142: Traveling through the void, the Spring and Autumn Sword Palace enters Nanchu

Currently, Lu Chen's Body Refinement cultivation is at the Yin Spirit Realm of a Blood Qi Divine Spirit, but his Qi Cultivation strength is still only at the perfect stage of the Mysterious Method Realm. The Nurturing Soldier Immortal Coffin recognizes Qi Cultivation but not Body Refinement, so the total number of Dao Soldiers that the Nurturing Soldier Immortal Coffin can nurture is two hundred and twenty-five.

Adding in Xiahou Mang's companion Spirit Treasure, the Mixed Gold Shattering Hammer, which broke the limit of the Nurturing Soldier Immortal Coffin and allows for one more, the total is two hundred and twenty-six.

Previously, due to the lack of Dao Soldier seeds, the total number of Dao Soldiers Lu Chen had nurtured was only two hundred and two.

Among them were eighteen Divine Travel Dao Soldiers comparable to Yin Spirits and one hundred and eighty-four Five Elements Dao Soldiers comparable to the Dao Infant Realm.

However, after this campaign to clear out the Twelve Phase Sect and the Demonic Path, the twenty Dao Soldier seeds he was still missing were immediately gathered, and not only gathered, but he even had extras.

More importantly, there were also two Divine Travel Dao Soldiers, Spirit Treasure and Red Dragon, who had devoured two Yang Gods and were already advancing towards becoming Wind and Thunder Dao Soldiers, and nine Five Elements Dao Soldiers who had devoured nine Yin Spirits and were advancing towards becoming Divine Travel Dao Soldiers.

Furthermore, three malevolent corpses comparable to Yin Spirits were used as seeds by Lu Chen and could also directly nurture three Divine Travel Dao Soldiers.

This means that in about half a month, he will have twelve more Divine Travel Dao Soldiers.

Among the previous eighteen Divine Travel Dao Soldiers, two will advance to Wind and Thunder, leaving sixteen. Counting them together, there will be as many as twenty-eight.

"Twenty-eight Divine Travel Dao Soldiers comparable to Yin Spirits!" Lu Chen took a deep breath.

Putting aside anything further, just considering Yan Chenhu's Tianyuan Grotto-heaven, which was once one of the Three Hegemon Sects in South Chu, did it have twenty-eight Yin Spirits?

It might not have, after all, even the Dongming Sect had to include the True Disciples who had gone to the Starry Sky Ancestral Land for further study to gather more than twenty Yin Spirits.

If the Dongming Sect was like this, could the Tianyuan Grotto-heaven be stronger than the Dongming Sect?

So, does this mean that without considering Yang Gods, with Lu Chen alone, bringing the Dao Soldiers from his Nurturing Soldier Immortal Coffin, he could sweep through a hegemon-level Tianyuan Grotto-heaven!

Moreover, even when comparing Yang God Great Cultivators, Lu Chen is not without them.

Soon, he will be able to nurture two Wind and Thunder Dao Soldiers comparable to Yang God Great Cultivators, and one of them is a Spirit Treasure Dao Soldier, mastering a complete Divine Power. Although the other Red Dragon Dao Soldier is not as good as the Spirit Treasure Dao Soldier, it is still extraordinary, possessing the Dragon Bloodline, a noble of the Demon Clan, and its strength far surpasses cultivators of the same Realm.

Even at his Peak, the Abode Master of Tianyuan Cave Abode, Yan Chenhu, might not be able to withstand the Spirit Treasure Wind and Thunder Dao Soldier.

"So, without realizing it, I already possess strength comparable to a major hegemon Sect!"

Not comparable to a single person, but to an entire hegemon Sect!

Lu Chen was momentarily in a daze, but then quickly became excited.

This is just the beginning!

There are only a little over two hundred Dao Soldiers in total, what does being comparable to a Tianyuan Grotto-heaven even count for?

His goal is a million Dao Soldiers, enough to sweep through the entire universe starry sky, and even to kill his way into the Immortal Path with his Dao Soldiers, become an Immortal Ancestor, and even...

Of course, these goals are still extremely distant for the current Lu Chen.

Let alone sweeping through the universe starry sky, he can't even sweep through South Chu.

Therefore, let's set a small goal first: push through the Azure Underworld with Dao Soldiers!

After this day, the Twelve Phase Sect was completely crushed by the Dongming Sect.

Two Yang God Great Cultivator Sect Masters were defeated by two Protectors, and the remaining six Yin Spirit Realm Sect Masters were all devoured by Lu Chen's Dao Soldiers. The remaining Disciples in the Dao Infant Realm and below were also completely wiped out, with no possibility of recovery.

Even if there are some remnants of the Twelve Phase Sect still at large, they can no longer pose any threat to the Dongming Sect, and will not even have a chance to cause trouble.

After Lu Chen and the two Protectors left first, the remaining two True Disciples, along with Yan Chenhu, Pang Feifeng, and Chu Xianyin, as well as numerous Elders and Disciples of Doujian Peak, stayed behind at the Lingxu Sect to thoroughly cleanse and investigate this Sect. Afterwards, those remnants of the Twelve Phase Sect who escaped will be found one by one, but this process will take some time.

In addition, the practitioners of the Demonic Path who were captured alive by the Dongming Sect earlier will also be traced by the Dongming Sect, and there may be follow-up major actions.

But for now, these matters will be irrelevant to Lu Chen.

Because he will be following the two Protectors, Gu Wenzhao and Fan Yanbo, to the Starry Sky to retrieve Earth Dragon Liquid!

"Do you still need time to prepare?" Protector Gu reminded him, "It will take about half a month to travel to the Starry Sky to retrieve the Earth Dragon Liquid, so the round trip will be a month."

If you also include the time to retrieve the Earth Dragon Liquid, this trip will definitely take more than a month.

Lu Chen immediately realized that this was a reminder that he should not neglect his cultivation on the road. He immediately replied, "This Disciple still needs to return to the Sect to exchange for some auxiliary cultivation pills."

The two Protectors immediately nodded with satisfaction. Although Lu Chen's cultivation progress was already extremely fast, reaching the perfect stage of the Mysterious Method Realm from scratch in just about a year, his strength was almost invincible below the Yang God.

However, the path of cultivation is like sailing against the current. While talent is important, perseverance is also indispensable.

Lu Chen's performance was very good.

Upon returning to the Sect, Lu Chen first went to Feilai Peak to hand over the mission of sweeping the Twelve Phase Sect and the Demonic Path. He immediately received 250,000 Merit Points, which even the Fifth Elder of Feilai Peak envied.

But there was nothing he could do, because Lu Chen killed too fiercely this time. He alone killed four Yin Spirit Sect Masters of the Twelve Phase Sect and three Yin Spirit high cultivators of the Demonic Path.

What is the concept of a Yin Spirit high cultivator?

The Fifth Elder is very clear.

The Peak Lord of Feilai Peak, the Fifth Elder of the Inner Sect of the Dongming Sect, yes, it was him himself, he is a Yin Spirit.

Such a great figure as him, Lu Chen killed seven in one go!

Tell me, is it worth 250,000 Merit Points!

After leaving Feilai Peak, Lu Chen went to Danxia Peak, spent 50,000 Merit Points, and exchanged for a 'Yuzhi Treasure Pill'. According to the Peak Lord of Danxia Peak, as long as the Realm is sufficient, taking one Yuzhi Treasure Pill can save hundreds of years of arduous cultivation. If the Foundation is deep, one can even achieve the Dao Embryo within three months.

So, there is a reason for being expensive.

Of course, this is only the theoretical maximum effect. In reality, there are many Disciples in the Dongming Sect who are stuck at the perfect stage of the Mysterious Method Realm and at the threshold of the Dao Infant Realm, but very few can truly break through with this Yuzhi Treasure Pill.

In the final analysis, it is still because the Realm is not enough. Pills are only auxiliary, the most important thing still depends on oneself.

After hearing this, Lu Chen exchanged it without a second thought.

Now, he is not lacking in Merit Points. Even after spending 50,000 Merit Points to exchange for the 'Yuzhi Treasure Pill', he still has 210,000 Merit Points.

Although the two Protector Shibo were going to take him to retrieve the Earth Dragon Liquid, which could also quickly increase his cultivation, the Yuzhi Treasure Pill not only increases cultivation, but also helps cultivators shape the Dao Embryo and stabilize their own magic power without chaos. It is a treasure medicine for breaking through major Realms and does not conflict with the effects of the Earth Dragon Liquid.

After leaving Danxia Peak, Lu Chen followed the two Protectors and stepped into the Starry Sky.

They sped along like lightning, as if transformed into light, moving much faster than the Divine Travel Dao Soldiers. They entered the clouds, ascended to the Azure Underworld, and finally broke into the Starry Sky, within the boundless Universe.

In an instant, everything around them fell into dead silence.

Gu Wenzhao waved his hand and conjured a small dark golden boat about two zhang long. He took Lu Chen aboard it and said, "This is a necessary Magic Treasure for traveling through the universe starry sky, the Void-Breaking Boat. Cultivate with peace of mind, and when we arrive, I will call you awake."

As soon as he finished speaking, under Lu Chen's shocked gaze, the Void-Breaking Boat turned into a stream of light, suddenly disappearing from its original spot. When it reappeared, it was already hundreds of thousands of miles away.

'Void traversal! As expected of the Void-Breaking Boat!'

It can indeed achieve spatial jumps!

Lu Chen watched with a surging heart. It was hard to imagine how profound the Foundation of the Dongming Sect was, that a Protector of the Dongming Sect could easily produce such a Magic Treasure!

He was considered to have a considerable reputation in the South Chu cultivation world, but he had never even heard of such a treasure that could freely traverse the void.

The first time he saw it was in the hands of his own Shibo.

Just as within the borders of South Chu, the strongest cultivators he could see were also from the Dongming Sect.

It is no exaggeration to say that in any field, the Dongming Sect is the ceiling of South Chu, and all the ceilings he can reach are personally refreshed for him by the big shots of the Dongming Sect.

Nothing else, the Dongming Sect is awesome!

After witnessing the Void-Breaking Boat traversing the void multiple times, Lu Chen finally got over his novelty. He then swallowed the 'Yuzhi Treasure Pill' in one gulp and began to cultivate while traversing the vast Starry Sky.

............

It was also on this day that Lu Chen left South Chu, left the Azure Underworld, and stepped into the universe starry sky.

From outside South Chu, from Northern Qi, graceful Celestial Swords came riding on their swords.

The leader was a stern-looking young man dressed in white, carrying an ancient sword on his back. The remaining four also held their swords across their chests, and a faint Sword Intent emanated from them, occasionally slicing through the heavenly wind, as if even the void was being cut into ripples.

Moreover, looking at them, except for the stern-looking young man at the head, the other four also looked extremely young on the outside.

"I heard from Shibo, the Sect Master, that within South Chu, in terms of background, the Dongming Sect is the most respected. But in terms of strength, the current generation of the Dongming Sect is at the bottom, without even a single Heavenly Pride born with a Heaven and Earth Spirit Treasure. This trip to discuss swords in South Chu will mostly fall on the Tianyuan Grotto-heaven, the Flying Immortal Sect, and the Royal Family of South Chu." One of the tall and thin young men holding a sword spoke indifferently, seemingly with much regret.

"Although the Tianyuan Grotto-heaven, the Flying Immortal Sect, and the Royal Family of South Chu have Heavenly Pride born with Heaven and Earth Spirit Treasures in the current generation, their Sect Foundations are too poor, and they probably won't cultivate anything powerful. It's a pity for the Dongming Sect. I heard that their Sect has an unparalleled sword technique, the 'Jiuxiao Sword Sutra', which can be compared with Divine Powers. The nine great sword stances of Jiuxiao have unfathomable power and once shone brightly in the hands of a Heavenly Pride born with a Celestial Sword. Now, I fear we have no chance to see it!"

"Well, it's also good to meet Xiahou Mang of the Tianyuan Grotto-heaven, Chu Xianyin of the Royal Family of South Chu, and Pang Feifeng of the Flying Immortal Sect on this trip. We can discuss swords earlier and still make it to the next place before the Qing Ming Great Cleansing begins!"

"Since we are here, we must properly explore the land of South Chu. Don't just discuss Heavenly Pride, there are also people with unique insights into swords among the ordinary." The stern-looking young man in white at the head finally spoke, his voice completely different from his stern appearance, but rather exceptionally gentle.

"We will heed the teachings of Senior apprentice-brother Sword Lord."

On this day, from outside South Chu, Celestial Swords entered South Chu, traveled through Liuzhou, and challenged people to sword duels along the way. Any Sect, regardless of size, regardless of cultivation level, was challenged to a sword duel.

If they encountered someone in the Mysterious Method Realm, the Celestial Sword would suppress their strength to the Penetrating Aperture. If they encountered someone in the Dao Infant Realm, they would suppress their Realm to the Mysterious Method, and still defeat them with a single sword despite the disadvantage of being one major Realm lower.

They traveled all over Liuzhou, never needing a second sword, let alone suffering a defeat.

Afterwards, the few Celestial Swords entered Shangzhou from Liuzhou, then Jinzhou, Jiao Prefecture, and even the Imperial Capital of South Chu, and the Yuan Province and Qing Province of the Dongming Sect. No one could withstand a single sword strike.

At this point, the matter of Celestial Swords entering South Chu to discuss swords completely boiled over in South Chu.

"Where did these Sword Cultivators come from, to be so bold as to challenge the entire South Chu to a sword duel!"

"What do you mean, where did these Sword Cultivators come from? These are Celestial Swords from the 'Spring and Autumn Sword Palace' in Northern Qi. Do you know who that young white-clothed Celestial Sword is?"

"Who is it?"

"He is known as the Sword Lord, born with a Heaven and Earth Spirit Treasure Celestial Sword. His sword technique is unparalleled in the world, and among the younger generation of the Spring and Autumn Sword Palace, a behemoth of a Sect, he can also rank among the top three. He is only one step away from the Yang God, and now he is challenging the world to a sword duel and has yet to meet an opponent."

"I heard that previously, a Sword Cultivator who practiced killing swords in the Tianyuan Grotto-heaven was suppressed by him with a disadvantage of one major Realm and had his arm cut off with a single sword. Afterwards, he just left gracefully, leaving only the words 'Your sword has gone astray'. What's even more miraculous is that the Tianyuan Grotto-heaven Sword Cultivator whose arm was cut off by a single sword not only did not fall in Realm, but instead gained insight into the essence of the killing sword and made rapid progress!"

"Is the 'Sword Lord' from the Spring and Autumn Sword Palace in Northern Qi really that powerful?"

"How can this be false?!"

"Oh no, with such a powerful Celestial Sword entering our South Chu to discuss swords, I fear that no one in the younger generation of our entire South Chu can defeat him!"

"Don't even talk about the younger generation, even the great figures of the previous generation may not be able to defeat this Sword Lord."

"If that is truly the case, this time, our South Chu cultivation world will likely be suppressed by this Sword Lord alone and will never be able to raise its head again!"

"Not necessarily. The Flying Immortal Sect also has Pang Feifeng, who was born with a Heaven and Earth Spirit Treasure. It is said that her companion Spirit Treasure is the spear, the king of all weapons. If she faces the Celestial Sword of that Sword Lord, she can put up a fight!"

"And Chu Xianyin of the Royal Family of South Chu is also a Heavenly Pride, but her companion Spirit Treasure seems not to be a killing weapon, so she may not be able to defeat the Sword Lord's Celestial Sword!"

"I heard that the current generation of the Dongming Sect has also produced a peerless great figure, who is also the current Traveling Envoy of the Dongming Sect. Even Xiahou Mang, the Heavenly Pride of the Tianyuan Grotto-heaven who was born with a Heaven and Earth Spirit Treasure, was easily besieged and killed by him. He is not a Heavenly Pride, but he is even better than a Heavenly Pride!"

"Besieged and killed? Is besieging and killing with a numerical advantage considered better than a Heavenly Pride? How absurd!"

"Brother, you don't know. The siege and kill I'm talking about is the Dongming Sect's Traveling Envoy, who besieged and killed Xiahou Mang alone, not relying on numerical advantage."

"Besieged and killed alone? Do you want to hear what you're saying?"

"You are a stubborn mule, beyond teaching!"

A few more days passed, and the entire South Chu boiled over again.

The Heavenly Pride Sword Lord from the Spring and Autumn Sword Palace in Northern Qi entered the Yuanzhou Mountain Gate of the Dongming Sect and challenged the True Disciple of the Dongming Sect, 'Liang Tingsheng', to a sword duel. As a result, he cut off half of Liang Tingsheng's head with a single sword, and even half of the Yuanzhou Mountain Gate was cut down.