Chapter 606 - 334: Spirit Descent (Part 2)
The woman in plain clothes destroyed the Incarnation’s Divine Soul, then sighed and said,
"It looks like we’re in trouble. The mission from our superiors might be exposed because of this. If I’m not mistaken, this must be the Outer Body Incarnation Divine Technique!
The owner of this Incarnation has most likely discovered by now that he’s lost contact with it. As for whether he knows about our plan... that’s hard to say."
She was uncertain because she wasn’t familiar with this Divine Technique.
The Outer Body Incarnation had left a glorious mark on the long history of the Cultivation Realm. It had been the cornerstone of the rise of the Ten Thousand Transformations Divine Monarch, the first Divinity Transformation cultivator from outside Central Earth.
However, that was more than nine hundred thousand years ago.
𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶
After the Ten Thousand Transformations Divine Monarch fell, this Divine Technique vanished without a trace.
Many rumors about it had circulated throughout the Cultivation Realm.
The young man recalled one of the rumors. With a thoughtful look in his eyes, he analyzed, "The Southern Barbarian lands. It’s rumored in the old texts that after the Ten Thousand Transformations Divine Monarch perished, her descendants fled to the Southern Barbarian lands. And coincidentally, the Incarnation we captured has a Southern Barbarian identity."
"Of course I know he’s from the Southern Barbarian lands."
The woman in plain clothes sighed again. Gazing at the Incarnation Body slowly dissipating on the jade bed, she said worriedly, "The Southern Barbarian lands are vast. We have no idea who possesses this Divine Technique. Even if Martial Uncle personally tries to locate him, it will still take some time to hunt him down and kill him.
If the Spirit Descent Plan leaks, the Sect will face immense criticism, and we will both surely be reprimanded."
Xuanwang shook his head and addressed the woman in plain clothes, who was a Small Realm above him at the Mid-stage Nascent Soul Realm. "Senior Sister, I actually have a suspect. A while ago, a figure known as the Star Sun Old Demon appeared in the Southern Barbarian lands. He killed two other Nascent Soul cultivators in a row. I think..."
He was about to say that this was very likely the cultivator who had obtained the Outer Body Incarnation Divine Technique.
But just then, Zhao Lin’s expression suddenly changed, and she cried out,
"Oh no! The Incarnation has been triggered!"
...
BOOM! A deafening explosion rang out.
The Gui Miao Southern Barbarian Villa was blasted sky-high.
Lü Zhong blended into the crowd, watching the mushroom cloud slowly rise in the distance. He recalled the conversation between the two Gui Miao Immortal Palace cultivators and thought, ’This Cultivation Realm is truly a dark place.’
First, there was the Mysterious Dao Sect, which annihilated the Western Realm, and now the Gui Miao Immortal Sect, which harvests cultivators’ Golden Cores.
’None of them are any good!’
’Judging from what that Nascent Soul cultivator surnamed Xuan said, he clearly suspects me. I thought I could have a bit of peace for a while...’ Lü Zhong felt a deep sense of helplessness at the thought.
Even after reaching the Nascent Soul Stage, trouble just kept coming.
’Don’t tell me I have to reach the Divinity Transformation Stage just to be able to cultivate in peace?’
As if struck by a thought, his expression hardened and he left the crowd.
He turned into a deserted alley.
The next moment, starlight emerged on the surface of his skin.
’Starlight this intense... I’m afraid a Divinity Transformation Grand Venerable is taking action personally!’ Lü Zhong thought, feeling a surge of relief. ’Good thing I saw this coming. If this phenomenon had appeared back on the street, it would have been another huge mess.’
「Meanwhile.」
After receiving the reply from Central Earth, the expressions on Zhao Lin and Xuanwang’s faces were a sight to behold.
"What? Martial Uncle couldn’t divine his location!"
The "Martial Uncle" these Nascent Soul Cultivators spoke of was, of course, the current Divinity Transformation cultivator of the Gui Miao Immortal Sect.
Namely, "Luoying Fairy."
A mighty Divinity Transformation cultivator had personally performed a divination, yet had been unable to determine the person’s identity.
The two of them exchanged a look.
...
「Back at the trading post.」
Lü Zhong was now certain of one thing.
Since a Divinity Transformation Grand Venerable like Luoying Fairy had personally made a move to perform a divination, it meant the Gui Miao Immortal Sect now saw him as a thorn in their side.
’So what if I’m being targeted?’
He was just a mere Nascent Soul cultivator, after all.
And yet, he was being targeted by two Divinity Transformation cultivators at once.
More importantly, he was still alive and well.
’What’s so great about the legends of the East Sea? They’re all dead. I’m the real, living legend!’ Lü Zhong thought, trying to find some humor in his predicament.
Then, he began to consider his options.
For now, trying to kill Xuanwang with his current strength, let alone confronting the Gui Miao Immortal Sect, would be as futile as an egg trying to break a stone.
As he delved deeper into thought, a terrifying theory surfaced in his mind.
’Since Divinity Transformation cultivators in Central Earth use heavenly divination to find their targets at the drop of a hat, could the reason no new Divinity Transformation cultivators have appeared outside of Central Earth for so long be because...’
It wasn’t surprising that Lü Zhong would come to this conclusion.
After all, compared to Central Earth, the rate at which Divinity Transformation cultivators emerged elsewhere was truly quite low.
According to the ancient records, in the million years that had passed since the Immortals first imparted the Dao, only three Divinity Transformation cultivators had ever emerged from outside the Central Earth Sects.
On average, that was only one every 330,000 years.
In contrast, the Divinity Transformation lineages of the Four Central Earth Sects had never once been broken.
’Could it be that as soon as someone becomes a Great Cultivator, the Central Earth Divinity Transformation cultivators...’
Lü Zhong was shocked by his own theory. Considering the Mysterious Dao Sect’s annihilation of the Western Realm and the Gui Miao Immortal Sect’s current actions, it was entirely possible that the Central Earth Immortal Sects would resort to nipping any potential competitors in the bud to protect their resources.
’However, this is just my own speculation, with little factual basis. Over a million years in the Cultivation Realm, there have been so many astonishingly brilliant talents. It’s impossible that none of them noticed this. Perhaps I’m just overthinking things...’
’That said, I should still be more vigilant and gather more information from now on. Maybe I’ll actually find some clues. At the same time, I have to prevent the outside world from learning my true cultivation level to prevent the worst-case scenario.’
With that, Lü Zhong settled on his future plan.
...
「On the eve of the Lantern Festival.」
Lü Zhong discreetly returned to the Southern Barbarian lands.
In a nameless, shady little valley, the flowers long gone, Lü Zhong gazed at the lonely little grave before him. He felt little sadness, only a quiet remembrance of an old friend.
Sometimes, Lü Zhong couldn’t help but wonder.
He wondered if his promise to Li Hejun had become a special kind of anchor.
It allowed him to maintain his humanity through the long years, unlike most Nascent Soul True Monarchs, whose emotions gradually became indifferent. They turned into beings of pure Spiritual Qi, their feelings only stirring when their own interests were harmed, their minds bent solely on the pursuit of longevity.
He sighed softly and brushed the weeds from the grave.
He then lit three sticks of incense.
Then, he turned and left.
Tomorrow was a momentous day. It was not only the annual Lantern Festival but also the day the Bihai Sect would formally announce that it was replacing Changchun Valley to become one of the Seven Southern Barbarian Sects.
At a time like this, it would be inexcusable for him, the sect’s ancestor, not to make an appearance.
Thus, he transformed into a streak of rainbow light and flew toward Bihai Immortal City.
...
In the aftermath of the great battle, Bihai Immortal City was still a field of rubble and ruins.
Numerous craters could be seen in many parts of the city.
They were scattered across the streets or clustered densely on the city walls. Alongside the massive number of craters were highly suspicious, dark-red stains.
One couldn’t help but suspect it was the blood of a cultivator.
The creator of these craters was floating quietly above the Immortal City: a Flying Ship as majestic as a mountain, with enormous Bihai Sect banners draped down its two sides.
"The Bihai Ship!"
The name hung like a shadow over the hearts of many.
And at that moment, Lü Zhong appeared aboard the Mountain Shaking Ship.
Gazing at the group of battle-hardened Bihai Sect cultivators, led by Su Caocao and Hex Luo, he couldn’t help but feel a wave of emotion. Once upon a time, the Bihai Sect had been no better than a "Wild Chicken Sect"; its strongest members were only at the Qi Refining Realm, without a single Foundation Establishment cultivator among them.
But now, not only did it have over a hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators,
it had also managed to nurture three Core Formation cultivators.
If this kept up, relying on their astronomical and nearly incalculable resources, it wasn’t impossible for the Bihai Sect to replicate the former glory of Changchun Valley and achieve the grand feat of having two Nascent Soul cultivators in a single sect.
’Looks like the plan to fake my death needs to be put on the agenda.’
Looking down at the reverent crowd below, Lü Zhong felt it was necessary to be fully prepared.
After all, if his terrible theory was true, given the Bihai Sect’s current explosive growth, the Gui Miao Immortal Sect would definitely make a move once he broke through to the Mid-stage Nascent Soul Realm.
When that time came, the Bihai Sect might find itself with an "Eternal Life Hall" looming over it, just like Changchun Valley before them.