Chapter 968 - 505: The Peril of the End of Dharma Era (2)

Chapter 968: Chapter 505: The Peril of the End of Dharma Era (2)

In another Spirit Field, the Time Array was activated, and the entire space seemed to be gently pulled by an invisible force. The Power of Time was abundant, creating an environment suitable for the growth of Yanyuan Spirit Grass.

Seeing this, Li Mu exited the Treasure Mansion Space and returned to the outside world. He gently waved his sleeve, and the grain-like Painting Realm Treasure Mansion instantly expanded, returning to its original state, stably suspended in the air.

Li Mu formed techniques with his hands, his Divine Thought enveloping the planting of Mouxing Spirit Grass and Yanyuan Spirit Grass in the two thousand-acre Spirit Fields. The Spiritual Power surged within him, flowing out and precisely permeating the Spirit Fields under his Divine Thought, attaching to each Spirit Plant.

"Rise!" With a low shout from Li Mu, his Divine Thought suddenly vibrated, like an invisible giant hand gently lifting the two precious Tier Six Spirit Plants—Mouxing Spirit Grass and Yanyuan Spirit Grass. Their root systems slowly separated from the soil, yet remained undamaged.

Under the guidance of Li Mu’s Divine Thought, the Mouxing Spirit Grass and Yanyuan Spirit Grass slowly ascended. The Painting Realm Treasure Mansion emitted a suction force, drawing these Spirit Plants in one by one. With the operation of the Treasure Mansion Spirit, they were planted in the Top-grade Spirit Field.

The relocation of the two thousand acres of Spirit Fields was completed in an instant.

Li Mu’s figure flashed, and he re-entered the Treasure Mansion to confirm the relocation status of the two Tier Six Spirit Plants.

Two days later, Li Mu entrusted several Elders of the Seven-Element Sect to take care of the sect and then boarded the High-tier Spirit Ship with Sword Master Feng to depart for the Outer Nine Netherworld.

On the deck, Li Mu stood shoulder to shoulder with Sword Master Feng, gazing at the rolling mountains ahead, each with their own thoughts, as the twilight glow cast a warm hue upon them, adding a touch of warmth to this unknown journey.

"Sword Master, our destination this time is the Outer Nine Netherworld, yet I have always harbored doubts." Li Mu broke the silence, his tone carrying a touch of solemnity, inquiring, "Both Daoist Monarchs are the strongest of our time, why are they trapped in the Outer Nine Netherworld, unable to escape?"

Upon hearing this, Sword Master Feng turned around, looking at Li Mu with profound eyes, seemingly assessing something, as if considering whether to reveal the truth to him.

After a moment, Sword Master Feng sighed, looking at Li Mu and slowly introduced, "Elder Li, you may not know, the Outer Nine Netherworld is not an ordinary place but a uniquely special Secret Realm in Heaven and Earth. It is said to connect multiple different spaces and interfaces, with endless treasures and opportunities, and also hiding unimaginable dangers and dilemmas."

"Since ancient times, the Nine Netherworld has been regarded as the gateway between the Spirit Realm and other unknown worlds, its rules chaotic, space-time distorted. Even Daoist Monarchs with Heaven-defying Cultivation, once deep into its core areas, could not avoid encountering unexpected changes. Our sect’s two Daoist Monarchs, this time, jointly explored due to inadvertently triggering an ancient Restriction and were trapped by an inexplicable force at the edge of the Nine Nether, unable to return easily." Sword Master Feng’s voice was low and powerful, explaining intently.

"The abnormal movement in the Nine Nether seems intricately linked with the Spirit Realm’s increasingly thinning Spiritual Qi. According to ancient books, whenever there is a great change in the depths of Nine Nether, the Spiritual Qi in various parts of the Spirit Realm will fluctuate differently, even being significantly drained, leading to Spiritual Qi depletion. We are not just seeking a way to rescue the two Daoist Monarchs, but also striving to uncover the truth behind this and resolve the impending Spiritual Qi depletion crisis faced by the Spirit Realm." Sword Master Feng added finally.

"What! Spiritual Qi depletion!"

Upon hearing this, Li Mu’s complexion changed dramatically, his eyes filled with shock. He deeply understood that for Cultivators, Spiritual Qi was akin to the Source of Life. Once depleted, the entire Spirit Realm would plunge into an unprecedented predicament; the growth of Spirit Plants, the advancement in Cultivation of Cultivators, all rely on the nourishment of Spiritual Qi.

"Sword Master, doesn’t Spiritual Qi depletion mean our path of cultivation will become extraordinarily difficult, perhaps even regressing?" Li Mu’s voice trembled slightly, clearly shaken by this sudden news.

Sword Master Feng nodded affirmatively, his expression becoming increasingly solemn, stating, "Indeed, Spiritual Qi depletion will directly affect the foundation of the Cultivators in this realm. If a solution is not promptly found, not only will the Cultivators’ Cultivation stagnate, but resource contention between sects might ensue, plunging the entire Spirit Realm into chaos. More gravely, if Spiritual Qi completely disappears, the Era of the End of Dharma will arrive, and all living beings in this realm will face the threat of extinction."

"Is Spiritual Qi depletion related to the Chaos Sealing Array, which has sealed the passages to the Demon Abyss and Upper Realm?" Li Mu thought of something and asked.

"The Chaos Sealing Array! There is indeed a slight relation, but not fundamentally. This realm’s several Spirit Veins, and the Spiritual Power transported through the Two Realms Passage is limited. Even closure cannot cause the depletion of Spiritual Qi in this realm! The effect of Nine Nether on this realm’s Spiritual Power is different." Sword Master Feng shook his head, denying Li Mu’s judgment.

Sword Master Feng slowly raised his head, his gaze seemingly penetrating the barriers of space-time, returning to that distant and glorious era: "In Ancient Times, Spiritual Qi in the Spirit Realm was so dense it could almost liquefy, mountains and rivers all contained Spiritual Energy, flying birds and beasts could all cultivate transformation, High-Tier Cultivators were ubiquitous, achieving the realm of Mahayana Daoist Monarch was not a difficult feat, even with the passages to the Demon Abyss and Upper Realm wide open, it had little impact."

After pausing for a moment, Sword Master Feng continued to introduce to Li Mu: "Ancient Cultivators bathed in such abundant Spiritual Qi, advancing rapidly in cultivation, strong individuals emerged endlessly, moving mountains and overturning seas, plucking stars and grasping moons was trivial. Sects flourished, demonstrating Divine Techniques, not only was there no resource contention, but Daoist Skills were exchanged frequently, jointly researching the secrets of immortality. It was a true golden era."

"However, good times did not last long. With the imbalance of some unknown force in Heaven and Earth, and the greed and ambition of certain powerful existences, the Ancient Catastrophe quietly descended. The Land of the Nine Nether, originally a ghostly realm, a den of evil, due to some unknown reason, its turbid air and negative force began crazily leaking out, eroding the entire Spirit Realm. This turbid air, when encountering Pure Spiritual Qi, was incompatible as water and fire, consuming vast amounts of Spiritual Qi, and further rendering the laws of Heaven and Earth chaotic."

At this point, Sword Master Feng paused, his gaze piercing through layers of clouds and fog, seeing that dark age of ancient times.

"The Ancient Great Power managed to isolate the Nine Nether. Now, for unknown reasons, the pollution from the Nine Nether is intensifying, gradually eroding the foundation of the Spirit Realm, causing the damage to numerous Main Spirit Veins, resulting in increasingly thinning Spiritual Qi, leading to the current predicament of Spiritual Qi depletion we are facing today."

"To fundamentally resolve this issue, we need to delve into the Land of the Nine Nether, seek out the source of pollution, and perhaps find the key to restoring Spiritual Qi and rebuilding order. But this journey is exceptionally perilous, with nine deaths and one life; it can only be undertaken by those with Heaven-defying ability and fearless hearts."

Sword Master Feng felt extremely heavy-hearted as he said this. He turned to look at Li Mu, finally introducing, "Our sect’s two Daoist Monarchs, precisely to completely resolve this crisis, boldly decided to venture deep into Nine Nether in attempt to find the secrets between Nine Nether and Spiritual Qi depletion, providing the realm with a line of hope."

Having listened to Sword Master Feng’s detailed explanation, Li Mu felt unexplainably conflicted, not expecting the high echelon of the Profound Celestial Sword Sect to shoulder such significant responsibility.

"Sword Master, based on the current rate of Spiritual Qi depletion, how long can the Spirit Realm’s Spirit Vein sustain?" Li Mu thought of something and asked Sword Master Feng with concern.

Sword Master Feng pondered for a moment, his brows tightly furrowed, slowly saying, "According to the sect elders’ calculations and the recent frequency of Spiritual Qi fluctuations, if no external interference occurs, at the current rate of depletion, the Spirit Realm can sustain at most another three thousand years. A thousand years later, Spiritual Qi will become thin, cultivation for High-Tier Cultivators will become arduous, and Low-Tier Cultivators will find it even harder to survive. By then, the entire Spirit Realm might fall into an unprecedented crisis."

"If this issue cannot be completely resolved within two thousand years, the realm’s Main Spirit Veins will suffer devastating damage, becoming completely irreparable, by then the Era of the End of Dharma will officially arrive." Sword Master Feng finally stated.

Upon hearing this, Li Mu’s heart sank; two thousand years, though seemingly long, in reality for a Cultivator, it was a mere flicker.