Fallen into a desperate situation! What does Chen Dengming have to do with the trouble Chen Baimao caused?
"A nautical chart of the Northern Spirit Sea? The legendary Northern Spirit Sea, one of the four seas beyond the four domains. It seems the Northern Spirit Sect truly originated from the Northern Spirit Sea; they even possess a nautical chart."
Qiao Zhaoxian's eyes lit up when she saw the handwriting on the scroll in Chen Dengming's hand. "Quick, open it and take a look."
Chen Dengming's heart stirred. He had originally planned to ask the patriarch or sect leader about the matter outside the Four Domains after returning to the sect, but it seemed that Qiao Zhaoxian knew something about it.
"Are you familiar with the situation beyond the Four Domains? Tell me."
As Chen Dengming spoke, he opened the map scroll.
Once the scroll is opened, a map of a sea area is revealed.
On the grayish-brown leather scroll, a clear map of a vast sea area was outlined with lines resembling crimson blood.
Trenches, islands, and straits are scattered throughout the landscape, all depicted with annotations.
Upon closer inspection, Chen Dengming noticed that several of the largest islands were occupied by several major immortal sects, with detailed annotations provided.
"Red Lotus Sword Sect: A large island presided over by the Spirit Transmutation Dao Lord Red Lotus Dao Lord. The vice sect leader and the two elders are both Nascent Soul True Lord, as well as nineteen Golden Core True Person, hundreds of Foundation Establishment, and nearly one hundred thousand disciples, distributed throughout the Spirit Sea. The island's ruling Dao technique is the <Red Lotus Sword Manual>."
"Flying Star Island: A large island overseen by the Spirit Transmutation Dao Lord, Star Cloud Dao Lord."
"Divine Turtle Island: It is suspected to have been formed in ancient times by a black turtle after it merged with the Dao. The current Divine Turtle Divine Turtle Dao Lord governs the Divine Turtle Island is also of profound strength. The island is mostly inhabited by Demon Beast and has few cultivators, but they are all gentle and kind and rarely have conflicts with the outside world."
"Sumeru Island: A sacred Buddhist Sect site overseas, suspected to house more than one Buddha comparable to a Nascent Spirit Transmutation Dao Lord, unfathomable, and perhaps even Living Buddha comparable to a Dao-Merging being."
After only a cursory glance at the descriptions of the largest islands in the Northern Spirit Sea, Chen Dengming and his companions gasped in surprise.
The sects in these overseas lands are also incredibly powerful.
The power of the Red Lotus Sword Sect is comparable to that of the Longevity Sect at its peak. I wonder when this information was recorded and whether it was in real time.
There are also many other large and small islands in the corners, which are not weak either, and many of them have Spirit Transmutation Dao Lord and Nascent Soul True Lord in charge.
Even more disturbingly, at the center of the map, where a whirlpool resembles an ocean eye, there is a chilling label.
"Northern Spirit Sea Abyss: A place where opportunities and dangers coexist in the Northern Spirit Sea. Legend has it that it was born after the collapse of the ancient Northern Spirit Sea Palace. The depths of the abyss hold many of the Northern Spirit Sea Palace's former treasures, Cultivation Method, wealth, and even a complete lineage of Immortal Way."
"This map contains very comprehensive information."
Qiao Zhaoxian somewhat surprised and was about to respond to Chen Dengming's words when Gao Lingxiao let out a soft exclamation.
Look here.
Chen Dengming's gaze immediately focused on the corner of the map that Gao Lingxiao had pointed to.
Only then did I notice the writing here.
Only after unrolling the scroll could one see clearly that it read, "On the ninth day of the fourth month of the 2457th year of the Northern Spirit New Year, the Earth Immortal Dao Power was renewed through the hands of the Northern Spirit Sect Northern Spirit Holy Son Sect."
"Infuse it with the Earth Immortal Dao Power to renew it?" Chen Dengming asked, puzzled.
"Could this map be a special Dao artifact refined with the Earth Immortal Dao Power?"
"By simply transferring the Earth Immortal Dao Power, one can update the situation in the Northern Spirit Sea at any time? The Northern Spirit New Year 2457 is the year in the Northern Spirit Sea?"
Qiao Zhaoxian surprised.
"What kind of leather is this?" Gao Lingxiao asked in surprise, tugging at the leather with his hand.
A skin capable of withstanding the Earth Immortal Dao Power must be extraordinary.
This map is clearly not as simple as just recording information on the surface; it must at least have special functions like War Zone map.
Unfortunately, this is a map from another realm, and it requires the Earth Immortal Dao Power to use, so it's not very useful to them.
At this point, everyone noticed that on the map, at the north and west corners, there were also markings such as "leading to the entrance of the Northern Spirit Sea".
"Could it be that the Northern Spirit Sect can still leave the Northern Region and go to the Northern Spirit Sea?"
Qiao Zhaoxian somewhat surprised. He glanced at Chen Dengming before answering Chen Dengming's previous question.
"I don't know much about the situation outside the Four Regions either. The information I gathered came from some secret histories stored in the Scripture Pavilion of my Tiandao Sect."
Those secret histories are shrouded in mystery, and I think two versions are more plausible. Perhaps Xiao Gao knows them too."
Gao Lingxiao frowned in displeasure, but was too lazy to refute.
She was indeed younger than Qiao Zhaoxian in age, which proved that she was more talented.
Qiao Zhaoxian continued, "One theory is that our Four Regions were once the central continent of the Four Seas."
In ancient times, after a great war between immortals, the five major lineages collapsed, and some areas of the four domains were separated, forming the numerous islands of varying sizes in the four seas.
Because the Four Regions were once the birthplace of the Dao lineage, even after the Dao lineage collapsed, it was still filled with a large number of broken inheritances and Dao power from various Dao lineages. Therefore, it became a chaotic Curse land of the Dao lineage. The most prominent feature is the Fallen Forbidden Zone on the edge of the Four Regions.
"The Fallen Forbidden Zone is a barrier, making it difficult for those outside the Four Domains to enter, and equally difficult for those within the Four Inner Domain to leave. However, it seems that Spirit Transformation cultivators can travel freely, though whether this is truly the case remains to be seen."
Gao Lingxiao nodded solemnly, "Every hundred years, our Shu Sword Pavilion sends people to guard the Fallen Forbidden Zone. It seems that the ones guarding it now are Golden Core Golden Core Cultivator from your Tiandao Sect and Dragon Transformation Sect?"
"The Fallen Forbidden Zone?" Chen Dengming asked, somewhat surprised and bewildered.
He felt like he was from a completely different world from these two guys; he had never heard of any of the information they were talking about.
"You don't know about the Fallen Forbidden Zone?" Qiao Zhaoxian in surprise.
Chen Dengming was speechless. How did he know? Was it common knowledge?
Gao Lingxiao glanced at Chen Dengming, then raised her slender hand to her mouth and coughed, "Old Qiao, are you deliberately trying to discredit Fellow Daoist Chen?"
It's been nearly five hundred years since any fellow Daoists from the Longevity Sect went to guard the Fallen Forbidden Zone. Don't you know why? Since no one goes, the Longevity Sect is probably naturally neglected."
Qiao Zhaoxian sideways at Gao Lingxiao, knowing that this naughty little sister was trying to provoke him and sow discord between him and Old Chen, and immediately explained to Chen Dengming with a smile.
Only then did Chen Dengming realize that there was a Fallen Forbidden Zone at the very edge of the four regions, such as south of the Southern Region, north of the Northern Region, and east of the Eastern Region.
The forbidden land is filled with evil spirits, demons, and other strange and indescribable beings. It is a paradise for ghost cultivators, and it is rumored that there are many powerful ghost kings there.
Although these evil spirits and demons are limited by the resources of the underworld, they rarely leave the Fallen Forbidden Zone.
However, over the years, the top sects in each region still send Golden Core cultivators, or even Nascent Soul True Lord are retired, to guard the vicinity of the forbidden lands from time to time to prevent evil spirits from entering the four regions and disrupting the normal cultivation environment of the cultivation world.
Therefore, evil spirits rarely run rampant in the cultivation world of the four regions.
Because the cultivators within the Longevity Sect were too lazy and lacked combat strength, no Longevity Sect cultivators have gone to the Fallen Forbidden Zone to perform their duties for nearly five hundred years since a mistake was made.
However, in return, the Longevity Sect also needs to make corresponding concessions.
Given that Chen Dengming had only recently broken through to the Golden Core stage, it was perfectly normal that he was unaware of the Fallen Forbidden Zone.
"If there are indeed many Ghost King-level Ghost Dao experts within the Fallen Forbidden Zone, even Nascent Soul True Lord would find it very difficult to traverse the Fallen Forbidden Zone and reach the Four Domains beyond."
Qiao Zhaoxian shook his head. "So, the rumor that only Spirit Transformation experts can leave the Four Domains and go beyond them is a fairly reliable explanation."
With a longing look, he sighed, "Another theory is completely opposite to the 'Four-Center Theory' and is called the 'Four-Center Periphery Theory'."
It is said that the four regions, including the islands in the four seas, were all part of a complete immortal realm. After the great war between immortals, the various great lineages collapsed with the death of the immortals, and the islands that were formed from their disintegration.
The Four Domains are merely larger islands, not the center, but rather the edges of the Shattered Immortal Realm.
Chen Dengming listened with a strange expression, "These ideas, one after another, are very mysterious, yet they have a kind of old-fashioned familiar charm."
Could it have been written by that Jia Gan Jushi, who wrote about the High Antiquity Cultivation World with its three thousand great paths and corresponding three thousand Divine Ability?
"Ha! Why talk about things from beyond the Four Regions now that we're sorting out the spoils of war?"
Hey Old Chen, you don't think you're invincible within the Four Inner Domain and are trying to venture beyond them, do you?
"Don't do anything reckless. The Fallen Forbidden Zone is not a place for humans. Even ghost cultivators would be torn in two if they went there."
"What are you saying? I was just curious and asking around. I can see you look quite eager, Old Qiao. If you ever have the chance to go to the Four Realms, wouldn't you go?"
"Me? I'd like to go, but that might be after I reach the Nascent Soul. We're already at the Golden Core stage, so let's see who can advance to the Nascent Soul faster."
Gao Lingxiao, looking quite knowledgeable, said calmly, "Cultivators of the Longevity Sect only compete with others to see who lives the longest, never with who lives the fastest."
Old Qiao, you might reach the Nascent Soul before you turn three hundred, or you might be killed by a powerful Devil Cultivator from the Western Regions before you turn three hundred. Fellow Daoist Chen might take his time until he reaches the Nascent Soul at five hundred, but that's more stable."
You can't expect ivory to come out of a dog's mouth.
More than half a day later.
As night transitioned into day, the neon-colored dawn dispelled the misty, veil-like air that lingered in the deep valleys and mountains.
Dewdrops on some leaves reflected the sunlight, shimmering on the tips of the leaves.
Built atop towering mountains, Heguan City resembles a giant wreath strung together by Rainbow Bridge and Formation, adorning the mountains.
On each mountain, there were magnificent architectural complexes shrouded in formations, some with palaces and pavilions, solemn and Formation, others with waterfalls and springs, flying eaves and brackets, or rows of cave dwellings made of bricks and stones. It seemed that each mountain peak represented a different Mountain Gate, with its own unique immortal culture and distinct style.
The roads, large and small, leading to the various mountain peaks are all connected by suspension bridges and floating islands, sealed off by Formation, making it difficult for even birds to cross.
This is Heguan City, jointly built by the alliance of various sects in the Eastern Region. It is also the largest wartime stronghold in the Eastern Region, from which tens of thousands of intelligence reports and wartime orders are issued daily.
There's not much of a commercial atmosphere here, but it exudes a sense of tension, solemnity, and ever-present excitement.
For example, at this moment, the atmosphere Heguan City was incredibly lively.
The numerous cultivators active in various immortal cities frequently turned their gazes toward the highest peak in the center of the mountains, piercing the clouds and showcasing the highest peak above the mountains— Immortal Fortune City.
News of Chen Dengming and others' return this morning has already spread like wildfire.
The story of Chen Dengming, the Longevity Dao Child had been silent for several years, together with Qiao Zhaoxian, Gao Lingxiao, Gan Qinghong and others, killing the Northern Spirit Holy Son and the Kill Chakra Guardian has been spreading and being hotly discussed in Heguan City since yesterday.
The morale of the cultivators in the Eastern Region was greatly boosted.
This is one of the most uplifting news stories in recent years.
It should be noted that during the past ten years of war, not many Golden Core Late Stage cultivators perished, only six in total, while many ordinary Golden Core cultivators did perish, more than twenty.
As for the Dao Child, only three of them perished.
The deaths of two people this time are a heavy blow to the morale of the Western Regions Devil Cultivators.
War Merit Hall Immortal Fortune City.
After handing over the Sound-Image Pearl, Chen Dengming and the others discussed the matter and decided to hand over only a portion of the spoils of war in exchange for battle merits, while keeping the rest for themselves.
Chen Dengming left behind the Northern Spirit Snow Lotus with three petals missing, a nautical chart of the Northern Spirit Sea, and a Third-tier High-grade spirit boat.
This snow lotus can help Golden Core Mid Stage cultivators break through bottlenecks and Golden Core Late Stage.
It may not be of much use to him, but it will definitely be of great use to He Yingyu in the future. Once this opportunity is missed, it will be gone forever.
Qiao Zhaoxian left behind a top-tier, third-order killing sword.
Gao Lingxiao left behind a Third-tier High-grade Law Treasure belonging to the Northern Spirit Holy Son.
The remaining items, such as spirit boats, talismans, Daoist techniques, Law Treasure, and elixirs, which they didn't like or that were unsuitable, were all handed over by the three of them and directly exchanged for battle merits.
Chen Dengming left behind a considerable amount of spoils, and each item was quite valuable.
However, even based solely on the images captured by the Sound-Image Pearl, it can be determined that his battle achievements are the highest.
Leaving these things behind would be more than enough; however, a considerable amount of battle merits or spirit crystals would be distributed afterward to compensate Gan Qinghong, who left nothing behind.
The three had already discussed this matter, and the Northern Spirit Holy Son and the Kill Chakra Guardian had stored more than 20,000 High-grade Spirit Crystal in their Storage Bag.
Giving all these spirit crystals to Gan Qinghong would be enough to compensate him.
After recording their battle achievements and dividing the spoils, the three immediately went to the Immortal Fortune Hall to meet the city lord of Immortal Fortune City, who was also the current acting leader of the Eastern Region Alliance of Sects Dragon Transformation True Lord, Shangguan Linjiang.
The original leader of the Eastern Region Alliance of Sects was Xuan Chenxiao, the second ancestor of the Tiandao Sect.
Unfortunately, the second patriarch of the Tiandao Sect suffered severe injuries in the battle with Dongfang Huayuan, the Venerable Lord the Western Regions, and could only go into seclusion to heal his wounds.
During this period, after discussion, the various sects decided to send a suitable Nascent Soul True Lord each year to act as the temporary leader of the alliance, to deter the lesser sects, and to handle the affairs of the various sects during wartime.
At this time, Shangguan Linjiang, the Dragon Transformation Sect Nascent Soul Dao Lord the Hualong Sect, was no ordinary person either, with strength reaching the Nascent Soul Middle Stage.
Although the Dragon Transformation Sect lacks a proper lineage, it possesses the bloodline power inherited from the True Dragon lineage, making it a force to be reckoned with.
"Do you think this is a reward for us? It's all so formal, with the acting alliance leader personally receiving us."
The three arrived at the magnificent and enormous Immortal Fortune Hall, which resembled a giant's hall. Qiao Zhaoxian whispered something to himself.
Chen Dengming raised his eyebrows and shook his head, saying, "I'm afraid it won't be a reward. We heard some of the rumors circulating outside before we entered the city."
"I reckon we're now on the top of the Kill List among the Devil Cultivator of the Western Regions. Even the Mochao Kingdom Lord and the Northern Spirit Sect might not be able to sit still and could want to kill us."
Gao Lingxiao crossed his arms, still looking arrogant, and snorted, "So what if you want to? I also want to kill the Northern Spirit Sect and the Mochao Kingdom Lord in the future. Does thinking about it make you capable of killing them?"
Qiao Zhaoxian his tongue, "You're really bold. Just think about the Nascent Soul Realm stage Northern Spirit Sect."
The Mochao Kingdom Lord is Spirit Transformation cultivator; even if he's bound by certain agreements between Spirit Transformation and won't act rashly, what if he really...
Chen Dengming rubbed his forehead, too lazy to pay attention to these two guys, and stepped into the Immortal Fortune Hall first.
The Mochao Kingdom Lord is not to be trifled with, but can the Nascent Soul Nascent Soul, the Sect Northern Spirit Sect, really be trifled with?
Those two guys are really getting cocky.
To be honest, he was now somewhat regretful, truly afraid that the Northern Spirit Sect would break the Nascent Soul Treaty and attack him.
After all, it was Chen Baimao who beheaded the Northern Spirit Holy Son.
"Fine, I'll kill him then. It's just that this Northern Spirit Holy Son insisted on provoking me. If I don't kill him, who will?"
At worst, I can keep a low profile for a while, dye my Bai Mao back to black, and the world will only recognize Chen Baimao, the Longevity Dao Child. Who knows Chen Dengming, the Longevity Dao Child?
The people Chen Baimao killed had nothing to do with me, Chen Dengming, with my flowing black hair.