Chapter 1254: Dragon Vein Awakens Spirituality

Pure Nine Lotus Lantern:

For Spirit Venerables, only rank-six elixirs and spiritual items are effective now. In this universe, these items are generally traded using 'Dao Merits' as the unit. Given Chen Mobai's current assets, he can only add them to his shopping cart for now.

Furthermore, if Too Void Express delivers them to Fushang Star, his possession of a Realm Gate would quickly become common knowledge. This doesn't align with his low-key nature. Therefore, Chen Mobai thought it would be more cost-effective to check out the Heavenly River Realm.

Just then, his Formless Human Puppet, left in the Yellow Dragon Cave Abode, showed unusual activity. The Formless Human Puppet was activated by Qing Nü because True Monarch Wuchen had arrived. The reason for this Transformation God cultivator from the Dao Sect to come was that the Dragon Vein in the Eastern Barrens had finally awakened its spirituality.

Chen Mobai felt this was somewhat slow. However, True Monarch Wuchen found it surprisingly fast. After all, the Five Elements Sect's dominance began when Chen Mobai formed his Core, and later, Jiang Zongheng emerged to assist King Zhao in unifying the entire Eastern Barrens. All of this has only taken a mere two hundred years so far.

The Dao Sect, possessing the Xuanji Instrument of Heaven and Earth, also had profound research into dragon veins. Over tens of thousands of years, countless dragon veins have proliferated throughout the Eastern Continent. For instance, among the Hundred Kingdoms of the Eastern Lands, there are hundreds of dragon veins, but none possess spirituality. From ancient times to the present, among all the dragon veins across the Five Continents and Four Seas, only the Dragon Vein of the Eastern Land's Imperial Court had its spirituality directly enlightened. The fastest among the others took nearly five hundred years.

The Eastern Barrens Dragon Vein shortened this record by more than half. Moreover, despite the short time, the dragon vein's spirituality was exceptionally strong, a rarity throughout history. It was precisely for this reason that it caught the attention of Ziyun Tianque.

"How did Ziyun Tianque know there was a dragon vein in the Eastern Barrens, and that it was about to awaken its spirituality?" After hearing True Monarch Wuchen's explanation, Chen Mobai finally understood the true value of his own dragon vein, but he also had new questions and couldn't help but ask.

"The Yuwen Clan possesses the 'Myriad Dragon Banner,' passed down by the Heavenly Emperor. It's made from the dragon skin shed by the Heavenly Emperor after his enlightenment and can sense and control the dragon vein power of the Heavenly River Realm," True Monarch Wuchen explained. In the domain of dragon veins, the Myriad Dragon Banner conflicts with their Dao Sect's Xuanji Instrument of Heaven and Earth. However, in the Eastern Continent, the Dao Sect, which had been cultivating for a long time, held an advantage.

Chen Mobai received True Monarch Wuchen on the peak of Beiyuan Mountain. After serving tea, he looked towards the capital of Zhao, which was situated on the same plateau. As the origin of the dragon vein's birth, a phantom yet substantially existing dark long dragon had now materialized there. This was the spirit of the dragon vein.

The moment it was born, the Xuanji Instrument of Heaven and Earth, wielded by True Monarch Wuchen, began to shake violently. Furthermore, under the influence of the dragon vein's spirit, the somewhat scattered fortunes of the three frontier regions of the Eastern Continent began to merge and swell, centered around the Eastern Barrens Plateau. On the originally black body of the dragon vein, two additional blue and red dragon heads emerged, extending towards the directions of Eastern Wu and Eastern Yi.

This was also why the Eastern Barrens Dragon Vein had only now fully awakened its spirituality. Because this dragon vein, following the grand destiny of the Five Elements Sect, extended into Eastern Wu and Eastern Yi, integrating the human civilizations of both regions. This deepened its foundation, but also correspondingly delayed the awakening of its spirituality. However, for a Transformation God True Monarch, a few decades pass in the blink of an eye.

"The Eastern Barrens Dragon Vein has awakened its spirituality today, but is it a blessing or a curse?" Chen Mobai remarked, seeing the three illusory dragon vein heads within the earth beginning to spread endlessly, connecting to all the major cities where people lived within the Five Elements Sect's territory.

After suppressing the restless Xuanji Instrument of Heaven and Earth, True Monarch Wuchen said, "Young friend, your divine abilities and strength are already the greatest in the Eastern Continent, and even among the entire Five Continents and Four Seas, you stand among the top few. Are you actually worried about this small dragon vein?"

Chen Mobai replied, "At other times, I naturally wouldn't worry. However, in three hundred years, the world will undergo a great change, allowing Void Refining cultivators to stay. I'm not worried about Void Refining cultivators themselves, as I'll certainly be at that realm by then. It's just that the dragon vein is related to the Heavenly Emperor's legacy, and I previously rejected the Yuwen Clan. I fear that might displease the Heavenly Emperor."

Upon hearing this, True Monarch Wuchen's mouth twitched slightly. He felt Chen Mobai was a bit too arrogant. How long had he been a Transformation God, yet he was already so certain he could reach Void Refining within three hundred years? And what he worried about was none other than the Heavenly Emperor, the foremost figure in the Immortal Realm. If not for their decent relationship, True Monarch Wuchen would truly have wanted to say: What are you, to be worthy of offending the Heavenly Emperor?

As a Transformation God of the Dao Sect, he knew from his previous conversations with the Grandmaster of Wuwei from the Upper Realm that, currently, only the grandmasters of various sects were truly in the Heavenly Emperor's eyes. "Young friend, you needn't worry. When the sky falls, taller people will hold it up. Furthermore, although the Heavenly Emperor is the foremost person in the Immortal Realm, he is also heavily constrained. The various Dao Lords will not allow him to act recklessly."

True Monarch Wuchen thought that it was thanks to Chen Mobai that he was able to obtain the Three Profound Jade Dragon Elixir from Ao Yuxia and achieve his breakthrough. Thus, he offered words of comfort, revealing some secrets of the Immortal Realm.

"That's good, that's good..."

Chen Mobai nodded. Just then, his expression suddenly shifted, and he looked towards the capital of Zhao. Under his Heaven-Connecting Blessing and Earth-Responding Spirit, the changing aura of the dragon vein there was fully observed. He immediately sensed that his disciple, Jiang Zongheng, was there. Jiang Zongheng was drawing and absorbing the dragon vein's aura, helping his already perfected Golden Core take the final step.

The initial wisp of spirituality born within the dragon vein was refined by Jiang Zongheng, transforming into his Nascent Soul's spirituality. A dragon roar, inaudible to ordinary people, resounded from deep within the earth. However, under Chen Mobai's Heaven-Connecting Blessing and Earth-Responding Spirit, it was incredibly clear, even causing his spiritual sense to tremble slightly. This was the Eastern Barrens' dragon vein, sensing Jiang Zongheng's impending breakthrough and continuously pouring in the purest energy from the dragon veins of the three surrounding regions of the Eastern Barrens.

"Oh?" True Monarch Wuchen naturally also sensed this with his Xuanji Instrument of Heaven and Earth, and he exclaimed in surprise, "Is someone taking this opportunity to cultivate the 'Six Dragons Riding the Heavens Scripture'?"

Chen Mobai saw True Monarch Wuchen's suddenly sharp gaze and thought to himself, if this old fellow wasn't sensible, should he engage him in a fight to make him shut up and pretend not to have seen this scene? Strange, why is my luck so bad today? Just as the dragon vein awakened its spirituality, True Monarch Wuchen arrived and encountered Jiang Zongheng forming his Nascent Soul. And the latter happened to choose the capital of Zhao, triggering the dragon vein to course through his body.

Throughout the Heavenly River Realm, the most renowned method for refining and utilizing dragon vein power was the 'Six Dragons Riding the Heavens Scripture.' True Monarch Wuchen could no longer sit still at this moment. The Dao Sect's reason for slaying dragons was precisely to prevent anyone from cultivating the 'Six Dragons Riding the Heavens Scripture.' Could it be Ziyun Tianque secretly hid Yuwen Baozhi in the Eastern Barrens?

Upon this thought, True Monarch Wuchen immediately rose and transformed into a streak of light, flying towards the capital of Zhao. Chen Mobai found it difficult to stop him and could only follow. However, a wisp of fire light descended from behind his head, remaining in place. As his true body flew with True Monarch Wuchen, his second Nascent Soul performed a Grand Spatial Shift, instantly teleporting to the destination at an even faster speed.

At this crucial moment of Jiang Zongheng's Nascent Soul breakthrough, Chen Mobai found it inconvenient to move him away with a Dharma Realm. He brought out the rank-six Haotian Mirror, using this artifact to conceal him. Then, he activated the Eastern Barrens' rank-six Heaven Curtain Earth Net Grand Formation, incorporating the already awakened dragon vein, hoping to use the formation's power for an additional layer of concealment.

However, during this process, Chen Mobai was surprised to discover something. Within the dragon vein, another energy conglomerate, whose aura was similar to his Six Dragon Incarnation, was actually hidden. In other words, someone else was actually cultivating the 'Six Dragons Riding the Heavens Scripture' by leveraging this Eastern Barrens Dragon Vein! Who could it be?

Upon realizing this, Chen Mobai swept his spiritual sense using the Heaven Curtain Earth Net Grand Formation and was quickly filled with pleasant surprise. This was perfect for taking the blame. He had already prepared for Jiang Zongheng's cultivation of the Heavenly Emperor's Tome to be exposed and for a confrontation with True Monarch Wuchen. Now, however, he had a perfect excuse and reason. Chen Mobai's expression immediately relaxed.

Just then, two streaks of Transformation God spiritual light had already descended above the capital of Zhao. True Monarch Wuchen's spiritual sense surged downwards and, guided by the Heaven Curtain Earth Net Grand Formation, quickly discovered a Corpse Cultivator hidden in a large tomb in the suburbs. "How audacious! Someone dares to cultivate the 'Six Dragons Riding the Heavens Scripture' using the Corpse Dissolution method! Which demonic rogue is this?!"

Upon discovering the "truth," True Monarch Wuchen couldn't help but show great anger. With a sweep of his wide sleeve, the surface of the large tomb in the suburbs immediately cracked open layer by layer, revealing a mysterious coffin hidden deep underground. Before the coffin lay a five-colored lotus lamp, with faint flames burning atop it, seemingly guiding the return of the deceased.

As the tomb was uncovered, a chilling aura unique to the netherworld's Yellow Springs surged from deep underground. It was swallowed by the coffin, subtly transforming into a shadowy black underworld dragon phantom. Two points of crimson light ignited as its eyes, fixating with cruel and fierce gazes on the two Transformation Gods above.

"Hmph, playing tricks." Before True Monarch Wuchen could act, Chen Mobai already let out a cold snort. With a wave of his right hand, a golden Demon-Slaying Divine Lightning bolt directly struck down. The black dragon incarnation, seemingly from the netherworld, roared skyward and charged into the air, intending to unleash the 'Six Dragons Riding the Heavens Scripture' it had painstakingly cultivated for over a hundred years. However, the moment it made contact with the Demon-Slaying Divine Lightning, it dissipated into a sky full of black mist.

These were the aura of the Eastern Barrens Dragon Vein, allowing them to persist under the power of the Demon-Slaying Divine Lightning. However, more than half of the other energies—netherworld aura, Yellow Springs Corpse Qi, and so on—melted away without resistance, like ice and snow falling into flames.

With a loud bang! The golden Demon-Slaying Divine Lightning directly smashed into the coffin, blowing apart this corpse-nurturing artifact, which had countless demonic forbidden spells applied to it. A golden-armored corpse, already cultivated to the peak of Rank 3 and in the process of transforming into a Jade Corpse, came into the sight of Chen Mobai and True Monarch Wuchen. Compared to ordinary cultivators, this corpse could be considered powerful. But before the mighty power of a Transformation God, it was like an ant.

Chen Mobai's Demon-Slaying Divine Lightning had already pierced through the corpse. Just as he was about to reduce it to nothing, he suddenly thought of the rank-five Golden-Armored Heavenly God. The raw materials for it seemed usable from this corpse. He couldn't help but use his spiritual sense to condense the divine lightning's power, thus preserving the corpse's integrity.

Just then, a dark lotus seal lit up on the corpse's forehead. In an instant, it transformed into a wisp of black mist that shot out, attempting to escape towards the horizon. But with a gentle turn of the Xuanji Instrument of Heaven and Earth in True Monarch Wuchen's hand, this entire region was sealed. The black mist seemed to hit an invisible wall of qi, and was immediately forced back into its original form, revealing a tall, square-faced cultivator in black robes.

"A rogue from the Incarnation Demonic Sect! No wonder he could sneak into the heartland of the Five Elements Sect to nurture corpses!" The moment he saw the dark lotus seal, True Monarch Wuchen already understood "everything." He sneered and spat out a mouthful of elixir flame. Mou Xiaotian was just about to say something when a golden Demon-Slaying Divine Lightning bolt, striking later, arrived first and reduced him to nothingness.

"Damn demonic cultivator! How dare you! You clearly don't respect me at all!" Chen Mobai's face was filled with fury after eliminating Mou Xiaotian, seemingly indignant that the Incarnation Demonic Sect had infiltrated his territory.

"Young friend, there's no need to rush. The Incarnation Demonic Sect is like this. In the future, you just need to plant more Pure Bamboo." As True Monarch Wuchen spoke, he also looked at the corpse, which, after being pierced by Chen Mobai's Demon-Slaying Divine Lightning, had its spiritual consciousness extinguished and all its restrictions gone. Within the corpse's bones and skin, immense dragon vein power was contained, almost turning its flesh, skin, and bones into jade.

"Indeed, it was this corpse that drew upon the dragon vein's spirit, attempting to transform into a Rank 4 Jade Corpse, or even lay the foundation for becoming a Rank 5 Flying Yaksha." True Monarch Wuchen concluded the truth after completing his inspection.

While acting, Chen Mobai's second Nascent Soul also made its move, using the Heaven Curtain Earth Net Grand Formation to sever Jiang Zongheng's connection with the Eastern Barrens Dragon Vein. "I owe much to senior. Otherwise, with such a menace hidden in the heart of the Eastern Barrens, I fear the Five Elements Sect would face a great calamity after my ascension," Chen Mobai immediately seized the opportunity, shifting all blame onto this demonic cultivator.

"There are murals around this tomb; they should tell the origin of this corpse. He was once an earthly emperor, yet he was deceived by a demonic cultivator and became a nurtured corpse puppet," True Monarch Wuchen swept his spiritual sense, already having inspected the entire tomb thoroughly, inside and out. He knew that the corpse was that of the founding emperor of Zhao, the first universal co-ruler of the Eastern Barrens.

"It's also my fault. After sending disciples down the mountain to select a lord to unify the Eastern Barrens, I no longer concerned myself with mortal affairs, focusing only on my own cultivation. I didn't expect it would almost lead to a great disaster," Chen Mobai sighed. He naturally knew of King Zhao, who was considered an emperor of all ages in the history of the Eastern Barrens. Who would have thought that, under the temptation of longevity, he would embark on a path of no return?

"What we just saw was merely a demonic thought from the Incarnation Demonic Sect; their true body might still be hidden in the Eastern Barrens. Young friend, you must be careful," True Monarch Wuchen warned.

"One day, I will surely make the Incarnation Demonic Sect extinct in this realm!" Chen Mobai said with a cold expression.