Chapter 1011: The Dan Sect

Ever since leaving Mount Cangwu, Xiao Bai and Black King had traveled over mountains and ridges, crossing wildernesses and forests.

Without using any teleportation arrays, it took them a full half-year to return to the border between the human and demon territories.

This border line was, in reality, quite blurred.

At its center was the Guyuan Mountain Range, the bridgehead for the human race’s march into the Million Mountains back in the day. To the south lay the Aoxiao Mountain Range, which had been conquered once and then reclaimed, and to the west was the Yuding Domain.

The Yuding Domain, in particular, now encompassed an area far beyond its original scope.

It had become a ghost realm!

Within it were countless vengeful spirits and fierce ghosts, and it was even presided over by a Fourth-Rank Ghost Emperor with immense ferocity.

It was precisely because of the existence of this Fourth-Rank Ghost Emperor that it had become a natural dividing line; neither humans nor demons would easily cross it.

Xiao Bai paused her footsteps on the outskirts of the Guyuan Mountain Range for a moment, looking down at the ruins below, filled with sighs.

"What's wrong?" Black King asked, puzzled.

Xiao Bai said with emotion, "Do you see that river?"

Black King snorted a puff of hot air from his nose. "I'm not blind; naturally, I see that great river."

"The ruins beside it are the Great River Market, the place where Master and I cultivated when we were still lowly."

Black King was stunned. Ever since refining the remnant soul of the desolate beast Stone Dragon two hundred years ago, his perception of spiritual energy and spiritual veins had become extremely keen. Looking at it now, he was somewhat astonished.

"The spiritual energy is so thin; you say this is the place where Master rose to prominence?"

Xiao Bai nodded slightly, smiling with a touch of melancholy.

Back then, although her cultivation realm was low and her strength weak, she could at least be considered carefree.

Now that she had reached the Ghost Emperor realm with great power, she could never return to her former innocence.

She also wondered if this body, condensed from ghost energy, would ever have the chance to attain the Dao and ascend in the future.

"Let's go, first to Hehuan... oh no, it should be called the Nine Spirits Domain now."

The Nine Spirits Domain, the territory where the Nine Spirits Sect was located.

In fact, when the Nine Spirits Sect’s mountain gate was first opened, the first choice had been the Medicine King Domain.

However, an earth-shattering battle had turned the Medicine King Domain upside down and shattered its spiritual veins. Even though it could be nurtured back to health over time, for the sake of the sect's disciples, the Nine Spirits Monarch still moved the sect to the former Hehuan Domain.

At the very least, the spiritual veins of the Hehuan Domain were relatively well-preserved.

Xiao Bai and Black King moved stealthily all the way, heading straight for the Nine Spirits Domain.

When passing through the Yuding Ghost Realm, they employed ghost Dao techniques and passed through with ease.

Not long after, they arrived at the Nine Spirits Sect’s mountain gate.

At the gate, the two hesitated slightly.

"Should we sneak in, or pay a formal visit?"

It was no wonder they hesitated; one was a ghost and the other a demon. A direct visit would easily

stir up a commotion.

But if they snuck in secretly, that would be somewhat less than honorable.

Xiao Bai blinked. "Master has widely distributed invitations to discuss the Dao, covering all the Nascent Soul sects of the Eastern Wasteland, seeking a grand momentum. Since that's the case, let's pay a formal visit!"

She kicked Black King's head with her lotus-like step.

"You have a loud voice, you do it!"

Black King snorted, then slowly opened his mouth, and a thunderous roar exploded.

"Under the Dan Sect, Black King has come to pay a visit!"

The rumbling sound spread across the mountains and fields, startling the birds and beasts into trembling.

Streaks of light flew up from within the Nine Spirits Sect, filled with killing intent.

Looking at those murderous cultivators, Black King was dumbfounded.

They had come for a friendly visit; why were they being treated like this?

Two vast streaks of light flew out from within the Nine Spirits Sect and descended right at the mountain gate.

A man and a woman; the man was steady and experienced, the woman was beautiful and young.

Both were early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators!

As soon as they landed, their gazes turned toward the ghost and the demon, then gradually focused on Xiao Bai.

"You say you are under the Dan Sect?"

"I am Xiao Bai, a ghost servant of the Dan Sect. This silly fellow is called Black King, Master's spirit pet." Xiao Bai smiled, feeling a bit embarrassed. "Black King hasn't shed his wild nature, and the commotion just now was a bit loud. I hope the two fellow Daoists will forgive us. May I ask how to address you both?"

The man and woman looked at each other, quite shocked.

In their perception, both Xiao Bai and Black King exuded an immensely powerful aura.

Even some mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivators would be slightly inferior.

Such powerful beings were actually just a servant and a spirit pet of the Dan Sect?

The woman, whose cultivation was slightly higher, said sternly, "My name is Chang Xi."

The other, a middle-aged man who seemed to have just formed his Nascent Soul, also reported his name: Meng Ye.

"Since your Master is of the Dan Sect, he is considered an old friend of our Supreme Elder. Please, come in!" Chang Xi gestured an invitation, and further instructed her junior brother Meng Ye to go ahead and report to the Supreme Elder, the Nine Spirits Monarch.

Black King shrank his body, lay on Xiao Bai's shoulder, and followed Chang Xi as they slowly flew toward the highest mountain within the Nine Spirits Sect's gate.

Along the way, they didn't speak, leaving everything to Xiao Bai to handle.

Xiao Bai spread her spiritual sense, and after observing the situation of the Nine Spirits Sect, she couldn't help but utter words of praise.

"The Nine Spirits Sect was once withered, but unexpectedly, after just over a hundred years, it has flourished again. Even Nascent Soul True Persons have increased by the two of you."

Chang Xi smiled. "I was taught by our Senior Brother, while Junior Brother Meng Ye benefited from your Master's grace, which is why he was lucky enough to form his Nascent Soul."

"Oh?" Xiao Bai was somewhat surprised, then she

seemed to think of something. "Nascent Soul Formation Pills?"

Chang Xi nodded. "Yes, we purchased a Nascent Soul Formation Pill personally refined by the Dan Sect from True Person Taiyue of the Taishan Sect, which allowed us to cultivate Junior Brother Meng Ye. Speaking of which, that batch of Nascent Soul Formation Pills the Dan Sect brought out had incredibly miraculous effects. The entire human sect of the Eastern Wasteland saw seven more Nascent Soul True Persons emerge one after another; everyone has benefited from the Dan Sect's grace!"

Xiao Bai knew that the number of Nascent Soul Formation Pills in that batch was around ten, but she hadn't expected that seven people could successfully break through their realms relying on them.

She said in surprise, "The success rate is that high?"

Chang Xi smoothed her dark hair and praised, "Such a success rate indeed shocked many people, and some even questioned it. But in our occasional gatherings of Nascent Soul True Persons, we have discussed it, and it is true that those seven people all successfully formed their Nascent Souls after taking the pills refined by the Dan Sect. The Dan Sect's alchemy is truly unrivaled in the world!"

Hearing others praise her Master, Xiao Bai couldn't help but smile, feeling sweet inside, looking as if she shared the honor.

In reality, although Luo Chen's alchemy was high, that batch of Nascent Soul Formation Pills was mostly of the Fourth-Rank low grade. Moreover, besides those he refined, some were collected from the ruins of the Mingyuan Sect.

The reason the success rate was so high was partly due to the effectiveness of the pills, but also because the Golden Core cultivators preparing to form their Nascent Souls already had deep foundations.

After all, the Golden Core cultivators preparing to form their Nascent Souls at this age were the elite of the elite who had survived the two-hundred-year human-demon war, and they had received the full support of their sects; how could they not soar into the sky?

During their conversation, they had already arrived at the Nine Yuan Peak.

Meng Ye, whom they had seen earlier, was now standing respectfully behind a man in magnificent robes with an overbearing temperament.

It was none other than the Nine Spirits Monarch!

He looked at Xiao Bai and the black dragon that had shrunk its size on her shoulder.

"Black King, long time no see."

Black King chuckled. "Nine Spirits, I didn't expect you to still remember me!"

The Nine Spirits Monarch shook his head and smiled. Although he and Black King didn't have deep interactions, he had at least seen him when he frequently visited the Baili Qingchuan back then.

Then, the Nine Spirits Monarch’s gaze fell on Xiao Bai's face.

"Does your Master have any business? Not coming in person, but sending you instead."

Xiao Bai spoke without hesitation, taking out an item as she did so.

"Master has urgent matters, so he cannot come. However, it won't be long before you can meet."

A large black urn was taken out, along with an invitation.

The Nine Spirits Monarch handed the large black urn to Chang Xi and took the invitation in his hand.

"Shouyang Dao Discussion?"

The Nine Spirits Monarch raised an eyebrow and read the contents of the invitation carefully. When he saw the real information, his breathing became uncontrollably rapid for a moment.

A cry of surprise came from beside him.

The Nine Spirits Monarch suppressed the shock in his heart. "What's wrong?"

Chang Xi pointed to the large black urn.

This urn was the Nine Spirits Sect’s heritage true treasure, specifically used to collect the Nine Heavens Sky Qi to assist the sect's Nascent Soul True Persons in cultivating powerful killing techniques.

A hundred years ago, Luo Chen had borrowed it.

So much so that Meng Ye, who had newly formed his Nascent Soul in the last hundred years, had no chance to cultivate the sect's signature killing move.

Now that Luo Chen had returned it, it was only natural.

But what surprised Chang Xi was that it was filled with Sky Qi; a rough estimate showed there were over a thousand wisps.

Although the three types of Red Sky Qi, Purple Sky Qi, and Crimson Sky Qi were missing, the quantity of the other six types of Sky Qi was enough to be shocking.

Over a thousand wisps—this quantity was something an ordinary Nascent Soul True Person could hardly collect in a lifetime.

And its value was immeasurable!

The Nine Spirits Monarch was naturally shocked by Luo Chen's grand gesture as well.

Taking a deep breath, the Nine Spirits Monarch sighed, "This is too precious; Brother Luo is too polite."

Xiao Bai said neither humbly nor arrogantly, "This is a token of Master's appreciation for borrowing your sect's true treasure to cultivate his sword techniques; there is no need to decline. In addition, I hope you can attend the Shouyang Mountain Dao Discussion Conference in six years."

The Nine Spirits Monarch nodded solemnly. "Tell your Master, I will definitely not be absent!"

Xiao Bai smiled; the first step of this mission was considered successfully completed.

She and Black King declined the Nine Spirits Monarch's invitation to stay and hurried away from Nine Yuan Peak.

The Nine Spirits Monarch watched their retreating figures, and in his ears, he could still hear the two arguing about how they couldn't make such a big commotion next time they visited the mountain.

He clutched the invitation tightly, his expression somewhat dazed.

Meng Ye beside him thought the Supreme Elder was shocked by the Dan Sect Luo Chen's grand gesture, but Chang Xi, who knew the Nine Spirits Monarch as both teacher and brother, knew it couldn't be that simple.

"Senior Brother, what's wrong?"

The Nine Spirits Monarch didn't speak, but handed the invitation to the two of them.

Chang Xi and Meng Ye looked at each other, then looked at the contents of the invitation together.

At just one glance, a voice even more shocked than when they saw the thousand wisps of Nine Heavens Sky Qi burst out.

"Opportunity for Soul Transformation?!"

The Nine Spirits Monarch let out a turbid breath. "Dan Sect Luo Chen is always so unexpected, full of surprises!"

The towering Dao Palace, with its skeletal frame.

Between the white bones, snakes and pythons slithered, smelling incredibly foul.

Luo Chen, having changed back into his black Daoist robes, teleported over from Mount Cangwu, then took a step out and left the Bone Dao Palace. As far as the eye could see, the mountains and fields were covered in silver, all under the shroud of accumulated snow.

Stepping on the thick

frozen earth, Luo Chen raised an eyebrow.

The Fourth-Rank spiritual vein occupied by the Bone Mysterious Snake was truly extraordinary!

No wonder Cang Long chose this place as the location for his tribulation when he first attempted to reach the Nascent Soul stage back then.

Thinking of the past, Luo Chen was dazed for a moment.

The Great Snow Mountain!

Back then, he had fought for his life here and obtained the opportunity to form his Golden Core.

Now, as he prepared to leave this place, he was heading toward the next battle, the opportunity to break through to Soul Transformation.

"I hope this trip goes smoothly!"

Muttering to himself, Luo Chen summoned a white cloud, sprinkled his magic power, turning it into a red cloud, and then stepped onto it as if walking on flat ground.

The red cloud drifted, gradually moving away from the Great Snow Mountain.

This trip was neither far nor long, and there were still several years left, so Luo Chen was in no rush; there was no need to use the energy-consuming Explosive Void Fire Escape, so he proceeded at a normal speed.

Leaving the Great Snow Mountain, the adjacent area was the Yuding Domain.

Here, it had long since become a ghost realm.

Luo Chen's appearance was not concealed in the slightest.

The vast ghost realm instantly boiled over, a Ghost Emperor suddenly awakened, and with thousands of Ghost Kings and Ghost Generals, they surged toward Luo Chen.

Luo Chen did not retreat or dodge at all.

Since leaving the Great Snow Mountain, there were only friends and enemies on his path forward.

Friends would help him continue forward, and for enemies blocking his way, he would suppress and tear them to shreds without mercy.

Facing thousands of vengeful spirits and fierce ghosts, Luo Chen merely gave a single glance, and all of them were intimidated.

Then he took out the Soul Refining Banner and collected all these fellows, including that Ghost Emperor, into it.

The Yuding Ghost Realm, which had once spanned the border between the human and demon races and wreaked havoc for three hundred years, was cleared out in an instant.

Even if a few First-Rank little ghosts remained, they wouldn't amount to anything in the future.

Luo Chen did not stop, crossed the Yuding Domain, and headed west.

Passing through Tianfan, Five Elements, and Divine Talisman—three of the six domains that were once in the Far East—he spread his spiritual sense to briefly check the situation of the various domains in the Eastern Wasteland today.

These three domains, which were once prosperous, now didn't even have a single Nascent Soul sect, all becoming places where small forces and rogue cultivators gathered.

From this, it could be seen that the Eastern Wasteland's cultivation world had indeed withered significantly.

But after crossing the six Far Eastern domains, the situation was much better.

Within the Fireworks Ancient Islet, although there were no Nascent Soul sects, after Luo Chen’s spiritual sense swept over, he discovered a Nascent Soul True Person he didn't recognize quietly cultivating in a Fourth-Rank spiritual vein.

There was no sect identification, and the magic power aura he revealed didn't resemble any Eastern Wasteland school Luo Chen was familiar with.

Luo Chen curiously paid a little more attention to that man.

His green robes were clean, his expression calm, and perhaps the special thing about him was a pair of eyebrows like frost and snow!

"A rogue cultivator?"

Luo Chen marveled; he hadn't expected that the Eastern Wasteland today could also produce Nascent Soul rogue cultivators.

After praising him, he also felt it was only natural.

A two-hundred-year human-demon war had seen too many powerful people fall, and many large sects had vanished; it was tragic, but a large amount of resources had been vacated.

And among rogue cultivators, there had never been a lack of resilient minds.

Seizing the opportunity to rise was only natural.

Luo Chen did not stay long and hurried away.

Not long after he left, the man hiding in the ancient islet shook his frosty white eyebrows and slowly opened his eyes.

In his eyes, there was nothing but horror.

"Ever since I was lucky enough to form my Nascent Soul, my spiritual sense has been far stronger than my peers; even if I can't compare to a late-stage Nascent Soul Great Cultivator, it is enough to conceal myself from being discovered by outsiders."

"But how could there be such an existence in the Eastern Wasteland, spying on me in secret for so long, while I didn't feel a thing?"

"If it weren't for my innate perception of danger, I'm afraid I wouldn't have discovered him even if he had watched me for half a day."

"Who exactly is that person?"

After leaving the Fireworks Ancient Islet, he reached the former Motian Cliff, which was later called the Luotian Domain when the Luotian Sect occupied it.

But now, it was said to have been renamed.

It was called the Qingdan Domain!

Luo Chen paused for a long time before leisurely leaving.

There was only one reason for him to stop.

The female cultivator occupying the Fourth-Rank spiritual vein on Motian Cliff was an old acquaintance of his.

Tao Wan!

The former Qingdan Valley was a top-tier Golden Core sect in the Yuding Domain, and it had even once tried to cultivate a Fourth-Rank spiritual vein and refine Fourth-Rank Nascent Soul Formation Pills, hoping to cultivate a Nascent Soul True Person.

However, its later development went increasingly downhill.

The Yuding Domain was destroyed, Qingdan Valley was displaced, and under the bitter persistence of Sect Master Tao Wan, they finally survived the human-demon war and eventually settled in the Luotian Domain.

In this, there was no lack of protection from the Luotian Sect.

After all, Luo Chen and Tao Wan had a bit of old friendship back then.

But Tao Wan's formation of the Nascent Soul was also somewhat beyond Luo Chen's expectations.

After observing carefully for a while, Luo Chen suddenly realized.

"She relied on taking the Nascent Soul Formation Pill I refined to successfully form her Nascent Soul in these past few years!"

Tao Wan hadn't formed her Nascent Soul long ago and was still in the state of consolidating her realm, so from time to time, messy and floating magic power fluctuations radiated from her body.

Within them was the aura of the Nascent Soul Formation Pill Luo Chen had refined.

Understanding this, Luo Chen couldn't help but smile lightly.

He had obtained the Nascent Soul Formation Pill recipe from Qingdan Valley and refined

the Nascent Soul Formation Pill, allowing himself to successfully break through to the Nascent Soul stage.

Later, that batch of Nascent Soul Formation Pills used the recipe of the Refining Heaven Demon Monarch.

Now Tao Wan had successfully broken through her realm relying on the Nascent Soul Formation Pill he refined; such a cycle of cause and effect could be considered a coincidence of fate.

Luo Chen did not visit, nor did he stay long.

Before long, they would meet eventually.

And he now had only one destination!

Crossing Tai Lake, passing through the Ping Mountain Sea, Luo Chen finally set foot on the land of the Bikuo Domain, where living beings could hardly approach.

Here, golden light filled the air, and the sounds of killing echoed faintly.

The chaotic heaven and earth energy scoured the bodies of any living thing that dared to approach.

Luo Chen felt nothing and stepped forward step by step.

Compared to the first time he came here and was deterred, and the second time he struggled to move forward, this third time he arrived at his destination without any obstruction.

A giant beast lay in the earth.

Its fur stood up like swords, and its snoring tiger roar was like thunder.

As Luo Chen approached, the giant tiger's eyelids trembled constantly, as if it would wake up at any moment.

Luo Chen smiled slightly and slowly extended his right hand toward the giant tiger.

"It's time to wake up, Di Tu!"