Chapter 1335: Taixu True Realm

**The Pure Nine-Lotus Lantern**

Before heading to the Xuanjiao Royal Court, Chen Mobai first returned to the Yellow Dragon Grotto-Heaven. Besides checking on Qing Nü, he also wanted to know if her efforts to comprehend the Dingyuan Zhenhai Pearl had yielded any results.

This supreme treasure of the Xuanjiao Royal Court was, in essence, one of the spiritual cores of the Sea Eye Grand Formation. If one could fully master it, they would be able to freely enter and exit the Xuanjiao Royal Court.

"The pearl's spiritual essence has dissipated," Qing Nü said after their meeting, presenting a jade slip. "However, many imprints of the Xuanjiao clan remain. I recorded these after studying the pearl."

As a supreme treasure of the Xuanjiao clan, the Dingyuan Zhenhai Pearl contained not only the legacy left by the ancestral black dragon but also knowledge that successive clan leaders believed should be passed down to their descendants.

After the original spiritual essence dissipated, the ancestral black dragon's legacy entirely vanished, but the imprints left by the Xuanjiao clan leaders remained preserved.

However, humans are fundamentally different from the Xuanjiao clan. Even with Chen Mobai's astonishing insight, he was utterly baffled by the patterned knowledge of the Xuanjiao clan.

"Let's see if we can go to the Xuanhai Sea and capture a Xuanjiao," Chen Mobai suggested. Regarding this, Chen Mobai had an idea.

The Xuanjiao clan's knowledge obtained from the Dingyuan Zhenhai Pearl needed to be deciphered, and that would first require translation.

"I'll go with you," Qing Nü said. Upon hearing this, Qing Nü nodded repeatedly. She could now utilize the power of the Dingyuan Zhenhai Pearl through the Cantong Qi method.

While she couldn't yet command it with perfect ease or dismantle the Sea Eye Grand Formation, activating it to control the power of the Xuanhai Sea was no problem.

However, as Qing Nü had only recently achieved Spirit Transformation, and the Dingyuan Zhenhai Pearl was damaged, she could currently only control a portion of the Xuanhai Sea's power.

Chen Mobai saw this as an opportune moment to train Qing Nü's combat abilities. He directly performed the Great Void Teleportation, instantly bringing her to the outermost edge of the Heavenly Screen Earth Net Grand Formation.

"Greetings, Master, Mistress," a voice said. Unexpectedly, as the couple teleported out, they saw Zhuo Ming, who was leading the Five Elements Sect's Formation and Earth Masters in expanding the grand formation.

It was precisely due to her efforts and the abundant spiritual veins of the Xuanhai Sea that the massive amount of spiritual energy consumed during the previous war with the Jellyfish Palace had been replenished within a mere ten years.

Just as Chen Mobai and Zhuo Ming were discussing how to expand the Heavenly Screen Earth Net Grand Formation and allocate spiritual veins, a silver light flickered into existence, and Zhang Pankong's figure emerged.

"Brother Chen, it really is you!" Zhang Pankong exclaimed. Zhang Pankong, who was nearby directing the Grand Void Ethereal Palace disciples in setting up teleportation formations, had sensed the fluctuations of void power and felt compelled to investigate.

After all, if it had been a wild void spirit body and he had missed it, he would likely be reprimanded for negligence, just like True Monarch Dakong.

After a judgment, True Monarch Dakong had taken primary responsibility for failing to recruit Chen Mobai into the East Continent Grand Void Ethereal Palace, while the sect leader, Grand Void Immortal, held secondary responsibility for lax supervision.

Currently, True Monarch Dakong was being punished in the Central Continent, and it was expected to be a very long time before he would regain his freedom.

Of course, this was largely because the East Continent now had two new Spirit Transformation cultivators, Shan Miaosu and Zhang Pankong, making True Monarch Dakong less indispensable.

Nevertheless, this incident served as a stark warning to all those responsible for the Grand Void Ethereal Palace's branch sects.

It was rumored that in the past decade, the Grand Void Ethereal Palace's methods for screening disciples, such as the Vacuum Dharmakaya, had been disseminated through various channels dozens of times more frequently than before.

Furthermore, as long as one could successfully grasp the introductory level of these cultivation methods, they could visit the Grand Void Ethereal Palace to have their spiritual roots tested.

Even the disciples of the Grand Void Ethereal Palace were dispatched into the mortal world, searching painstakingly to find successors with void talent.

"I seem to have inadvertently wronged Senior Dakong," Chen Mobai said, feeling a touch of self-reproach. "If there's an opportunity, I'll see if I can ask Senior Grand Void Immortal to show him some leniency."

True Monarch Dakong's predicament could only be described as an undeserved calamity. After all, Chen Mobai's void-related talent had not truly manifested much at first. It was only after a series of fortuitous coincidences and his comprehension of the Immortal Sect's Universal Heavenly Tome that he developed the so-called complete Void Spirit Body.

Furthermore, he himself was always cautious and had concealed his abilities within the Heavenly River Realm. If the East Continent Grand Void Ethereal Palace could still track him down under such circumstances, it could only mean that True Monarch Grand Void was subtly guiding them.

"Though it's termed a punishment, it's essentially sending Master into the Grand Void True Realm," Zhang Pankong explained, shaking his head. "If he can break through the void's illusions, it might even turn out to be a reward." He shook his head, indicating there was no need to worry about True Monarch Dakong.

"Oh, what is the Grand Void True Realm?" Chen Mobai asked curiously. "Is it a dharma-realm left by True Monarch Grand Void?" In the past, he would certainly not have asked such a sensitive question, but now that the Grand Void Heaven-Measuring Ruler had made its intentions clear, he already considered himself a successor of True Monarch Grand Void.

"It can be considered a dharma-realm," Zhang Pankong replied, "but it can also be described as another Heavenly River Realm. The Grand Void True Realm is a new world opened up by our Patriarch from chaos. However, it has only fully evolved the Great Daos that the Patriarch himself mastered; the Three Thousand Great Daos are incomplete within it.

"However, precisely because of this, within the Grand Void True Realm, the Void Dao manifests in a materialized form, enveloping everything like a mist. As long as one's comprehension is sufficient, they can gain insight from it and even reach the Void Refinement stage.

"Spirit Transformation cultivators of my Grand Void Ethereal Palace, upon reaching the complete Spirit Transformation stage, can apply to cultivate within the Grand Void True Realm. Some succeed, some fail. Those who succeed can use the Grand Void True Realm as a transit point to directly enter the Spirit Void Immortal Realm, while those who fail are directly assimilated into the Dao.

"Master was originally not qualified to enter it. Although he has now been sent in under the guise of punishment, for him, it's actually a very good cultivation opportunity."

After hearing Zhang Pankong's explanation, Chen Mobai finally felt relieved. After all, he had a good relationship with True Monarch Dakong.

But soon, another thought crossed his mind.

"So, does that mean your Grand Void Ethereal Palace allows cultivators to reach Void Refinement without enduring the Nine-Layered Heavenly Tribulation, instead using the Grand Void True Realm to covertly ascend to the Spirit Void Immortal Realm?"

As soon as these words were spoken, Zhang Pankong offered a somewhat awkward smile.

"That is indeed true," Zhang Pankong confirmed. "But in reality, as long as our sect's cultivators can reach Void Refinement, passing the Nine-Layered Heavenly Tribulation is almost a certainty. However, since a shortcut exists, our predecessors and wise ones would naturally prefer not to take the risk."

Chen Mobai recalled how the Kuisu beast had died during its tribulation. If he were in that position and had a choice, he would certainly opt to covertly pass through the Grand Void True Realm.

"Besides your Grand Void Ethereal Palace, do other holy lands in the Central Continent possess such a capability?" Chen Mobai asked, very curious.

"As far as I know, they do not," Zhang Pankong replied, shaking his head. "However, it's possible my rank isn't high enough to access such secrets." Zhang Pankong shook his head repeatedly, speaking very cautiously. Yet, based on his knowledge, it was indeed only the Grand Void Ethereal Palace that possessed such a method.

"Truly worthy of True Monarch Grand Void's legacy!" Chen Mobai exclaimed in admiration. No wonder there had been no news of anyone from the Grand Void Ethereal Palace reaching Void Refinement and ascending for so many years. Previously, he had thought the sect was in decline, lacking geniuses. Now, it seemed they had all been quietly ascending.

"Brother Chen," Zhang Pankong added, revealing another piece of information to curry favor, "you're actually close to Void Refinement. You could also apply to Patriarch Grand Void Heaven-Measuring Ruler to have him teleport you to the Grand Void True Realm for comprehension. Perhaps you'll succeed there."

"Oh, to enter it, does Senior Grand Void Heaven-Measuring Ruler need to make a move?" Chen Mobai asked, his heart stirred by the prospect of improving his chances of reaching Void Refinement.

"Previously, it wasn't actually necessary," Zhang Pankong began, speaking of the past. "There was a magical artifact called the Qiankun Pot, and also the Ascending Immortal Platform. Both of these were left by our Patriarch..." Zhang Pankong recounted that the Qiankun Pot had been stolen by a traitor from the Grand Void Ethereal Palace, while the Ascending Immortal Platform had fallen into the Netherworld.

To prevent unscrupulous entities from defiling the Grand Void True Realm, the Grand Void Heaven-Measuring Ruler had intervened to seal it. Now, only the Ruler itself or True Monarch Grand Void could freely enter and exit.

"Given Senior Grand Void Heaven-Measuring Ruler's cultivation level, retrieving the Qiankun Pot should be effortless, right?" Chen Mobai had heard of this matter before; after all, though the Hutian Demonic Sect wasn't widely renowned among demonic sects, its strength had always been top-tier.

"That, I don't know," Zhang Pankong replied, shaking his head. "Perhaps the Patriarch has other considerations." He added that regarding the Ascending Immortal Platform, he had learned many truths after achieving Spirit Transformation.

"The Ascending Immortal Platform, once activated, also uses the Grand Void True Realm as a transit point to send cultivators on it to the Spirit Void Immortal Realm. Because it was jointly refined by True Monarch Grand Void and the Heavenly Emperor, in theory, it can use the Heavenly Emperor's power to penetrate seals and enter the Grand Void True Realm. Therefore, our sect has, throughout generations, been trying to find ways to retrieve it from the Netherworld..."

Hearing this, Chen Mobai recalled True Monarch Dakong's obsession with exploring the Netherworld and suddenly understood. Was this the true reason? He had previously thought True Monarch Dakong wanted to ascend using the Ascending Immortal Platform.

"Brother Zhang," Chen Mobai then asked a rather presumptuous question, "are there any Void Refinement cultivators from your esteemed sect secluded in the Grand Void True Realm?"

"Perhaps," Zhang Pankong chuckled evasively, not directly answering.

As they spoke, they had already arrived above the Xuanhai Sea battlefield.

Below, on the sea surface, a thousand treasure ships of the Five Elements Sect, with three spiritual islands as their core, had manifested five colossal Dao soldiers. They stood majestically across the sea, awe-inspiring.

But on the periphery, countless demonic beasts surged from the sea surface, erupting with towering demonic energy. They combined with the dragon veins from the Deep Sea Dragon Palace a thousand miles away, manifesting over a dozen pitch-black, profound flood dragons.

The five Fifth-tier Five Elements Dao soldiers, operated by Mo Douguang and five other Nascent Soul cultivators, formed a Five Elements Grand Formation. They engaged in fierce, continuous battles with the pitch-black flood dragons, almost overturning the sea surface.

However, no matter how powerfully the Five Elements Dao soldiers unleashed their might, they could not break through the swarm of black dragons. As time passed, the numerically disadvantaged Five Elements Sect began sounding the retreat.

The Five Elements Dao soldiers dispersed, and four Fifth-tier treasure ships, leading the fleet, absorbed vast quantities of spiritual stones and energy. They unleashed beams of five-colored light, defeating several of the surging black dragons and simultaneously turning countless demonic beasts on the sea surface into corpses.

However, these losses were only a very small fraction of the Xuanhai demonic beasts.

Accompanied by brilliant radiance, the eastern sky lit up with cloud-like spiritual light, forming layered light shields that enveloped the three spiritual islands where the Five Elements Sect was stationed, along with their thousand treasure ships.

The seemingly endless Xuanhai demonic beasts crashed against the brilliant light shields, and the foremost among them were instantly evaporated into blood mist.

As for the pitch-black flood dragons, which clearly possessed Fifth-tier power, the moment they collided with the light shields, they erupted with earth-shattering roars that caused the vast Xuanhai Sea to tremble.

The pitch-black flood dragons dispersed, but Chen Mobai observed that their source power had not vanished; instead, it flew back to the various encampments of the Xuanhai demonic tribe.

The power of the Heavenly Screen Earth Net Grand Formation was what blocked the black dragons. Although Mo Douguang was a sword cultivator, he fully entrusted military strategy to Duan Shuyu, a master tactician. The latter proceeded steadily and cautiously, ensuring that all encampments of the Five Elements Sect army remained within the protective range of the grand formation's power.

This way, even if they suffered a defeat in battle, they could retreat to an unassailable position.

Zhuo Ming, of course, cooperated fully, mobilizing thirty-six satellites constantly aimed at the Five Elements Sect army. The moment Duan Shuyu sent a distress signal, the grand formation's power would instantly transform into a protective light shield and descend.

"What a pity," Chen Mobai mused, "that little flood dragon didn't come out today." Chen Mobai's Sixth-tier divine sense swept across the battlefield, clearly identifying all the demonic beasts and confirming that the little flood dragon was not hidden among them.

Still, he gained something. Within the Xuanhai demonic army, he saw over a dozen Xuanjiao. The pitch-black flood dragons manifested by the Black Dragon Formation were under their control.

These were clearly dispatched by the little flood dragon; after all, the Five Elements Sect was formidable. If the Xuanjiao clan didn't personally oversee the battle, these Xuanhai demonic tribes were very likely to lead their clans in flight.

"Let me do it," Qing Nü said, eager to try. Seeing that Chen Mobai was about to act, Qing Nü eagerly spoke up.

"Then I'll trouble you, my lady," Chen Mobai replied. Chen Mobai lowered his raised sleeve, but his divine sense remained locked onto the dozen or so Fourth-tier Xuanjiao, ensuring absolute certainty.

"Rise!" Qing Nü commanded. Qing Nü nodded, then activated the Dingyuan Zhenhai Pearl. The pearl instantly glowed with blue spiritual light, seizing control of the Xuanhai Sea's power within a three-thousand-li radius.

"Huh, what's going on?" Within the largest encampments of the Xuanhai demonic tribe, the Xuanjiao who were channeling the Sea Eye's power and preparing to reactivate the Black Dragon Formation suddenly felt themselves being repelled by the Xuanhai Sea.

Even though they were surrounded by vast ocean, it felt as if they had been teleported into a desert, unable to sense any moisture with each breath.

And as they stood bewildered, the surrounding ocean suddenly transformed into transparent ropes, binding them firmly.

An earth-shattering dragon's roar resonated from the Xuanjiao Royal Court a thousand miles away. An unprecedentedly colossal black dragon ascended from the sea surface, flying towards them.

"How noisy!" Chen Mobai scoffed, seeing this scene. The freshly upgraded Primordial Bell flew out. With a gentle tremor directed at the colossal black dragon flying towards them, the power of the Xuanjiao Royal Court's Sixth-tier Sea Eye Grand Formation was instantly shattered into countless splashes of water.