Chapter 430 - 356: Nostalgia
Outside the Star Child Pagoda, Chen Sheng had just stepped out from the light gate of the seventh level, unaware that he had once again caused a stir in the Daoist Palace.
At this moment, his heart spirit was completely immersed in the earthshaking battle of the seventh level, even the Dao Rhyme around him unconsciously simulating the attack and defense trajectories of that time.
Finding a corner of the square, he sat cross-legged on a green stone. As soon as Chen Sheng closed his eyes, the image of the Star Spirit Illusion Beast that defeated him appeared in his mind.
This was not an ordinary beast-shaped illusion beast, but a terrifying existence with a star as its body.
When it revealed its true form on the star core platform at the center of the seventh level, the entire space was pulled and twisted out of shape.
Its enormous body, a hundred thousand miles in radius, floated in the virtual starry sky, with a scorched star shell and a red-gold star core magma.
And the bottomless whirlpool at the center of the body was swallowing the surrounding starlight at a visible speed, even the light couldn’t escape, it was like a walking black hole.
"The most terrifying part isn’t its size, it’s that Star Dao Domain."
Chen Sheng’s fingertips lightly tapped on his knee, each point corresponding to the nodes where the Dao Domain unfolded back then.
The Illusion Beast let out a low roar, and the star shell around it exploded, a billion fragments transforming into dazzling star debris, weaving instantly into a star net covering the entire seventh level—that was the Star Dao Domain.
On the star net, countless star runes flowed like water, forming a complete celestial star track.
The moment the Dao Domain descended, Chen Sheng instinctively activated the Path of Yin Yang Annihilation Sword, but was tightly bound by the star track runes within the Domain.
Those runes clung to the sword like a bone-eroding disease, gradually breaking down the black and white Qi into the most primitive Spiritual Qi, eventually dissipating into the star net.
What shocked him even more was the Illusion Beast’s subsequent space Secret Technique—in the midst of Domain suppression, the black hole whirlpool at the center of the Illusion Beast suddenly spun.
The space surrounding Chen Sheng, tens of thousands of miles in radius, instantly condensed into transparent crystal blocks, densely filled with star patterns inside.
Each star pattern released suppressive power on the Dao Principle level, causing his Yin Yang Qi particles to stop circulating.
Chen Sheng opened his eyes, a trace of solemnity flashed in his black and white pupils:
"Thirteen rounds."
He only held out for thirteen rounds. He still remembered the final move, where the Illusion Beast completely integrated the Dao Domain and the space Secret Technique, forming a giant hand covered with star patterns.
As the giant hand descended, Chen Sheng could even see the miniature star tracks within the palm.
Yet he didn’t even have time to use his trump card "Yin Yang Particle Reconstruction" before the giant hand directly shattered his protective Dao Rhyme, followed by a gentle yet irresistible Star Power that sent him outside the pagoda.
Chen Sheng muttered to himself, with a hint of admiration in his tone, more was a clear awareness of his own shortcomings:
"Nearly perfect Domain-type Secret Technique."
"The coverage of the entire area, without a single dead angle, precise Dao Principle suppression directly acted on my Dao Principle, preventing me from exerting even sixty percent of my strength."
"Such opponents are extremely suppressive to me!"
In his mind, he quickly calculated the method to break the situation:
"If I can cultivate the Secret Technique to Great Success, allowing the Yin Yang particles of the Daoist Body to further resist Dao Principle suppression autonomously, I might endure hundreds of rounds, but the hope to win remains slim."
"The core of the Star Dao Domain is the operation of the star track. Only when I myself comprehend the Dao Domain, using Yin Yang Dao Domain to counteract the star track, then cultivate the first layer of the Secret Technique to Perfection, allowing Yin Yang particles to freely reorganize under Domain suppression, can I completely crush it."
Chen Sheng took a deep breath, eliminating all distracting thoughts, recording all gains and losses from the challenge, the black and white Qi around him suddenly soared, forming a semi-transparent light shield to envelop himself.
Within the light shield, countless miniature Yin Yang fish began to rotate, simulating the star track operation of the Star Dao Domain—he intended to attain Enlightenment through battle, leveraging the remnants of the recent fight to continue deducing the condensation method of the Dao Domain.
"The channel to the Primordial Saint Sect will take decades to stabilize, I still have time."
...
Meanwhile, in the Celestial Abyss Realm, Great Wilderness Demon Court.
The Yin Yang Treasure Bottle floated in the void, its body flowing with ancient patterns, a realm existed within the bottle, and the Yin Yang Qi roared like oceans and rivers.
A nearly hundred thousand zhang high Golden-Winged Roc revealed its true form, wings shading the sky and sun, each flap stirring up turbulent air currents.
It opened its giant beak, exhibiting the Divine Technique of Swallowing Heaven and Earth, the endless Yin Yang Qi within the bottle surged into its mouth like a tide, golden feathers gradually became covered with black and white interwoven patterns, emitting a heart-palpitating pressure.
Elder Ping floated to the side, watching the transformation of the Golden-Winged Roc, his murky eyes filled with shock.
He could clearly perceive that the Yin Yang Qi being devoured was continuously undergoing fission within Chen Sheng’s body, eventually transforming into countless Yin Yang particles containing Dao Principles.
Each particle’s power was comparable to a Tier Three Magical Treasure, and when gathered together, even the inner wall of the treasure bottle slightly trembled.
"What a terrifying Secret Technique, a method to deconstruct the Daoist Body into particles, old me has never heard of before, where did the Demon Venerable learn such an impressive Yin Yang Secret Technique."
After a whole three months, the Yin Yang Qi within the bottle gradually gathered, eventually condensing into a huge Tai Chi Diagram, with black and white Qi flowing within the diagram.
Looking closely, the seemingly gentle flow was surprisingly composed of countless tiny Yin Yang particles, particles rotating at high speeds, forming a perfect Dao Principle circulation.
In the next moment, the Tai Chi Diagram abruptly contracted, transforming into a beam of golden light. After the golden light dissipated, a dignified man in a golden robe stood in the void, it was Chen Sheng, who had finished his retreat.
Although his aura seemed calm, it kept the Yin Yang Qi within the bottle from daring to move recklessly, every inch of the Daoist Body’s skin contained the terrifying power of particle reorganization.
"Congratulations to the Demon Venerable, your strength has reached a new realm!"
Elder Ping’s image timely floated out, bowing respectfully, his tone full of awe, he truly sensed massive threat from the other party.
Chen Sheng chuckled lightly, waved his hand, and changed the topic by asking:
"Have the times been stable within and outside the Demon Court during my seclusion?"
Although he focused on cultivation, he remained concerned about the situation in the Celestial Abyss Realm, as the threat of the Primordial Saint Sect hung like a sword overhead, allowing no negligence.
Elder Ping quickly replied:
"Rest assured, Demon Venerable, everything is stable."
"Several princes have managed the affairs of the Demon Court efficiently; every descent channel is heavily guarded, with arrays reinforced by three layers, ensuring absolute security."
Chen Sheng laughed heartily upon hearing this, a hint of satisfaction flickering in his eyes.
He had fathered over thirty sons in his life, all high-grade bloodlines of heavenly talent, gifted beyond measure.
Except for a few younger offspring, the elder ones had all broken through to the Demon Emperor Realm.
Among them, his eldest son Peng Xuan and second son Peng Xiao had reached the Mid-stage Nascent Soul, just one step away from the Great Demon Emperor, already pillars of the Demon Court.
Soon after, within the grand hall of the Demon Venerable’s palace, Chen Sheng’s figure slowly appeared.
On both sides beneath the throne, several young men in brocade robes hurried forward, kneeling on one knee:
"Greetings, Father!"
Their aura was steady, bearing a similar authority between their brows to Chen Sheng—his descendants.
Chen Sheng nodded slightly, gesturing for them to rise, speaking gently: "You’ve all worked hard during this time, speak of current affairs."
Eldest son Peng Xuan stepped forward, speaking respectfully:
"To report to Father, the transformation speed of the descent channels exceeded expectations."
"Now, seven channels can accommodate powerful Demon Emperor-level beings, though the channels remain unstable and can only pass one or two at a time."
"Various tribes within the Demon Court stand united in defense, having slain two reckless foreign Nascent Souls in recent years, and thereafter the enemy rarely attacks through our controlled nodes."
Second son Peng Xiao stepped forward, adding with a tinge of disdain:
"Meanwhile, the other Four Domains are in chaos. Those cultivators of the Xuanhuang Realm conduct themselves ruthlessly, burning, killing, and pillaging across the Four Domains, inciting many bloody incidents."
"In truth, the sects of the Four Domains possess sufficient strength to deal with those foreign Nascent Souls, but each harbors ulterior motives, guarding against one another. It’s even rumored that certain sects secretly collude with the enemy, attempting to seize a fleeting chance at survival."
Upon hearing this, Chen Sheng nodded lightly, his face showing no surprise.
This was why he was unwilling to ally with the sects of the Four Domain Human Race—disunity, individual agendas; rather than becoming entangled, he’d focus on solidifying the defense lines of the Demon Court.
Moreover, in the cultivation realm, it’s the top-tier cultivators that wield decisive power. Chen Sheng’s objective had always been singular—the Primordial Saint Master.
"Let chaos reign; I’ve long instructed Yunlan Chen Clan that our Demon Court can provide protection for allied clans."
He remarked indifferently, having no intention of meddling in the chaotic scene of the Four Domains.
Peng Xuan recalled a matter, hastily reporting:
"Moreover, at Great Grandfather’s end, a few Human Race cultivators have received protection."
"Apparently, they’re descendants of some of Great Grandfather’s friends, not particularly powerful, the strongest only at the Golden Core Realm, currently settled for cultivation at the rear hall of Inquiring Heart Peak."
Initially taken aback, Chen Sheng quickly understood their origins, a slight smile curling at his lips:
"No matter; our Demon Court should embrace all under heaven."
Shifting his tone, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes:
"After repelling the Primordial Saint Sect this time, I intend to unify the Celestial Abyss Realm and bring the Human Race under the Demon Court’s banner."
His descendants brightened with this revelation, responding in unison: "Father is wise!"
Firmly believing in Chen Sheng’s strength, they trusted that once their father acted, unifying the Celestial Abyss Realm was merely a matter of time.
Chen Sheng chuckled softly; he held no love for power. Had it not been for the Primordial Saint Sect setting an example, with his All-Heaven Treasure Mirror requiring a realm as a foundation to harvest from all realms, he wouldn’t have entertained such thoughts.
Waving his hand to dismiss his sons, his Primordial Spirit Power spread out, encompassing the entire territory of the Demon Court, finally settling upon a cluster of palaces behind the Red Flood Dragon Emperor Mountain.
Within the palace, dozens of Human Race cultivators were meditating, mostly at the Foundation Establishment Realm, with only a handful reaching the Golden Core.
A young girl gazing at the Jade Pendant surrounded by Spiritual Qi couldn’t help but exclaim:
"Sister, the Spiritual Qi here is three times denser than at the Qinghua Sect; my cultivation speed has increased greatly. Can I reduce my daily cultivation by an hour?"
The girl wearing a green dress, Wu Xuejiao, frowned, chastising lightly:
"Cultivation is like rowing against the current; Ancestor Yuquan shelters us, offering such favorable conditions, how can one slacken in superior surroundings?"
In other palace halls, Li Clan, Li Clan, and Hua Clan disciples were also earnestly cultivating.
Chen Sheng watched this scene, chuckling softly; these individuals were descendants of several branches of the Qinghua Sect, also his fellow countrymen from times past. Alas, as time flowed, old friends had long turned to dirt.
He let out a light laugh, his Primordial Spirit Power quietly retreated:
"Yuquan is indeed nostalgic."
Regarding these cultivators, he had no plan to interfere too much. As long as they continued their cultivation peacefully, the Demon Court would offer protection—for, when unifying the Celestial Abyss Realm in the future, the aid of Human Race cultivators would be necessary.