Chapter 607: Returning to the Sect (2)

“True Monarch Bai arranged to meet us at Black Mountain ten years from now. We didn’t travel together, and there are still several years left… We were worried about delaying the True Monarch’s important matters, so we didn’t dare to wait. We packed up and left as soon as we were ready.”

Elder Baii was delighted to hear that True Monarch Bai had yet to arrive at Black Mountain.

If True Monarch Bai were already at Black Mountain, there would have been little point in them leaving early.

Only by arriving years ahead of schedule, with the man himself not yet present, could they demonstrate the Divine Wood Sect’s sincerity.

“I see. Thank you both for your hard journey, True Men. Does that mean we’ll be able to see Ancestor Bai in a few years?”

Qi Yue suppressed a smile and invited the two aboard the Wind Shuttle.

Both parties were polite and deferential, creating a harmonious atmosphere. After just a few sentences, they were all talking and laughing cheerfully.

Qi Yue was curious about the changes in the Central Domain. He wanted to know just how much of a threat the Demon Beast armies posed to the interior and whether they needed to make preparations in advance.

It had been the most talked-about subject in the Northern Domain for years.

Of course, what mattered most was his own Ancestor’s current situation.

The two from the Divine Wood Sect wanted to understand the Qingfeng Sect’s internal structure and the habits of its High-Tier Cultivators.

Whatever had made a Nascent Soul True Monarch personally and formally request their help, it surely wasn’t for ordinary Spirit Rice. They suspected they would have to stay at Black Mountain for quite a long time to fulfill their commitment.

Getting an early grasp of the preferences of the Core Formation True Men would help them integrate into the Qingfeng Sect.

By building good relationships with these people, they also hoped for a good word to be put in with True Monarch Bai. This might lead to receiving his personal instruction and guidance sooner.

‘We’ve traveled all this way, and all we’ve seen are Tier Three Spirit Veins. Don’t tell me the Qingfeng Sect doesn’t even have a Tier Four Spirit Land?’

Lin Shan took in the steep and magnificent sight of the Black Mountain Range, comparing it with his own Wuzhong Ridge. The level of the Spirit Vein was definitely far inferior.

However, the Black Mountain Range stretched as far as the eye could see, with endless rolling peaks. In terms of overall scale, Wuzhong Ridge was definitely outmatched.

‘That can’t be. Before coming here, I specifically gathered intelligence related to Black Mountain. There’s a Tier Four Spirit Vein in these mountains. Otherwise, how could their two Ancestors have completed the path to the Nascent Soul Realm? I told you to observe more and talk less. Don’t use Sound Transmission with me again!’

Elder Baii shot Lin Shan a glare. This junior brother of his was a relative of Gu Jue and possessed a Sangzhe Spirit Body, which made him arrogant and look down on everyone in the Divine Wood Sect, offending many of his peers.

However, the Sangzhe Spirit Body had a natural affinity for Earth Veins and the ability to regulate the earth’s spiritual energy.

Any Spirit Field Lin Shan tended to was always significantly more fertile than those of others. Pests actively avoided his fields, and the final harvests were considerably larger.

Gu Jue’s choice of this candidate wasn’t entirely an act of nepotism; the Sangzhe Spirit Body was truly unique.

Often, the effects it could produce were something that even those with extensive experience as Spirit Farmers couldn’t achieve.

Elder Baii chatted a bit more with Qi Yue. When he learned that Qi Yue was True Monarch Ge Cang’s disciple, his words became a little more enthusiastic.

If it weren’t for a sect brother as astonishing as Bai Zichen, Ge Cang’s feat of defeating a Nascent Soul True Monarch from the Nine Tribulations Sect would have been just as widely acclaimed.

…

Bai Zichen’s Sword Light streaked onward until he saw several beams of Escape Light heading in the same direction, at which point he descended from the layer of Gang Wind.

A vast and magnificent Immortal City attracted the gazes of all passing cultivators.

Its twelve city gates were open all day, with countless cultivators entering and exiting at every moment, and a massive amount of Cultivation Resources being exchanged.

‘Compared to back then, the flow of people hasn’t decreased… but for some reason, I feel like it’s missing a certain vitality.’

Bai Zichen stopped to watch for a long time. He didn’t enter the city, but turned and left.

Zengguang Immortal City was the true heart of the Northern Domain. Countless cultivators, endless resources—anything you could imagine could be found within the Immortal City.

In the past, countless lives had been lost over this Immortal City. From its very founding to the fall of the Du Family, it was built upon a mountain of white bones.

After he slayed the Blood Demon, he felt a greater affinity with the mountains and rivers, the earth, and nature’s spiritual energy.

It was as if the legendary Merit Power had descended upon him, granting him this benefit.

Merit Power was mysterious and profound; few could clearly explain its inner workings.

It could be simply understood as a realm’s Celestial Dao’s reward and punishment system for those below.

By complying with the Celestial Dao and performing actions beneficial to the realm, one had a chance to be rewarded with Merit Power.

There were many benefits to having Merit Power.

Simply put, fortune would favor you, and everything you did would go smoothly.

The opposite example, having your merit stripped away, meant being rejected by heaven and earth. Even drinking water would get stuck in your teeth.

The Blood Demon was, after all, a cultivator from the Heavenly Demon Realm. Regardless of whether it had taken action, it would certainly be seen as a destabilizing factor in this world.

Killing it completely could be said to have cut off the Blood Demon Race’s schemes, invisibly averting a disaster for the Human World.

For such a great deed, it was only natural that Merit Power would descend.

Passing Zengguang Immortal City meant that he was very close to his final destination.

‘I wonder how those disciples of mine are doing…’

Calculating their ages, if they hadn’t been able to break through to the Core Formation Realm, Bai Zichen’s disciples would have basically reached the end of their lives.

Perhaps it was truly the anxiety of returning home. Even a Nascent Soul Cultivator couldn’t completely avoid it. His mind was filled with scattered thoughts, and he felt a sense of apprehension about what he might find.

When Hejian County appeared in his line of sight, his heart immediately calmed.

Without disturbing anyone, Bai Zichen reined in his Sword Light and proceeded with a low profile.

The defenses of the Black Mountain Range were as good as nonexistent to him. He passed through Celestial Thunder Cliff, where he had cultivated for many years; the Sect’s Main Mountain; Feiyue Lake, where he had started with Spirit Fields; and Golden Light Mountain, Lengcuo Lake, Cold Crow Gorge, and other places that he had personally claimed during the reclamation wars.

He also discovered that the Tier Three Spirit Veins that were previously undeveloped and occupied by Demon Beasts had mostly been incorporated into the sect’s defensive line.

The overall defensive line was far more formidable and layered than when he had left.

The only thing lacking was a Tier Four Array.

Only a Tier Four Grand Array could link the entire Black Mountain Range together and provide the required coverage.

On Flame Mountain, two rows of halls sat at the base, the Alchemy Hall was halfway up the slope, and the two Spirit Lands at the summit were clearly distinct.

Bai Zichen arrived at his Observatory Pavilion. Everything was just as he had left it, completely unchanged.

The structure of the pavilion, the meditation cushions, and the seats were all dust-free, clearly cleaned by someone regularly.

He slowly paced. In the room on the top floor, he could see the night sky just by looking up, as if he could reach out and pluck a real star.

‘Someone used my Quiet Chamber?’

Returning to the second floor, Bai Zichen frowned. The door to the Quiet Chamber was open. A meditation cushion had been carelessly tossed aside, already pilling and with threads pulled loose.

There was even a trail of footprints on the floor, leading from the doorway all the way inside.

He actually didn’t mind his disciples taking advantage of his absence to enjoy the Tier Four Spiritual Qi near the Observatory Hall.

But to enter the pavilion directly and leave his Quiet Chamber in such a state—who had the nerve?

He remembered that none of his disciples had this kind of temperament. Could there be someone else in the Observatory Pavilion?

He went to the last room, the Artifact Refining Room, and pushed open the stone door. The black stone, taken from the Cyan Simurgh’s former nest, had the effect of blocking Divine Sense, so he could only see inside after pushing the door open.

Seeing the lump fast asleep on the Artifact Refining Room’s workbench, he burst out laughing.

Black and white fur, a plump figure, paws covering its head, emitting rhythmic snores.

Who else could it be but his Lifebound Spiritual Beast, which he had left behind for so many years?

“Genggeng, roll on down here!”

Bai Zichen shouted lightly, but to Genggeng, it was deafening. Its whole body shuddered violently, and you could see its flesh ripple like waves.

It rubbed its eyes with its short paws. When it saw its master, who had been gone for nearly a hundred years, it let out a happy cry and prepared to leap down from the workbench.

But because its legs were too short, it tripped over itself and tumbled off the workbench, spinning as it fell.

It rolled twice on the ground, ending up as a black-and-white furball.

Given that it was all flesh and fur, it probably didn’t feel any pain.

Genggeng quickly scrambled up, trotted over to its master, and hugged his leg, shaking it vigorously.

“Alright, alright. Once I’ve established my Realm, I can put you inside. I won’t leave you behind again in the future.”

Bai Zichen felt Genggeng’s deep attachment and scratched it under the chin.

Only then did he realize that Genggeng had, without him noticing, become a Tier Three Low-Grade Spirit Beast.

It seemed all that High-Tier Demon Beast flesh he had prepared for it hadn’t gone to waste. However, its body had only grown a little larger, and it showed none of the imposing might a Tier Three Spirit Beast should have.