Chapter 193: Five Hundred Years of Essence

"I will go with the Junior Martial Uncle."

Fang Weimin was the first to respond.

His gaze toward Cheng Xinzhan was one of gratitude and reverence.

"I just handed in the previous order arrow and have been resting for four or five days. This time, I will go with Xinzhan."

Huang Miaoluo also said.

However, that was only these two people. Feng Jihu, Pu Jixuan, Ceng Ji, Sun Miaoshu, and He Jiyuan all had errands on them and had not yet returned their order arrows, so they could not get away.

Cheng Xinzhan agreed on a time with Fang Weimin and Huang Miaoluo, and agreed with the others to go together next time. Then he began to ask about the current situation in the Southern Border. After understanding enough from everyone, he took the initiative to discuss the key points of acupoint determination and path walking in the Second Realm, the evolution of divine abilities, and the key points of Golden Core formation. The few people talked until midnight before dispersing.

Early the next morning, Cheng Xinzhan came to Di Earth Island, which is the station of Mount Juqu.

Obviously, Cheng Xinzhan is more famous on Mount Juqu than on Mount Sanqing. As soon as he landed on the island, someone recognized him.

"Master Cheng!"

Someone called out.

Immediately, a dozen people nearby gathered around.

"How has Master Cheng been lately?"

"Master Cheng, have you formed your Golden Core?"

"When will Master Cheng go to the mountain to preach again?"

"..."

Everyone greeted him enthusiastically.

Cheng Xinzhan responded one by one, and then explained his purpose for coming here,

"Chengyan, Chengyi, and Yizhao, are they here?"

These three people are the three best friends Cheng Xinzhan has had in his three years on Mount Juqu. Of course, these three are also among the most outstanding people in the younger generation of Mount Juqu, because every time Cheng Xinzhan finished preaching, these three would come forward to ask and discuss. The few people would often talk about the deep rules of magic, and sometimes they could even discover omissions in Cheng Xinzhan's preaching. Over time, they became good friends.

At the same time, Cheng Xinzhan also knew that these three were all working in the Haoran Alliance.

"Junior Martial Uncle Yizhao took an order arrow and went out. Daoist Brother Chengyan and Daoist Brother Chengyi returned two days ago. I haven't seen them go out, so they should be here. Master Cheng, please wait a moment, I will go and call the two Daoist brothers over."

Someone responded to Cheng Xinzhan and went to call people.

Not long after, a man and a woman walked over. Seeing Cheng Xinzhan, both of them were overjoyed.

"It seems Master Cheng has already formed his Golden Core."

Li Chengyan, who was the man, said to Cheng Xinzhan with a smile.

"Master Cheng's divine light is shining, and the Golden Core formed must be extraordinary."

The woman, Wang Chengyi, said.

"I can't fall too far behind you."

Cheng Xinzhan replied with a smile. After all, both people in front of him had formed their Golden Cores. Of course, Lu Yizhao was the same.

"What is Master Cheng looking for us for?"

Li Chengyan asked.

"I received an errand to kill demons in the Southern Border. I wonder if you have time to go with me?"

Li Chengyan and Wang Chengyi looked at each other and nodded in agreement.

————

Yi Fire Island, station of Mount Bingfeng.

"Daoist friend, please stay. I want to ask if Meng Xuqi and Meng Xuyi are on the island?"

Cheng Xinzhan found someone and asked.

The man nodded, said a place name, and pointed out the direction for Cheng Xinzhan.

When Cheng Xinzhan found them, he gave them a fright, and then they were overjoyed.

However, before Cheng Xinzhan could speak, the two were about to perform a grand salute, which gave Cheng Xinzhan another fright. He quickly helped them up,

"What are you doing?"

Meng Xuyi said with her heart's voice,

"Daoist Brother, the Seal of Longhu, thanks to you, you saved my path!"

Cheng Xinzhan suddenly realized. So it was this matter, so he replied with his heart's voice,

"No need for this, it was just a small effort, don't mention it again in the future."

Subsequently, the few people talked with their mouths again,

"After parting in a hurry on Mount Longhu last time, we didn't have time to reminisce. In the blink of an eye, Daoist Yibi has passed away for many years. Master Jianxian often talks to me about his childhood stories with Daoist Yibi."

The eyes of the two were slightly red. Meng Xuyi said, "Daoist Jianxian is affectionate and righteous. After Master passed away, he specially came to Mount Bingfeng to mourn and offer sacrifices. We are also very grateful. I wonder how Daoist Jianxian has been lately?"

Cheng Xinzhan nodded, "Master is still well. He has already found Gang and evil energy and wants to form his Golden Core in the near future. What about you?"

Subsequently, the topic turned to cultivation, which surprised Cheng Xinzhan. Both were in the realm of "Heaven and Earth Wide," which is the name of the realm in the Shenxiao Five Thunder Dao, corresponding to the Second Realm Life-Embedded in the Inner Elixir Dao. However, cultivation is the same in essence. In this realm, one also needs to collect the Qi of heaven and earth to perceive Yin and Yang. This brother and sister have already collected Heavenly Thunder. As long as they find Earth Fire, and wait for the thunder and fire to intersect and burst into divine color, they can enter the realm of "Purple Golden Bud." The so-called Purple Golden Bud is also a solidified thunder Qi Dao seed, which is the same as the Golden Core in the Inner Elixir Dao.

And this brother and sister said that before Daoist Yibi passed away, the two had already shown excellent cultivation talent. The resources in the sect had already been tilted. After Daoist Yibi passed away, a Supreme Elder in the sect accepted the two as unrecorded disciples and taught them by his side. It was precisely for this reason that the two could go to the Longhu Dharma Assembly. Otherwise, such a thing would not be their turn at all.

Cheng Xinzhan thought to himself, so that's how it is. Then he explained the purpose of his trip,

"I received an errand to kill demons in the Southern Border. I wonder if you have time to go with me?"

The brother and sister looked at each other and nodded in agreement, thinking that they had to resign from the errand they had just received yesterday.

————

Kang Gold Island, station of Mount Gezao.

"Daoist friend, sorry to bother you. I am Cheng Xinzhan, a Daoist from Mount Sanqing. May I ask if Du Nianxian, Xu Nianheng, Song Jishu, Qin Niantai, and Lu Jigang are here?"

Cheng Xinzhan asked.

Among these five people, the first three were friends he had known in West Kunlun long ago, and the last two were newly acquainted at the Longhu Dharma Assembly. It had been some years since they had seen each other.

The Daoist from Mount Gezao who was stopped by Cheng Xinzhan was a bit surprised. Obviously, he recognized Cheng Xinzhan, and these five names were also very famous in the sect. He replied,

"So it is Cheng Yifu in person. I must inform you, Daoist friend, that Daoist Brother Du unfortunately met with misfortune while killing demons in the north, and Daoist Brother Lu unfortunately passed away when his Yin and Yang were disordered and his Qi reversed during the formation of his Golden Core."

Cheng Xinzhan's eyes dimmed when he heard this. This is truly the impermanence of the world. However, cultivation is indeed like this; it has never been smooth sailing.

"Senior Martial Brother Xu is my own senior martial brother. He is currently closing his doors in the sect to refine his methods. Daoist Brother Qin is traveling outside. At this moment, only Senior Martial Brother Song should be on the island."

The Daoist pointed out a direction for Cheng Xinzhan and said a place name.

Cheng Xinzhan thanked him, "Thank you, Daoist friend, sorry for the trouble."

As early as when both were in the First Realm, he and Song Jishu had fought side by side in West Kunlun. Later, they had reminisced at the Longhu Dharma Assembly. At that time, they were to compete in praying for clear weather and rain. Mount Gezao sent Song Jishu and Lu Jigang to the field. When it was Mount Sanqing, Mount Gezao, and Mount Xishan's turn, Mount Longhu and Mount Bingfeng had already brought down a lot of rain. Then Song Jishu yielded, saying let Mount Sanqing go first.

This is a person who looks gentle like a hermit, but has a fiery personality and hates evil. The scene where he loudly recited the "Scripture of Saving People" to save demons on the West Kunlun battlefield left a deep impression on Cheng Xinzhan.

When Cheng Xinzhan found Song Jishu, the latter was obviously very surprised,

"Yifu, long time no see."

In West Kunlun, Song Jishu had become accustomed to calling Cheng Xinzhan this way.

"Long time no see, Jishu." Seeing an old friend, Cheng Xinzhan was also very happy, and at the same time, he felt that establishing the Haoran Alliance was a good idea. At the very least, it brought the younger generation closer together.

"Have you formed your Golden Core?"

Both people opened their mouths to ask at the same time.

Then they both looked at each other and smiled.

"Are you free lately?"

Cheng Xinzhan asked.

"Busy, very busy. I just returned from Yu Yang, handed in the order arrow, and am preparing to rest for a few days before going to receive the order arrow. The situation is turbulent now, and the demonic path is rampant. It is the time for our generation to contribute."

Song Jishu said, his eyes full of murderous intent.

"Don't receive it anymore. How about going to the Southern Border with me? I have a big move here."

Cheng Xinzhan said with a smile.

!

Song Jishu raised his eyebrows, "Sure!"

Where can't you kill demons?

————

Can Water Island, station of Mount Xishan.

Regarding the Jingming Sect, Cheng Xinzhan actually had little contact. The Jingming Sect did not go to West Kunlun to kill demons, but the reason for not going was not because the Jingming Sect did not have the heart to kill demons, but because the Jingming Sect was good at water techniques. The north was dry, and they were very uncomfortable there, which was equivalent to being suppressed. Moreover, there were many righteous forces going to West Kunlun at that time, and the situation was not so urgent, so the Jingming Sect did not go.

However, the Jingming Sect inherited the temper of the Ancestral Tian Shi, and their murderous nature was heavy. This time, hearing that the Haoran Alliance was to be established and that they were to take the initiative to attack the southeast coast, the Jingming Sect felt duty-bound, responded actively, and moved out in full force.

Cheng Xinzhan's contact with the Jingming Sect was on Mount Longhu. At that time, praying for clear weather and rain, after Mount Gezao yielded, the three Daoist friends of the Jingming Sect also yielded freely. After the performance, Cheng Xinzhan discussed sword techniques with Lan Yuqing of the Mount Lushan Sword Sect, and these three Daoist friends also came. They were all people who loved swords.

Cheng Xinzhan remembered their names: Zheng Zhaoguan, Shen Zhaoming, and Zhao Liangpu.

Among them, Shen Zhaoming also took second place in the martial arts competition at the Longhu Dharma Assembly, and thus entered the Fengyin Hall.

But when Cheng Xinzhan came to Can Water Island to inquire, he found that it was empty, almost no one was there. It seemed that they had all gone out to kill demons. Sure enough, it had to be the Jingming Sect.

Last night, I heard Daoist Brother Jihu and the others say that the Shangqing Sect and the Jingming Sect were the most fierce in killing demons in the Haoran Alliance, and these two families also had the most Daoist achievements in the alliance. The Shangqing Sect was because they were the initiators, so naturally they worked hard, while the Jingming Sect was completely following their own hearts.

With no one to point the way, he had to find it himself. After wandering for a while and not bumping into many people, he came to the place where order arrows were issued and waited.

After waiting for about an hour, he was lucky enough to wait for one.

Cheng Xinzhan saw a Daoist with a sword on his back and a whisk in his hand walking toward this side with big strides. He looked closely, and his eyes lit up, shouting,

"Daoist friend Zhaoming!"

The man looked over when he heard the sound. Seeing it was Cheng Xinzhan, he was very surprised and even more happy, "Daoist friend Xinzhan, why are you here?"

Cheng Xinzhan asked back, "Daoist friend, are you here to return the order arrow after finishing the errand?"

"Yes."

Shen Zhaoming said.

"Then how many days do you need to rest after returning the order arrow?"

"No need, I'll leave after replenishing elixirs and talismans."

Cheng Xinzhan sighed with admiration in his heart, and said with his mouth,

"I have an errand here to kill demons in the Southern Border. The time may be relatively long, and the movement will be relatively large. Are you interested?"

"Since you have summoned me, Daoist friend, how can Zhaoming not obey?"

Shen Zhaoming held Cheng Xinzhan's hand tightly and wrote the word "Seal" on Cheng Xinzhan's hand.

Cheng Xinzhan patted his hand, and everything was understood without words.

Shen Zhaoming was a person who acted decisively. After agreeing with Cheng Xinzhan, he went to prepare things for going to the Southern Border by himself.

And Cheng Xinzhan came to his last place to find people, the station of the Mount Lushan Sword Sect, Dou Wood Island. Coming here was naturally to find an old acquaintance, Lan Yuqing, but unfortunately, he was not here.

But it didn't matter. The team he had gathered now was already not simple.

So much so that when this group of people set off the next day, many people looked at them.

Cheng Xinzhan, Golden Core Feather Guest, a Daoist with very high seniority on Mount Sanqing, won the top spot in the Sword Wu Dou Assembly, famous for passing talismans on West Kunlun Mountain, praying for clear weather and rain on Mount Longhu, and showing his Dharma image on the Three Corpse Islands. He is a figure that everyone knows.

Fang Weimin, Golden Core Feather Guest, a famous alchemy genius on Mount Sanqing, a figure who stood out among a group of alchemists at the Longhu Dharma Assembly.

Li Chengyan and Wang Chengyi, two Golden Core Feather Guests, the golden boy and jade girl on Mount Juqu, the male and female demons in the Sea of Ten Thousand Corpses. Since the establishment of the Haoran Alliance, the two have killed hundreds of demons, and they even have the record of a Third Realm demon.

Song Jishu, Golden Core Feather Guest, the pillar of the younger generation of Mount Gezao. A "Scripture of Saving People" is more like a death-urging scripture in his hands.

Shen Zhaoming, Golden Core Feather Guest, a Daoist from the Wan Shou Palace on Mount Xishan, a figure like a killing star. With a whisk and a sword, the demons he targeted, from the blue sky to the yellow springs, none could escape.

Huang Miaoluo, Second Realm Sword Cultivator, a Daoist from Mount Sanqing, a rare female body sword cultivator. However, she is remembered not because she is a female Daoist, nor because the body sword is unpopular, but because the long sword in her hand is truly sharp.

Meng Xuqi and Meng Xuyi, brother and sister, good at joint attacks, Second Realm Thunder Cultivators, Daoists from Mount Bingfeng. Their first fame was in the martial arts arena of the Longhu Dharma Assembly. After coming to the Haoran Alliance, they were often seen by people with the magnificent scene of thunder all over the sky when killing demons.

Most importantly, these people are all very young, and none of them are over sixty years old.

When they left together, the rotating alliance leader on Mount Ziwei, who was also the first alliance leader, True Person Chengchu, was also watching them. Beside her were several Fourth Realm mysterious cultivators from different immortal mountains, one of whom was a Supreme Elder of the Shenxiao Sect, who was also the preacher of Meng Xuqi and Meng Xuyi. This old man watched his two unrecorded disciples from afar, whom he accepted because he cherished their talent, but who were likely his actual closed-door disciples, and said to the people beside him,

"In the essence of the next five hundred years, they should have a place."

True Person Chengchu nodded and added an extra instruction, "Who is sitting in the south? Let him take care of them."

————

Southern Border, a collective term for the Southern Wilderness and the Miao Border.

Because of the previous struggle between the Green Robe Old Ancestor and the Red-Haired Old Ancestor, this forest and southern country, known as the Hundred Thousand Mountains, was always restless, so the two words "Southern Border" meant chaos.

Places of chaos breed demons and monsters, and it is also a place where the Southern Sect demonic forces and side sects gather. At the same time, there are also many young righteous knights who regard this place as a place to practice subduing demons and defending the Dao.

It was not until the Red-Haired Old Ancestor suddenly died, and the Green Robe Old Ancestor entered the Fifth Realm, and his true dragon body could even compare to the Immortal Realm, that the entire Southern Sect demonic forces became the Green Robe's one-man show, and the entire Southern Wilderness became a demon nest.

Righteous cultivators did not dare to enter at will.

There were originally some scattered Daoist temples and Buddhist temples in the Southern Wilderness. After the Green Robe entered the Fifth Realm, those with poor strength moved their sects out, and those with decent strength did not want to conflict with the Green Robe directly and chose to close the mountain and close the door.

As for the side sects, they either scattered and fled, or joined the demonic sect, or it was a dead end.

However, the appetite of the Southern Sect demonic forces, or rather the appetite of the Green Robe Old Ancestor, was very large. One Qiongzhou Sea, one Southern Wilderness, this was not enough. The Southern Sect demonic forces were nibbling away at Yu Yang and Sanxiang to the east, and swallowing the Miao Border and Dianwen to the northwest.

Among them, the Miao Border, which had lost the Red-Haired Old Ancestor, a figure who could be regarded as a Fifth Realm great cultivator and also the leader of the southern side sects, was in the most precarious situation.

After the Red-Haired Old Ancestor's eldest disciple Yao Kaijiang defected to the enemy and became a demon, the Miao Border side sects were already a plate of loose sand, and various Miao Border tribes were also panicked. Besides Red Wood Ridge, the largest forces in the Miao Border were the Green Dragon Cave, the Immortal Cave, and a Chiyou Cave.

The Green Dragon Cave and the Immortal Cave were Daoist forces, naturally incompatible with the demonic sect, but these two families were far apart, had few disciples, and were not top-notch lineages. Their ancestors had not produced many immortals. It was already not easy to protect themselves under the northward flood of the Southern Sect demonic forces, let alone pacify the demonic chaos.

And the Chiyou Cave was hard to say what kind of force it was. It was just the secluded place of the ancient Miao people, good at the way of witchcraft and poison. As long as the Miao people were not extinct or had a plague, they never asked about world affairs.

It was in such a chaotic situation surrounded by demons that a group of righteous disciples quietly came from the east and plunged into the vast forest sea of the Miao Border.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 194 =====