Innate Immortal Seed

Chapter 287: Chapter 285: The Nascent Soul Sect from the Central Domain

Qii Mountain.

Majestic and winding, it resembled a slumbering giant dragon.

Ten thousand years ago in Liang Country, there were at least six or seven Tier Four Spirit Lands, all belonging to factions whose ancestors had produced a Nascent Soul True Monarch.

After the Holy Lotus Sect unified the Liang Country’s Cultivation Realm and became its undisputed hegemon, they began a frenzied war of conquering mountains and destroying sects.

Any Sect with a Tier Four Spirit Land faced coercion from the Holy Lotus Sect’s Nascent Soul True Monarchs.

They were forced to either hand over the core Spiritual Object formed by the Tier Four Spirit Land or be completely annihilated by force.

Within a century, a total of five Sects were destroyed, and two chose to hand over their Spiritual Objects willingly.

The Holy Lotus Sect obtained a total of three Eyes of the Spirit Spring and two Spirit Wood Hearts, all of which were condensed from Tier Four Spirit Lands.

Having lost their core Spiritual Objects, the Spirit Lands could no longer maintain their Tier Four status and all dropped to Tier Three.

Among them, two Sects were so fiercely proud that they would rather destroy their own core Spiritual Objects than let the Holy Lotus Sect have them.

Not only did these Tier Four core Spiritual Objects upgrade the Spirit Vein of Qii Mountain to Tier Four Mid Grade, but they also all but severed the chances for any local Core Formation True Man in the Liang Country Cultivation Realm to achieve Shattering Core and Transforming into Nascent Soul.

From then on, if a Core Formation True Man who wasn’t from the Holy Lotus Sect wished to advance further, they had only two paths: join the Holy Lotus Sect or leave Liang Country. ℯℯ𝘭.

This series of brutal campaigns to conquer mountains and destroy sects made the Cultivation Realm of that era turn pale at the mere mention of the Holy Lotus Sect.

This was why, during the dark period when the Holy Lotus Sect had no Nascent Soul True Monarch to watch over it, so many local factions appeared to aid the invading sects, providing them with all sorts of conveniences.

It wasn’t until the last thousand years that the Holy Lotus Sect’s control over the Liang Country Cultivation Realm softened.

As for the various other Sects, as long as they didn’t do anything too out of line, the Holy Lotus Sect would generally not interfere.

They acted more like a lofty arbiter, disdaining to get their hands dirty and fight with common Sects over scraps.

”Master, is this the Holy Lotus Sect?”

Before the Grand Array of Qii Mountain stood a group of several people, all dressed as solemn Confucian scholars with tall hats and wide sashes.

The lead Cultivator had a face the color of dark dates, a three-foot-long beard, and wore a square cap and wide robes. He radiated an authority that needed no anger.

The one who spoke was the youngest-looking of the group, with a cyan jade ribbon and a longsword in a Dragon Hide Sword Scabbard tied to his waist.

But based on the aura he emanated, the young Cultivator was also a Core Formation True Man.

”That’s right. This Sect dominates Liang Country and has no internal enemies... Our Sect wishes to relocate to Black Mountain, and having the assistance of a local power like this would make things much smoother.”

The dignified, date-faced lead Cultivator had a Perfect Core Formation Cultivation, and when he spoke, his voice seemed to carry a special power that made people listen and believe him instinctively.

Looking further back, the group of six were all Core Formation True Men.

Besides the youngest one, there were two at Late-Stage Core Formation and two at Mid-Stage Core Formation.

Judging by their attire, they were all from the same sect.

A lineup like this was stronger than what most Sects in Liang Country could muster even if they deployed their full strength.

A formal invitation card flew from the lead Cultivator’s sleeve, emitting a milky-white glow as it shot toward the Grand Array of Qii Mountain.

”Didn’t the Sect Leader say the Holy Lotus Sect only has one True Monarch, and that he’s old, feeble, and not worth mentioning?”

The young Cultivator, his face showing curiosity, relied on his status as the most favored junior in the Sect to ask the question directly.

”What is the Sect Leader’s status? He naturally has the right to make such a judgment... But you must remember, only a Nascent Soul True Monarch can judge another Nascent Soul True Monarch. We absolutely do not have that right. You must not speak of such things behind their back!”

The lead Cultivator’s tone hardened, taking on a lecturing quality.

This disciple of his, despite only having a Three Spiritual Roots Talent, possessed the Vast Holy Body, which made cultivating Confucian Skills seem as if he had divine assistance.

Even a Celestial Spiritual Root Cultivator couldn’t match his cultivation speed.

Even the Sect Leader Uncle praised him, saying his path to Nascent Soul was assured and that he was the hope for the Great Xing Heavenly Principle Sect.

This also resulted in his personality: gentle on the surface, but arrogant to the extreme on the inside.

”The Five Phoenix Sword Sect has gone too far, pressing us at every turn. There is no room left for our Celestial Principle Sect to survive in the Central Domain... The Sect Leader must remain in Great Li to deal with the Five Flames Sword Sect, so it’s up to us to be the vanguard.”

”This matter concerns the great cause of our Sect’s lineage. There can be no mistakes. We must form an alliance with the Holy Lotus Sect to accomplish our goal as quickly as possible.”

There were some things the lead Cultivator left unsaid. The Celestial Principle Sect’s interest in the Black Mountain Range had begun over a thousand years ago.

It wasn’t just because Black Mountain contained a Tier Four Spirit Land capable of meeting the basic requirements of a Nascent Soul-Level Sect.

More importantly, the Celestial Principle Sect had once obtained an Ancient Book which revealed that a Great Power, famous even in Ancient Times, had left his Grotto Heaven within Black Mountain.

Given that Great Power’s Realm, even after hundreds of thousands of years, the Grotto Heaven would still exist in the form of a Secret Realm and wouldn’t have collapsed so quickly.

For this matter, the Celestial Principle Sect had secretly sent several Core Formation True Men to infiltrate Black Mountain.

Even a Preaching Elder from the Transmission Hall’s lineage perished in Black Mountain, losing the transmission Supreme Treasure, the Nine Yang Divine Fire Mirror, in the process.

This was a major blow to the Celestial Principle Sect. After all, the Nine Yang Divine Fire Mirror was one of the Top-Grade Magical Treasures in the Sect with the best chance of having its Spirit Enlightened and ascending to become a Spiritual Treasure.

If it had been a combat-type Spiritual Treasure, it would have been one thing; the Celestial Principle Sect had several of those, so it wouldn’t have been unique.

Once the Nine Yang Divine Fire Mirror became a Spiritual Treasure, this Divine Capturing Treasure Mirror would have been able to provide specific guidance for the cultivation of Core Formation True Men.

For a Sect, its value was incomparable to that of an ordinary combat-type Spiritual Treasure.

Later, the Celestial Principle Sect sent several more waves of disciples to continue exploring Black Mountain.

They hadn’t given up on the Ancient Great Power’s Secret Realm, and they also hoped to retrieve the Nine Yang Divine Fire Mirror.

But these disciples were mostly lost without a trace, with little to no news ever returning.

This secret was one of the Celestial Principle Sect’s highest, and besides a select few, not even many of the Core Formation True Men had the authority to view the details of what had happened back then.

This time, the Five Phoenix Sword Sect had produced another Sword Monarch, who wished to find a Tier Four Spirit Vein to establish his own dao field.

But in the fertile lands of the Central Domain, where could one find an unclaimed Spirit Vein?

Somehow, they ended up setting their sights on the Celestial Principle Sect’s Mountain Gate.

The Five Phoenix Sword Sect had six Nascent Soul True Monarchs, and two thousand years ago, the Sect had even produced a Divinity Transformation Great Power.

He hadn’t been seen for several hundred years, but no one could be sure if that Divinity Transformation Great Power was dead or alive.

Even in the Central Domain, it was a top-tier Super Major Sect.

The Celestial Principle Sect had fought two battles against the Five Phoenix Sword Sect and was defeated at every turn, completely powerless to resist.

Left with no choice, they made the decision to withdraw from the Central Domain and relocate to one of the Four Domains.

Just like the other Sects in the Central Domain’s history that had lost their struggles, they were forced to find another path.

Within the Celestial Principle Sect, there were several backup plans for their retreat.

The fact that they were able to make a decision within a few years, choosing the Black Mountain Range—a desolate frontier in the eyes of most—was largely due to their aim for the Ancient Secret Realm.

’The Five Phoenix Sword Sect is after a Spirit Vein. As long as our Sect shows its intention to retreat, they probably won’t try to wipe us out completely... But this business in Black Mountain must be handled swiftly and decisively. If we drag it out too long, the disciples’ morale will plummet, and far fewer will be willing to relocate with the Sect all the way to the Northern Domain!’

The lead Core Formation True Man’s thoughts were far from as calm as his outward appearance suggested.

”Qu Yang of the Holy Lotus Sect welcomes his fellow Daoists from the Celestial Principle Sect!”

The Grand Array of Qii Mountain opened, a curtain of light unfurled, and a large group of Cultivators appeared.

The leader was a young man with a magnificent bearing, exuding the air of a superior, who bowed in greeting.

”I am Yan Rulong of the Celestial Principle Sect. I have come with a few of my fellow sect members to see the current Saint Heir of the Holy Lotus Sect.”

Yan Rulong laughed loudly. Though it was his first time in Liang Country, he had clearly done his homework.

The only one who truly called the shots in the Holy Lotus Sect was True Monarch Jiulian.

But as the recognized successor, Qu Yang’s status in the Sect could be considered second to one man only.

Especially for a task like receiving guests from a Major Nascent Soul Sect, only Qu Yang’s presence could demonstrate the Holy Lotus Sect’s genuine respect.

”Fellow Daoists, please follow me up the peak. The True Monarch is already waiting for you at the summit.”

Qu Yang’s attitude was enthusiastic, making his guests feel comfortable without being obsequious or fawning.

”Please lead the way, Qu Holy Son. We were just about to pay our respects to True Monarch Jiulian.”

Yan Rulong’s heart stirred. ’To be granted an audience with True Monarch Jiulian right upon arrival... it seems the Holy Lotus Sect’s situation isn’t optimistic.’

’Rumor has it that True Monarch Jiulian doesn’t have much lifespan left, and while Qu Yang has a promising future, he’s still a long way from truly taking over.’

’If this is true, then the Celestial Principle Sect has much more room to maneuver. I believe the Holy Lotus Sect won’t refuse a Nascent Soul-Level Sect that comes with sincere, friendly intentions.’

After all, everyone in the Celestial Principle Sect still considered themselves a Central Domain Sect.

Even though they were now forced to withdraw, their hearts and minds were set on how to return to the Central Domain.

They could absolutely sign a mutual-assistance pact with the Holy Lotus Sect, agree on a time limit, and the Celestial Principle Sect would withdraw from Black Mountain once the term expired.

The group of Core Formation True Men from the Celestial Principle Sect entered Qii Mountain. The curtain of light closed behind them, and the majestic mountain range returned to a lonely scene where not a single bird could be seen in flight.

...

Deep within the Black Mountain Range, in a dark cave.

Several Silver Armored Corpses wandered about aimlessly, their eyes vacant and limbs stiff.

But looking down, one could see an Array drawn on the ground with dried blood, suffused with a strange, malevolent aura.

These Silver Armored Corpses were following the Array’s Runes, step for step, walking in circles.

And at the center of the Array, a living person was sitting cross-legged.

His face was bloodless and his hair disheveled. The corners of his Daoist Robe’s sleeves were embroidered with gold and silver thread, bearing the insignia of a True Disciple of the Qingfeng Sect.

’Any one of these Silver Armored Corpses could kill me with a single swipe. Thinking back now, they were clearly going easy on me during my escape, letting me think I was lucky to have fled into this cave... Now, only while I stay at the center of this Array do these Silver Armored Corpses remain as dazed as puppets. The moment I take a single step away, they’ll go berserk and try to tear me apart and eat me alive.’

The young Cultivator had tried it before. The slightest movement would cause the Silver Armored Corpses to lunge at him.

Silver Armored Corpses were already a rare type of corpse, equivalent in strength to a Late-Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

However, because they were rigid and dull-witted, they had no advantages other than their tough bodies, which were impervious to ordinary Spiritual Artifacts.

A normal Late-Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator could easily defeat a Silver Armored Corpse in a one-on-one fight.

Only if they advanced another tier and became Golden Armor Corpses—which had regained their Spiritual Wisdom and formed a Corpse Pill—could they contend with an Early-Stage Core Formation Cultivator.

Just as the helpless young Cultivator was trying to study the Array before him, a vast surge of Yin Power erupted from it, knocking him unconscious instantly.

The whites of his eyes showed, his skin turned an earthy yellow and hardened like iron, and it began to emit a metallic luster.

In the short time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the aura within the young Cultivator’s body climbed continuously, reaching the Foundation Establishment Cultivator Level.

Moreover, his power was still advancing rapidly. The immense Yin Power ruptured his meridians and split his skin, only for them to be repaired in an instant.

A day later, he looked more like a corpse than a living person.

But the Magical Power fluctuating around his body was equivalent to that of a Perfect Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

He had gone from Qi Refining Perfection to Foundation Establishment Perfection—a leap in Realms that most Cultivators could never cross in a lifetime—in just twelve hours.

WHOOSH!

His eyes opened, revealing golden pupils. He slowly stood up, examining his own hands and body.

The Silver Armored Corpses stopped in their tracks. A natural suppression forced them to kneel on the ground, motionless.

”I... I am Song Lian... No, I am Ren Zhengjia of the Corpse-Driving Sect.”

A clear glint of intelligence flashed in the young Cultivator’s eyes. He stiffly sat down again, placing his hands on the ground and letting out a guttural, rattling sound.

The Array activated once more, and surges of Yin Power gathered and poured into his body.