Chapter 545 - 508: Returning to the Southern Domain

Chapter 545: Chapter 508: Returning to the Southern Domain

’What’s the use of the Ziwei Dazzling Thunder Sword being able to counter that Supreme Treasure when I, its master, am only in the Early-Stage Nascent Soul Realm... Stumbling into a battle of this magnitude, I’d be crushed to dust in a single encounter. Could the key to victory really require the sacrifice of my life?’

As he flew on his sword, all sorts of bizarre thoughts raced through Bai Zichen’s mind.

He had to admit, the inference made by Shan Zhi of the Evil Fate Sect had deeply affected him; his mind had not been at peace even now.

’The Destiny Path... while not like Time or Space, which are nearly impossible for Cultivators of the Human World to master, it is still one of the supreme Great Daos. Omniscience, omnipotence, a complete understanding of Yin and Yang... these are merely the lofty aspirations of every Cultivator who walks the Destiny Path. More often, it is like a blind man trying to describe an elephant, seeing only a single leaf and missing the entire forest...’

After flying for thousands of miles, Bai Zichen was finally able to view Shan Zhi’s inference with a calmer, more detached state of mind.

’The Evil Fate Sect once issued a prophecy about the Taibai Sword Monarch, saying he was too unyielding and would easily break. Yet he became the last Divinity Transformation Great Power confirmed to have successfully undergone Ascension. Shan Zhi himself is only in the Nascent Soul Realm. Even with the help of a Secret Treasure, it’s a stretch for him to divine the outcome of the war between our two races, so it’s normal that there would be mistakes. But the Demon Race invasion... it probably won’t be resolved as easily as I’d thought. This will be a truly bitter war.’

If the day truly came when the Eastern Domain fell and the Major Sects of the Central Domain were powerless to resist, other Cultivators might have a chance to flee. But he, as the bearer of the Holy Beast Essence Blood, was the Dragon Monarch’s number one target. Adding to that the fact he had killed a descendant of the Divinity Transformation Elder Dragon, he feared there would be no escape for him, even if he grew wings.

Even the distant Qingfeng Sect on Black Mountain would be implicated, instantly overrun by Demon Beasts.

Yet even for Bai Zichen, the prospect of gaining enough strength to contend with a Divinity Transformation Demon Lord within a century still seemed remote and unreachable.

’One hundred years isn’t even enough time to reach the Late-Stage Nascent Soul, so a breakthrough in my Cultivation is out of the question... If my Sword Dao Realm breaks through to the Fifth Realm, Sword Light Division, dealing with Late-Stage Nascent Soul Cultivators would become easier, but it wouldn’t help me cross the Divinity Transformation Celestial Chasm... The Star River Sword Array... if I could turn all its Array Flying Swords into Tier Four swords, I might be able to survive against a Tier Five Demon Monarch.’

Bai Zichen began taking stock of his trump cards, searching for ways to rapidly unleash his potential and drastically boost his combat strength.

’No, that’s not right. If I switched to Tier Four Flying Swords, the Sword Array’s True Essence consumption would more than double, and I’d be right back to the old problem of being unable to sustain all twelve swords at once. The only way to solve this seemingly impossible puzzle is to master the Cave Profound Godslaying Sword Scripture and successively go through the Refinement of several Lifebound Flying Swords.’

The more he thought about it, the more his head ached. Even if he found a solution for the Cultivation Technique, where would he find so many Tier Four Flying Swords?

He was considered to have a strong affinity with flying swords, yet to this day he only possessed three Tier Four Flying Swords.

Consider Po Jun Star Monarch, who, after so many years, was still using a pair of Tier Three Bronze Ancient Swords, having not yet managed to upgrade to Tier Four Flying Swords.

’There is another way. I could master the complete Qing Emperor Longevity Sword technique while also making another breakthrough in my Time True Intent. That Old Dragon is at least ten thousand years old; even with the long lifespan of the Dragon Race, he can’t possibly have thousands of years left. With both my swords unleashed, I would pose a significant threat even to a Tier Five Demon Monarch.’

’Then there are the Nine Heavens Bone Forging Techniques. As a Body Refining Technique from the Upper Realm, the few Immortal Bones I’ve forged have certainly proven useful, but they still fall short of the level of a Sword Immortal’s legacy and don’t quite live up to their name. Do I really have to forge all seven Immortal Bones before their true power is revealed?’

The streak of Sword Light paused; he had unconsciously flown out of the Central Domain.

Bai Zichen decided to advance on all fronts, improving his strength in multiple areas at once.

He had subconsciously flown toward the Southern Domain, his mind on the two remaining drops of Rejuvenating Holy Water, and he was planning to go collect two more drops of Earth Spirit Milk.

After mixing and consuming the concoction, he would be able to boost his Cultivation significantly.

On second thought, the Southern Domain was actually perfect for him.

At present, the entire Cultivation Realm’s attention was on the Eastern Domain and the great war between the Human-Demon Races. The stir he had caused by defeating Xiang Banshan, a cultivator of a higher realm, was now completely overshadowed.

This was the perfect opportunity to enter the Hundred Thousand Evil Mountains, collect poisons, and cultivate the Hundred Poison Green Scale Bone.

Furthermore, there were persistent rumors that the Spring and Autumn Cicada originated from the Hundred Thousand Evil Mountains. If he could find another one, he would have a chance to advance further along the Time Path.

「More than ten days later.」

Bai Zichen reappeared in the grotto and saw two newly formed drops of Earth Spirit Milk in the stone basin. He immediately took out a Jade Bottle and collected them.

Wasting no time, he activated a Magic Formula. An invisible ripple emanated from his mask, and his figure, as if affected by a Teleportation Technique, slowly vanished from the air.

Upon returning to the Star Palace Secret Realm, one always appeared in the Divine Statue Hall.

Bai Zichen habitually checked the Memory Stone first and saw a new message from the Jumeng Star Star Monarch.

It said that he had reached the Eastern Domain, fought several battles with the Outer Sea Demon Clan, and after slaying dozens of Tier Three Demon Beasts, had run into a Transformed Turtle Demon.

After battling for days, he found himself completely unable to bypass its Protective Divine Power and was forced to retreat.

The message was an invitation to other Star Lords in the vicinity, asking if they could team up to hunt the Tier Four Turtle Demon.

A Transformed Great Demon, even if they couldn’t get much loot from it, its Tier Four corpse alone could be exchanged for a hefty sum of Spirit Stones.

’The Eastern Domain is perilous, but also full of opportunities... Still, if I were to appear on the coast, I fear the Dragon Monarch would lead the Star Constellation Sea Monster Beasts to completely surround me in the very next moment.’

After a moment’s thought, Bai Zichen lifted his finger from the Memory Stone, deciding not to record Shan Zhi’s explosive inference.

After all, it was just one person’s account; it wouldn’t be right to jump to conclusions based on that alone.

"The Divinity Transformation Demon Lords of the Demon Race seem to have some kind of support, allowing them to act at minimal cost... Be extremely careful, and do not fall into an encirclement by the Demon Race."

In the end, Bai Zichen wrote a vague message, hoping the other Star Lords would see it.

As long as even part of Shan Zhi’s inference came true, his message wouldn’t be a lie. If the Demon Race managed to avoid being driven back to the sea in short order, the only explanation would be that the Divinity Transformation Elder Dragon was acting frequently, obstructing the grand army of Human Race Cultivators.

For a Divinity Transformation Great Power, remaining in the outside world was tantamount to having their lifespan rapidly drain away.

Even more importantly, with every bit of power they used, their resonance with their Great Dao True Intent would deepen, pulling them uncontrollably closer to the Great Dao.

Once a critical threshold was reached, they would be completely stripped from the Mortal World and forced to undergo Ascension, ready or not.

Once this world could no longer contain you, it wouldn’t matter if you had reached Divinity Transformation Perfection or not—a spatial rift would tear open right in front of you, forcibly initiating your Ascension.

Without adequate preparation, without being at a proper spatial node, such an Ascension meant certain death. There could be no other outcome.

That is why a Divinity Transformation Great Power would so carefully weigh their target, considering if it was truly worth the price of taking action.

Bai Zichen was well-practiced in preparing the new Spiritual Liquid from a mixture of Rejuvenating Holy Water and Earth Spirit Milk. Upon returning to his familiar Tower Temple, he consumed it on the spot.

The Spiritual Liquid made Nascent Soul Xiaobai let out a contented hum. This cheat-like method of Cultivation could truly become addictive.

A Cultivator with weak willpower, after experiencing such a rapid rate of Cultivation, would easily lose interest in the methodical process of refining nature’s spiritual energy.

They would become obsessed with all kinds of Miracle Elixirs and Jade Dews, seeking only to gain Cultivation without any real effort.

The daily grind of circulating nature’s spiritual energy and going through the Refinement of True Essence was far too dull and tedious, and the speed couldn’t even begin to compare.

Fortunately, Bai Zichen had the patience to endure the loneliness of Cultivation, largely because he knew that as long as his True Essence was abundant and he cultivated to the peak of his current Realm, he would naturally break through to the next.

He didn’t share the same anxiety as other Cultivators, the uncertainty about the path forward. It was as if his journey of Cultivation had been paved into a clearly marked track with distinct stages.

As long as he reached one stage, he would receive the rewards for that stage.

Effort brought reward; every action had an echo.

Within the Star Palace Secret Realm, Bai Zichen rediscovered the feeling of his days in secluded Cultivation on Black Mountain. In this silent, empty environment where the sun and moon never changed, it was even easier to lose track of time, and he was quickly immersed in his Cultivation.

...

"Hah... hah... To think such a Destiny Plate exists! It shows a different result with every observation!"

Shan Zhi lay on the Cloud Bed, the blood still smeared across his face.

"I’ve run the calculation seven times, and every single one shows a supreme Destiny Plate, each indicating the potential for Divinity Transformation... How can such a Destiny Plate possibly exist under the heavens!"

The turtle shell beside him, which at first had only fine cracks along its edges, was now audibly cracking as the fractures spread relentlessly toward its center.

This was the hereditary treasure of the Evil Fate Sect, created through the Refining of a Tier Five Profound Turtle’s shell, and it provided a tremendous boost to any Divine Calculation.

Its more important function was to absorb the backlash a Cultivator would suffer from prying into the secrets of destiny.

Otherwise, for a Nascent Soul Cultivator like Shan Zhi, the consequences wouldn’t have been as simple as violently coughing up Essence Blood; he would have likely already perished.