Chapter 472 - 454: A Wisp of the Power of Void

Chapter 472: Chapter 454: A Wisp of the Power of Void

’If that’s truly the case, I’m afraid this matter won’t be resolved peacefully...’

Bai Zichen’s heart sank. The Celestial Punishment Peak Master’s deterrence was enough to make the Qingqiu Death Sea turn a blind eye to the loss of their spare Demon Saint Pearl.

Of course, it also helped that the Treasure was right under their noses the whole time.

As far as they were concerned, they probably felt as though the Demon Saint Pearl was just being temporarily stored elsewhere.

But when it came to a matter as critical as purifying the bloodlines and increasing the advancement potential of all their Royal Demon Beasts, there was no longer any room for compromise.

If one plan failed, another was sure to follow.

The next ones to appear at Two Realms Mountain wouldn’t be ordinary Nascent Soul Cultivators; a Great Demon from the Qingqiu Death Sea might even take action personally.

Back then, no one had dared to stop the Eight-Tailed Demon Fox that had wreaked havoc everywhere. Not only was it a Tier Four Peak Great Demon that few Cultivators in the Cultivation Realm could match, but they also feared the Tier Five Demon Monarch backing it.

To be called a Holy Land, it naturally had to have a Divinity Transformation Level existence.

It wouldn’t be surprising if the Demon Saint Pearl ultimately drew out a Divinity Transformation Demon Lord.

"What are your plans, True Men? The Demon Saint Pearl is so important to the Qingqiu Death Sea. There’s no way they’ll let this go..."

As confident as Bai Zichen was, he didn’t think he’d have any say in front of a Divinity Transformation Great Power.

The Star Constellation Sea Dragon King had already made him shrink back from the Outer Sea; for a short time, he wouldn’t even dare to explore the Fish Dragon Sect’s Sea Immortal Mansion.

His pride and joy—his Sword Dao and his powerful physical body—were all a joke before a Divinity Transformation Great Power. They could be annihilated with a flip of a palm.

Even whether his ultimate trump card, the Qing Emperor Longevity Sword Divine Technique, would have any effect against a Divinity Transformation Great Power was a big question mark.

Divinity Transformation Cultivators didn’t just comprehend and touch upon their own Great Dao; they controlled and utilized it.

Even if their Great Dao was on a lower level than his Path of Time, if they had walked far enough along it, they could still use their Grotto Heaven Power to dissolve his technique.

A single sword strike that could normally slash away two hundred years of lifespan might only have the effect of two years when used on a Divinity Transformation Cultivator.

"The Demon Saint Pearl has no practical use for us Human Race Cultivators. If handing over this Treasure can ensure the continuation of our Sect’s lineage, I believe our founding ancestor’s spirit wouldn’t blame us for making such a choice..."

Master Houtu said slowly, raising a hand to stop Qingmu and Hei Shui, who looked like they were about to speak but held back.

"It’s just that the Qingqiu Death Sea doesn’t seem to have any intention of negotiating with us. We don’t even have a chance to hand over the Demon Saint Pearl."

"No matter. This time, it was just those three sects who thought the Five Elements Sect was weak and easy to bully, so they acted directly. The next time someone makes a move, I expect it will be people from the Qingqiu Death Sea, and I will step forward to negotiate with them."

Bai Zichen was relieved that the Five Elements Sect didn’t cling to the extreme idea that they had to defend their ancestor’s legacy to the death, that the treasure would only be lost over their dead bodies.

As long as they were willing to hand over the Demon Saint Pearl, he believed negotiations wouldn’t be difficult.

The way one would handle annihilating a Core Formation Level Sect with a flip of the hand was completely different from how one would deal with a late-stage Nascent Soul Cultivator whose combat strength was close to that of a Great True Monarch.

Compared to the reclusive Divinity Transformation Great Powers of the Human Race, who might not be seen taking action for centuries, the Divinity Transformation Demon Lords of the Demon Race hadn’t made a clear public appearance in nearly ten thousand years.

Whether it was the old Holy Land, the Qingqiu Death Sea, or the new Holy Land, Lankao Mountain, the Cultivation Realm only acknowledged that they had Divinity Transformation existences, and traces of them had been revealed.

But the last time a Tier Five Demon Monarch had acted in public was ten thousand years ago.

Whether they feared the Human Race’s Divinity Transformation cultivators or were under some special restriction preventing them from acting, in short, the Demon Monarchs of the Qingqiu Death Sea certainly couldn’t make a move lightly.

"I will stay at Two Realms Mountain for a while. I believe your sect will be able to weather this crisis and turn peril into peace..."

Bai Zichen turned to Master Qingmu. A Jade Box appeared in his palm, revealing a crimson Elixir with six Golden Patterns.

"Fellow Daoist Qingmu, back then, you rushed thousands of miles to aid me, and while covering my retreat to Feiyue Lake, you were struck by a Demon Cultivator, leaving you with a hidden injury of Demon Fire. This Sun Six Wu Divine Essence Pill is a Fire-Extinguishing Spirit Pill. After you take it, the medicine will cure the affliction, allowing you to recover immediately. It’s a shame it’s come so many years late, forcing you to suffer the torment of the Demon Fire for so long."

"This... How could I possibly accept this..."

Even if Master Qingmu had never heard of the Sun Six Wu Divine Essence Pill, he could tell its quality just by looking at the Spirit Pill.

After he returned to the sect, the Five Elements Sect had exhausted countless methods to purge the Demon Fire and heal his wounds.

They tried all sorts of remedies, but not a single one was effective.

Since Bai Zichen said this Elixir had a miraculous effect, it must have been verified, and he must be quite certain of it.

"It is merely an external object; how could it compare to the friendship between our two sects... Fellow Daoist, you don’t need to feel burdened. Just as you bravely rescued the Qingfeng Sect without fear of sacrifice that day, it is only right that I find a Fire-Extinguishing Spirit Pill to heal your injuries today."

After Bai Zichen’s persuasion, Master Qingmu finally accepted the Sun Six Wu Divine Essence Pill.

It was clear that, deep down, he was quite overjoyed.

His path of cultivation had been severed, making it impossible to advance his cultivation even an inch. He couldn’t even live out the normal lifespan of a Core Formation Cultivator.

Now that there was a glimmer of hope, how could he not be thrilled?

With the Sun Six Wu Divine Essence Pill delivered into Master Qingmu’s hands, a great weight was lifted from Bai Zichen’s heart. He had fulfilled a major aspiration.

The atmosphere in the great hall grew harmonious, and the lighthearted laughter even diluted the gloomy shadow of the Qingqiu Death Sea that hung over their heads.

...

Although the Five Elements Sect was only a Core Formation Level Sect, in many aspects, it could compare to a Nascent Soul Major Sect.

One could only say that its founding ancestor had laid an exceptionally good foundation.

Its Tier Four Top Grade Five Elements Annihilation Array had performed so poorly today because it had faced a Cultivator Battle Array led by three Nascent Soul True Monarchs, and the sect itself had no Nascent Soul True Monarch or Tier Four Array Master to control the Array.

If it had been only Core Formation Cultivators, even ten times their number wouldn’t have been able to shake the Grand Array in the slightest.

Each of the Five Peaks had a Tier Four Spirit Land. Although not large, they were sufficient for the younger generation of disciples to practice their Cultivation.

It was slightly insufficient for the process of Shattering the Core and Transforming into a Nascent Soul; the Spirit Land wasn’t large enough, and the supply of nature’s spiritual energy would be inadequate at the critical moment.

However, if a Five Elements Sect Cultivator truly reached the step of Shattering their Core and Transforming into a Nascent Soul, they could use a Secret Technique to draw the Spiritual Qi from all Five Peaks and gather it in one place.

Compared to the Qingfeng Sect, which still didn’t have a Tier Four Array and whose Tier Four Spirit Vein had been seized from a Tier Four Cyan Simurgh only after Bai Zichen and Ge Cang risked their lives, the Five Elements Sect’s starting conditions were far superior.

The Five Elements Sect gave Bai Zichen the Tier Four Spirit Land on Red Fire Peak for his temporary residence. Since the previous Red Fire True Man had passed away, this peak had yet to see a new Peak Master.

However, as he climbed the steps to the peak, he saw five or six disciples at Foundation Establishment Perfection.

Coupled with the fact that the Five Elements Sect disciples had also practiced the Desolate God Stealing Sun Technique, it shouldn’t be difficult for them to produce another Core Formation True Man in the future.

’I didn’t expect to run into this mess just by coming to the Southern Domain to deliver a Demon-Extinguishing Elixir... I can’t rely entirely on negotiating with the Demon Race. I’d better have a few more trump cards up my sleeve.’

In a grotto paved entirely with volcanic rock, the temperature rose the closer one got to the center.

Lifting a piece of volcanic rock might even reveal flickers of flame in the cracks beneath.

The grotto was filled with violent, scorching Fire Element Spiritual Qi, but because he practiced the Fire Dragon Returning Essence Scripture, he felt pleasantly warm and comfortable.

Inside, Bai Zichen was not as calm as a mirror or as unruffled as he appeared on the surface.

When facing a Divinity Transformation Level power like the Qingqiu Death Sea, the optimal solution was always to hide as far away as possible.

However, the moment he left, the Five Elements Sect would be doomed.

The next Nascent Soul True Monarch or Tier Four Great Demon to arrive would be just as uninterested in having a detailed discussion with a few Core Formation True Men.

’The three Nascent Soul cultivators I saw today each had a different Realm... The amount of Power of Void collected and refined determines the size of the Realm, and the degree of mastery over the Great Dao’s True Intent determines its strength. I wonder what my own refined Realm will be like.’

From the depths of a storage bag, Bai Zichen pulled out a Blood Essence Core covered in vein-like patterns.

This was an item used by disciples of the Blood Sea Sect for Refining a Jiezhi Magical Treasure. They would begin refining it during the Foundation Establishment Stage, and after Core Formation, it could be smoothly converted into a Storage Magical Treasure.

Without needing any other Space Spiritual Object, they still had a chance to open a Nascent Soul Realm.

His demands weren’t high; he just needed the Blood Essence Core to attract the Power of Void and get him off to a good start.

Regarding how to go about Refining a Realm, the mainstream opinion in the Cultivation Realm was to wait high in the sky for spatial rifts to appear and then capture the Power of Void.

This method was time-consuming and labor-intensive, with an excessively long waiting period, but its advantage was that it was relatively safe.

The main purpose of a Space Spiritual Object was to stably draw in the first wisp of the Power of Void, allowing a newly-advanced Nascent Soul to become familiar with it.

The Qingfeng Sect had few records regarding any inheritance above the Nascent Soul stage, so both Bai Zichen and Ge Cang were essentially crossing the river by feeling for stones.

After Ge Cang transformed into a Nascent Soul, he had told him that Refining a Realm was like building a palace; an unstable foundation would inevitably lead to future troubles.

This was especially true for a Cultivator like Ge Cang, who possessed the potential for Divinity Transformation; he was being extremely cautious and hadn’t rashly taken the first step.

’I wonder how Brother Ge is doing on his travels through the Central Domain, seeking that opportunity from back then...’

Bai Zichen reined in his thoughts and used Sword Control to ascend high into the sky. The Gang Wind howled, and in the distance, countless streaks of light and bursts of Great Sun Celestial Fire shot about chaotically.

’I’ve heard that some Nascent Soul Old Monsters live permanently in the even higher Outer Heaven, using Cosmic Light Beams to practice their Divine Techniques while also collecting various Outer Heaven Spiritual Materials. But this passive approach of waiting for a lucky break, unless you’re in a special location, might not yield any results for centuries. The cost-benefit is just too low.’

He closed his five fingers around the Blood Essence Core, which was harder than metal or stone, and it emitted a "CRACK."

Wisps of blood-colored smoke drifted out, and from the center, a dense speck of blood-red light the size of a grain of rice leaped out.

He pointed a finger, striking the blood-red light, and the space around it began to shake violently.

In a short time, several spatial rifts were drawn over, approaching him while radiating a dangerous aura.

’With my physique, if I accidentally fell in, I’m afraid I wouldn’t last more than a few breaths... It’s on a completely different level from the current Gang Wind. In the turbulence of the void, even a Heaven-Reaching Spiritual Treasure would be damaged, and a Tier Five Demon Monarch known for their physical body could be torn to a bloody pulp. It can hardly serve as a raft for Ascension.’

Looking at the pitch-black spatial rifts, which were as still as pools of ink, Bai Zichen shivered.

Without the protection of an Ascension Platform, a Cultivator from the Lower Realm could only endure the void turbulence and ascend to the Upper Realm through a relatively stable passage.

Countless Divinity Transformation Great Powers had already proven that this path was fraught with peril.

For Cultivators who forcibly broke into a Void Node, their Lifebound Objects left behind in the Lower Realm would all shatter after a period of time, clear proof that they had all perished in the void turbulence.

According to legend, only a Cultivator at Divinity Transformation Perfection, protected by multiple Heaven-Reaching Spiritual Treasures, had a chance of achieving Ascension on their own.

This path was originally meant for Refining Void experts to return to the Upper Realm; it was normal that Divinity Transformation Cultivators couldn’t manage it.

Bai Zichen guided the speck of blood-red light, carefully identifying each spatial rift while cautiously avoiding them.

Not every spatial rift contained the Power of Void; this was also a matter of probability and luck.

Of course, the larger and more dangerous a spatial rift looked, the higher the probability was.

"There!"

Three hours later, just as the speck of blood-red light was flickering and about to dim completely, Bai Zichen sensed a flash of silver light from a spatial rift to his left.

It was faint and ethereal, and it sent a heart-pounding tremor through his very soul.

It was the Power of Void!

Bai Zichen paid no mind to the faint aura of the void contained within the Blood Essence Core itself; it wasn’t even enough to open a one-inch space for his Realm.

What he needed was its ability to attract spatial rifts, making it easier to collect the Power of Void.

In his Dantian Qi Sea, the chubby white Nascent Soul suddenly opened its eyes. Cradling the Sword Box and wreathed in the essence of time, it leaped out from his Mud Ball Palace.

"HAAH!"

The chubby white Nascent Soul formed hand seals with its tiny hands. The wisp of silver light, like a nimble fish, tried to turn and slip away but was caught in an encircling net.

It opened its small mouth and swallowed the wisp of the Power of Void, causing a faint glow to emanate from its belly.

High up in the sky, an invisible force expanded a few dozen feet behind the chubby white Nascent Soul, forming a space completely different from its surroundings.

Moreover, this space was expanding at a speed visible to the naked eye, and it soon reached several hundred feet in diameter.

’The Nascent Soul Realm... begins now...’

A few days later, the chubby white Nascent Soul gave its newborn Realm a satisfied look, then returned to his body with a WHOOSH.

Although it was just newly formed and he had yet to integrate his own Great Dao into it, he could clearly feel that within this space, he was the heavens, the master of all.

With but a thought, he could command the meager Spiritual Qi within it however he wished.

The undulation of the ground and the shape of the space were all subject to a single thought.

After receiving an unbearable attack, he could even transfer the damage to be borne by the Realm.

However, this newborn Realm would probably collapse and turn into fragments of the void if it were to face a full-powered strike from a Nascent Soul True Monarch.