Chapter 466

This time the injury is really a bit serious.

After sending the still-energetic Yuan Ying Cultivators of the Fifth Purple Robes to "urge" the Sea Clan to retreat, Yunhe returned to the Ice Immortal Pavilion.

Fifth Purple Robes is a named faction; the term for a cultivator at the Yuan Ying stage translates to Yuan Ying Cultivator.

Sea Clan, Ice Immortal Pavilion.

This battle was also not easy for him.

Not only did he sustain serious injuries himself, but the Spirit Talismans he had painstakingly amassed were already largely depleted; gathering that many again would likely take three to four decades.

Spirit Talisman.

Even with the help of an External Incarnation, it would be possible; without one, it might take a hundred years.

External Incarnation.

Not to mention the materials required to forge those Spirit Talismans.

No new.

However.

This battle was not without its gains for him.

Let's set aside the myriad precious treasures and materials stored in Qi Lin Chang Lan's Storage Scale.

Qi Lin Chang Lan.

Storage Scale.

His Fourth Level Top‑grade Magic Treasure, the Black Flood Dragon Spear, is truly impressive.

Fourth Level Top-grade Magic Treasure, Black Flood Dragon Spear.

Now, with his and the Demon Beast Body's assistance, the Corpse Soul Gu has finally begun to stabilize; breaking its own shackles seems inevitable, and it remains to see how much benefit it will ultimately reap.

Corpse Soul Gu, Demon Beast Body.

The External Incarnation has already approached, and Yunhe set aside the many thoughts in his mind.

External Incarnation, Yunhe.

Yunhe neither confirmed nor denied, simply saying, "A Soul Search performed by a Fourth Level Late Stage Sea Clan Grand Elder—let's set aside the danger for now; the outcome is beyond my control."

Soul Search, Fourth Level Late Stage, Sea Clan Grand Elder.

The rapidly rising Yunhe has also gained the authority to claim the largest share of the spoils.

Yunhe.

"Indeed," the External Incarnation nodded, "the Sea Clan consists of three major sub‑clans, yet most of those we encounter are cultivators from the Qi Lin and Qi Zhou clans. Even though we conducted a Soul Search, the information we gathered about the Qi Hun Clan is quite limited."

Sea Clan, three major clans, Qi Lin Clan, Qi Zhou Clan, cultivator, Soul Search, Qi Hun Clan.

It is also why even mismatched individuals like the Profound Void Daoist and the Rakshasa Old Devil must restrain themselves to achieve integration.

Profound Void Daoist, Rakshasa Old Devil.

Even after more than a year, it is far insufficient for the External Incarnation to develop any inappropriate thoughts.

External Incarnation.

External pressure is only part of it.

He paused briefly, then continued, "Even if the information from Soul Search is incomplete, it shouldn't be so uniformly scarce, right? Even a Fourth Level Sea Clan Elder knows little about the Qi Hun Clan; the secrecy is profound."

Soul Search, Fourth Level Sea Clan Elder, Qi Hun Clan.

The reason for such effort is to obtain more resources.

If even the Grand Elder of the Qi Lin Clan knows little about the Qi Hun Clan, the only answer is that the Qi Hun Clan does not exist within the Sea Clan at all.

Qi Lin Clan, Grand Elder, Qi Hun Clan, Sea Clan.

Qi Lin Chang Lan is unlike the Heavenly Gu Old Ancestor.

Qi Lin Chang Lan, Heavenly Gu Old Ancestor.

This is the benefit of having integrated the strength of more than half of the cultivators in the Eastern Border Cultivation Realm.

Eastern Border Cultivation Realm.

Yunhe took it, gave his Divine Sense a quick sweep, and the gloom on his face lightened a bit.

Yunhe, Divine Sense.

Upon hearing this, Yunhe's expression relaxed slightly, "With that, the Sea Clan's power is greatly diminished, and they shouldn't make any rash moves in the short term."

Yunhe, Sea Clan.

Moreover, given his displayed strength, aside from a few truly unique and valuable items within the Human Cultivator Alliance, he can freely take the rest.

Human Cultivator Alliance.

"However," the External Incarnation casually sat cross‑legged on the ground, and at some point produced a Sea Clan‑specific Spirit Fruit in his hand, taking a bite that splattered juice everywhere, "Aren't you curious, True Self?"

External Incarnation, Sea Clan, Spirit Fruit, True Self.

In response, the External Incarnation naturally did not refuse.

External Incarnation.

He first battled two Fourth Level Late Stage Sea Clan cultivators and also destroyed Qi Lin Chang Lan's physical body, greatly eroding the Sea Clan's elite strength—an enormous achievement.

Fourth Level Late Stage Sea Clan Cultivator, Qi Lin Chang Lan, Sea Clan.

"Synchronize."

However, for cultivators with Yuan Ying Late Stage cultivation, even if an external force invades and even annihilates the entire Human Race, they would not pose a major threat; at most, daily inconveniences would increase.

Yuan Ying Late Stage Cultivation Base.

For this reason, within the Human Cultivator Alliance, there are separate yet interconnected interest consortia such as the Dao Alliance and the Demon Alliance.

Human Cultivator Alliance, Dao Alliance, Demon Alliance.

"It's just a pity he ran away; I don't know about the External Incarnation."

Yet Qi Lin Chang Lan is in his prime; although Soul Spirit is a weakness of the Sea Clan, his cultivation has nonetheless reached Fourth Level Late Stage. Even if the danger is controllable, the outcome becomes less predictable.

Qi Lin Chang Lan, Soul Spirit, Sea Clan, Cultivation Base, Fourth Level Late Stage.

"It could also be that certain information has been jointly 'blocked.'" Yunhe added.

Yunhe.

Beyond that.

"Fortunately, I have not disgraced my duty."

Although they are all Fourth Level Top‑grade Magic Treasures, there are still varying degrees of quality.

Fourth Level Top-grade Magic Treasure.

For Yuan Ying Late Stage cultivators, the primary goal is certainly to break through the Yuan Ying Stage shackles, advancing to Spirit Transformation and beyond.

Yuan Ying Late Stage Cultivator, Yuan Ying Stage, Spirit Transformation, Realm.

Moreover, as the Grand Elder of the Qi Lin Clan, his Storage Scale holds the wealth Qi Lin Chang Lan has amassed in his lifetime, sufficient to compensate for Yunhe's Spirit Talisman losses.

Qi Lin Clan, Grand Elder, Storage Scale, Qi Lin Chang Lan, Yunhe, Spirit Talisman.

The External Incarnation stepped slowly out of the shadows, casually tossed a sphere wrapped in numerous Spirit Talismans, which was Qi Lin Chang Lan's Sea Pearl.

External Incarnation, Spirit Talisman, Qi Lin Chang Lan, Sea Pearl.

"Hence the need for the Corpse Soul Gu," the External Incarnation tossed the seed of the Spirit Fruit aside, "If the Corpse Soul Gu can successfully metamorphose, its suppressive power over Corpse Soul and Soul Spirit will surely surge again, and we may still have opportunities for Soul Search."

Corpse Soul Gu, Spirit Fruit, Soul Spirit, Soul Search.

The Heavenly Gu Old Ancestor was already doomed; clinging to the lingering soul and corpse of the Heavenly Corpse Gu, his Soul Spirit has rotted, making the pressure of Soul Search far lighter.

Heavenly Gu Old Ancestor, Heavenly Corpse Gu, Soul Spirit, Soul Search.

Corpse Soul Gu.

Yunhe squinted his eyes.

The External Incarnation's voice echoed within the modest cultivation chamber.

"The Qi Hun Clan?" Yunhe reversed his hand to sheath the Sea Pearl, voicing his direct doubt to the External Incarnation.

Qi Hun Clan, Sea Pearl, External Incarnation, Yunhe.

Regarding the Qi Hun Clan, not only the External Incarnation but he himself is also quite puzzled.

Qi Hun Clan, External Incarnation.

Qi Lin Chang Lan's Black Flood Dragon Spear belongs to the extremely elite Fourth Level Top‑grade Magic Treasures; although it cannot serve as a Natal Magic Treasure and can only exert about seventy percent of its power, it still surpasses ordinary Fourth Level Top‑grade Magic Treasures.

Qi Lin Chang Lan, Black Flood Dragon Spear, Fourth Level Top-grade Magic Treasure, Natal Magic Treasure, ordinary Fourth Level Top-grade Magic Treasure.

And now.

The True Self and the Avatar are essentially one; although due to Yunhe's special arrangement with the External Incarnation during this period they have been without merged memories for over a year, Yunhe nonetheless knows the doubts concerning the External Incarnation.

True Self, Avatar, Yunhe, External Incarnation.

The External Incarnation shrugged, "Regardless, that old fellow Qi Lin Chang Lan surely knows a lot."

External Incarnation, Qi Lin Chang Lan.

When the memories synchronized, Yunhe fell silent, instead taking out several Jade Bottles, swallowing the healing elixirs, and began to regulate his breath.

Jade Bottle, Elixir, Yunhe.

The External Incarnation likewise remained silent, silently moving into the shadowed corner nearby.

External Incarnation.

He took out a Twilight Elixir, swallowed it, and began to cultivate.

Twilight Elixir.

This elixir is the reward he earned during this period under the alias "Gu Yan," allowing him to more swiftly break through the Yuan Ying Middle Stage.

Gu Yan, Elixir, Yuan Ying Middle Stage.

With the External Incarnation's Dharma Protector, Yunhe relaxed completely and devoted himself to recovery.

External Incarnation, Dharma Protector, Yunhe.

While Yunhe was in seclusion recovering, as the Sea Clan receded like the tide, the Eastern Coast of the Eastern Border Cultivation Realm had not fully calmed.

Yunhe, Sea Clan, Eastern Border Cultivation Realm, Eastern Coast.

Just as Yunhe initially thought, without the Sea Clan's pressure, the disputes arising when dividing the "Spoils of War" are considerable.

Yunhe, Sea Clan, Spoils of War.

Not only the coastal borders of countries such as Yuan State, Li State, and other seaside nations, but also the countless islands of all sizes across the vast endless sea.

For example, within the Yuan Nation, the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect was destroyed, so the territories formerly under the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect naturally became ownerless.

This is undoubtedly a huge wealth; aside from spirit veins, even the secret lands that produce special treasures, spirit fields, and the like each year yield a considerable amount of Spirit Stone.

Not to mention, being a coastal region, the sea itself contains a vast amount of treasures.

When the Sea Clan had not yet appeared, countless cultivators would come each year to hunt the sea's monsters; now the Sea Clan has retreated in haste and has not taken everything, leaving behind a series of untapped "treasure vaults".

Likewise, the many islands on the sea are abundant; larger islands could fully support everything a major sect requires.

It's not only sects like the destroyed Ten Thousand Beasts Sect; even sects like Nine Dragon Gate, which were not destroyed but were forced to relocate from the Yuan Nation, are also in a bad situation.

Because of the Sea Clan's assault, Nine Dragon Gate suffered a severe loss of strength, and its pillar—Fulong Mountain's mortal body—was destroyed; even if there is a chance to recover later, at this moment Nine Dragon Gate cannot withstand the pressure.

Cultivators sometimes are no doubt like locusts, allowing some of them to infiltrate the Wu Nation and Yuan Nation, and expelling them is not so easy.

In other words, with Yunhe present in the Wu Nation, no one dares to reach out and lay claim.

And this is only the Yuan Nation.

One can imagine how chaotic the East Coast nations would become over profit.

But at this moment,

Ji Liuyun of Bai Xiao Tower, Ice Osmanthus Fairy of Ice Immortal Pavilion, the Cold Sword True Lord of Snow Sword Sect, and even the Purple Robe True Lord of Formless Sword Sect all stepped forward together, speaking to the entire Eastern Realm cultivation world.

The Wu Nation, Yuan Nation, and Li Nation to the east face the Sea Three Nations' region, which is the domain of the Five Elements Sword Ancestor!

All who dare to lay claim must be ready to endure the fury of the Five Elements Sword Ancestor.

For a moment,

The cultivators who were "rampaging" within the Three Nations' lands immediately fell in line.

Under the might of the Five Elements Sword Ancestor, many people are angry but dare not speak.

Later, Ji Liuyun and others, on behalf of Yunhe, spoke again, stating: cultivators within the Three Nations have three months to reap post‑war "spoils"; after three months, all cultivators in the Three Nations will be registered, and thereafter can obtain the protection of the Five Elements Sword Ancestor by "paying tribute".

When these words were spoken,

Everyone not only felt their anger and resentment vanish instantly, but countless cultivators' cocoons entered the Three Nations' lands, prepared to find any way to settle there.

This is the protection of the Five Elements Sword Ancestor himself!

What does a mere "offering" amount to?

Look at the Yellow Springs Ancestor of Fengdu City; if one wishes to settle in Fengdu City, not only must one pay a huge amount of Spirit Stone, but also be prepared to be used by the Yellow Springs Ancestor as a sacrificial material for refining treasures at any time.

What about Xuanxu Daoist and the Formless Sword Lord?

The sects to which these two belong are such that even if one wishes to pay tribute, they would not even acknowledge it.

The protection of a late‑stage Yuan Ying Cultivator is immensely attractive in today's Eastern Realm cultivation world.

Even if this so‑called "protection" may be merely a title, it still holds great allure.

Therefore,

Although these two "statements" by Ji Liuyun and others did not receive Yunhe's approval, they are not worried about Yunhe getting angry.

Because this is essentially a "blank check".

Could anyone really go to Yunhe to argue and fail?

If Yunhe is in a good mood, he can grant some protection; if he's in a bad mood, no one can do anything to him.

These two "statements" made Yunhe one of the biggest beneficiaries of this profit division.

Of course.

Snow Sword Sect, Ice Immortal Pavilion, and even the Yuan Nation's Nine Dragon Gate and Li Nation's Yingfeng Pavilion, which chose to align under Yunhe, are all beneficiaries.

However,

The situation in the Three Nations' region has stabilized, but that does not mean the entire East Coast has likewise steadied.

Indeed, over certain interests, several factions have erupted into considerable conflict.

For this,

To maintain the so‑called Human Cultivator Alliance, another "Alliance Summit" is inevitable.

On one hand it is for profit division; on the other hand, it is necessary to discuss the current state of the Eastern Realm cultivation world.

And the venue of the summit remains the Great Profound City in the Eastern Realm.

However, as one of the top few individuals in today's Eastern Realm cultivation world, Yunhe knows far more than most Yuan Ying Cultivators.

Among them are matters that even he finds extremely troublesome.

Of course, these are tales for later.

A scented breeze rustles the black velvet clouds, soft white snow spirals down, and the empty cold pool is dotted with glittering coral; within the pool a dark silhouette slowly emerges.

A burst of rising cold instantly sweeps the entire pool, and the rippling surface freezes in an instant.

Even the water of the cold pool can solidify instantly, foretelling how terrifying the current surge of cold truly is.

"Aaa—"

The flood dragon's long chant stirs wind and clouds; rolling waves of qi surge like a flood dragon soaring into the heavens, blasting a massive hole in the sky.

Boom—

After the dragon's chant, a muffled thunder rumbles faintly, and black, velvet‑like clouds coil in a few breaths, the oppressive cloud layer turning a radius of several hundred li into night.

Such a commotion.

Not only the disciples of Ice Immortal Pavilion were shocked, but all cultivators beneath the black clouds, affected by the rolling momentum, fled their own caves, staring in horror at the gathered cloud mass.

"Thunder, a thunder tribulation?!"

Someone recognized the omen of the black clouds.

Thunder tribulation?

But the legendary Five Elements Sword Ancestor himself has long been a Yuan Ying Cultivator!

"Could it be Ice Osmanthus Fairy?"

The Ice Osmanthus Fairy of the Ice Immortal Pavilion?

If one were to say that, in the whole Eastern Border cultivation world, who is the most envied cultivator, then the Ice Osmanthus Fairy would definitely secure a spot.

And if one were to say which sect is the most envied, then without a doubt it is the Ice Immortal Pavilion!

"No, that is not a Nascent Soul Tribulation, this is a Transformation Tribulation!"

Finally, a cultivator recognized what this tribulation signified.

Transformation Tribulation!

This is a sign that a demon beast is about to break through to the Fourth Level!

Seeing the tribulation clouds still spreading, even reaching a thousand li away, one can foresee that this is the Transformation Tribulation of an extremely powerful demon beast.

"It's a flood dragon! It's the cold flood dragon of the Venerable Five Elements Sword Ancestor!"

"Roar!!"

The flood dragon leapt from the cold pool and soared across the heavens.

A stream of light shot out from a nearby cave dwelling.

It was Yunhe, wearing a green robe, with a hint of surprise on his face.

He looked at the excited Cold Chant Flood Dragon, recalling the pearl from Glossy Scale Long Ripple that he had casually tossed to the Cold Chant Flood Dragon a year ago.

"Quite commendable."

Yunhe couldn't help but laugh.

(End of Chapter)