Ju Xian Academy had been operating for five hundred years and was gradually getting on track. It had also established branch academies in the capital and throughout the Human Race's territories.
Su Mu was cultivating when he heard Nuwa's voice transmission: "Su Mu, come to Shouyang Palace."
Su Mu rose, left his cave abode, and entered Shouyang Palace. This time, Nuwa had summoned only her three Personal Disciples.
"Teacher." Su Mu bowed to Nuwa, then nodded to Bei Xuan and Cangjie in greeting.
After all three had taken their seats, Nuwa said, "Cangjie, Ju Xian Academy has cultivated a great many talented people for the Human Race over the past five hundred years. You've done very well."
"Thank you for your praise, Teacher. This disciple will keep working hard," Cangjie said, his face full of pride.
Nuwa nodded, then waved her hand. Three beams of light landed in front of them.
The beams shimmered with a mysterious glow, as dazzling as the stars.
Anticipation and curiosity welled up in the three of them. They each reached out to catch one of the beams.
When they saw what was in their hands, their eyes widened in astonishment, delight filling their faces.
The three beams had turned out to be the Taiqing Alchemy Technique, the Yuqing Artifact Refining Technique, and the Shangqing Formation Technique!
These were the Three Pure Ones' peerless methods, containing boundless mysteries and immense power.
The Taiqing Alchemy Technique could be used to refine all manner of miraculous pills, granting people extraordinary abilities;
the Yuqing Artifact Refining Technique could forge invincible Magic Treasures to help cultivators conquer the world;
and the Shangqing Formation Technique could create exquisite formations, suited for both offense and defense, with limitless power.
The three were so overwhelmed with excitement that they quickly rose to their feet and bowed deeply to Nuwa. Overcome with gratitude, they said, "Thank you for bestowing these methods, Teacher! We'll treasure this opportunity, cultivate diligently, and live up to your expectations!"
"Cangjie, you must devote yourself to understanding the Shangqing Formation Technique. Before the Five Emperors take their places, you must successfully devise a powerful formation!"
"This concerns the battle between the Human Dao and the Heavenly Dao! The Heavenly Dao's side certainly won't want to see the Human Dao grow stronger, and they'll undoubtedly intervene. This battle is unavoidable," Nuwa said to Cangjie earnestly.
"Yes, Teacher. I'll do everything in my power," Cangjie replied firmly.
"Junior Brother Cangjie, you can study formations with the Three Ancestors, the Three Sovereigns and Two Emperors, and the Dragon Clan and Phoenix Race. Use the Myriad Dragon Formation and the Phoenix Nirvana Great Formation as references," Su Mu said.
"Good. I'll go study formations with them now," Cangjie said.
Nuwa conjured a ball of light and said to Cangjie, "Cangjie, this is one of my incarnations. Take it to Chi You and have him bring it to Houtu."
"Yes, Teacher. I'll go right away." With that, Cangjie headed for the Human Ancestral Land.
Su Mu and Bei Xuan also left. After they exited Shouyang Palace, Bei Xuan said to Su Mu, "Senior Disciple Brother, I'm going back to my cave abode to cultivate." Then he turned and departed.
Su Mu watched Bei Xuan's retreating figure and couldn't help but feel wistful.
He knew that the path of immortal cultivation was long and arduous. Only constant effort and cultivation could lead to accomplishment. But at that moment, he had something else to do.
He thought of the Three Immortal Islands. They had yet to emerge, and he wanted to take a look. So he decided to fly toward the East Sea.
Su Mu was in high spirits along the way, flying at tremendous speed. He passed through the clouds and over the mountains, finally arriving above the East Sea.
Gazing out at the vast, boundless sea, Su Mu felt his ambition surge.
He was sure that countless secrets and treasures lay hidden in these waters, waiting for him to discover them.
He took a deep breath and continued flying east. Perhaps the Three Immortal Islands lay somewhere ahead.
After flying for a long while, he finally spotted a strange island. From afar, it looked like a dazzling pearl set in the vast ocean, radiating a mysterious, alluring aura.
Clouds and mist swirled over the island. Lush trees shaded the land, and exotic flowers and plants grew everywhere, making it seem like a paradise.
As Su Mu drew closer, he found a thin veil of mist surrounding the island, giving him an inexplicable sense of peace and serenity.
Looking closely, he could see strange lights flickering across the island. Clearly, a powerful formation had been set up there.
The formation could not only repel invaders but also maintain a unique ecosystem across the entire island.
"This island has such a powerful Innate Great Formation. It must be one of the Three Immortal Islands!" Su Mu exclaimed.
He knew that only a tiny number of powerful spiritual treasures possessed Innate Great Formations like this. And naturally, the Three Immortal Islands, legendary immortal islands that they were, would be no exception.
At the thought, anticipation welled up in him. He wanted to uncover the secrets hidden behind this mysterious island.
Su Mu took a deep breath and was just about to break the formation when he suddenly felt a strange stirring from the Chaos Bead inside him.
His heart stirred. "The Chaos Bead is reacting? Could this bead actually let me ignore the Innate Great Formation?" At the thought, Su Mu couldn't help getting excited.
He immediately activated the Chaos Bead and poured his Magic Power into it.
When he reached out to touch the formation again, a miracle occurred—his fingers passed straight through its barrier without the slightest resistance!
"Just as I thought!" Su Mu was overjoyed, his heart pounding with excitement.
He hadn't expected the Chaos Bead to break through the Innate Great Formation before him so easily.
So, without hesitation, he stepped into the formation and headed deeper into the Three Immortal Islands.
As he walked, the surrounding formation seemed to lose its effect, and the powerful pressure vanished without a trace.
Su Mu proceeded unhindered and soon reached the heart of the Three Immortal Islands.
Looking at the island before him, Su Mu's eyes gleamed with anticipation and curiosity.
What secrets and treasures did this mysterious place hold? He couldn't wait to find out.
The first island he entered was Penglai Immortal Island. It was filled with countless rare treasures, and many exotic beasts ran about.
At the island's center stood a golden spiritual root bearing nine fruits. The words "Yellow Middle" were written on each one.
"This is the Top-grade Innate Spiritual Root, Yellow Middle Plum," Su Mu thought.
"The Yellow Middle Plum blossoms once every thirty thousand years, bears fruit after another thirty thousand, and ripens after yet another thirty thousand. Just smelling it adds ten thousand years of cultivation, and eating one lets you become a Grand Unity Golden Immortal on the spot. I've struck it rich!" Su Mu was truly thrilled.
Su Mu moved the Yellow Middle Plum into the Chaos Bead's space, then continued exploring, taking every spiritual herb and medicine he found.
After finishing his exploration of Penglai Island, he headed to Yingzhou Island. At its center stood a pool filled with golden, white, and purple light.
"Could that be Three Lights Divine Water?" Su Mu murmured.
The golden Sunlight Divine Water could dissolve flesh, bone, and blood; the white Moonlight Divine Water could corrode the soul and spirit; and the purple Starlight Divine Water could dispel attachments of the true spirit. But when combined, they became the greatest healing elixir of the Primordial Era.
There was an entire pool of it here. Su Mu took out an Innate Spiritual Treasure gourd and gathered all the Three Lights Divine Water inside it.
As he examined the surroundings, he suddenly noticed a large tree nearby, emitting a faint glow.
Looking closely, he realized it was an Innate Spiritual Root! Its trunk was thick and its branches and leaves luxuriant, laden with translucent leaves.
As he approached the tree, a fragrant scent wafted toward him, filling him with a sense of ease and clarity.
Su Mu couldn't help thinking, "Could this be the legendary Enlightenment Tea Tree?"
It was said that this kind of tea tree could grow only in certain places, and that it was incredibly rare.
Its leaves had miraculous properties that could help cultivators comprehend the Great Dao.
Standing beneath the tree, he truly felt his mind grow clear, as if every doubt had been resolved.
Su Mu waved his hand and moved it into the Chaos Bead. After making another round and finding nothing else, he headed for the next island.
As soon as he entered Fangzhang Island, he saw five small flags planted in a rock, fluttering in the wind.
"These are the Innate Five Directions Flags!" Su Mu murmured in shock, an indescribable excitement surging through him.
His eyes widened. He couldn't believe his luck—he had found such precious treasures here.
The Innate Five Directions Flags were among the highest-grade Magic Treasures between Heaven and Earth, possessing immense power and mysterious abilities.
They consisted of five flags representing the east, south, west, north, and center. Each flag held its own laws and power, allowing it to control the Five Elements. They could be used for both offense and defense, and their forms were ever-changing.
Center—the Wuji Apricot Yellow Flag: countless golden lotuses; nothing could break through; all evil was repelled; no art could penetrate it.
East—the Green Lotus Treasure Color Flag: radiant relic-light; it calmed the mind and spirit; all evil was repelled; no art could penetrate it.
South—the Earth Separation Flame Light Flag: it threw yin and yang into chaos and reversed the Five Elements; all evil was repelled; no art could penetrate it.
West—the Plain Colored Cloud Realm Flag: wondrous, misty visions; Heaven and Earth were clear; all evil was repelled; no art could penetrate it.
North—the True Martial Black Eagle Flag: it veiled Heaven and Earth and blotted out the sun; all evil was repelled; no art could penetrate it.
It was said that whoever mastered the Innate Five Directions Flags could control the Five Elements between Heaven and Earth.
And now, Su Mu had actually found them here. It was nothing short of a miracle.
Su Mu took a deep breath, trying to calm himself, but he couldn't suppress his excitement.
He knew this was a major opportunity in his life. If he could refine the Innate Five Directions Flags, his strength would increase tremendously, and he might even comprehend the Five Elements Laws.
Su Mu put away the Innate Five Directions Flags, then looked at the rock they had been planted in. The fact that the flags could be inserted into it meant the rock had to be extraordinary too. He took it as well.
Su Mu continued forward and saw twenty-four pearls suspended in midair.
"These are the Sea Calming Divine Beads." Su Mu was used to it by now. He simply put all twenty-four Sea Calming Divine Beads away.
"Twelve Sea Calming Divine Beads make a Top-grade Innate Spiritual Treasure. Twenty-four make an Innate Supreme Treasure. I already have the Chaos Bead, so I'll give these Sea-Calming Pearls to Bei Xuan when I return. He still doesn't have a suitable weapon," Su Mu thought.
Before he knew it, he had reached the center of the island. Suddenly, his gaze was drawn to something ahead.
There was a platform at the island's center, and on it lay a ruler-shaped spiritual treasure.
The ruler was entirely golden, radiating an aura that made one's heart tremble.
Looking closely, he saw merit flowing over its surface, as if it had been formed from boundless merit.
"This is the Acquired Supreme Treasure—the Primordial Sky Measuring Ruler! Now this is a real treasure. It's the strongest offensive weapon among Acquired treasures, can break through all techniques, and kills without incurring karmic consequences." Now this was a real treasure! Su Mu laughed aloud in delight.
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