Chapter 267 - 247: Soul Gu
The strike of the flying sword erupted with a deafening roar, and the pitch-black plane rippled with waves.
It was as if a giant stone had plunged into ink-like black water, though the water surface was inverted, hinting at something sinister.
The flying sword was repelled by the black plane, emitting a clear, resonant sound, like an untamed beast, with the determination to keep charging forward until it breaks through the wall.
A dazzling blue flame appeared on the body of the sword, which reverted to its original size, winding like a fire dragon around its master.
The constant vibrating sounded as if it was ready to unleash its power.
"Haha, Senior Brother’s magic sword is so spiritually endowed, it’s nearly at the standards of a top-grade spiritual artifact!"
Lin Jiuxiao nodded slightly, preparing to use the spirit sword as his lifebound magical treasure. If he could find some key spiritual objects, he would be able to reforge it into a top-grade spiritual artifact to serve as a magical treasure embryo.
"When I reforge the magic sword, I’ll be counting on your help, Junior Brother."
"Haha, no problem."
Zhuu Xiangrong laughed heartily as his pill furnace emitted brilliant flames, like blooming red lotus flowers.
The spiritual artifact spun rapidly and crashed into the black plane within the void, causing fiery rain to fall like a waterfall.
Meanwhile, the plane rippled again, the tremors appearing slightly more intense than before.
The shield in the hands of the Luofeng Valley cultivator drew a silvery arc, flying towards the black plane reflected by the array.
It was as if lightning lit up the night sky, more dazzling than moonlight.
Treasures like the treasure bead, wolf fang club, and great seal attacked in turn, resounding like muffled thunder.
Many Chao Origin Stage cultivators took turns in the assault, causing the ripples on the black plane to grow increasingly intense.
...
Liu Yu transmitted his voice:
"Senior Sister, is the Canglan Secret Realm connected to the Cultivation Realm through arrays? How are these secret realms formed?"
He noticed that the martial uncles were using array banners, seemingly employing arrays to break arrays.
The information provided by the sect only had maps of the secret realms, with no details on their origins.
He had asked others, who also claimed ignorance.
Since Senior Sister was a disciple of a Chao Origin Stage cultivator, she should know more of the inside information.
"Yes, secret realms are independent little worlds, normally existing in another part of the void, only appearing at specific times.
My master mentioned that some little worlds are naturally formed by heaven and earth, while some are reflections of Inner Worlds created by great power cultivators."
Liu Yu was amazed, never thinking that great cultivators could create worlds.
"Senior Sister, what are Inner Worlds?"
This was a term he had never heard before.
"My master said that after Nascent Soul cultivators advance further, they respond to the external world to form inner universes, although the specifics are unknown to him as well.
I also heard that although this region is divided into Central Continent, Western Continent, Southern Continent, and others, it is actually one single continent.
The Cultivation Realm is vast and boundless, and we cultivators practice our dao. On other continents, there are also Buddhist cultivators, and supposedly, in Outer Heaven, there is a world dominated by demon cultivators.
Buddhist cultivators and demon cultivators both have divine powers similar to Inner Worlds; Buddhists call it the Palm Buddha Country, while demon cultivators call it the Six Desires Heaven..."
Ge Luoying detailed the knowledge she had learned from her master, giving glimpses of the world’s vastness with just a few words.
"Demon cultivators? Aren’t they just bloodthirsty maniacs? How can such a world exist?"
Liu Yu shook his head, believing that a world focused solely on destruction, where demon cultivators seized souls and spirits, couldn’t last long.
"That, I do not know."
...
In the dense forest in the distance of the desolate mountain.
An azure-clad cultivator stood with hands behind his back, observing everything happening on the barren mountain with the corner of his eye.
The cultivator wore a hood, and his exposed skin showed dense, dark blue scales.
Beside him stood a robust cultivator with a face full of coarse flesh, reminiscent of an upright humanoid bear.
The azure-clad cultivator looked at the area that resembled fireworks blossoming, a sinister smile playing on his lips, his eyes flashing with cunning and amusement.
"How many of the cultivators who entered the secret realm are controlled by the Soul Gu?"
"Twenty-eight, including twelve late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, and the rest are outstanding mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators.
To avoid being discovered by the major sects, the Soul Gu only controls loose cultivators."
The robust cultivator lowered his gaze, speaking as gently as possible.
He grinned, revealing a tongue covered in barbed crimson.
"Daoist Master Qinglong, Soul Gu is incredibly valuable; is it worth only using it to control late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators?"
Refining Soul Gu required many precious soul-nurturing ingredients and a rare kind of demon insect, making it a costly endeavor.
He believed that the Soul Gu should be used to control Chao Origin Stage cultivators; although there was a significant chance of failure, controlling even a few could cause immense destruction.
"Are you questioning my decision?"
The azure-clad cultivator spoke indifferently, his tone revealing no emotion.
At his words, the robust man broke out in a cold sweat, hurriedly saying:
"Subordinate dares not!"
"Haha, you only dare not?"
Like a venomous serpent spitting venom, a cold aura spread out.
Sweat beaded on the robust man’s forehead, fully aware of the fickle temperament of this figure before him.
The azure-clad cultivator did not continue to trouble the robust man, coldly saying:
"Do what was instructed to you, don’t ask too many questions!"
He understood very well that controlling a few Chao Origin Stage cultivators was beneficial to the overall strategy, but it couldn’t make a decisive impact.
Chao Origin Stage cultivators frequently interacted with Golden Core cultivators, making it difficult to ensure they wouldn’t be discovered.
Through certain channels, he learned that the cultivators entering the secret realm were among the most elite of the sects and loose cultivators, forming an essential part of the inheritance. Most future Chao Origin Stage cultivators would emerge from this group.
If he could capture this group of cultivators in one fell swoop, it would have a tremendous long-term impact on the entire Western Continent.
He had reached agreements with numerous Demon Kings, promising that if he could greatly weaken the future potentials of the Human Race cultivators, the Demon Kings would lead their tribes in long-term offensives against the Human Race.
Although the Demon King’s promises weren’t reliable, as long as they saw the opportunity, these Demon Kings would choose to exploit the situation and compress human forces.
Only with prolonged chaos in the Western Continent could he profit from it, establishing a Demon Cultivator force equal to humans and demon beasts.
"The subordinate will do everything to fulfill the Daoist Master’s orders!"
The burly man bowed deeply, his tense emotions somewhat relieved.
...
One double hour had passed, and the ripples in the black plane in the void grew bigger, occasionally glimmering with white light.
The yellow Great Seal expanded to the size of a house and suddenly crashed into the plane.
"Boom!"
The last straw that broke the camel’s back descended; the black plane disintegrated with a rumble, revealing a passage shimmering with gray light, with a diameter of three zhang.
At a glance, the passage seemed shallow, as if only one zhang deep, but the distance changed constantly.
"Luofeng Valley disciples, enter the spatial passage immediately! Do not use flying magical artifacts, do not ride beasts."
With a Chao Origin Stage cultivator’s command, Luofeng Valley’s cultivators surged their magical power, flying towards the passage.
Lin Jiuxiao turned his head, "Golden Spirit Sect disciples, enter the passage!"
He transmitted his voice again, clearly reaching every disciple’s ears.
’Under no circumstances should you touch the gray light at the edge of the passage.’
Liu Yu took out a talisman emitting a faint cyan light, precisely a Traction Talisman.
He infused magical power, and the talisman immediately adhered to his hand.
He and Ge Luoying extended their hands and clapped, their hands pressing tightly together.
The talisman seemed to melt like ice, merging into their palms.
Liu Yu immediately felt a peculiar aura merging into his body, and the two of them flew side by side into the passage.
Upon entering, he immediately discovered that the previously gray light surprisingly emitted five colors, followed by a sensation of the world spinning.
With a flicker before his eyes, his entire being vanished into thin air, with Ge Luoying disappearing along with him.
Liu Yu awoke from the dizziness, immediately realizing he was standing on a ground of rusty red color.
Dark red trees with twisted branches full of lumps, underfoot were unidentified sawtooth-shaped wild grasses, and grayish-white beast bones scattered around.
Not far away, a few depressions emitted pale yellow smoke, with a pungent sulfur smell permeating the air.
Liu Yu immediately summoned the Blazing Golden Wheel to protect himself, then warily surveyed the surroundings.
Scanning around, he didn’t find that familiar figure.
He clutched his aching head, his eyebrows furrowed.
"Did it not succeed?"
"Junior brother, are you looking for me?"
The voice came from above him.
...
Five days later, Mingfeng Mountain Immortal City.
Black giant wolves, fiery red wild bulls, yellow-black spotted rock pythons, monkeys of various fur colors, colorful fierce tigers, and countless land beasts roared as they charged toward the Immortal City from all directions.
Some demon beasts were tightly bound by Bloodthirsty Vines, soon trampled into the mud by the demon beasts and vines behind them.
Stronger demon beasts were completely unafraid of Bloodthirsty Vine’s bindings, breaking the vines effortlessly.
In the sky, various predatory birds descended en masse, blocking out the sun.
Numerous Chao Origin Stage cultivators from the Three Sects floated in mid-air, coldly watching the tidal wave-like beast hordes.
Sword Light flickered beside Lin Qiu Bai, and anyone gazing into this light instantly felt the illusion of being cut by blades.
"The Demon Kings really chose a perfect timing; we withdrew hundreds of elite cultivators, and the attack arrived right after."
The voice was as icy and sharp as mountain peak winds.
Judging from the number of demon beasts visible, this attack was the real deal.
"There are demon cultivators infiltrating deeper inside; the intelligence on the secret realm’s opening isn’t entirely confidential, so being discovered is quite normal.
What I’m curious about is how the demon cultivators and demon beasts communicate this intelligence; even Spirit Ships departing from Cyan Cloud Immortal City, flying at full speed, would take three days and nights to reach Mingfeng Mountain."
A cultivator dressed in Luofeng Valley’s standard daoist robe said. He had a square face, but the hooked nose ruined the overall look, making him appear somewhat sinister.
"Others handle the situation in the rear, our task is to resist the demon beasts for as long as possible.
Everyone, get to work. I’ll head to the western side of the city wall."
Lin Qiu Bai said, rushing forward more than ten zhang as he spoke.
The Mountain Protection Array was currently activated at a low intensity; if fully activated, not only would it consume more Spirit Stones, but intense attacks would also drain Earth Vein Spiritual Energy.
The Grand Array would only be fully activated when a Demon King attacked, equivalent to a Golden Core cultivator of the Human Race.
"Fellow Daoist Lin is indeed a sword cultivator, heading straight for the most fiercely attacked region. Admirable."
A Luofeng Valley cultivator whispered, leaping towards the southern side of the city wall.