Chapter 985: Heavenly Heart Warning

“Name?”

“Sun Yun.”

“Age?”

“Two hundred and fourteen.”

“Residential address?”

“No. 21, Block A, Sanyuan Street, Nujiang Ward, Fengyu Immortal City.”

After Du Mengyun completed all the procedures at the immigration window and verified her foreign resident settlement permit, she looked at Hong He at the adjacent window. The same questions and forms made her realize that Hong He, like herself, had also purchased property in the Eastern Barrens, preparing to settle down and go into hiding there. This fellow was quite sharp-witted to think that the Eastern Barrens was now the safest place.

Sun Yun was a false identity Du Mengyun had arranged through the Sun family’s connections. Using this identity, she purchased properties in many of the Five Elements Sect’s immortal cities. The Five Elements Sect would certainly not verify the authenticity of this identity in Eastern Wu; as long as the spirit stones were real, it was fine. However, due to the current wartime, all foreign nationals were required to reside in a border immortal city for a period to ensure they were not demonic spies before being allowed to apply to travel to the inner Eastern Barrens. It was for this reason that even though Du Mengyun owned over a dozen properties in the Eastern Barrens, she could only stay in Fengyu Immortal City for now.

“Senior Sister…”

At this moment, Hong He also finished his procedures and came out. Since both were refugees fleeing to the Eastern Barrens, they no longer felt awkward and began to chat. It turned out that the properties they had purchased were even on the same street.

Du Mengyun asked, “You also bought property through Sun Changqing?”

Sun Changqing was one of the Sun family’s business association managers in the Eastern Barrens. Later, he leveraged his connection with Song Huangda to secretly establish a proxy purchasing service in the Eastern Barrens. This helped many people from Eastern Wu acquire properties within the Five Elements Sect’s territory.

Hong He nodded slightly. His identity couldn’t withstand scrutiny, so he could only use a proxy buyer. In Eastern Wu, he was considered a subordinate of Sun Huangling, so he naturally knew Sun Changqing. Du Mengyun looked at the name on his residence permit: Fu Hong.

“Junior Brother, I’ll leave Fengyu Immortal City after settling for half a year. What about you?”

Compared to Du Mengyun, Hong He had far fewer spirit stones. After all, his main source of income was plundering. The only reason he could fully purchase a property in Fengyu Immortal City was due to the preferential policies Zhou Ye had offered to foreign nationals from Eastern Wu when the immortal city first opened, in an effort to sell properties.

“We’ll see then,” Hong He said vaguely. He was thinking about whether he could meet Chen Mobai once the war ended. Although he hadn't accessed the core secrets of the Jade Mirror Demonic Sect over the years, he had learned quite a bit of information about the demonic path, which he felt should be useful to the Five Elements Sect.

“Then let’s stick to what we discussed earlier…” Du Mengyun thought that since she was unfamiliar with this place, she still needed a subordinate to command, so she subtly used her cultivation technique to remind Hong He again.

“Understood, Senior Sister.”

Hong He nodded outwardly, but inwardly, he was thinking about finding an opportunity to report Sun Huangling to Chen Mobai later.

The news of Chen Mobai slaying the Lesser Demon Venerable and Du Mengyun quickly spread. Diao Xianlan, who was preparing an ambush halfway, broke out in a cold sweat after hearing Wen Buyue’s report. Although she considered herself exceptionally strong and unrivaled below the Soul Transformation stage, facing the Lesser Demon Venerable would at best result in a pyrrhic victory. This Primeval Daoist was actually able to slay the Lesser Demon Venerable and then her disciple, Du Mengyun. It showed that his strength was no less than hers; even considering his identity as a sword cultivator, if they fought, even if she managed to defeat him with demonic secret arts, she would likely lose half her life. Fortunately, the Lesser Demon Venerable and Du Mengyun had taken the brunt of this calamity. Thinking this way, Diao Xianlan felt that fate was on her side. After all, it was originally supposed to be a deadly duel between her and Chen Mobai, but now she had avoided it.

“It’s a pity Yun’er died, it has delayed your great Dao…” Diao Xianlan said kindly, looking at Wen Buyue who stood respectfully to the side. After Du Mengyun’s death, Wen Buyue became Diao Xianlan’s most capable subordinate, so she directly gave him the method to complete the Jade Mirror Reconstruction Art. However, lacking the ‘devouring’ stage, it would likely take Wen Buyue hundreds of years, or even several centuries, of arduous cultivation on his own.

“Not at all, these are minor matters for me. Master’s Soul Transformation is the top priority.” Wen Buyue spoke with a solemn expression. Although Diao Xianlan knew he wasn’t speaking from the heart, she was still very pleased. Du Mengyun’s soul lamp was in the Eastern Li headquarters of the Jade Mirror Demonic Sect, so neither of them knew that she was still alive.

“Make sure that the news of the Lesser Demon Venerable’s death reaches all the other demon kings of Myriad Immortals Island, especially those directly taught by the Demon Venerable…” Diao Xianlan began to arrange the next steps. Originally, this battlefield was led by her and the Lesser Demon Venerable. Now that the Lesser Demon Venerable was dead, the Barren Sea demonic tribe had scattered directly. Although there were still two other fourth-tier demonic beasts, they definitely couldn’t take charge of the overall situation. More high-level cultivators were still needed, at least superficially, to provide an explanation to Venerable Ming.

“Yes, Master!”

Wen Buyue nodded. Just as he was leaving, Diao Xianlan remembered something else. “Previously, Zuo Dongdu, the Sand Controller of the Flying Sand Sect, died in Eastern Continent, reportedly at the hands of someone from the Primeval Dao Palace, and their sect’s treasured artifact also went missing. Go to the Myriad Stars Alliance and inform the Flying Sand Sect that the Primeval Daoist is stationed here on the battlefield. I imagine Taishi Weiguang will be interested in this.”

Wen Buyue was slightly surprised after hearing this. He happened to know the truth of this matter: it was done by Su Zilu, a subordinate of Venerable Ming, and Su Zilu had already died at Chen Mobai’s hands. If the Flying Sand Sect were truly drawn in, the Five Elements Sect alone certainly couldn’t defend Eastern Wu, and it was even estimated that their Eastern Barrens headquarters would be breached. Wen Buyue felt a deep sense of regret. He had watched the Eastern Barrens develop step by step over the years, highly approved of Chen Mobai’s abilities, and believed that such a human sanctuary should not be destroyed by war. But his allegiance was to the demonic path. A being like the Primeval Daoist would certainly reach Soul Transformation in the future. Wen Buyue would be glad to see him eliminated before he fully matured. Coincidentally, when Wen Buyue was developing in the Barren Sea, one of his patrons was a Sand Controller from the Flying Sand Sect. Diao Xianlan knew this, which was why she entrusted this matter to him.

After Chen Mobai slew the Lesser Demon Venerable and Du Mengyun, he initially expected a quick counterattack from the Barren Sea demons and prepared for the Five Elements Sect and the Eastern Wu Alliance to retreat. However, half a year passed, and the Eastern Wu battlefield became calm instead. It seemed the enemy had been intimidated by his formidable strength. Despite this, Chen Mobai did not lower his guard, as his Heavenly Eye of All-Encompassing Fortune was continuously sending warnings through his Heart of Heaven, indicating that the upcoming war would be even more terrifying. While taking the elixirs refined by Qing Nü to recover from his injuries, he dispatched Song Huangda to gather intelligence from the Barren Sea.

With this half-year buffer, Jiang Zongheng finally completely sorted out the mortal realm of Eastern Wu, migrating most of the mortals from Eastern Wu into the twelve prefectures. The Five Elements Sect was also working hard on the remaining population, but because Eastern Wu was vast and sparsely populated, many mortal villages were located deep in the mountains, making their relocation quite troublesome.

“Sect Master, this is the latest intelligence summary from the Barren Sea…”

Inside the tent, Song Huangda handed a compiled jade slip to Chen Mobai. Most of the content in these jade slips was provided by cultivation families from Eastern Wu. Since this region bordered the Barren Sea and possessed treasure ship technology, various families had business dealings with the Barren Sea. After Song Huangda compiled and summarized the information, he also captured many demons on the battlefield, extracted a lot of intelligence, updated and organized it, and then presented it to Chen Mobai.

The Barren Sea, as one of the Four Seas, was the weakest region among the Five Continents and Four Seas of the Heavenly River Realm. Its spiritual energy concentration was also the lowest. Long ago, it was once a battlefield where many ancient grand cultivators contended for the Dao over the Barren Sea. During their battles, many high-grade spiritual veins were shattered and dispersed, leading to its current state. However, Chen Mobai had heard from Ye Qing that deep within the Barren Sea, there was once a cage set up by the Spirit Void Immortal Realm, which imprisoned many powerful true demonic spirits captured by upper realm immortals after their descent. But subsequently, with the great changes in heaven and earth, all Void Refinement cultivators were forced to ascend, and this cage also vanished. The Demon Venerable’s origin was mysterious; the Nine Heavens Demon Eradication Sect suspected it had escaped from that cage. But the great changes in heaven and earth occurred thirty thousand years ago; even a Soul Transformation true spirit should have died of old age by now. In the Barren Sea, since the battle between Ancestor Hesha of the Flying Sand Sect and the Demon Venerable over eight hundred years ago, which resulted in one death and one disappearance, there had been no more Soul Transformation level beings.

The two major powers entrenched here were the Myriad Stars Alliance, a coalition of various spiritual islands in the Barren Sea centered around the Flying Sand Sect, and Myriad Immortals Island, left behind by the Demon Venerable. However, during the Soul Transformation battle, Myriad Immortals Island had already been shattered by Ancestor Hesha, and now only its core remained. Before the Demon Venerable disappeared, it had four disciples. One had died at the hands of the Myriad Stars Alliance. The Lesser Demon Venerable was the fifth, but before its initiation ceremony could be held, Myriad Immortals Island was attacked and shattered by the Myriad Stars Alliance. Besides the three great demon kings and the Lesser Demon Venerable, there were also several other fourth-tier demonic beasts in the Barren Sea that collectively formed the broader Myriad Immortals Island, confronting the Myriad Stars Alliance to prevent being defeated one by one and gradually encroached upon by human cultivators.

This time, the Lesser Demon Venerable emerged from seclusion, subdued three fourth-tier demonic beasts, and gathered a claimed eighty thousand Barren Sea demons, ambitiously aiming to achieve a great feat. Its plan was to break through Eastern Wu, then use the abundant flesh and blood resources from the land to attract the other fourth-tier demonic beasts of Myriad Immortals Island to join its ranks. At that point, millions of demonic troops would inflict immense damage upon the Eastern Continent. It would then see if it could use the opportunity of war to devour the millions of cultivators in Eastern Wu and the Eastern Barrens, break through to the fifth tier, and even rescue the Demon Venerable. However, its grand ambitions were unfortunately cut short by Chen Mobai.

“Pay attention to the movements of the three great demon kings of Myriad Immortals Island…” Chen Mobai instructed Song Huangda, who immediately nodded.

Following this, Liu Wenbai and others also reported on their respective tasks. Although the main battlefield had quieted down, the infiltration of Barren Sea demons had not stopped. However, because the Five Elements Sect had relocated most mortals to large cities for protection, they could only cause minor disruptions.

“Master, this is a message from Junior Sister Luo…”

Finally, Liu Wenbai took out a communication talisman and handed it to Chen Mobai. Luo Yixuan was in Eastern Yi. Although Chen Mobai hadn't explicitly said so, she proactively sent updates on various situations there at regular intervals. In her view, Chen Mobai had sent her to Zhou Ye’s side precisely because he didn’t trust Zhou Ye, tasking her with surveillance. After Chen Mobai read her messages a few times, he found her sending talismans too frequently, so he instructed Liu Wenbai to handle communication with her.

“Oh, Eastern Yi is actually on the verge of collapsing.” The message Liu Wenbai handed to Chen Mobai was, naturally, important news, but its contents were not encouraging. Although the fifth-tier Black Flood Dragon and Golden Flame Suan Ni of the Profound Flood Dragon Royal Court had retreated and disappeared from the battlefield after their battle with the two Soul Transformation cultivators of the Grand Void Ethereal Palace, the Eastern Yi battlefield had become even more intense. Jinyu Immortal City, on the other hand, was relatively stable. With seven Nascent Soul cultivators stationed there, coupled with a fifth-tier grand formation, it could barely hold its ground even against the more powerful Profound Sea demonic tribe.

However, the Golden Flame Suan Ni’s round trip from the depths of the Barren Ruins to Eastern Yi had opened up a path. Now, some fourth-tier demonic beasts from deep within the Barren Ruins were leading their clans along this path, entering Eastern Yi. This was clearly orchestrated by the Golden Flame Suan Ni, intending to use the demonic beasts from the Barren Ruins to sweep away the remaining forces in Eastern Yi, thereby making Jinyu Immortal City an isolated fortress. Even with seven great Nascent Soul cultivators stationed there, it would surely fall after a prolonged period. The Barren Ruin demonic beasts, while advancing towards Jinyu Immortal City, also spread outwards, greedily devouring various spiritual plants and cultivators’ blood essence across the land of Eastern Yi. And the entrance opened by the Golden Flame Suan Ni was precisely between the Five Elements Sect and Empty Mulberry Valley.

Therefore, Zhou Ye and Kuzhu, along with their cultivators, had no choice but to fight these Barren Ruin demonic beasts. Despite having the advantages of formations and terrain, both sects were continuously retreating, because there were simply too many demonic beasts in the Barren Ruins. Six of the seven defensive lines Zhou Ye had set up with his disciples had already been breached by the Barren Ruin demonic beasts. They were currently holding out in the last bastion, Mingjing Immortal City, relying on the formation personally arranged by Chen Mobai. However, according to Luo Yixuan, Zhou Ye was already making arrangements to abandon Eastern Yi and retreat to the Eastern Barrens.

Just as Chen Mobai finished reading, Song Huangda rushed in and handed him an urgent secret letter from Eastern Yi. This was personally written by Zhou Ye, and its content was largely similar to what Luo Yixuan had reported:

“Junior Sect Master, I can no longer defend Eastern Yi with my current strength. To ensure the safety of our disciples, I recommend an immediate retreat. This defeat is entirely my responsibility. The retreat plan is as follows:…”

After reading it, Chen Mobai could only sigh softly. If they retreated, the thirty thousand acres of medicinal fields inherited from the Xuanxiao Dao Palace would be handed over to the demonic beasts. However, compared to resources, people were certainly more important. Therefore, Chen Mobai immediately signed the order to agree to the retreat and had Song Huangda deliver it to Zhou Ye as quickly as possible. The only fortunate thing was that the Five Elements Sect had not yet undertaken major infrastructure development in Eastern Yi. As their main base in the Eastern Barrens had not yet been fully constructed, they lacked available manpower, having only built Mingjing Immortal City on the ruins of the original Xuanxiao Dao Palace to serve as a large-scale teleportation array hub. If Eastern Yi were flattened by the demonic tribe in this war, the only benefit would be the opportunity for extensive post-war reconstruction and further expansion of the Sky Curtain and Earth Vein array.

The situation on the Eastern Yi battlefield suddenly made Chen Mobai even more concerned about the Eastern Wu battlefield. He had a premonition that this war between righteous and demonic paths might inflict a massive blow upon the Eastern Continent’s cultivation world. He could only hope that the major sacred lands on the main Eastern Continent battlefield could hold out.

As soon as the news of the Eastern Yi retreat spread, Qing Nü was the first to become anxious, personally taking a teleportation array to the front line to discuss with Chen Mobai. Those thirty thousand acres of medicinal fields were the main source of medicinal ingredients for her Danxia Pavilion. If occupied by the demonic tribe, elixir production would be reduced by at least fifty to sixty percent. Currently, during wartime, cultivators’ demand for elixirs had surged several times over. If production further decreased, the elixir market could easily collapse, with prices soaring to a level where low-level cultivators couldn’t afford them.

“There’s nothing we can do about it. However, before Zhou Ye retreats, he will bring back all the harvestable medicinal ingredients from the thirty thousand acres of medicinal fields. Then, I’ll have Ming’er oversee converting some fertile land in the Eastern Barrens, currently used for growing spirit rice, into medicinal fields. The sect’s major immortal cities also have some accumulated medicinal ingredients in their storages. I will also implement some policies to control elixir prices. Hopefully, we can get through this period.” Although Chen Mobai’s cultivation was heaven-reaching, in these matters, he could only tap into internal potential.

“That’s the only way then. From now on, Danxia Pavilion will mainly focus on making Grain Abstinence Pills and healing elixirs. We’ll temporarily stop refining those for cultivation enhancement.” Qing Nü nodded helplessly after hearing this. During wartime, elixir production could only prioritize basic needs; other types would come later. The Eastern Barrens, being under the rule of the Five Elements Sect, was relatively stable, but in Eastern Wu and Eastern Yi, elixir prices had already soared. The price of Grain Abstinence Pills, in particular, had increased seven or eightfold.

Next, Chen Mobai inquired about the Lesser Demon Venerable’s corpse, which was a valuable material. “I extracted half a drop of fifth-tier essence blood from its body, but it doesn’t quite match its physical form. Unfortunately, we don’t have tools here to test its genetic map…” Qing Nü mentioned this. She had meticulously cut and preserved the Lesser Demon Venerable’s remaining scales, inner core, meridians, bones, and so on, using Chen Mobai’s specially made cold iron surgical knife. Only the essence blood, when refined using a method from the Immortal Gate, revealed something different. From a bowl of the Lesser Demon Venerable’s peak fourth-tier essence blood, she had separated half a drop of fifth-tier essence blood, and by its aura, it was not an ordinary fifth-tier.

“I’ll find a way to get a second-hand one later.” Chen Mobai nodded after hearing this, indicating he had noted the matter. It was a pity that there was only half a drop of fifth-tier essence blood, making it insufficient for refining a Transcendent Sacred True Spirit Pill.

“Here, this is a fifth-tier lightning-attribute inner core. You should find it useful.” Qing Nü took out a glass bottle, inside which, submerged in a special medicinal liquid, was the Lesser Demon Venerable’s fifth-tier Thunder Pearl.

“This Thunder Pearl’s attribute doesn’t match the Violet Lightning Sword. You should keep it.” Chen Mobai shook his head. He had enough fifth-tier items on him; this one wouldn’t make a difference.

“I’m only at the Core Formation stage; I can’t even use it!” Qing Nü, however, looked troubled. To refine this Thunder Pearl, she would need at least Nascent Soul cultivation.

“Oh, right. I remember that at the Immortal Gate, the power furnaces of the Spirit Heaven Treasure Palace, Four Symbols Dao Palace, and Starry Sky Warship use lightning pools as their core. I’ll check the blueprints later to see if we can construct the Immortal Gate’s war artifacts here in the Eastern Barrens.” Qing Nü’s eyes lit up upon hearing this. If this fifth-tier lightning-attribute inner core could be used to build a Dao Palace, then the Five Elements Sect would have the ability to engage, or even slay, Soul Transformation cultivators, even if they were attacked in the future.

After the couple spent a tender night together, Qing Nü was to take a teleportation array back to the Eastern Barrens. She was eager to go to Eastern Yi to transplant the valuable medicinal ingredients from the thirty thousand acres of medicinal fields, a task only she and Zhuo Ming could accomplish. Zhuo Ming was recovering from injuries, so only Qing Nü could go. Feeling a little uneasy, Chen Mobai took out the Sea-Stabilizing Sword and handed it to Qing Nü.

“What?! You’re entrusting me to a Core Formation cultivator? That’s an insult to a sword! I refuse!” However, the Sea-Stabilizing Sword had not been ‘chastised’ enough; seeing that Qing Nü was only at the Core Formation stage, it actually threw a tantrum.

“Qing Nü is my Dao Companion. Please, Senior, protect her safety. I also have some spirit stones here…” Chen Mobai had a request for the Sea-Stabilizing Sword, so he could only continue to persuade it with spirit stones.

“This isn’t about spirit stones. I am a sword with principles. Acknowledging you as my master was already an exception.” Although the Sea-Stabilizing Sword said this, its tone was softer than before.

“The water essence energy within this Pure Yang Cauldron, I recently obtained permission from the Dual Sages of the Immortal Gate for Senior to absorb and refine it. Coincidentally, Qing Nü has a Ruyi Gourd that can purify water essence energy, making it easier for Senior to absorb.” As Chen Mobai spoke, he took out the Pure Yang Cauldron and then sent a telepathic message to Qing Nü, who immediately took out her Ruyi Gourd. The cauldron’s mouth opened, and soon wisps of light blue water essence energy were absorbed by the gourd, condensing into drops of pure water essence.

Seeing this scene, the Sea-Stabilizing Sword’s sword spirit appeared, its small face etched with conflicted emotions.

“This time, I’m merely asking Senior to protect my Dao Companion, not for Qing Nü to wield you. Just consider it protecting her for a while as a senior.” Chen Mobai gave the Sea-Stabilizing Sword’s spirit an honorable way out, and it immediately accepted.

“Since you put it that way, I can hardly refuse…” The Sea-Stabilizing Sword slightly lowered its principles, then happily burrowed into the Ruyi Gourd and began to absorb the water essence energy mouthful by mouthful.

Qing Nü also showed a delighted expression upon seeing this. This was one of the Immortal Gate’s Three Great Flying Swords, a top-tier magic artifact she wouldn’t have dared to dream of, yet now it had fallen into her hands like this. Although it was currently protecting her, once she reached the Nascent Soul or even Soul Transformation stage in the future, the Sea-Stabilizing Sword would eventually acknowledge her as its master.

“It’s so good to have a husband like you!” Qing Nü profusely thanked Chen Mobai, then left Eastern Wu with the Sea-Stabilizing Sword.

Another year quickly passed. As Chen Mobai remained stationed in Eastern Wu, the warning in his heart grew increasingly intense. Soon after, Song Huangda relayed one piece of bad intelligence after another. In the Barren Sea, not only were the demon kings of Myriad Immortals Island gathering, but the Myriad Stars Alliance was also mobilizing. Both sides seemed to have formed an alliance, dividing their forces into two routes and heading towards Eastern Wu.

“Daoist Son, this must be because I killed Zuo Dongdu back then…” Inside the tent, Su Zilu, whose soul was sustained within a Soul-Nourishing Wood basin, voluntarily appeared and admitted her mistake after hearing the news.

“If the Myriad Stars Alliance attacks Eastern Wu, they will be siding with the demons. After the war ends, the Eastern Continent sacred lands will not let them off.” Chen Mobai, however, knew that blaming Su Zilu at this point was useless. Nevertheless, he felt this matter could still be salvaged. A silver light projection emerged from his body. It was a Void Illusion, projected towards the Myriad Stars Alliance’s troop gathering point that Song Huangda had scouted.

The Myriad Stars Alliance was a coalition formed by the top powers among human cultivators in the entire Barren Sea. At its peak, besides the Flying Sand Sect, it included thirty-six immortal island powers with Nascent Soul cultivators stationed on them. However, during the war with Myriad Immortals Island, besides Ancestor Hesha’s death, many of these thirty-six immortal islands suffered casualties, and twelve of these island powers permanently vanished. Even so, the Myriad Stars Alliance’s strength remained incredibly formidable. However, the Flying Sand Sect’s desire to attack Eastern Continent this time went against the Myriad Stars Alliance’s principles. The cultivation world of the Barren Sea also knew the strength of the Eastern Continent’s sacred lands and believed that the righteous path would surely emerge victorious in the end of the righteous-demonic war. To avoid future reckoning, only a few scattered immortal islands were willing to follow the Flying Sand Sect.

Chen Mobai’s Void Illusion arrived above an island with a second-tier spiritual vein and quickly sensed the aura of five Nascent Soul cultivators on it. According to Song Huangda’s intelligence, the Flying Sand Sect had dispatched three Sand Controllers this time, with the other two being the island masters of Bright Moon Island and Black Mountain Island.

“Chen Guixian of the Five Elements Sect, greetings to the five Venerables!” Chen Mobai waited for a moment, and after confirming that no one had noticed him, he directly vibrated the air with void power, emitting a sound. In an instant, five Nascent Soul spiritual lights soared into the sky, surrounding him. The leading elder had white hair and beard, wore a loose black robe, and had a coiled dragon jade belt tied around his waist. His eyes were deep and sharp, his face majestic, and his cultivation was incredibly powerful, already at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage.

“Oh!” The elder exclaimed in surprise the moment he saw Chen Mobai. “Void Illusion!” He actually recognized Chen Mobai’s technique at first glance.

“This must be Grand Elder Taishi of the Flying Sand Sect, a pleasure to meet you.” Chen Mobai courteously greeted the black-robed elder. Taishi Weiguang of the Flying Sand Sect was widely recognized as the top master in the Barren Sea, having reached the perfected Nascent Soul stage long ago. He had slain over ten fourth-tier demonic beasts. Among the Demon Venerable’s four disciples, the only one who died did so because they encountered him.