Chapter 388: Sensation

The Hanhai cultivation realm is now teeming with upheaval.

This turmoil is merely the lingering aftermath of the previous expedition by the Yuan Shen Sword Sect.

All major factions have suffered varying losses among their top combatants, creating an imbalance that naturally demands chaos to determine their final standings.

The most shocking development, however, is the news that the Lord of Mingkun Island has ascended to the Nascent Soul realm.

Every time a cultivator ascends to Nascent Soul, it triggers a massive tidal wave across the Hanhai cultivation realm, often regarded as the beginning of either a golden age or an era of turmoil.

While all factions waited with bated breath, anticipating some grand revelation from the Lord of Mingkun Island,

the Lord of Mingkun Island duly delivered a earth-shattering announcement.

…

Tianyin Island.

By the rules of the cultivation realm, this place has since been renamed Tiejian Island.

The main gate of Tiejian Sect now stands here.

Though newly established, every Golden Core true cultivator of Tiejian Sect is highly satisfied with this island.

Especially those Golden Core factions, upon hearing the news of the Lord of Mingkun Island's ascension to Nascent Soul, were utterly terrified.

They not only relocated voluntarily but also paid a substantial amount of spirit stones as both "rent" and "compensation."

This has greatly elevated Tiejian Sect's reputation, drawing many more cultivators and even ordinary people to seek apprenticeship.

Yet, as a Nascent Soul grand sect and a recognized branch of the Sacred Ground, Tiejian Sect remains selective—better to have none than to take in the unworthy.

Fortunately, with the larger pool of applicants, a few sword prodigies are inevitably found.

"Senior Brother Huolong."

At this moment, a streak of light flew in from beyond the spiritual energy lake—it was Brother Zhou.

In his hand he held a jade slip, his face filled with bewilderment.

Splash!

A water dragon emerged, coiling around his body, and when he reappeared, he was already inside the underwater cave.

This underwater cave was naturally the spot with the most abundant spiritual energy on Tianyin Island.

But the humidity was excessive, and the True Lord Huolong had never particularly liked it.

Still, the spiritual energy was excellent, so he could only endure it reluctantly.

True Lord Huolong looked at Brother Zhou: "What happened?"

Since acquiring the fourth-rank spiritual vein, he had devoted himself entirely to cultivation, nearly ignoring all outside affairs.

"It's the Mingkun Venerable… he… he has taken control of Wuji Palace!"

Brother Zhou handed over a jade slip.

True Lord Huolong's eyes widened—Wuji Palace was the mortal enemy of the Yuan Shen Sword Sect. If his greatest patron had defected?

He instinctively touched his head, confirmed his skull was still intact, then immediately sent out a thread of divine sense to scan the jade slip at lightning speed.

"What? Master Mingkun slew the Demon Master Meng?"

True Lord Huolong was first stunned, then exhaled in relief, glaring at Brother Zhou: "Brother, if you're going to speak, say it clearly—you nearly gave me a heart attack! It's not that Master Mingkun took over Wuji Palace; he seized Wuzui Island, renamed it Death God Island, and took in remnants of Wuji Palace. That's annexation, not takeover…!"

"It's essentially the same thing," said Brother Zhou.

"Of course it's not! If he took over, the demonic path would be flourishing, and we Yuan Shen Sword Sect remnants would be besieged. But if he annexed it, then Master Mingkun has finally avenged the Yuan Shen Sword Sect!"

True Lord Huolong set down the jade slip, still in awe: "Still… it's unbelievable. Master Mingkun just ascended to Nascent Soul—even with help, killing Demon Master Meng is utterly astonishing…"

"The Yuan Shen Sword Sect's revival is within reach."

True Lord Huolong declared: "We must immediately go to support Master Mingkun. We can't let his followers be nothing but demonic brats—otherwise, over time, things could turn truly dire…"

…

In the Inner Sea, on a desolate island.

A flash of sword light erupted, brimming with chilling killing intent.

"Hah… finally, late-stage Golden Core."

Tai Bai Immortal flew out of his cave, a blade of light shooting straight into the heavens, tearing through countless clouds.

His mood was utterly triumphant.

After being teleported out of the Yuan Shen Sword Sect years ago, he dared not return to Mingkun Island, fearing Fang Xing would seize him…

Moreover, he harbored a faint envy toward Fang Xing's sudden surge to late-stage Golden Core power.

They were both heirs of the Five Bloodlines—he, the sole inheritor of the deadliest Sword Bloodline, with the best resources—why had his cultivation been overtaken?

Tai Bai Immortal had already reached the peak of mid-stage Golden Core and was eligible to break through to late-stage; otherwise, he wouldn't have considered the unorthodox Nine Mother-Son Divine Infants Sword Art to aid his breakthrough.

But later, he was betrayed and severely injured.

This time, within the Yuan Shen Sword Sect, he found many divine pills and elixirs—his cultivation fully restored, even improved further.

"Indeed… I was too stubborn before. Step back, and the world opens wide…"

After leaving the Yuan Shen Sword Sect, Tai Bai Immortal felt confident enough to face Nascent Soul. His mood during seclusion was excellent, and he seized the rare opportunity to break through his bottleneck.

Such opportunities are fleeting—he naturally entered deep meditation and only emerged once he had achieved late-stage Golden Core.

"Now, my main body is late-stage Golden Core. Master Mingkun's main body had barely reached mid-stage Golden Core, and only his second body was late-stage… I've surpassed him."

Tai Bai Immortal, full of self-satisfaction, prepared to inquire about recent developments on Mingkun Island.

Then—

In a teahouse.

"What? The Lord of Mingkun Island slew the Lord of Anyun Palace, then ascended to Nascent Soul?"

Tai Bai Immortal stared at the informant before him, feeling dazed.

Had he not just closed his eyes for a few years, but decades—or centuries? "Moreover, the Mingkun Venerable has seized Wuzui Island and renamed it Death God Island… now all surviving remnants of Wuji Palace have submitted to him. The Inner Sea's Sacred Grounds are about to shift again."

The informant was a female cultivator dressed in pink robes, her face also filled with awe.

The Three Sacred Grounds had ruled the Hanhai cultivation realm for countless ten thousand years—yet in the past millennium, two of them had collapsed. It was truly hard to accept.

"Slaying a late-stage Nascent Soul…"

After leaving the teahouse, Tai Bai Immortal still felt dizzy: "How is this possible? I'm only late-stage Golden Core…"

…

On the island now renamed Death God Island.

In a quiet chamber.

The walls were covered in intricate runes forming sealing patterns, dense and shimmering with golden light, like veins merging into the black lotus beneath Fang Xing's seat.

Seated atop the black lotus, he felt his divine soul more harmonized with heaven and earth, continuously drawing in celestial spiritual energy, refining it…

After several hours, sensing a minuscule advancement in his spiritual power, Fang Xing slowly ended his meditation.

He cast a spell onto the wall; countless seals flickered, and the black lotus slowly closed.

Instantly, the thick spiritual energy that had permeated the chamber dropped by a full tier.

"No wonder it's a sixth-rank spiritual vein—even if it can only support a few people, and must be sealed most of the time—it's still quite impressive."

Fang Xing surveyed the chamber, satisfied.

Since the Qianyuan Great World is a lower realm, sixth-rank spiritual veins constantly leak energy; outside the core zone, most areas barely maintain fourth- or fifth-rank spiritual energy.

Even for low-rank disciples, third-rank spiritual energy is sufficient.

Even the most powerful "Heaven Veins," like the Piaomiao Immortal Palace, likely grant most cultivators only fifth-rank spiritual energy—only the caves of a few Nascent Soul Venerables reach sixth-rank levels.

This is already the pinnacle of the lower realm; nothing higher is possible.

Wuzui Island was the same—though this spiritual vein was a sea vein with immense earth power, Wuji Palace had always been frugal.

"Just as breaking through to empty space triggers a void-stabilizing effect… in this low-spirit realm, a spiritual vein too high-rank will constantly leak—requiring constant reinforcement and sealing through arrays…"

"This is why only the Three Sacred Grounds exist…"

Fang Xing felt Wuji Palace was well worth seizing.

Not merely because of the mountain of supreme-grade spirit stones, various spiritual treasures, secret artifacts, and countless cultivation techniques piled in Demon Master Meng's storage pouch.

But because of the understanding of this world it granted!

"After Liánxū, there are still many more cultivation realms…"

"Beyond the Spirit Realm, there are numerous other realms of equal standing—closest among them, the Demon Realm and the Fan Realm…"

"Immortal cultivators who break through to Nascent Soul have a natural advantage in comprehending cosmic laws."

"Moreover, after Liánxū, understanding specific Great Dao paths becomes easier…"

"Thus, cultivation must not be abandoned."

As Fang Xing pondered, a transmission talisman flew in.

He scanned it with his divine sense and knew it was from Tianyuan True Lord—something of utmost importance.

"So these two finally dare to show themselves?"

Fang Xing smiled, crushing the talisman in his hand until it turned to ash.

Then, the Wuji Demon Palace appeared in his grasp; he transformed into a blade of light and arrived over the sea hundreds of miles away.

Splash!

Before him lay a cluster of pitch-black rocks, jutting from the sea like leaping fish, battered by furious waves.

"Come out."

He stood atop the rock, gazing at the empty air ahead.

In the void, countless runes flickered, then a figure emerged—Ancient Venerable.

"Mingkun Daoist, your methods are impressive…"

The ancient elder wore a faint bitter smile: "You actually killed Old Monster Meng and subdued the Wuji Palace…"

"Heh, didn't I already tell you all this before?"

Fang Xing smiled: "Now, I've saved countless lives for your Piaomiao Immortal Palace…"

If he had done nothing, the Piaomiao Immortal Palace would have been besieged by Old Monster Meng, at a severe disadvantage, and countless lives would have been lost.

"Indeed, thank you, fellow Daoist."

The ancient elder bowed solemnly: "This is the Piaomiao Immortal Palace's congratulatory gift!"

He presented a jade slip to Fang Xing.

Fang Xing took it and looked—it was first listed: "One Inner Core of the Six-Eyed Demon Pearl…"

"The Six-Eyed Demon Pearl is a wild variant from the barbaric wastes; this one has reached the fifth rank. Its inner core, after slight refinement, can serve as an excellent material for us to anchor our Nascent Souls—or even cultivate a Second Nascent Soul…"

The ancient elder beamed with smiles.

The subsequent items were also precious fifth-rank treasures.

Fang Xing, however, sneered, thinking of his own Second Nascent Soul.

The Wanxiang Sect was merely a Nascent Soul sect; even its most profound inherited techniques could not possibly conceive of the Divine Transformation stage.

The Second Nascent Soul could already be discarded.

Yet the Wuji Palace, as the foremost force among demonic cultivators, had amassed countless rare techniques and secret arts—including methods for cultivating a Second Nascent Soul.

That's two chapters today.

(End of chapter)