Chapter 603: Half-Step Divine Power
A month later, Shen Xuan led the expedition army’s right army and returned successfully to the Cyan Cloud Sect.
Mysterious Trace True Master came to greet him.
Celestial Thunder True Master and True Master Purple Mist followed closely, expressing their gratitude.
This time, the Yan Country expedition army’s central army suffered heavy losses.
More than two thousand disciples, eight hundred fell.
Among them were three Foundation Establishment Cultivators.
Most of the people have varying degrees of injuries.
Some even affected their subsequent cultivation, their Dao path severed.
These were the elite of the sect and its affiliated cultivation clans.
The Cyan Cloud Sect suffered quite severely this time.
Fortunately, Shen Xuan’s timely reinforcement repelled the Demon Race’s Niu Dali and Ding Chunhua.
Otherwise, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Celestial Thunder True Master and True Master Purple Mist thanked him repeatedly, each leaving behind a token of appreciation.
True Master Purple Mist left behind a piece of Purple Dragon Spiritual Jade.
It is said to be condensed from the quintessence of True Dragon Qi.
This is a rare Tier Three auxiliary spiritual artifact,
The spiritual jade is a light purple color, crystal clear, shaped like a divine dragon surrounded by auspicious clouds, vivid and lifelike, with Spiritual Qi overflowing.
This auxiliary spiritual artifact, when carried, not only wards off evil and averts disasters, but also enhances fortune and improves perception.
Celestial Thunder True Master left a seven-foot-long piece of Thunder Sound Bamboo.
Over a thousand years old, reaching Tier Three Middle Grade, it is top-quality material for refining Thunder Attribute spiritual artifacts.
Celestial Thunder True Master and True Master Purple Mist exchanged a few courteous words and politely parted ways.
Mysterious Trace True Master had a private meeting with Shen Xuan, informing him of the subsequent matters.
After he left.
Spirit Sword True Master and Celestial Wind True Master arrived in time.
At that time, the Demon Race scattered tens of thousands of demon soldiers throughout Yan Country.
The Cyan Cloud Sect’s two Golden Core True Masters joined forces to retaliate, finding the Demon Race’s Niu Dali and Ding Chunhua, battling for several days.
Niu Dali couldn’t match Spirit Sword True Master, was severely injured, and fled alone.
Ding Chunhua used some kind of phantom demon secret technique, abandoning his flesh body and concealed his presence.
"Senior Brother Spirit Sword and Senior Brother Celestial Wind, didn’t capture those two demon leaders?"
Upon hearing this, Shen Xuan was taken aback.
He had fought against Niu Dali and Ding Chunhua.
Even though these two had some skills.
But in the Profound Celestial Realm, they couldn’t possibly be opponents to Spirit Sword True Master and Celestial Wind True Master.
Mysterious Trace True Master smiled slightly without explaining.
Shen Xuan understood inwardly.
Things weren’t as simple as they seemed on the surface.
In cultivation scriptures, many places mention demon tides.
Various Demon Beasts are also described.
But there are very few records of the Demon Race.
The Demon Race has always been arrogant.
If they could conquer the Profound Celestial Realm, they would have invaded fully long ago without reservation.
Now, they are only driving Demon Beasts, smuggling Low Tier demon soldiers, indicating they are not confident.
"The true determinant of the war’s outcome is the highest level of combat power on both sides."
"Even if it’s a Demon Race powerhouse, their strength is limited upon descending to the Profound Celestial Realm and might not be able to defeat the human race powerhouses of this realm."
"If that’s the case, why does the Demon Race still drive Demon Beasts and demon soldiers here, isn’t that redundant?"
"Why hasn’t the true monarch of Yan Country’s sect made a move? Can they really not seal the Demon Realm channels?"
These questions continued to puzzle Shen Xuan, finding no resolution after much thought.
He directly inquired with Mysterious Trace True Master.
"The Demon Race is merely testing the waters, do not worry, Junior Brother Profound Ice."
"Such occurrences have been frequent over the millennia."
The Cyan Cloud Sect captured many Foundation Establishment demon soldiers.
After soul-searching interrogation, they gained a general understanding of the situation.
Mysterious Trace True Master told him that Niu Dali and Ding Chunhua came from the Demon Realm’s Golden Spirit Race.
The Demon Realm has thousands of races.
The Golden Spirit Race is just one of the moderate demon sects within it.
It’s said that thousands of years ago, the major demon races of the Demon Realm divided their spheres of influence.
The five countries of Yan, Song, Liang, Lu, and Yue were allocated to the Golden Spirit Race.
In other words, the cultivators and mortals of these five countries are all slaves to the Golden Spirit Race.
"If there’s a Demon Realm, what about the Spirit Realm?"
Shen Xuan asked.
Most of the cultivators in the Profound Celestial Realm are Spirit Cultivators.
Ascending to the Spirit Realm is the true path for Spirit Cultivators from the Profound Celestial Realm.
However, Mysterious Trace True Master’s answer left him emotionally unsettled for a long time.
The Spirit Realm and Profound Celestial Realm have been disconnected for ten thousand years.
During this ten thousand years, no cultivator from the Profound Celestial Realm could ascend to the Spirit Realm.
Within the Profound Celestial Realm, there are various Demon Realm spaces and channels.
But no Spirit Realm space or channel has ever been discovered.
The Profound Celestial Realm is inherently resource-scarce, with narrow ascension paths and intense competition among cultivators.
It can only adhere to the natural law of survival of the fittest, the strong preying on the weak.
Throughout the Profound Celestial Realm, only Jin Country’s Heavenly Origin Sect has a Divinity Transformation Realm cultivator as the Supreme Elder.
In the other countries, even those strong ones like Qin Country, Zhao Country, and Wei Country, their Supreme Elders are still Nascent Soul True Monarchs.
The six sects of Song Country have nine Nascent Soul True Monarchs.
Among them are the Nascent Soul True Monarch in the middle stage: Purple Maple True Monarch and True Monarch Jin Hua from Profound Celestial Sect, and Broad Virtue True Monarch from Golden Sun Sect.
The other six, including True Monarch Qing Yun from Cyan Cloud Sect, are at the early stage of Nascent Soul.
In the Demon Realm.
Even in the moderate Demon Race like the Golden Spirit Race, its elders, hall masters, young masters, and mistresses are all at the Demon Infant Realm.
Equivalent to the Demon Infant Ancestor of the Demon Sect in Liang Country.
Within the Golden Spirit Race, the clan chief and a few seasoned elders were in the Transform into Demon Realm years ago.
This is akin to the Divinity Transformation Realm of the human race cultivators.
The power of the Golden Spirit Race surpasses all sects in the five countries combined.
If not for the Profound Celestial Realm’s limiting rules of heaven and earth.
The Golden Spirit Race could easily wipe out all cultivator sects in the five countries.
"The Golden Spirit Race drives the Demon Beasts and demon soldiers, aiming to defile the Profound Celestial Realm, letting them take root here, propagate, and transform this realm into a mini Demon Realm for future maneuvers."
"However, we’ve long seen through the Golden Spirit Race’s intentions. This time, the four sects joined forces to annihilate the Demon Beasts and quell the demon tide. They won’t be able to stir up any waves."
Mysterious Trace True Master spoke with utmost confidence.
In his view, the four countries’ sects joined forces to quell the demon tide in Yan Country, with commendable achievements.
This probing endeavor by the Demon Realm’s Golden Spirit Race ended in total failure, just like before.
Glancing at the Mysterious Trace True Master with a look of smugness, Shen Xuan said nothing more.
He was not as optimistic as Mysterious Trace True Master.
Seeking profit and avoiding harm is inherent in human nature.
If the Demon Beasts and demon soldiers could bring benefits to cultivators.
Many cultivators will collaborate with them.
In the Profound Origin Realm, there are still many places with harsh environments and rarely visited by people.
Not suitable for cultivators to live in.
Yet demon beasts and demon soldiers can survive.
As long as there’s life, there’s always a way out.
Natural selection, survival of the fittest.
These surviving demon beasts and demon soldiers will continue to evolve after adapting to the environment and perpetuating their species.
The earliest cultivators also transformed from ordinary mortals who used primitive farming and fire.
However, the current cultivators, high and mighty, have long forgotten this history.
They hardly spare a glance for mortals.
Shen Xuan didn’t discuss these principles with the Mysterious Trace True Master.
Even if he spoke of this previous knowledge, the natives like Mysterious Trace True Master wouldn’t be able to comprehend it.
"Therefore, the actions of the Golden Spirit Race might not be useless. Many places in Yan Country, after being tainted by demonic qi, are no longer suitable for human race cultivators to reside."
"Some scheming cultivators secretly collude with the demon race, practicing various demon race cultivation techniques to enhance their own power."
"At the upper echelons of the Demon Sect in Liang Country, many stand on the side of the Profound Origin Realm. But some middle and lower-tier demon cultivators, swayed by lifespan and power, easily side with the demon race."
Shen Xuan pondered silently.
The Golden Spirit Race is eyeing the Profound Origin Realm, preparing for a full-scale invasion for a long time.
In the demon realm, there definitely isn’t just one Golden Spirit Race with such thoughts.
As long as they persist.
The Profound Origin Realm is bound to be tainted by demonic qi.
"Words are of no use. The key is to quickly improve one’s own power."
With different ideologies, even if Shen Xuan spoke his mind, the sect leaders of the Profound Origin Realm wouldn’t agree.
Even now, they still harbor fantasies about the demon race.
Human race powerhouses adhere to the rules and haven’t acted against demon beasts and demon soldiers.
Only deploying Core Formation True Masters and True Pill Demon Lords.
Not even destroying the demon realm passage completely.
Shen Xuan doesn’t believe the Nascent Soul True Monarchs of the major sects lack such capability.
It’s not that they can’t, but they choose not to.
They are unwilling to give the demon race an excuse for invasion.
This is the real truth behind the rampant demonic tide!
...
Shen Xuan returned to Starlight Island to focus on cultivation.
This time leading the expedition, he significantly boosted his presence.
And solidified rumors that True Master Profound Ice’s combat prowess is higher than Celestial Thunder True Master’s.
True Master Profound Ice safeguarded the Right Army, aided the Central Army, and powerfully defeated two major demon race commanders.
Many families and affiliated clans of Cyan Cloud Sect are grateful to Shen Xuan.
Shen Xuan doesn’t take this to heart.
He never believes such so-called connections are that important.
As long as one is strong enough, various connections will naturally follow.
Now, he is on the Golden Spirit Race’s blacklist.
If he’s correct, the Young Master of the Golden Spirit Race, Jin Zhijian, is in the Demon Infant realm.
The Golden Spirit Race has a vast influence, even possessing beings in the Divinity Transformation Realm.
Fortunately, they do not dare to easily descend upon the Profound Origin Realm.
Such a descent could impair their power, affecting their cultivation.
Even risking being executed by the Heavenly Dao of this realm.
"No matter how formidable the Golden Spirit Race is, they can’t cross realms to hunt me down."
"What can these small fries that descend do to me?"
Therefore, Shen Xuan isn’t overly concerned.
By his understanding, once he breaks through to the Divine Power Realm with his body refining technique.
Even if great powers from the demon realm descend upon the Profound Origin Realm, they wouldn’t be able to deal with him.
This time out, Shen Xuan procured tens of thousands of black-eyed three-headed demon wolf carcasses.
All fire attribute.
The wolf king was middle grade tier three.
And dozens of demon wolves reached tier two.
These demon wolf carcasses are excellent nourishment for the treasure gourd spirit vine and frosty spirit tea tree.
The wolf pelts and teeth are top-tier refining materials.
Now, all matters on Starlight Island are on track.
The Wilderness trade of the demon race yields him millions of Spirit Stones annually.
Along with the profits from alchemy and talisman making.
Shen Xuan is wealthy, possessing numerous seized spiritual artifacts and demon soldiers.
Sufficient to support a long period of cultivation expenses.
No need to venture out for now.
Upon returning to Starlight Island, Shen Xuan continued refining the Demon Flood Dragon Demon Core, fully cultivating [Dragon Blood Boiling], and refining the Ice Soul Spirit Crystal.
The two demon cores and three reverse scales can sustain three years of cultivation needs.
Wan Meng Demon Lord is still collecting such treasures for him.
Shen Xuan also extended an invitation to Thousand Eyes Demon Lord, offering a high price to purchase tier three Dragon descendant spiritual objects.
Now, with Song and Liang Countries pausing their conflict and forming an alliance.
The petty grievances between Shen Xuan and Thousand Eyes Demon Lord pale in comparison to the trading value.
Thousand Eyes Demon Lord gladly agreed and is willing to serve him.
...
Three years later.
In the secret chamber, Shen Xuan slowly opened his eyes.
On the mysterious jade talisman.
[Lifespan: 191/1095]
[Dragon Blood Boiling Perfection (3200/3200)]
[Ice Soul Rebirth Mastery (18/400)]
[Dao Rhyme: 2082286]
Looking at the golden characters flickering on the mysterious jade talisman.
Shen Xuan exhaled deeply.
During these three years, he practiced diligently, refining two demon cores and three reverse scales, finally pushing [Dragon Blood Boiling] to the peak of perfection.
As he expected, after reaching the bottleneck, the breakthrough couldn’t be achieved merely by ordinary Demon Flood Dragon Demon Core reverse scales.
Diligent practice proved ineffective.
Even if he obtained another icy flood dragon and refined [Dragon Blood Boiling] again, it would have little effect.
Ultimately, it’s a matter of grade deficiency.
The Foundation Establishment Pills use tier two demon beast cores as main ingredients to help Qi Cultivation Realm cultivators break through.
Shen Xuan estimates that the body refining technique requires tier four dragon descendant demon core essence blood reverse scales to break through to the Divine Power Realm.
Additionally, his body’s toughness needs to be strengthened.
To withstand the immense pressure during the breakthrough.
"So I’m now at the half-step Divine Power Realm?"
Shen Xuan gazed at the data on the mysterious jade talisman, deep in thought.