Chapter 991: Tongtian, Refining the Dao

As Su Zilu pondered the Nascent Soul Dharma Body method for the Sea Soul Agate, good news arrived from the Celestial Meal Tower.

Although the Five Elements Sect had developed rapidly over the years, and Song Huang Daguang had used the Transcendent Dao Tower to gather intelligence on cultivators in all the immortal cities within the Eastern Wilds, outside this region, they still couldn't compare to the Celestial Meal Tower.

The person in charge of the Celestial Meal Tower in the Eastern Wilds was still Shen Shanqing. After receiving Chen Mobai's message and inquiry, he personally used a teleportation array to reach the front line, bringing information about the Sea Soul Agate and another crucial piece of intelligence.

The Celestial Meal Tower's two Nascent Soul Grand Ancestors, active overseas for hundreds of years, also knew about the Sea Soul Agate; in fact, their own tower possessed a fifth-grade piece. If not for the large-scale teleportation arrays between Eastern Yi and the Eastern Land being destroyed, the Celestial Meal Tower in the Eastern Land would have even sent this Sea Soul Agate over. Chen Mobai could only lament his incredibly good luck upon hearing this.

"Sect Master Chen, my main purpose today is to deliver this top-secret intelligence..." As Shen Shanqing spoke, he handed a jade slip to Chen Mobai, who was visibly shocked after reading it. The slip contained only one piece of information: the Lord of the Northern Demonic Path was crossing the sea, heading towards the Eastern Continent. This was one of the Five Demons, on par with the Enlightened Lord, and his arrival in the Eastern Continent certainly wouldn't be to aid the righteous path. If the Lord of the Northern Demonic Path joined the battle, the stalemate on the Eastern Continent would instantly be broken.

"Does the Grand Void Misty Palace have a countermeasure?" Chen Mobai couldn't help but ask after finishing. Among the sacred lands of the Eastern Continent, only the Grand Void Misty Palace still had the capacity to deploy more True Monarchs.

Shen Shanqing replied with a bitter smile, "Sect Master Chen, you think too highly of our Celestial Meal Tower. We only obtained this news because our two Grand Ancestors have business in the Northern Continent. How could we possibly pry into the movements of the Grand Void Misty Palace, especially their True Monarchs?" He explained that he delivered this news because before the righteous-demonic war, the Celestial Meal Tower had transferred some of its personnel to the Eastern Wilds, and the Five Elements Sect had been very accommodating. Therefore, upon receiving this intelligence, they immediately sent it to the Eastern Wilds, hoping Chen Mobai could make early preparations. Should the Eastern Land truly fall, they hoped the Eastern Wilds could hold out longer, or if the Five Elements Sect wished to leave the Eastern Continent, they could take the Celestial Meal Tower personnel with them.

"At this point, we can only trust the sacred lands!" Chen Mobai said softly upon hearing this. The key to this righteous-demonic war lay with the True Monarchs. If even Yuan Qingque couldn't hold, he wouldn't resist stubbornly; he would lead the Five Elements Sect back to the Eastern Wilds. With the Heavenly Curtain Earth Net Grand Array in place, at least the safety of the Eastern Wilds could be guaranteed. Even if multiple True Monarchs arrived and the Eastern Wilds couldn't be held, Chen Mobai still had the Immortal Gate as a retreat.

After Shen Shanqing left, Chen Mobai immediately summoned Mo Douguang and others, informing them of the news. Upon hearing it, everyone's expressions grew solemn.

"Master, I previously considered the possibility of the entire Eastern Wu battlefield falling, so I've already built many large ships on Cloud Dream Lake. Give me half a year, and I can migrate all the Eastern Wu mortals from the twelve commanderies to the Eastern Wilds." The first to speak was Jiang Zongheng. The first thing he thought of was to evacuate the mortals of Eastern Wu during their retreat. Many within the Five Elements Sect thought this unnecessary, but no one dared to say so with Chen Mobai present. They all knew their Sect Master pitied all beings and couldn't bear to see their suffering.

"But if we do that, the Eastern Wilds border, which we worked so hard to seal, will have to be opened to Eastern Wu..." Mo Douguang interjected. Previously, to force Eastern Wu's rogue cultivators to fight, Chen Mobai's new policies had imposed a blockade on several commanderies and counties along the Five Elements Sect's Eastern Wilds border. Opening it for mortals might displease Eastern Wu's rogue cultivators.

"Zongheng, go do it," Chen Mobai said. Jiang Zongheng nodded and immediately left the tent to prepare for the mortal migration to the Eastern Wilds.

"When Zhou Ye was here, I asked him for a favor: to embed the Mixed Yuan Five Elements Extinction Divine Thunders into the core fourth-grade spiritual veins of the Myriad Rivers Returning to Sea Array and the Tushita Demon Refining Array." After Jiang Zongheng left, Chen Mobai revealed his secret ultimate plan. "Once the mortals are evacuated, we will retreat while fighting, preferably luring all the Wild Sea demonic beasts and demon kings into the arrays. When you retreat to Cloud Dream Lake, I will use Mixed Yuan True Qi to detonate these two grand arrays."

"At that time, the most spiritually abundant plains in Eastern Wu might be destroyed and become barren, but it will also turn all the demonic beasts within the arrays into corpses." The Wild Sea demonic beasts were too powerful; even with the formidable power of Eastern Wu's two grand arrays, Chen Mobai still considered the possibility of them not holding. Although upon returning to the Eastern Wilds, relying on the Heavenly Curtain Earth Net Grand Array, the Great Sea King and its forces certainly couldn't invade, Chen Mobai didn't want the flames of war to ignite in the Eastern Wilds. So, he set up this plan: even if it meant destroying Eastern Wu's six most powerful fourth-grade spiritual veins and hundreds of lower-grade ones, he would bury millions of Wild Sea demonic beasts. As long as the people remained, lost land could always be reclaimed.

"Excellent strategy!" Mo Douguang's eyes lit up upon hearing this. In the view of cultivators in the Heavenly River Realm, spiritual veins were expendable; they weren't their own anyway. If they could be used to inflict maximum damage on the enemy, they had served their purpose. However, this matter would certainly not be disclosed to the various Eastern Wu families, to avoid complications.

After learning of Chen Mobai's strategy, the Five Elements Sect members, whose hearts had been unsettled by the Northern Demonic Lord's arrival, all calmed down. In any case, that was a matter for the True Monarchs of the Eastern Continent's sacred lands to consider. Their only task was to bury their immediate opponents.

Soon after, the Celestial Meal Tower sent news from Eastern Yi. After holding out for nine years against the beast tide surging from the Desolate Ruins, Kongsang Valley's fourth-grade supreme protective array was polluted at its spiritual vein by demonic forces, eventually collapsing with a roar. Ku Zhu led the core disciples of Kongsang Valley away on several flying boats, their fate unknown. The coastal defenses had also completely crumbled, and countless demonic beasts from the Profound Sea swarmed ashore, joining the Desolate Ruins beasts to besiege the last remaining Golden Crow Immortal City. However, without a True Monarch's intervention, as long as there were enough spirit stones, even countless demonic beasts could not breach a fifth-grade grand array. Thus, although Golden Crow Immortal City was an isolated stronghold in Eastern Yi, it still stood unfallen by the sea.

Under these circumstances, the demonic beast armies from the Desolate Ruins and Profound Sea did not waste time on Golden Crow Immortal City. They began marching towards the Eastern Peaks. A portion of them noticed the Eastern Wilds behind them and split off, heading towards North Abyss City. The Five Elements Sect had already fought a skirmish with the vanguard, easily repelling and even annihilating them using the Positive-Negative Nine Palaces Array. However, these demonic beasts were merely a drop in the ocean. Now, the tension of war also began to spread in the Eastern Wilds. In this situation, Chen Mobai, as the backbone of their forces, decided to sacrifice some spiritual veins to quickly end the war in Eastern Wu.

Half a year passed quickly. Jiang Zongheng, leading the Five Elements Sect disciples, managed to transport the mortals from Eastern Wu's twelve commanderies and counties to several border counties in the Eastern Wilds, using large ships crafted with cultivation methods. E Yun personally came to arrange these matters. After all, housing, feeding, and managing millions of mortals was no small feat. Besides the Five Elements Sect, the mortal Great Zhao Dynasty also cooperated under orders.

On this day, Chen Mobai's second Nascent Soul personally led Su Zilu to the Yellow Dragon Cave Abode.

"Here, it's the first time I've refined it, so there's a bit of pill toxin," Qing Nv said, handing the freshly refined Restoration Spirit Water to Chen Mobai. This elixir recipe was modified by Yuan Xu, with some substituted ingredients. However, Zhou Shengqing had successfully used it to condense his Nascent Soul Dharma Body, indicating it was fine.

"Just a little, it won't affect it," Chen Mobai took it and inspected it, finding the pill toxin content was only 1.35%, which was considered excellent quality in the Heavenly River Realm.

"Thank you for your hard work, Daoist Danxia," Su Zilu's ethereal form emerged from the Nourishing Soul Wood, thanking Qing Nv. The two grand arrays in Eastern Wu would be detonated simultaneously with the Mixed Yuan Five Elements Extinction Divine Thunders. So, besides Chen Mobai, another Nascent Soul cultivator proficient in Mixed Yuan True Qi was needed. With Su Zilu, Chen Mobai could confidently leave Zhou Ye to fight the Desolate Ruins demonic beasts and guard the Eastern Wilds in North Abyss City.

Su Zilu had already mastered Yuan Xu's improved Asura Dharma Aspect in the past six months. Her talent was truly at the level of a Dao Child or Saintess, far surpassing Yuan Zhen. After receiving the Sea Soul Agate and Restoration Spirit Water, she didn't hesitate and immediately began the condensation process at the Yellow Dragon Cave Abode, a fifth-grade spiritual vein location. Chen Mobai and Qing Nv were also curious and watched from the side, providing protection.

Su Zilu placed the Sea Soul Agate atop her Nascent Soul. A surge of Mixed Yuan True Qi enveloped it, and gradually, a powerful divine soul energy emanated, which was absorbed and refined by her Nascent Soul. The Sea Soul Agate emitted a faint glow, its colorful fine lines appearing to come alive, flowing slowly. Then, following the method's guidance, Su Zilu sprinkled the Restoration Spirit Water, guiding the Sea Soul Agate's power to form tiny dharma patterns that coiled around her Nascent Soul. Su Zilu's own cultivation was profound, making the refinement of this Sea Soul Agate much easier than it was for Zhou Shengqing.

Soon, under the watchful eyes of Chen Mobai and Qing Nv, the Sea Soul Agate and the Nascent Soul completely fused under the effect of the Restoration Spirit Water. A burst of five-colored light erupted fiercely, then rapidly retracted like threads, tightly enveloping Su Zilu, gradually expanding into a new five-colored Dharma Body.

Seven days later, Su Zilu's Dharma Body had solidified, though it was still somewhat transparent, faintly appearing to be formed from illusory elemental qi. The fifth-grade spiritual energy in the Yellow Dragon Cave Abode surged towards her. However, Chen Mobai knew she possessed a Mixed Yuan Body, where balanced five-element spiritual energy was most suitable, so he directly took out his Five Extremes Heavenly Heart Pendant. With the aid of the fifth-grade five-element spiritual vein, Su Zilu's Nascent Soul Dharma Body finally fully formed after ten days.

She opened her eyes, and a five-colored light flashed from her pupils. Feeling a body completely different from her physical one, she immediately stood up and bowed to Chen Mobai. "Thank you, Dao Child, for this rebirth." Chen Mobai gently nodded and arranged a cultivation chamber for her to familiarize herself with her Dharma Body's power. Compared to her original late-Nascent Soul stage, it was certainly greatly weakened. However, because she could use Mixed Yuan True Qi, her strength was definitely superior to Zhou Shengqing's. Combined with the Five Elements Divine Light, Mixed Yuan Five Elements Extinction Divine Thunder, and other divine abilities, even an average mid-Nascent Soul cultivator might not be her match.

"You must be careful," Qing Nv said with some concern as she bid farewell.

"Don't worry, no one in this world can kill me," Chen Mobai replied with full confidence. With Void Walk, he could escape at any time, even if surrounded by the Great Sea King and its forces.

After returning to Eastern Wu with Su Zilu, the Five Elements Sect began to evacuate according to their plan.

***

Eastern Land, Transcendent Peak. Yuan Zhen slowly exhaled after completing her cultivation cycle. The dense, materialized pure spiritual energy dispersed like smoke from her graceful, beautiful body, merging into the void and earth. After the Big Dipper Assembly, she had successfully formed her Nascent Soul with the help of Nascent Creation Pills, Nascent Condensing Pills, and Three Lights Divine Water. Immediately following, during the righteous-demonic war, because she had just broken through, the Yuan family arranged for her to stay within the sect to consolidate her realm. With Yuan Qingque and Ye Qing gone, she alone enjoyed the sixth-grade spiritual energy of Transcendent Peak, and her Nascent Soul was now stable.

Recently, the Yuan family patriarch sent a message stating that the front lines were urgent and that Yuan Zhen, as the current Saintess, should, by all accounts, go to the front to contribute. Yuan Zhen was already mentally prepared for this. As a disciple of the Nine Heavens Demon Subduing Sect, she never feared battle. However, before heading to the battlefield, she still wanted to improve her cultivation as much as possible.

Yuan Zhen sat down again, beginning to refine the abundant sixth-grade spiritual energy at the peak. Behind her was a solemn, dark pagoda, the Nine Heavens Demon Subduing Sect's supreme treasure, the Transcendent Dao Tower. During Yuan Zhen's seclusion, this sixth-grade artifact had been activated several times, remotely controlled by Yuan Qingque to combat the Enlightened Lord's Wheel of Reincarnation. With increasing usage, this formerly dormant sixth-grade pagoda was gradually awakening.

The Transcendent Dao Tower had six layers. The uppermost layer was the most mysterious, said to be the place where the Nine Heavens Demon Subduing Sect communicated with patriarchs from the upper realm, a half-spiritual void immortal realm. Generations of Nine Heavens Demon Subduing Sect True Monarchs cultivated in this layer, able to utilize the power of Dao Fruits to absorb immortal spiritual energy from the spiritual void immortal realm. It was precisely because of this that Yuan Qingque was able to cultivate to the True Monarch Consummation realm. The meaning of "Transcendent" referred to this. This was the Nine Heavens Demon Subduing Sect's greatest foundation.

The five layers below the sixth were used to imprison various demonic beasts possessing true spirit bloodlines, ranging from first to fifth grade. Of course, as of now, the only fifth-grade True Spirit True Monarchs were the demon lords. The reason for collecting these demonic beasts with true spirit bloodlines was to "refine Dao." This supreme treasure of the Nine Heavens Demon Subduing Sect could extract the Great Dao from true spirit bloodlines, thereby enhancing the tower's sentience and even feeding back to its master. Complete true spirits possessed Great Dao imprints in their blood, which at the very least pointed to realms beyond True Monarch. However, in the current Heavenly River Realm, such true spirits were exceedingly rare; even the core members of the various demon king courts might not have pure, complete bloodlines. Therefore, the Nine Heavens Demon Subduing Sect could only search for and imprison demonic beasts with partial true spirit bloodlines in the tower. According to the Nine Heavens Demon Subduing Sect's heritage, once the tower spirit refined ten thousand true spirits, it could revert from acquired to innate, ascending to the seventh grade. It was precisely because of this that the Nine Heavens Demon Subduing Sect would not use this Transcendent Dao Tower unless it was a matter of life or death for the sect.

***

On the third layer of the Transcendent Dao Tower, a blurry white figure spoke to a child with a yellowish-green body, winged back, red eyes, and protruding teeth. "Yuan Qingque's cultivation has long reached the peak of True Monarch, he can take that step and ascend to Void Ascension at any time!"

"Then why doesn't he break through?" the child asked. This child was the Heavenly Demon Holy Embryo born to Kong Lingling. After Yuan Zhen brought it to the Nine Heavens Demon Subduing Sect using the Azure Mirage Vase, it was discovered to possess the bloodline of a Gault-Earth True Locust and was then imprisoned on the third layer of the Transcendent Dao Tower. After its birth, Kong Lingling only made it kill. Once in the tower, it was like a wild beast, devoid of intelligence. It wandered in a daze, fighting various third-grade true spirit bloodline demonic beasts, narrowly escaping death multiple times. Each year, it carved a bloodstain on its arm with its fingernail; there were 75 such marks now. In its tenth year, this white figure suddenly appeared beside it.

The white figure called itself "Demon Lord," residing on the topmost floor of the tower. Seeing the Heavenly Demon Holy Embryo's excellent potential, it couldn't bear to let it go to waste and used profound magic to remotely impart the Dao of demon cultivation to it. The Heavenly Demon Holy Embryo vaguely accepted its heritage, gradually gaining wisdom and understanding the vastness of heaven and earth, and the multitude of all things. It was a Heavenly Demon born from demonic secret arts, possessing not only the bloodline of a true spirit but also human meridians. If it obtained the cultivation methods of the Monster Beast Demon Sect, it could achieve great things. However, the Demon Lord's demon cultivation method was no less superior. Although it could not cultivate due to the complete lack of spiritual energy in the lower five layers of the Transcendent Dao Tower, the Heavenly Demon Holy Embryo knew that its realm had surpassed its bottleneck and advanced to the fourth grade.

In recent years, as Yuan Qingque's remote use of the Transcendent Dao Tower became more frequent, the Demon Lord also realized something. Regardless of whether the Heavenly Demon Holy Embryo understood, it began to relentlessly pour its demon cultivation methods into it. "After Ascension to Void, one must leave this realm. And entering the Spiritual Void Immortal Realm requires overcoming nine heavenly tribulations. Yuan Qingque is not completely confident in this, plus the Nine Heavens Demon Subduing Sect lacks successors, so he definitely has to wait until his disciple achieves True Monarch before he can ascend with peace of mind." The Demon Lord explained. It had already educated the Heavenly Demon Holy Embryo about cultivation realms and the meaning of ascension, so the latter nodded knowingly.

But the Heavenly Demon Holy Embryo immediately had another question: "Isn't becoming a True Monarch very difficult? How can he guarantee his disciple's success?"

The Demon Lord sighed softly upon hearing this. "This Transcendent Dao Tower has a hidden ability: it can condense and refine the Great Dao extracted from true spirits into pills. For example, since you possess the bloodline of a Gault-Earth True Locust, it could condense a Gault-Earth Great Dao Pill. A cultivator practicing earth-attribute techniques, upon taking it, would see their understanding of the Earth Great Dao advance by leaps and bounds."

"My main body is a white snake that transformed into a white dragon after six thousand years of cultivation. If I were condensed into a Great Dao Pill and taken, Yuan Qingque's Nine Heavens Profound Scripture could instantly reach perfect completion." The Demon Lord continued, "However, in my estimation, he would likely leave half a pill for his disciple. Combined with the Moral Sect's Transcendent Saint True Spirit Pill, breaking through to True Monarch would be practically guaranteed."

"Yuan Qingque has been away from Transcendent Peak for a long time, clearly meaning the Nine Heavens Demon Subduing Sect has encountered a formidable enemy, requiring his personal intervention and even the power of the Transcendent Dao Tower. According to my estimation, his patience is also reaching its limit..." As the Demon Lord said this, it also divulged the method to enter and exit a hidden place deep within the Wild Sea. It was a cage! Also, a furnace used by the upper realm to imprison true spirit demonic beasts and refine Great Dao Pills. The Nine Heavens Demon Subduing Sect's Transcendent Dao Tower was fashioned after that cage, which was why the Demon Lord knew so much. But even with this knowledge, it had no way to escape. It could only hope that the seed it left with the Heavenly Demon Holy Embryo would take root and sprout.

***

Eastern Land border. Yuan Qingque called Ye Qing to his side and entrusted everything to his disciple.

"Master..." Ye Qing looked solemn after hearing everything, a hint of reluctance on his face.

"My age is nearly up; I've long been prepared to leave. Although it's earlier than expected, being able to take the Enlightened Lord and Ghost God with me makes the wait worthwhile." Yuan Qingque smiled faintly, signaling that everything was under his control. "There are only three things I cannot let go of: first, the sect does not yet have a second True Monarch; second, the favor I owed the One Yuan Dao Palace for taking on a disaster; and third, the promise I made to Immortal Turtle Chen..." Ascension to Void in the Heavenly River Realm also required clearing one's "lines" (karmic connections/obligations). Throughout Yuan Qingque's life of cultivation, while there were still many unclear loose ends, these three were the most critical.

"Master, leave these to me," Ye Qing nodded gently. The Heavenly River Realm had its own method for dealing with "lines," called "inheritance." Yuan Qingque intended to break through to Void Ascension and, with his absolute strength, take the Enlightened Lord and other demonic True Monarchs with him. However, since some "lines" had not yet been cleared, he needed to use the sect's secret method to transfer these "lines" to his disciple. In the language of the Immortal Gate, it was akin to transferring one's debts to another person or sect. This way, one could ascend free of all burdens. However, doing so would mean the disciple would bear the True Monarch's "lines," which would be detrimental to their future cultivation. But ascendant cultivators in the Heavenly River Realm had mostly gone through this process. If Ye Qing also could not clear all his "lines" or those inherited from Yuan Qingque, he could transfer them to junior disciples. Although each transfer incurred more interest, what did an ascendant, who simply left, care about such things? In short, one had to trust the wisdom of future generations. In the history of the Heavenly River Realm, there were many sacred lands that, due to too many accumulated "lines" inherited over generations, eventually became an unmanageable, massive debt, leading to karmic backlash and the destruction of their sects. In terms of Immortal Gate economics, it was bankruptcy liquidation. When the sect and those who inherited the "lines" all died, that was another form of "clearing."

Now, Yuan Qingque was about to ascend to Void Ascension, intending to use a higher realm to take all the demonic True Monarchs like the Enlightened Lord with him. First, he needed to transfer his "lines" to Ye Qing. Ye Qing had long been mentally prepared for this, and it was precisely why, after his initial contact with Chen Mobai, he felt that Chen could help resolve one of these "lines," which led to their deeper connection and, eventually, their friendship based on shared interests.

"Fortunately, in my later years, I found you, my disciple." Yuan Qingque nodded contentedly. The transfer of "lines" wasn't something just anyone could do; it required the person to be willing. He extended a finger, and a wisp of immortal light bloomed, accompanying his fingertip as it landed on Ye Qing's brow.

Seven days and seven nights later, Yuan Qingque withdrew his finger, feeling incredibly light, as if freed from shackles, a sense of ethereal weightlessness.

"Congratulations, Senior Brother!" At this moment, a Daoist with an air of immortality appeared before Yuan Qingque, looking at him with envy. The Daoist was Wuchen True Monarch, a True Monarch from the Moral Sect. He had been guarding outside while Yuan Qingque performed the secret method to transfer karma and "lines."

"You will also reach this step," Yuan Qingque said to Wuchen True Monarch, who smiled in response.

"Senior Brother Dakong has sent word that the Lord of the Northern Demonic Path has landed and is heading towards the Eastern Land," Wuchen True Monarch said, mentioning another matter. If the Celestial Meal Tower could obtain this news, the sacred lands of the Eastern Continent naturally would too.

"Let Senior Brother Dakong allow him to come. I wonder if the Black Flood Dragon, the True Monarch of the Black Flood Dragon Royal Court, will come too. I truly hope I can deal with all of them at once," Yuan Qingque said. After transferring all his "lines," Yuan Qingque could take the step to Void Ascension at any moment. However, after Void Ascension, heaven and earth would react. Especially if he were to slay demonic True Monarchs like the Enlightened Lord and Ghost God, he would inevitably have to use his Void Ascension realm power, which could not be concealed. In this situation, he needed to race against time. After breaking through and before being rejected by the rules of heaven and earth and forced to ascend, he had to slay all his opponents.

"Then I will go inform him," Wuchen True Monarch said, immediately disappearing from the spot.

"I'll return to Transcendent Peak. You haven't formed your True Monarch yet. That Demon Lord's cultivation is no less than mine; I'll deal with it before I leave." When only master and disciple remained, Yuan Qingque said to Ye Qing. Ye Qing, who was aware of the Transcendent Dao Tower, understood that Yuan Qingque was paving the way for his True Monarch breakthrough before leaving, and he nodded with deep gratitude.

"Disciple thanks Master!" Yuan Qingque laughed heartily, silently merging into the earth.