Chu Xuan's eyes lit up with joy at the sight. Since Tian Mozi had reached the Deity Transformation stage, he had seldom used the White Bone Stele. The bones inside had not been replenished for a long time.
Chu Xuan glanced at the stele and quickly realized that the bones had turned black and gray. As long as he could replenish enough fresh bones, the White Bone Stele would be renewed and restored to its full potential.
With even these aged bones, it was already capable of withstanding the full force of a Corpse King's attack. If he replaced the bones entirely, or even added more to the stele, its defensive power would undoubtedly become even more formidable!
At that point, no Nascent Soul cultivator's attack would be able to pierce its defense. He would truly be invincible below the Deity Transformation stage!
With this thought in mind, Chu Xuan immediately ordered his corpse puppets, who had been harvesting zombies, to strip the bones from the fallen undead. In this way, the zombies would have another use. Soul essence, blood, muscle, bone, and skin—all could be utilized!
"However, if I am to cultivate all the Great Dao, I will need an immense number of zombies. Relying only on the Zombie Matriarch and Zombie Empress won't be enough. Harvesting the powerful zombie kings scattered across Blue Star would be too troublesome. It would be much quicker to have a few cultivators contribute selflessly."
Chu Xuan sighed lightly. He sensed that one day, the resources he required might exceed what all the zombies on Blue Star could provide. He couldn't just drain the land dry. But if he didn't do so, his cultivation speed would slow down. It was truly a headache.
Chu Xuan didn't let himself dwell on this for too long. His attention quickly shifted to a spiritual sense jade slip. This jade slip had been obtained from Shang Xingchen after Chu Xuan had saved him. According to Shang Xingchen, it contained the inheritance of the Supreme Bliss Pill King, along with the formulas for the Great Soul Spirit Pill, Boiling Blood True Pill, and Focus Spirit Pill.
"The Supreme Bliss Pill King… I seem to recall something about him," Chu Xuan murmured as he closed his eyes to recollect.
Before long, a detailed image of the person emerged in his mind. The Supreme Bliss Pill King was a Deity Transformation cultivator from the Exquisite Treasures Alliance and a renowned Deity Transformation alchemist. His name was widely known across the region.
Not only did the cultivators of the Exquisite Treasures Alliance regularly seek his alchemical services, but even the Reincarnation Divine Sect, the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect, and several surrounding Sixth-level cultivation sects had Deity Transformation cultivators who sought him out for alchemical concoctions.
The Supreme Bliss Pill King's partner had once gone out to search for treasures but had unknowingly become infested by an ancient parasitic insect, suffering greatly.
The Supreme Bliss Pill King had used every possible means to try and expel the ancient parasitic insect, but to no avail. As he saw his partner on the brink of death, he had no choice but to venture out in search of rare heavenly treasures, hoping to forge a Nascent Soul stage elixir that could forcefully aid in his partner's recovery.
Afterward, the Supreme Bliss Pill King mysteriously disappeared. Many speculated that he had likely perished during his quest for these treasures. After all, the world was full of perilous and desolate places.
Unless one was a Tribulation-crossing powerhouse rampaging through the universe, there was always the risk of falling into danger and meeting one's demise.
Chu Xuan had obtained a great deal of information from the Exquisite Treasures Alliance cultivator Jin Dafu's storage ring after slaying him, including details about the Supreme Bliss Pill King.
Now, Chu Xuan placed the spiritual sense jade slip to his forehead.
Moments later, a look of joy spread across his face. It was indeed a treasure! Inside was the Supreme Bliss Pill King's lifetime of alchemical knowledge. The Deity Transformation master had meticulously recorded all his insights into the Alchemy Dao, documenting everything from his greatest achievements to the smallest of details.
However, due to the overwhelming volume of information, a single spiritual sense jade slip could not contain it all. The Supreme Bliss Pill King's teachings were divided into three separate jade slips. This one was only the first.
The first jade slip contained his Nascent Soul stage alchemical techniques, along with his profound insights into various Nascent Soul elixirs. It also included numerous self-created and improved Nascent Soul pill recipes.
The second jade slip was dedicated to Deity Transformation stage pills and the alchemical methods related to them.
The third jade slip contained the Supreme Bliss Pill King's musings and understandings regarding Astral Projection stage elixirs.
With these alchemical insights, Chu Xuan's chances of success when refining pills would dramatically increase. Even if it were his first time refining a pill, the odds of success would be much higher. As for the self-created and improved pill recipes, they were even more valuable.
The materials required for these pills were generally much less rare compared to those in widely circulated pill recipes. Often, the extremely rare materials had been replaced with easier-to-obtain, more affordable ones.
"The remaining two jade slips... Are they with Shang Xingchen? Or did he not get them either?"
Chu Xuan mentally noted this, intending to investigate further later.
He had been particularly interested in the recipe for the Great Soul Spirit Pill, which was also included in the current jade slip.
"It requires a large quantity of soul essence, as well as Purple Soul Flowers and Spiritual Shadow Roots... The Purple Soul Flowers are easy enough to grow—just plant them in the bodies of the zombies."
"But the Spiritual Shadow Roots require Spiritual Qi to grow, and they take an extremely long time to mature. If I need to purchase them, it will cost me a lot of spiritual stones."
Chu Xuan frowned. His gaze suddenly landed on a large glass vat inside his cave residence. The vat appeared to contain nothing more than ordinary soil.
However, only Chu Xuan knew that this soil had been soaked in Purifying Soul Gold Rain! At first, he had worried that the soil might contain some insects or other small creatures that had been exposed to the rain, and if they gained spiritual intelligence, they might cause trouble, disrupting his cultivation and bringing disaster.
Thus, he had carefully removed the soil, using his spiritual sense to eradicate all plant seeds and insect eggs before placing it in the glass vat. Since then, nothing unusual had appeared in the vat, and he had forgotten about it. But now, as he needed to plant spiritual herbs, he suddenly remembered this "meritorious soil."
"I wonder if this soil, soaked in Soul- Cleaning Gold Rain, has any special properties? Could it possibly accelerate the growth of spiritual plants?"
Chu Xuan couldn't help but become intrigued. If it could indeed speed up the growth of spiritual plants, even by just a fraction, it would be immensely valuable.
"Let me start by testing with some common spiritual herb seeds," Chu Xuan muttered to himself, his expression filled with an expectation that bordered on impatience. "I hope you won't disappoint me. If you do, you know the consequences."
He glared at the soil, attempting to intimidate it with his fierce gaze, as though hoping to force it into cooperating. Suddenly, Chu Xuan felt an unusual heat rising from his body.
"Strange... I've already reached Nascent Soul. Why am I still feeling this way?"
His brows furrowed in confusion.
Something was amiss. There was no doubt about it.
Without hesitation, he swiftly left the cave, his body moving like a blur. He shot eastward, heading directly for the eastern sea. Within moments, he plunged himself into the depths of the ocean.
Yet, even submerged in the vast expanse of water, the heat within him only intensified. What was even more troubling was how rapidly this sensation was growing stronger.
Chu Xuan's expression darkened. He moved southward, reaching the frozen ice at the South Pole. He immersed himself in the ice, hoping its cold would quell the growing internal heat.
But even surrounded by ancient ice that had never melted for millennia, the fire inside him only surged more fiercely. To his shock, the ice around him began to melt.
A burning fire, as if appearing from nowhere, had somehow manifested beneath him. It was not a fire he had summoned, yet it seemed to materialize out of thin air, following him wherever he went.
"Earth Fire Tribulation!" Chu Xuan's eyes widened as realization dawned upon him.
In his path to higher realms, a cultivator would inevitably face Heavenly Tribulations. He had already survived the Nascent Soul Heavenly Tribulation.
But this... this was the Earth Fire Tribulation, something he had only read about in ancient texts. It was said that this tribulation manifested when a cultivator was breaking through into certain hidden small realms.
"Could it be that I've truly stepped into the Soul Transformation Realm? Is that what triggered this Earth Fire Tribulation?" Chu Xuan felt both startled and overjoyed at the realization.
Chu Xuan focused his attention inward, inspecting his Nascent Soul. The Ghost Shadow Worm, having consumed enough shadows, was already on the verge of cocooning. After being placed into the Nascent Soul, it began to wrap the soul in its cocoon.
According to the "Soul Transformation Secret Method," once the Ghost Shadow Worm breaks free from its cocoon, the first transformation would be considered a success. There was no need for the cultivator to pay excessive attention during this process.
Now, as Chu Xuan observed his Nascent Soul once again, he indeed saw that the cocoon had begun to be gradually gnawed away. From within, the intense golden light of the Dao's Golden Lotus radiated forth. It was evident that the first transformation had been completed. Thus, the Earth Fire Tribulation had begun.
"This ancient cultivator clearly didn't succeed, otherwise, he wouldn't have omitted the Earth Fire Tribulation from his records!" Chu Xuan couldn't help but rub his forehead.
"However, the golden age of cultivation in the past may have been quite different from the present," he mused. "Perhaps back then, the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation and Earth Fire Tribulation didn't even exist?"
Chu Xuan shook his head and refocused on the task at hand. He gazed at the raging Earth Fire beneath him, his back glowing with the appearance of the four-tiered Merit Golden Wheel. The brilliant hues of rainbow light and golden merit shone around him, elevating him to a divine, saintly stature!
"Still not retreating!" Chu Xuan bellowed.
However, the Earth Fire Tribulation continued to burn without any sign of retreat. It didn't seem to notice the presence of the Merit Golden Wheel at all.
Chu Xuan frowned.
"Little fire sprite, don't you understand? Your elder brother, the Thunder Tribulation, fled as soon as I shouted at it. Why are you still hanging around here? Can't you see I've issued the expulsion order?"
He tried several more times, even bringing the Merit Golden Wheel right next to the Earth Fire. Yet, the fire didn't weaken in the least. In fact, it burned even more fiercely, threatening to engulf Chu Xuan entirely.
"Forget it. This Earth Fire Tribulation doesn't understand human speech. Anyway, my strength is formidable enough. I can endure this Earth Fire Tribulation easily by brute force."
Without even activating his Spiritual Qi, Chu Xuan relied solely on his physical strength from the 38th layer of body refinement to withstand the flames. The roaring fire couldn't so much as singe a hair on his body. After roughly an hour, the Earth Fire finally began to subside and eventually vanished.
Chu Xuan opened his eyes again. To his surprise, his body had been completely revitalized. The fire's scorching heat had not harmed him in the slightest; rather, it had helped refine his body. He felt that he was now only a step away from reaching the 39th layer of body refinement!
Chu Xuan glanced down. He noticed that the portion of the Antarctic continent beneath him had melted by nearly half.
"This is bad," he thought. "At this rate, the sea level will rise, flooding many areas. If this indirectly leads to the death of many people, my merits will be lost!"
Without a moment's hesitation, Chu Xuan immediately unleashed his Ice Magic. The Ice God Pillars erupted one after another in various locations, shattering and rising with tremendous force.
He darted through the air, activating the Ice Crystal Divine Light Escape. Wherever he passed, the melting ice rapidly refroze. He circled around the Antarctic continent, ensuring the signs of glacier melting had stopped.
Since it was his actions that had caused the melting and now had reversed them, there were neither merits nor sins accumulated. With the situation now secure, Chu Xuan finally departed.
"I am already a mature Nascent Soul Master; I must consider the consequences of everything. This time, I truly didn't expect the Earth Fire Tribulation to appear. It nearly caused a great disaster."
Chu Xuan shook his head repeatedly, immediately reflecting on the lessons learned from this experience. Merit was the foundation of his existence. How could he casually allow his merit to diminish?
"What changes occurred in my Nascent Soul after this transformation?"
Returning to the Water Curtain Cave, Chu Xuan immediately turned his attention inward to examine his Nascent Soul. To his surprise, he discovered that the color of his Nascent Soul had already shifted toward purple. Not only had its size increased slightly, now resembling a seven- or eight-year-old child, but its form had also solidified significantly.
The facial features were now nearly fully visible. It was important to note that for most Nascent Soul cultivators, the Nascent Soul figure lacked distinct facial features or they remained unclear. Only upon reaching the ninth layer of Nascent Soul cultivation would the Nascent Soul figure resemble that of a five- or six-year-old child. It was only after reaching the Deity Transformation stage that the Nascent Soul would grow into the form of a young adolescent, with all features fully revealed.
With a flick of his mind, Chu Xuan summoned the Ghost Shadow Worm into his palm. This little creature was no longer the purple worm it had once been. A pair of wings had sprouted from its back, but the wings were marked with ghostly faces, which gave off a chilling aura.
The moment it appeared, it transmitted a thought.
"Starving! Food!"
Chu Xuan smiled gently. "Don't worry, I have plenty of shadows here."
With a sweeping motion of his hand, a large group of lively, twitching zombies was quickly brought over. The Ghost Shadow Worm immediately flew into them and eagerly feasted on the zombies' bodies.
Chu Xuan settled down as well, using the dark falcon blood and flesh produced by the Psionic Cube to cultivate the "Thousand Refinements Dragon Elephant Technique," improving his body refinement. And so, three years passed in the blink of an eye.
Chu Xuan's body refinement realm smoothly broke through to the 39th layer of body refinement. Having consumed enough shadows, the Ghost Shadow Worm flew back into his body, re-forming its cocoon within his Nascent Soul.
Once it broke free from the cocoon, Chu Xuan's Nascent Soul would reach the second transformation level, further solidifying its form. If this process were repeated once more, Chu Xuan's Nascent Soul would successfully complete the third transformation. As for how much the success rate would improve, that remained uncertain, dependent on the circumstances at the time.
However, given the immense effort involved, he was certain there would be some reward. Even if the improvement was only ten or twenty percent, it would still be highly beneficial.
Many Nascent Soul cultivators would likely fight tooth and nail for a mere half-step improvement in their Deity Transformation spiritual item.
Chu Xuan smiled to himself, took a step forward, and returned to the Heavenly Infinite Sect. The Heavenly Infinite Sect was now filled with vibrant life, a scene where all things thrived. The cultivators wore radiant smiles on their faces.
This was because their Sect Master, Chu Xuan, had announced the repeal of Elder Shi Juntian's previous regulations and the strict cultivation standards.As a result, many cultivators were able to avoid the grim fate of being sent to the Corpses Valley or the Ghost Caverns, and naturally, they were filled with gratitude toward Chu Xuan.
At this moment, Chu Xuan sat in a small pavilion by Flying Fish Lake, his eyes closed in deep thought. Below, Yuan Zichu stood respectfully, silent as ever.
"Not bad. You've done well," Chu Xuan nodded slightly, flicking his hand to summon a storage bag. "Those who serve me must be rewarded."
Yuan Zichu's heart soared with joy. "Thank you, Sect Master!"
"Go now," Chu Xuan gestured with a wave of his hand.
"Yes, Sect Master."
Yuan Zichu quickly left.
Chu Xuan gave a faint nod.He rarely involved himself in the sect's day-to-day matters. All the mundane affairs were delegated to the Nascent Soul Elders. But that didn't mean he was oblivious to the sect's condition.
Cultivators like Yuan Zichu, a Golden Core cultivator, were his eyes and ears throughout the Heavenly Infinite Sect, planted as his hidden agents to gather crucial information whenever necessary. At present, there seemed to be no major issues.
"Shi Juntian was a little too extreme in his actions; he really wanted that position of Sect Master," Chu Xuan chuckled softly. Ambition was a good thing. If the Nascent Soul Elders were all complacent, how would he be able to push the sect's cultivators to improve?
Just then, a figure descended by the side of Flying Fish Lake—it was Shang Xingchen. With a smile, he said, "Sect Master! Good news from the upper sect: Wen Lingtian, the old demon of the Reincarnation Sect has been confirmed dead! The upper sect now calls for all of us to act, seize the cultivation stars under the Reincarnation Sect's control, and save the people from their peril. We must also prevent the Exquisite Treasures Alliance and other sects from occupying those stars, lest the mortal world be plunged into further turmoil!"
Chu Xuan was slightly taken aback upon hearing this. A cultivator who had stepped into the Astral Projection, a true ancestor—was dead just like that? Could it be a false report, a trick by the Reincarnation Sect to lure their enemies deeper?
Shang Xingchen seemed to sense his thoughts and spoke in a low voice, "Sect Master, rest assured, this is the command from the Creation Cave Heaven, issued to the Level 7 Cultivation Sects. Your Sect Master token should have received the news as well."
Chu Xuan raised an eyebrow, immediately pulling out his Sect Master token. This token had been mostly useless, so he had left it tucked away in a corner. Now that he took it out, it indeed vibrated with a powerful energy.
Chu Xuan infused it with his Spiritual Qi, and a deep, resonant voice immediately emanated from it. The voice was so overwhelming that it almost compelled one to kneel in reverence.
"Creation Cave Heaven Cave Master's Order: The Reincarnation Sect's Astral Projection cultivator, Wen Lingtian, attempted to use forbidden powers to break through his boundaries. If successful, it would bring untold suffering to billions of lives.
Our sect has great compassion for life, so we have executed Wen Lingtian. The Reincarnation Sect has aided evil, their sins are unforgivable. Today, the Reincarnation Sect's status as a Level 6 Cultivation Sect is hereby revoked and downgraded to a Level 5 Cultivation Sect. All cultivation stars, except for Reincarnation Star, are now considered leaderless territories, effective immediately."
The deep voice trailed off. Soon, another voice echoed.
"Heaven Shaking Divine Sect Master's Order: All Nascent Soul and Golden Core cultivators from Level 5 Cultivation Sects are to set out immediately. Led by Heaven Shaking Divine Sect cultivators, they are to seize the nearby leaderless cultivation stars. No mistakes are to be made!"
This was clearly an order from the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect's Master.
Shang Xingchen smiled. "Sect Master, the transport ships dispatched by the Upper Sect will arrive in the next few days. Specific orders will need to be given by you personally."
Chu Xuan nodded slightly. So that was the case. It seemed Wen Lingtian had planned to use the power of the Taotie Tree. The enormous stone hand that had once uprooted the Taotie Tree must have been a spell cast by a senior expert from Creation Cave Heaven.
Chu Xuan nodded thoughtfully, "Elder Shang, please immediately gather all Golden Core cultivators and above. I will issue the Sect Master's orders right away."
"Yes," Shang Xingchen nodded and left.
"Wait," Chu Xuan suddenly called out to him, "Elder Shang, you have great knowledge. You should be familiar with the nearby Level 6 Cultivation Sects, correct?"
Shang Xingchen nodded. "I have some understanding."
Chu Xuan continued, "Good. Then I would trouble you to take the time to create a batch of spiritual sense jade slips, containing general information about the Reincarnation Sect, the Exquisite Treasures Alliance, and other sects and their affiliated sects."
Shang Xingchen immediately understood what he meant, smiling as he nodded. "Sect Master, you really do take good care of your disciples. I understand what you need. I'll get to work right away."
After he left, a look of satisfaction spread across Chu Xuan's face. Now was the perfect time to strike when the Reincarnation Sect was down. With their Astral Projection ancestor gone, they would surely become a scattered mess. If not now, then when?
As expected. When Chu Xuan issued the orders to the Nascent Soul and Golden Core cultivators of the Heavenly Infinite Sect, their faces lit up with surprise. Although they didn't fully understand the intricate politics between large sects, it was clear that the Reincarnation Sect had now become a crumbling power, scattered like monkeys when the tree fell. This was the perfect time to strike.
Even if the Golden Core cultivators were to battle over other cultivation stars, they were sure to reap some benefits. Perhaps they would even obtain some Nascent Soul spiritual objects, aiding them in their own breakthrough towards the Nascent Soul realm.
As for Shang Xingchen, Shi Juntian, and Wei Ji—three Nascent Soul cultivators—they were even more excited.
Chu Xuan spoke in a clear, commanding voice, "Prepare yourselves now! As soon as the transport ships from the upper sect arrive, we will set off immediately!"
"Yes!" the cultivators answered in unison, their voices resounding like thunder.
Three days later, a menacing black transport ship indeed arrived outside Mystic Azure Star.
The ship flew under a massive banner, upon which were written two bold words: "Heaven Shaking!"
This was the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect's transport ship.
While the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect's ships were not as impressive as those of the Exquisite Treasures Alliance, they still held great significance. These transport ships served as bridges between cultivation stars, enabling the connection of distant worlds. Without sufficient ships, the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect's rule could not be fully established.
"Fellow daoist Chu! I am Tian Musen, Nascent Soul Steward of the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect!"
"I am Zhang Jinzhou, Nascent Soul Steward of the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect."
Two figures leaped from the ship. One was robust and imposing, the other was tall and slender. The two walked toward Chu Xuan, one in front, the other following closely behind.
Chu Xuan, Shang Xingchen, Wei Ji, and Shi Juntian all cupped their hands in greeting. "Stewards Tian and Zhang, a pleasure."
Tian Musen smiled warmly, "Fellow Daoist Chu, I've heard much about you!"
Zhang Jinzhou, on the other hand, simply nodded toward Chu Xuan before laughing heartily and walking toward Shi Juntian. "Junior brother, it's been a long time!"
Shi Juntian's face lit up with excitement. "Senior Brother Zhang, it really is you!"
The two had once been disciples under the Bloodwing True Lord of the Reincarnation Sect. However, Shi Juntian had chosen to come to Mystic Azure Star to sabotage the Feather Transformation Heaven Palace. After the Mystic Azure battle, he decided to stay in the Heavenly Infinite Sect and serve as an elder.
Zhang Jinzhou, on the other hand, had remained in the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect, continuing his cultivation at Heaven Shaking Star. The two had not seen each other for many years.
Tian Musen chuckled apologetically, "Fellow Daoist Zhang and fellow daoist Shi are senior and junior brothers. It's been a long time since they last met, so naturally, there's a bit of excitement. I hope Fellow Daoist Chu will not mind."
Chu Xuan nodded slightly, not minding such trivial matters.
Tian Musen smiled and said, "I trust Fellow Daoist Chu is already aware of the sect leader's command? Please, everyone, board the ship. Our destination is Holy Flame Star, where the ruling sect is the Red Flame Pavilion."
Chu Xuan smiled and nodded. With a wave of his hand, the Heavenly Infinite Sect disciples boarded the ship in an orderly fashion. A group of Foundation Establishment cultivators stood respectfully below, watching them depart.
As the transport ship took off, soaring into the starry sky, the disciples of the Heavenly Infinite Sect bowed deeply and shouted in unison, "Farewell, Sect Master! Farewell, Elders!"
At the forefront of the Foundation Establishment disciples stood two Golden Core cultivators. Both were older in age, their strength having waned. Aware of their inability to contend in battle, they had voluntarily requested to stay behind and defend the sect.
Once aboard the transport ship, Chu Xuan glanced at Shang Xingchen, who nodded. He immediately ordered for the spiritual sense jade slips to be distributed to each Golden Core cultivator.
"Know thyself and know thy enemy, and you will never be defeated."
Chu Xuan had asked Shang Xingchen to prepare these spiritual sense jade slips to ensure that the disciples of the Heavenly Infinite Sect had a rough understanding of their enemies. This way, when it came to battle, they wouldn't be blindsided, unaware of the enemy's usual tactics.
He didn't do this out of kindness, however, or a desire to protect every Golden Core disciple. His primary intent in distributing the spiritual sense jade slips was to help them secure victories in battle, to plunder as many treasures as possible. This way, they could contribute back to the Heavenly Infinite Sect, which would in turn benefit him, as the sect master. The more prosperous the sect, the more contributions he would earn from the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect.
Boom!
A protective spiritual light rose from the transport ship, enveloping all the cultivators inside. After a brief surge of acceleration, the ship shot through Mystic Azure Star's atmosphere and into the boundless expanse of the starry sky. In the blink of an eye, the vast sea of stars unfolded before their eyes.
The Golden Core cultivators looked on in astonishment. Though Chu Xuan had used the ancient teleportation array many times to travel between the outer battlefield and Mystic Azure Star, this was his first time witnessing the starry skies of this world in such a context. Naturally, his heart was stirred.
Chu Xuan smiled and asked, "Fellow Daoist Tian, how many days will it take to reach Holy Flame Star?"
Tian Musen pondered for a moment. "Holy Flame Star is quite distant from Mystic Azure Star. We'll need to stop at Dawn Star to resupply with spirit stones before proceeding to Holy Flame Star. Altogether, it will take about forty days."
He then sighed a little. "After all, our Heaven Shaking Divine Sect's transport ship has some limitations in speed. The Crazy Warrior Ship has a travel speed of only thirty million miles per day, which is even slower than the Exquisite Treasures Alliance's Swift Falcon-class ships."
Chu Xuan raised an eyebrow. "Fellow Daoist Tian seems to know a lot about transport ships?"
Tian Musen's eyes brightened. "Of course! In my spare time, I enjoy studying transport ships the most!"
Without waiting for Chu Xuan to respond, he continued, "Exquisite Treasures Alliance's ships are classified into three grades. First, the Swift Falcon-class ships, which travel at a speed of about thirty-five million miles per day. Then, the Azure Eagle-class ships, traveling at about fifty million miles per day. As for the Flying Dragon-class ships, the difference is considerable. The lowest speed is seventy million miles per day, and the fastest ones, I've heard, can exceed one hundred million miles!"
Tian Musen's eyes were filled with envy. "I really wish our Heaven Shaking Divine Sect had ships like those."
Chu Xuan nodded thoughtfully. "What about the Golden Dragon ship of the Exquisite Treasures Alliance? What class is that?"
Tian Musen exclaimed, "The Golden Dragon ship? That's a Flying Dragon-class ship! Its speed is incredibly fast! I remember that the captain of that ship is Jin Dafu, the son of the Grand Elder of Exquisite Treasures Alliance. However, it seems that the Golden Dragon ship has gone missing. What a pity. If I could get my hands on that ship, I'd thoroughly study it."
Chu Xuan sighed deeply. "Indeed, that Golden Dragon trade caravan came to Mystic Azure Star to trade, and we even pre-ordered many treasures from them. But by dawn, they had vanished. Our Heavenly Infinite Sect disciples couldn't even catch up with them."
At this, Shang Xingchen, Wei Ji, and Shi Jun Tian all nodded in agreement. Wei Ji, in particular, gritted his teeth, evidently recalling the spirit stones he had lost to Jin Dafu.
Tian Musen gave a sympathetic look. "The Golden Dragon caravan was so untrustworthy. I once held them in high regard."
The starry sky was indeed beautiful, but after a while, it grew monotonous. Not long after, the cultivators entered the ship's cabin and retired to their respective rooms to rest.
As a Nascent Soul cultivator and the Sect Master of the Heavenly Infinite Sect, Chu Xuan was naturally assigned the best room.
"It seems normal, but it's better to set up some formations just in case."
Chu Xuan quickly arranged several sets of formations, ensuring that no one could spy on the room. Only then did he relax.
"This Crazy Warrior Ship is always in motion. If I use the Myriad Realm Mirror to travel to Blue Star, when I return, where will I be? Could it be in the middle of the starry sky?"
Chu Xuan pondered this question for a moment, then shook his head.It was simply too dangerous, not worth attempting. He was also concerned that there might be a formation on the transport ship capable of scanning the entire situation. If he were to suddenly disappear, it could trigger the formation's alert, and the consequences were unclear. For now, he decided it was best to spend the next forty days aboard the Crazy Warrior Ship.
...
Time in cultivation flowed differently. For cultivators, even a brief seclusion for meditation could stretch into years or decades. Forty days was nothing more than a blink of an eye.
During this period, the Crazy Warrior Ship made a stop at Dawn Star to replenish spirit stones. Chu Xuan, however, did not make an appearance, remaining in his cabin to focus on his cultivation.
After forty days passed, the Crazy Warrior Ship finally arrived at Holy Flame Star.
...
Holy Flame Star.
As its name suggested, the entire star was bathed in fiery red hues, its temperature unbearably high. It resembled a massive furnace, ablaze with an eternal fire.
Cultivators with Fire Spiritual Roots and those specializing in fire-based techniques couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. This place was nothing short of paradise for them, a true blessed land. It was in such a star that a sect like the Red Flame Pavilion could exist, composed entirely of cultivators with Fire Spiritual Roots.
As the Crazy Warrior Ship docked, a cultivator from the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect immediately arrived to greet them.
Chu Xuan glanced over, noticing that it was a strikingly beautiful woman. Her long, jet-black hair was neatly tied up, and she wore a regal blue palace gown. A golden necklace adorned her pale neck, and a jade orb was embedded in her ample chest. A delicate purple jade belt cinched her slender waist, and her ten fingers were adorned with rings of varying colors.
The aura surrounding her indicated she was a Nascent Soul cultivator in the mid-stage. However, Chu Xuan was not the type to judge a person's true strength solely by their outward aura. After all, who would reveal all their cultivation levels for the world to see?
The reason Chu Xuan observed this woman more closely was not because of her alluring figure, but because of the multitude of magical treasures she wore. Her necklace, the jade orb on her chest, the jade belt on her waist, and the rings on her fingers—every single one of them was a magical treasure!
Tian Musen and Zhang Jinzhou both bowed slightly to the woman, "Fellow Daoist Yun, a pleasure to meet you."
The woman covered her mouth and lightly chuckled, "The sect has already informed us that reinforcements would be arriving soon. I didn't expect it to be Fellow Daoist Tian and Fellow Daoist Zhang."
She then turned her gaze to Chu Xuan and the others, asking, "And who might these esteemed guests be?"
Tian Musen introduced, "Fellow Daoist Yun, these are cultivators from the Heavenly Infinite Sect of Mystic Azure Star."
He gestured towards Chu Xuan and continued, "This is Chu Xuan, the Sect Master of the Heavenly Infinite Sect."
He then pointed to the others, "These are Shang Xingchen, Wei Ji, and Shi Juntian."
He looked back at Chu Xuan and the others with a smile, "This is Yun Lan, Nascent Soul Elder of our Heaven Shaking Divine Sect, and one of the first to arrive at Holy Flame Star to take control of this unclaimed star."
Chu Xuan and the others all nodded politely at Yun Lan.
Yun Lan took a few more glances at Chu Xuan, her eyes gleaming with intrigue.
"So you are Fellow Daoist Chu. I've heard so much about you," she said with a smile. "I've heard that you single-handedly wiped out several Nascent Soul cultivators of the Crazy Dragon Valley in the Heavenly Metal Battlefield, forcing the sects under the Reincarnation Demon Sect to ally with the Heavenly Infinite Sect. I've always been amazed by your strength. I never expected to meet you in person today."
At these words, Tian Musen and Zhang Jinzhou both looked surprised.
Very few Nascent Soul cultivators made it back from the Heavenly Metal Battlefield, and news of what happened there was rarely circulated. Had Yun Lan not mentioned it, they would never have known that Chu Xuan possessed such incredible strength.
Chu Xuan quickly shook his head. "It was not my achievement, Fellow Daoist, you overestimate me. If not for the help of Fellow Daoist Shang and Fellow Daoist Wei, I could not have wiped out the entire Crazy Dragon Valley on my own."
Yun Lan, however, only looked more impressed. "I am accustomed to arrogant, overbearing people who like to boast, but rarely have I encountered someone as humble and gracious as Fellow Daoist Chu ."
Chu Xuan smiled faintly, but a sense of unease stirred within him.
This woman… She was unusually persistent. It seemed like she had some kind of ulterior motive.
Next, Yun Lan shifted her gaze away from Chu Xuan and quickly recounted the current situation on Holy Flame Star.
It turned out that the first group of Heaven Shaking Divine Sect cultivators had already arrived a month ago. With the aid of an insider within the Red Flame Pavilion, they had swiftly seized a piece of land while the star's protective array was still inactive. In the blink of an eye, they had established their foothold.
The Red Flame Pavilion, not one to back down, immediately launched a counterattack. The two sides had been locked in a stalemate ever since. Only now did Yun Lan and her group require reinforcements.
"Fellow Daoists, please follow me," Yun Lan said, smiling warmly. "Rest for a day, and we will join the battle on the morrow."
Her smile was as gentle as a spring breeze, bringing a sense of ease to Tian Mosen, Zhang Jinzhou, Wei Ji, and the others.
Chu Xuan and Shang Xingchen exchanged a glance, but said nothing. Both could see that Yun Lan was certainly a cultivator of charm arts—and a highly skilled one at that. Even without using Spiritual Qi, her every smile and frown had an enchanting effect. If she were to use Spiritual Qi and cast spells, she could likely sway the hearts and minds of others. They would need to be cautious and wary of her.
That evening, the welcoming banquet was held as scheduled. At the banquet, Yun Lan took the opportunity to explain in detail the situation of Holy Flame Star, covering every aspect, no matter how small.
The one concern that had weighed most heavily on Chu Xuan was also addressed. He had feared that a Deity Transformation cultivator might be present on Holy Flame Star. Even if there were numerous Nascent Soul cultivators, they would be no match for a single Deity Transformation cultivator.
However, Yun Lan reassured them, saying that the Deity Transformation master guarding Holy Flame Star, the "Blazing Fire True Master" from the Red Flame Pavilion, had been driven back by the Blood Wine True Master.
The two had fought fiercely in the starry skies and were not currently on Holy Flame Star. This meant that the Nascent Soul cultivators could now act freely, without fear.
In order to preserve their heritage, protect their treasures, and save the billions of mortals on this star who had been corrupted by the Red Flame Pavilion, they must act in the name of justice!
...
The battle was far easier than expected.
The Red Flame Pavilion cultivators had anticipated reinforcements, but they had never imagined that these reinforcements would be so terrifyingly strong! These Golden Core cultivators from the Heavenly Infinite Sect were each adept in the arts of corpse cultivation and spirit manipulation.
Some of the particularly powerful ones had even dabbled in poison techniques and curse arts. Each of them seemed to have stepped out from the very depths of a blood-soaked battlefield. Their cultivation was profound, their Spiritual Qi rich, their experience vast, and their battle techniques fierce. They were full of hidden cards!
A single Golden Core cultivator from the Heavenly Infinite Sect could easily handle two Golden Core cultivators from the Red Flame Pavilion of the same rank, not only without fear but even gaining the upper hand! Not to mention the Red Flame Pavilion cultivators, even Tian Mosen, Zhang Jinzhou, and Yun Lan, the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect cultivators, were utterly stunned.
It felt as though they had let a pack of hungry wolves loose in a herd of sheep. Even the Golden Core cultivators of the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect had never displayed such ferocity!
Heavenly Infinite Sect had been on Holy Flame Star for less than a year, yet they had already occupied three-quarters of the planet's surface. In these territories, only a handful of Red Flame Pavilion cultivators still resisted, but their days were numbered, and they would soon be eliminated.
The remaining groups of Red Flame Pavilion cultivators had been pushed to a remote, isolated continent, where they clung to life in a desperate struggle. It could be said that within three months at most, the sect would succeed in completely conquering Holy Flame Star.
One day, Chu Xuan and the others hovered in mid-air, gazing at the distant lands below. The battle reports submitted by the soldiers had already been compiled and were now in the hands of the Nascent Soul cultivators.
Yun Lan marveled, "Fellow Daoist Chu, your sect's Golden Core cultivators have taken another city. Now, except for that one landmass, there are no more remaining Red Flame Pavilion cultivators to resist."
Tian Mosen couldn't help but ask, "Fellow Daoist Chu, how does the Heavenly Infinite Sect cultivate these disciples? Could you perhaps impart a few lessons?"
Chu Xuan smiled and nodded. "It's simple."
He briefly explained the sect's new regulations.
Yun Lan, Tian Mosen, and Zhang Jinzhou were left speechless.
No wonder the Heavenly Infinite Sect cultivators were so ferocious—they had been forced to this level! Had they joined the Heavenly Infinite Sect, surrounded constantly by the ominous atmosphere of the Corpses Valley and the Ghosts Abyss, they would have had no choice but to push themselves to the limit in their cultivation. There would be no room for complacency.
Wei Ji, flipping through the battle reports, suddenly spoke, "Fellow Daoists, the star-protecting array of Holy Flame Star is now under our control. I suggest we activate the array now, to prevent other sects like the Exquisite Treasures Alliance or Great Joy Temple from coming in to seize a piece of the pie."
Holy Flame Star was quite close to the territory of the Exquisite Treasures Alliance. The news of the Reincarnation Sect being demoted to a Tier 5 sect in the cultivation world could hardly have gone unnoticed.
In Chu Xuan's view, the Exquisite Treasures Alliance was indeed highly likely to take advantage of this opportunity to claim the spoils and seize Holy Flame Star. If that happened, another fierce battle was inevitable. If they activated the star-protecting array now, they could keep the enemies out of the star system. As long as they couldn't get cultivators onto Holy Flame Star, even if the Exquisite Treasures Alliance wished to take the planet, it would be a difficult task.
After Wei Ji spoke, Chu Xuan and Shang Xingchen both nodded in agreement.
However, Yun Lan shook her head, smiling gently as she covered her mouth. "Logically, the star-protecting array should indeed be activated, but what you don't know is that the sect has only allocated so many spirit stones. If we activate the star-protecting array, we will need to use spirit stones from our own storage. The consumption of the array per moment is terrifying—it's far beyond what we can sustain."
She paused for a moment before continuing, "Moreover, the Exquisite Treasures Alliance has shown no signs of heading toward Holy Flame Star recently. Instead, several merchant caravans have set their sights on Fiery Sky Star and Crazy Dragon Star. The resources there are clearly far superior to those of Holy Flame Star."
Upon hearing this, Tian Mosen and Zhang Jinzhou both nodded in agreement. When working for the sect, one must consider the gains and losses. With such a meager annual stipend, it would hardly make sense to engage in a losing trade.
Chu Xuan furrowed his brow slightly. Her reasoning was valid, but something about it didn't sit right with him. Ever since arriving on Holy Flame Star, he had been plagued by a feeling of unease. It was as though some great calamity was on the horizon.
Yet, now was the critical moment to finally wipe out the remnants of Red Flame Pavilion, and he could not afford to back out. He had no choice but to remain focused on overseeing the battle.
Yun Lan smiled. "Fellow Daoists, the remnants of Red Flame Pavilion won't last much longer. We'll rest for a few days. Once the cultivators have recovered to their peak condition, we'll cross the sea and strike a decisive blow!"
Chu Xuan had no objections.
That night, he returned to a temporary cave residence that had been set up for him. Before he could even sit down in meditation, a respectful voice rang from outside.
"Reporting to the Sect Master, here is the list of our sect's fallen cultivators in recent battles."
Chu Xuan strode out and took the list from Yuan Zichu.
The Golden Core cultivators of the Heavenly Infinite Sect had been the main force in the ongoing conflict on Holy Flame Star. The Nascent Soul cultivators, including Chu Xuan, rarely intervened unless absolutely necessary.
By staying out of the fray, the remaining Nascent Soul cultivators of Red Flame Pavilion were hesitant to make a move, thus delaying their action. As a result, the casualties among the Golden Core cultivators were the heaviest.
Chu Xuan quickly scanned the list.
"Fu Peng... died in the Nether Fire Valley?" His brow furrowed.