Chapter 1061: Advance the Pioneering Early

“Sect Master, are we not going to kill this person?” Zhou Wangshen asked, somewhat surprised, after Mei Longzheng had been sent away.

"Cultivation isn't just about fighting and killing," Chen Mobai said. "Besides, I've already set the stage; wouldn't it be a waste if the audience didn't show up?" Zhou Wangshen pondered his words.

Thanks to the teleportation system the Five Elements Sect had built at great cost, Mei Longzheng quickly relayed the news of the True Spirit Yellow Dragon to the Beast-Taming Sect in the Eastern Land. Although the Beast-Taming Sect had largely banished Mei Longzheng to the Eastern Wilderness, leaving him to fend for himself, they still took a look at the message he sent. Upon seeing it, the person responsible for contacting him couldn't sit still and immediately forwarded it to the Sect Master, who then quickly passed it to Elder Mu Youyi.

"A True Spirit, Yellow Dragon!" Mu Youyi, awakened from his seclusion, had no time to get angry before hearing the news reported by his disciple, and his expression instantly changed to one of shock.

"Is the news confirmed?"

"Reporting, Master," Sect Master Ao Shizheng of the Beast-Taming Sect began, recounting what he had verified to Mu Youyi. "Besides Mei Longzheng, I also inquired with forces like the Heavenly Dining Pavilion. Indeed, a spirit beast underwent tribulation in Wind and Rain Immortal City in the Eastern Wilderness not long ago. After the tribulation, Chen Gui Xian, the Sect Master of the Five Elements Sect, returned riding a yellow dragon, flaunting his power. According to legend, it's believed to be a legacy left to him by True Monarch Yiyuan..."

Chen Mobai's return to Wind and Rain Immortal City riding a dragon had caused quite a stir. Although the vastness of the Eastern Continent meant the news hadn't yet reached the Eastern Land, it was easy for top-tier forces to investigate and find out.

"Sigh, of all things, it had to be a Yellow Dragon!" Mu Youyi sighed deeply after confirming the news. For him, confronting a powerful force like the Five Elements Sect was certainly undesirable. However, the Yellow Dragon was a True Spirit listed as the highest grade in the Myriad Spirits Compendium. The ancient sages of the Myriad Spirits Sect traversed the Five Continents and Four Seas of the Heavenly River Realm, compiling tens of thousands of True Spirits from the heavens, earth, and seas into a compendium, categorized into nine grades based on their quality. The six great True Dragons required by the Six Dragon Imperial Heaven Scripture of Temporal Mastery were all of the first grade.

These True Spirits, once they matured, were inherently close to the Great Dao. The Myriad Spirits Sect possessed special methods to refine top-tier True Spirits into Heavenly Spirit Pills, which were renowned God Transformation pills in the Central Continent. However, in the Heavenly River Realm, almost all the True Spirits capable of being refined into Heavenly Spirit Pills were now direct bloodlines of the Demon Race's royal courts. A long time ago, the Myriad Spirits Sect was jointly attacked by several great royal courts of the Demon Race for refining Heavenly Spirit Pills. At its most perilous moment, their main headquarters in the Central Continent was breached. Had it not been for the support of the other major Holy Lands, they would likely have been annihilated long ago.

Since then, the Myriad Spirits Sect had become extremely cautious when refining Heavenly Spirit Pills. The True Spirit bloodlines of the Demon Race's royal courts were declared taboo and forbidden to be targeted. This meant they could only choose those that were isolated or unattached. Branch forces of the Myriad Spirits Sect, spread across the Five Continents and Four Seas, all knew that if they could capture a top-tier True Spirit and bring it back to the sect, one successfully refined Heavenly Spirit Pill would be guaranteed to them.

Mu Youyi had already reached the perfected Nascent Soul stage two hundred years ago. Yet, he had never seen the path to God Transformation. The appearance of the True Spirit Yellow Dragon was, for him, almost his only hope in this lifetime.

"Master, the Five Elements Sect is powerful and protected by a fifth-tier grand formation," Ao Shizheng said, having already grasped the meaning behind Mu Youyi's sigh and knowing he was unwilling to let this opportunity pass. He looked worried but tried his best to offer advice. "With the strength of our sect alone, we simply cannot shake them, unless a God Transformation ancestor from the Myriad Spirits Sect in the Central Continent makes a move..." After all, if Mu Youyi successfully achieved God Transformation, it would be an immense benefit for him as a disciple.

"I'll contact the Central Continent," Mu Youyi said, this being his first thought. He rose and entered a cave in the back mountain, a forbidden area of the Beast-Taming Sect. Ao Shizheng stood guard at the entrance. Approximately half a day later, Mu Youyi emerged, looking slightly pale.

"Master, how was it?"

"The Central Continent is also very interested in the Yellow Dragon," Mu Youyi explained, "but due to the orders from our Ancestor in the Upper Realm, they cannot openly enter the Eastern Continent. So, we'll have to rely on ourselves." Hearing what Mu Youyi said, Ao Shizheng couldn't help but frown deeply.

"If a God Transformation ancestor can't come, can't they at least send some Nascent Soul elders to assist?"

"If Nascent Soul cultivators come, then a portion of the Yellow Dragon's capture would have to be shared with them. At that point, it would depend on how many pills a single furnace produces, and I couldn't be guaranteed one Heavenly Spirit Pill for myself." Mu Youyi's expression was filled with resentment as he spoke. Although the Beast-Taming Sect was considered a major force in the Eastern Land, it had little say within the Myriad Spirits Sect.

"Sigh, but if the Myriad Spirits Sect doesn't make a move, we'll have no way to deal with the Five Elements Sect." Mu Youyi naturally understood Ao Shizheng's words. For the opportunity of God Transformation, he had no choice but to take a risk. "I've already asked Junior Brother Tian from the Central Continent to make arrangements. As long as one Heavenly Spirit Pill can be guaranteed for me, all other conditions are negotiable."

After saying this, Mu Youyi instructed Ao Shizheng to tally the Beast-Taming Sect's personnel, while he himself mounted a leopard, transforming into a streak of black light heading towards another major sect in the Eastern Land.

"I need to give this matter careful consideration." In the Fire Cloud Palace, Hong Yun did not immediately agree after hearing Mu Youyi's words.

Mu Youyi continued to persuade him, honestly explaining his reason for wanting to capture the Yellow Dragon and promising full support for Fire Cloud Palace during the upcoming wilderness expansion if the Five Elements Sect was destroyed. "There's only one chance," he pressed. "The Five Elements Sect's Yellow Dragon is already a fourth-tier beast after its tribulation, with a lifespan of at least several millennia. You previously united so many forces in the Eastern Land to act against the Five Elements Sect but were stopped by Ye Qing. Chen Gui Xian surely knows about this. Once resentment is formed, it will fester and could turn into a raging prairie fire in the future." This way, both parties would have hope of obtaining God Transformation resources.

"Then let's discuss it after the wilderness expansion," Hong Yun replied. He was unwilling to take such a risk, as he had worked for over a century for the Transcendent True Spirit Pill and did not want any complications at the final stage of reaping his reward.

"However, acting during the wilderness expansion would also be a good opportunity," Mu Youyi argued, "since the Five Elements Sect is protected by a fifth-tier grand formation, which won't be present in the Barren Ruins. Furthermore, Chen Gui Xian once destroyed the spiritual vein of Dongwu. If he were to be driven to madness and act similarly against our allied forces, the karmic repercussions would be immense. If we can persuade Five Emperors Mountain to join us, it would be foolproof." Mu Youyi pretended not to understand Hong Yun's true meaning and continued to outline various strategies for dealing with the Five Elements Sect. Among these, if they were to attack the Five Elements Sect, besides the fifth-tier grand formation, the Primordial Five Elements Annihilation Divine Thunder would also be a major challenge, but it could be countered with Primordial True Qi.

"If Tu De also leads Five Emperors Mountain to join, I believe this matter could be feasible." Hong Yun pondered for a moment, then finally relented slightly.

"This matter is of great importance. Why don't you, fellow Daoist, accompany me to Five Emperors Mountain?" Mu Youyi knew his influence alone wouldn't be enough, so he wanted to bring Hong Yun along.

"Very well." Hong Yun thought a trip wouldn't be much trouble, and inwardly, he was also quite unwilling to see the rise of the Five Elements Sect, so he simply went to Five Emperors Mountain with Mu Youyi.

"A True Spirit Yellow Dragon..." After hearing what the two had to say, Tu De's heart was also in turmoil. He was currently single-mindedly waiting for the Transcendent True Spirit Pill, but this was a True Spirit Yellow Dragon, one of the symbols of their ancestor, True Monarch Yiyuan. Could it be that the Five Elements Sect was truly the orthodox lineage of Yiyuan? Upon learning that Chen Mobai was cultivating a fourth-tier Yellow Dragon, Tu De himself began to doubt the orthodoxy of the Yiyuan Dao Palace.

Seeing that Tu De was swayed, Mu Youyi struck while the iron was hot, speaking persuasively. "Fellow Daoist, you achieved Primordial True Qi through Earth Element cultivation and refined a Primordial Dao Fruit. If you were to obtain the Earth-element True Spirit Yellow Dragon as well, even without the Transcendent True Spirit Pill, God Transformation would be virtually guaranteed. This is a heaven-granted opportunity; if you miss it, you'll likely regret it for the rest of your life."

"There's only one Yellow Dragon, though. How would we divide it?" Tu De asked calmly after listening.

"The inner core goes to you, and the body to me," Mu Youyi blurted out, having already considered this question before arriving. The refinement of Heavenly Spirit Pills was similar to that of Transcendent True Spirit Pills, primarily relying on the True Spirit's essence blood.

"That wouldn't be of much use to me," Tu De said, shaking his head and showing no interest. While the inner core of a fourth-tier Yellow Dragon was an invaluable treasure for cultivators practicing Earth-element techniques, in his view, it was merely that. It would be best to have it, but it didn't matter if he didn't. If the entire Yellow Dragon, or a fifth-tier inner core, were offered to him, he might have been tempted.

"Fellow Daoist," Mu Youyi continued to persuade, "the Five Elements Sect is now proclaiming itself the orthodox lineage of Yiyuan throughout the world. As fellow cultivators from the Eastern Land, we find this completely unacceptable. This is a rare opportunity; our three forces, working together, can absolutely take down the Five Elements Sect." Mu Youyi persisted with his persuasion, but Tu De shook his head again, then simply stood up to escort them out.

"This man is a complete coward, beyond hope!" After leaving Five Emperors Mountain, Mu Youyi spat and furiously cursed Tu De in front of Hong Yun. If he were in Tu De's position, knowing that a Yellow Dragon, a symbol of their ancestor, had appeared in the Eastern Wilderness countryside, he would seize it by any means necessary.

"Fellow Daoist, then let's discuss this matter after the wilderness expansion," Hong Yun said. Seeing Tu De's unwillingness to act, he lost the desire to get involved. After leaving this remark, he activated his escape light and vanished from the spot.

"Every single one of them, without any ambition..." On his way back to the Beast-Taming Sect, Mu Youyi also cursed Hong Yun, including him in his tirade.

Chen Mobai had never anticipated this. He had planned for everything, but he had failed to account for the Five Elements Sect's immense power—so strong that many potential adversaries, even knowing he possessed the True Spirit Yellow Dragon, dared not make a move. Mu Youyi might curse them, but if it weren't for his own God Transformation opportunity, he would likely have the same attitude as Hong Yun and Tu De after learning about this matter.

"Master, Junior Uncle Tian has sent a letter." Upon returning to the Beast-Taming Sect, Mu Youyi took the letter from Ao Shizheng's hand and frowned deeply as he read it. The Dao Child from the Myriad Spirits Sect had heard about the Yellow Dragon and wished to contract it as his own spirit beast, offering one Heavenly Spirit Pill in return. However, since it was in the Eastern Continent, the Myriad Spirits Sect's main army couldn't come. At most, the Dao Child could lead a few elders, and they would need to proceed covertly.

Upon learning this, Mu Youyi sent a bitter smile in his reply, detailing his failed attempts to ally with Fire Cloud Palace and the Yiyuan Dao Palace. He stated that with the Beast-Taming Sect's power alone, even with a few additional Nascent Soul cultivators, it would likely be impossible to force the Five Elements Sect to submit.

"A mere minor sect from the Eastern Wilderness, just wait for me!" To this, the Myriad Spirits Sect's Dao Child merely replied with that one sentence. Thinking of the legends surrounding this Dao Child in the Central Continent, a glimmer of hope ignited within Mu Youyi.

At the Dao De Sect, after Shen Xi learned that the Five Elements Sect possessed a True Spirit Yellow Dragon, he reported the matter to True Monarch Wuchen.

"It seems True Monarch Yiyuan left most of his inheritance in the Eastern Wilderness before ascending," True Monarch Wuchen remarked, while controlling the true flame in his alchemic furnace.

"Master, how should we handle this matter? In the past, the Eastern Land Imperial Court was able to cultivate the Six Dragon Imperial Heaven Scripture of Temporal Mastery for generations, and that Yellow Dragon in the Eastern Wilderness was indispensable to them. It should be its descendant now. If we leave it unchecked, there might be hidden dangers in the future."

When Shen Xi mentioned the Eastern Land Imperial Court, True Monarch Wuchen's movements paused for a brief moment. For the Holy Lands of the Eastern Continent, this was an unbearable chapter of history. During the peak of the Eastern Land Imperial Court, even beings like him had to leave their seclusion to refine pills for the royal family and serve as physicians.

"In the Eastern Wilderness, after so many years of unification by the Five Elements Sect, shouldn't a spiritual vein spirit have been born by now, logically speaking?" True Monarch Wuchen suddenly asked.

"I've also paid attention to this matter," Shen Xi replied. "But if the Heavenly and Earthly Xuanji Instrument shows no unusual activity, it means the spiritual vein has not yet developed a spirit."

"Before Yuan Qingque ascended, he entrusted me with looking after that young man, saying he would become a pillar of our Eastern Continent's righteous path in the future. I must grant him that much face." As soon as True Monarch Wuchen finished speaking, Shen Xi knew what to do. He nodded lightly, preparing to leave.

"The preparations for the wilderness expansion have been ongoing for so long; they should be complete by now, shouldn't they?" True Monarch Wuchen continued. "Pass on my command: starting today, instruct all major sects in the Eastern Continent to dispatch one-tenth of their personnel to the Barren Ruins. Also, notify the Nine Heavens Demon Extermination Sect and the Grand Void Misty Palace, as well as the Yiyuan Dao Palace, the Five Blazing Heaven Veins, the Star Heaven Dao Sect, and others. For this wilderness expansion, we must advance thirty thousand li and establish the Seventh Domain of the Eastern Continent."

Hearing this, Shen Xi's expression stirred. This was earlier than the previously agreed-upon time. However, for the major sects in the Eastern Continent, this was good news. After all, many forces had already saturated and exhausted the resources they could acquire and the ore veins they could mine over the years. If they didn't expand outward, internal conflict would likely be their only option. Furthermore, this approach would also catch the demon beasts off guard. If all went smoothly, the Transcendent True Spirit Pill could also be refined ahead of schedule.

"Understood!" Shen Xi's expression turned resolute, and he departed to carry out the order.

In the Eastern Wilderness, Chen Mobai also received news from Yuan Zhen. As the Saintess of the Nine Heavens Demon Extermination Sect, she naturally learned first about the Dao De Sect's decision to advance the wilderness expansion and immediately sent someone to notify the Five Elements Sect.