Chapter 1179: Lingxiao Immortal Armor

After Chen Mobai sent the message, he remembered that it might take some time for Qi Yuheng to receive it due to the long distance.

However, it didn't matter. Zixiao Palace would soon depart, and he could use the Turtle Treasure to return to Di Yuan Star. Giving verbal orders might even be faster then.

“Who exactly are you, and how can you move so freely within Zixiao Palace?”

The Empress of the Underworld asked. By this point, she had already understood that Chen Mobai hadn't infiltrated Netherworld Star and then entered Zixiao Palace, but rather was already inside the palace itself, even controlling its rules.

“This is a palace left by my teacher,” Chen Mobai said with a faint smile, “Why do you think I can be here?”

Upon hearing his words, both the Empress of the Underworld and the First Underworld General were shocked.

“Impossible. You can’t possibly claim to be a student just by entering the palace, can you?”

The Empress of the Underworld shook her head, indicating she didn't believe Chen Mobai.

The First Underworld General, however, frowned deeply as he recalled entering the palace not long ago and seeing Chen Mobai seated on a cushion in the first row. He recounted this to the Empress of the Underworld, who stared wide-eyed at the young man standing before the Green Lotus Stone Platform.

“Given your background,” the Empress of the Underworld finally said after a long silence, “my race must utterly eradicate you to be at ease.”

Chen Mobai raised an eyebrow: “First, I am the leader of the Immortal Gate. Only then am I a student of Zixiao Palace. Regardless of that latter identity, my conflict with your Netherworld Star is irreconcilable, unless you leave this demon-tainted planet and stay out of the Heaven Yang Star System.”

The Empress of the Underworld listened, then nodded with a grim expression: “Once Zixiao Palace departs, I will assist His Majesty in raising the countless billions of undead armies of the Underworld Race, to march upon your Di Yuan Star and exterminate all life. I hope you will not shy away from this war.”

In response, Chen Mobai narrowed his eyes, his gaze sharp as a sword, looking at the Empress of the Underworld before him. No wonder Tongtian Zhi had issued a warning; this individual's threat level was indeed above that of the Underworld King.

“Then it depends on whether your Underworld Race is even worthy of my intervention. I'm afraid your army won't even be able to take a single step off Netherworld Star.”

Chen Mobai said with a cold laugh. At that moment, the Empress of the Underworld signaled the First Underworld General to guard her while she sat on a cushion, intending to seize this opportunity from Zixiao Palace.

“Empress,” the First Underworld General exclaimed in surprise, pointing at Chen Mobai, “this is his territory. Are you truly at ease meditating here?”

“If he could act, he would have done so already, instead of deliberately provoking me with words,” the Empress of the Underworld replied calmly.

He indeed could not stop her. After all, Zixiao Palace's imparting of the Dao was a rule set by Zixiao Daoist Master. Although he possessed the Green Lotus Seal to mobilize power, he felt that if he used his authority for personal gain, he would likely lose the hard-won Zixiao Palace permissions. This was an intuition he had gained after cultivating sacred virtue. Chen Mobai trusted his intuition. While Netherworld Star was currently a formidable enemy, there was no need to waste his greatest potential opportunity for further advancement on this temporary roadblock.

Thus, when the Empress of the Underworld sat on the cushion, Chen Mobai could only watch.

About three days later, Chen Mobai saw the Empress of the Underworld's originally aged skin begin to glow with a jade-green spiritual light, subtly showing signs of rejuvenation. It seemed the Empress of the Underworld had used the opportunity to seek the Dao in Zixiao Palace for restoring her youth. This greatly relieved Chen Mobai. After all, the Empress of the Underworld's cultivation level was at the peak of the Transformation God stage. If she had taken that step further in Zixiao Palace, she might truly have been able to survive the Primordial Chaos Qi Cannon.

“I'm done. Your turn. I'll guard you,” the Empress of the Underworld said, rising from the cushion and addressing the First Underworld General before her. Since Chen Mobai had not acted during this time, it had confirmed the Empress of the Underworld's conjecture. Thus, the First Underworld General did not hesitate, sitting once again on the cushion where he had previously been, and began seeking the Dao.

The Empress of the Underworld, who had transformed from a cat back into the state of a middle-aged woman, asked Chen Mobai, “May I ask for your esteemed name, fellow Daoist?”

“My Daoist name is Pure Yang,” Chen Mobai said, and upon hearing it, the Empress of the Underworld's body trembled.

“For a fellow Daoist to dare use Pure Yang as a name, your ambition is truly vast!”

Upon hearing the Empress of the Underworld's words, Chen Mobai realized that Netherworld Star had records of the Pure Yang realm. It was a pity he hadn't known this when he formed his Nascent Soul; otherwise, with his modest and cautious personality, he certainly wouldn't have chosen this Daoist name.

“It seems you don't know the true worth of a Zixiao Palace student,” Chen Mobai said. Although he had only attended two lectures, he felt that everyone in the first row, where he was seated, was at least at the Pure Yang stage. Some might even have received the true teachings of Zixiao Daoist Master and advanced to the Creation stage.

“I imagine killing you would make the Demon Lord very happy,” the Empress of the Underworld said, her words causing Chen Mobai’s pupils to constrict. The Demon Lord!? It seemed this Empress of the Underworld had also received the Demon Lord’s inheritance. He just didn't know which of the Three Thousand Demonic Paths it was. Theoretically, it should be the Yama Emperor. After all, from the God of Death to successive Underworld Kings, Netherworld Star had always followed this path. If that were the case, killing the Empress of the Underworld would surely allow his Dao of Doom to advance further! Thinking of this, a chill appeared in Chen Mobai's eyes as he looked at the Empress of the Underworld. Although the Empress of the Underworld's eyes were covered by an eye patch, Chen Mobai's killing intent was clearly conveyed to her.

After that, neither spoke another word.

A day and a half later, the First Underworld General rose from the cushion. His originally vibrant and overflowing vital energy suddenly began to condense and retract, seemingly transforming towards a higher level. And after he finished his enlightenment, he simply vanished from the cushion. Seeing this, Chen Mobai suddenly realized something and sharply looked at the Empress of the Underworld. On the Immortal Gate's side, everyone vanished immediately after seeking the Dao in Zixiao Palace, yet the Empress of the Underworld had remained for a long time, even able to converse with him.

“Your death is not far off,” the Empress of the Underworld suddenly said.

Connecting this with Tongtian Zhi's earlier warning, Chen Mobai suddenly thought of a possibility. “You reached the Void Refinement stage long ago?” Chen Mobai asked, his expression grave.

“From the moment I was born, I have wandered within the Great Dao of Life and Death,” the Empress of the Underworld replied calmly. At that moment, Chen Mobai watched as her figure began to turn illusory, transforming from a person back into a cat, and finally dispersing into a wisp of smoke.

Zixiao Palace began to tremble. Chen Mobai felt his body constantly rising, knowing he was leaving Netherworld Star with the palace. He went to the threshold and looked at the scenery outside. The dense dark clouds formed by the Underworld King's undead army were effortlessly pierced by Zixiao Palace, as if encountering a penetrating sun, carving a path through them. Chen Mobai looked at the enraged Underworld King in mid-air, and beside him, the graceful Empress of the Underworld and the First Underworld General with his even deeper vital energy. He knew this would be the most terrifying pioneering war in the history of the Immortal Gate. Zixiao Palace soared like a meteor, breaking through layers of dark clouds, while the Underworld King and other powerful members of the Underworld Race, like streaks of pursuing death light, continuously ascended with the stone palace.

Finally, with a roar, the boundless River of Death encircling Netherworld Star could no longer withstand the Dao power of Zixiao Palace's departure, and a gap was torn open. After breaking free from the River of Death's constraints, Chen Mobai took out his Turtle Treasure and clicked 'Return to City'. Amidst the flashing silver light, he stepped out of the threshold in the last half-second.

The Underworld King, along with the Empress of the Underworld and other Underworld Generals, surged forward. The moment they saw him appear, their faces contorted in fury. They unleashed a tide of death qi, capable of annihilating any Transformation God, which roared towards the cosmic void where Chen Mobai stood. Chen Mobai wanted to wave goodbye to the Underworld King and his company, but realizing they would likely never meet again after the Primordial Chaos Qi Cannon, he lowered his raised hand. With a flicker of silver light, he instantly vanished from his spot. The tide of death qi unleashed by the Underworld King corroded and melted that section of void, but he knew he had struck empty air.

“Damn it!” the Underworld King roared, now completely enraged. “Immediately activate all death qi towers! Advance towards Di Yuan Star with maximum speed!”

Neither the Empress of the Underworld nor the First Underworld General attempted to dissuade him, for they knew that if Chen Mobai was not eliminated, Netherworld Star would face utter destruction once he grew stronger. Soon, Netherworld Star, which had been approaching Di Yuan Star at a normal speed, began emitting streams of black smoke that intertwined in the starry sky, seemingly accelerating with a spiral propulsion.

Chen Mobai, however, had already returned to the outskirts of Di Yuan Star's celestial barrier at the first possible moment. When he returned, he looked up and saw the Realm Gate, which had opened just a crack. Through the Realm Gate, he clearly saw Netherworld Star accelerating towards them.

“Pure Yang, you’re back!”

At that moment, a surprised voice sounded in Chen Mobai’s ear. He turned and saw Qi Yuheng and the others were exactly as he had left them. The only change was that the progress bar on the Primordial Chaos Qi Cannon had reached 49%. Clearly, his message carried significant weight, and the Immortal Gate had acted on it immediately.

“Netherworld Star's power and foundation far surpass those of our Immortal Gate. It is suspected that, besides the God of Death, there are also Void Refinement stage cultivators...” Chen Mobai briefly recounted his short several-dozen-day experience on Netherworld Star, focusing on the resurrected Underworld King, the mysterious Empress of the Underworld, and the powerful First Underworld General. After hearing him, Qi Yuheng and the others broke out in a cold sweat for him.

“Pure Yang, how did you evade the Underworld King and his forces on Netherworld Star?”

“I found a way to get back into Zixiao Palace. I’ll tell you the details later. Now that the opponent is accelerating, they should be within optimal firing range, shouldn't they?” Chen Mobai immediately changed the subject, pointing at Netherworld Star through the Realm Gate's crack and looking at Plum Blossom and Yuan Xu in the distance. The two immediately worked together to calculate the celestial trajectory and confirmed that it was indeed so.

“Pure Yang, this single shot will consume at least five thousand years of the Immortal Gate’s accumulation!” Qi Yuheng said with a touch of reluctance. It wasn't that he was unwilling, but merely the thought that over 70% of the spiritual energy resources painstakingly accumulated by successive Transformation God cultivators, along with gains from pioneering wars like the one on Dragon God Star, would be expended in a single shot by them – it made him feel truly regretful.

“One must first survive to be qualified to talk about anything else,” Chen Mobai said, seeing things clearly. He walked directly behind the cannon barrel, which was the transformed Lingxiao Treasure Hall, and nodded to Cheng Xuan, who was operating the Immortal Gate's most powerful war artifact.

“Pure Yang, this shot will incur immense karmic debt. How about I do it instead?” Cheng Xuan said, hesitating for the first time, trying to persuade him.

Although all systems of the Primordial Chaos Qi Cannon were already operational, the firing sequence required a True Monarch of the Transformation God stage, clad in the Lingxiao Immortal Armor, to initiate it. Both the Lingxiao Treasure Hall and the Lingxiao Immortal Armor were the most powerful creations of the Weapon Dance Daoist Academy, and the key to activating them was the Can Tong Qi. Besides Chen Mobai, Cheng Xuan could also achieve it if he pushed himself to his limits.

“Senior Brother,” Chen Mobai said, “this is a strike that concerns the very survival of our Immortal Gate. Your cultivation is too weak; you cannot control it. It must be me!”

Upon hearing this, Cheng Xuan was deeply moved. The second stage of the Primordial Chaos Qi Cannon was the Immortal Gate's most powerful trump card, an ultimate destructive strike that had never been activated before. This was power beyond the Transformation God realm. Therefore, no one knew if the person who donned the Lingxiao Immortal Armor and activated this strike would emerge unharmed. Yet, facing this unknown outcome, Chen Mobai showed no hesitation.

He activated the Can Tong Qi, and a set of pure white immortal armor flew out, enveloping his hands, feet, and entire body, even completely covering his head. At this moment, Chen Mobai recalled the situation during the pioneering war against Dragon God Star. Back then, White Light had also worn this set of immortal armor to protect Di Yuan Star. Now, it was his turn.

Chen Mobai's mind was very calm, because although Tongtian Zhi had given a subtle warning, it wasn't one of extreme life-or-death intensity. He began to commune with the Lingxiao Immortal Armor's artifact spirit using the Can Tong Qi. Upon sensing his aura, the artifact spirit smoothly cooperated. In an instant, Chen Mobai felt an endless ocean of spiritual energy surge towards him. His cultivation level in the Pure Yang Scripture instantly reached the peak of the middle Transformation God stage, then easily broke through.

But this was only the beginning! After reaching the late Transformation God stage and then the complete Transformation God stage, it continued to soar. Chen Mobai had never realized that the gap between the complete Transformation God stage of the Pure Yang Scripture and the Void Refinement stage was even vaster than that from Qi Condensation to Transformation God. He continuously ascended based on his complete Transformation God realm, but no matter how much his magic power and true qi increased, he still couldn't cross that boundary.

It was at this moment that Chen Mobai understood. The Void Refinement stage could no longer be ascended by endless increases in power. One needed to find the gateway and then step across the threshold.