The Founder of Qi Cultivation, Reincarnates?

"Hmm, in terms of numbers the Sea Beasts definitely outnumber us. But for powerful Sea Beasts in the four Seas compared to us, we outmatch them by far. There are just about the same Rank 4 Sea Beasts as there are Nascent Realm cultivators at our borders. But when it comes to the higher realms of cultivation, they have the four Sea Lords that have power equivalent to two mid-stage and two late-stage Soul Transformation Realm cultivators, while we have nine Soul Transformation Realm cultivators, including myself, spread across the four borders. Three are at the late stage while the rest are at the early-stage. Separately, there are Candidate Sea Lords fighting for a Sea lord position, but we have Nascent Realm cultivators who will soon become Generals as well."

"What about that person called old man South Border as well as Sea King Modu? Could they have surpassed the Soul Transformation Realm?"

"No one knows how powerful the four Guardians of the borders are. The requirement to become one is reaching the late Soul Transformation realm, but their power might exceed that as they've fused with the wall which increases their power. As for Sea King Modu, he's rumored to have some ability that is able to kill an existence above the Soul Transformation Realm. So they might not have reached that realm but their power is beyond what a normal late-stage Soul transformation realm cultivator can do."

"Wait, what do you mean they fuse with the wall?"

Just as Shi Chun finished Fei Yin pointed out a weird sentence in his explanation.

"Hmm, this is not a secret, but it's not something that should be mentioned carelessly. The title of Border Guardian is a right of succession that is past down. When someone becomes a Border Guardian, they use a method that allows their body and soul to fuse with the second wall. When a Border Guardian passes on his position the wall absorbs both that person's body, soul, and even their cultivation to strengthen the wall."

Hearing this, everyone was a bit shocked.

"You should know the reason why Teng Ye was sent to our Southern Border to be protected was because we are the strongest of all the borders. Among the three late-stage Soul Transformation Realm cultivators we have two, one of which is my eldest brother."

Shi Chun smiled proudly as he said that last sentence.

"And among the Border Guardians, ours is the only one that has bever passed on his title."

"Does that mean he's been the Southern Border's Guardian since the wall was erected? Just how long ago was that?"

Lihua asked.

"It's a long time ago, he's probably lived this long because he's fused with the second wall. Also, he's the most powerful Border Guardian of the four, so that Sea King Modu is merely slamming his head into a brick wall by trying to force his way into our Southern Border."

Shi Chun was all smiles.

"So, have I answered all of your questions?"

Lihua thought for a moment before she nodded.

"Alright, then I'll get to ask my question. As you might or might not know, I'm Wu Kai's Master. I have only one question for you."

Shi Chun looked at Jun as he continued.

"How did you prevent him from losing control? My only method before was to give him a target to attack, which is usually myself, and then wait for his Innate Fire that's influencing him to deplete. But this method is really dangerous for him since his Innate Fire is linked to his life essence and cultivation. If it depletes one too many times he'll either lose his life or his cultivation. It could be said that my disciple is running out of time because of this, I'd be grateful if you can tell this useless Master how you stopped him."

By the end of his words, Shi Chun was cupping his fist and bowing towards Jun while a complicated expression played on his face.

It was unbecoming of someone like him to be begging a junior like this, but he had no regrets since this was for his disciple. No, rather than an orphan boy who was shunned by others that he took in as his disciple, to Shi Chun, Wu Kai had become his son.

Jun wore a nervous expression upon seeing Shi Chun bowing towards him. He quickly went to say.

"E-Elder Chun, please, you don't have to do this, I have no problem telling you. However, if it's like I suspect, that you intend to use this method to help brother Kai, then I'm afraid you won't be able to."

Seeing Shi Chun's confused expression, Jun went on to explain his Karma ability and how he was able to fix the imbalance of powers inside Wu Kai.

"Karma? No wonder you were able to help Kai'er then. Karma is a profound concept that's tied with an innumerable amount of concepts as profound as it. Fortune and Misfortune, Good and Bad, Truth and False, Fantasy and Reality, and even the most profound of all Yin and Yang. I suppose you were able to return some balance to the Ying and Yang forces between the Sea Beast and the human side of Kai'er."

Shi Chun had a hand over his mouth as he mumbled, but it seemed like he was talking to himself more than anything, and to say he was quite shocked was an understatement.

'Just who are these kids? The secrets I heard from them were quite shocking, but why do I feel that was just the tip of the iceberg? And now this child is saying that he's able to manipulate something like Karma. A Core Formation Realm cultivator is able to comprehend Karma when I who is in the Early Soul Transformation can't. Am I really that lacking?'

Shi Chun sort of felt defeated.

'No, wait! It's not because I'm lacking, it's just that these brats are too abnormal. I'm the normal one, and also, I've been ignoring it all this time but why is this child's aura so strange?'

Shi Chun took a quick glance at Tai as he thought that.

'He's around the Foundation Realm by his fluctuations, but those fluctuations seem too uniform and perfect. An illusion? But why? Maybe he's hiding his real cultivation. But why do I sense that there's more to this? Like why does a small boy like him able to cast an illusion that can fool a Soul Transformation cultivator's senses? A Celestial Treasure? No, I don't sense one. But with such a powerful ability, maybe… it seems more like the innate ability of a… of a…'

"??!!!"

Reaching here in his thoughts, Shi Chun suddenly thought of something and he widen his eyes at Tai.

'Divine Beast??!!'

Shi Chun had to forcefully clamp his mouth shut so he didn't accidentally blurt out his thoughts.

'Could he actually be a Divine Beast posing as a human cultivator? It's not strange for a Divine Beast to have both a human and a beast's body, unlike normal Spirit Beasts who have to cultivate one. And they were talking about discovering Divine Beast legacies, so could they have found a living Divine Beast as well? But he seems too mature. Hmm, Divine Beast... an illusion ability... Ah! That's it! A Void Beast, wasn't it said Void Beasts were blessed beings capable of casting powerful illusions as one of their innate abilities? And there were rumors of the Second Prince carrying around two. Judging by their clothes, they're from the Celestial Academy, the same as the Second Prince. It could be possible these people are acquainted with the Second Prince. If so, then with his death it shouldn't come as a surprise for his pet Void Beasts to accompany his friends.'

After Shi Chun finish his long thought process, which really only took a fraction of a second for someone with his cultivation, he smiled at Tai while giving him a nod.

Tai was utterly confused by this.

Needless to say, it wouldn't cross his or the others' minds that Shi Chun had just used some meager clues and simple coincidences that were supposed to be completely unrelated, to figure out Tai's identity.

To be truthful, this wasn't all that impressive. Anyone who had lived as long as Shi Chun and reached his cultivation where his observation skills were off the charts, could have figured out Tai's identity if given the vague clues he obtain after overhearing them.

This was just another thing that made cultivators of a higher realm absolutely terrifying in nature. Though Shi Chun indeed had an uncanny observant personality separate from his cultivation prowess so he was more sensitive than most cultivators.

Turning to Jun, Shi Chun said.

"I might be impressive, but to comprehend Karma is beyond me. If that's the case then I'd like to request a favor."

Jun waved his hands.

"No, Elder Chun. I was going to help brother Kai in the future when I had full control over my ability anyways. You don't have to owe me a favor."

Shi Chun blinked.

"Haha, kids nowadays are truly something. The saying the old will replace the new is truly fitting for this situation. Alright, since I've finished with my request then I won't trouble you juniors anymore. You can enjoy the trip to the Star Bound Continent and relax easily knowing I'll be keeping you all safe."

Jun and the others cupped their fists at Shi Chun as he disappeared.

With that over, everyone sat back down.

'We should be more careful from now on. It could have been dangerous if we were to reveal anything about Faction Leader unknowingly.'

Fei Yin said through a voice transmission, and Lihua nodded.

'That's right, the blood oath calamity won't care if the oath was broken by accident.'

Lihua was referring to the blood oaths sworn, specifically by Yang Su and Fei Yin, which was to not reveal secrets relating to Li Shen.

Everyone nodded, but a cold sweat was trickling down Yang Su's back. It only occur to him now that he could slip up and break the blood by accident. He was willing to risk it previously because he knew his limits and was desperate to find out if his Master was truly alive, but now that they were out in the cultivation world and could meet more powerful cultivators than them, he needed to be extra cautious.

'Sorry, it was my mistake.'

Jun apologize.

'Idiot, it wasn't just you, we were all at fault for being so complacent. We need to reevaluate our current circumstances and plan our next moves going forward more carefully, understand?'

Jun and everyone nodded at her words.

However, a voice suddenly interrupted them.

"What are you lot over here scheming?"

Mu Fan hadn't even seen this person's face but simply hearing his voice caused him to have a violent reaction. If it wasn't for Jun quickly holding him back he would have erupted in anger and tried to lop off this person's head again.

The owner of this voice was Shiming. He came strolling over with the other members of the Ming Clan, a confident swag in his steps and an unfriendly grin plastered across his face.