Actually.
From the very first time he came to the Blood Sea,
Lei Jun had been searching for the Earth Dao Source.
Unfortunately, neither his strength nor his Permission Right had been sufficient.
So he hadn't found it.
Now both had improved, and he'd actually found the location of the Earth Dao Source in one go.
The Earthly Dao was actually on par with the Heavenly Dao.
It had simply emerged later.
So it had ended up at a disadvantage.
Its reputation was even obscure.
But in essence, there was no difference.
If he could comprehend the Earth Dao Source completely, then to a certain extent, it would be no different from fully comprehending the Heavenly Dao.
This could help Lei Jun deal with the Heavenly Dao more effectively.
"This place is just too mysterious. It seems to be protected by a great array."
"But when I examine it closely, I can't even tell where the array is."
"Even I can't get in."
"So I'll have to think of a way to break the array!"
Alchemy, artifact refinement, and arrays.
These Three Paths each had many marvelous uses.
But right now, Lei Jun had only comprehended the first two. He knew little about the Array Dao.
Therefore,
figuring out how to unravel the array from first principles would be difficult.
He could only find another way.
"I wonder if the Chaos Green Lotus will work?"
In an instant,
a small green lotus blossomed in Lei Jun's palm.
It had twelve petals.
It was the Chaos Green Lotus.
"This lotus can take root deep in Chaos without being affected by it in the slightest. It can even grow quite well there."
"It should work here too!"
"After all, no matter how mysterious this place is, it still can't compare to Chaos!"
As he thought,
the Green Lotus flew out.
It took root outside the great array concealing the Earth Dao Source.
It happened in an instant.
The lotus's stem and leaves grew even greener.
It was not only absorbing the array's power; it also seemed intent on taking root inside it!
Was it trying to absorb the Earth Dao Source?
At once,
Lei Jun was a little surprised.
But after thinking it over, he found it only natural.
"Even the Nine Heavens' Breathing Earth and Innate Wu Earth can support the growth of Spirit Roots. The Earth Dao Source should be even better!"
"If the Green Lotus absorbs the Earth Dao Source, saying it'll grow well probably won't do justice to what happens. I should say..."
"It might advance in rank?"
What would it become if it advanced beyond twelve petals?
Twenty-four petals!
Then it wouldn't be an Innate Supreme Treasure anymore, but a Chaos Spirit Treasure!
For a moment,
even Lei Jun couldn't help clicking his tongue in amazement.
An Innate Supreme Treasure already contained the Dao. What would a Chaos Spirit Treasure contain?
The Great Dao?
More importantly, the Chaos Green Lotus wasn't just a Spirit Treasure.
It was also a Spirit Root.
On top of that, its unique properties could aid Lei Jun's cultivation.
That meant opening up more worlds.
So,
even if the Green Lotus advanced in rank and he never used it in battle, it would still be excellent for cultivation.
And with the Earth Dao Source, Lei Jun could gain insight into the Heavenly Dao.
Therefore, from any angle,
this was a tremendous opportunity!
But just as Lei Jun was preparing to enter seclusion,
something changed in the sky.
Boundless black clouds surged overhead, and a will turned its attention toward him.
Along with it came a wave of pressure.
"The Heavenly Dao?"
Lei Jun raised an eyebrow and smiled.
The Heavenly Dao's pressure worked on anyone else, but it was useless against him.
Lei Jun acted as if it were nothing.
Besides,
since the Heavenly Dao had made a move, that meant he was near the Earth Dao Source.
It saw him as a threat!
"In that case!"
"I have all the more reason to enter seclusion here!"
With a wave of his hand,
Lei Jun erased the Heavenly Dao's pressure blanketing the area.
Then,
deep in the Nine Nether,
before the place where the Earth Dao Source lay,
Lei Jun entered seclusion once more.
This time, he didn't know how long it would last.
At the same time,
when Lei Jun sensed the change in baleful energy,
in the center of the Primordial Wilderness,
near Mount Buzhou,
a roar suddenly rang out.
The sound spread across the surrounding lands, and countless Spirit Beasts bowed their heads.
"Hahaha!"
"I, Shi Qilin, have finally broken through!"
"I have now reached the Hunyuan Golden Immortal realm!"
After the roar
came a voice full of arrogance.
But no living being dared to defy him.
Just hearing those four words was enough to snuff out any desire to resist.
Hunyuan Golden Immortal?
That had to be an even more powerful realm than Da Luo, right?
How terrifying!
Many clans still didn't even have a Da Luo!
Just then,
a Qilin Clan cultivator stepped forward.
His tone was grave.
"Patriarch, something happened in the northeast while you were in seclusion!"
"Water Qilin and the clans under his command have vanished. The fortune of our Qilin Clan has also fallen by one-tenth!"
"I suspect someone may be plotting against our clan from behind the scenes!"
"But my cultivation is too weak to work it out!"
"Please decide what we should do, Patriarch!"
Shi Qilin transformed into his Dao Body, his gaze sharp.
"This has happened?"
"Don't panic! I'll make a careful calculation!"
With that,
Shi Qilin began to divine.
He had just broken through.
Shi Qilin was full of confidence in his cultivation.
He believed that in the Primordial Wilderness,
there was nothing he couldn't work out.
Unexpectedly, even after a long while, he still couldn't divine anything.
Only when a flash of Spiritual Light appeared in his mind
did a scene enter his thoughts.
That was when he finally gained some insight.
The scene showed a mountain peak.
Near an Immortal Mountain,
an elderly white-haired Daoist had taken Water Qilin and the other cultivators away.
At once,
Shi Qilin furrowed his brow.
"Who is this person?"
Setting aside where the scene that had flashed into his mind had come from,
just this Daoist alone
put him on guard.
There really was someone like this?
Even with his Hunyuan Golden Immortal cultivation, he couldn't divine anything about him?
As he was thinking,
another clansman came to report.
"Patriarch, a black-robed Daoist is here to see you."
"He says he can resolve your doubts!"
"Hmm?"
At those words, Shi Qilin's pupils contracted slightly.
Resolve his doubts?
How did this person know that he had questions?
Just then,
a voice came from beyond the array.
Brief,
and straight to the point!
"I am Luo Hou!"
"I've come for no other reason than to tell you, fellow Daoist,"
"the one who harmed your clansmen was a cultivator named Hongjun!"
Before his words had even faded,
a black-robed figure appeared before Shi Qilin.
It was Luo Hou!
At the same time,
Luo Hou appeared not only here, but also in the Dragon Clan and the Phoenix Clan.
There were three Luo Hous, but each was different.
One was pure demonic energy.
The other two.
One was surrounded by sword energy and killing intent, while the other carried an aura of destruction.
They were alike, yet different.
As if they were three distinct incarnations of one body!
Or could it be... the path of severing corpses?
The south.
Undying Volcano.
Yuanfeng looked at the black-robed man before her, suspicion written across her face.
Instinctively, she was doubtful.
But she remained very polite in her words.
She had no choice.
Who could blame her, when the man before her had unfathomable cultivation?
An aura of destruction swirled around him..
Even though Yuanfeng had broken through to Hunyuan Golden Immortal.
She still found him troublesome.
"Daoist Luo Hou, you say this Moonlight Fluid holds a great secret?"
"What do you mean?"
"I have already ordered that none of Our Phoenix Clan's members, nor the countless races under our rule, may cultivate with it. Would it still have an effect?"
Yuanfeng questioned him.
"Yuanfeng!"
"Your Phoenix Clan may be powerful, but does it possess thirty percent of the Primordial Wilderness's fortune?"
"It does not!"
"There are countless other races in the Primordial Wilderness that have not joined your Phoenix Clan!"
"Think about it. If these races refuse to join your Phoenix Clan, and instead..."
Luo Hou pointed with one hand.
He pointed upward and continued.
"Turn to the Taiyin Star!"
"You must understand!"
"The beings on the Taiyin Star do not need fifty percent of their fortune, and there is also an endless supply of Moonlight Fluid for Spirit Beasts to cultivate with!"
"By comparison, what does your Phoenix Clan have? Threats and inducements?"
"When that happens! What will the countless races that have already joined the Phoenix Clan do?"
"And what will become of your Phoenix Clan?"
Hiss~
In an instant.
Yuanfeng sucked in a sharp breath.
She understood.
In other words, as long as she did nothing to stop them.
Not only the races that had yet to join the Dragon Clan—even those that had already joined would probably be tempted to switch over to the Taiyin Star Camp.
Over time.
The Phoenix Clan would only decline further and further.
Meanwhile, the Taiyin Star.
Would only grow stronger and stronger!
But therein lay the problem.
The Phoenix Clan had no Moonlight Fluid.
And they were unwilling to give up that fifty percent of their fortune. Fifty percent of the fortune of every race was no small amount.
"I understand!"
Yuanfeng nodded.
"The Taiyin Star Faction and the Phoenix Clan can't both survive!"
Hearing this.
Luo Hou chuckled softly.
"Since you've already grasped the situation, Daoist, I won't disturb you any longer. I hope you emerge victorious!"
With that.
Luo Hou vanished.
Elsewhere.
Zhu Que frowned and stepped forward to ask.
As the Phoenix Clan's second-in-command.
She still held some authority.
At crucial moments, she could also voice her opinions.
"Clan leader, this man made some good points, but you mustn't believe everything he says!"
"He must have some scheme of his own!"
"If we believe him outright, I fear disaster will follow!"
Yuanfeng nodded, her expression solemn.
"I know!"
"Then should we send our people to attack the Taiyin Star?"
"Huh?"
Yuanfeng blinked her beautiful eyes.
Her expression was puzzled.
"Who said I was going to attack the Taiyin Star?"
"Isn't that right? Just now, you even..."
"That was to make Luo Hou leave!" Yuanfeng said with a smile.
"Then what are you planning to do, Clan Leader?" Zhu Que asked curiously.
Yuanfeng did not answer right away.
Instead, she pondered for a while before speaking again.
"Zhu Que, make the arrangements!"
"Rally the clan's best fighters and get them ready to accompany me to the Taiyin Star!"
Hm?
Zhu Que had only just begun to feel puzzled.
When Yuanfeng added two more words.
"To reinforce them!"
Before you continue