Innate Immortal Seed

Great True Monarch Hongfa subdued the Demon Dragon Awl. The Demon Treasure still tried to struggle, but he calmed it with a gentle stroke of his hand.

The Demon Light flickered. As his five fingers rested lightly upon it, specks of light glittered like shattered stars, shifting through endless transformations.

With a slight nod to Meng Kang, Great True Monarch Hongfa’s figure flickered and vanished without a trace.

A Heaven-Reaching Spiritual Treasure, even one from the Demon Realm, was a rare and priceless item for any Cultivator.

Even if he couldn’t use it for now, the Demon Dragon Awl’s fundamental quality was extremely high. If Great True Monarch Hongfa ever advanced to the Divinity Transformation realm, he could use the power of his Grotto Heaven to cleanse and refine it, turning it into a usable Heaven-Reaching Spiritual Treasure.

The Demon Dragon Awl was considered his personal gain and had nothing to do with Celestial Punishment Peak.

”Du Heng has been slain, but evil must be completely eradicated... Breach the Heaven-Reaching Immortal Pagoda and purge the Demon Nest!”

Meng Kang pointed a finger, sealing the fate of the Zengguang Du Family.

Though the Nascent Soul True Monarchs of the Northern Domain were green with envy over the Demon Dragon Awl, none dared to question the two Great True Monarchs from Celestial Punishment Peak. They could only launch a furious assault on the Heaven-Reaching Immortal Pagoda.

Their only thought was to get a share of the spoils from Zengguang Immortal City to enrich their own clans.

However, Du Heng’s final words, coupled with the fact that the Demon Dragon Awl had fallen into Great True Monarch Hongfa’s hands, planted a thorn in everyone’s heart.

The last Tier Four Array didn’t last long against the onslaught of so many Nascent Soul True Monarchs. The main reason was that the Du clansmen, having seen their Ancestor take his own life, knew the situation was hopeless and lost their will to fight.

The moment the Grand Array collapsed, some fell to their knees in surrender, while others detonated Seeds of Thunder Deity, turning themselves to dust. There were even those who tried to set fire to the pagoda, hoping to drag the symbol of the Zengguang Du Family down with their Clan.

Within the Heaven-Reaching Immortal Pagoda, the final, desperate scenes of a Cultivation Family that had been illustrious for ten thousand years played out.

Amidst cries and slaughter, the light of Treasures shone dazzlingly as Spiritual Qi surged to the heavens.

The disciples of the Du Clan fell one after another. Blood flowed freely, casting a sanguine glow over the thousand-foot-tall Heaven-Reaching Immortal Pagoda.

Bai Zichen narrowed his eyes, observing the scene from a distance. He had no intention of joining in.

’The outcome is already decided. The Nascent Soul Cultivators from Celestial Punishment Peak have freed up their hands. How could any of the good things in the Heaven-Reaching Immortal Pagoda fall to an outsider?’

The Qingfeng Sect had no Nascent Soul True Monarch present, after all. No matter how special Bai Zichen’s status was, or that he was hailed as having the potential for Divinity Transformation, he was still just a Core Formation True Man.

’I didn’t lift a finger in the fight against Du Heng, so how could I have the nerve to enter the Immortal Pagoda and ask for a piece of the pie?’

All twelve city gates were occupied, and key locations were seized by the Taixu Dao Soldiers. The Du Clan’s Core Formation True Men and Core Formation Guest Elders were either dead or had surrendered. The fighting in the Immortal City quickly subsided.

By the second day, only low-intensity resistance remained, with the occasional Cultivator jumping out for an ambush.

The various flames caused by the Five-Fire Seven-Bird Fan had not yet been completely extinguished. Every so often, a hall whose pillars had burned through would collapse with a mighty CRASH.

Body after body was dragged to the central square. After being stripped clean of their valuables, they were burned to ashes by a True Flame.

The Tota Arhat and the Flower-Picking Arhat sat on a temporarily erected high platform, their faces filled with compassion as they formed hand seals and chanted sutras.

Below the platform, eight Core Formation Bhikkhus, each holding a Buddhist Artifact, recited the Earth Store Original Vow Sutra. Pure white Buddha Light shone as the sound of Buddhist chants rolled out in waves.

The phenomena of Earth-Surging Golden Lotuses and Heaven-Sent Apricot Leaves appeared. Within the Buddha Light, countless phantoms of men and women, old and young, had their resentment dispelled. The bloody pallor left them, replaced by expressions of peace and tranquility.

They bowed toward the Arhats on the high platform before vanishing in droves.

The Buddha Light lasted for a full one hundred and eighty days before it gradually dissipated, and the lingering sound of chanting faded.

”Your Sect’s strength is truly extraordinary. I wonder if Little Friend Muu could introduce me to that Fellow Daoist Hongfa?”

In a long alley of the Immortal City, a Cultivator completely concealed by a black robe and a tall hat walked in front, followed by a Core Formation Cultivator.

The Magical Robe worn by the one behind was in the style of the Moral Sect, but the collar insignia was not an iron ruler, but an Eight Trigrams Diagram formed from the light of the sun and moon.

”Senior, Ancestor Hongfa is the Vice Peak Master of Celestial Punishment Peak. His status is far too lofty for someone like me to get a message to... If you wish to make his acquaintance, please wait until you meet my Ancestor, and then ask for his help in contacting him.”

Master Muu was sweating profusely. He repeatedly cupped his hands as he explained, hoping not to displease the person before him.

Cunsi Peak had been developing its influence in the Outer Sea for tens of thousands of years. It had already occupied seventeen large islands, slain five Transformed Great Demons, and carved out a territory for the Human Race on the sea.

At the same time, two Nascent Soul True Monarchs and countless disciples of the Moral Sect had fallen in the Outer Sea, their bodies never recovered.

The Outer Sea was simply boundless and its environment harsh. Human Race Cultivators were naturally at a disadvantage compared to the Sea Beasts who held the geographical advantage.

Furthermore, the deeper they went, the more difficult resupply became, and the number of Sea Beasts increased exponentially.

With the strength of Cunsi Peak alone, it was impossible to do as they had in the Central Domain—to sweep through with overwhelming force, driving out or killing all the Transformed Great Demons and clearing every Spirit Vein.

It had taken tens of thousands of years, an unknown price, and a constant back-and-forth struggle to reach the current situation.

But they were still a million miles away from Cunsi Peak’s ultimate goal: to open a sea route and find the Cultivation Continent on the other side of the ocean.

This time, through complex diplomacy and at a considerable cost, they had reached a preliminary agreement with the Merfolk Race to jointly resist the hegemon of the Outer Sea, the Star Constellation Sea Dragon King.

They had invited a Tier Four being from the Merfolk Race to travel inland with them precisely to meet with the secluded Peak Master of Cunsi Peak and finalize the details of their cooperation.

To earn the trust of the Merfolk Race, the two Nascent Soul True Monarchs of Cunsi Peak were currently guests in the Merfolk’s lair.

On their way back, not far from Zengguang Immortal City, this Tier Four Merfolk heard that a great battle was raging here and insisted on coming to watch.

As a mere Core Formation Cultivator, how could Master Muu go against the will of a Tier Four Great Demon? He could only contact his fellow disciples from Celestial Punishment Peak and watch the entire battle from a great distance.

”If it’s difficult for you, then never mind. Let’s head to Great Zhou and take care of business first... Someone saw the Dragon Monarch leave the Star Constellation Sea several years ago, but his destination is unknown. If he has contacted other Transformed Great Demons and is coming for our two clans, we’ll be in trouble.”

The Tier Four Merfolk spoke clearly and fluently; one would never imagine this was a Tier Four Shapeshifting Great Demon.

”The Dragon Monarch’s bloodline is noble, and his prestige in the sea is immense. He can easily summon several Transformed Great Demons, and he himself has likely reached the peak of Tier Four... In Ancient Times, my race were merely his family’s servants, tasked with weaving silk. We were fortunate enough to become an independent race only after a great upheaval in the Outer Sea.”

”The Star Constellation Sea treats my race as servants and slaves. They constantly demand tribute and levy Blood Food. My grandfather, father, and three elder brothers all died, directly or indirectly, at the hands of the so-called True Dragon Race. To this day, thousands of our young and strong are abducted each year for hard labor. If not for this, we would not have chosen to cooperate with your Moral Sect and align with the Human Race Cultivators.”

”Rest assured, our Peak Master will head to the Outer Sea soon to assist your esteemed race in resisting the Star Constellation Sea.”

Master Muu said hurriedly, afraid that the ally he had worked so hard to win over would waver in his position.

The Star Constellation Sea Dragon King was the greatest enemy Cunsi Peak had encountered in its thousand years of opening up sea routes. Several offensives had failed because of it.

That was why they had paid a great price to contact the Merfolk Race and offer a host of favorable conditions.

Merfolk are born as Tier Two Demon Beasts. Their upper bodies are somewhat humanoid, and they can manifest hands after breaking through to Tier Three.

Although their combat strength isn’t formidable, their path to Transformation is much easier than that of other Tier Four Great Demons.

They also shared a blood feud with the Star Constellation Sea, making them an ideal partner that Cunsi Peak had painstakingly chosen.

Other Transformed Great Demons, even those on bad terms with the Star Constellation Sea, would not dare to openly fall out with the Dragon Monarch.

Although the title of the True Dragon Race was self-proclaimed by the Star Constellation Sea, its bloodline was indeed one of the most revered in the Outer Sea, the purest among all types of Flood Dragons.

Opposing the Dragon Monarch was one thing, but cooperating with Human Race Cultivators was another. Even if Demon Race cultivators were cold-hearted and only admired the strong, such an act would easily lead to ostracism by their own kind, making it difficult to survive in the Outer Sea in the future.

The Merfolk Race and Cunsi Peak had been in contact for several thousand years. If not for the excessive oppression and extortion, they would not have resolved to cooperate.

”That would be for the best. As long as your Peak Master has strength comparable to Fellow Daoist Hongfa, we need not fear the Dragon Monarch making a direct move...”

The Merfolk in the black robe and tall hat turned its head, revealing a pair of golden eyes. Its face appeared mottled and shifting in the shadows.

...

Moonlight flowed through the sky. The Ten Thousand Feet Gang Wind Layer parted before him, as gentle as a spring breeze on his face.

A stray Great Sun Celestial Fire Beam swept past, only to be deflected by a flash of Moonlight Sword Light and sent ricocheting away.

Bai Zichen moved through the Ten Thousand Feet Gang Wind Layer—a place where only Nascent Soul True Monarchs could fly freely—as if walking on flat ground. He paid no mind to the endless Gang Wind and bursts of Celestial Fire that could tear a Core Formation True Man to shreds.

He didn’t even pick a path, heading straight for his destination.

’I have to wait three months for my Sect’s turn? Are they trying to put me in my place?’

The battle for Zengguang Immortal City was over. The subsequent cleanup of the Du Clan was the business of Celestial Punishment Peak and had nothing to do with the Nascent Soul Sects of the Northern Domain.

Everyone was waiting for Great True Monarch Meng Kang to convene a meeting and announce the new order of things.

The Zengguang Du Family’s assets would naturally go to Celestial Punishment Peak, but the Immortal City still had numerous rented shops and external trading houses, all of which had intricate ties to these Nascent Soul Major Sects.

Every day they remained closed meant a loss of thousands upon thousands of Spirit Stones.

Who would have thought that Great True Monarch Meng Kang would refuse all visitors? Even the Riding Deer Arhat from the Dharma Aspect Sect was turned away at the door.

All matters concerning the Immortal City were handed over to True Monarch Yuan Mo.

This was the same elderly and frail Nascent Soul Cultivator who wished to return to the Northern Domain to live out his final years—the designated lord of the Immortal City.

Thus, everyone sent their calling cards to True Monarch Yuan Mo. Bai Zichen was no exception, writing and submitting one in his capacity as a junior.

He hadn’t expected to receive such a reply two days later.

’Even if the Immortal City is newly conquered and affairs are overwhelming, there’s no way it would take three months to get to Qingfeng Sect.’

’There are only about a dozen Nascent Soul Level powers in total. Even if we were last in line, it wouldn’t take this long.’

Bai Zichen tried to find Yuu Ziliang, only to be told that he had already returned to Great Zhou on the day the city fell.

He also heard nothing from Yann Yuanzai to suggest that Celestial Punishment Peak had any issue with the Qingfeng Sect.

Bai Zichen sent a message to Wei Dao, describing the entire situation and asking him to make a trip in person.

’I have several important matters that cannot wait. I don’t have time to waste in Zengguang Immortal City.’

’If I meet that True Monarch Yuan only to be dismissed with a few words and then have to wait for the next round of arrangements for the Qingfeng Sect, I’ll end up wasting half a year or more here.’