Chapter 1013: The Dan Sect

Ever since Xiao Bai and Hei Wang left Mount Cangwu, they had been crossing mountains and ridges, traversing wild forests.

Not having taken a teleportation array, it took them a full half-year to return to the human-demon boundary line.

This boundary line was, in reality, quite blurred.

At its center was the Ancient Plains Mountain Range, the bridgehead for the human race's march into the Million Mountains back in the day; to the south was the Ao Xiao Mountain Range, which had been conquered once and then reclaimed; to the west was the Jade Cauldron Domain.

Especially the Jade Cauldron Domain—the area it encompassed now was no longer 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 of immense ferocity.

It was precisely because of the existence of this Fourth-Rank Ghost Emperor that it had become a natural dividing line; whether human or demon, no one would easily cross this line.

Xiao Bai's footsteps paused for a moment on the outskirts of the Ancient Plains Mountain Range, looking down at the ruins below the mountain, sighing endlessly.

"What's wrong?" Hei Wang asked, puzzled.

Xiao Bai sighed with emotion: "Do you see that river?"

Hei Wang 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 Dahe Market, the place where Master and I cultivated back when we were humble and lowly."

Hei Wang was stunned. Ever since he refined 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 realm was low and her strength weak, she could still be considered carefree.

Now that she had become a Ghost Emperor possessing great power, she could never return to her former simplicity.

Furthermore, she did not know if this body condensed from ghost energy would have any chance of attaining the Dao and ascending in the future.

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

The Nine Spirits Domain, the location of the Nine Spirits Sect.

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

However, a world-shaking battle had turned the Medicine King Domain upside down and shattered its spiritual veins. Even though it could be slowly nurtured back to health over time, for the sake of the sect's disciples, Nine Spirits Yuanjun 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 Hei Wang sneaked along the way, heading straight for the Nine Spirits Domain.

Passing through the Jade Cauldron Ghost Realm, they employed ghost-path techniques and passed through with ease.

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

At the mountain gate, the two hesitated.

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

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

provoke a disturbance.

But if they were to sneak in secretly, that would be somewhat less than honorable.

Xiao Bai blinked, "Master sent out invitations to discuss the Dao far and wide, covering all the Nascent Soul supreme sects of the Eastern Wasteland, seeking a grand momentum. Since that's the case, let's pay a formal visit!"

She kicked Hei Wang's head with her lotus-like step.

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

Hei Wang snorted, then slowly opened his mouth, and a roar like thunder exploded.

"Under the Dan Sect, Hei Wang comes 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, Hei Wang was somewhat 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, landing squarely at the mountain gate.

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

Both were early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators!

As soon as the two 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 blockhead is called Hei Wang, Master's spirit pet." Xiao Bai smiled, saying apologetically: "Hei Wang's wild nature hasn't changed; the commotion just now was a bit loud. I ask the two fellow Daoists to forgive us. May I ask how the two should be addressed?"

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

In their perception, whether it was Xiao Bai or Hei Wang, the aura they displayed was incomparably powerful.

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

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

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

The other middle-aged man, who seemed to have just formed his Nascent Soul not long ago, also introduced himself, named Meng Ye.

"Since the two's Master is the Dan Sect, he can be considered an old friend of our Supreme Elder. Please, come in!" Chang Xi waved her hand in an inviting gesture, and even had her junior brother Meng Ye go ahead to report to the Supreme Elder, Nine Spirits Yuanjun.

Hei Wang shrank his body, lying on Xiao Bai's shoulder, following Chang Xi as they flew slowly toward the highest mountain within the Nine Spirits Sect's mountain gate.

Along the way, they were silent, with Xiao Bai handling everything.

Xiao Bai spread out 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 of the past was once withered, but unexpectedly, after a short 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 my senior brother, while junior brother Meng Ye received the grace of your Master, 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 Pill?"

Chang Xi nodded, "Yes, back then we purchased a Nascent Soul Pill personally refined by the Dan Sect from True Person Tai Yue of the Mount Tai Sect, which is why we were able to cultivate junior brother Meng Ye. Speaking of which, the batch of Nascent Soul Pills the Dan Sect brought out back then had incredibly miraculous effects. The entire Eastern Wasteland human sects successively produced seven Nascent Soul True Persons; everyone received the grace of the Dan Sect!"

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

She was surprised: "The success rate is so high?"

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

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

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

The reason the success rate was so high was partly because the Nascent Soul Pills were effective, and partly because those Golden Core cultivators preparing to form their Nascent Souls 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?

In the midst of their conversation, Nine Yuan Peak had already arrived.

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

It was none other than Nine Spirits Yuanjun!

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

"Hei Wang, long time no see."

Hei Wang chuckled: "Nine Spirits, I didn't expect you to still remember me!"

Nine Spirits Yuanjun shook his head and smiled lightly. Although he and Hei Wang didn't have deep interactions, he had at least seen the other party frequently when he went to Baili Qingchuan back then.

Then Nine Spirits Yuanjun's gaze fell on Xiao Bai's face.

"Does your Master have something to do? Why didn't he come personally, but instead sent you two?"

Xiao Bai didn't hesitate, taking out an item while speaking.

"Master has urgent matters, so he couldn't come. However, it won't be long before you should be able to meet."

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

Nine Spirits Yuanjun casually handed the large black urn to Chang Xi, and took the invitation in his hand.

"Shouyang Dao Discussion?"

Nine Spirits Yuanjun raised an eyebrow, carefully reading the content of the invitation. When he saw the real information, his breathing became uncontrollably rapid for a moment.

A delicate cry came from beside him.

Nine Spirits Yuanjun 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 inherited true treasure, specifically used to collect Nine Heavens Firmament Qi to assist the Nine Spirits 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 ascended to the Nascent Soul stage in the last hundred years, hadn't had the chance to cultivate the sect's killing move.

Now that Luo Chen had returned it, it was a matter of course.

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

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

Over a thousand wisps—this quantity was something an ordinary Nascent Soul True Person would find difficult to collect in a lifetime.

And its value was even more immeasurable!

Regarding Luo Chen's grand gesture, Nine Spirits Yuanjun was naturally also shocked.

Taking a deep breath, Nine Spirits Yuanjun 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 sword techniques; there is no need to decline. In addition, I hope you can attend the Shouyang Mountain Dao Discussion Assembly six years from now."

Nine Spirits Yuanjun nodded solemnly: "Report to your Master, this seat will definitely not be absent!"

Xiao Bai revealed a smile; the first step of this mission could be considered successfully completed.

She and Hei Wang politely declined Nine Spirits Yuanjun's invitation to stay, and hurriedly left Nine Yuan Peak.

Nine Spirits Yuanjun watched their retreating backs, and it seemed he could still hear the two arguing in his ears, something about not making such a big commotion next time they visit the mountain.

He gripped the invitation tightly, his expression somewhat dazed.

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

"Senior brother, what's wrong?"

Nine Spirits Yuanjun didn't speak, only handed the invitation to the two.

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

With just one glance, a sound even more shocked than when they saw the thousand wisps of Nine Heavens Firmament Qi burst out.

"Daoist Jiyuan for Soul Transformation?!"

Nine Spirits Yuanjun exhaled a turbid breath, "Dan Sect Luo Chen, he is always so unexpected, always full of shocks!"

Towering Dao Palace, with rugged skeletons.

Between the dense white bones, snakes and pythons darted about, smelling incredibly foul.

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

Stepping on the thick

frozen earth, Luo Chen raised an eyebrow slightly.

The Fourth-Rank spiritual vein occupied by this Bone Black Snake was truly not bad!

No wonder Cang Long had chosen this place as the location for her tribulation when she first attempted the Nascent Soul stage back then.

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

Great Snow Mountain!

Back then, he had fought a life-and-death battle here and obtained the opportunity to form his Golden Core.

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

"I hope this trip goes smoothly!"

Muttering a sentence, 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 not in a hurry; there was no need to use the Explosive Sky Fire Escape that consumed a lot of magic power, just traveling at a normal speed.

Leaving the Great Snow Mountain, adjacent to it was the Jade Cauldron 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's direction.

Luo Chen did not retreat or dodge in the slightest.

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

Friends would help him continue forward, while for enemies blocking him, he would mercilessly suppress and tear them to shreds.

Facing thousands of vengeful spirits and fierce ghosts, Luo Chen only needed one glance to shock them all.

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

The Jade Cauldron Ghost Realm, which had once spanned the boundary line between the human and demon races and caused chaos for three hundred years, was cleared out in an instant.

Even if there were a few stray First-Rank little ghosts left, they wouldn't be able to make any waves in the future.

Luo Chen did not stop, crossing the Jade Cauldron Domain and heading west.

Passing through Tianfan, Wuxing, and Shenfu, three of the former six domains of the Far East, he spread his spiritual sense, slightly observing the situation of the various great domains of the Eastern Wasteland today.

These three great domains that had once been prosperous for a time now didn't even have a single Nascent Soul supreme sect, all becoming places where piles of small forces and loose cultivators gathered.

From this, it could be seen that the Eastern Wasteland cultivation world had indeed withered quite a bit.

But after crossing the six domains of the Far East, 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 was shocked to discover 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 displayed on his body 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 and neat, his expression calm; the special thing might be the pair of eyebrows like frost and snow!

"A loose cultivator?"

Luo Chen clicked his tongue in wonder; he didn't expect that the Eastern Wasteland of today could also give birth to a Nascent Soul loose cultivator.

After praising, he also felt it was a matter of course.

A two-hundred-year human-demon war had caused too many powerhouses to fall, and many great sects had vanished like smoke; it was tragic, but a large amount of resources had been vacated.

And among the loose cultivators, there had never been a lack of existences with firm minds.

Seizing the opportunity and rising with the trend was also normal.

Luo Chen did not stay long, hurriedly leaving.

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

In his pupils, there was a look of utter horror.

"Ever since I luckily formed my Nascent Soul, the strength of my spiritual sense has far exceeded my peers; even if it can't compare to a Great Cultivator of the late Nascent Soul stage, it is enough to conceal myself so that outsiders won't discover me."

"But how could the Eastern Wasteland have such an existence, peeking at me in the dark for a long time, yet I didn't feel it in the slightest."

"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, it was the former Moti Cliff, which was also called the Luotian Domain when it was occupied by the Luotian Sect later.

But now, it was said to have been renamed.

Called the Qingdan Domain!

Luo Chen paused for a long time before leisurely leaving.

The reason he paused was only one.

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

Tao Wan!

The former Qingdan Valley was a top-ranked Golden Core great sect in the Jade Cauldron Domain, and even once tried to cultivate a Fourth-Rank spiritual vein and refine Fourth-Rank Nascent Soul Pills, wanting to cultivate a Nascent Soul True Person.

However, its later development went downhill more and more.

The Jade Cauldron Domain was destroyed, Qingdan Valley was displaced, and under the bitter persistence of Sect Master Tao Wan, they barely survived the human-demon war and finally 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 forming of the Nascent Soul was also somewhat beyond Luo Chen's expectations.

Observing carefully for a long while, Luo Chen suddenly realized.

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

Tao Wan hadn't formed her Nascent Soul long ago and was still in a state of consolidating her realm, so her body occasionally emitted mixed and floating magic power fluctuations.

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

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

He obtained the Nascent Soul Pill formula from Qingdan Valley and refined the

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

Later, that batch of Nascent Soul Pills used the formula of the Refining Heaven Demon Lord.

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

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

Not long after, they would meet eventually.

And he now had only one destination!

Crossing Tai Lake, passing through Pingshan Hai, finally Luo Chen's feet stepped onto the land of the Bi Kong Domain, where living beings could hardly approach.

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

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

Luo Chen felt nothing, stepping forward step by step.

Compared to his hesitation the first time he came here, and his difficult progress the second time, this third time he arrived at his destination unimpeded.

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, slowly extending his right hand toward the giant tiger.

"It is time to wake up, Di Tu!" ===== CHAPTER 1014 =====