Chapter 554: Once I Was of General Nanyang, Now General Nanyang Is Mine

Refining essence into Qi begins at the Initial realm and ends at Hunyuan.

It lets cultivators store Qi within their acupoints, condense a Jin Dan, and nurture a Heaven-sent, Earth-grown infant spirit.

Then one seizes the infant spirit's body, utterly casting off the mortal shell—this is called Refining Qi into Spirit.

The path of Returning to the Void is long; the Twelve Towers and Wucheng are the great road to heaven.

Now Shen Yi had finally reached the end of this heaven-bound road, having not only opened the Wucheng but also glimpsed the Heavenly Gate behind them.

It also meant that, should he take one more step forward, he would cross beyond the mortal world and step onto the immortal path.

With sufficient opportunity, one might even ascend to the Immortal Court, enter the Immortal Register, receive an Immortal stipend, and enjoy mortal incense offerings.

"……"

Shen Yi gathered his thoughts—these things could only be dreamed of.

Hongze had so many Dao Merging realm titans, yet none had truly ascended to heaven; the only one ever heard of, that purple-whiskered white dragon, had merely gone up there to serve as a mount for the immortals.

He slowly opened his eyes, having finished reading the Dao Merging method Qin Zongzhu had prepared for Li Xuanqing from that pearl.

【Dao Merging (Spirit). Five Immortals Troops Record: Not Yet Initiated】

Even after a hundred thousand years, one could still faintly discern from this pearl the path Qin Zongzhu had carefully arranged for Li Xuanqing.

As the name suggests, to perfectly unleash the power of this art, these Five Immortals are a crucial standard... most likely corresponding to five Dao Soldiers.

The Seven Sons of Nanhong rose swiftly and fell just as fast, lacking enough time to accumulate foundation; a Spirit Method was perhaps the best thing Qin Zongzhu could find.

Soldier merges with land.

This is the process of a cultivator and a treasured land gradually becoming one; each Dao Soldier represents one tribulation, and by suppressing them into the treasured land, one commands birth, aging, sickness, death, and suffering.

Apart from suffering, birth, aging, sickness, and death form a complete cycle—meaning only four Dao Soldiers are needed to fully master a treasured land and reach the perfection of the Earth realm.

In other words, only cultivators who have opened four cities qualify to step into the next realm.

"……"

Shen Yi adjusted his breathing, channeling demon lifespan into this Five Immortals Troops Record.

【Remaining Demon Lifespan: 1,820,000 years】

【First year, Yue Tianji flipped open the Dao Merging method, glanced through it casually—he had long studied these things in the Gedaxian Sect for years—then citing classics and precedents, began explaining the Dao to you... You sat cross-legged, nodding half-understandingly; you didn't really grasp the allusions he raised】

Shen Yi watched silently as the demon lifespan drained away.

He couldn't shake the feeling that this Central Hall Master looked more like a cultivator than he did.

If memory served, it seemed that starting from Soul Transformation, he had abandoned the orthodox path of cultivation, begun brute-forcing pills, and after Returning to the Void had relied entirely on demon suppression stones to raise his palace... With such severe gaps in his foundation, trying to force his way back onto the proper path now was easier said than done.

To the point where Yue Tianji would break those obscure texts into amusing little stories, yet he couldn't even understand the stories.

"Still, at least the demon lifespan is plentiful enough."

Shen Yi comforted himself inwardly, closed his eyes, and sat in stillness.

……

In the Ancestral Master Hall.

Li Xuanqing leaned against the doorway, staring at the heavens with some nervousness.

He truly wanted to know what Shen Zongzhu intended to show him.

Was it suppressing soldiers into the land to step into Dao Merging... or attempting to weather that most perilous fifth tribulation? With Shen Zongzhu's talent, he must surely be able to glimpse the Fifth City.

Thinking of the latter, Li Xuanqing's fingertips began to tremble.

That was something he had once dreamed of touching; in this land of Hongze, opening the Dacheng of Yankang seemed even more terrifying than breaking through to Dao Merging.

Though Dao Merging cultivators were rare enough, not a single one possessed the Wucheng Bai Yujing.

He truly wished... to see that city once more.

A moment later, Li Xuanqing suddenly gave a bitter smile—probably because Shen Zongzhu had given the Yishen Sect too many shocks before, making him actually wait here; nothing in the world happened that quickly.

Tribulation Crossing was so perilous that no amount of preparation could be excessive.

Just as Li Xuanqing was about to look away, a blinding golden light suddenly exploded within his pupils, then swiftly spread into a sky full of golden clouds, shrouding the entire Inner Gate.

Boom—

From the midst of the golden clouds, a stream of reddish-gold light roared out like a long dragon, piercing through heaven and earth!

Transforming into a colossal pillar of light connecting the clouds to the earth.

Yet such a stunning scene was like a phantom, causing no harm whatsoever to living beings.

All cultivators within the Inner Gate froze, stopping whatever they were doing.

"……"

Li Xuanqing's mouth fell open—having once been a Sect Master's personal disciple and traveled far and wide, how could he fail to recognize this scene?

Soldier merges with land, commanding the Birth Tribulation! Stepping into the Dao Merging realm!

Even though the first tribulation was merely an initial mastery of the treasured land, it still required a deep understanding of that land, plus eons of time to harmonize.

And—

What was this sky full of golden clouds?

Shouldn't it have been purple clouds spreading everywhere?

Li Xuanqing drew several heavy breaths, then suddenly recalled something; the shock in his eyes slowly faded, replaced by a hint of sorrow: "Was it this treasured land, or the Seven Sons of Nanhong, that made you halt your steps before that city?"

Shen Zongzhu had ultimately chosen Dao Merging.

He refused to believe that someone who could utter such treasonous words would lack the courage to push open the immortal gate of Yankang Dacheng.

The reason the other chose not to gamble was, most likely, because he now had something weighing on his heart.

This was truly a sorrowful thing.

Li Xuanqing closed his eyes, drew a gentle breath; the spiritual breath of heaven and earth circulated within him, yet tasted different now.

This was not only his own feeling, but an experience shared by every living being in the Inner Gate—only those with higher cultivation could discern the difference within it.

Swallowing this wisp of spiritual breath, from then on they would no longer consume the qi of heaven and earth... more accurately, they would consume the qi of another incarnation of heaven and earth, henceforth tying their lives to a single person.

For those with high hearts and pride, this was something inherently unacceptable, a resistance subconsciously rising within their hearts.

Yet the entire Inner Sect, including Li Xuanqing, showed not the slightest sign of strangeness, for their very lives already rested entirely on the shoulders of that young man, no different from before.

Breathing in this familiar wisp of spiritual breath instead made them inexplicably feel much more at ease.

"Congratulations to Shen Zongzhu on becoming the incarnation of heaven and earth."

Li Xuanqing put away his heartache and regret, and reverence surged anew upon his face as he offered congratulations in a voice like a mosquito's hum.

Shen Zongzhu had grown to a point where he no longer needed Li Xuanqing to speak for him; the entire Inner Sect of General Nanyang would perceive his presence.

Better to use this wisp of spiritual breath to accompany Shen Zongzhu on a tour through this General Nanyang heaven and earth that belonged to him.

Thinking thus, the corners of Li Xuanqing's lips lifted slightly, and he closed his eyes.

In an instant, a most magnificent scroll unfolded in his mind: from the Inner Sect to the Outer Sect, then to Mount Wutong, and the Great Qian that held the Nine Provinces, as well as the boundless mountains and rivers.

Just then, his smile suddenly stiffened.

For above the Great Qian imperial capital, a second patch of golden radiance rapidly spread, illuminating the entire Great Qian like an immortal kingdom, while a thick black beam, carrying an unbreakable momentum, pierced heaven and earth once more!

Within the Martial Temple, many familiar figures rushed out, looking up in shock at the changing sky, completely unaware of what had happened to produce such an auspicious omen... or should it be an auspicious omen? As the crowd watched the black beam crash down amidst the golden radiance, they were somewhat uncertain.

Until someone sensed the familiar aura permeating that golden radiance.

Several temple attendants in green robes trembled as they spoke: "He has returned... where is he?"

Master Zhu Jue breathed in the spiritual breath, gazing blankly in all directions; he could not see that familiar figure in the dark robe, yet the other seemed to be everywhere at once.

Controlling the second tribulation... mid-stage Earth realm?!

The scene in his mind had completely shattered Li Xuanqing's understanding.

How could anyone in the world control a treasure land so swiftly?

He stood dazedly; moments later, water droplets suddenly slid from his wooden eye sockets, so hot that Li Xuanqing could not help but reach out to stop them.

If one truly had to find a reason.

It could only prove that this treasure land originally belonged to the other party; it was not an attempt to control it, but merely taking it back.

"It really is you who has returned."

Li Xuanqing's voice suddenly choked up; there was no longer the arrogance of suppressing peers of the same realm, nor the despair after encountering setbacks, only a helplessness like that of a young child.

He desperately squeezed his eyes shut, searching for the lingering aftertaste of that wisp of spiritual breath, until he finally returned to the perspective of before.

Amidst endless mountains and rivers, red light fell within the golden radiance; the boundless Wang Yang was also dyed gold, and the white and black colors pierced into the water!

Late-stage Earth realm! Perfection of the Earth realm!

Such a breakthrough leap, with almost no obstacles.

Li Xuanqing felt no surprise whatsoever anymore.

Since the other had taken back the treasure land, naturally he would also reclaim his former cultivation.

Body merging with heaven, stepping once more into the Heaven realm!

Li Xuanqing focused all his thoughts on the sky, yet he could not see that familiar figure, nor did he see the other merging with heaven; instead, he saw a fifth patch of golden radiance appearing right at the very center of the treasure land.

From then on, the entire General Nanyang treasure land was bathed in golden brilliance.

Amidst such a magnificent scene, a gloomy black cloud fell, sweeping across the earth.

"Hmm?!"

Li Xuanqing had never imagined that under such circumstances he would see the fifth city he had longed for, to the extent that he was not even prepared with what expression to face it.

So... Shen Zongzhu did not abandon Tribulation Crossing because he had something to worry about; it was simply because he crossed it too fast, so fast that no one saw it, leading me to misunderstand.

With all five tribulations complete, this person would likely be the one who controlled the treasure land most perfectly among all Earth realm cultivators in Hongze.

At this moment, everyone saw the shadowy figure sitting cross-legged within the golden radiance.

Shen Yi's face remained Bai Xi and handsome, almost no different from when he was in Bai Yun County.

He stood above heaven and earth, opened his eyes, and looked down into the void.

All living beings across the treasure land raised their heads, staring blankly at this incarnation of the General Nanyang heaven and earth, wanting to know what the other would say.

That expectation even felt as if it would burst through their chests.

Words of heaven and earth, golden mouth and jade decree.

Yet perhaps because their cultivation was too low, they could only see this incarnation open its mouth, after which the vast golden radiance rolled back, and everything returned to calm.

Only Li Xuanqing's expression changed again; likely, within the entire General Nanyang treasure land, only he heard that sentence clearly.

Shen Zongzhu said, Shen Zongzhu said...

"Stubborn, why aren't you being stubborn anymore? Continue resisting!"

Shen Yi breathed heavily, his face carrying a hint of ferocity.

Originally, learning that broken cultivation technique had made him lose all face before the Dao Stones, filling him with a belly full of anger, yet this General Nanyang treasure land was still resisting desperately, acting as if they were not very familiar.

We have been transmigrated for several years already; aren't we familiar yet?

Normally, suppressing one Dao Soldier with a Dao-Integration realm cultivator would take at most a few tens of thousands of years; with four added together, a hundred thousand years at most, yet Shen Yi took nearly a million years to forcibly suppress all five Dao Soldiers.

"Hah."

Shen Yi exhaled, his gaze sweeping over the panel.

【Dao-Integration (Spirit). Five Immortal Palm Soldier Record: Perfection】

【Remaining Demon Lifespan: Eight Hundred and Seventy Thousand Years】

Wait... Shen Yi didn't even have time to experience the new realm before he suddenly raised his head.

The cultivation technique had reached perfection, yet the demon lifespan was still flowing away?

He hurriedly sank his consciousness, beginning to check where the problem lay, until his gaze finally fell upon Yu Lan within his Sea of Consciousness... or rather, upon the Ten Thousand Demons Southern Hall where she resided.

Below this Southern Hall, a green stone palace had appeared at some unknown time, seemingly situated deep within waters, containing a massive black abyss.

At this moment, under the infusion of demon lifespans, the Southern Hall, like a phantom, slowly descended to cover that green stone palace.

Something seemed to be lurking within the black abyss.

"What is this doing?"

Shen Yi instinctively wanted to stop the infusion of demon lifespans into the Five Immortal Palm technique, yet he suddenly detected a familiar aura within that abyss.

It was a dragon-demon scent similar to Ke Shisan's, yet unknown how many times stronger.

This made Shen Yi hesitate slightly.

Could it be that the function of the Ten Thousand Demons Hall is not limited to the level of Bai Yujing?

Soon, Shen Yi watched with a painful heart as his remaining demon lifespans were exhausted, while the Ten Thousand Demons Southern Hall was only a small part away from completely covering that green stone palace.

Just then, besides his own General Nanyang General Nanyang Baodi... he actually sensed another realm of unknown vastness.

After Shen Yi briefly scanned it, the corners of his eyes twitched slightly.

Yu Nanhong! It was the entire Yu Nanhong!

"Hah."

Having barely suppressed the shock in his heart, Shen Yi suddenly wanted to try: since he could perceive it, could he, just as he mobilized the General Nanyang General Nanyang Baodi, slightly mobilize the aura of Yu Nanhong?

Said and done.

Shen Yi slowly clenched his five fingers, and immediately felt an unimaginable vast and mighty power; even though he could only mobilize a negligible portion, it was already terrifying enough.

"Why can I only mobilize this little bit?"

Shen Yi frowned slightly, somewhat unsatisfied.

His gaze swept slightly over the Ten Thousand Demons Southern Hall, only to discover that a seal box had appeared beside Yu Lan's hand at some unknown time; inside it was empty, clearly missing a great seal.

Whatever is missing within the Ten Thousand Demons Hall must be related to the panel.

Shen Yi did not see anything new available for condensation; he estimated the demon lifespans were still insufficient.

"Enough, this little bit is already very good."

He shook his head, attempting once more to mobilize the aura of Yu Nanhong, wanting to know where the limit lay.

Just then, Yu Lan's cry of alarm rang in Shen Yi's mind: "Master! Do not!"

Roar—

In an instant, a colossal, ancient figure surged out from the abyss of the green stone palace; whether it was the sharp dragon horns, the rough claws, or the dragon body covered entirely in vegetation and grass, all exuded an aura of ancient decay.

The Ten Thousand Demons Southern Hall, which had not yet fully covered the green stone palace, suddenly became even more blurred.

It seemed very afraid of being discovered by others.

But for some reason, although the aura radiating from this dragon made Shen Yi, who had already merged with the Dao, feel slightly wary, he felt that Yu Lan's fear was not directed at this dragon demon.

The next moment, Shen Yi instinctively looked up at the sky.

His pupils suddenly contracted.

Above the sky curtain, a giant rhinoceros spanning heaven and earth had appeared at some unknown time! Before this rhinoceros, that massive dragon demon was actually insignificant to the point of being negligible.

The giant rhinoceros's body was transparent and clear, more like carved from beautiful jade, as if it were not a living creature nor something belonging to the mortal world, its whole body brimming with a mellow fragrance that made Shen Yi's heart tremble.

It opened one eye and lazily swept its gaze toward the south.

Under the gaze of that enormous eye.

Shen Yi suddenly felt a completely irresistible sense of powerlessness in his heart.

Finished—

Immediately following, the five Ten Thousand Demons Halls simultaneously raised black winds, wrapping Shen Yi's body entirely within them.

Whether it was Ke Shisan searching for demons in Yu Nanhong, or the several Hall Masters hidden within the Sea of Consciousness, after unleashing this black wind, their stone bodies cracked violently.

Fortunately, the jade rhinoceros merely glanced once, then quickly closed its eyes again, falling into deep sleep.

"..."

By the time the black wind dispersed, Shen Yi was already soaked through with sweat.

He lowered his gaze, staring ahead, remaining silent for a long time.

First, he checked the status of the several Hall Masters... it was alright; although severely injured, none were wounds that could not be repaired; nurturing them would suffice.

What truly made Shen Yi's heart race was that he suddenly realized what he had just been doing.

That jade rhinoceros was not a demon creature; it appeared to be a magic treasure used for guarding.

As for who the master of this magic treasure was, the answer was already obvious.

The key point lay in what this magic treasure guarded; its four hooves spanned the Four Seas of East, South, West, and North, obviously stationed over the entire Hongze, and what he had just been doing... was stealing that Immortal's magic power.

"You took my demon lifespans, and now you're taking someone else's things back, right?"

Shen Yi summoned the panel, nearly laughing in anger.

If not for Yu Lan's quick reaction just now, had he continued even a little further, today, having just merged with the Dao General Nanyang Baodi, he would have directly returned his soul to heaven and earth.

What a huge loss! Over eight hundred thousand years of demon lifespans spent, not even a ripple was stirred.

As long as the Immortal does not die, who dares to touch the aura of Yu Nanhong?

Merely making people envious with a glance.

However... Shen Yi raised his eyes slightly; at least through this opportunity, he learned how high the sky was, rather than being completely unable to gauge the other party's depth, and if he could truly fill the missing great seal in the Southern Hall, perhaps there would be some turning point.

As for now.

Better to forget this matter, just as if he had lost money.

He had originally said he would practice some Immortal arts; now, what the hell is there to practice?

Shen Yi sighed, stood up, and walked slowly toward the outside of the Scripture Hiding Pavilion.

He pushed open that thin wooden door.

For the first time, he saw this stretch of heaven and earth that belonged to him.

The dense spiritual Qi spreading through the world seemed to merge with his very being.

He needed only a slight stir of his divine sense.

And he could immediately sense every existence he cared about.

Familiar figures and faces flashed through Shen Yi's pupils one after another, as he watched these people passing through mountain paths and small lanes, the mortal world and its dust, long streets and ancestral halls.

Feeling a measure of ease, yet at the same time a complicated pressure — two utterly different emotions welled up within him at once.

From this day forth, he was the heavens of General Nanyang.

(End of chapter)