Chapter 779: All Crossed Over

Li Yi did not travel far from Survival Base Eight; after about a hundred kilometers, he found a relatively safe place and stopped.

After confirming no anomalies surrounded him, he took out the Cross-Dimension Device, placed three intact Oddities as energy sources, then set the cross-dimensional coordinates.

As a brilliant beam of energy shot forth, the space before him twisted instantly, forming a great dimensional gate; after calibration, a world gradually emerged beyond the gate.

It was a valley filled with birdsong and blooming flowers, peaceful and serene; its only flaw was the absence of spiritual energy. Excluding that factor, the world was still suitable for life.

Li Yi wasted no time; he swiftly passed through the cross-dimensional gate and returned once more to the End-Dharma Dao cultivation world.

As the cross-dimensional gate opened, spiritual energy leaked into the valley.

Sensing this surge of spiritual energy, the Dao cultivators within the valley immediately noticed.

"The cross-dimensional gate has opened again—it's Tai Yi. He's returned."

"Hurry to the Grand Hall for assembly—this time, our chance to cross over has come."

"Ha! Finally, the cross-dimensional gate has opened."

Instantly, these cultivators grew wildly excited, moving with agile, light steps, and within moments, they all arrived before the Tai Yi Hall atop the mountain.

Clearly, their martial cultivation had achieved some success; though they could no longer fly or vanish as in the past, traversing mountains and valleys posed no problem.

By the time these cultivators arrived, they found Li Yi already waiting there.

Compared to several months ago, Li Yi's aura was now far more astonishing; merely standing there, he nearly crushed the breath from those around him, and his Long Hu power was even more formidable than before.

It was nearly equal to that of a Three Flowers cultivator.

The arriving cultivators felt a chill in their hearts, deeply astonished.

They remembered that when they first followed Li Yi here, he had just entered the Five Qi Realm; now, he rivaled a peak Three Flowers powerhouse—such cultivation speed was unprecedented.

Even if their own strength had fully returned, they could no longer match Li Yi.

"We pay homage to Tai Yi."

Without the slightest slackness, every cultivator who arrived immediately bowed respectfully to Li Yi.

"Elders, no formalities—this time I've opened the cross-dimensional gate because I seek your aid," Li Yi said bluntly. "Those willing to assist me, follow me across. Those unwilling, I won't force you."

Though his words were direct, none of the arriving cultivators showed displeasure.

Having cultivated for centuries to reach their current strength, they were no children; they understood there was no such thing as a free meal. Tai Yi had brought them across from the End-Dharma world precisely because he valued their restored power.

If they refused to serve, why should anyone kindly help them escape this world and resume the Dao?

Thus, when they first followed Li Yi to Bao Ting, they had already prepared themselves mentally.

"Tai Yi, this old Daoist offers his service. Command me as you will."

"Indeed, this humble Daoist also offers his service to Tai Yi."

"If we can return to our peak, even giving up this old life is no matter."

These cultivators spoke in unison.

"Good," Li Yi nodded. "Prepare yourselves. In fifteen minutes, I'll open the cross-dimensional gate—we leave this world together."

At this moment, a Daoist named Ziyu True Person approached and said: "Tai Yi, many cultivators in Bao Ting still wish to join this realm. If we gradually bring them over, we can gather numerous skilled cultivators. Moreover, beyond Bao Ting, other regions harbor desperate cultivators still clinging to the Dao. Since you lack people, why not utilize them?"

"If everyone departs at once, no one remains to manage affairs. Over time, many will return to dust and earth."

"That makes sense," Li Yi said, his expression shifting.

Ziyu True Person clearly intended to plunder the End-Dharma Dao world one last time before leaving, taking every cultivator he could—after all, letting them perish here was a waste.

Though the End-Dharma Dao world had decayed,

it was still a great realm; a thorough plunder might yield surprising gains.

What were forty-nine Three Flowers cultivators?

If Ziyu True Person's plan succeeded, Li Yi might gather hundreds, even thousands of Three Flowers cultivators—plus the Crimson Gold Dao Artifacts being forged on the Wildlands' Crimson Gold Mountain.

This would be a true army.

"This matter is crucial—who among you elders can handle it?" Li Yi asked.

Ziyu True Person immediately said: "Tai Yi, leave this task to this old Daoist. I possess a Thunder War Machine—capable of traversing a thousand li in an instant. Completing this task will be effortless."

He volunteered to stay behind and accomplish this for Li Yi.

Others also wished to take the task—it was a great merit, and Tai Yi would surely reward them. But upon realizing they were about to cross over, they hesitated.

The future was uncertain; crossing over first and restoring their cultivation was ultimately better.

Seeing Ziyu True Person step forward, Li Yi nodded: "Good. Then this task is entrusted to True Person. When I open the gate again, I will bring all of you out of this world."

"However, this task is arduous. I have little to give you, so I present this Crimson Gold Divine Sword as your protective weapon."

Then, from within the Crimson Gold Five Elements Bracelet, he drew forth a Crimson Gold Divine Sword and gave it to Ziyu True Person.

The other cultivators, upon seeing the sword, stared in awe.

"This—is a Dao Artifact passed down from the Dao Artifact Sect?"

"It bears the crafting style of Tian Gong Dao Ren of the Dao Artifact Sect, but it's more than a mere Chuancheng Dao Artifact. That Crimson Gold possesses extraordinary divine qualities—likely surpassing even Chuancheng Dao Artifacts."

"Gah! A peak-state Chuancheng Divine Sword untouched by End-Dharma decay."

No Three Flowers cultivator present remained unmoved by the Crimson Gold Divine Sword.

In the End-Dharma era, even a peak-grade low-tier Dao Artifact was unseen, let alone a weapon surpassing Chuancheng level. The surging divine aura left no doubt: a single swing could cleave mountains, split seas.

In this age, wielding this sword meant the power to destroy heaven and earth.

The others were filled with envy.

They wished they had stayed behind to earn the Crimson Gold Divine Sword—just one or two more years here would have secured it.

"Thank you, Tai Yi, for granting this sword," said Ziyu True Person, usually composed, now smiling. He did not hesitate—taking the sword, he bowed deeply to Li Yi.

Moreover, his phrasing was clever: he did not say "Li Yi gifted me the sword," but "Li Yi bestowed it upon me."

This implied Li Yi was his superior—only a superior could use the word "bestow."

Li Yi nodded slightly: "In the End-Dharma age, cultivators have largely decayed, their lifespans dwindling. When I return next, it will be at least a year or two. So I give you this bottle of Life Water and some Lifespan Pills—use them to prolong their lives until I arrive."

He then produced a large bottle of Life Water and Lifespan Pills gathered from the Four Seas and Eight Provinces.

In this world, these were priceless treasures.

But now that Li Yi's strength had grown, these items held little use for him; he thus gave away a substantial supply to help Ziyu True Person recruit more experts.

"With these two items, the matter is settled," Ziyu True Person declared confidently.

Some cultivators might cling to their homeland, preferring to perish in their sects—but he was certain that once he revealed the Lifespan Pills and Life Water, those experts would follow him without hesitation.

But better to be selective than to take the weak.

Ziyu True Person planned to recruit only Three Flowers and Two Flowers cultivators, sensing Li Yi needed powerful cultivators—those of lesser strength would be useless.

After making arrangements, Li Yi did not linger; he opened the cross-dimensional gate once more.

"Elders, follow me."

He stepped upon auspicious clouds, lifting them all across to Earth.

Upon sensing Earth's abundant spiritual energy, every cultivator's face lit with excitement—they had waited a lifetime for this chance.

Without hesitation,

they immediately began inhaling spiritual energy, striving to restore their cultivation as swiftly as possible.

Li Yi did not rush to take them back to the survival base; he waited until they had regained some of their cultivation before acting.

This would take roughly two or three days.

"This realm is called Earth—chaotic and dangerous. Its spiritual energy has been mysteriously corrupted. Be cautious when absorbing it, lest your body be tainted and your Primordial Spirit harmed."

He warned them.

"Tai Yi is correct. Though the spiritual energy here is abundant, it is indeed corrupted—by a malevolent force. But this is easily solved: simply avoid absorbing the tainted portions."

Having cultivated for centuries, they had seen everything; faced with corruption, they felt no fear—considering it merely a minor issue.

Just as Cang Er Zi, Xuan Yue Zi, and others had done upon first crossing over, they would effortlessly purify the corrupted spiritual energy.

Seeing their confidence, Li Yi said no more.

"Rest here for three days. After that, I have plans," he added.

Hearing this, they took no chances, redoubling their efforts to absorb spiritual energy and restore their cultivation.

Li Yi calculated:

Aside from Ziyu True Person, all forty-nine original cultivators had now crossed over—twenty remained on the Wildlands' Crimson Gold Mountain, several Immortal Maidens dwelled in the Incense World, a few were in the Four Seas and Eight Provinces, the rest should be on Earth.

When these people were gathered together, they would form an immense force.

He hoped this force could, in some measure, ease Earth's crisis—this was his contribution to this world.

But if things truly reached a point of no return, Li Yi might retreat to the Incense-to-God realm to live—after all, a backup plan must be prepared.

(End of Chapter)