Chapter 249 - 216: Blessed Land (Part 2)

"I know you’re anxious, but you must understand that going too far is as bad as not going far enough. You’ve just entered the Harmony realm and your state needs to be stabilized. Although a great tribulation is upon us, this is precisely the time to test your composure. An unbalanced mindset will lead you to destroy your own foundation."

The Human Elder advised, worried that with a great enemy at hand, he would act too hastily and make a mistake.

"That’s right. Cultivation cannot be rushed. The more you hurry, the less progress you make. You’ve been wound too tight lately; you need to relax a little."

The Earth Elder also shook his head and said.

"Three Elders, I know my own situation best. And I certainly understand the priorities of my own cultivation. If you have a suitable method, I hope you will inform me."

Zhao Xuanqi said with a solemn expression.

The Three Elders’ concerns were not unfounded. The most crucial aspect of the Harmony realm was having one’s Intent Reach All Over the Body for deep control. If one’s Physical Ability grew too quickly, surpassing the control of their will, their realm would become unstable, or even regress.

But this did not apply to Zhao Xuanqi. In his case, his will was far stronger than his body; his Physical Ability couldn’t keep up with his Spirit.

The Three Elders met Zhao Xuanqi’s gaze. No one spoke. The elders seemed to sense that Zhao Xuanqi’s attitude was not the result of a decision made in a moment of desperation.

"There is a method, but it remains to be seen if you have the skill for it."

The Heavenly Elder was silent for a moment before speaking slowly.

"Big Brother, you’re talking about... at this point in time, it’s probably not the right moment, is it?"

The Earth Elder said with a frown.

"Oh? And what method is that?"

Zhao Xuanqi was slightly surprised.

"Have you heard of the ’Beast District’?"

The Heavenly Elder asked Zhao Xuanqi.

"Beast District?"

Zhao Xuanqi’s expression shifted.

The so-called Beast Districts were places where the major powers raised Rare Beasts.

In ancient times, the largest Beast District was the Royal Family’s Imperial Garden, which gathered Rare Beasts from all over the world, effectively controlling the lifeblood of the Martial Dao.

By collecting the world’s Rare Beasts and destroying its Martial Records, all military might and power came to belong to the imperial house.

But now, the Imperial Dynasty had been destroyed, and the Imperial Garden had been carved up by the major powers. These powers now raised their own Rare Beasts and cultivated Rare Beast Materials in places known as Beast Districts.

Beast Districts were one of the most important resources for any major power. As such, they were either heavily guarded by troops or located in deep mountains and old forests, extremely well-hidden and difficult to find.

As one of the Divine Land’s century-old Martial Dao powers, the Jinmen Martial Arts Association had its own Beast District, in addition to its channels for acquiring Rare Beasts.

"Correct. My Jinmen Martial Arts Association has its own Beast District, and it might have what you need. If you’re interested, I’ll have the Earth Elder take you there."

"However, getting that thing won’t be easy. It already has a master."

The Heavenly Elder said to Zhao Xuanqi.

"Has a master?"

Zhao Xuanqi grew even more confused upon hearing this.

The Jinmen Martial Arts Association’s Beast District belonged to the association. They should be able to freely utilize any material within it.

"You’ll understand when you get there."

The Heavenly Elder smiled, saying no more.

「At noon, in the northern outskirts of Jinmen.」

Two figures flickered through the wilderness, as swift as phantoms, flashing quickly through the woods. It was Zhao Xuanqi and the Earth Elder.

Jinmen was currently crawling with spies, and the Three Elders were primary targets of observation. If one of them disappeared for too long, it would surely arouse suspicion. Thus, only the Earth Elder was sent.

To avoid prying eyes and ears, the two didn’t even take any form of transportation. However, with their level of cultivation, even with the Earth Elder’s somewhat poorer Physical Ability, covering a hundred kilometers in an hour or two was not a difficult task.

Soon, the two were deep in the wilderness. The terrain in northern Jinmen was hilly with continuous mountain ranges. After following the Earth Elder’s footsteps and sprinting through the deep mountain forest for some time, Zhao Xuanqi sensed something was off.

Imperceptibly, he seemed to sense a change in the magnetic field between heaven and earth.

It was hazy and chaotic. If an ordinary person were to venture deep inside, their sense of direction would likely be thrown into disarray. If they held a magnetic device like a compass or a watch, the magnets would probably malfunction as well.

"An Array?!"

Zhao Xuanqi asked aloud, slightly astonished.

If it really was an Array, for it to cover such a vast area was simply incredible. How could human power accomplish such a feat?

"No. The heavens have their celestial phenomena, and the earth has its terrain. This was formed naturally. The art of Qimen Formations is, in fact, based on imitating the unique terrain of heaven and earth. This is a natural geological formation that obscures Celestial Secrets and alters nature. It’s formed by the convergence of eight mountain and Earth Veins, and it’s called ’Eight Dragons and One Pearl’."

"Nine Dragons is the ultimate number, a sign of great fortune. But eight dragons means a group of dragons without a leader. When the Earth Veins run wild, heaven and earth fall into chaos. It’s just like the world today: with eight great Warlords rising, the world knows no peace. This Eight Dragons Muddled Pearl Land has a shifting geomagnetic field, and the rampant miasma born from the chaotic earth qi makes it extremely treacherous. Be careful."

The Earth Elder said, pointing ahead.

Sure enough, Zhao Xuanqi saw thick miasma shrouding everything in the distant mountain forest, reducing visibility to near zero. The surrounding plants seemed to be poisonous, and many venomous insects and wild beasts roamed about. If an ordinary person were to enter the miasma, they would easily be poisoned and then attacked by ferocious beasts.

But for people like Zhao Xuanqi, with their robust physiques and incredibly long-lasting breath, the miasma was hardly a threat. With a release of their aura, the venomous insects and ferocious beasts would give them a wide berth.

However, even a Martial Arts Expert would easily get lost in such miasma. Compounded by the chaotic geomagnetic field rendering navigational tools useless, finding a specific target would be extremely difficult.

It was a natural barrier.

It was not surprising that the Three Elders had such abilities. They were successors of Qimen, possessed high realms of cultivation, and their sect had a long and storied heritage.

Upon entering the miasma, the Earth Elder’s pace slowed considerably. He took a Compass-like object from his breast pocket. Affected by the shifting geomagnetic field, the Compass needle spun erratically. However, this was clearly no challenge for a top-tier expert of the Divine Land’s Qimen like the Earth Elder.

BOOM!

His aura manifested, using his personal magnetic field to correct the magnetic field of the world around him. It was a profound, subtle, and meticulous process. Under the blanket of his aura, the surrounding magnetic field instantly returned to normal, and the Compass began to function properly.

This would be impossible without a powerful foundation in Qimen.

"This way. Follow me."

The Earth Elder said, glancing at the Compass to determine a direction. Then he moved his feet, quickly advancing through the miasma.

They traveled for another half hour or so. The deeper they went, the thicker the miasma became. Toward the end, Zhao Xuanqi and the Earth Elder had to use their Gang Qi to create Vibrations in the air around them, otherwise visibility would have been less than a meter.

After walking a bit further, the miasma suddenly dissipated. The clouds parted to reveal the sun, and everything returned to normal.

"This is..."

Zhao Xuanqi frowned slightly. The scene before him made him feel as if he had arrived in a paradise hidden from the world.

The mountains were green and the water was clear under a bright, shining sun. The temperature was pleasant. One had to remember that winter had already begun in the outside world, yet this place seemed to be in an eternal spring.

The trees were dense and bursting with Vitality.

Most importantly, Zhao Xuanqi could feel a naturally occurring magnetic field in the environment that calmed the minds of those within it, bringing them peace and joy, which in turn regulated their body’s endocrine system.

If someone were to live here, they would likely be free from disaster and illness and live to a ripe old age.

This was a so-called Blessed Land, created by nature itself.

"Eight Dragons and One Pearl. Although it means ’a group of dragons without a leader’ and ’chaos throughout the land,’ there’s a saying: ’What has long been divided must unite, and what has long been united must divide.’ When the world is in chaos, a true king must rise. The ’pearl’ among these eight dragons is the Dragon Embryo. The movement of the Earth Veins has formed this Blessed Land, gathering the spiritual qi of heaven and earth to nurture a true dragon."

The Earth Elder explained to Zhao Xuanqi.

"Interesting. Truly interesting. The wonders of creation are even more profound than the Martial Dao."

Zhao Xuanqi was also somewhat moved. The way of Qimen was vast and profound; there were certainly aspects he could learn from.

"So this is the Martial Arts Association’s Beast District? Where is the thing we’re looking for? And who is this ’master’? You should be able to tell me now, right?"

Zhao Xuanqi asked the Earth Elder.

"This is a place favored by creation itself. It has existed for an unknown number of ages. When a senior of my sect discovered this place, it already had a master. That great predecessor merely reached an agreement with it, allowing us to borrow some of this land’s precious qi."

The Earth Elder said.

"Who exactly is the master?"

Zhao Xuanqi grew even more curious.

"The master is this land’s ’Mountain God’."