Chapter 184: Fellow Daoist, Please Stay!

The Cultivation World.

A valley near Nine Leaves Mountain.

A one-eyed Cultivator lay dead on the ground, his eyes wide with disbelief.

He could never have dreamed that his group of Robber Cultivators, having just arrived in this region and only just preparing to strike at a merchant caravan, would be discovered by a Foundation Establishment cultivator and, after being chased for dozens of miles, be killed to the last man!

"They came from Nanhuang?"

"That makes sense; those in the Central Region who could switch professions already did so long ago due to the snow disaster."

Exorcist Mage Yunkong, who was responsible for intercepting these Robber Cultivators discovered by the Spirit Mouse, looked through their Storage Bags under Su Ping's control.

A Cold Ice Array was activated to freeze the corpses solid before they were shattered and buried, ensuring they would not turn into Evil Spirits.

Afterward, Exorcist Mage Yunkong handed the Storage Bags to Spirit Mouse Xiaobai, who had run over to collect them.

This was to avoid letting others benefit once the Memory Illusion faded later.

As for letting the Memory Illusion get close to the Jiuye Mountain Market... Su Ping still planned to avoid doing that as much as possible.

As for Su Ping right now.

He was inside a magnificent Immortal Boat, savoring fine food and watching the fairies of Xianmiao Pavilion perform with great emotion.

The musicians of Xianmiao Pavilion were highly skilled; the music was like pearls falling onto a jade plate, every note pleasing to the ear... the lingering sound echoed on.

In the great hall, a faint fragrance of incense permeated the air.

One only needed to take a light sniff of this aroma to feel refreshed, and one's Divine Sense could even be vaguely strengthened.

Su Ping had heard from Xiao Mu Zhenren while attending that this was the Clear Spirit Incense, which could only be found in an Immortal Sect.

If one could enjoy it in one's own Cave Abode, it would be quite helpful for breaking through bottlenecks or practicing certain obscure techniques.

In the auction personally hosted by an Elder of the Artifact Heart Sect this time, this type of spirit incense would also be auctioned, though the price was truly exorbitant.

Even an Inner Sect Disciple like Xiao Mu Zhenren found it difficult to afford.

Su Ping listened and took a few more sniffs; although he was somewhat tempted, he still chose to continue acting as a spectator befitting his status.

After all, he was only a Loose Cultivator at the Foundation Establishment stage, and this time he had only gained the qualifications to enter this Biluo Immortal Boat and participate in Elder Biluo's appreciation meeting because Xiao Mu Zhenren had brought him along.

Elder Biluo was a Golden Core Great Ability of the Artifact Heart Sect with quite a reputation; she came from a very prestigious family with deep foundations, and it was rumored she was already over four hundred years old.

However, in appearance, she still looked like a very charming mature woman.

This beautiful woman sat in the seat of honor, with eight handsome young male cultivators standing beside her.

The male cultivators each held a Spirit Tool of varying designs.

Su Ping only glanced at them before lowering his head, not daring to look closely.

Yet he vaguely felt that the eight Spirit Tools of the other party were likely inferior to his own Array Tool.

Even that Spirit Bead seemed to be a notch lower.

But this was normal; there was still a large difference between the Chiyuan Immortal Sect and the Artifact Heart Sect.

This difference manifested in every aspect, and Spirit Tools, which were strongly correlated with one's foundation, were no exception.

Every time Elder Biluo held a banquet, she would bring her male favorites to hold her Spirit Tools as she made her entrance.

She enjoyed watching the jealous and envious gazes of those at the Foundation Establishment stage.

At the same time, being proficient in the arts of Yin and Yang, she was also looking for male cultivators with special Spirit Bodies.

At the start of this meeting, she informed the Foundation Establishment cultivators present that as long as someone could provide clues about certain Spirit Bodies.

She would certainly reward them heavily!

As the banquet reached its end, the fairies of Xianmiao Pavilion retreated with some reluctance.

These fairies who were qualified to come to the Biluo Immortal Boat were at least in the Qi Refining Middle-Late Stage.

They were also able to feel the benefits of the spirit incense.

Following their departure.

A young male cultivator beside Elder Biluo fiddled with the round mirror in his arms.

Suddenly, a Barrier appeared in the great hall, shielding it from outside eavesdropping.

As Xiao Mu Zhenren spoke first.

It turned out that the Artifact Heart Sect was using this banquet to issue various bounties to the Foundation Establishment cultivators present that were inconvenient to announce publicly.

In addition, they also gave some subtle warnings.

Su Ping had no interest in those bounties.

However, the warning caused Su Ping's expression to change.

The Artifact Heart Sect mentioned that the current situation in Nanhuang was continuously deteriorating.

What could be confirmed at present was that the Demonic Path, led by the Demon Heart Sect, and the Incense Divine Path, led by the Blood God Sect, might launch a large-scale invasion of this region, and they, the Foundation Establishment cultivators, needed to be especially vigilant.

Then, after Xiao Mu Zhenren sat down.

A male cultivator beside that Elder Biluo raised the Pure Water Bottle in his hand.

A blue light shot out from the bottle, forming a screen of light.

Inside the light screen was a three-dimensional map of the Jinzi Domain and the Overseas Islands.

"This is..."

A chubby Foundation Establishment cultivator widened his eyes, looking at the glowing locations on the map, and guessed something.

"This is the Secret Realm and Ancient Relic that have appeared in the Jinzi Domain during this period, as surveyed by our Artifact Heart Sect."

Another male cultivator beside Elder Biluo, holding a wooden zither, spoke:

"The restrictions on these Secret Realms and Ancient Relics have already been broken by the elders of our sect."

"Those of you who are interested can discuss the details in private."

"Additionally, please take a close look at that largest Secret Realm."

"Based on multiple comparisons, we have basically confirmed that the Secret Realm is the Xuantian Mystic Realm from the ancient records!"

"The Xuantian Mystic Realm, a Cave Heaven and Blessed Land of the ancient great sect Xuantian Sect, covers at least half the area of the Jinzi Domain!"

Having said this, the male cultivator paused and then added:

"To be honest, our sect intends to occupy this Secret Realm to make long-term plans for the future!"

"Long-term plans?"

Several Foundation Establishment cultivators began to carefully ponder the deep meaning of this sentence.

Xiao Mu Zhenren smiled slightly and interjected at the right moment:

"Our sect possesses a Secret Technique that can shift the location of a Secret Realm to a predetermined range."

"Hmm?"

Hearing this, many Foundation Establishment cultivators' eyes lit up.

The Cave Heaven and Blessed Lands or Secret Realms in the Cultivation World are not fixed in one location.

As Small Worlds attached to the Great World, they are inherently in a state of absolute movement.

It is just that most of them drift with the current; unless an outbreak of Evil Qi occurs, their relative positions do not change much.

Now, this Artifact Heart Sect... is preparing to regain control of a large-scale Secret Realm, and has further indicated their ability to move Secret Realms.

The implications behind this are terrifying to contemplate!

Combined with the current chaotic state of the Cultivation World.

Even Su Ping, who does not receive much information,

could vaguely guess that this Xuantian Mystic Realm might be the true contingency plan prepared by the Artifact Heart Sect for the future survival of their sect!

It is even possible that it is not just the Artifact Heart Sect entering this Secret Realm, but also other sects and even large-scale Immortal Sects!

"An ark version for the Cultivation World?"

Su Ping looked at the location of the Secret Realm and fell into deep thought.

Then Su Ping heard the male cultivator beside Elder Biluo continue to explain their purpose for revealing this news.

As long as one joins the land-clearing team and enters this Xuantian Mystic Realm to clear the land.

Besides generous rewards, one can also be prioritized to become a Grade A Guest Elder of the Artifact Heart Sect.

And a Grade A Guest Elder can not only enter the Secret Realm with priority in the future but also obtain an allotment of spiritual land within the Secret Realm.

One can even establish their own cultivation family within the Secret Realm.

If one cannot become an Immortal, at least one can still become an ancestor.

"This... could it be that things have already become so serious?"

The chubby Foundation Establishment cultivator sensed the deeper meaning, swallowed hard, and asked tremblingly.

Elder Biluo looked at this person, but did not let the male cultivator beside him speak on his behalf; instead, he sighed and said:

"The Old Ancestors of the various great sects are all trying to find ways to prevent the situation from worsening further."

"However, in order for the sect to continue, we have no choice but to prepare for the worst."

"Land-clearing will be dangerous, and the Xuantian Mystic Realm has also seen mutations due to the invasion of Evil Qi."

"But the Xuantian Mystic Realm is the best retreat we can find."

"This is also the reason why you were able to receive this news."

Having said this, Elder Biluo closed his mouth and spoke no more.

The attending Foundation Establishment cultivators were all filled with shock and uncertainty.

Then, in the subsequent Auction.

Su Ping discovered that the auction items capable of increasing combat power were bid on particularly heavily this time, causing their prices to rise significantly.

So much so that Su Ping almost suspected that the previous rhetoric was all just a ploy...

Su Ping did not compete for those Dharma Artifacts and Cultivation Pills.

Instead, he purchased several Inheritance Jade Slips related to cultivation techniques.

After the meeting, Su Ping bade farewell to Xiao Mu Zhenren and quickly left the Biluo Immortal Boat.

Su Ping transformed into a streak of white light and caught up to the chubby Foundation Establishment cultivator riding a similarly chubby immortal crane.

Su Ping shouted loudly:

"Daoist, please stay!"