Wu Earth

Rejuvenation Valley had once been an ancient lineage of the Purple Mansion Golden Core Dao, cultivating Yi Wood.

Later, it lost its Qi Gathering Method and could no longer gather the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi of the Yi Wood path, leaving its people unable to ingest Qi and enter the Dao.

In just two or three generations, its Dao lineage had died out, and it had fallen to the status of a sacred ground in the mortal martial world, making a living by refining medicine.

Its valley master, Hua Mingcheng, was at the late stage of Embryonic Breathing. In the mortal martial world, he was a renowned innate grandmaster known as Unrivaled in Poison and Medicine.

To nurture a Qi Refining cultivator as quickly as possible, Old Daoist Wu had drawn upon the Spiritual Qi of Desolate Province without regard for the consequences.

Rejuvenation Valley, which made its living growing medicinal herbs and refining pills, had been struck by an undeserved calamity and suffered heavy losses.

Now, Supreme Mystery Mountain had shut down its grand formation, and the Spiritual Qi of Desolate Province was recovering.

Some had even seen several immortal masters descend Supreme Mystery Mountain one after another and head north.

Even the young immortal master Siyue had shown herself.

Only Immortal Master Cheng Xuan had been nowhere to be seen.

Anyone could tell that a great upheaval had taken place on Supreme Mystery Mountain.

Many people lived in constant dread.

Hua Mingcheng was old and shrewd. He had brought his most outstanding junior up Supreme Mystery Mountain at the first opportunity, hoping to gain the initiative.

Li Chengxuan looked at the two people before him and smiled for no apparent reason.

In years past, Old Daoist Wu had mentioned Rejuvenation Valley when commenting on the various Dao lineages under Supreme Mystery Mountain's rule.

"Rejuvenation Valley cultivates Yi Wood. Even in High Antiquity, it was a formidable Dao lineage. In particular, it was second to none at growing medicinal herbs, refining pills, and treating injuries and illnesses."

"Yi Wood cultivators, though, tend to be flexible in their ways. They're best at bowing and scraping."

"After all, one of the most famous images associated with Yi Wood is grass on a wall, bending whichever way the wind blows!"

He wondered where Old Daoist Wu and little Siyue had gotten to.

The journey from Southern Reach back to Central Continent passed through the Chaotic Star Sea, where danger lurked at every turn.

"Get up."

Li Chengxuan turned and walked into the General Affairs Hall. Sitting down in the main seat, he instructed the two apprehensive visitors, "Sit."

Hua Mingcheng had made inquiries about how Li Chengxuan conducted himself and did not dare remain standing. He said carefully, "Today, spiritual light flickered across heaven and earth, and three spiritual flowers in my valley bloomed out of season."

"This lowly one guessed that something wonderful had happened on the mountain, causing Spiritual Qi to spill out and bless the five commanderies."

"So I brought the spiritual flowers here to offer my congratulations, Immortal Master."

Li Chengxuan's smile grew wider as he listened.

So he had come to present auspicious signs.

And there were three of them, corresponding neatly to Li Chengxuan's rank among the disciples of Supreme Mystery Mountain. He had put thought into it.

A few generations back, Rejuvenation Valley had produced Qi Refining cultivators too.

Li Chengxuan made no effort to conceal anything and said directly, "I already know why you've come."

"My master has returned to his homeland in Central Continent."

"My senior brother and senior sister have also gone their separate ways to seek fortuitous opportunities."

"From now on, I am in charge of Supreme Mystery Mountain."

Hua Mingcheng's face lit up with delight. He rose and bowed again. "Congratulations on taking charge of Supreme Mystery Mountain, Immortal Master Li. May your fortune flourish and your great Dao remain evergreen."

Li Chengxuan shook his head and chuckled.

Supreme Mystery Mountain might have fallen on such hard times that its Dao lineage was almost unable to continue.

But in the eyes of the mortals of Desolate Province, Supreme Mystery Mountain was their heaven!

Hua Mingcheng said carefully, "Immortal Master, you devote yourself to cultivation and pursue the Dao of longevity. Someone must be here to manage the mountain's general affairs. This good-for-nothing junior of mine may be a little dull-witted, but she is diligent and dependable."

"If you do not find her wanting, Immortal Master, you could keep her here to attend to you."

Hua Chunning had received her grandfather's instructions before coming. Without a word, she knelt on the ground.

Li Chengxuan let out a long sigh.

Hua Chunning had a graceful figure and striking features. In the mortal martial world, she could probably lay claim to the title of the greatest beauty under heaven.

She looked bright and quick-witted, with a remarkable liveliness about her.

In sending her up the mountain, Old Daoist Hua was probably plotting something substantial.

Was he hoping to support another cultivator and revive Rejuvenation Valley's Yi Wood lineage?

So many of the Hua family had died before Rejuvenation Valley could escape the cultivation world and put down roots among mortals.

And now they wanted to set foot on that road to ruin again?!

The General Affairs Hall was exceptionally quiet.

Li Chengxuan swept two joined fingers before his eyes and looked at Hua Chunning. Shaking his head, he said bluntly, "Her aptitude is excellent, but the signs about her are faint, and she bears no particular destiny. She cannot cultivate the Purple Mansion Golden Core Dao."

Hua Mingcheng's face went pale. "So it cannot be done after all?" he murmured.

Hua Chunning trembled and lowered her head even further.

A multitude of thoughts ran through Li Chengxuan's mind.

The Purple Mansion Golden Core Dao was an ancient inheritance.

It was simply becoming harder and harder to cultivate.

One only had to look at Supreme Mystery Mountain's three disciples of this generation.

The eldest disciple, Qi Yuntian, was the last inheritor of the Azure Sea Sect, a foremost immortal sect that had produced immortals and once held an entire continent in awe.

The second disciple, Luo Qingqing, was a Child of Fate who bore the bloodline of a noble race from High Antiquity.

Li Chengxuan was rarer still: a transmigrator born outside all calculations, scarcely seen in the whole world.

By comparison, the signs about Hua Chunning-green grass spreading and purple wisteria twining around trees-were far too faint to mention.

"So be it."

"Leave the flowers, and let her stay too."

Li Chengxuan shook his head and offered no further explanation. He instructed, "Supreme Mystery Mountain will seal itself off for cultivation. Let the common people rest and recover."

Hua Mingcheng was overjoyed. He bowed to the ground again to offer his thanks.

Though his hopes of supporting his granddaughter's cultivation had been dashed,

Having her become someone close to the immortal master who headed Supreme Mystery Mountain was still enough to fulfill his wish.

A Qi Refining cultivator had a natural lifespan of 120 years.

In other words, for the next hundred years, Immortal Master Cheng Xuan would be the heaven of Desolate Province!

With Old Daoist Hua leading the way, the sacred grounds of Desolate Province's martial world, its great wandering heroes, its imperial clans, and its aristocratic families all came to Supreme Mystery Mountain with gifts and greetings.

Li Chengxuan had no time to attend to them, so he had Hua Chunning deal with them instead.

Three days later, an executive from the Immortal Alliance arrived.

Li Chengxuan had no choice but to receive him personally.

In the General Affairs Hall.

Xue Yang, the Immortal Alliance executive, was also a Qi Refining cultivator. Looking at Li Chengxuan, he remarked, "Most of the esteemed figures in the Immortal Alliance favored Qi Yuntian. I never expected you to overtake him and inherit the Supreme Mystery lineage, Fellow Daoist Li."

"As expected of a Child of Fate who stands outside all calculations."

Li Chengxuan's expression remained impassive. He shook his head and said, "For us cultivators of the ancient Purple Mansion Golden Core Dao, entering the Dao means stepping onto a dead end. Others may not know that, but surely you do, Executive Xue?"

"It was only because my master raised me, my senior brother and senior sister cared for me, and cultivation has been my lifelong pursuit that I reluctantly accepted the Supreme Mystery Mountain lineage."

Xue Yang nodded silently, then offered reassurance. "You needn't be so pessimistic, Fellow Daoist."

"The Purple Mansion Golden Core Dao is indeed difficult to cultivate, but it is also a grand and upright path. There is still a way forward."

"Two hundred years ago, there were Foundation Establishment cultivators on Supreme Mystery Mountain."

"Even now, the Immortal Alliance has Foundation Establishment cultivators holding the fort."

Li Chengxuan smiled and nodded. "You're right, Executive Xue."

After some casual conversation, Xue Yang turned to business, his expression grave. "Sect Master Li, preserving the Purple Mansion Golden Core Dao is the Immortal Alliance's foremost priority."

"Within five years, Supreme Mystery Mountain must have a disciple at the Embryonic Breathing stage!"

"Within ten years, it must have a disciple at the middle stage of Embryonic Breathing!"

"Within twenty years, someone must reach Embryonic Breathing perfection and be able to ingest Qi and enter the Dao!"

"Otherwise, Fellow Daoist, you will have to pay a visit to the Immortal Alliance's Innate Wu Earth Secret Realm!"

Li Chengxuan nodded silently.

The Calamity of Wu Earth was the Immortal Alliance's most notorious punishment.

Old Daoist Wu had been a Dao Child of an immortal clan in Central Continent, unruly and unyielding, with a spine of iron.

Later, he had failed in his resistance against the Immortal Alliance, and his kin had been killed.

Old Daoist Wu had endured the Calamity of Wu Earth in the Immortal Alliance for three months. When he returned, he had been as terrified as a stray dog driven from home, obeying the Immortal Alliance's every command and not daring to resist in the slightest.

He had even often woken from nightmares in the dead of night, wailing and groaning without end.

Later, the Immortal Alliance had laid down a grand formation to draw the Spiritual Qi from Desolate Province's five commanderies and support Supreme Mystery Mountain, nearly wiping out the people and leaving their bones strewn across the land.

Old Daoist Wu had not dared to question it.

Xue Yang did not press him too hard. Smiling, he said, "Fellow Daoist Li, your talent is outstanding and your destiny extraordinary. I'm sure your Dao Path will be smooth."

"Still, I wonder which kind of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi you refined?!"

The Purple Mansion Golden Core lineage had its origins in the Dao of Qi Ingestion and Nature Cultivation.

Entering the Dao required refining a kind of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi.

Li Chengxuan was silent for a moment before answering slowly, "Mortal World Turbid Qi."

"I see."

Xue Yang wore the hint of a smile, and his gaze was meaningful.

Supreme Mystery Mountain really had fallen to rock bottom.

Its current sect master had actually used the worst kind, Mortal World Turbid Qi, to enter the Dao.

After seeing Xue Yang off, Li Chengxuan returned to the Ancestral Masters' Hall to consider the Dao Path ahead.

Entering the Dao with the worst kind, Mortal World Turbid Qi, was a start with the heavens collapsing overhead.

According to Dao theory, Li Chengxuan needed to accomplish a feat that changed heaven and earth and benefited countless people before he could break through.

Desolate Province had been sparsely populated to begin with, and it had just suffered natural and man-made disasters. Nine out of ten homes stood empty.

Even if Li Chengxuan wanted to accomplish something, he had the will but not the means.

To make matters worse, the threat of the Calamity of Wu Earth hung over his head.

"So be it!"

"I'll probably have trouble making even an inch of progress in this world. My hopes for cultivation still rest on Earth."

With a thought, Li Chengxuan connected to the Two Worlds Pearl.

After a spell of heaven and earth spinning around him, he heard a familiar voice again.

"Huh, little brother, why are you back again?!"