114: Chapter 114 Entering the Realm of Truth, the Great Battle Between Good and Demon

[Taking advantage of the feedback from Many Children, Many Blessings.]

[Chu Sheng entered secluded cultivation.]

[A hidden cave was modified by him into a cultivation Immortal Cave. A Black Tortoise lay at the entrance, a White Ape stood guard, and a Blazing Lion crouched inside. With three Great Yao protecting him, the display of power was at its peak.]

[The demon refining pot was suspended above his head, its mouth wide open, as the Yao Beast essence energy within poured down like a waterfall.]

["Master, mine!"]

[Chu Sheng took the essence blood and swallowed it directly.]

["Boom—!"]

[The Spiritual Qi in his body boiled instantly!]

[The White Ape and the Black Tortoise were not to be outdone, each forcing out a drop of essence blood.]

[Although not as potent as the Blazing Lion's, it was still a major supplement.]

[Chu Sheng refused no one and swallowed them all.]

["Refreshing!"]

[He closed his eyes and began to go all out to charge toward True Transformation Realm.]

[One month later.]

[In the mountain cave, a terrifying aura soared into the sky!]

[Chu Sheng opened his eyes, the True Essence around his body condensing into substance, forming a phantom figure behind him.]

[That was the embryonic form of True Essence manifestation!]

[True Transformation Realm Early Stage!]

[The three realms of Condensing True Essence—Essence Gathering Realm, True Firmament, and True Transformation Realm.]

[Essence Gathering Realm is when True Qi turns from illusory to solid; True Firmament is when True Qi stabilizes and can leave the body; True Transformation Realm is when True Qi condenses into substance and can manifest for attacks.]

[At this step, he was only one step away from the Spirit Sea.]

["Finally..." Chu Sheng stood up, clenched his fists, and felt the surging spiritual energy in his body. "True Transformation Realm."]

[The Blazing Lion was so excited it wagged its tail.]

[The White Ape held its black iron staff, looking on with worship.]

[The Black Tortoise extended its head and nodded at him.]

[Chu Sheng walked out of the cave and took a deep breath.]

["Old Grandfather, what level am I at now?"]

[Old Grandfather's voice echoed leisurely.]

["True Transformation Realm Early Stage. You can be considered an expert in Fengxian Prefecture. However..."]

["However what?"]

[Old Grandfather paused.]

["However, you're still far from the Spirit Sea. The three realms of the Spirit Sea are Spirit Spring, Spirit Lake, and Sea Opening. Right now, you haven't even touched the threshold of the Spirit Spring."]

[Chu Sheng nodded.]

["I know. I'll take it slow."]

Chu Sheng watched this scene, slapping his thigh in excitement.

"True Transformation Realm! Holy crap, this cultivation speed is like a rocket!"

He took a sip of tea.

"But Old Grandfather is right; True Transformation Realm is just the beginning. The three realms of the Spirit Sea are worlds apart. He hasn't even reached Spirit Spring yet; the road is still long."

He looked at the screen.

"But a True Transformation Realm cultivator in their early twenties—there probably aren't many in the entire Tianfeng Kingdom, right?"

[Upon leaving seclusion, Xia Nihuang's congratulatory gift arrived.]

[The one delivering the gift was an old man with an immortal air. Dan Yangzi, an Alchemy Elder of Luo Feng Valley, at the True Transformation Realm Middle Stage.]

[He handed over a gift list with a smile.]

["Elder Nie, congratulations on breaking through to True Transformation Realm. The Commandery Princess said you are the youngest True Transformation Realm cultivator under her command, with boundless prospects."]

[Chu Sheng took the gift list. Three bottles of Tier 4 Medicinal Pills, two Medium Grade Profound Rank Magic Treasures, and an Enshrined Token of Fengxian Prefecture.]

["Thank you for the Commandery Princess's favor."]

[Dan Yangzi looked at him with a meaningful gaze.]

["Elder Nie has broken through to True Transformation Realm at such a young age; you are truly gifted. When I was your age, I was still stuck at Essence Gathering Realm."]

[Chu Sheng said modestly.]

["Senior overpraises me. This Junior was just lucky."]

[Dan Yangzi smiled, said no more, and took his leave.]

[After Dan Yangzi left, Old Grandfather suddenly spoke.]

["This old man is not simple."]

[Chu Sheng was startled.]

["How so?"]

[Old Grandfather said leisurely.]

["In the way he looked at you just now, there was testing, there was alertness, and there was even a trace of... envy?"]

[Chu Sheng fell silent.]

["You mean he suspects me?"]

[Old Grandfather nodded.]

["Your cultivation speed is too fast. It's unnaturally fast."]

[Chu Sheng smiled bitterly.]

["Then what should I do?"]

[Old Grandfather thought for a moment.]

["Let's see. Since Xia Nihuang sent someone with gifts, it shows she still trusts you. But trust and suspicion can exist simultaneously."]

[The next day, someone else came.]

[Iron Mask.]

[The commander of the Fengxian Prefecture death sworn, True Transformation Realm Early Stage.]

[He stood expressionlessly before Chu Sheng and handed over a token.]

["Elder Nie, the Commandery Princess has ordered me to stay by your side and follow your commands."]

[Chu Sheng took the token, sneering in his heart.]

[Follow commands? It's clearly surveillance.]

[But he remained calm on the surface.]

["I'll have to trouble Commander Iron then."]

[Iron Mask nodded, stepped aside, and said nothing.]

[Chu Sheng looked at that expressionless face and secretly complained.]

["Is this guy's face paralyzed?"]

[Old Grandfather chuckled.]

["Death sworn are all like this. Trained since childhood, they lost their emotions long ago."]

Chu Sheng looked at this scene and sighed.

"Xia Nihuang is starting to suspect. Sending a death sworn to watch me is the best proof."

"However, Chu Sheng is now at the True Transformation Realm Early Stage, and crucially, he has a heaven rank magic treasure. If it comes to a fight, I'll definitely win. But fighting means a total falling out."

He looked at the screen.

"I have to find a way to get Iron Mask away."

[That night, Chu Sheng chatted with Old Grandfather and finally figured out the layout of the Tianfeng Kingdom.]

[The seven prefectures of the Tianfeng Kingdom—]

[Fengxian Prefecture, guarded by Xia Nihuang, Spirit Lake Middle Stage, ranked third in strength.]

[Yunmeng Prefecture, the weakest, where Commandery Princess Yun Qingshang is at the Spirit Spring Early Stage, relying entirely on her smiles to get by.]

[Juye Prefecture, where Commandery Princess Xiong Dahai is at the Spirit Spring Late Stage, the base for Body Cultivators.]

[There are four other prefectures, each guarded by a Spirit Sea expert.]

[The Imperial Capital sits in the center, held by the Lord of Tianfeng, Jiang Wuji, at the Sea Opening Early Stage.]

["Sea Opening Realm?!" Chu Sheng's eyes almost popped out. "Wouldn't he be able to slap me to death with one hand?"]

[Old Grandfather said leisurely.]

["Nonsense. At the Sea Opening Realm, Spiritual Qi turns into a sea; you definitely can't beat him."]

[Chu Sheng fell silent.]

[Old Grandfather paused.]

["Also, there's something I have to tell you."]

[Chu Sheng's heart tightened.]

["What is it?"]

[Old Grandfather said slowly.]

["Ninety years ago, during the Great War of Righteous and Demons in the Northern Region, the various kingdoms of Tianfeng were almost wiped out by the Demon Race."]

[Chu Sheng was stunned.]

["Ninety years ago?"]

[Old Grandfather nodded.]

["At that time, the Tianfeng Kingdoms sought help from great powers. the Righteous Path intervened and repelled the Demon Race. But they couldn't do anything to the Demon Race either, so they settled for a hundred years of peace."]

["Now, ninety years are almost up."]

[Chu Sheng sucked in a breath of cold air.]

["You mean..."]

[Old Grandfather said leisurely.]

["The period of peace is coming to an end. Both the Righteous and Demon paths are starting to stir."]

[Chu Sheng fell silent.]

[He suddenly felt that his little schemes were simply laughable in the face of this grand background.]

[So what if he was at True Transformation Realm?]

[Before a Sea Opening Realm expert, it was just a matter of a single slap.]

[In the face of the Great War of Righteous and Demons, he wouldn't even count as cannon fodder.]

["Old Grandfather," he suddenly asked, "what do you think I should do?"]

[Old Grandfather was silent for a moment.]

["Stay alive first. Live until that day, then we'll see."]

[Chu Sheng nodded.]

["Understood."]

[In the distance, in the direction of the Imperial Capital.]

[The Lord of Tianfeng, Jiang Wuji, stood on a high platform with his hands behind his back.]

[A Sea Opening powerhouse, living in seclusion, controlling the overall situation.]

[He looked toward the north, his gaze deep.]

["Ninety years..." he murmured, "it's almost time."]

[Behind him, no one dared to respond.]

Chu Sheng looked at this scene and let out a long sigh.

"Sea Opening Realm, the Great War of Righteous and Demons... My little bit of cultivation really doesn't amount to much in this grand background."

"But that's fine too. When the sky falls, the tall ones will hold it up. With a grand background comes great Opportunity. Maybe I can fish in troubled waters during the Great War of Righteous and Demons."

He looked at the young figure standing on the mountain peak in the image and smiled.