Chapter 619 - 340: The First Signs of Disaster

Lü Zhong flew to Yu Feng’er’s side. He checked her condition and found that although she had luckily succeeded in her Nascent Soul Formation, she was now gravely injured.

He had no choice but to use the Healing Spring Skill to treat Yu Feng’er’s injuries.

Only after her injuries had stabilized somewhat did he bring her back to the Tide Cave.

It would likely take a very long time for Yu Feng’er’s wounds to fully heal.

...

Another year’s Lantern Festival had arrived.

In the Quiet Chamber, Lü Zhong, who had been cultivating all night, slowly opened his eyes.

His Magical Power surged restlessly, a clear sign of his recent breakthrough. For a moment, he was unable to restrain his aura, and it took considerable effort to finally bring it under control.

Ten years had passed since Yu Feng’er’s Nascent Soul Formation.

During this time, Lü Zhong had shut himself off from the outside world. Aside from using the Healing Spring Skill daily to treat Yu Feng’er’s injuries, he spent nearly all his remaining time in secluded cultivation.

And today, the fruits of his labor were finally revealed.

’Mid-stage Nascent Soul!’

He felt the surging, tempestuous Magical Power within his body.

Compared to the Early-stage Nascent Soul realm, his Magical Power had doubled. His Primordial Spirit’s strength had also increased, which was reflected in the range of his Divine Sense Projection—it had suddenly expanded to just over forty thousand feet.

’No wonder that day, even when I used every trick up my sleeve, I was still no match for him and could only barely hold on with the Flood Dragon Spirit Banner. So there’s a huge power gap between the Early-stage and Mid-stage Nascent Soul realms, not to mention the hundreds of years of accumulation he had from cultivating to the Mid-stage...’

Lü Zhong knew he had been lucky just to escape defeat in that battle.

He got up, pushed the door open, and walked out of the Quiet Chamber. Yu Feng’er was already waiting for him outside.

After ten years of healing, her injuries had stabilized. Although it would still be some time before she fully recovered, she was no longer losing Life Essence Qi due to her wounds.

Today, Yu Feng’er was dressed in a Flowing Color Robe.

Her figure was graceful, and her every glance seemed to shimmer with light.

She looked like a fairy who had descended to the mortal world.

"My love, you’ve worked so hard during this time!" Yu Feng’er’s eyes were full of gratitude. A faint blush appeared on her cheeks as she walked over, took Lü Zhong’s arm, and spoke openly.

Seeing her act this way, Lü Zhong knew that Yu Feng’er’s state of mind had changed significantly after her tribulation.

And for the better.

Gently stroking her head, Lü Zhong chuckled. "We are husband and wife, and Dao Companions on the Immortal Path. It’s only natural that we support each other. Why be so formal? Come on, the celebration is about to begin."

"Mhm!" Yu Feng’er beamed, her smile as bright as the sun.

...

The star of the celebration was, without a doubt, Yu Feng’er.

To celebrate her successful Nascent Soul Formation, Lü Zhong had specially organized a grand ceremony in the Bihai Immortal City. It was also a formal announcement to the world that the Bihai Sect now had two Nascent Soul cultivators.

Many cultivators attended the celebration. There were Family Cultivators from the Sect Clans under the Bihai Sect, as well as representatives from the growing faction of Loose Cultivators that Lü Zhong had been supporting. Also present were specially invited envoys from the Daoist Sects and the Xuanyang Sect.

The envoys watched the two figures emerge hand-in-hand in the distance, their feelings a complicated mix. They knew exactly what it meant for a sect to have two Nascent Soul cultivators.

No one would mistake this for a repeat of the Changchun Valley.

The Changchun Valley of the past had been strong, it was true.

But in reality, they were nothing more than a caged beast.

Even with a ten-thousand-year legacy, they were constantly kept in check by the Daoist Sects and had never been able to make any real waves.

But the Bihai Sect was different. With a ruthless figure like Lü Zhong at the helm, it was doubtful that even a coalition of the Daoist Sects and the Xuanyang Sect could stand against Lü Zhong and his two disciples.

"This is difficult, so difficult!" someone sighed.

"Indeed. I fear the heavens are about to change in the Southern Barbarian lands..." another said, filled with pessimism for the future.

The Bihai Sect’s momentum was now unstoppable, and its power had swelled dramatically in recent years due to the migration order. In the future, it might even be possible for them to unite the Southern Barbarian lands.

"Hmph, I doubt it!"

Just then, a voice spoke up.

The speaker was a Daoist from Qingxu Temple, dressed in the fashion of Central Earth.

Seeing the gazes of the other envoys turn to him, he wore an arrogant expression but spoke via voice transmission. "Rest assured, everyone. The Southern Barbarian lands have always belonged to the Immortal Sects. Even if the Bihai Sect grows powerful for a time, a master from an Immortal Sect will emerge to suppress them. The scenario you all imagine—the Bihai Sect uniting the Southern Barbarian lands—will never happen."

The Qingxu Temple Daoist’s words caused a huge stir.

Seeing the confused looks on the envoys’ faces, he inwardly sneered at the bunch of barbarians. Remembering the purpose of his trip, however, he had no choice but to clarify the key point.

He then explained in detail the relationship between Central Earth and the surrounding Fourth Realm.

Hearing this, the envoys had a sudden realization.

They finally understood why he believed the Bihai Sect could not succeed. They all breathed a collective sigh of relief, but then, remembering they were all Southern Barbarian Cultivators, they couldn’t help but feel a sense of sorrow.

With the Immortal Sects suppressing them from above, the might of a Divinity Transformation cultivator was irresistible.

No wonder the Changchun Valley, despite its ten-thousand-year legacy and several glorious periods spanning thousands of years—including several instances of having two Nascent Soul cultivators—could never advance further.

So it was for the Changchun Valley, and the Bihai Sect was about to follow in its footsteps.

’Which sect will be next?’

...

Regardless of everyone’s mood, the celebration continued as planned.

Lü Zhong was also wondering what move the Gui Miao Immortal Sect would make next, now that their attempt to sabotage Yu Feng’er’s Nascent Soul Formation had failed.

’Will they send a Great Cultivator, or...’

As an Immortal Sect, Gui Miao had too many cards to play.

Whether they sent High-level cultivators across the sea for a direct, heavy-handed strike, or used their vassal forces to unleash a series of combination blows, Lü Zhong could only react to their moves as they came.

’Is this frustrating?’

Lü Zhong didn’t think so.

Receiving this much attention from a Central Earth Immortal Sect was, in fact, a form of acknowledgment of his strength.

Noticing the change in Lü Zhong’s mood, Yu Feng’er gave him a questioning look. After he assured her that nothing was wrong, she broke into a smile and, holding his hand, slowly ascended the high platform.

The cheers that erupted were like a mountain-toppling, sea-churning tsunami!

To the cultivators of this world,

reaching Foundation Establishment was already enough to bring glory to one’s ancestors.

If one was lucky enough to achieve Core Formation, they would undoubtedly become a great figure whose name would be recorded in history and celebrated for a thousand years.

As for Nascent Soul Formation...

...most cultivators didn’t even dare to dream of it.

Yu Feng’er had never imagined that she would one day become a Nascent Soul cultivator.

Just then, Lü Zhong’s gaze sharpened.

To the west, a streak of light was rapidly approaching.

’The Mountain Shaking Ship!’

’Gui Miao Immortal Sect!’

Using his Celestial Net Secret Eye, Lü Zhong identified the origin of the streak of light. His excellent mood was instantly replaced by a dark cloud of gloom.

Just as he was wondering about the Immortal Sect cultivators’ intentions for this trip...

...something unexpected happened!

The massive Immortal Sect ship, which had been approaching at high speed, suddenly flashed with a dazzling light. Immediately after, rolling flames erupted from its hull, followed by a massive explosion.

BOOOOOM!

A violent shockwave blew apart the clouds, clearing the sky for a hundred li. At the same time, the enormous, blazing ship plunged headfirst into the sea, vanishing completely from sight.

The sudden turn of events shocked every cultivator present.

The Daoist from Qingxu Temple, in particular, was so stunned he was frozen solid.

"This... this isn’t part of the plan!"

According to the original plan, the Immortal Sect’s envoys were supposed to arrive and suppress the Bihai Sect.

’So why now...’

’...are they here to set off "fireworks"?’

...

The accident had been too sudden.

Fortunately, the celebration was already winding down, so ending it early wasn’t much of a loss.

Following Lü Zhong’s command, the Bihai Sect cultivators swarmed out of the city. The Bihai Ship, which had been hovering in the air as a precaution, now began to advance slowly toward the crash site.

’What in the world happened?’

Lü Zhong was baffled.

The Gui Miao Immortal Sect wouldn’t have sent a Mountain Shaking Ship across the vast ocean just to set off fireworks.

Moreover, when the accident occurred, he had clearly sensed astonishing auras erupting from the Flying Ship—at least Mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivation, and there was more than one.

But now...

Soon, Lü Zhong flew to the crash site.

Gazing at the severely damaged hull of the Mountain Shaking Ship, which was stuck diagonally in the sea, and the corpses scattered across the water’s surface, he couldn’t help but feel a chill. ’That explosion was far too terrifying,’ he thought.

’Don’t tell me the Nascent Soul Cultivators on board perished along with it?’

Although he felt it was unlikely, the scene before him made it hard not to consider the possibility.

Suddenly, his gaze shifted down to the surface of the sea.