Pure Firmament Immortal Land

As Ren Xiaoyao placed the shimmering white crystal into the brocade pouch at his waist, the warm, ethereal energy swirling around his fingertips seemed to possess a spirit, clinging to his fingertips and lingering for a long time. This ethereal energy wasn't as sharp as ordinary spiritual power; instead, it was as gentle as melting snow in spring, slowly seeping into his meridians through his fingers, intertwining and merging with the remaining, still-unsettled spiritual power in his dantian. The spiritual power depleted in the previous fierce battle with the fragments of the Evil God, nourished by this ethereal energy, sprouted new life like withered trees in spring—the previously empty... His dantian, now mostly filled with rich spiritual energy, gradually became clear again, even his meridians, which had been somewhat sluggish from the fierce battle's impact with the evil energy, felt as if they were being soaked in warm water. He could even clearly feel the subtle vibrations of the spiritual energy resonating with his flesh as it flowed through his meridians. He raised his hand to rub the unhealed wound on the web of his hand. It no longer stung; instead, it ached slightly. Beneath the pale pink skin, the spiritual energy was quietly nourishing the damaged muscles, accelerating the wound's healing.

He looked up towards the outside of the Myriad Evil Cave. The light had changed from the initial pale dawn to a clear, bright golden radiance. Golden sunlight streamed in obliquely through several irregular cracks in the cave ceiling, scattering like broken gold across the ground covered with rubble and bone dust, casting dappled shadows. The devastation left by the fierce battle with the fragments of the Evil God was now showing signs of life—a few delicate, pale green shoots of grass sprouted from the cracks in a few Black Stone, their tips still glistening with dewdrops condensed from Spiritual Qi energy. The sunlight shimmered in the dappled light; the once dark moss on the cliff face, now vibrant and lush green thanks to the renewed flow of Spiritual Qi within the cave, even dispelled the faint lingering malevolent odor in the air with the sweet scent of newly sprouted vegetation. A breeze blew in from the cave entrance, carrying the fresh mountain air, brushing against the grass shoots and moss, giving this cave, once infested with evil spirits, a touch of warm vitality, as if the entire Myriad Evil Cave had been belatedly reborn after the evil spirits had vanished.

"Pure Firmament Immortal Land, Pure Firmament Jade Tablet..." Ren Xiaoyao's fingertips gently caressed the cloud patterns embroidered on the outer layer of the brocade pouch. These cloud patterns were standard issue for Qingfeng Valley disciples, and touching them now subtly resonated with the immortal energy emanating from the crystal. He softly recited the High Antiquity secrets conveyed within the crystal, the weariness in his eyes gradually fading, replaced by an increasingly resolute light. The image of that surviving sprout within the Myriad Evil Cave involuntarily surfaced in his mind, recalling the records in the ancient books of the Qingfeng Valley library... The desolate wasteland of the Three Realms during the reign of the Evil God "Xuan Ye"—the vegetation withered to ashes, living beings reduced to puppets, even the mountains and rivers stained black by evil power—was a scene of utter despair he never wanted to witness again. Having made his decision, he gripped the brocade pouch tightly, his voice deep and resolute. "Since that jade disc can purify the Primordial Chaos evil power and protect the living beings of the Three Realms, even if the Kunlun Mountains are fraught with peril, Sea of Clouds Secret Realm is hidden behind towering clouds, I will forge ahead without hesitation to find this immortal land and retrieve this treasure."

As he finished speaking, his toes lightly touched a flat Black Stone, and his figure, as light as a breeze brushing leaves, darted out of the cave entrance. His robes swept across the wild grass growing on the cliff edge, creating a soft rustling sound, and the sweet Plant Aura wafted through the mountains with his silhouette. Following the blurry map within the shimmering white crystal, he avoided the Bottomless Ravines and bypassed the miasma-filled valleys that corroded spiritual energy, speeding towards the Kunlun Mountains. His figure darted through the forests like a pale blue lightning bolt, leaving only a fleeting afterimage.

Along the way, they encountered two dangerous places where evil spirits lingered: one was an ancient forest blackened by evil power, where the dead branches twisted like claws, and fine, dark purple evil threads wrapped around the bark. These threads slowly wriggled, gradually devouring the sparse Spiritual Qi remaining in the forest. Even the fallen leaves were entangled by the threads, turning into clumps of black ash. The other was a stench-filled swamp, its water a dark green, with tattered clothing of cultivators floating on the surface. Submerged, translucent remnants of evil spirits churned, emitting mournful howls as they tried to drag passing cultivators into the depths of the swamp. The energy was transformed into nourishment for the evil forces. Ren Xiaoyao did not linger in battle, knowing that his primary objective was to reach Kunlun. If he expended too much spiritual energy here, he might not be able to cope with the dangers that lay ahead. With a slight flick of his wrist, the Carefree Sword was drawn half an inch from its sheath, and two clear, blue lights slashed out from the blade, like two shooting stars streaking across the ancient forest and swamp. Wherever the blue lights passed, the dark purple evil threads were instantly purified into ashes, and the remnant souls of the evil spirits let out a miserable cry before completely dissipating into the air. After dealing with the evil spirits, he immediately sheathed his sword and continued on his way. In just three days, the majestic outline of the Kunlun Mountains appeared on the distant horizon.

The Kunlun Mountains truly live up to their reputation as the "Ancestor of Ten Thousand Mountains." Their peaks stretch endlessly, like a sleeping dragon, lying between heaven and earth. The main peak pierces the clouds, its summit hidden in thick clouds, only its perpetually snow-capped peaks faintly visible, gleaming coldly in the sunlight. Below the mountainsides, layers of thick clouds envelop the landscape. Amidst the churning mist, it seems as if countless dragons are weaving and coiling, sometimes coalescing into beastly shapes, sometimes dispersing like a veil. Faint Golden Spiritual Energy can be seen flowing within the clouds, shimmering like fragments of starlight—this is precisely the sign of the "Sea of Clouds Secret Realm" described in the Crystal Secrets. The flowing Spiritual Qi is the result of the High Antiquity immortal energy leaking out from within the Secret Realm.

Ren Xiaoyao landed on a blue stone plain at the foot of the Kunlun Mountains. The plain was covered with hardy, low shrubs, their leaves still covered with morning frost. He looked up at the magnificent sea of clouds, a sense of awe rising in his heart. Then, he took out a luminous white crystal from his brocade pouch. The moment the crystal came into contact with the pure Spiritual Qi unique to the Kunlun Mountains, it instantly lit up with a soft, luminous white light. The light was gentle and not dazzling, yet it was enough to illuminate a three-foot radius around it. The previously blurry map patterns suddenly became clear under the nourishment of the Spiritual Qi —crisscrossing pale golden lines appeared on the surface of the crystal, outlining the contours of the Kunlun Mountains. A slender yet bright streak of light extended from the surface of the crystal, like a silver thread pointing straight to a gap deep in the sea of clouds.

The gap, hidden amidst the churning clouds, was only large enough for one person to pass through. The clouds swirled around it, completely obscuring it. Without the guiding light, even a close look at the edge of the sea of clouds would only reveal it as a natural crack formed by the flow of the clouds, making it impossible to perceive that this was the Secret Realm Entrance. "So this Secret Realm Entrance requires the guidance of the Pure Firmament Fragment Map (a crystal). The High Antiquity cultivators were truly meticulous in preventing evil spirits from entering," Ren Xiaoyao realized. He gripped the crystal tightly, slowly channeling the spiritual energy he had just recovered from his dantian into it. The crystal's light shone even brighter, and the light trail became even more luminous, like a beacon illuminating the path to the Secret Realm. He took a deep breath, slung the Carefree Sword behind his back, and leaped into the sea of clouds. His figure was instantly enveloped by the churning mist, leaving only a faint blue afterimage before quickly disappearing into the depths of the clouds, merging into the boundless white expanse.

The moment he stepped into the sea of clouds, the surrounding scenery abruptly changed, as if he had passed through an invisible barrier. The bright sunlight was instantly shut out, replaced by an endless expanse of white mist. The mist was so thick it was almost tangible, so dark that one couldn't see their own hand in front of their face. Even when he used his spiritual power to probe, he could only sense movement within a radius of about ten feet around him. Although there was a faint Spiritual Qi swirling within the mist, it carried a strange, disturbing power. As soon as it approached Ren Xiaoyao's sea of consciousness, it stirred up ripples like a stone thrown into a calm lake, causing his mind to become somewhat restless.

Within moments, a clear vision began to appear before his eyes—it was the familiar Qingfeng Valley, but its former tranquility and peace were gone, replaced by ruin and devastation: the Green Stone Archway at the valley entrance was cleaved in two and lay on the ground, still bearing traces of dark purple evil energy; the screams of the disciples within the valley rose and fell, some entangled by evil spirits, their spiritual energy out of control, their bodies convulsing, while others gripped their swords and fought back desperately, but could not withstand the corruption of the evil energy and gradually collapsed into pools of blood; the wooden pavilion of the library was ablaze. A raging fire erupted, thick black smoke billowing into the sky, plunging it into darkness. The precious ancient books inside the library were consumed by the flames, turning to ashes that drifted away with the smoke. His master, who had taught him Swordsmanship and treated him like his own son, now knelt on the open ground in front of the library, a dark purple thorn embedded in his chest, blood staining his blue Daoist robe. His aged hand slowly reached out towards him, his lips trembling slightly, as if calling his name with difficulty, his eyes filled with despair and resentment, as if pleading for his rescue.

"Master!" Ren Xiaoyao's heart tightened instantly, a surge of intense panic and anger welling up within him. Instinctively, he reached for his Carefree Sword, to rush forward and slay the evil spirits, rescuing his master. But he took only one step before his senses returned to reality—his master was the Valley Master of Qingfeng Valley, his cultivation already at the peak of the Nascent Soul Realm. He had not only mastered the essence of Qingfeng Valley's cultivation methods but had also personally slain several high-level evil spirits. Even if besieged by evil spirits, he would not fall so easily, much less be severely injured by a single evil thorn. Moreover, when he left Qingfeng Valley, he had specifically checked the valley's Defensive Array Patterns; they were intact, the Spiritual Qi within the valley was peaceful, and the disciples were all diligently cultivating in their respective courtyards. How could they have suffered such a devastating attack in just three days?

"So this is the first test of the ' Nine Heavens Pure Firmament Formation,' the Mist Illusion Heart?" Ren Xiaoyao's heart tightened, and he instantly saw through the illusion's true nature—this illusion used the people and things that cultivators cherished most to stir up emotional fluctuations within their hearts. If Dao Heart was not firm, one would be deceived by the illusion, falling into endless pain and self-blame, ultimately shattering one's mind and spirit, becoming nourishment for the formation. He quickly closed his eyes, abandoning the surging panic and anger in his heart, and activated the Calm Heart Art he had learned during his three years of seclusion at the "Jingxin Cliff" in Qingfeng Valley.

The Mnemonic of the Calm Heart Art flowed slowly through his mind, like a clear spring, gradually calming the restless energy and dispelling all negative emotions. The Carefree Sword in his palm seemed to sense his unwavering State of Mind, trembling slightly. The cloud patterns carved on the sword glowed with a faint blue light, spreading from his palm to his entire body, forming an invisible barrier that completely blocked the strange disturbance within the white mist. His mind instantly regained its clarity. "Since entering the Dao, I have always been committed to 'protecting living beings and eliminating evil spirits.' My Dao Heart is as firm as the Kunlun Mountain. Mere illusions are nothing but reflections in a mirror, how could they possibly disturb my mind?" When Ren Xiaoyao opened his eyes, they were clear as a mirror, without the slightest confusion or wavering, his tone full of certainty.

The moment the words fell, the illusion before him shattered like broken Glazed Ice, cracking into countless fine lines before finally vanishing into thin air with a "crack." The thick white mist also gradually receded, flowing away like a tide, revealing a blue stone bridge suspended in mid-air. The bridge was constructed entirely of High Antiquity blue jade, its surface warm and translucent, still gleaming faintly despite three thousand years of erosion. Intricate High Antiquity array patterns were carved on both sides of the bridge, though their brilliance had dimmed with age, a faint spiritual energy still emanating from them. Below the bridge lay a bottomless abyss, pitch black and seemingly capable of swallowing all light. Only muffled thunder could be heard rumbling from below, accompanied by scorching heat rising upwards, making the surrounding air parched—this was the entrance to the second trial of the "Nine Heavens Pure Firmament Formation," the "Lightning Fire Tribulation."

Ren Xiaoyao took a deep breath, suppressing his awe, and lightly placed his toes on the first jade stone of the bridge. The moment he stepped onto the bridge, the jade stone beneath his feet trembled slightly, as if awakening a dormant formation. The next second, the sky suddenly darkened; the previously surging sea of clouds instantly transformed into inky black clouds, within which lightning flashed and thunder roared. Countless thick, purple lightning bolts, as thick as buckets, cleaved down from the clouds with earth-shattering power, crashing straight towards the bridge like enraged dragons. The air itself seemed to... The bridge was torn apart by the violent lightning, leaving fine streaks of air and emitting a hissing sound. At the same time, raging Red Fire suddenly ignited in the abysses on both sides of the stone bridge. The flames rolled like magma, containing extremely hot Spiritual Qi, which baked the blue jade bridge surface red-hot. Even the array patterns on the bridge were made clearer by the flames. The surrounding air was distorted by the heat, and the scorching heat hit Ren Xiaoyao, making his blue Daoist robe slightly hot and his skin feel a distinct burning sensation.

Ren Xiaoyao dared not be negligent in the slightest. He knew the dangers of the "Lightning Fire Tribulation." If he were to withstand it head-on, even with spiritual power protecting him, he would be severely injured by the thunder and fire, or even perish. He immediately circulated the spiritual power in his dantian, allowing it to flow continuously through his arm into the Carefree Sword in his palm. The sword instantly shone with a dazzling azure light, wrapped in pure Heaven and Earth Righteous Energy and earth, like an azure light curtain that completely protected him. At the same time, he quietly unleashed the "Return All Things to Origin" sword intent—this sword intent was created by him by fusing the Qingfeng Valley mental technique with the power of heaven and earth. Its core was "following the trend and turning all things into one's own use." Now, facing the violent thunder and fire power, it was better to guide it than to withstand it head-on. He deliberately guided the sword intent, directing all the scattered thunder and fire power around him towards the Carefree Sword.

With a flick of his wrist, the Carefree Sword traced a smooth arc, its azure light flowing through the air like water before precisely striking a descending pillar of purple lightning. A crisp crack resounded as the lightning pillar, powerful enough to shatter boulders, was instantly cleaved into tiny fragments by the sword light. These fragments didn't dissipate; instead, they were enveloped by the sword light, like slender silver snakes, slowly flowing along the sword's blade into Ren Xiaoyao's meridians. Purified by the "Return All Things to Origin" sword intent, the violent power within the lightning was tamed, transforming into pure spiritual energy that flowed into his dantian along his meridians. This not only didn't harm his body but further enriched the spiritual energy within his dantian. Next, he pointed his sword at the Red Fire on either side of the stone bridge. The sword light formed an indestructible barrier, blocking the surging flames. Then, using his sword intent, he gradually extracted the scorching Spiritual Qi from the flames, transforming it into absorbable spiritual energy to nourish his Damaged Meridians and dantian.

"Going with the flow, turning the thunder and fire into my own, I never imagined that this perilous ' Lightning Fire Tribulation ' could actually become an aid to my cultivation advancement." Ren Xiaoyao's lips curled into a faint smile, his understanding of the "Return All Things to Origin" sword intent deepening once more. He continued walking steadily on the stone bridge, each step firm and powerful, landing precisely on the nodes of the array patterns on the bridge's surface—those dim array patterns, activated by his spiritual power, emitted a faint golden light, not only resisting some of the thunder and fire power but also assisting him in guiding and transforming it. The lightning and fire made the entire process even smoother. Wherever the sword light passed, the purple lightning pillars were all cut down, and the Red Fire was all transformed. The originally extremely dangerous "Lightning Fire Tribulation" actually became an opportunity for him to restore his spiritual power and enhance his sword intent. By the time he reached the end of the stone bridge, the spiritual power in his dantian had been completely restored to its peak, even more powerful than when he fought fiercely with the fragments of the Evil God. Even the "Return All Things to Origin" sword intent had become even more formidable due to absorbing the violence and ferocity of the lightning and fire power, and the azure light on the sword was even more dazzling than before.

The scene at the end of the stone bridge changed again, as if traversing another array. The thunder and fire in the sky suddenly dissipated, and the dark clouds vanished, replaced by a frozen world—the ground was covered with three feet of black ice, as hard as iron, its surface as smooth as a mirror, clearly reflecting the gray sky; even the dust particles in the air were clearly visible on the ice. A biting wind howled past like sharp blades, carrying tiny ice needles that were incredibly sharp. Even with spiritual energy protecting the body, these needles could penetrate the outer layer of any protective barrier, stinging the skin painfully. A chill penetrated deep into the bones, causing even the spiritual energy in the dantian to become somewhat sluggish. To make matters worse, the ice surface was covered with invisible array patterns. These patterns were integrated with the ice, making them imperceptible to the naked eye. Only by circulating spiritual energy and carefully probing could one sense a faint fluctuation. If one stepped into the wrong spot, one would instantly trigger an ice spike trap—countless sharp ice spikes as thick as an arm would suddenly rise from beneath the ice, carrying a bone-chilling cold that would instantly freeze a person. Even with high cultivation, it would be difficult to break free in a short time, and one would ultimately be frozen stiff by the cold, losing the ability to resist.

Ren Xiaoyao stopped, gazing down at the smooth ice surface, his brows furrowing slightly. He tried to circulate his spiritual energy to probe the array patterns, but they were extremely well hidden. Even when he unleashed the "Return All Things to Origin" sword intent, he could only vaguely perceive the general area of the array patterns, unable to determine their specific paths. Just then, he remembered the luminous white crystal in his arms. On a whim, he immediately took it out. As soon as the crystal approached the ice surface, it lit up with a luminous white light again. This time, the light did not scatter but condensed into a soft light screen that fell on the ice surface—the previously invisible array patterns were now clearly visible under the reflection of the light screen.

The array patterns, a pale gold color, crisscrossed like a complex spiderweb, yet within them formed orderly paths. Each node of these paths was shrouded in a faint aura of immortal energy, clearly guidance left by High Antiquity cultivators to ensure that those with truly righteous hearts and unwavering Dao Heart resolve could successfully pass the test. "So this crystal is not only a fragment of the Pure Firmament Immortal Land map, but it can also resonate with the array patterns of the ' Nine Heavens Pure Firmament Formation,' guiding the way. The wisdom of the High Antiquity cultivators is truly admirable," Ren Xiaoyao thought with awe. He gripped the crystal tightly and slowly stepped forward, following the path illuminated by the array patterns.

He lightly touched the ice with his toes, channeling spiritual energy into the ice. This not only prevented him from slipping but also allowed him to sense the fluctuations in spiritual energy at the nodes, avoiding triggering traps. His figure moved as lightly as a butterfly across the ice, without the slightest hesitation. Each step landed precisely on the pale golden array nodes. The cold wind and ice needles were blocked by the azure light surrounding the Carefree Sword as soon as they approached within three feet of him. The cold air was not forcibly dispelled but was instead absorbed into his dantian by the sword intent of "Return All Things to Origin." The lightning and fire power he had absorbed earlier was already quite hot, making his spiritual energy somewhat dry. Now, with the pure cold air, it neutralized that dryness, making his spiritual energy more balanced and flowing more smoothly. The aura within his dantian also became more peaceful and mellow.

Upon reaching the heart of the Ice Wind Purgatory, the biting winds of the world abruptly ceased, as if an invisible hand had pressed the pause button. The icy ground began to melt slowly, transforming into clear water that seeped into the ground through the cracks in the array patterns, revealing the smooth white jade floor beneath. As the icy ground completely melted away, a dilapidated yet still majestic palace slowly emerged from beneath the ice, like a sleeping behemoth awakening, exuding the grandeur of High Antiquity holy land.

The palace was entirely constructed of white jade, its pristine whiteness and flawless beauty still retaining its warm luster despite three thousand years of erosion. Though some of the Glazed Ice on the roof were damaged, with unmelted Ice Crystals clinging to certain sections, their former vibrant colors were still evident. Sunlight refracted through the Ice Crystals, casting dappled patterns of light on the ground. The palace walls were covered with cracks of varying depths, some still emanating a faint Spiritual Qi, seemingly telling tales of Ancient Times glory and warfare. Above the main entrance hung a massive white jade plaque inscribed with the three ancient seal characters "Pure Firmament Palace."