280: Chapter 277 Return to the Water Pond

The four regions instantly sprang into full activity.

The Northern Snow Plains, the Southern Mountains, the Western River Spiritual Domain, and the Chaotic Star Sea—each faction performed its duties in an orderly manner.

Following the detailed guidelines for tiered resource allocation, the major Sects took inventory of the Void Realm crystals, rare Formation Foundation stones, and Spiritual Vein Origin Materials stored in their treasuries. Small and medium-sized Sects offset their resource deficits by providing manpower for defense and maintaining their territories, while the factions in the Chaotic Star Sea focused on clearing out rogue Cultivators and spies around the rifts, eliminating potential sources of trouble.

Once all parties had completed their preparations and submitted their reports to the Imperial City, Yuan Chen finally departed the palace.

He did not activate his Heaven-Defying Divine Ability to forcibly reshape the world. Instead, dressed in a plain imperial robe, he walked with calm steps, touring each region one by one. He started from the Southern Mountain domain, entered the Western River Spiritual Domain, headed north to the cold snow plains, and finally arrived at the Chaotic Star Sea.

At every territory he visited, he patiently verified the resources and Materials prepared by each faction, surveyed the Formation Foundation points, and corrected the layout oversights made by local Formation masters. Taking into account the unique Void Realm characteristics and rift Ranks of each region, he tailored the Formation patterns to fit, personally assisting each side in stabilizing their core Formation eyes and connecting the region-wide Formation network.

Over the course of several months, Yuan Chen traveled to every major rift across the four domains of Canglan Domain, individually establishing, refining, and connecting the Equalization World-Suppressing Formation.

The previously scattered, disorganized, and isolated territorial Formations were linked together by him into a complete, comprehensive Void Realm Formation covering the entire Canglan Domain. It firmly locked down the rifts filling the sky, smoothed out the Void Realm turbulence, and completely transformed an ancient calamity into an Opportunity for cultivation across the entire region.

Meanwhile, the Daming Dynasty began operating at full speed. The long-dormant imperial machinery roared to life, sweeping across all directions and radiating throughout the entire region.

Imperial decrees, garrison documents, and appointment orders were rapidly dispatched from the Imperial City to all corners of the realm.

Countless top-tier Cultivators, regional garrison powerhouses, Formation deacons, and patrol guards received their orders and set out in batches, heading toward the four major domains: the Northern Snow Plains, the Southern Mountains, the Western River, and the Chaotic Star Sea.

Dressed in uniform imperial armor, they carried themselves with solemnity and strict discipline. Upon arriving in the four domains, they did not disturb the local populace, seize resources, or interfere with religious affairs. Instead, they immediately rushed to the core Formation eyes, key Void Realm passages, and critical rift towns, quickly establishing garrison strongholds, setting up patrol routes, and perfecting the defensive Formation system.

The local factions in the four regions cooperated in an orderly manner, each performing their duties according to the guidelines agreed upon ten days prior.

Local Cultivators guarded the basic Formation eyes, performed daily maintenance on the Formation patterns, and inspected for local hazards; the imperial powerhouses were stationed at the core hubs, coordinating the region-wide defense, clearing out foreign spies, and resisting sudden crises. Both sides performed their duties, cooperated with each other, and did not overstep their boundaries. Within a few short days, the chaos in the four domains vanished, and order was restored.

While it appeared to remain a landscape of autonomous Sects and fragmented territories, the power of the Daming Dynasty had already quietly and seamlessly permeated every inch of land, every vein, and every order within the Canglan Domain.

The four domains, which were previously fighting individually and scattered like loose sand, were now firmly connected into a single entity by the imperial Formations, imperial garrisons, and imperial regulations.

With shared Formation Origins, unified order, joint defense lines, and shared Opportunities, the entire Canglan Domain had quietly entered the full control of the Daming Dynasty. Only the final step of unifying the title remained to achieve a true era of Great Unification.

During this process of region-wide transformation and restructuring of the landscape, no one noticed that deep within the Imperial City, a figure was quietly transforming and steadily rising.

Fortune Spirit stood at the core of the Imperial City's Celestial Palace Spiritual Vein. Surrounded by a faint aura of Heaven and Earth Luck, her expression was calm, and her presence was gentle. While she appeared the same as before, her cultivation Foundation, level of Luck, and the structure of her Dao Foundation were all rapidly ascending through subtle changes.

As the person closest to Yuan Chen, she was in charge of the imperial Spiritual Vein Luck, coordinated the flow of Spiritual Qi in the Imperial City, and connected the veins of Heaven and Earth across the four regions. From the moment the Canglan Domain-wide Formation was established and the imperial forces permeated the four regions, the Heaven and Earth Luck, the Origin of order, and the Power Of Will of all living beings in the entire Canglan Domain began to continuously gather toward her, nourishing her body.

In the past, her power was limited to a corner of the Eastern Wasteland, relying on the Eastern Wasteland Spiritual Vein for existence, with shallow Luck and a limited scope. But now, with the four domains all incorporated into the imperial order system, the stability of millions of Cultivators, the survival of countless Sects, and the stability of the entire world generated a vast and boundless Power Of Will of stability and Luck of order.

This vast Luck, spanning the four domains and covering the entire region, was not controlled or monopolized by anyone. It flowed along the veins of Heaven and Earth, gathering onto Fortune Spirit, who controlled the imperial Spiritual Vein and connected the order of Heaven and Earth.

She closed her eyes slightly, and her aura became increasingly profound and heavy. Her originally gentle and soft spiritual power gradually became imbued with the profound Foundation of the entire world.

Bit by bit, strand by strand, like rain moisturizing things silently, day by day, there were no earth-shattering phenomena, no explosive Breakthroughs of thunderous power. Yet, in the day-to-day nourishment, she completely solidified her Dao Foundation, broadened her scope, and enhanced her Foundation.

"Wow, I'm too strong, I'm so strong..."

Fortune Spirit whispered softly, her eyes clear, a glimmer of realization flashing in their depths.

She could clearly perceive her own transformation and could even discern the changes in the landscape of the entire world.

Hearts returned, Luck returned, order returned, and the Foundation returned.

From the moment the various factions agreed to the three rules, accepted the Formations, and cooperated with the garrisons, the four domains had already broken away from the old fragmented landscape and were completely incorporated into the ruling system of the Daming Dynasty.

The so-called local autonomy was merely a gesture of decency and a buffer left by the Supreme for the various factions.

Fortune Spirit slowly opened her eyes. The spiritual light in her eyes was as clear as the sea, her aura steadily rising, and her Dao Foundation becoming increasingly stable and profound.

Just as Fortune Spirit was resting with her eyes closed, silently absorbing the Heaven and Earth Luck and stabilizing her Dao Foundation, Yuan Chen received a message from afar.

The moment that secret message entered his body, his clear and waveless gaze moved slightly, and the corners of his mouth couldn't help but curl up.

The next instant, his figure shifted slightly, and he had already appeared beside Fortune Spirit.

Fortune Spirit heard him and opened her eyes, spiritual light swirling in her clear pupils. Seeing it was Yuan Chen, she said, "Oh, Little Chenzi, you're here?"

Yuan Chen: "???"

"What are you looking at? This young lady is super strong now. Call me Mama, or I'll beat you up."

"Alright, alright, alright!"

One minute later, Yuan Chen spoke indifferently, "I have something to do, I'm going out for a while. Watch the house."

"Am I a dog? Am I?"

Fortune Spirit was indignant. "Can you even talk properly?"

But, touching her cheek that was still aching, she said sullenly, "I know."

With her sufficient Foundation and control over the region-wide Luck veins, guarding the Imperial City was absolutely foolproof.

Yuan Chen nodded slightly and said nothing more.

With his plain imperial robe fluttering in the wind, Yuan Chen's figure rose into the air. His steps were light and graceful as he stepped onto the clouds. There was no overwhelming pressure, no earth-shattering phenomena. Like a wandering crane, he departed quietly, his figure disappearing in the blink of an eye at the edge of the Imperial City's sea of clouds, speeding toward the Shuibo region thousands of miles away.

The thousand-mile journey was covered in an instant.

A moment later, Yuan Chen was already standing on the clouds above Shuibo.

Beneath his feet, the lake was vast, with billowing mist. Layers of water vapor shrouded the entire water area, the water vapor thick and the fog heavy, covering the entire isolated island in Shuibo tightly.

This place, with its intersecting mountains and waters, crisscrossing channels, and complex paths, naturally isolated outside investigation. It was indeed an excellent place for hiding filth and concealing undercurrents.

In the middle of Shuibo, an isolated island sat in the center of the lake. On the island, the woods were deep and houses were scattered. Countless figures could be vaguely seen moving back and forth, their auras mixed and chaotic.

Yuan Chen stood on the clouds, his gaze calmly overlooking the area below. He was neither hurried nor impatient, quietly observing the layout and chaos of the entire Shuibo.

He did not deliberately conceal his Supreme aura, nor did he intentionally release pressure to intimidate everyone. He simply stood quietly on the clouds, like a bystander, silently scrutinizing.

Yet even so, the vigorous aura of order, originating from the Supreme of Heaven and Earth, still penetrated through the heavy layers of water mist, silently and soundlessly enveloping the entire isolated island in Shuibo.

A man on guard duty on the island was the first to notice the abnormality.

This person was burly and had a rough appearance. He was dressed in coarse cloth combat gear, with a mountain-splitting short blade strapped to his waist. He was one of the leaders responsible for patrolling and guarding the island.

At this moment, he felt the airflow in the sky above his head change suddenly. The air around him suddenly stagnated, and an invisible, heavy sense of oppression enveloped his entire body, causing his breath to hitch, his mind to tighten, and the hairs on his body to stand on end.

The man looked up abruptly, his gaze piercing through the layers of mist, instantly locking onto the figure in white above the clouds.

In the vast high altitude, a figure stood elegantly and independently, his clothes fluttering in the wind. His temperament was pure and transcendent. Although he appeared gentle and peaceful, he possessed an Supreme aura of looking down upon all living beings, which was by no means comparable to ordinary Loose Cultivators or Jianghu powerhouses.

The patrol leader's heart was greatly shocked. Subconsciously, he gripped the weapon at his waist and shouted sternly, his voice loud and clear, penetrating the entire isolated island: "What expert is this, trespassing into our forbidden Shuibo land! Reveal yourself and answer at once!"

As the shout fell, alarms blared instantly on the island.

The group of Shuibo strongmen who were originally resting, discussing matters, or arguing in the houses all rushed out upon hearing the sound. Sharp gazes were cast in unison toward the high altitude. Countless weapons were drawn, Spiritual Qi was tense, and everyone entered a state of alert.

In front of the chaotic crowd, a figure stepped out quickly. He was burly, with a dark complexion and fierce eyes. It was Li Gui, who occupied Shuibo and dominated the region.

Li Gui had spent years mingling in the desolate marshes and Shuibo. He was always barbaric, overbearing, and ruthless. Relying on his brute strength and viciousness, he suppressed a group of Loose Cultivators and fugitives, lording over this water region. Usually, no one dared to provoke him in the slightest.

At this moment, his brows were tightly locked, his face gloomy, and his heart full of impatience and vigilance. Recently, Shuibo had been on edge, and morale was wavering; it was a troubled time. Suddenly, an outsider arrived from the sky, so he could not help but be nervous and alert.

He took a large step, stepped on the water and rose into the air, heading straight beneath the clouds. His posture was fierce, and his tone carried a strong sense of deterrence as he shouted sternly: "Our Shuibo is a secluded place, not involved in the disputes of the four regions. What kind of bird thief is this, daring to spy from the sky and set foot in my territory without permission! Get out!"

As Li Gui spoke, his Spiritual Qi surged, and dozens of Shuibo elites followed closely behind him. Their auras were biting, and the cold light of their weapons flashed, displaying a posture of vowing to protect the island to the death and fiercely resisting the enemy.

But when he raised his eyes and looked closely, completely seeing the face and temperament of the white-clothed figure above the clouds, his previously fierce and biting posture suddenly stiffened.

In that instant, it was as if a thunderclap from the Nine Heavens exploded in his ears. Li Gui's blood and Qi instantly stagnated, the surging Spiritual Qi around him suddenly dissipated without a trace, the strength of his feet on the water failed, and his figure stumbled, almost falling directly into the lake.

His pupils shrank, his face instantly turned pale, and the color drained away completely. The arrogance, domineering nature, and fierce strength from just a moment ago vanished, replaced by a fear and panic that went deep into his bones.

It's him!

Yuan Chen!

"Oh my mama, the enemy has come to kill!"

With a splash.

Li Gui's mental defenses collapsed completely; he no longer had the slightest courage to resist. His legs turned to jelly, and he nearly collapsed on the spot.

"Yuan Chen!!!!!"

This trembling cry, like a bucket of ice water, instantly extinguished the vigilance and hostility of everyone on the island.

Behind him, the group of Shuibo members, who had been murderous and battle-ready, froze instantly. The ferocity, vigilance, and hostility on their faces solidified, only to be replaced by overwhelming panic and terror.

The entire scene fell into a dead silence, broken only by the rustling wind over the lake and the gentle ripples of the water.

Yuan Chen's figure descended slowly, dropping from the clouds onto the flat ground of the lonely island in the middle of the lake. His plain robes were spotless, his demeanor calm and composed. His gaze swept lightly over the panicking crowd kneeling on the ground. He did not release a shred of pressure, yet he carried an inherent, Supreme majesty that decided life and death with a single word.

"Long time no see."

His voice was calm and indifferent; neither joy nor anger could be detected.

Li Gui's back was rigid, his clothes soaked through with cold sweat, his heart panicked to the extreme. He turned and roared, "Brother!"

Chieftain Song He's face twitched. Why are you calling me? But, as the leader, he had to bite the bullet under the gaze of his brothers. "We did not know the Dragon Emperor had arrived in person; our previous offense was unintentional. We hope the Dragon Emperor will forgive us! In Shuibo, no one dares to defy the Imperial Dynasty or offend your divine might. May I ask why the Dragon Emperor has graced us with his presence today? We will tell you everything we know without reservation!"

He was filled with panic, terrified that Yuan Chen would bring up the time Shuibo had entered the Imperial City.

Yuan Chen's eyes were calm as he spoke slowly, "Recently, there have been reports of Formations being set up in all directions and defensive deployments at the rift. Furthermore, rumors suggest that local forces are colluding with foreign regions."

As these words fell, the expressions of everyone present changed instantly, and they exchanged uneasy glances.

Chieftain Song He's body jolted. He quickly raised his head, his expression frantic as he kowtowed repeatedly. "Dragon Emperor, please investigate! After returning from the Imperial City, we have not left our territory, and we have never dared to collude with foreign regions! This is absolutely not our doing; someone must be maliciously framing us and plotting in the shadows. We beg the Dragon Emperor to distinguish right from wrong!"

He knew in his heart that the situation in the Canglan Domain was now settled and the Imperial Dynasty was at the height of its power. If the collusion with foreign regions were confirmed, no one in all of Shuibo would survive.

Although their previous intrusion into the Imperial City was already enough to warrant death.

But Yuan Chen hadn't mentioned it, had he?

Better to survive one crisis at a time.

At this moment, only by desperate denial could he hope to find a glimmer of survival.

"Is that so? Sect Leader Ling Tianjiao crossed the border through the rift. Your Shuibo secretly colluded with her and became controlled by others, willing to lie dormant in the Canglan Domain for her and harbor the source of disaster. Did this happen?"

Chieftain Song He was stunned upon hearing this.

Then, instead of his previous panic and guilt, his eyes filled with boundless grievance and resentment. He immediately argued loudly, full of conviction. Every word was sophistry, yet every point struck the truth: "Your Majesty! This is a grave injustice! For generations, Shuibo has lived in seclusion, uninvolved in worldly affairs. From top to bottom, we have never had any ambition to collude with foreign regions or cause chaos in the Canglan Domain! We are all innocent victims!"

"Half a month ago, a massive void rift tore open in the sky above Shuibo. We did not open it! This rift leads directly to the Xuan Continent Cultivation World and is completely beyond our control! Sect Leader Ling Tianjiao brought experts from the Xuan Continent through the rift. Her strength was heaven-defying and suppressed everyone. With only the strength of mere Loose Cultivators, Shuibo was simply unable to resist!"

"She forcibly occupied the rift in the heart of the lake and used Shuibo as a foothold for her cross-border operations. She even secretly poisoned me, using a unique, lethal toxin to lock my cultivation and control my life! This poison is vicious; it erodes my heart and meridians every single day. If I show even the slightest disobedience or fail to follow her orders, I will die from the poison and suffer Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering!"

"All our secret cooperation and forced forbearance were acts of desperation! We were coerced, manipulated, and forcibly dragged onto a pirate ship! We never actively colluded with foreign regions or plotted any wrongdoing!"

Yuan Chen looked at his hypocritically calm demeanor, his eyes turning cold. He said lightly, "Is that truly the case?"

As his voice fell, two figures stepped out from the crowd simultaneously.

Wu Yang raised his eyes and looked directly at Chieftain Song He. "Chieftain Song He, what you said is half-truth and half-lie, deliberately confusing the public and misleading everyone! It is true that Sect Leader Ling Tianjiao came to Shuibo to apply pressure and that you were poisoned, but you deliberately concealed the most critical truth!"

"When Sect Leader Ling Tianjiao first arrived at Shuibo, she did not initially force you to cooperate deeply with her plans! You voluntarily compromised and conceded!"

"To get Sect Leader Ling Tianjiao to delay the poison's effects and to secure her promise to keep you as the master of Shuibo, you even voluntarily blocked all communication! You forbade anyone on the island from reporting to the Imperial Dynasty or seeking help to quell the chaos! You clearly had the Opportunity to ask for help and escape, yet you chose to endure and comply, allowing the foreign threat to take root in Shuibo and breed hidden dangers!"

Yang Chi followed closely, his tone firm and every word striking home, completely tearing apart Chieftain Song He's disguise. "You are now full of grievances, playing the victim to win everyone's sympathy! But ask yourself: are you truly helpless, or are you simply greedy for life, afraid of death, and driven by selfish desires, willing to be manipulated by foreign regions and indulge the chaos?"

"Wu Yang and I were lurking in Shuibo and saw everything! Before Sect Leader Ling Tianjiao left, she explicitly told you that you only needed to close the island and guard the lake, without actively cooperating. You could have been liberated when the Imperial Dynasty's inspection arrived. But what about you? What were you doing?"

Chieftain Song He's face turned as pale as paper instantly. His body swayed slightly, and the last shred of Luck in his heart collapsed completely.

He glared at Wu Yang and Yang Chi, his eyes filled with monstrous rage and disbelief. "It's you! It's you two traitors! You betrayed us, you wretches!"

"We are not traitors," Wu Yang said, his expression indifferent and his stance firm. "We simply do not want to see all of Shuibo and our hundreds of clansmen dragged down by your ambition, becoming pawns and cannon fodder for foreign Prodigies, and ultimately ending up wiped out!"

Yang Chi was even more stern, striking at the core of the issue. "Chieftain Song He, your selfishness has inflated, and your ambition is monstrous! For the sake of your own power and separatist desires, you did not hesitate to invite the wolf into your home and collude with foreign regions, gambling with the lives of everyone in Shuibo for your own future! Are you worthy of being the master of Shuibo?"

The Shuibo faction, which had originally huddled together for survival and appeared as a united front, instantly shattered all disguises. Factions turned against each other, and the collective spirit was torn apart.

The first faction consisted of Chieftain Song He's confidants.

These people had followed Chieftain Song He for many years, relying on his protection to occupy high positions and enjoy exclusive resources in Shuibo. They had long been bound to his chariot.

Upon hearing the truth, they were the first to stand up to defend Chieftain Song He and berate Wu Yang and Yang Chi.

"Wu Yang and Yang Chi betrayed their master for glory! As members of Shuibo, they turned to report to the outside, betraying their homeland and their own kin!"

"Chieftain Song is acting for the eternal Foundation of our Shuibo! The Imperial Dynasty's momentum is crushing everything; we will be assimilated and annexed sooner or later. Relying on Sect Leader Ling Tianjiao and the momentum of the Xuan Continent is our only path to rise!"

"You two are short-sighted and greedy for stability, ruining our once-in-a-millennium Opportunity to rise! You are the sinners!"

The second faction consisted of the sober, middle-level Cultivators—the steady faction that feared chaos.

These people did not participate in high-level power struggles; they only sought to live in peace and cultivate diligently. They now stood completely on the side of Wu Yang and Yang Chi, strongly opposing Chieftain Song He's insane behavior.

"Simply ridiculous! Sect Leader Ling Tianjiao is a top Prodigy of the Xuan Continent—how arrogant and domineering is she? How could she sincerely support us Loose Cultivators of the Lower Realm?"

"The so-called alliance and protection are all just exploitation! She is merely using our Shuibo as a springboard to invade the Canglan Domain. Once she stands firm, the first thing she will do is devour us all!"

The third faction consisted of the bottom-level, wavering Loose Cultivators—the neutral, observing faction.

These people had no reliance, no roots, and no Foundation. They did not understand high-level power struggles or the grand situation. They were now looking left and right, filled with panic.

The three factions confronted each other fiercely, arguing endlessly. Angry rebukes, refutations, pleas for peace, and curses intertwined. The once harmonious and peaceful lonely island of Shuibo was completely plunged into unprecedented internal chaos and division.

Chieftain Song He listened to the noisy quarrels and looked at his divided clansmen. Then he looked at the firm and righteous Wu Yang and Yang Chi. The hostility in his eyes grew, and his face became increasingly gloomy.

"The rift is a strange phenomenon from the heavens—it is not my fault! Sect Leader Ling Tianjiao has heaven-defying strength and vicious poison techniques; she controls my life as easily as crushing an ant! If I had fought to the death, I would have died instantly, and Shuibo would have been left without a leader and destroyed in an instant! My forbearance, cooperation, and low profile were merely to protect myself and to protect everyone in Shuibo!"

"I admit that I concealed the news and did not ask for help, but I had no other choice! We in Shuibo are a group of exiles in an awkward position. If I had rashly reported it while the rift was open and a strong enemy was outside, the Imperial Dynasty might not have been able to rescue us in time. Instead, they might have characterized our Shuibo as a source of chaos and wiped us all out!"

"Sect Leader Ling Tianjiao promised me that when the rift is stabilized and she takes root in the Canglan Domain, she will completely detoxify me, ensure Shuibo's independence and autonomy, and free us from the shackles of the Imperial Dynasty! I was betting on this glimmer of hope—what is wrong with that? I am not leading the wolf into my home; I am seeking survival in a desperate situation!"

Wu Yang did not give an inch and retorted loudly, "Seeking survival in a desperate situation does not mean living like a coward and indulging in chaos!"

"The rift falling from the sky is a natural disaster; your concealment and compromise with the enemy is a man-made disaster! Sect Leader Ling Tianjiao poisoning and manipulating you is her viciousness; you taking the Opportunity to harbor the source of disaster and gambling on the foreign trend is your selfishness! Natural disasters can be forgiven, but man-made disasters cannot be tolerated!"

"If you really cared about the people of Shuibo, you should have sent a letter to the Imperial Dynasty the moment the rift appeared and Sect Leader Ling Tianjiao left. You should have asked for help to detoxify and used the power of the entire domain to seal the rift and expel the foreign threat! But you were greedy for life, afraid of death, and relied on Luck. You were willing to rely on foreign regions and bet on a slim chance of life rather than submit to the general trend and seek the Righteous Path to survival!"

Yang Chi's eyes were sharp as he scanned the wavering crowd. His voice was loud and shook the entire scene:

"The Daming Dynasty has established a great Formation to benefit all living beings, protecting everyone in the entire Canglan Domain!"

"If you remain obsessed and follow Chieftain Song He down this dark path, the day Sect Leader Ling Tianjiao crosses the border will be the day Shuibo is destroyed!"

With these two angry rebukes and the dissection of the truth, countless wavering, neutral Cultivators retreated one after another, distancing themselves from Chieftain Song He and standing on the side of Wu Yang and Yang Chi.

"That's right! We can't keep following Chieftain Song He into madness!"

"Severing ties with the Xuan Continent, pleading guilty to Your Majesty, and steadily submitting to the general trend is the only way to survive!"

Seeing the massive loss of support and realizing his defense could not convince everyone, Chieftain Song He's face twisted ferociously, his eyes turning bloodshot. All his grievances and unwillingness turned into frantic rage. "Are you not poisoned? Do you want to die?!"