39: Middle Mahayana period

In the northern region of the Tai Cang World, the insect corpses on the Myriad Spirit Wasteland were almost piled up into mountains. Yun Qingyao and Feng Qiqi, leading a group of local cultivators from the Tai Cang World, were busily cleaning up the battlefield, primarily digging for insect core crystals and sorting usable materials, while also interrogating the unfortunate few who had been contaminated by asura magic crystal but hadn't died completely.

Lin Xuan didn't bother with such trivial matters. He rode Split Sky, circling the huge crater that had been blasted open several times, his tiger claws almost digging through the ground, all to study the Nine Nether Mysterious Turtle sleeping like a dead pig below.

"Master, this old turtle's shell is too hard, and the earth veins are tightly intertwined. Forcibly digging it out might just flip this entire area over," Split Sky panted, sticking out his tongue.

"Nonsense! Do you take me for a fool?" Lin Xuan kicked him irritably. "This is a living Star Map! A mobile Sect foundation! We need to make him willing to follow us!" He mused that the turtle was sleeping to resist the insect plague's erosion, which meant it hated insects. Asura Clan were the masters of the insects, so he must hate them even more! Lin Xuan had just chopped down an Asura Clan insect king, so by extension, he was its benefactor and comrade-in-arms?

"System! What other treasures are in the warehouse that can help me get close to this turtle? Earth-attributed ones! Or something that can help it resist the insect plague!" Lin Xuan began to rummage through his inventory.

Recommendation: Life Origin Liquid, containing boundless vitality, capable of nourishing all things! Fragments of the Heart of the Earth! Primordial Chaos Qi.

Combined Solution: Envelop the Heart of the Earth fragments with Primordial Chaos Qi, then infuse them into the Life Origin Liquid to create Primordial Chaos Earth Origin Spirit Paste. This has a fatal attraction for earth-attributed Divine Beasts and contains purifying vitality, which can help stabilize its earth veins and resist erosion!

"That's the one!" Lin Xuan's eyes lit up, and he immediately got to work. Using Primordial Chaos Qi as a stirring rod, he crushed the pigeon-egg-sized, earthy yellow Heart of the Earth fragments and melted them into three drops of emerald green Life Origin Liquid, concocting a small bowl of viscous paste that exuded a rich earthy smell and a fresh herbal aroma.

"Old turtle! Dinner time!" Lin Xuan chuckled, manipulating a current of Primordial Chaos Qi to carry the bowl of "Primordial Chaos Earth Origin Spirit Paste" and silently seep it underground, precisely delivering it to the side of the sleeping Mysterious Turtle's enormous nostrils.

Buzz...!

The mountain-like turtle shell vibrated ever so slightly! The sleeping Mysterious Turtle seemed to smell an irresistible temptation, its huge nostrils twitched, and even the entire earth vein subtly fluctuated!

Lin Xuan held his breath. He watched as the viscous spirit paste transformed into wisps of pure, earthy yellow qi, mixed with emerald green vitality, and was slowly absorbed into the Mysterious Turtle's body. The dim star stones on its shell visibly lit up with a faint glow! The entire turtle's aura seemed to solidify and become a little more comfortable!

It worked! Lin Xuan's heart bloomed with joy. No pain, no gain! This small bowl of turtle food was worth it!

Ding! Nine Nether Mysterious Turtle, favorability towards host increased by thirty.

Status: Deep slumber reduced to moderate slumber.

Estimated awakening time: Significantly shortened!

Done! Lin Xuan clapped his hands, feeling great. This turtle would sooner or later be the guardian Divine Beast of his All Heavens Star Palace! The living Star Map wouldn't escape!

"Split Sky! Let's go! Back to our temporary stronghold! It's time to take inventory and get down to business!" Lin Xuan called out, tearing open space and returning directly to the temporary camp set up by the cultivators of the Tai Cang World's northern region—a fortress reinforced with huge stones and broken array formations.

In the fortress hall, Sect Leader Qingyang and several other leaders of the Tai Cang World's northern region were respectfully waiting. Upon seeing Lin Xuan return, they immediately bowed: "Senior! The insect tide has been largely cleared! The captives have also been interrogated! These Spirit-Eating Locusts were attracted by a special insect-attracting incense! The source points to the Heavenly Star Sect in the central region! And it's not just our northern region; the eastern and western regions have also experienced similar insect plagues! There are shadows of asura magic crystal behind all of them!"

"Heavenly Star Sect? Insect-attracting incense? asura magic crystal?" Lin Xuan stroked his chin, his eyes cold. It seemed the waters of this Tai Cang World were murkier than he had imagined. The Asura Clan had infiltrated very deeply!

"Senior! Our northern region has suffered this great calamity and is gravely weakened! We humbly request Senior to take charge of the overall situation!" Sect Leader Qingyang knelt down with a thud, tears streaming down his face. "My Qingyang Sect is willing to lead the large and small sects of the northern region and revere Senior! We only ask for Senior's protection to jointly resist the insect plague and the Asura Clan!"

The other sect masters and elders also knelt down in a heap. Having witnessed the terrifying strength of Lin Xuan and his disciples, who could exterminate insect generals with a flick of their hands, when else would be a better time to cling to a powerful patron?

Lin Xuan looked at the kneeling crowd, then at the large piece of prime land, oh no, a geomantic treasure land, marked on the system map as the Tai Cang World, and a smile played on his lips.

"Rise, all of you." Lin Xuan waved his hand, and an invisible force lifted everyone. "This Seat is Lin Xuan, the Palace Master of the All Heavens Star Palace! Since I have arrived in this world, I will naturally not stand by idly! I will take care of the Asura Clan insect plague! This northern region, no! This Tai Cang World! I will protect it!"

His voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable authority: "Effective immediately! All sects in the northern region will be integrated into the 'Tai Cang Northern Alliance'! Sect Leader Qingyang will temporarily serve as the Alliance Master! He will be responsible for clearing out the remaining insect swarms, gathering displaced people, and restoring order! Resources, cultivation methods, and array formations will be provided by my dispatched personnel!"

"Furthermore! Send word to the eastern and western regions! Tell them! If they want to live! If they don't want to be gnawed into dust by insects! Then send people to the northern region to talk! I will only give them three days! No waiting after that!"

"Yes! We respectfully obey the Palace Master's decree!" Sect Leader Qingyang and the others trembled with excitement, feeling as if the sky had brightened! They quickly accepted the order and went to work.

Having sent off the natives, Lin Xuan could finally catch his breath. He sat cross-legged in the temporary meditation room, rubbing his hands, a greedy look on his face.

"Hehehe, System! How many draws have I accumulated?" He remembered that he had accumulated a total of 8 drawing opportunities from milking his disciples before! He hadn't used them yet!

Ding! Host currently possesses: All Heavens Mall drawing opportunities * 8!

Proceed with drawing?

"Draw! Draw them all! Go all in for me!" Lin Xuan declared grandly.

Drawing started!

Ding! Congratulations to the host for obtaining:

Ten Void Divine Crystals. Contains spatial essence, usable for reinforcing spatial passages and refining spatial magic treasures.

One thousand catties of Star Essence Gold, a top-tier refining material, incredibly sturdy, with excellent energy conductivity.

Enlightenment Tea, brew it and drink it, with a chance to enter a state of enlightenment.

Three God Transformation level Substitute Puppets, capable of withstanding a full-strength blow from a peak God Transformation cultivator, automatically triggered.

One copy of Initial Understanding of the Primordial Chaos Array Dao, recording basic Primordial Chaos array formations.

Ten drops of Ten-Thousand-Year Stone Milk, for cleansing marrow and bones, enhancing root aptitude.

One bottle of 7 Random Divine Beast Blood Essence. Opens to randomly obtain one type of Divine Beast Blood Essence, with wide-ranging uses.

One Directional Realm-Breaking Talisman, ignoring realm barrier obstruction, precisely teleporting to a pre-recorded coordinate once! Golden Legend!

"Holy crap! Directional Realm-Breaking Talisman?" Lin Xuan stared at the last golden, shimmering talisman, his eyes almost popping out! Ignoring realm barriers! Precise teleportation! This thing was simply a divine artifact for escaping, uh, for strategic relocation! It could save his life at critical moments!

The other items were also good, especially the Void Divine Crystals and Star Essence Gold, perfect for Chu Xinghe to upgrade the All Heavens Transit Station and forge the Immortal Slaying Sword Array! Divine Beast Blood Essence? Keep it to supplement Split Sky's diet or for the dragon egg at home! Enlightenment Tea? Good stuff, he'd drink it himself!

"System! Also take stock of the treasures I've accumulated in the warehouse before!" Lin Xuan struck while the iron was hot. "Immortal Slaying Sword Array Diagram! Nanming Separating Fire! Eight Treasures Merit Pool Projection! Primordial Chaos Sword Essence! Nirvana Divine Flame Talisman! GreatWeitianDragon Mantra! And the newly drawn Initial Understanding of the Primordial Chaos Array Dao, all of them! Refine them! Fuse them! Convert them into combat power!"

Ding! Starting to refine host's designated items.

Immortal Slaying Sword Array Diagram being analyzed, fusing with host's sword dao insights... forming the 'Primordial Chaos Immortal Slaying Sword Seal', capable of instantly deploying a sword array domain!

Nanming Separating Fire essence being absorbed, fusing with Nirvana True Flame, forming Chaos Nirvana Divine Fire, possessing both the power of annihilation and rebirth!

Eight Treasures Merit Pool Projection refined, integrating into the sea of consciousness to form a Merit Golden Wheel phantom, capable of slowly accumulating merit, purifying karma, and suppressing inner demons!

Primordial Chaos Sword Essence absorbed, sword dao realm elevated, Law-Breaking Chaos Eyes power enhanced!

Nirvana Divine Flame Talisman branded onto the divine soul, death-substituting rebirth function bound!

GreatWeitianDragon Mantra comprehended, mastering top-tier Buddhist offensive divine ability! Roar!

Initial Understanding of the Primordial Chaos Array Dao being comprehended, array formation mastery improved.

Massive streams of information and energy surged wildly into Lin Xuan's body and soul! The killing profoundness of the Immortal Slaying Sword Array! The destruction and rebirth of the Chaos Nirvana Divine Fire! The auspicious protection of the Merit Golden Wheel! The fierce Buddhist chant of the GreatWeitianDragon Mantra! And the profoundness of the Primordial Chaos Array Dao... Lin Xuan felt like a rubber ball being continuously inflated and hammered! His physical body was strengthening! His meridians were widening! His sea of consciousness was expanding! His soul was sublimating! His Chaos Nascent Soul was like a bottomless pit, greedily devouring everything! His aura soared wildly as if on a rocket!

Late-stage Body Integration peak, Grand Perfection Body Integration, half-step Mahayana!

Boom!

An invisible, indestructible barrier was fiercely broken through!

A terrifying pressure, more than ten times stronger than before, erupted from Lin Xuan's body like an awakened ancient fierce beast! The entire megalithic fortress trembled violently! The temporarily arranged defensive array flickered erratically, groaning under the strain! The cultivators busy outside felt their hearts sink, as if pressed by an invisible mountain, almost unable to breathe! Even Yun Qingyao and Feng Qiqi, who were killing insects in the distance, looked over in astonishment!

Mahayana Stage! And it was mid-stage Mahayana!

Lin Xuan slowly opened his eyes, Primordial Chaos Qi swirling within them. In the depths of his left eye, an Immortal Slaying Sword phantom seemed to float, while his right eye flickered with Chaos Nirvana Divine Fire! The golden mark on his forehead shone even brighter, subtly exuding a sharp sense that could pierce through myriad realms! With a thought, a faint yet auspicious-looking Merit Golden Wheel phantom appeared behind his head!

With every gesture, space rippled slightly! As if this world could no longer fully contain his existence!

"Roar—! Master is awesome! Mid-stage Mahayana!" Split Sky sensed this pressure and roared excitedly, feeling his Divine Beast bloodline cheering!

Lin Xuan clenched his fist, feeling the world-destroying power within him, and a satisfied smile curved his lips. Mid-stage Mahayana! Coupled with his messy yet absurdly powerful origins and divine abilities, even a true immortal would dare to contend with him!

"Now, I finally have the qualifications to touch that Immortal Realm Passage!" Lin Xuan's eyes were sharp as blades. Before, he couldn't find it, and even if he did, he was afraid he couldn't defeat the Asura Clan. Now with his strength skyrocketing, it was time to take the initiative!

He immediately called up the system panel and locked onto the golden legend he had drawn before, the Directional Realm-Breaking Talisman!

"System! Using the Realm-Breaking Talisman as a guide! Combining it with the Nine Nether Mysterious Turtle Star Map! Law-Breaking Chaos Eyes to fully deduce! Lock onto the spatial region coordinates where the Immortal Realm Passage is most likely to exist for me!"

Ding! Starting deduction.

Combining Realm-Breaking Talisman spatial laws, Mysterious Turtle Star Map positioning, Law-Breaking Chaos Eyes analysis.

Deducing...

Target area locked: Heavenly Abyss!

Warning: Spatial region is extremely chaotic! Strong Asura Clan aura and destructive laws remain! Suspected to be a heavily blockaded area by the Asura Clan! Danger level: SSS+!

Heavenly Abyss! Heavily blockaded by the Asura Clan!

Lin Xuan looked at the crimson warning. Instead of fear, a blazing battle intent ignited in his eyes!

"Finally found the place!" He stood up abruptly, a soaring battle intent mixed with the terrifying pressure of mid-stage Mahayana sweeping out!

"Split Sky!"

"Roar! Here!"

"Issue orders!"

"All Heavens Star Palace! All disciples above Void Refinement Stage! Guardian Divine Generals! Fierce Beasts and Divine Beasts! Within three days! Assemble at the Small Immortal Realm's main peak for me!"

"Additionally! Notify the Tai Cang Northern Alliance! Have the people from the eastern and western regions arrived yet? Tell them! If they want a share, they need to send people! Follow me to the Heavenly Abyss to fight the Asura Clan! And seize the passage!"

Lin Xuan's voice was like a clap of thunder, resounding inside and outside the fortress!

Yun Qingyao and Feng Qiqi instantly appeared outside the meditation room, their eyes sharp, battle intent surging!

The communication jade talismans at the waists of his disciples, who were expanding territory in various small worlds, simultaneously glowed red!

At the Small Immortal Realm's main peak, Chu Xinghe, who was left behind, cheered excitedly as he watched the suddenly bustling teleportation array!

The representatives from the eastern and western regions of the Tai Cang World had just stepped into the northern region's territory when they heard this earth-shattering news. They were so scared their legs went soft, followed by immense joy!

A storm was about to descend upon the Heavenly Abyss!