Origin Realm

"I have locked onto your divine mind signature. I will invite you in now and grant you authority. As for what follows, I won't interfere," Yaoguang said. "Good." Li Qingshan nodded. Immediately after, he felt a mild headache. They had just rewarded Yaoguang with a spirit treasure, and in return, Yaoguang had turned right around and contributed an even better one. This... This left him at a loss for how to compensate him going forward. He pondered whether to raise his compensation package once more. *He's practically half a Dharma Idol cultivator.* Direct promotion to Hall Master status, enjoying the treatment of a Vice Sect Master—that wouldn't be excessive at all. Were it not for the fact that Yaoguang had joined the Nine Cauldrons Sect only recently, making it impossible to be entirely certain whether their ideals truly aligned and whether he would shed blood for the sect's prosperity, Li Qingshan would not even have minded handing over the position of Sect Master to him. As for now... They would interact for a while longer. Both sides needed enough time to deepen their mutual understanding. Yaoguang sensed the other end of this communication link. Once he locked onto the position, his divine mind surged. Space-time seemed to distort on another plane. This plane did not belong to the material world, but to the realm of divine mind, divine sense, and the soul. It was like a sudden, extraordinary telepathic connection between two people—yet countless times clearer than mere telepathy. Once the connection was established, he guided the other divine sense directly into the "Divine Kingdom" manifested by his Dao Fruit. "This is..." Li Qingshan's divine sense continuously took in the surroundings. "The space formed within this Virtual Spirit Realm is currently limited. Please excuse the modest accommodations," Yaoguang explained. In the end, it was because the strength of his divine mind was limited, unable to support too many external connections. "The first batch of people allowed to know about this Virtual Spirit Realm will only be the Hall Masters and regional leaders, barely one or two hundred people in all. Having an absolutely secure means of communication is more than enough," Li Qingshan said. "I am transferring authority to you now. You can decide how best to explain it to them," Yaoguang said. "Very well," Li Qingshan agreed. In truth, as master of the Divine Kingdom, Yaoguang could monitor all information within it. To some extent, the fact that Li Qingshan and the others were willing to hold conversations and deliberate on major sect matters within this Divine Kingdom required no less trust than Yaoguang revealing this "spirit treasure" to them. For it meant that from this day forward, so long as he monitored it, the Nine Cauldrons Sect would have virtually no secrets from him. With a thought from Yaoguang, a portion of control over this Divine Kingdom transferred to Li Qingshan. Although it only granted communication and exchange capabilities—blocking divine mind communication, disrupting divine mind transmission, modifying divine mind messages, and creating a divine mind black zone still required Yaoguang's personal action—the ability to contact any cultivator at any time through the power of the Divine Kingdom still left Li Qingshan deeply astonished. "Is this how Dharma Idol cultivators control the Virtual Spirit Realm? Truly incredible..." Li Qingshan marveled as he sensed the connection. "Next, simply contact the others and record their divine mind, divine sense, or spirit intent fluctuations. When you need to send a transmission, you can send messages directly to them via their recorded fluctuations through this Virtual Spirit Realm. Communications of this kind can hardly be disrupted, regardless of environment or distance," Yaoguang introduced with a smile. "Unless this Virtual Spirit Realm is destroyed, that is." "As long as the Nine Cauldrons Sect stands, that will never happen!" Li Qingshan stated with firm resolve. Yaoguang nodded. Next, he instructed Li Qingshan on how to use the Divine Kingdom's functions. Sect Master Li was, after all, only a Foundation Establishment cultivator and far less proficient in utilizing the Divine Kingdom than he was. It would likely take some practice before he could truly pull people in and transmit messages on his own. After offering guidance for a time, Yaoguang withdrew his focus. He reflected on his conversation with Li Qingshan. *Does a top-tier spirit treasure like the 'Origin Realm' really exist?* he asked himself. Recalling Li Qingshan's reaction at the time and the suggestions he had continually offered during their subsequent exchanges, Yaoguang faintly guessed the truth. A tacit smile appeared on his face. ... On the other side. After familiarizing himself with the various capabilities of the "Virtual Spirit Realm," Li Qingshan wore a smile as well. After a moment of thought, he summoned his disciple. "Immediately raise all information regarding the 'Origin Realm' to the highest classification level." "Yes," the disciple acknowledged. "Wait." Seeing his disciple turn to leave, Li Qingshan seemed to think of something. In a world where spirit cultivators and Dharma Idols ran rampant, there was no such thing as an absolute secret. Therefore, he changed his mind. "Purge all records regarding the 'Origin Realm.'" "Purge..." The disciple hesitated slightly. "I'm afraid it will be very difficult to purge completely." "I know. Just carry it out," Li Qingshan said. In many matters, whether something could be fully accomplished was one thing; whether one took action was another. The information to be purged: The Origin Realm. And... Yaoguang. He had secrets. He did not want Li Qingshan to pry into them. Yet for the sake of the Nine Cauldrons Sect, he was willing to offer that secret up. Moreover, the secret was astonishing... Once exposed, he would face unimaginable dangers. If so, Li Qingshan naturally could not inquire into it. He also had to help conceal this secret and ensure not a trace of it leaked. Only then... could he truly put Yaoguang's mind at ease. *Trust.* Li Qingshan silently turned the word over in his mind. This was something more precious than hope. These arrangements of his might buy a little more time, until... both sides completely trusted each other. Until... the Nine Cauldrons Sect grew strong enough to suppress all threats, allowing the day to come when the truth could be brought to light openly and without fear. ... The emergence of this Virtual Spirit Realm brought an immense shock to the Nine Cauldrons Sect. It was so profound that even the modified Tier 6 Spirit Gathering Formation Yaoguang introduced shortly after was completely overshadowed. Of course, Yaoguang personally did not wish to draw too much attention anyway. While continuing his routine of teaching the formation masters the Tier 6 Spirit Gathering Formation, he lurked quietly within the "Divine Kingdom," watching the members of the Nine Cauldrons Sect enthusiastically and spiritedly deliberate over how to launch a major campaign in the East Sea Archipelago. Naturally, he did not slack off in his cultivation along the Star Lord path either. After allocating the remaining experience from Formations and the Divine Path, his [Martial Path] had risen to 91%. Though he had not yet reached the Star God stage, it provided him with a vastly more efficient method of cultivation. Coupled with the presence of the "Star Essence," his progression along the Star Lord path had steadily advanced to the realm of condensing his natal star. Namely, the second tier of Star Lord. Naturally, the resources expended during this period were considerable. Especially during the time spent condensing his natal star, half of the Nine Cauldrons Sect seemed to be mobilized, delivering resource after resource to his doorstep to help him rapidly complete his breakthrough. Of course, he would not let the Nine Cauldrons Sect work for nothing; the spirit stones owed were paid without hesitation. It couldn't be helped—he had far too many spirit stones. If he didn't spend some, he wouldn't even have room to store them. As a [Merchant], he bore the duty of circulating goods. If he merely hoarded his spirit stones, how much could they possibly consume on their own? Even after roping in Lin Xia, Leng Jun, Su Yaoxue, and others from the Su family branch to help burn through them, the speed of spending still lagged far behind the speed of earning. ... It was at this time that the upper echelons of the Nine Cauldrons Sect concluded their deliberations and formally finalized the strategic plan for the East Sea Archipelago. To ensure the feasibility of advancing their front line one hundred thousand li across the East Sea, the Nine Cauldrons Sect even brought several cultivators hidden among the common populace into the open, tasking them with assisting local defenses. Meanwhile, in the East Sea, the number of Great Cultivators assembled surpassed a thousand. Among them were more than four hundred sword cultivators. Although the members from Zhenhai Courtyard could only be deployed for defensive support, such a massive mobilization of manpower clearly demonstrated the Nine Cauldrons Sect's determination to reclaim the East Sea Archipelago. This great campaign was personally overseen by Lou Yuyu, Deputy Hall Master of the War Hall, with assistance from Murong Hui, Hall Master of the Heavenly Palace Hall. Accompanying them was Gao Shenghan, Hall Master of the Mystic Formation Hall. Three core figures of the Nine Cauldrons Sect departed in person for the front lines; their presence in the Jiuxiao Domain sent a chill through the region and put everyone on edge. Within the Virtual Spirit Realm, the Great Sun Sword Sect, the Shouyang Sect, the Astral Sea Sect, the Great Yue Dynasty, the Ancient Immortal Sect, and the Xuanming Sect all stepped forward simultaneously, accusing the Nine Cauldrons Sect of manufacturing tensions in the East Sea. The Wuji Astral Palace also issued an open statement, claiming they would resolutely protect the interests of their allies in the East Sea Archipelago and that a proposal had already been submitted to their Council of Elders. As soon as the Council approved the order, two third-generation sky-patrol warships would be deployed to the East Sea Archipelago. However... What they did not know was that the Nine Cauldrons Sect's capacity for gathering and processing intelligence in the Virtual Spirit Realm had already climbed to an entirely new level. Though they could not infiltrate the internal Virtual Spirit Realm of the Wuji Astral Palace, they could track the movements of the sky-patrol warships based on the traces periodically left in the Virtual Spirit Realm by the high-ranking cultivators commanding them. At the very least... not a single sky-patrol warship was approaching the East Sea. Coupled with the repeatedly confirmed intelligence that the Wuji Astral Palace was hopelessly mired in their conflict against the Black Feather Sect... the entire Nine Cauldrons Sect reached a unanimous conclusion: the Wuji Astral Palace was bluffing and engaging in strategic intimidation. Having determined this, the Nine Cauldrons Sect hesitated no longer. First, they issued an open condemnation in the Virtual Spirit Realm against the sects occupying the Nine Cauldrons Sect's islands in the East Sea. They presented document after document proving that the East Sea Archipelago had historically belonged to the Nine Cauldrons Sect as the sole heir to the Artifact Sect, and issued a solemn warning demanding that all occupying forces withdraw immediately, failing which it would be treated as an invasion of Nine Cauldrons Sect territory. After this announcement had been public for three days, a fierce argument broke out in the Cangwu Alliance Assembly. Yet the moment the three-day ultimatum expired, Lou Yuyu, Deputy Hall Master of the War Hall, issued the command. The first brigade, consisting of one hundred and eight sword cultivators equipped with Zixiao Type 13 flying swords and supported by several powerful spirit cultivators, marched out from Jiuxiao Domain. They headed straight for a large, recently lost island closest to Jiuxiao Domain—Fangyuan Island. And the sect that had seized this island while the Wuji Astral Palace's sky-patrol warships encroached upon Jiuxiao Domain was none other than the Xuanming Sect. To kill the chicken to warn the monkey! The Xuanming Sect, having clamored the loudest, was precisely the first chicken the Nine Cauldrons Sect chose to slaughter!