Chapter 427 ·Winds Rise in the Southern Wastes\
Chapter 427: Winds Rise in the Southern Wastes\
Eight Wastelands Sect, Extinction Peak.
Dao-Knocking Residence.
Ning Wujiu’s Divine Sense stirred slightly and probed toward the Transmission Jade Slip outside the door.
Seeing the message within the jade slip, Ning Wujiu’s pupils contracted. He froze in place, the Mana throughout his body uncontrollably surging, causing the surrounding spiritual activity of heaven and earth to become chaotic and distorted.
Only after a long while did he slowly exhale a breath of turbid air, and the spiritual activity of heaven and earth within the Cave Residence returned to calm.
“What a Chen Ziang!” Ning Wujiu clenched both fists.
So what if a towering peak stood before him?
As the Eight Wastelands Dao Child, he absolutely could not be inferior to the Mirror Moon Dao Child and disgrace the sect’s prestige.
‘Either I break through or I die. In this seclusion, I will definitely succeed in forming my Nascent Soul!’
Ning Wujiu closed his eyes. With a thought, he completely sealed the Cave Residence’s doors and utterly shut himself off from outside affairs.
At the same time, a strand of Divine Sense swept across the Cave Residence’s doors, then silently withdrew.
Deep within Extinction Peak.
Ning Xuanji, the strongest existence of the Eight Wastelands Sect and a Divine Transformation True Venerable, slowly opened his eyes and looked toward the Dao-Knocking Residence, imperceptibly shaking his head.
He was far too familiar with this commotion!
Ning Wujiu’s personality had always been like this. He never admitted defeat, did not know what retreat meant, and only advanced without hesitation. Otherwise, he could never have successfully formed the sect’s Supreme Golden Core 【Eight Wastelands Annihilation Golden Core】.
However, the whetstone that was the Mirror Moon Dao Child was simply too hard and could easily grind the Eight Wastelands Sect’s treasured blade to ruin.
There was no other reason. The difficulty of cultivation lay in seeking truth.
If Ning Wujiu’s Dao Heart were destroyed, then no matter how powerful his foundation was, it would still be difficult for him to reach perfected True Monarch.
For example, during the previous Sect-Knocking Struggle, Ning Wujiu had suffered a crushing defeat, leaving a flaw in his Dao Heart. Even though Ning Xuanji had acted in time to awaken him, some hidden troubles remained.
Otherwise, with Ning Wujiu’s aptitude, after so many years in seclusion he should already have successfully attained the Dao as a Nascent Soul True Monarch, rather than being overtaken by the Mirror Moon Dao Child, who had formed his Nascent Soul first.
Just then, blood-colored radiance surged, and a figure silently appeared.
“Interesting. It seems you received the news as well, to summon me in such a hurry!” Blood Demon True Venerable said.
“A variable has appeared. It ought to be erased.” Ning Xuanji stood with his hands behind his back, his tone calm.
Blood Demon True Venerable narrowed his eyes slightly and chuckled：“Those who deserved punishment, this Venerable has already punished. The reason the previous mission failed was merely because a subordinate acted on his own assumptions.
A mere Chen Ziang, a newly advanced True Monarch—what ability does he possess to make True Venerable Ning call him a variable?”
“A mere newly advanced True Monarch?”
Ning Xuanji turned and looked toward Blood Demon True Venerable：“This child’s talent is astonishing, and the speed of his cultivation progress does not resemble the prodigies of the current Earth Proliferation Territory. Instead, he reminds this old man somewhat of someone from the past.”
“Oh, which person from the past? This Venerable may even have once sat and discussed the Dao with them.” Blood Demon True Venerable said dismissively.
“The founding Patriarch of the Mirror Moon Sect, Mirror Moon True Venerable.”
The moment Ning Xuanji’s words fell, the amusement on Blood Demon True Venerable’s face gradually faded, and he fell silent.
Back then, he had fallen at Mirror Moon True Venerable’s hands. Otherwise, he could have lived another ten thousand years and left behind countless methods, rather than ending up in his current situation.
“Killing a newly advanced True Monarch isn’t difficult. What’s difficult is the Mirror Moon Sect behind him.”
Blood Demon True Venerable shook his head：“This Venerable is unwilling to take the risk and serve as the vanguard……”
“Half a Divine Transformation opportunity in exchange for you personally taking Chen Ziang’s life.” Ning Xuanji interrupted.
He knew very clearly what could be done and what could not.
At present, he could slowly boil the frog in warm water, using the major cultivation factions of the Western Evolution Territory and Yellow Evolution Territory to invade the Earth Proliferation Territory, but he could not personally suppress and kill the Mirror Moon Dao Child and leave even the slightest trace behind.
Otherwise, once the Mirror Moon Sect went mad, the Eight Wastelands Sect would at minimum suffer a severe loss of vitality, and even he would face some risk of death.
“Agreed, but part of that opportunity must be paid first.”
Hearing this, Ning Xuanji flicked his finger, and a jade slip landed in Blood Demon True Venerable’s hand.
“Interesting. To avoid another unexpected accident like last time, this Venerable will need to carefully plan things this time.” After glancing at the jade slip, Blood Demon True Venerable’s figure slowly disappeared.
It was not only Ning Xuanji. He also did not want another Mirror Moon True Venerable to emerge from the Earth Proliferation Territory, not even someone with hopes of reaching half-step Divine Transformation.
……
Mystic Feminine Sect, Union of Joy Hall.
A group of beautiful women wore not a single thread, revealing their graceful figures as they either played around or engaged in intercourse, surrounding a middle-aged male cultivator whose face was as handsome as polished jade.
At the center of the great hall, a jade sculpture as beautiful as an immortal maiden suddenly trembled and transformed into a charming, graceful beauty.
This person was precisely Zhao Caixuan, Grand Elder of the Mystic Feminine Sect, Wondrous Desire True Monarch.
“Greetings, Grand Elder!”
Seeing the sculpture revive, the expressions of the dozens of female cultivators present changed slightly. All respectfully knelt and kowtowed in salute, while only the male cultivator remained unchanged.
“Junior Sister Zhao, I heard you lost?” the middle-aged male cultivator asked with interest.
“Senior Brother Zhuo, don’t speak nonsense. This concubine merely encountered a peerless prodigy.” Zhao Caixuan glanced at Illusory Desire True Monarch Zhuo Buwei.
“Oh, what kind of peerless prodigy could force Junior Sister to use the 【Mystic Feminine Life Transformation】 Mystical Ability?” Zhuo Buwei’s interest grew even stronger.
“Mirror Moon Dao Child Chen Ziang. This person possesses the potential for Divine Transformation.” Zhao Caixuan evaluated.
She had traveled through seven territories of the Southern Wastes and seen countless cultivation prodigies. In terms of aptitude and combat strength, Chen Ziang ranked first, with no one capable of comparison.
Zhao Caixuan even dared assert that not even the Central Evolution Territory and Heavenly Evolution Territory, which she had never visited, could nurture a peerless prodigy like Chen Ziang, whose potential was boundless and who had hopes of Divine Transformation.
“Junior Sister, you mean?” Zhuo Buwei sensed something was wrong.
“Correct. This concubine intends to place a wager on the Mirror Moon Sect.” Zhao Caixuan smiled sweetly.
Zhuo Buwei fell silent.
In his view, no matter how powerful a prodigy was, a prodigy was still only a prodigy, not a true powerhouse.
Both the Eight Wastelands Sect and Blood Fortune Sect had Divine Transformation True Venerables presiding over them. Even if the latter was merely suspected, they were still top factions that neither the Mystic Feminine Sect nor the Soul Refining Sect dared rashly offend.
“Junior Sister, do you intend to sever the Mystic Feminine Sect’s Dao inheritance?” Zhuo Buwei said coldly.
Even if Chen Ziang truly possessed the potential for Divine Transformation and could become a Divine Transformation cultivator in the future, he still could not compare to an actual Divine Transformation True Venerable.
Furthermore, the Mystic Feminine Sect did not possess foundations comparable to the Five Great Sects of the Earth Proliferation Territory. Once their decision to wager on the Mirror Moon Sect was exposed and provoked the wrath of a Divine Transformation True Venerable, they would certainly face the danger of destruction!
“What if the Mirror Moon Sect unifies the Earth Proliferation Territory in the future?” Zhao Caixuan remained unchanged.
Senior Brother’s vision was far too shallow. How could all the eggs be placed in one basket?
Although the Five Great Sects of the Earth Proliferation Territory had no Divine Transformation True Venerable presiding over them, their foundations still existed, and even Divine Transformation True Venerables did not dare underestimate them.
Otherwise, why would the Divine Transformation True Venerable of the Eight Wastelands Sect need to borrow cultivation forces from the Western Evolution Territory and Yellow Evolution Territory? He could simply have acted long ago and destroyed the Five Great Sects of the Earth Proliferation Territory.
To put it unpleasantly, even if the Five Great Sects of the Earth Proliferation Territory were defeated and their territories completely fell, the Mirror Moon Sect only needed to lower its head and concede defeat, seal its Mountain Gate, and preserve its foundations while quietly waiting for the Eight Wastelands Sect’s Divine Transformation cultivator to exhaust his lifespan and perish, or for a sect prodigy to rise.
“The Mirror Moon Sect unify the Earth Proliferation Territory? Relying on this Chen Ziang you speak of?” Zhuo Buwei repeatedly shook his head, feeling that Zhao Caixuan had probably gone mad.
“To avoid making things difficult for Senior Brother, this concubine can now ambush and kill you, betray the sect, completely sever ties with the Mystic Feminine Sect, and join the Mirror Moon Sect.” Zhao Caixuan remained persistent.
“Why go this far? That is a road to death!”
At this point, Zhuo Buwei suddenly reacted and stared directly at Zhao Caixuan.
What Dao inheritance, what wager, what optimism—those were all empty words.
This Junior Sister of his clearly still had unresolved ambitions in her heart and aspired to Divine Transformation. She wanted to borrow the power of Mirror Moon Dao Child Chen Ziang for Dual Cultivation, attempting to use the Mystic Feminine Sect’s ancient Yin-Yang Dual Cultivation Method to draw the Dao’s Rhythm of heaven-and-earth creation into her body and explore the path to Divine Transformation.
“Since it’s a road to death, can Senior Brother Zhuo not indulge this concubine just once?” Zhao Caixuan smilingly asked in return.
“Very well. Since that is the case, Junior Sister, don’t blame Senior Brother for acting to capture you.” Zhuo Buwei sighed.
The female cultivators qualified to attend Illusory Desire True Monarch were all exceptionally shrewd. Even though they could not hear the Divine Sense transmissions between Zhuo Buwei and Zhao Caixuan, they still sensed that the atmosphere was wrong and felt something ominous.
The next instant, the spiritual activity of heaven and earth throughout the Mystic Feminine Sect erupted into chaos. Two Dharma Aspects enormous enough to blot out heaven and earth began a fierce battle, implicating countless disciples within the sect.
……
Mirror Moon Sect.
Zhu Shaoyuan looked at the intelligence in his hand, a trace of complexity flashing through his eyes.
How many years had passed?
That Qi Refining brat from back then had now become a top powerhouse with unmatched combat strength who could fight three alone and suppress and kill two mid-stage Nascent Soul True Monarchs.
Had he known this would happen, he should have bestowed a marriage back then and married Qiong’er to Ziang, making their relationship even closer.
“Father, what intelligence came from the front lines that makes you take it so seriously?” Zhu Qiong asked curiously.
“See for yourself.”
Zhu Shaoyuan smiled and handed over the jade slip in his hand.
Zhu Qiong took the jade slip and probed it with Divine Sense, a strange light flashing through her eyes.
Blood Marrow True Monarch and Bitter Soul True Monarch were Demonic Sect True Monarchs known throughout the Earth Proliferation Territory. She had never expected them to fall at Junior Brother’s hands—no, Junior Martial Uncle’s, no, that wasn’t right either!
After struggling over it repeatedly, Zhu Qiong could not help looking toward her father, her voice somewhat dry：“Father, is this intelligence true?”
“What do you think?” Zhu Shaoyuan sighed and turned to gaze at the firmament：“Perhaps this is what a true peerless prodigy is. Without needing a hundred years of Fetal Breathing and Sitting in Oblivion, he can perfectly display the power of a Nascent Soul True Monarch’s Mystical Abilities.”
At the same time, Taiyi Peak.
“Not bad.”
Zhu Wuya sat upright on a cloud platform, his fingertips lightly tapping the jade table，“As a newly advanced True Monarch, he could suppress and kill Blood Marrow and Bitter Soul, then force Wondrous Desire to retreat. He has not disgraced the name of my Taiyi Dao Sect’s Dao Child.”
Zhu Jinglong stood to the side without speaking.
He knew the Patriarch’s long-standing goal, but calling the Mirror Moon Sect the orthodox inheritance of the Taiyi Dao Sect at present was still somewhat premature.
“Have you identified the traitor?” Zhu Wuya glanced at him.
“We have. The person who betrayed the sect is……”
Zhu Wuya raised his hand and interrupted Zhu Jinglong：“No need to say more. Exterminate this criminal’s ten clans directly.”
Hearing this, Zhu Jinglong froze and glanced at the Patriarch, momentarily not knowing how to plead for his own life.
“You’re among the ten clans?” Zhu Wuya raised an eyebrow, greatly surprised.
Zhu Jinglong silently nodded.
Indeed, he had misunderstood.
The cultivator who betrayed the sect and sold intelligence was his own disciple rather than a high-ranking member of the sect.
“Very well. Direct-line sect members who have been verified by the Founding Patriarch’s portrait and were not involved in betraying the sect may atone through meritorious service.” Zhu Wuya waved his hand and had Zhu Jinglong withdraw to handle it.
After hesitating briefly, Zhu Wuya took one step and appeared within the Deputy Sect Master’s residence.
“You came.” Mist Sea True Monarch raised his head.
“Since you foresaw this long ago, why were you so stubborn back then?” Zhu Wuya sighed softly：“Wouldn’t it have been better to properly assist Ziang?”
“Properly assist him? Master, you said back then, without contending, how could one reach perfected True Monarch, and without contending, how could one reach Divine Transformation?”
Mist Sea True Monarch calmly said：“Now Master asks this disciple not to contend. How is that any different from asking this disciple to wait for death!”
“Very well. Everything has a price. A loss is a loss. This disciple overestimated my position in your heart.” Lin Zimo stared directly into Zhu Wuya’s eyes：“But if I could do it again, this disciple would still make the same choice!”
“Incorrigible.”
Zhu Wuya slowly raised his hand, preparing to personally suppress and kill Lin Zimo.
With Chen Ziang inheriting the sect’s Dao lineage, allowing this disciple of his to remain alive was instead no longer a good thing.
“Boom!”
The palm descended, and Lin Zimo’s head exploded, transforming into incomparably pure Five Elements spiritual energy that disappeared within the Cave Residence.
“Taiyi Three Truths Corpse-Severing Dao-Proving Record?”
Zhu Wuya’s eyes shifted, immediately recognizing what Mystical Ability this was.
“Master, this disciple will prove to you that I am the true prodigy. Only I can restore the glory of the Taiyi Dao Sect and unify the Earth Proliferation Territory!”
Lin Zimo’s voice slowly rang out, then dispersed with the wind.
“Interesting. To sever the Self Corpse while still in the True Monarch realm, worthy of being my disciple.”
Seeing this, not only was Zhu Wuya not angry, he instead revealed a gratified smile.
Lin Zimo had escaped, and so he had escaped. Zhu Wuya never regretted matters that could no longer be changed.
To put it plainly, although Lin Zimo’s character was unsuitable for becoming Sect Master of the Mirror Moon Sect, the fact that he had successfully cultivated the Taiyi Three Truths Corpse-Severing Dao-Proving Record meant he was already beyond what even a perfected True Monarch great cultivator could easily suppress and kill, unless the sect’s foundations were used.
It was precisely because of this that Zhu Wuya’s face contained not the slightest regret.
He believed in the divination he had performed when he first met Chen Ziang, and he also believed in the judgment of the sect’s foundation, the Heavenly One Northern Abyss Mirror.
Everything was fate!
If Chen Ziang could not even resolve Lin Zimo, how could he unify the Earth Proliferation Territory in the future and restore the glory of the Taiyi Dao Sect?
……
Immortal Alliance, Yuqing Immortal Sect.
Chen Beiwu did not know about the upheaval his actions had caused among the various sects of the Southern Wastes’ Earth Proliferation Territory, or perhaps he knew and simply did not care.
He currently had only two objectives. First, refine the Nascent Soul Nourishing Liquid and nourish his Nascent Soul until he stepped into the peak of early-stage Nascent Soul;
Second, initiate a Life-and-Death Platform struggle, suppress and kill Xiao Yu, settle their karma, gather enough Violet Fortune, and make full preparations for attaining the Dao as a Divine Transformation True Venerable in the future.
‘Fourteen days should be enough to refine part of the medicinal power.’
After confirming there was no residual medicinal power from the Nine Revolutions Restoration Pill remaining within his body, Chen Beiwu took out the Nascent Soul Nourishing Liquid gifted by Senior Sister Su and swallowed it.
Boom!
Boom!
Boom!
The medicinal liquid entered his abdomen and immediately transformed into vast medicinal power that surged toward the Muddy Palace, nourishing the Nascent Soul and making the Dao Seed Nascent Soul within Chen Beiwu’s Spirit Platform increasingly crystalline and translucent, emitting an almost perfected Pure Yang Dao’s Rhythm.
As time slowly passed, fourteen days disappeared in the blink of an eye.
“Hmm?”
Suddenly, Chen Beiwu’s mind stirred, and he probed outside the Cave Residence.
He saw Yu Zhaohua bringing Chi Quan to the entrance of the Cave Residence. Seeing the seclusion sign, they quietly waited.
‘So that’s it. Tomorrow is the Nascent Soul Formation Ceremony.’
Chen Beiwu rose. With a thought, he opened the Cave Residence restrictions.
After the Nascent Soul Nourishing Liquid was initially refined, its medicinal power could gradually take effect over time, so there was no need to refine it all in a single seclusion. Otherwise, Chen Beiwu would not have taken it before the Nascent Soul Formation Ceremony.
“Greetings, True Martial True Monarch!”
Seeing Chen Beiwu appear, Yu Zhaohua and Chi Quan saluted simultaneously.
The next second, before Yu Zhaohua could speak, Chi Quan dropped to his knees with a thud and pressed his forehead to the ground：“This student has wasted a hundred years, possesses dull aptitude, and had no hope of a First-Grade Golden Core. Fortunately, True Martial True Monarch transmitted the true method of Core Formation and pointed out the path through confusion. This grace is no different from granting me a new life and will never be forgotten even until my teeth fall out.”
As Chi Quan expressed his gratitude, he repeatedly kowtowed heavily, the impacts resounding loudly and causing Yu Zhaohua’s eyelid to twitch.
“There is no need for this. Are you willing to enter my tutelage?” Chen Beiwu’s thought stirred and lifted Chi Quan upright.
Although he did not like Chi Quan’s personality, he had to admit that the latter possessed Nascent Soul potential and could serve him, perhaps even helping him establish his own faction and gather fate.