With the Kui Ox thoroughly subdued, Luo Chen's Million Baleful Souls Banner finally lived up to its name.
At the peak, a Tier 5 ghost-god served as the primary soul; at the base, a million low-tier resentful souls formed a sturdy foundation; and in between were numerous Tier 3 and Tier 4 ghost kings and ghost emperors.
Even if it could only be used once or twice, having the ability to condense the Kui Ox's divine body in a dire crisis meant that Luo Chen possessed a helper on par with a Deity Transformation cultivator.
Only now did Luo Chen breathe a faint sigh of relief.
Neither the Blood Jade Three Flames Fan, his formidable primordial spirit, nor his myriad techniques and divine abilities had ever given him a complete sense of security.
After all, the formidable enemy he envisioned was not merely an individual Deity Transformation powerhouse, but the terrifying foundation accumulated over thousands of years by the Tianyuan Dao Sect.
In particular, during the Central Plains Great Catastrophe years ago, the numerous avatar projections of Deity Transformation figures descending through the Star Gate passage were something no sect in the Mountain Sea Realm could match.
Not even the other four great sacred lands!
Although word had it that the Star Gate had mysteriously vanished and the traditional Star Gate Guest Elder system had collapsed, there was no guarantee that the Tianyuan Dao Sect lacked other means to seek aid from the Profound Realm.
This Kui Ox ghost-god was one of Luo Chen's greatest reliances.
If a situation proved entirely hopeless, he could readily follow Monarch Qixia's example and order the ghost-god to self-destruct, securing his retreat.
"Next comes my cultivation in the sword scripture!"
Murmuring to himself, Luo Chen summoned a wisp of rosy dawn light to his fingertips.
It was none other than Crimson Firmament Qi, one of the nine great firmament qis!
According to ancient records, these extraordinary gasses were natural products gathered in the azure empyrean when the turbid descended and the clear ascended, congregating spiritual energy of various attributes. They were regarded as the finest essences between heaven and earth!
Yet as Luo Chen came into contact with them more frequently and refined vast quantities of firmament qi, his comprehension of their nature deepened.
In his eyes now, firmament qi was far from that simple.
Born in the azure empyrean of the extreme heavens, it rested against the boundary of a realm while facing the infinite cosmos.
The reason it possessed such overbearing might was very likely due to absorbing certain unique substances from outer space, granting it such terrifying power.
Sovereign Jiuling had never comprehended law true intent, yet solely by refining massive quantities of firmament qi, his strength rivaled contemporaries who had grasped law true intent.
In particular, his Grand Nine Firmaments Heavenly River boasted power comparable to a divine ability!
It was difficult to judge whether the Myriad Firmaments Myriad Transformations Sword Scripture or the Grand Nine Firmaments Heavenly River was superior, but in Luo Chen's assessment, the pure lethality of the Thousand Firmaments Sword Qi was at least one or two notches higher.
"I only have a hundred strands of firmament qi left. Even if I refine them all, they won't be enough to push my mastery of this sword art to the Master tier, let alone Grand Perfection.
"It is time to capture wild firmament qi."
Luo Chen turned his gaze toward the void, his eyes alight with high ambition.
Relying on oneself to catch firmament qi was mostly a matter of luck.
Often, several years would pass before one stumbled upon a strand or two by chance.
That was of little help to Luo Chen.
Fortunately, he had prepared for this long ago!
With a flick of his wrist, a thud echoed as a large black urn settled before him.
It was precisely the heirloom True Artifact of the Nine Spirits Sect—the Nine Firmaments Urn!
Relying on this treasure, the Nine Spirits Sect had steadily captured vast amounts of firmament qi, supporting Sovereign Jiuling in mastering that formidable technique, the Grand Nine Firmaments Heavenly River.
Had the two-century war in the Eastern Desolation not prevented Sovereign Jiuling from gathering firmament qi in peace, he likely would have been even more formidable.
With Luo Chen's attainments in artifact crafting, he could faintly discern some clues about this True Artifact.
Its primary material was a unique mineral with an extraordinarily sharp sensitivity to firmament qi.
The formations inscribed upon it were focused primarily on gathering and suppression, alongside arrays specifically designed to help a cultivator broaden their divine sense search perimeter.
As for offensive and defensive benefits in combat, it offered little.
Evidently, it was a specialized treasure crafted purely to detect, capture, and refine firmament qi.
Its method of use was relatively simple: driven by magic power and guided by divine sense, it radiated outward centered upon the cultivator.
The stronger the divine sense, the broader the search area.
This was an enormous boon for Luo Chen!
His present divine sense strength was unrivaled under the heavens, allowing him to hunt for firmament qi with an efficiency far outstripping that of ordinary Nascent Soul True Persons.
"Then let us divide our attention: refining Crimson Firmament Sword Qi with one half, while searching for more of the nine firmament qis with the other!"
Luo Chen smiled faintly, channeling a strand of magic power into the Nine Firmaments Urn as his divine sense drifted outward through the great vessel.
Indeed, augmented by this treasure, Luo Chen's divine sense yielded a singular sensation.
Under normal circumstances, whether spiritual awareness, spiritual sense, or even the divine intent of a Deity Transformation powerhouse, what one sensed most easily were living beings and the spirit inherent within them.
Yet boosted by the Nine Firmaments Urn, Luo Chen was surprised to find that his divine sense developed a delicate perception for inanimate objects devoid of spirit.
Particularly firmament qi!
"Oh, what a coincidence! A strand of firmament qi just eight hundred li away?"
Luo Chen raised an eyebrow, a smile playing at the corners of his lips.
His robes fluttering in the wind, he stepped forward and transformed into a streak of light, vanishing into the far reaches of the azure empyrean.
***
Tiannan Continent, within the Zhou family's Drinking Green Water Pavilion.
Two young figures sat facing each other in silence, eating small bites of steaming dishes without a word.
Every single dish brimmed with abundant spiritual energy—spirit fare that countless low-tier cultivators would salivate over.
Yet to the two of them, no matter how delicious the food, it tasted bitter and bland.
Time trickled away, eventually reaching the moment of departure.
Clack!
Setting his chopsticks down, Zhou Fuyou looked up at the quiet young woman across from him.
"Maomao, I'm leaving."
Keeping her head bowed, she chewed the distinct grains of rice and murmured, "Mm."
"Before leaving, I arranged everything. You will collect the share of cultivation resources meant for me. The Third Elder will personally instruct you. In addition, I specifically requested a defensive dharma treasure from the Old Ancestor; once you reach Foundation Establishment, remember to refine it."
"I know."
"Granny Lin is getting old, and her lifespan will likely run out in a few years. When that time comes, you must take good care of yourself in daily life. There is no need to show pity to the servants—feel free to order them about."
"I'll take good care of myself."
"Lastly, I've considered your cultivation path. So long as you work hard and the resources keep up, you stand a great chance of reaching Foundation Establishment. But after Foundation Establishment, the Elixir Spiritual Root will dissipate. Relying purely on spiritual sense and your qi sea, your progress will inevitably lag behind others. Therefore, I believe you could try transitioning to the martial path, relying on body refinement to advance to higher stages. The ample lifespan granted by Foundation Establishment should be enough to support you to Tier 3 of body refinement."
As Zhou Fuyou spoke, he retrieved a thick tome from his storage bag.
"I have dabbled little in martial body refinement, but I have read martial scriptures extensively since childhood, and I obtained vast knowledge on martial body refinement from the clan's scripture pavilion and the Old Ancestor. It is all recorded here. In your spare time from cultivation, be sure to read it and prepare for the future."
Every word and sentence brimmed with tender, earnest protectiveness.
The young woman finally raised her head, her eyes brimming with tears.
"Brother, will you not be coming back in the future?"
Zhou Fuyou shook his head, offering an affectionate smile.
"How could that be? I am merely going to the Tiannan Dao Palace for further study. Once I establish a firm footing there, I will bring you over. Then, brother and sister will cultivate together and become disciples of the Tianyuan Dao Sect side by side."
Tears streaming down her face, Zhou Qingyu asked, "Then why are you making so many arrangements, as if preparing your final words?"
Zhou Fuyou froze.
In truth, he did not know either.
With the Old Ancestor's promise, the clan could not possibly mistreat his sister, yet he still felt uneasy enough to arrange everything, even planning her path beyond Foundation Establishment.
Why was that?
Was it an unease in his heart, or confusion about the future?
Zhou Fuyou instinctively wanted to comfort her. "I just want you to live..."
"Brother, go to the Dao Palace with peace of mind. I will definitely work hard in my cultivation!" Zhou Qingyu cut him off, wiping the tears from her face to reveal a resolute expression.
Zhou Fuyou parted his lips, but in the end said nothing.
Calling the servants in to clear the table, he took Zhou Qingyu for a stroll through the Drinking Green Water Pavilion, gradually walking deeper into the clan grounds.
With every place they visited, many childhood memories surfaced in their minds.
The siblings walked in silence as every Zhou clansman they met offered respectful greetings.
Only late into the night did they return home and quietly drift to sleep.
The night passed, and dawn broke.
At the entrance of the Drinking Green Water Pavilion, several figures conversed in hushed tones.
"Let us go!"
Zhou Yunshen waved his hand, releasing an unassuming flying boat and gesturing for Zhou Fuyou to board.
Zhou Fuyou looked back. His sister stood beside the Third Elder, biting her lip and waving her hand.
"Brother, goodbye!"
Third Elder Zhou Shuzhen bowed respectfully. "May the Old Ancestor have a smooth journey!"
Zhou Yunshen smiled kindly. Once Zhou Fuyou stepped aboard, he gave his sleeve a flick, and the flying boat drifted weightlessly into the clouds.
In a flash, it vanished into the vast sea of mist.
***
Not long after leaving the Zhou family, the flying boat carrying the elder and youth hovered beside a mighty river.
Near the river lay a deep valley where numerous figures moved about, with streaks of escape light taking flight from time to time.
This was Hanjiang Valley!
Zhou Fuyou looked at the Old Ancestor in bewilderment, not understanding why he had brought him here.
Making no attempt to hide his intentions, Zhou Yunshen spread his divine sense and spoke calmly, "Ever since joining the Tianyuan Dao Sect, our Zhou family has always been cautious and prudent, never making enemies, yet never fearing anyone! For a trifling Hanjiang Valley Yin family to covet the Zhou family and resort to underhanded schemes, they deserve their due punishment."
As he spoke, he let out a cold snort and lightly raised a hand.
The next instant, the surging river roared out of its channel, pouring straight toward Hanjiang Valley.
Not only that, but several demon beasts within it instantly turned red-eyed, beginning a slaughter of the Yin clansmen.
Blood spread wildly.
Occasionally, powerful Golden Core cultivators flew out, but found themselves mysteriously unable to exert their strength, only to be pounced upon and devoured by formidable demon beasts.
The river changed course, living creatures were enslaved, and countless lives were extinguished in the blink of an eye.
Watching this scene, Zhou Fuyou could not help swallowing hard.
Was this the might of a True Person?
Yet was doing this truly wise?
Seeming to sense the young man's worry, Zhou Yunshen smiled. "A shift in the earth's crust, a river rerouted, demon beasts running amok to slaughter the Yin family! Such an explanation will suffice for most."
"Yet how will we answer to the Tiannan Dao Palace?"
Zhou Fuyou remained puzzled.
He had thoroughly read the records regarding the Central Plains.
In the vast Central Plains, the Tianyuan Dao Sect stood at the helm, supported by twelve great houses, thirty-six clans, and three thousand humble sects.
The Dao Palace encouraged competition, but strictly forbade senseless slaughter.
Even though the Central Plains had collapsed into three continents and the Heaven Earth Island, the Dao Sect's grip remained.
The Dao Palace on the Tiannan Continent was a banner!
So long as this banner stood, competition among the various powers below had to remain within certain bounds.
The destruction of the Hanjiang Valley Yin family overnight would inevitably draw inquiries from the Dao Palace.
To this, Zhou Yunshen still displayed an air of indifference.
"So long as you are here, even if the Dao Palace suspects it was my doing, suspects the Zhou family is the culprit, they will not hold the Zhou family accountable. On the contrary, after this matter, the powers across tens of thousands of li will be deterred, buying the Zhou family another century of peace.
"As for a century from now..."
Zhou Yunshen looked toward Zhou Fuyou.
Realization dawned upon Zhou Fuyou. "A century from now, so long as I am still here, I will certainly continue to protect the Zhou family!"
"Perhaps!"
Zhou Yunshen smiled, casting not another glance at the hellish Hanjiang Valley as he steered the flying boat back into the high sky.
Behind them, the churning river washed away the gore and returned to its channel, while ahead lay a vast, unobstructed path.
Having overturned a Golden Core family with a flip of his hand, Zhou Yunshen paid it no further heed, instead asking about Zhou Fuyou's cultivation.
"What is your current realm?"
"Reporting to the Old Ancestor, I am at the sixth layer of Foundation Establishment."
"Oh, that fast?"
The young man made no effort to conceal it, releasing his spiritual energy fluctuations.
Yet after scrutinizing him closely for a long while, Zhou Yunshen clicked his tongue in unending marvel.
"With such magic power fluctuations and such spiritual sense, your realm can no longer be judged by conventional standards."
In the cultivation world, a cultivator's realm was typically gauged by the intensity of their magic power fluctuations.
That standard was largely based on ordinary breakthrough conditions and average talent among peers.
Yet when encountering individuals with unique constitutions whose magic power was terrifyingly profound and defied common sense, it became exceedingly difficult to judge.
At the very least, in Zhou Yunshen's eyes, the spiritual energy ripples undulating around Zhou Fuyou already surpassed those of many who had just entered the Golden Core stage.
The sole distinction lay probably in the qualitative difference between spiritual energy and magic power!
"Rein it in!"
Once Zhou Fuyou reined in his spiritual energy, showing no outward trace of his cultivation, Zhou Yunshen stroked his grizzled beard and began his instruction.
"Stepping into late Foundation Establishment will not be difficult for you. What you must consider next is how to form your core.
"There are countless methods for Core Formation, each with its own intricacies.
"Finding the method best suited to yourself will allow you to achieve twice the result with half the effort."
Zhou Fuyou instantly grasped the Old Ancestor's intention.
The journey escorting him to the Tiannan Dao Palace was long, yet the flying boat steered by the Old Ancestor traveled at an unhurried pace.
Evidently, the venerable elder intended to seize this opportunity to instruct him.
Not one to act coy, Zhou Fuyou bowed respectfully. "Please guide me, Old Ancestor!"
Zhou Yunshen smiled faintly. "First, I shall teach you a secret art, the core Core Formation secret technique of our Zhou family. So long as you complete the preparatory steps, your subsequent Core Formation will see its chances increased by thirty percent!"
Hearing this, Zhou Fuyou's eyes lit up at once.
***
The flying boat journeyed westward, maintaining a steady, moderate pace.
Aboard the vessel, the elder and the youth spoke softly, one guiding with earnest patience.
This instruction went beyond mere cultivation knowledge, extending even into combat.
Occasionally the flying boat would halt, and the young man would descend to seek out opponents for battle.
The adversaries he sparred with shifted from late Foundation Establishment Great Cultivators in the beginning to frequent early and mid Golden Core cultivators later on.
Such abnormal behavior naturally aroused the curiosity of the powers along the way, yet under the unfathomable pressure radiated by Zhou Yunshen, none dared resist.
Fortunately, Zhou Fuyou never dealt fatal blows; he merely followed Zhou Yunshen's guidance, testing his cultivation progress through battles against stronger opponents of higher realms.
Days passed one by one.
In this manner, more than half a year went by.
That year, Zhou Fuyou turned twenty-one.
The flying boat came to a halt outside a mountain range shrouded in swirling mist and dense spiritual energy.
"The Tiannan Dao Palace—we have arrived!"
Zhou Yunshen rose, looking down upon the mountain range below, a trace of regret and desolation in his eyes.
Worthy indeed of once being the Mountain Sea Realm's strongest sacred land; worthy indeed of the Tianyuan Dao Sect, which had once held an entire province in its grasp.
Even though the Central Plains had collapsed, here on the Tiannan Continent, there remained a Tier 5 spiritual vein!
Had he been in his prime, or had he comprehended the Water Origin sooner, he could have utilized this spiritual vein to make a full charge at the Deity Transformation realm.
Alas, there were no "what ifs."
Taking a deep breath, Zhou Yunshen called out in a measured voice.
"Ancestor and grandson of the Zhou family have arrived to pay homage to the mountain!"
In an instant, his mighty voice reverberated across eight thousand li, sending layers of mist rolling backward to reveal towering peaks, flowing waters, and jade pavilions.
Was this the full vista of the Tiannan Dao Palace?
Gazing upon the rows of palaces and Daoist temples, as well as the formidable auras erupting from various quarters, Zhou Fuyou felt boundless yearning stir within his heart.
This was where he would cultivate from now on!
He would display his talent, enter the Dao Palace, stand out from the rest, become a true disciple, and ultimately rise as a pivotal figure in the Tianyuan Dao Sect.
Chapter 1040