Chapter 576 - 524: Starting on Time

Chapter 576: Chapter 524: Starting on Time

A rapidly growing and maturing Realm, or a miraculous Spirit Rice that could enhance one’s Cultivation—the choice didn’t require much thought.

Even if the latter might not even be successfully cultivated, this was a Spirit Rice that had never circulated in the Cultivation Realm before. It had previously only grown in an Immortal Mansion.

If it could be grown in the outside world, the significance would be extraordinary.

’I should probably find a few true Spirit Plant Masters. There aren’t many Spirit Seeds, so I can’t let the youngsters in the Sect waste them...’

His own younger cousin was dedicated to the path of Spirit Plants and was studying diligently in Shennong Valley.

But he wouldn’t even trust the Spirit Plant Masters of the Shennong Sect with this task.

The Cyan Dragon Spirit Rice was simply too important to him.

The Nascent Soul True Monarch from the Fish Dragon Sect who had obtained the Qing Emperor Longevity Sword had eventually reached the Late-Stage Nascent Soul Realm.

His personal experience proved that the Cyan Dragon Spirit Rice was effective even for Late-Stage Nascent Soul Cultivators.

’Should I integrate the Earth into my personal Realm and then plant the Spirit Rice inside?’

Bai Zichen watched as, in a short time, his personal Realm began to clear its Primordial Qi thanks to the Earth. The foul, murky air sank, slowly transforming into deep brown soil.

The effect was so remarkable that he couldn’t help but let his mind wander again.

’No, that won’t work. Setting aside how much of its miraculous properties the Earth would retain after transforming the Realm, my personal Realm’s space is completely incapable of creating an environment suitable for the Spirit Rice to grow... If I use up the last of the Spirit Seeds, I’m afraid I won’t be able to find another batch in the entire Cultivation Realm.’

Bai Zichen had, after all, been in the Spirit Rice business before. He had earned his first pot of gold after Foundation Establishment from Dragon Tooth Rice.

He had seen plenty, even if he’d never done it himself. Elder Tong had been an expert at handling Spirit Rice, and that skill alone had allowed a bottom-tier Qi Refining Loose Cultivator to change his fate.

He knew that the soil, temperature, humidity, and the environment of the Spirit Land, not to mention the pests it might attract, would all affect the final harvest.

Even a Grotto Heaven World couldn’t perfectly replicate the True Realm, let alone a newborn, immature personal Realm.

To guarantee the successful cultivation of the Cyan Dragon Spirit Rice, the best option was to visit that Immortal Mansion deep in the Outer Sea.

If he could replicate its environment as closely as possible, he wouldn’t have to worry about the harvest.

If the war between the Human and Demon Races hadn’t broken out, Bai Zichen might have already assumed the identity of Li Hansi and joined the main branches of the Fish Dragon Sect to explore the Immortal Mansion at sea.

But given the current situation, he couldn’t take such a massive risk.

If he went deep into the Outer Sea and his whereabouts were exposed, he would have no room to escape.

As for splitting the Earth in two, that was even more out of the question. This wasn’t the primordial Nine Heavens and Earth, which grew endlessly and never suffered from entropy.

A divided piece of Earth, regardless of its tier, was a fixed mass.

Even if it expanded into a small mountain, its core would remain the same size. Any soil cut from the periphery would have no miraculous properties.

’This item determines how long it will take for me to cultivate to Nascent Soul Perfection. If there’s enough, I could even give some to Brother Ge... A Divinity Transformation Cultivator under five hundred years old? I wonder if, aside from Innate Divine People and reincarnated Banished Immortals, there’s ever been a younger record in the Cultivation Realm.’

This clump of Tier Five Earth already had Forbidden Seals placed on it, and Bai Zichen cautiously added another five or six Talismans on top.

But it was wishful thinking to believe these Tier Three Talismans could completely restrain the Tier Five Earth.

At most, it would take a few years for the Earth to erode the Talismans’ effectiveness, so he would have to keep adding new ones.

Besides the Earth and the armor fragment, the Thousand-Legged Golden Centipede had also left behind several bright, clear Gold Pills.

They were perfectly round and seamless, as large as longan fruits.

When tapped, they would emit a crisp sound like the clash of metal on stone.

’They seem... somewhat familiar?’

Bai Zichen picked up two of them, letting them roll around in his palm.

Under the scrutiny of a Nascent Soul True Monarch’s Divine Sense, which missed no detail, the memory immediately came back to him.

Among the spoils contributed by Ao Zhe, the emissary from the Star Constellation Sea and descendant of the Divinity Transformation Elder Dragon who had died at his hands, was a bottle of identical Gold Pills.

’A Black Dragon from the Star Constellation Sea and a great centipede from Lankao Mountain. Besides both being of the Demon Race, they have nothing in common... Could it be that these are extremely useful to High-Tier Demon Beasts, which is why both of them collected these?’

Bai Zichen made a mental note of the Gold Pills. If he had the chance to capture a Great Demon in the future, he could interrogate it.

「Three days passed in the blink of an eye.」

Lianzhen Star Monarch still hadn’t appeared. It seemed his own situation was not looking good.

Any other Cultivator, as long as they could hold on, would never have been absent at such a critical moment.

Especially for a newcomer to the Star Palace like him. If he missed this chance to open the Sword-Cleansing Grotto Heaven, could he really expect the other Star Lords to make it up to him afterward?

"The hour has come. We depart immediately."

Po Jun Star Monarch had removed the disguise that came with his mask today, changing into a plain white Daoist Robe. It had wide, silver-trimmed sleeves and was cinched at the waist, completely devoid of any patterns from top to bottom.

Only on the inconspicuous collar was a seven-colored Sword Light embroidered.

"Hmph. A Sword Cultivator in white, his cold light illuminating the Five Domains... He hasn’t even entered the Sword-Cleansing Grotto Heaven and he’s already starting to assert his authority over us. He’s a disciple of the Taibai Sword Sect, after all."

Jumeng Star Monarch snorted coldly. This style of Daoist Robe was the standard uniform for disciples of the Taibai Sword Sect.

Changing his attire on a day like this—whether it was to commemorate his predecessors or to establish dominance—was open to interpretation.

The five of them flew for a considerable time to the center of the Star Palace Secret Realm, looking down at the light barrier below that resembled an inverted pot lid.

They truly had no idea how the Cultivators of the Taibai Sword Sect had managed to stuff the Sword-Cleansing Grotto Heaven into the Star Palace Secret Realm.

"Assume the positions I’ve arranged. Use your Star God Masks to convert your True Essence, and on my command, maintain the passage... Fellow Daoist Ziwei, I’ll have Senior Sword Spirit cooperate with you. You will be the one to wield the sword and cut open the entrance to the Grotto Heaven."

Po Jun Star Monarch was fully prepared, directing the several Star Lords to their designated positions.

"Let me say one thing first. I am the one who found the Tier Five Flying Sword, and Fellow Daoist Ziwei will be the one to wield it. Therefore, after we enter the Sword-Cleansing Grotto Heaven, if the final harvest isn’t enough to go around, the two of us must have priority. If the harvest far exceeds expectations, we must be granted an extra round of choices."

"It’s one thing for you to take an extra share, but on what grounds does Ziwei get one too? Did the two of you already make some private deal?"

Jumeng Star Monarch was the first to jump out, his voice filled with confusion and anger.

The other two Star Lords also cast doubtful glances. If there were cultivation techniques to be inherited, it would naturally be best to share them. But if it was some other kind of reward, this agreement could even cause the remaining three Star Lords to have labored in vain.

"On this. Without me, none of you can open the Sword-Cleansing Grotto Heaven..."

Bai Zichen’s gaze was fixed on the Qing Si Sword that Po Jun Star Monarch held. With a flick of his wrist, dozens of strands of Sword Light obediently danced back and forth under his control.

The Sword Light shot out, merging from dozens of strands into one, then scattering into a hundred.

It gathered and dispersed at his will, solid and real, by no means an illusion of Sword Light.

"Sword Light Division..." the Deity of the Moon cried out in shock.

The expressions on Jumeng Star Monarch and Tiann Xiang Star Monarch were much the same, a mixture of discomposure and astonishment.

Every Star Lord was a Nascent Soul Sword Cultivator, possessing at least the Realm of Refining Sword into Silk. Their judgment was not poor.

They would never mistake the difference between Sword Light Division and illusory Sword Light.

The Deity of the Moon knew that Ziwei Star Monarch’s strength would not be weak, but she couldn’t quickly accept that he had suddenly become a Cultivator who possessed the Sword Light Division Realm.

In the Cultivation Realm, this was a feat only achievable by highly respected Sword Cultivators who had been famous for a long time.

And Ziwei Star Monarch had been just an Early-Stage Nascent Soul Cultivator not long ago.

Bai Zichen paid this no mind. His attention was entirely on the Qing Si Sword. This was his first time truly controlling a Tier Five Flying Sword.

He just wondered if he could take this opportunity to communicate with the Sword Spirit and persuade the Qing Si Sword to come with him.

"If that’s the case, I have no other objections."

"I as well."

By revealing his Sword Light Division Realm, Bai Zichen had cleanly and decisively won their approval. He took the Qing Si Sword from Po Jun Star Monarch’s hands with both of his.

The moment he touched the ferociously-breathing, strangely-styled Flying Sword, a deep voice rang out, filled with disdain and arrogance.

"Your strength is passable. Barely enough to borrow my power for a single strike... but you’re far inferior to Taibai. Back then, at the Late-Stage Nascent Soul Cultivation, he had already reached the Realm of One Sword Births Ten Thousand Techniques."

The Qing Si Sword was clearly speaking of the Taibai Sword Monarch, the strongest and most legendary of the seven founders of the Taibai Sword Sect.

He was the last Cultivator of the Near Ancient era to achieve Ascension to the Upper Realm, and there was reliable proof of it.

"Fellow Daoist Ziwei, I need you to control the Flying Sword with all your strength and strike the position I indicate as a breakthrough point. Simultaneously activate Sword Light Division to widen the passage as much as possible..."

Bai Zichen closed his eyes. Po Jun Star Monarch’s instructions flowed past his ears like water, his mind filled with nothing but the Qing Si Sword.

This was not his first time obtaining a Tier Five Flying Sword, but it was the first time a Tier Five Flying Sword had actively cooperated with him, casting him in the role of a Sword Holder.

The power emanating from the Qing Si Sword in his hand surpassed that of any Flying Sword he owned, including his Ziwei Dazzling Thunder Sword in its current state.

As for whether it was stronger or weaker than the Abi Heavenly Prison Demon Sword, he hadn’t truly compared them, so he couldn’t make a judgment.

Before the sword was even raised, its tip began to vibrate wildly, shaking the Star Palace Secret Realm and causing a series of cracks to appear.

They came quickly and vanished just as fast.

The rules of a Secret Realm and the Rules of Heaven and Earth in the True Realm were two completely different things. The former was more easily broken and subject to fewer restrictions.

When Bai Zichen felt his resonance with the Qing Si Sword reach a certain point, his body’s True Essence was completely drained by the Flying Sword in one go.

For this strike, he was merely going with the flow. The Flying Sword in his hand had a mind of its own, only needing him to provide True Essence and his Sword Dao Realm.

The Qing Si Sword took the lead. As a breeze rustled the verdant plants, a beam of jade light suddenly shot up, like a comet flashing through the night sky.

When the Sword Light flared, it seemed to absorb all the light in the Secret Realm. The light barrier around them became illusory and transparent, and countless void fissures appeared once more.

What an astonishingly brilliant strike. From a few feet of Sword Light before his chest, it swelled into a jade dragon that illuminated the entire Star Palace Secret Realm.

Across thousands of miles, light and darkness alternated, all caused by a single sword.

A sudden realization dawned on Bai Zichen: with this strike, no matter where an opponent was within this vast expanse, the Sword Light would be a guaranteed hit.

CRACK!

A small, wrist-thick opening appeared on the inverted light barrier. Instead of expanding, it was contracting inward.

He activated Sword Light Division. The single jade dragon became ten, forming the strongest possible framework to prop open this tiny gap.

At the same time, the remaining four, including Po Jun Star Monarch, used their masks to convert their True Essence, sparing no effort to gradually stabilize the opening.