Chapter 402 - 400: Taixu Dao Soldiers

Chapter 402: Chapter 400: Taixu Dao Soldiers

Bai Zichen sheathed his sword and walked into the Tianhe Sword Sect’s camp. Several Core Formation Sword Cultivators looked at him with complicated expressions.

This was especially true for Suo Qian and Tang Yuan, whom he had met once before at the Sword Tomb Secret Realm. They looked particularly dazed.

The junior who had burst onto the scene at the Foundation Establishment Realm was now their peer. In fact, his cultivation was even deeper, his strength greater, and his potential was beyond comparison.

’To be able to escape from a Nascent Soul True Monarch and even gain a small victory... He’s practically a divine being.’

The younger Core Formation Sword Cultivators all had fervent gazes, as if they were looking at a divine being.

Given the fundamental gap between their realms, even a casual strike from a Nascent Soul True Monarch was more than ninety percent of Core Formation Cultivators could handle; they could only await capture without resistance.

To have cultivated the Sword Dao to this stage was to reach the pinnacle, worthy of discussing the Dao with any cultivator in the world.

"Thank you for your help, Elder Yann."

Bai Zichen cupped his hands in thanks. Since they had parted at Meili Snow Ridge, streaks of silver had appeared at Yann Yuanzai’s temples. The high-spirited, dauntless sword cultivator now had a great deal of sorrow etched between his brows.

"With your abilities, Shibi couldn’t do anything to you... Besides, ever since we arrived, we’ve heard about Yuu Ziliang of Celestial Punishment Peak’s assessment of you. Unless those old geezers want to completely tear off all pretenses, how many would dare to make a mortal enemy of you?"

Yann Yuanzai’s hand rested on his Xing Yao Sword, while the Supreme Profound White-Haired Sword hung from his waist.

This Tier Four legacy Flying Sword’s origin had been damaged by the Life-Killing Demon Sword on the snow ridge. Its spirituality had dimmed, and it had fallen into a deep slumber.

The idea of finding a disciple to inherit the Supreme Profound White-Haired Sword would not be realized for another eighty to a hundred years.

He couldn’t bear to leave the Supreme Profound White-Haired Sword behind on Sword Mountain, so he had simply brought the legacy Flying Sword with him.

The assessment that he possessed the greatest Sword Dao Talent since the Near Ancient era had first come from Yann Yuanzai’s own lips.

He had spent a bitter hundred years trying to communicate with the Xing Yao Sword, yet it was nothing compared to Bai Zichen’s fleeting appearance, which had directly caused the Tier Four Flying Sword to tremble with joy and show an eagerness to approach him.

Such initiative, such enthusiasm, was something he had never dared to hope for, even when he humbled himself and communicated with it day and night during his refinement.

Not even the ancient texts recorded such a case.

The only somewhat similar example was that Upper Realm Sword Immortal from Ancient Times—the very one who had created the Sword Tomb Secret Realm.

Strictly speaking, the Tianhe Sword Sect could also boast of having received that Sword Immortal’s legacy.

This individual had rarely made a move. He traveled throughout the Cultivation Realm, leaving his mark in many places, as if he were searching for something.

But there was once a light whistle that caused all cultivators’ swords within a hundred-mile radius to fly out and bow in submission—a terrifying display that confirmed his identity as an Upper Realm Sword Immortal.

Before him, mortal cultivators were not even qualified to use a sword.

Of course, Bai Zichen’s performance couldn’t hold a candle to the Upper Realm Sword Immortal’s, but the difference in their realms was far greater; at the time, Bai Zichen was merely a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

This was precisely why Yann Yuanzai was so certain that no one since the Taibai Sword Sect could compare to Bai Zichen in terms of Sword Dao Talent.

Yuu Ziliang had delivered invitations to all the Nascent Soul-level powers in the Northern Domain. As such, he was the one who had the clearest view of how each Nascent Soul True Monarch performed when faced with the handwritten invitation from Great True Monarch Hongfa.

It was said that when he reported back to the two Great True Monarchs, he specifically mentioned that Bai Zichen of the Qingfeng Sect, despite being at the Core Formation Realm, had performed the best out of everyone.

This news was inadvertently leaked by a Core Formation True Man from the Moral Sect during a conversation with a friend from the Dharma Aspect Sect, and it quickly spread throughout all the Nascent Soul-Level Sects in the Northern Domain.

The idea that a Core Formation Cultivator’s grasp of the Great Dao’s True Intent surpassed that of a Nascent Soul True Monarch sounded rather unheard-of.

If it were to also get out that the characters in the invitation actually contained Great True Monarch Hongfa’s true understanding of the Path of Creation, and that only someone whose grasp of the Great Dao’s True Intent was at the Late-Stage Nascent Soul level or higher could neutralize it with ease, then these Northern Domain Sects would find it even harder to accept.

However, the only information that spread was Yuu Ziliang’s evaluation of everyone; the meaning behind the characters in the invitation was never mentioned.

As for the attitude of the two Great True Monarchs, perhaps out of respect for the venerable, the loose-lipped Moral Sect cultivator never mentioned them at all.

For Yann Yuanzai, this matter merely added another halo to Bai Zichen’s name, once again powerfully proving his potential to reach the Divinity Transformation Realm.

Compared to the other Nascent Soul True Monarchs, he found this point easier to accept.

When he himself had faced Great True Monarch Hongfa’s invitation, he had quickly been intimidated by the large golden characters and had unconsciously activated his Flying Sword for protection.

The Xing Yao Sword had shot from its sheath, unleashing a cluster of starlight that repelled the characters. Only then did he break free from the spiritual pressure emanating from the invitation.

On one hand, there was the handwritten invitation, which contained no True Essence or Divine Sense.

On the other, there was the flash of Sword Light, relying on the power of a Tier Four Flying Sword to resolve the predicament.

The moment the starlight flew out, Yann Yuanzai knew he had lost this test.

He had never been strong in the Great Dao to begin with, but he never expected that among so many Nascent Soul True Monarchs in the Northern Domain, it would be Bai Zichen, a Core Formation junior, who took the top spot.

Bai Zichen asked a few questions and only then learned that his performance against the golden invitation had been revealed by Yuu Ziliang.

He didn’t believe for a second that a Core Formation True Man from the Moral Sect would have the guts to leak an internal conversation without a hint from the higher-ups.

Celestial Punishment Peak was most particular about laws and rules; it was unthinkable that they would produce a disciple with a loose tongue.

It was highly probable that the Moral Sect’s upper echelons had intended for this to happen for a special reason, which was why this whole affair had blown up.

"Some might become warier of me because of this. But others might appear who will stop at nothing to eliminate me before I truly grow powerful."

Bai Zichen disliked this feeling of not being in control. A genius who fell midway was worthless, becoming nothing more than idle gossip among other cultivators.

The original plan was to head to the Endless Sea of Suffering after the Ten Thousand Immortals Ceremony. Now that Zengguang Immortal City was about to be destroyed, this matter could also be moved up.

As long as he disappeared from the Cultivation Realm for a while and faded from public view, no matter what ideas those lurking in the shadows had, they would be impossible to realize.

In any case, he had a map of the Endless Sea of Suffering, so he wouldn’t have to worry about getting lost and wandering into the truly mysterious and unknown Bitter Cold and Desolate Land.

"Eliminate you?"

Yann Yuanzai burst out laughing. "With your abilities, plus your track record of slaying True Monarch Jiulian against all odds, who would dare to even think of it without a Mid-Stage Nascent Soul cultivator leading two or three others? In the entire Northern Domain, besides the Dharma Aspect Sect and the No-Life Sect, which other power has such strength?"

"Besides, your Qingfeng Sect has only occupied two commanderies of the Liang Country so far. At worst, you’ll take over the entire Liang Country in a hundred years. It’s not enough to make the True Monarchs of those two sects determined to kill you at all costs. If you had come from one of those two sects, then you’d really have to worry. Your best bet would be to hide within your Mountain Gate and not come out until you reach Nascent Soul."

No matter how favorable the situation, Bai Zichen’s principle was to always act as if he were treading on thin ice. He was accustomed to keeping a few trump cards hidden up his sleeve.

However, as his fame grew and his status was elevated ever higher, the outside world regarded him with a completely new level of importance.

If someone really wanted to deal with him, they wouldn’t send anyone other than a Nascent Soul True Monarch. Everyone knew that for a Core Formation Cultivator to appear before him was a death sentence.

The Qing Emperor Longevity Sword had only appeared once, but with Shi Chengdong and Suihan True Monarch as witnesses, anyone with a mind to would surely factor it into their calculations.

The Pink Crystal Shattering Jade Technique could grant him the power of an Early-Stage Nascent Soul Cultivator for a short time. For ninety-nine percent of Core Formation True Men, this was a Heaven-Defying Divine Technique, a trump card sufficient to change the course of a battle.

But for Bai Zichen, it was still not enough.

He needed a trump card on the same level as the Qing Emperor Longevity Sword, one that could be the final word even when facing a Nascent Soul True Monarch.

’Once this is over, I’ll go get the Five Crystal Divine Iron... As long as I can cultivate the Five Crystal Glaze Body, my physical defense will undergo a qualitative change. Only then will I have another layer of security.’

This thought flashed through Bai Zichen’s mind, but he didn’t voice it. Instead, he asked another question.

"In two days, it will be the sixth day of the sixth month. Elder, how long do you think it will take for the Moral Sect to conquer the Immortal City?"

No matter how powerful Zengguang Immortal City appeared, no one believed it could truly withstand the Moral Sect’s assault.

Especially with the arrival of Great True Monarch Hongfa, the Immortal City simply had no top-tier cultivator who could match him.

What’s more, a single invitation had brought over a dozen Nascent Soul True Monarchs from the Northern Domain to the scene, who had completely sealed off Zengguang Immortal City.

Even with all the resources Zengguang Immortal City had accumulated over the past several hundred years, it was impossible to resist such an assault.

All the Nascent Soul True Monarchs present knew clearly that being here meant they were accepted by the Moral Sect and were qualified to take a slice of the pie from the fallen Zengguang Immortal City.

This was enough to make everyone eager to kick a dog that was already down, especially with someone else acting as the main force.

"Ten days, I’d say. The three Tier Four Grand Arrays are interlinked, so breaking through them will still take time... In fact, if the Taixu Dao Soldiers hadn’t suffered such heavy losses last time, the Moral Sect would have already assaulted the city walls and left the first layer of Defense Restrictions on the verge of collapse."

The Tianhe Sword Sect was the closest Nascent Soul-Level Sect to Zengguang Immortal City, so it wasn’t difficult for Yann Yuanzai to stay updated on the battle’s progress.

"Taixu Dao Soldiers? Is that something like a Battle Array, or are they cultivators from the Moral Sect who practice a special Cultivation Technique suited for forming arrays to fight enemies?"

This wasn’t the first time Bai Zichen had heard the term "Taixu Dao Soldiers." They were deeply tied to Celestial Punishment Peak, and every time a sect that had violated a prohibition needed to be severely punished, their appearance was inevitable.

"Just a group of pitiful people. Half-demons who wandered aimlessly after the Demon Race withdrew from the Central Domain. The largest of their groups was taken in by the Moral Sect and given sanctuary. The price they paid was that their descendants for generations would have to serve as Daoist Soldiers, with no other choice."

Yann Yuanzai briefly explained the origin of the Taixu Dao Soldiers. The half-demon race was different from those Cultivation Families with special bloodlines.

The demon and human bloodlines in their bodies had reached a peculiar balance, so the bloodline of their descendants would not be diluted. Every generation was a half-demon.

In terms of physique, they still retained some demonic features. Compared to ordinary humans, they had the advantages of giant strength and tough, thick skin.

In cultivation, they still depended on their Spiritual Root aptitude. Furthermore, they had difficulty procreating, and it was very hard for them to have offspring.

The Moral Sect chose the Taixu Containing Truth Skill for the half-demon race. After cultivating it, they could further amplify their innate advantages. They also felt no pain and were immune to most Five Elements Magic.

Every Taixu Dao Soldier was a top-notch Body Refining Cultivator.

But since they only cultivated their physical bodies and did not comprehend the Great Dao, the Taixu Dao Soldiers could at most grow to the Core Formation Realm.

To this day, a Nascent Soul Level Taixu Dao Soldier has never appeared.