After a long silence, Lie Xiao suddenly stood up, his eyes seeming to burst into flames.
"At this point, there's no choice but to fight with everything we've got. The leader of the Evil Scorpion Tribe has already contacted me once and revealed his rebellious intentions. Our Fiery Holy Ant Tribe is not the first to be suppressed; other large tribes also harbor discontent. As long as we unite, it is not impossible to overthrow the tribal kingdom and reshape the world!"
With these words, he strode out of the shrine, beginning to make urgent preparations for rebellion.
Chu Xuan observed quietly, lost in thought.
Lie Xin's death had been expected. After all, many years had passed since then. It was natural for Lie Xin to pass the leadership of the Fiery Holy Ant Tribe to Lie Xiao and for Lie Chen to assist him in the King of Myriad Insects' Palace. However, the current situation was clearly far from clear-cut.
"The Monarch of Myriad Insects is not simple. I remember he once suppressed the Fiery Holy Ant Tribe before—during that time, Lie Xin suffered severe injuries and his vitality was greatly damaged. And now, he's acting again, clearly trying to push the Fiery Holy Ant Tribe to the brink of destruction."
Chu Xuan clicked his tongue in amazement. The workings of the mind had little to do with cultivation or realm. Whether it was Blue Star, Soul Star, or the Cave World, there were always individuals of extraordinary wisdom.
Nascent Soul cultivators and even Deity Transformation experts, though mighty, were not immune to foolishness. Thus, Chu Xuan never underestimated the intelligent life of these three worlds.
"I will not intervene in this battle. Let's see how Lie Xiao handles it. Even if the Monarch of Myriad Insects wins, the shard of the mirror should fall into his hands."
Chu Xuan did not mind switching hosts, nor did he have any intention of aiding Lie Xiao. Letting go of the desire to help others and respecting their fate was the best approach. It was beneficial for both others and himself.
With that thought, Chu Xuan withdrew his spiritual sense and focused entirely on body refinement.
...
Ten years later
Chu Xuan's body refinement realm naturally reached the forty-first level! At that moment, the roar of a giant beast resounded from his body, shaking the heavens above! Endless blood energy erupted from his pores, swiftly forming the ethereal image of a giant beast.
Its long trunk seemed capable of curling up the starry heavens. Its massive hooves appeared as though they could crush mountains and rivers. The beast's sharp teeth were primal and wild, as if they could pierce through any defense. The people on Blue Star heard this earth-shattering roar and rushed out in a frenzy to witness the spectacle.
"Wow, what a fierce monster! It looks like an elephant, just... a bit bigger."
"Is that really 'a bit'? It's clearly a billion times bigger! It must be some kind of immortal's technique. Immortals are truly amazing."
"Coach, I want to learn that!"
...
Inside the Water Curtain Cave.
Chu Xuan exhaled softly, retracting the image of the dragon-elephant. This was the new ability granted by reaching the forty-first level of body refinement.
Vitality Shaping!
In simple terms, it meant condensing his vitality into various forms to combat enemies. At present, however, it could only manifest as visualized objects.
Having practiced both the Giant Elephant Body Refining Technique and the Thousand Refinements Dragon Elephant Technique, Chu Xuan's initial visualizations were of the giant elephant and the dragon elephant.
Naturally, the first forms he could condense were the giant elephant and the dragon elephant. As his cultivation continued to advance, he would be able to condense various other shapes, each with its own unique utility.
"Thousand Refinements Dragon Elephant Technique has reached its bottleneck. If I can't comprehend the next stage of the technique, my cultivation will hit a wall."
Chu Xuan felt a bit troubled. Body refining techniques were far too scarce. Reaching the forty-first level was akin to entering a new realm, and naturally, new techniques were required.
He wondered if the Enlightenment Institute on Blue Star might offer him some surprises. With that thought, Chu Xuan stepped out of the Water Curtain Cave and summoned the Mirror, soaring into the sky.
The Black Blade headquarters had relocated several times, and as a result, the Enlightenment Institute had moved as well. However, with a sweep of his spiritual sense, Chu Xuan quickly pinpointed the academy's location.
The Enlightenment Institute was by far the most luxurious and imposing building on Blue Star. It was the sacred ground that geniuses across Blue Star yearned for.
People traveled from all corners of the world, putting in great effort just to become a member. Many, unable to gain entry, settled just outside the academy, building homes and starting families.
As Chu Xuan gazed down, he could see that the towering academy was surrounded by densely packed homes.
"Property prices around the Enlightenment Institute must be the highest on Blue Star…" Chu Xuan thought, silently scoffing.
Concealing his figure, he strode purposefully into the academy. The academy's proud defense systems seemed like toys in his eyes. The Enlightenment Institute was still divided into the Martial Hall and the Qi Hall, just as he had set it up before.
The Martial Hall also had sub-departments: the Body Refining Technique Court and the Body Refining Martial Arts Court.
The Qi Hall operated in a similar manner, with the Qi Refining Technique Court and the Qi Refining Spell Court.
However, to his surprise, in addition to the Martial Hall and the Qi Refining Hall, two new halls had been established: the Weapon Refining Hall and the Beast Refining Hall.
With a sweep of his spiritual sense, Chu Xuan quickly discovered that the Weapon Refining Hall focused on creating weapons suited for body refiners, while the Beast Refining Hall was dedicated to researching meats that body refiners could consume.
Moreover, Chu Xuan noticed that the Martial Hall was clearly much more prosperous than the Qi Refining Hall, which was now barely functioning, with only a handful of members left.
After all, Chu Xuan had shared many body refining techniques with Blue Star, enough to help them reach the twentieth level of body refinement at least. But the qi refining techniques he had passed on were few in comparison.
Of course, given Blue Star's environment, it would be incredibly difficult for anyone there to reach the twenty-first level of body refinement. Unlike Chu Xuan, who had the Psionic Cube to continuously supply him with demonic beast flesh rich in life energy, they did not possess such a convenient resource.
This was likely the very reason the Beast Refining Hall had been created—to develop meats suitable for body refining.
"So many years have passed. The leaders of the Enlightenment Institute must have changed over and over again," Chu Xuan mused. "Yet progress remains slow."
He sighed lightly. The Enlightenment Institute, home to Blue Star's brightest minds, had not yielded the expected results. In other words, while they did produce results every year, those results were of little use to Chu Xuan. After all, their potential had been locked.
It was like a farmer imagining the life of a king, assuming he had only ever used golden hoes. Body refiners at the twentieth level could scarcely fathom what it would take for a body refiner at the fortieth level—or even higher—to cultivate and unleash their full power. But it wasn't their fault.
"I just so happen to have one hundred pounds of Purple Star Rhinoceros meat. Since I don't need it, I might as well gift a few pounds to some of the body refiners here. They should be able to reach higher levels quickly."
Chu Xuan mused thoughtfully. It was normal for a farmer to be unable to imagine a king's life. But what if the farmer's rank were raised slightly, his vision broadened, and his wealth increased a bit? Could he then begin to imagine the life of a king?
With that thought, Chu Xuan appeared above the Enlightenment Institute. A powerful aura swept through the surroundings.
In that instant, no matter what the academy's students were doing, they instinctively turned their eyes to the sky. They looked toward the figure cloaked in black, whose presence seemed to blot out the very rays of the sun.
"Immortal!"
It was unclear who shouted first, but soon the entire crowd erupted into a frenzy, their voices filled with overwhelming devotion.
Before someone with absolute martial power like an immortal, no one harbored any thoughts of resistance. In their hearts, Chu Xuan was the one true deity!
Swish! Swish! Swish!
Three figures rushed from various parts of the Enlightenment Institute and stood at the very front. They respectfully knelt halfway before Chu Xuan. "We greet the Immortal!"
Chu Xuan swept his gaze over them. Through his spiritual sense, their physical conditions were fully visible.
The three in the lead had indeed all reached the twentieth level of body refinement. Without further supplementation of nourishing flesh, this was their limit.
Chu Xuan casually inquired, "What are your names?"
The towering man in the center spoke in a deep voice, "Immortal, my name is Luo Gang."
The strong middle-aged man to his left responded, "Immortal, my name is Xiong Zhen."
The woman to his right, with a fuller figure, respectfully added, "Immortal, my name is Liu Huafang."
Chu Xuan nodded slightly, "I haven't paid attention to the Enlightenment Institute for a long time. Have there been any recent achievements?"
The three of them wore bitter expressions. Luo Gang spoke with respect, "Immortal, in order to maintain the twentieth level of body refinement, we must consume vast amounts of nutrients daily. It is difficult to deduce higher-level techniques and martial arts. If our realms decline, it becomes even more impossible to deduce them."
The three of them spoke in unison, "We have failed to fulfill the Immortal's instructions. Please, Immortal, punish us."
They bowed deeply, their hearts filled with anxiety. The other students of the Enlightenment Institute, who had been watching, covered their mouths in shock, their hearts pounding with unease.
In their eyes, these three were like the undisputed overlords of the entire Blue Star. Yet here they were, bowing their heads in submission to the Immortal.
The Immortal truly wielded unimaginable power. More people were pondering the same question in their hearts. Would the Immortal punish them?
Some felt sympathy, others were eager, and still others were filled with anxiety.
In the dead silence that followed, Chu Xuan spoke slowly, "Your inability to deduce higher-level techniques and martial arts is not due to incompetence, but because of the limitations of your realm. All these years, you have devoted yourselves to deducing techniques and martial arts. You may not have achieved any credit, but you have certainly endured great hardship."
With a casual motion, he slapped his hand, and the Purple Star Rhinoceros Meat flew out from his storage bag.
"This is Purple Star Rhinoceros Meat, which contains immense life energy. It is a great tonic for body refinement. You three shall divide it equally. If all goes as expected, you will undoubtedly reach the twenty-first level of body refinement. Should you contribute to the Enlightenment Institute in the future, there will be more rewards from me."
Chu Xuan waved his hand. The Purple Star Rhinoceros Meat slowly flew toward the three of them and landed before them. As they gazed at the meat, which glistened under the sunlight, the three were stunned. Just a slight sniff was enough for them to detect the immense life force energy contained within, far surpassing any animal they had encountered in the world!
This was no mere flesh. It was clearly a path leading to a higher realm! The three of them lowered their heads in reverence.
"Thank you for your grace, Immortal! We will spare no effort to fulfill the Immortal's command!"
Chu Xuan smiled faintly. "Good. With such determination, what is there to fear in achieving great things?"
Just as he was about to leave, Luo Gang suddenly called out.
"Immortal! We have something to report. Could we discuss it in another place?"
Chu Xuan pondered for a moment. "Let us go to the top of the Enlightenment Institute."
Moments later.
Chu Xuan, along with Luo Gang and the others, arrived at the top of the Enlightenment Institute. The height was an impressive six hundred meters— the tallest building in the vicinity.
"What is it?" Chu Xuan asked, standing with his hands clasped behind his back.
Luo Gang looked at Liu Huafang, who immediately stepped forward and respectfully said, "Immortal, as you know, we have been searching for sufficiently nutritious flesh for a long time. We've scoured all the land-based animals and are now beginning to search in the ocean. Marine creatures generally have higher nutritional value and are more suitable for human cultivation. But in one particular ocean, we found something strange."
Chu Xuan raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Do tell."
Liu Huafang clapped her hands, and immediately, eight strong men appeared, laboriously carrying a thick bone. They struggled to move it, their faces turning red with exertion. The bone resembled a human thigh bone, but its length was a staggering five meters. From the eight men's strained faces, it was clear that the bone's weight was immense.
Chu Xuan casually reached out. The heavy bone was immediately lifted by his spiritual force, floating effortlessly in mid-air. The sight of him lifting such a massive object with ease left Luo Gang and the others utterly astonished. They had already measured the bone's weight—it was over ten tons.
For someone at the twentieth level of body refinement, moving it was incredibly taxing. Yet the Immortal made it look like child's play. Such truly divine abilities!
Chu Xuan examined the bone for a moment, and an answer began to form in his mind. He had experienced a unique sensation while cultivating over the ocean in the past.
After sinking into the deep ocean, he had discovered the remains of a giant and the bizarre zombies feeding on its body. Embedded within the giant's heart was a Psionic Cube.
This bone, too, seemed to resemble those within the giant's body. But...
He distinctly remembered that the giant had been in perfect health. How had such a bone appeared in the shallow sea, where Liu Huafang had found it? Could it be that there were more than one giant?
Now that his physical strength was sufficient, he felt it was time to investigate. Chu Xuan thought to himself.
"The sea harbors great dangers. Do not venture too deep."
Luo Gang and the others were immediately startled, nodding in agreement. "Thank you, Immortal, for the warning!"
With a casual flick of his hand, the white leg bone slowly dropped to the ground without a tremor, not even disturbing the rooftop.
"Good leg bone. It can be forged into a weapon. Keep it for yourselves."
Having said that, he rose into the air, controlling the Qi to depart.
The three bowed deeply in respect. They only rose once Chu Xuan's figure had completely disappeared.
...
Elsewhere.
Chu Xuan had already arrived over the East Sea. In the next moment, he shot downwards like a cannonball, plunging straight into the ocean. He sped down toward the depths of the ocean.
One thousand meters... two thousand meters... three thousand meters...
This time, he reached an impressive depth of eight thousand meters before he began to feel a slight pressure. The last time, he had felt pressure at only five thousand meters.
Before long, guided by the subtle connection between the Psionic Cubes, Chu Xuan arrived at the same spot as last time. This location was at a depth of ten thousand meters beneath the sea.
Compared to last time, this time, Chu Xuan moved freely, unimpeded. He turned his gaze to the giant's corpse. As expected, the strange zombies were still feeding on the remains. But no matter how much of the flesh they consumed, the Psionic Cube caused it to regenerate, making it impossible for them to finish eating.
The zombies never considered leaving this endless feast. Why go elsewhere when they could feed here, lying still? Humans were not the only ones reluctant to leave their comfort zones. Zombies, it seemed, were no different.
"Hmm, this green grass... it's spreading more and more. It's even parasitizing some of the zombies now."
Chu Xuan observed the lush greenery that had spread across a large portion of the ocean floor with some surprise.
Chu Xuan remembered that last time when he came here, the green grass had been growing beneath the giant's corpse, constantly consuming the remnants of flesh and blood.
Now, after so many years, it had spread across nearly one hundred square meters of the seabed and had quietly begun to parasitize the zombies. From the look of things, these zombies seemed to have no awareness that they were essentially working for the grass.
"This is interesting," Chu Xuan smiled to himself and approached the area.
The scent of a living being began to flow through the currents towards the zombies. Instantly, they lifted their heads, instinctively sniffing the air, before fixing their gaze in the direction of Chu Xuan.
Chu Xuan was intrigued. These zombies were not ordinary. Even at such a distance, they had detected his presence through just a single breath carried by the water currents.
Could it be that the deep-sea pressure had enhanced their senses? Or perhaps it was due to the influence of the giant's corpse...
Thinking of this, Chu Xuan made his presence known. Having not seen a living person in decades, the zombies immediately let out loud howls and charged toward him.
Chu Xuan's expression remained unchanged. He extended his hand, and the seawater around him rapidly solidified into ice. In the blink of an eye, the zombies were frozen into statues of ice.
With ice crystals forming underfoot, he quickly flew toward the giant's corpse. He prepared a spell, just in case the giant's remains had some unforeseen changes.
Boom!
In the next moment, the giant's corpse actually lifted its arm. Then, its head twisted unnaturally, turning a full 180 degrees. Although its lower body remained lying on the ocean floor, the upper half had already stood upright, moving in a strangely eerie fashion.
Chu Xuan also noticed something even more disturbing: a flash of green light appeared in the hollow eye sockets of the giant.
"It seems that the green seaweed has entered the giant's body and is forcibly controlling it," Chu Xuan thought, growing more intrigued. Just as he was about to approach, the giant's corpse stood fully, and it suddenly charged toward him!
The massive body seemed to carry infinite momentum, attempting to crush him with its immense force.
Without changing his expression, Chu Xuan extended his hand and called upon a rush of cold air. The icy energy surged forward, binding the giant's corpse like chains, freezing it in place.
However, this freezing didn't last long. He heard several cracks as the frost shattered rapidly. The giant's corpse, once again, charged toward him with brutal force.
"Impressive strength... it's already on par with a cultivator at the 31st level of Body Refining," Chu Xuan thought, somewhat surprised.
With a thought, his Evil Soul Chain shot out with speed, wrapping tightly around the giant's corpse in the blink of an eye. It began pulling the massive figure toward him.
Whoosh!
A streak of green light suddenly shot out from the giant's corpse, speeding off toward the distant ocean.
Chu Xuan was about to give chase when, in that instant, the green grass mats on the ground seemed to come alive. They surged toward his feet, tightly wrapping around them. The grass mats were unexpectedly resilient, delaying him for two seconds. By the time he freed himself, the green light had already disappeared without a trace.
Chu Xuan frowned slightly. That green light was clearly the essence of the grass. The pieces scattered here were merely its branches and leaves. The more he observed the grass, the more he felt an inexplicable connection between himself and it. This feeling left him both puzzled and intrigued.
Without hesitation, Chu Xuan expanded his spiritual sense. Although his spiritual sense was suppressed at this depth, at least he could still get a quick scan of the surroundings.
However, even after spreading out his spiritual sense, he couldn't find a trace of the green grass. The area was eerily silent, as though it were devoid of life.
"Interesting. This grass must have consumed a large amount of the giant's corpse, causing some sort of mutation," Chu Xuan mused. "Its strength is likely comparable to that of a late-stage Golden Core cultivator."
He couldn't help but click his tongue in wonder.
Chu Xuan didn't pursue it further. He had a strange feeling that chasing now would yield no results, and that he would encounter the grass again in the future. Turning his attention back to the giant's corpse, he spoke to himself.
"The giant's flesh is good, comparable to a Nether Crocodile, but it's of no use to me now. This Psionic Cube is a fine item, I'll just take it. And these zombies, they are quite useful. I'll bring them back for the Zombie Empress and the others to study, maybe they can create some deep-sea zombies. This way, I'll be able to understand what's happening in the deep sea."
With a casual motion, Chu Xuan collected the giant's corpse and the deep-sea zombies, then ascended toward the surface.
...
Meanwhile, the green grass sped away without slowing down. It covered hundreds of kilometers in one breath before it finally ran out of energy and dropped into a sea canyon.
"This is terrifying... I've even come this far into the deep sea, and still encountered the Immortal!" the grass thought, trembling. "Could he be chasing me down?"
The grass began to cry in frustration, "Wuwuwu, I'm still young, I haven't even mated with other plants yet, I don't want to die!"
Previously, it had grown freely in the western part of the Han Empire. But when the humans grew too rapidly and wiped out the entire west, the grass had to abandon most of its branches and leaves, fleeing south through the waters and eventually reaching the ocean.
Now, in order to escape, it had discarded all the accumulated branches and leaves it had gathered over the years. Rebuilding itself would be an incredibly difficult task.
"Eh, there's a faint light ahead?"
The green grass suddenly noticed a small glimmer in the dark sea. It began to drift toward it cautiously.
Soon, it discovered a tiny crack, no larger than a human thumb. On the other side of the crack, it was not a dark, bottomless pit. Instead, it revealed a vast, bright, and flat grassland! There seemed to be many other plants like itself, waving in its direction.
However, the grass hesitated to rush through the crack. It paused and thought carefully.
"Is it dangerous over there? Could this be an illusion? Better test it first with my branches and leaves."
Using its few remaining branches, the grass formed a tendril and reached into the crack. A gentle breeze greeted it. As it stretched further, it was met with towering trees and a boundless meadow, overflowing with vitality. The air was thick with life force, so rich that it seemed a single breath would allow it to grow stronger in an instant.
The grass was overjoyed, and without hesitation, it squeezed its entire body through the crack. Although it was a bit tight, with a little effort, it managed to slip through.
...
Back on Blue Star's surface, Chu Xuan had returned to the Zombie Farm with the deep-sea zombies. These deep-sea zombies, much like ribbonfish, couldn't withstand the drastic change in atmospheric pressure and had long since perished.
Chu Xuan handed them over to the Zombie Matriarch and Zombie Empress, instructing them to use these as a reference to create a new type of zombie capable of operating freely in the deep sea. Ideally, this new breed should also be able to forage for food and regulate its own internal pressure.
The Zombie Matriarch and Zombie Empress looked troubled for a moment. However, when Chu Xuan muttered something about the two employees of the same type wasting too many resources, and that one of them could be dismissed, their faces immediately shifted from concern to resolve.
In an instant, their expressions became one of determination and diligence!
"I am but a brick," the Zombie Empress thought proudly. "Wherever I am needed, I shall move."
"My master need not worry about me," the Zombie Matriarch vowed, "Your tasks will be completed without fail."
Chu Xuan, seeing their newfound resolve, smiled broadly and nodded in approval.
In the warm and encouraging atmosphere created by Chu Xuan, the Zombie Matriarch and Zombie Empress fully tapped into their creativity and resourcefulness. In just ten days, they successfully used the deep-sea zombies Chu Xuan brought as templates to create a new breed of zombies.
These new zombies had a human upper body and a fish's tail, with a specialized air chamber within their bodies. When they ascended, the air chamber reduced the pressure, and when they descended, it increased the pressure. This mechanism ensured that the internal and external pressures remained roughly equal, preventing them from exploding or collapsing due to rapid ascents and descents. Moreover, these new zombies also possessed the ability to forage for food in the deep sea.
"Not bad, this new zombie," Chu Xuan mused. "Let's call it the Mermaid Zombie."
He nodded in approval. His reason for needing these Mermaid Zombies was clear. He intended to use them to uncover the secrets hidden in the deep sea. The giant corpse he had found was remarkably intact, and the leg bone presented by Luo Gang and the others suggested that there were more such giant corpses scattered across the sea floor. He was eager to learn where they came from—such massive beings couldn't have appeared out of thin air.
However, he soon noticed a dip in production efficiency. It had already been an entire day, and only one Mermaid Zombie had been produced by each of the Zombie Matriarch and Zombie Empress.
Looking at their earnest effort, Chu Xuan could tell they weren't cutting corners. It was clear that their capabilities were limited.
This was to be expected. The Mermaid Zombies had to be capable of operating freely at depths of ten thousand meters in the ocean, and producing such a zombie required far more energy than making a regular one.
As a result, the production process was slower. But this also meant that the production speed of other types of zombies, like the Human Skin Zombies needed for magic symbols, and the Meat Sac Zombies required for planting spiritual herbs, was also affected. This posed a problem.
Chu Xuan couldn't help but feel a bit vexed. While he considered upgrading the Zombie Matriarch and Zombie Empress, it was clear that they'd already reached their limits. There was no room for further improvement.
"I wonder if there's such a thing as a Zombie Matriarch Nest... Maybe some Merit will push it into existence for me?" Chu Xuan muttered, tapping his fingers in frustration, with a helpless chuckle. Merit, after all, wasn't a wish-granting machine—it still came down to relying on his own efforts.
Seeing that one Zombie Matriarch and one Zombie Empress weren't enough, Chu Xuan decided to double down and ordered the Black Blade to find another advanced-level zombie capable of creating more zombies. As an incentive, anyone who captured and brought back such a specimen would be rewarded with a pound of Purple Star Rhinoceros Meat.
This incentive immediately sent the Black Blade members into a frenzy, eager to prove their worth.
Luo Gang, Xiong Zhen, and Liu Huafang immediately took action, leading their teams out into the world to search for these advanced zombies.
Though Blue Star had regained its strength through Chu Xuan's teachings, with humanity now practicing body-refining techniques and growing stronger, the emergence of extraordinary creatures and high-level zombies had been a notable consequence.
These creatures and zombies, over time, had mutated and grown more powerful. While the gap between humans and these creatures wasn't substantial, their numbers had significantly decreased. Most had gathered under the command of particularly powerful individuals, creating their own territories in the mountains and forests, ruling over their respective domains. Unlike before, when zombies aimlessly wandered, these beings now roamed with purpose, concentrated and dangerous.
After issuing the orders, Chu Xuan made a quick trip to the Soul Star, filling the Sky-Shielding Umbrella with several million wandering souls before returning to his Water Curtain Cave. There, he immersed himself in his work on talisman crafting.
He had indeed claimed to be merely proficient in the art of talismans, and he was being humble. His expertise, though limited, was formidable in his chosen field: crafting Soul-Sealing Talisman to trap souls within. While crafting talismans with the souls of mortals and beasts proved challenging, the rich supply of powerful souls on Soul Star provided him with the material he needed.
Over time, Chu Xuan had nurtured countless souls, many of which were comparable in strength to the Ghost Commanders or Ghost Kings. By sealing them within human skin, he could create potent Demon Soul Talismans. These talismans, when used in battle, could unleash a swarm of spirits that would drown the enemy.
Though these souls might not be as powerful as the likes of the Two Arms or Four Arms Ghost Kings, they made up for it with sheer numbers. Whether in blocking the enemy's advance or surrounding them, they were the perfect choice.
While working on the talismans, Chu Xuan also kept an eye on the Merit Soil.
"Eh? A seedling has sprouted?" he exclaimed as he looked through the glass jar. Tiny black shoots had emerged, signaling the growth of Spiritual Shadow Roots.
This particular spiritual plant, Spiritual Shadow Roots, had roots that were prized for their medicinal properties. The part above ground was simply a small black grass, no thicker than a thumb, which could easily be overlooked if one wasn't paying attention.
Chu Xuan marveled, "The Spiritual Shadow Root sprouts in a hundred years, and can be harvested for medicine in two hundred years. How is it already nearing its hundred-year process?"
His eyes shone with excitement as he gazed at the Merit Soil. Earlier, he had experimented with Foundation Establishment-stage spirit plant seeds, and though he couldn't discern significant results, he had learned that the Merit Soil could indeed accelerate the growth of spirit plants. To his surprise, it had fast-tracked the plant's progress by an entire century!
"Good, good, good! Well done, this makes all my efforts worthwhile," he praised, his mood lifted as he admired the deep black, fertile soil. Even something as dark as this soil seemed to glow with potential under his gaze.
Chu Xuan immediately settled his mind and continued crafting talismans. When he grew tired, he connected his spiritual sense to the Myriad Realm Mirror to check on the progress of his cave world. Every so often, he would visit the small island in the East Sea to catch up with the Taotie Tree and, while at it, replenish a few years of his lifespan. Life had become quite comfortable, even though his own cultivation had slowed down considerably.
His Qi Refining realm still lacked the final stage of the Soul Transformation Secret Method. After completing that, he would need Deity Transformation-grade spiritual materials to break through into the Deity Transformation realm. As for his body-refining realm, it was similarly stagnant, lacking higher-tier cultivation techniques.
Time passed quickly.
As winter gave way to spring, ten years had slipped by since Chu Xuan arrived on Blue Star. One day, as he was focused on his talisman crafting, he suddenly felt an unusual shift within his body.
Without hesitation, he turned his attention inward to his Nascent Soul. Sure enough, the Ghost Shadow Worm had emerged for the third time from its cocoon. After its third transformation, the worm had fully metamorphosed into a butterfly, far more beautiful than before.
Chu Xuan's Nascent Soul had also undergone a transformation, its color shifting to a soft purple. The overall strength of his Nascent Soul had increased, and it expanded slightly, enhancing the essence of his Nascent Soul.
"A great blessing," Chu Xuan thought, a pleased expression on his face.
With this, he had fully reached the peak of the Nascent Soul stage. Additionally, his cultivation of the Soul Transformation Secret Method had increased his chances of reaching the Deity Transformation realm.
Chu Xuan couldn't exactly gauge how much the Soul Transformation Secret Method had enhanced his own chances, but it was likely at least a 10% increase. After all, the original method required a real Ghost Shadow Worm to have a 30% success rate, while he was using its descendant, which made a considerable difference. But no matter how it was, it was still an improvement.
Stretching lazily, Chu Xuan connected his spiritual sense to the Myriad Realm Mirror and shifted his focus to the cave world. "Let's check on the cave world again. How is Lie Xiao's rebellion going? Has he made any progress in his uprising?"
He surveyed the dark, cold environment around him and couldn't help but nod in approval. "Impressive, looks like his rebellion has landed him straight into prison."
Chu Xuan observed his surroundings, noting that the shards of the mirror had been taken down and placed on a long table outside the prison cell.
Lie Xiao, dressed in prison clothes, lay motionless on the straw-covered floor, his fate unknown. Outside the prison, several jailers paced back and forth, occasionally striking the wailing prisoners.
As Chu Xuan glanced around, he recognized many of the prisoners as Insect Masters from the Fiery Holy Ant Tribe, and further off, he could spot others from different tribes. He couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
The rebellion army has been wiped out? He had expected Lie Xiao's uprising to last for years, but this outcome seemed to differ sharply from his expectations.
"So quickly suppressed... Looks like we have a traitor among us," Chu Xuan mused thoughtfully.
His mind quickly settled on the possibility that the Evil Scorpion Tribe might be involved. He recalled that when Lie Xiao had offered incense at the Fiery Holy Ant Tribe's ancestral hall, he had murmured to himself, hinting that the Evil Scorpion Tribe's leader had been in contact with Lie Xiao and possibly harbored rebellious thoughts.
It now seemed plausible that the leader of the Evil Scorpion Tribe might have been bait, used by the Insect Monarch to fish for larger targets, such as the Fiery Holy Ant Tribe and other factions. If this were the case, the political genius of the Insect Monarch was truly extraordinary.
Just then, a burly Insect Master clad in heavy armor entered the prison. The jailers immediately fell to their knees.
"Greetings, Captain Wei!" they said in unison.
Captain Wei gave a calm order, "The Monarch has commanded that all of Lie Xiao's possessions be brought to him."
At once, the jailers fetched Lie Xiao's belongings and placed them on an iron tray. Captain Wei took the tray, carefully placing it on an exquisite sandalwood plate, before leaving the prison.
Chu Xuan's field of vision widened as he followed Captain Wei's movements. The palace, paved with white stone slabs, came into view.
Looking around, he saw structures at regular intervals—five steps between a tower, ten between a pavilion. Jagged artificial mountains and winding little bridges added to the scene. The fusion of various architectural styles created a strikingly complex aesthetic within the palace.
After a brief moment, Captain Wei entered a fragrant palace, where the air was filled with a sweet, ethereal aroma. Kneeling, he carefully raised the sandalwood plate and announced, "My King, I have brought Lie Xiao's personal belongings."
Soon, a delicate-looking servant hastened out to take the plate, entering the palace.
Chu Xuan's gaze shifted into the interior of the palace. At the very center was a large cauldron, about three times the height of an average adult. Four wooden ladders were positioned around it, and dozens of young people were rushing around the palace, busy with various tasks. Some ground herbs, others squeezed juices or tended the fire, their feet barely touching the ground from their frantic work.
"Your Majesty, Lie Xiao's belongings have been brought," the servant kneeled respectfully.
From behind the large cauldron, a figure emerged. He was draped in a crimson-yellow robe, with disheveled hair and bare feet, walking with a slow and deliberate pace.
The Insect Monarch, despite his elegant features, carried an air of dignified authority even without anger. At first glance, he appeared to have the grace of an immortal; yet, on closer inspection, there was an unsettling edge to him, as if teetering on the brink of madness.
This complex blend of contrasting traits only made him more memorable. In fact, after all the years of cultivation Chu Xuan had undergone, he had never encountered anyone quite like this.
"After all this time, not a bit of progress!" The Insect Monarch's face darkened, and he roared in frustration.
The young workers, no matter what they were doing, quickly dropped everything and hurried out of the palace, all bowing respectfully before leaving.
Soon, the vast palace was left with only the Insect Monarch. He immediately began to rummage through Lie Xiao's belongings. Not long after, his eyes fell upon the mirror shards.
"It's you, it's you!" The Insect Monarch exclaimed, his voice brimming with excitement. "If it weren't for my Mind Biting Ant subtly altering Lie Chen's perception, I would never have known such a treasure existed in this world!"
He grabbed the mirror shard and quickly muttered, "Magic Mirror, Magic Mirror, tell me the method to extend my life!"
His expression was full of desperation, as if clinging to the last lifeline of a dying man.
Chu Xuan couldn't help but consider the situation. No wonder they said the Insect Monarch was obsessed with alchemy and paid no attention to governance. This monarch had clearly realized his lifespan was running out and was using every method possible to extend it.
Without hesitation, Chu Xuan extended his spiritual sense to the Myriad Realm Mirror, forming characters on its surface.
"Longevity Elixir, not yet obtained. Requires three Platinum-tier Demon Insect Cultivation Methods."
"Earth Longevity Elixir, not yet obtained. Requires one Diamond-tier Demon Insect Cultivation Method."
The Longevity Elixir had been a formula originally crafted by Lie Yong. It used local materials from this world. While it wasn't as potent as the Longevity Pill, which could extend a person's life by a decade with a single dose, drinking enough of the elixir could similarly increase one's life by around ten years.
Since the Myriad Realm Mirror's fragments had always been with Lie Yong, Chu Xuan had easily acquired the formula for the elixir. He had simply brought it up for use now, knowing that Lie Yong, buried in the Nine Springs, wouldn't mind.
When the Insect Monarch saw the words "Longevity Elixir" and "Earth Longevity Elixir," his eyes immediately brightened.
"Platinum-tier, Diamond-tier Demon Insect Cultivation Methods?"
He narrowed his gaze. A mere mirror—why would it require Demon Insect Cultivation Methods? The Insect Monarch, Xiao Renjie, spoke slowly, his tone unwavering.
"I can offer you other things. Gold, silver, rare treasures... Whatever you desire, I have it all!" His voice carried an undeniable authority, as if he was not making an offer but issuing a command.
Chu Xuan chuckled lightly and immediately withdrew his spiritual sense. It was clear that Xiao Renjie was an intelligent individual. He was unwilling to be controlled by the Magic Mirror. Instead of yielding to its demands, he sought to offer something else in return, trying to turn the situation to his advantage.
Those in positions of power often thought this way, preferring to keep control of everything in their hands rather than entrusting something crucial to another.
Even though Chu Xuan had been disguising himself as a mirror, an artifact spirit, Xiao Renjie's response didn't surprise him.
Let's see who can endure longer. It's a test of patience. Let's see who the true eagle is.
Two months passed by quickly. During this time, Chu Xuan gradually learned Xiao Renjie's true name and several secrets.
Xiao Renjie, the Insect Monarch, had tamed a unique demon insect known as the "Phantom Demon Shadow." This insect could transform into a clone, but its power would be only one-tenth of the original's strength. Xiao Renjie's true form remained in the royal palace, while his clone often traveled to different places.
It was this clone that had stayed in the Fire Ant Tribe some time ago under the alias of "Xiao Yan." During this time, he had a child, Xiao Huo, with a woman from the tribe. After feigning death, he left the tribe and continued wandering under different identities in other tribes.
It was precisely because of this that Xiao Renjie knew of the Fire Ant Tribe's transformation from a small tribe to a large one, which left him astounded. This piqued his interest in the Flame Saint Ant Tribe and led him to closely monitor it.
Both of his previous suppressions of the Fiery Holy Ant Tribe were deliberate moves. And the rebellion led by Lie Xiao had been expected long ago by Xiao Renjie.
However, as time went on, it became evident that the Insect Monarch was not long for this world.
Within a month, Xiao Renjie had changed his tune. He took out a crystal stone and placed it on the mirror, his voice deep with determination.
"I've brought the three Platinum-tier Demon Insect Cultivation Methods," he said. "Here they are: The Cultivation Method for the Mad Spider, the Black Mantis, and the Giant Centipede. And the Longevity Elixir formula?"