Chapter 283: A Plea for Help from the Mandarin Duck Tower

Ding Huan began closed-door cultivation, yet within the Dao Cultivation World, one sect suddenly rose to fame.

That sect was naturally the rising star of the Dao Cultivation World, the Blue Star Sect.

The reason Blue Star Sect became famous was because the Dao Cultivation World's secret realm, the Departing Fire Secret Realm, had opened.

The Departing Fire Secret Realm originally allocated entry slots according to a sect's strength, with only a tiny portion given to rogue cultivators.

By all rights, a rising sect like Blue Star Sect had no slots. To obtain slots, they could only compete with the rogue cultivators.

But in recent years Blue Star Sect had recruited many disciples, and Blue Star Sect's Vice Sect Leader Liu Yinzhu had become increasingly decisive and crisp in her actions.

Upon learning that Blue Star Sect had no slots, she immediately raised an objection at the Dao Cultivation World's Sect Assembly.

She believed that since it was a secret realm, anyone should be qualified to enter.

Therefore, the best way to enter the Departing Fire Secret Realm was to discard the old slot-allocation method and adopt a grouped arena combat method for selection.

This proposal struck many sects as laughable — a secret realm allocation scheme that had continued for over a thousand years, and you, a new sect, think you can just change it?

If the slot allocation could be changed, it would have been changed long ago. Would it have waited until today?

To most sects' surprise, the Alliance Leader of the Dao Cultivation World's Sect Alliance, Hu Wuxin, actually agreed to Liu Yinzhu's proposal and had every major sect declare its stance right there at the assembly.

Some sects that originally had fixed slots naturally opposed this allocation method.

Yet even the City Lord of True Essence Dao City, Mo Zheng, supported the arena competition. Not only that, mid-to-major sects like the Qixing Sect, the Five Core Dao Gate, and the Tianqi Sect all agreed to this allocation method.

Especially the Qixing Sect and the Tianqi Sect — these two sects had been at odds for hundreds of years, each refusing to yield to the other. Yet on this matter, they were united in opinion as if by divine will.

Logically, even if a minority of sects agreed to revise the allocation plan, the plan still couldn't pass, because more sects still had to vote.

The result was that Hu Wuxin came up with a real-name vote — who agreed, who opposed, all clear at a glance.

As Alliance Leader, Hu Wuxin still carried a certain prestige. No matter how displeased many were with his proposal, they could only comply.

Under the real-name vote, the majority of sects actually cast abstention votes.

Everyone knew clearly in their hearts that the reason for casting abstention votes was that Blue Star Sect had a Sect Leader, Ding Huan, who would annihilate other sects at the slightest provocation.

In fact, Ding Huan had only annihilated one sect — but the rumors couldn't be stopped.

Added to that, Ding Huan had never once shown himself. After establishing Blue Star Sect, he rarely attended the Dao Cultivation World's Sect Assemblies, and later went to the Ascension Realm.

So the rumors about Ding Huan grew ever more outlandish, and Ding Huan ultimately became a byword for annihilating sects.

Even a major sect like the Twin Soul Sect had been wiped out — what other sect would dare provoke Blue Star Sect's Sect Leader Ding Huan?

And so, the method of entering the Departing Fire Secret Realm, unchanged for thousands of years, was altered.

As agreed, the arena competition was divided into Qi Refining Stage and Foundation Establishment Stage; True Core cultivators did not participate in the secret realm.

Originally, everyone only knew that Blue Star Sect's Sect Leader Ding Huan was formidable, and that he showed no mercy when he struck.

During the arena competition, everyone realized that whether it was the Sect Leader or the disciples, whether Qi Refining cultivators or Foundation Establishment cultivators, Blue Star Sect could all easily crush those of the same realm.

In the end, out of a thousand slots, Blue Star Sect obtained seventy-eight.

Yet Blue Star Sect had only sent a total of one hundred and twenty disciples to compete. The several dozen disciples who were eliminated, many of them had actually lost to fellow sect members in combat.

Or it was because the gap in realm was too great.

Once this result came out, Blue Star Sect became the sect that every cultivator in the entire Dao Cultivation World wanted to enter.

Afterwards, Blue Star Sect's realm system was also exposed.

Blue Star Sect had no Qi Refining cultivators, and no Foundation Establishment cultivators.

In Blue Star Sect, Qi Refining cultivators were Star Dust Realm, Foundation Establishment cultivators were Star Cloud Realm, and True Core cultivators were Star Nurturing Realm.

When the Departing Fire Secret Realm's arena competition ended, the Dao Cultivation World gained one universally acknowledged secret.

That was: Qi Refining cultivators should not provoke Star Dust Realm ones, and Foundation Establishment cultivators should not touch Star Cloud Realm ones.

Some people, unable to join Blue Star Sect, simply changed their own realm designations to Star Dust Realm and Star Cloud Realm as well.

But a cultivator's realm is determined by their cultivation method, and is even tied to the rules of heaven and earth. Such a change could not only fail to enhance one's strength, but would instead lower one's Dao Heart.

This made every Blue Star Sect disciple recruitment the liveliest event in the entire Dao Cultivation World.

With these rumors, the caliber of disciples Blue Star Sect recruited grew higher and higher.

……

This was the third year of Ding Huan's closed-door cultivation.

In Ding Huan's Sea of Consciousness, the star rings of every star system grew clearer and clearer, and the star ring of the main star was practically solid.

For the first time, before even advancing to the next realm, Ding Huan sensed what the next realm was like.

Star Domain Realm.

When his main star and twelve star systems condensed into a single great star system domain, that would be the moment he stepped into the Star Domain Realm.

Ding Huan stopped cultivating. He had sensed the Star Domain Realm, but in the short term could not step into it.

It must be that his foundation was insufficient, so he needed to enter the Opening Heaven Battlefield.

With a beckoning hand, the flame that had grown on the Earth Fire Vein landed in Ding Huan's palm.

What had once been a tiny spark had, after three years, now grown into a scorching pale-yellow flame.

This flame was even slightly stronger than his True Fire; given more time to grow, it would absolutely be able to stand on its own.

Unfortunately, the Earth Fire Vein was now nearly exhausted, and the flame could no longer continue to grow.

Ding Huan didn't mind. With a thought, the flame fell into the depths of his Sea of Consciousness.

This time he was going out specifically to head to the Opening Heaven Battlefield again.

First, to seek a Starry Sky Spirit Vein; second, to seek an Earth Fire Vein.

The moment Ding Huan stopped cultivating, Fu Qijian sensed it.

"Hahaha…" Fu Qijian laughed heartily, and simultaneously the Great Ruin Sword was summoned — a hundred-zhang sword rainbow slashed out.

The killing momentum of that sword light gathered, nearly tearing space apart, and forcibly cleaved open a long sword ravine.

"Congratulations on the great completion of your divine ability." At one glance, Ding Huan knew Fu Qijian's strength had multiplied several times over compared to before.

"Ding Huan, I've reached the ninth layer of Human Immortal." Fu Qijian excitedly sheathed the Great Ruin Sword, his voice trembling.

Even he himself couldn't believe it. Previously, he had spent several hundred years cultivating from the first layer of Human Immortal to the fifth.

Now, in just a few short years, he had advanced from the fifth layer of Human Immortal to the ninth.

Only today did he understand why Ding Huan had originally invited him to come here to cultivate together.

If he had gone to the Opening Heaven Battlefield ahead of time, he would have missed this kind of opportunity.

"It's because your foundation was deep enough that you could accumulate thickly and burst forth with power," Ding Huan said.

Fu Qijian shook his head:

"No, without your help, it would have taken me a very long time to step into the ninth layer of Human Immortal. My master told me that the Seven Swords of Fu Ruin have some issues. Once cultivated, their might is tremendous.

The hardest part is the first step—cultivating to the Earth Immortal realm. Now, though, I have immense confidence. As long as I follow you and cultivate together to the Earth rank."

Ding Huan also sensed that the Seven Swords of Fu Ruin that Fu Qijian cultivated had some issues. His own strength was limited right now, so he couldn't help Fu Qijian either.

If one day he could cultivate the Great Cosmos Art to the equivalent of the Earth Immortal realm, perhaps he could help a little.

"Ding Huan, let's go to the Opening Heaven Battlefield now. I have the confidence to deal with Earth Immortal cultivators," Fu Qijian said, his spirit soaring.

Since stepping into the Human Immortal realm, this was the first time he had felt such confidence.

Even though previously he was one of the top ten Human Immortals of the Ascension Realm, he hadn't had this kind of confidence.

Those who cultivate the Sword Dao fear most the lack of confidence. As long as there is confidence, the Sword Dao can continue to advance.

Once confidence is lost, the Sword Dao will grow increasingly dispirited.

Fu Qijian had been stuck at the fifth layer of Human Immortal for a long time, and his confidence had been growing weaker and weaker.

That was why he longed to go to the Opening Heaven Battlefield ahead of time to find the confidence in his Sword Dao that belonged to him.

Now, without having gone to the Opening Heaven Battlefield, Ding Huan had already helped him recover his confidence.

He believed that if he went to kill Shi Qiqiu again, even if Shi Qiqiu had a Void-Breaking Talisman, he could take him down.

Confidence had returned, but the Opening Heaven Battlefield still had to be gone to. He had said he would go rescue his master.

"Good, but I need to return to Blue Star Sect first," Ding Huan also planned to go to the Opening Heaven Battlefield.

……

In the guest hall of Blue Star Sect.

Vice Sect Master Liu Yinzhu was currently accompanying a green-robed woman in conversation.

That green-robed woman wore an anxious expression, but Liu Yinzhu's face carried a hint of helplessness.

This green-robed woman was called Tang You, her cultivation was late-stage Void God realm.

In terms of cultivation, Liu Yinzhu was a full major rank below her.

Tang You had come to look for the Sect Master, so Liu Yinzhu was unable to help her.

Liu Yinzhu knew the Sect Master was in closed-door cultivation at Hidden Jianshan. The Sect Master was at Hidden Jianshan, and even she herself didn't go to Hidden Jianshan to cultivate.

How could she let an outsider disturb the Sect Master's cultivation?

"Sect Master Liu, please report to Sect Master Ding for me. If Sect Master Ding truly doesn't wish to see me, I'll leave immediately." Tang You anxiously stood up.

Although she was well aware that even if she saw Ding Huan now, it might not necessarily save Sister Yan.

Deep in her heart, she always clung to some slim hope, hoping she could still make it in time to save Sister Yan.

Liu Yinzhu wore an apologetic expression. Just as she was about to refuse, she suddenly heard a voice come:

"What are you looking for me for?"

"Sect Master?" Liu Yinzhu excitedly sprang to her feet.

Ding Huan smiled at Liu Yinzhu:

"The sect looks quite prosperous these years. You've done well. I'm about to leave the Dao Cultivation Realm now. When you have time, you can go to Hidden Jianshan for closed-door cultivation and continue to raise your own strength."

The spirit vein beneath Hidden Jianshan, Ding Huan had not taken it.

"Yes, Sect Master." Liu Yinzhu was overjoyed.

It could be said that in the Dao Cultivation Realm, her strength was already at the top tier.

Primordial Soul realm cultivators, she simply didn't fear.

Even if Void God realm cultivators wanted to kill her, it wasn't such an easy matter.

If she could continue cultivating at Hidden Jianshan for a period of time, she might be able to break through to the Star realm and step into the next level.

That cosmic vortex opening at Hidden Jianshan—cultivating the Lesser Cosmos Art there was simply advancing by leaps and bounds.

Moreover, she knew clearly that every time the Sect Master returned from closed-door cultivation, the Lesser Cosmos Art in the sect's Scripture Pavilion would gain another portion of cultivation methods and realms.

"This is Fu Qijian, my friend." Ding Huan briefly introduced Fu Qijian beside him to Liu Yinzhu.

Because he had returned via a teleportation array, the moment he came out he knew Liu Yinzhu was receiving a guest.

Before Liu Yinzhu had time to greet him, Tang You eagerly stepped forward, bowed, and paid respects:

"Tang You of Mandarin Duck House greets Sect Master Ding, greets Workshop Master Fu."

Liu Yinzhu didn't recognize Fu Qijian, but she knew all too well who stood before her.

The Workshop Master of Thunder Rhythm Pill Workshop—one of the top three among the ten great Human Immortals of the Ascension Realm.

(Today's update ends here. Good night, friends!)