant meteors streaking before him.

And above that meteor shower, sun and moon hung eternally suspended in the cosmic sea.

“Sun and moon as the method, meteors as the arts. A new disciple may choose one cultivation method and two arts within this starry sea.” An aged voice suddenly resounded.

Upon hearing this, Chen Beiwu focused his divine sense carefully. He discovered that within each brilliant meteor was sealed a jade slip of spiritual arts of considerable quality.

【Cold Spring Convergence】

【Cloud-Water Escape】

【Rain Transformation Formula】

……

The myriad arts within the Transmission Pavilion dazzled Chen Beiwu’s eyes. After a moment of hesitation, he decided to first select a cultivation method before anything else.

Unfortunately, though the sun and moon within the starry sea concealed countless grand scriptures, the number of methods capable of cultivation up to the Nascent Soul True Lord realm were few indeed.

“Ninefold Sea-Refining Manual, a Nascent Soul method. This technique could be cultivated to the late Nascent Soul stage. Practitioners would visualize the seas of heaven and earth, refining various exotic waters to temper the innate water organ.

Once the method was mastered, one could realize the Dharma Aspect of the Nine Abysses. With a mere gesture, one could trigger the Devouring Sea Tsunami that annihilated lifespan, and also gain nine lives.”

“Mystic Nether Pagoda Scripture, fragment of a Soul Formation method. This could be cultivated to the peak of Nascent Soul. Cultivators must endure the Seven Tribulations of the Pagoda. Without great ambition and great perseverance, it cannot be practiced.”

At this, Chen Beiwu’s eyes revealed regret.

Though the Ninefold Sea-Refining Manual and the Mystic Nether Pagoda Scripture were both formidable True Lord methods, powerful enough to stir his heart, they bore a flaw that could not be overlooked.

Their exclusivity was far too severe—making it impossible to practice them alongside other methods, let alone together with the All Laws Converge, Heaven Book of the Divine Tree.

‘What a pity.’ Chen Beiwu shook his head. He could only retrieve another jade slip from within the lunar wheel, titled 【Mirror Flower, Water Moon】.

This Mirror Flower, Water Moon secret record had an extraordinary origin. Though its introduction claimed it was a Nascent Soul method, in truth it was a forbidden Soul Formation technique, derived from the Mirror Moon Sect’s founding ancestor’s Soul Formation divine art, 【Mirror Cause, Moon Fruit】.

This divine art’s power was immensely overwhelming. In short, “With water as mirror, it reflects all things under heaven. Transformed into fruit, it seizes away the power of all cultivators.”

According to the jade slip’s record, the Mirror Moon Sect’s founding ancestor once used Mirror Cause, Moon Fruit to crush armies of tens of thousands from two rival sects, defeating two Soul Formation powerhouses in concert. By his lone strength, he shocked the Southern Wastes, establishing the Mirror Moon lineage and founding the Mirror Moon Sect.

However, the might of Mirror Cause, Moon Fruit was too terrifying. No one short of a Soul Formation True Sovereign could cultivate it.

Since the founding ancestor’s lifespan ended and he departed in immortality, for over ten thousand years no one in the sect had succeeded in practicing Mirror Cause, Moon Fruit.

In order to revive the glory of their Dao lineage, the Nascent Soul True Lords of Mirror Moon Sect devoted immense effort to studying Mirror Cause, Moon Fruit, eventually creating a derivative Nascent Soul method.

This was the jade slip now in Chen Beiwu’s hand—【Mirror Flower, Water Moon】.

Mirror Flower, Water Moon could not reflect all things under heaven, nor could it strip cultivators of their power in a single thought. Its effect was singular: Mirror Shifts, Moon Moves.

Simply put, Mirror Flower, Water Moon allowed the practitioner to replicate at will the techniques and artifacts of an opponent, creating mirror images during combat. By controlling both the original and the mirror simultaneously, one could unleash a dual-layered outburst of power.

But Mirror Flower, Water Moon was not without flaws.

The method had five layers in total. Even when mastered to the utmost, it could only replicate the arts and artifacts of a Nascent Soul True Lord. Against Soul Formation True Sovereigns and above, it was useless.

Moreover, if one’s mastery of Mirror Flower, Water Moon was insufficient—if its layer was inferior to the enemy’s realm—then activating it would not only fail to replicate the opponent’s techniques or artifacts, but would also backfire and harm the practitioner himself.

‘In the end, this Mirror Flower, Water Moon was nothing but bait thrown out by the sect.’ Chen Beiwu thought to himself.