Chapter 3: Array Spirit, Mission, Demonized World

And now, the Wang Family of Xiu Ye Xing, where that madwoman Wang Qiu Xian resides, has given birth to a Great Cultivator of the Divine Splitting stage.

Shanhai Immortal Sect.

As one of the eight hundred Side Doors of this Great Universe, three hundred billion light years in diameter.

Ruling over a domain of Immeasurable Star River spanning a hundred billion light years.

Within the inner gate, not counting those Orthodox Disciples and Dharma Disciples who only condensed Lower Grade or Middle Grade Nascent Souls, the True Disciples alone who condensed Upper Grade Nascent Souls and showed the potential for Divine Splitting exceeded three million.

If these True Disciples fail to reach the Soul Egress realm within one kalpa—that is, one hundred twenty-nine thousand six hundred years—they will be stripped of their True Disciple status.

Calculated this way, just the accumulation over three kalpas, the Shanhai Immortal Sect's Upper Grade Nascent Souls might already number in the tens of millions.

But the Shanhai Immortal Sect, on the surface, has only three hundred Divine Splitting stage cultivators who have not fallen into slumber and remain stationed in the world.

From this one can see how difficult it is to achieve Divine Splitting, and how important a Great Cultivator of Divine Splitting is.

……

"I must avoid being found by that madwoman Wang Qiu Xian."

"The plan needs to be changed a little."

"If the world connected by the Kunlun Mirror truly is as I suspect, allowing me to both gain the benefits of the Chang Sheng Tian Gui and reduce its harms…"

Thinking of this, Chen Daoxuan's heart filled with anticipation.

……

Er Deng Sheng Ming Xing, Xiu Ye Xing.

Originally merely one of the five great powers of Xiu Ye Xing, the Wang Family of immortal cultivation.

Two hundred years ago, first the Divine Splitting stage breakthrough anomaly appeared, and then the Divine Splitting tribulation manifested.

Although the Divine Splitting tribulation has not yet been fully overcome, the Wang Family is already a far cry from what it once was.

And the status of the Wang Family's disciples has risen with the tide.

At the center of the Wang Family's domain, within a Xiu Lian Dong Fu that only a Primordial Spirit True Lord of the Soul Egress realm is entitled to enjoy.

A man and a woman, two Soul Egress cultivators, sat facing each other, their Primordial Spirits egressed.

While using their Primordial Spirits to oversee the clan's great formation.

Sensing outside the Xiu Lian Dong Fu, the Divine Splitting tribulation that formed its own realm yet shrouded half of Xiu Ye Xing.

Suddenly, the female cultivator sensed the message transmitted from within her Mountain and Sea Stele.

It was detailed information about Chen Daoxuan's Ten Thousand Year Birthday banquet.

Her expression changed, and she said with killing intent:

"Husband, I fear that even if the Ancestor overcomes the tribulation and takes action to help Xian Er alter her foundation, it still won't be enough."

"That Chen Daoxuan is the demonic obstacle hindering Xian Er's Dao."

Hearing his Dao Lu's words, the male cultivator shook his head slightly with a smile and said:

"You're overthinking it."

"Once the Ancestor achieves Divine Splitting, he will soon become an elder of the sect.

If that Chen Daoxuan is clever and knows what's good for him, he should take the initiative to curry favor with Xian Er and dissolve the Cause and Effect."

"When that happens, Xian Er will naturally be able to untie the knot in her heart."

"And if he's not clever, and doesn't know what's good for him?"

Hearing this, the male cultivator restrained his smile, and a flash of harsh light appeared in his eyes.

"Then naturally there will be people to teach him.

As long as his life isn't taken, the Guiyuan True Lord of the Xuanwu lineage, and those Great Cultivators who have entered slumber to delay their immortalization, will not intervene—nor could they."

……

Three months later, all preparations were complete, ready for the long journey.

Chen Daoxuan gazed at Zhen Chuan Ling Feng for a long while.

A Xuanwu phantom appeared around him, transforming into a streak of dark light that flew beyond the heavens, leaving Shanhai Star.

Three years later.

Passing through great teleportation formations, crossing Xing Xi after Xing Xi.

Chen Daoxuan arrived at a stretch of dark Yu Zhou Shen Kong, tens of billions of light years distant from Shanhai Star.

A layer of black mist in the shape of a Xuanwu spread through the endless vacuum, shrouding a Heng Xing Xi.

Within that layer of black mist, three Heng Xing tangled with each other, while dozens of Xing Xing circled them in chaos yet order.

As Chen Daoxuan arrived through a secret great teleportation formation.

His Mountain and Sea Stele bearing his True Disciple identity radiated dazzling light.

A wondrous Mountain-Sea anomaly manifested.

……

Instantly, the Xuanwu-shaped black mist that spread through the endless vacuum suddenly churned violently.

Wisps and strands of black mist gathered, manifesting a mark in the shape of a Xuanwu.

Resonating and merging with the Mountain-Sea anomaly.

After several breaths' time.

The black mist calmed, and the Xuanwu-shaped black mist mark was branded into Chen Daoxuan's Mountain and Sea Stele.

A Ten Thousand Zhang-sized black-mist Xuanwu settled beneath Chen Daoxuan's feet.

Then Chen Daoxuan sensed a consciousness.

"Xuanwu Ding Ninety-Nine greets the True Disciple."

Chen Daoxuan knew it was an artifact spirit born from the Immortal Artifact Four Symbols Heavenly Wheel of the Shanhai Immortal Sect.

It is also the array spirit of this great formation.

"Ding Ninety-Nine, tell me about the situation of this Jin Di."

"True Disciple, three hundred and eighty-one Yuanhui ago, the three hundred and ninety-eighth Heavenly Lord who inherited the Dao title of 【Sea】, a Combined Body Heavenly Lord, slew the Combined Body Heavenly Demon 【Prisoner】 here."

"To prevent the Heavenly Demon 【Prisoner】 from being reborn, Heavenly Lord 【Sea】 established the Xuanwu Mie Xian Zhen, to eternally suppress this place."

"After tens of millions of years of erosion, the possibility of the Heavenly Demon 【Prisoner】 being reborn is now nearly nil."

"True Disciple, your task is to slay the Dao Thought Bodies left behind by the Heavenly Demon 【Prisoner】 after its failed resurrection."

"It has been half a Yuanhui since the last True Disciple. Currently, within the Mie Xian Zhen, a total of three hundred and eight Dao Thought Bodies have spawned. I ask that the True Disciple slay them all within three thousand years."

Listening to Zhen Ling Xuan Wu Ding Jiu Jiu's words and looking at the black mist that brimmed with the rhythm of immortal-destruction—impervious to anything beneath Combined Body—Chen Daoxuan inquired:

"Ding Ninety-Nine, shouldn't you be able to slay those Dao Thought Bodies yourself? Why do you need me to do it?"

"True Disciple, to prevent myself from being polluted and assimilated by the Dao Thought Bodies, I do not have the authority to slay them. I only have the authority to suppress, to isolate the inside from the outside, and to slay all intruders."

Hearing Zhen Ling Xuan Wu Ding Jiu Jiu's answer, Chen Daoxuan nodded slightly and continued to inquire:

"Ding Ninety-Nine, who was the True Disciple who carried out the mission half a Yuanhui ago?"

"Chen True Disciple, because this involves an Immortal Sect True Disciple, I need your authorization to contact the Main Spirit. Only after obtaining the Main Spirit's permission can I disclose it."

"Do you authorize?"

Hearing this, Chen Daoxuan shook his head, skipped his previous question, and continued to inquire about various information regarding this Jin Di.

Half a day later.

After carefully asking Xuanwu Ding Ninety-Nine various questions, Chen Daoxuan rode the Ten Thousand Zhang black-mist Xuanwu and arrived at a Du Li Shi Kong within the Mie Xian Zhen.

Within the Du Li Shi Kong, there was only a single star, ten thousand li in diameter, dense with Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi.

"True Disciple, this San Deng Ling Xing contains a total of nine Huang-grade superior spiritual veins, and has evolved into a Yellow Grade Blessed Land, sufficient for your cultivation needs."

……

Entering the Blessed Land.

Chen Daoxuan took a deep breath.

Although it was only a Yellow Grade Blessed Land, the omnipresent Chang Sheng Tian Gui had subtly fallen somewhat silent.

And the silence of the Chang Sheng Tian Gui made his perception of the Heaven and Earth Great Dao noticeably clearer by several degrees.

The effect of aiding cultivation was far better than that of his Zhen Chuan Ling Feng Dongfu.

Savoring it for a while.

Arriving at the core of the Blessed Land.

Chen Daoxuan waved his hand, and one hundred and eight array flags, gleaming with Spiritual Light and flowing with Vermilion Bird patterns, manifested.

They landed in various places throughout this Blessed Land.

Flames spread, forming an isolation Dharma Array.

"Xuanwu embodies the virtue of water, and the isolation Dharma Array set up with one hundred and eight Vermilion Bird array flags—even if Ding Ninety-Nine were to spy—should be detected the very first moment."

As thoughts flowed through his mind, Chen Daoxuan took out another Ju Xing Gui Lei, one that was ninety-nine percent similar to his own figure, appearance, and even spiritual pressure Aura, but stood Ten Zhang tall.

He activated it with magical power.

Chen Daoxuan then entered the puppet.

A small space, only one zhang across.

A thin spatial barrier formed, isolating inside from outside.

He placed the Mountain and Sea Stele bearing his True Disciple identity within this one-zhang space.

Chen Daoxuan sat cross-legged and entered meditation.

Several hours later.

After his mind had completely calmed.

Chen Daoxuan's thoughts stirred, and he communicated with the 【Kunlun Mirror】.

Silently, Chen Daoxuan vanished from this one-zhang space.

……

Yuanling Realm.

Three thousand years ago, Heavenly Demons destroyed the world.

To this day, a black sun hung across the sky, and boundless demonic Qi permeated everything.

All living beings and all things had fallen into depravity; demonic creatures ran rampant.

It was only a matter of time before the entire world was Mo Hua.

……

Suddenly.

A vast Xuanwu phantom blotted out the sky.

In the unseen workings of fate, the boundless demonic Qi permeating the entire Yuanling Realm seemed to meet its bane.

In an instant, within the region shrouded by that Xuanwu phantom, the demonic Qi fell silent.

Above the black sun, a demonic dragon manifested and roared toward the Xuanwu phantom.

Many existences were startled by this Xuanwu anomaly.

"Another living being has intruded."

Within a Mo Hua Dong Tian, a figure whose own Primordial Spirit's Dharma Intent was entangled and fused with the Heavenly Heart's will opened its eyes.

Sensing the world's will suddenly surge in resistance, its dark-red eyes were filled with killing intent.

In the unseen workings of fate.

Within the Yuanling Realm, from the mindless demonic beasts below to the Demon Spirit Kings above who had condensed a Demon God Dharma Aspect, all now headed toward the region where the Xuanwu anomaly had manifested.

……

Standing at a height of Ten Thousand Zhang in the sky of this world.

Looking at the demon-corrupted black sun, looking at the world ravaged by demonic Qi.

Chen Daoxuan, who was prepared to return to the Great Universe at any moment, carefully sensed both inside and outside several times, and was filled with joy.

"Haha, my Immortal Achievement is within reach."

The Chang Sheng Tian Gui, omnipresent in the Great Universe, was completely severed.

Nor did the worst-case scenario he had imagined occur—his lifespan being emptied.

Only some Chang Sheng Yu Yun remained within his body.

Chen Daoxuan could now clearly sense that his true lifespan still had seventeen hundred years remaining.

He could also sense that the lingering Chang Sheng Yu Gui within his body was currently replacing his own lifespan in its passage.

Before the lingering Tian Gui was completely exhausted, it would not consume his lifespan.

But at the same time, he still had to endure the obstruction the Chang Sheng Tian Gui posed to his cultivation.

Nevertheless, even so, Chen Daoxuan could sense that his cultivation speed would increase explosively by more than a hundredfold.

For Chen Daoxuan, this was entirely sufficient.

As for this world's demon corruption, compared to the Great Universe's Chang Sheng Tian Gui, it was utterly incomparable, and had no effect whatsoever on the Heaven and Earth Great Dao.

……

After several breaths' time.

Chen Daoxuan sensed the numerous demonic Qi beings arriving at extreme speed from all directions.

"How could there be such weak Nascent Soul Stage and Soul Egress cultivators? Or has my Black Tortoise Spiritual Sense been blinded by this world?"

The fundamental method Chen Daoxuan cultivated was a Black Tortoise Dao Scripture, disassembled and simplified from the Mountain-Sea Immortal Scripture.

Through cultivation, he had developed the warning divine ability 【Black Tortoise Spiritual Sense】.

Through 【Black Tortoise Spiritual Sense】, he could clearly sense the beings arriving from tens of thousands of li away—though the weakest were at the same realm as him, and some were even a major realm above, Soul Egress cultivators who had condensed a Primordial Spirit.

Yet in his heart, not the slightest sense of life-and-death crisis arose.

Thoughts flowed.

A flying sword without hilt or blade, its tip rounded and blunt as a stick, flew out from Zi Fu.

This Black Tortoise Sword, refined through ten thousand years of his sacrificial tempering, had reached the grade of a top-tier Numinous Treasure.

It transformed the moment it met the wind.

The sword body twisted, and in an instant, it transformed into a Black Tortoise with both tortoise and serpent.

Crossing tens of thousands of li.

A figure manifesting a thousand-zhang demonic god Dharma Aspect suddenly let out a wretched scream.

The Black Tortoise form flashed.

The thousand-zhang Dharma Aspect and its physical body rapidly contracted.

In an instant, contracting to the extreme, forming a black dot, and then directly exploding.

Great sound is rare, great form is invisible.

With it as the center, the formless and featureless space within a thousand-li radius shattered.

Mountains, rivers, all things, and countless demonic Qi beings were all swallowed by the shattered space.

Immediately.

The demonic spirits that had been rushing at extreme speed toward Chen Daoxuan's location.

"Ah, it's a Great Power from beyond the heavens, run!"

Were first stunned, then immediately began fleeing at the fastest speed possible.

……

"The Soul Egress cultivators of this world are this weak, and the space of this world is this fragile."

"Hmm, why has my perception of the Great Dao suddenly become somewhat blurred?"

Sensing the joyful sword-chirp emitted by the Black Tortoise Sword's spirit, Chen Daoxuan's heart instead gave a jolt.

Besides this, he clearly sensed that this Heaven and Earth had begun to develop a kind of rejection toward him.

And a malicious killing intent permeating between all things of Heaven and Earth surged toward his mind.

……

"Is it because I struck too heavily, causing damage to Heaven and Earth?

Then I should be more careful in my attacks."

"But Heaven and Earth are heartless—what is that malicious killing intent?"

Thoughts flowed, and the Black Tortoise Sword—which had instantaneously moved tens of thousands of li away, manifested the Black Tortoise True Form, and slain a Soul Egress demonic spirit—returned to its sword form.

A sword sound like the combined cry of tortoise and serpent rang out, transforming into a black sword-light.

It slashed toward the demonic spirits, who at this moment were full of terror and fleeing in all directions.

……

Half an hour later.

As the number of casually slain demonic spirits increased.

Chen Daoxuan sensed, in the dim depths of his being, that the slight rejection Heaven and Earth had held toward him had completely dissipated.

And even faintly, a perception of the Heaven and Earth Great Dao settling upon him, along with a neither-good-nor-evil guidance from the dim depths, arose in his heart.

He instinctively felt that following this guidance would bring a great opportunity.

"The Heavenly Heart Will of the world?"

And that initial wisp of malicious killing intent had been growing all along, only ceasing when it reached a certain critical point and Chen Daoxuan sensed some danger.

At this point, over a hundred Nascent Soul Stage demon spirits and thirteen Soul Egress demon spirits had already perished at his hands.

He stood still for a long moment.

Sensing the malicious killing intent that had reached its critical point and filled the heavens and earth, showing no sign of receding at all.

Chen Daoxuan's heart gave a slight jolt.

"Is this the mastermind behind the scenes that has plunged this world into demonification?"

"But why do I feel this world can still be saved?"

With a thought, Chen Daoxuan fully activated his divine ability 【Black Tortoise Spiritual Sense】 within this desolate, demonified world, following that mysterious guidance, and began to wander.

Half a month later.

Just as he was wandering to a certain Sha Mo, Chen Daoxuan suddenly stopped.

"Hm, there's still Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi present here. This world truly hasn't been completely demon-corrupted.

But are there any of this world's original inhabitants still surviving?"

His divine sense spread for ten thousand li, and he suddenly sensed that deep within the earth, at a certain spot, there was faint Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi permeating.

He quietly and carefully sensed for a moment.

His divine sense merged with the Black Tortoise Sword.

Manifesting black sword-light, he shot at extreme speed toward the region in the deep earth where the spiritual Qi fluctuation had appeared.

In but an instant, the Black Tortoise Sword pierced through Ten Thousand Zhang of earth.

A sword cry rang out, spreading for a hundred li.

Through his cultivated divine ability 【Black Tortoise Spiritual Sense】, Chen Daoxuan sensed that deep within the earth, ten thousand zhang down, where boundless baleful Qi, earth flames, and lava permeated.

Extremely faint Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi appeared out of thin air, dissolving into the endless baleful Qi.

"Is it a Mi Jing, a Blessed Land, or a Dong Tian?"

The form of the Black Tortoise flowed around his body, manifesting layer upon layer of Black Tortoise shields like black membranes.

Chen Daoxuan burrowed down into the deep earth.

……

He arrived at the deep earth, ten thousand zhang below.

【Black Tortoise Spiritual Sense】 augmented his divine sense, searching high and low.

Half an hour later.

Chen Daoxuan guided the Black Tortoise Sword in a thrust.

No spatial shattering occurred.

Following an orderly spatial fluctuation, a spatial gateway instead manifested.

Sensing no danger whatsoever, Chen Daoxuan transformed his body into black light and slipped within.

……

Blue sky, white clouds, and a round red sun.

A Blessed Land, ten thousand li across and permeated with spiritual Qi, appeared within Chen Daoxuan's divine sense perception.

"This one is Tian Ji Zi, paying respects to Senior."

……