Chapter 1355
The Earthly Jade Cauldron Returns
Donghuang Kingdom, "Yuxuan Island".
Nearly two hundred years have passed since the Great War to Destroy the Demon.
Yuxuan Island, which was once reduced to ruins, has now been largely restored.
Only the huge crater at the back of the mountain still shows some traces of the great battle that took place back then.
Below the deep pit, a man in white sat upright on a stone platform, opposite him a Taoist priest in black robes with a slightly serious expression.
A stone table was placed between the two, with several plates of high-grade spiritual fruits emitting a fragrant aura on top.
"Fellow Daoist Chen, you've come all this way. Are you perhaps worried about the sealing formation?"
In recent years, although some rats have appeared in the neighborhood, I have dealt with them all. Fellow Daoist, you can rest assured.
"Fellow Daoist Guixuan misunderstands. I came here not because I was worried about this, but to completely resolve the matter of the sealing formation."
As you know, the sealing formation is becoming increasingly unstable and may not be able to hold for much longer.
"If this matter isn't resolved thoroughly, how can I possibly feel at ease?"
"Oh! Could it be that Fellow Daoist Chen has thought of a way to break the sealing formation? No wonder you made a special trip here today."
I've been stuck here for years, and to be honest, I've had enough of it.
If you need any help from us, please don't hesitate to speak up.
Because of the agreement made between the "Northern Frontier" and the human cultivators, the Gui Xuan Demon Saint has been stationed on "Yu Xuan Island" in place of Chen Qingxuan for nearly a hundred years.
Upon hearing that Chen Qingxuan had found a way to repair the great formation, a slight look of surprise flashed across his face.
Just as he was about to ask the question with a serious expression, Chen Qingxuan waved his hand gently.
"Fellow Daoist, please don't be anxious. This method was not proposed by me. We need to hear Fellow Daoist Song's opinion on how to arrange things."
I am here today only to cooperate with his actions.
"Oh! So it's Fellow Daoist Song. I almost forgot he was also a high-level array master if you hadn't mentioned it."
Unexpectedly, Fellow Daoist Song, at such a young age, already possesses such profound mastery of formations, capable of solving a problem that even the Old Ghost of Nine Mountains was helpless against.
In recent years, Fellow Daoist Chi Li has already left the Northern Frontier.
"With such a talented individual as Fellow Daoist Song emerging from your human race, you should be able to confidently cross over to the Upper Realm now!"
“In recent years, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth in Huayang Realm has become scarce, making it indeed difficult for us to advance our cultivation.”
However, the matter of smuggling oneself to the upper realm is too dangerous, and being too hasty is probably not a good thing. Both I and my fellow Daoist need to plan carefully.
Moreover, there are many opportunities left behind by our predecessors in the cultivation world. If we can find them, we may be able to break through to the late stage of the Nascent Soul realm.
"Hmm! That's true."
Smuggling across the spatial node is extremely dangerous; if there were other methods, I wouldn't be willing to take that risk.
After the great battle on Jade Mystery Island, the "Crimson Demon Saint" had already chosen to leave Huayang Realm a hundred years ago.
Chen Qingxuan's remaining lifespan is not much longer than his opponent's. If he can resolve the issue of the sealing formation, he should be preparing to sneak into the upper realm soon.
Hearing the probing tone from "Gui Xuan Demon Saint" beside him, Chen Qingxuan remained calm, seemingly not in a hurry to plan this matter.
Seeing this, "Gui Xuan Demon Saint" nodded thoughtfully.
Chen Qingxuan only has about a thousand years left to live, so theoretically he doesn't have much time left to stay in Huayang Realm.
However, in the world of cultivation, there are also beings like "Master Lü Yang" who have obtained special opportunities and can live beyond the lifespan limit of four thousand years.
Given Chen Qingxuan's current supernatural abilities, it cannot be ruled out that the other party might have found some other longevity-extending spiritual items.
As for Chen Qingxuan's claim about the opportunity to break through to the late stage of the Nascent Soul realm, the "Gui Xuan Demon Saint," who had also lived for thousands of years, naturally could not truly believe it.
After all, the "Huayang Realm" has existed for ten thousand years, and no cultivator has ever ascended normally.
If such a heaven-defying opportunity could truly be found, cultivators like Ling Xuzi and Chi Li Yao Sheng wouldn't have risked their lives to venture into spatial nodes.
".
Just as the two were talking, they suddenly saw a streak of light in the distance heading towards the "Jade Profound Island".
Just as Chen Qingxuan and "Guixuan Demon Saint" stood up, a figure in a green robe descended from the sky and landed in front of them.
"Senior Chen, Fellow Daoist Guixuan."
"Hehe! So it's Fellow Daoist Song who has arrived."
It's only been two hundred years, and I never imagined that your cultivation would almost catch up with mine! Truly, the younger generation is formidable!
Back then, during the great war to exterminate demons on Jade Profound Island, Song Qingming's cultivation had only recently broken through to the Nascent Soul stage, far inferior to that of the "Gui Xuan Demon Saint," who had already cultivated to the third level of the Nascent Soul stage.
Now, less than two hundred years have passed.
When the two met again, "Gui Xuan Demon Saint" discovered that Song Qingming's cultivation had already broken through to the second level of the Nascent Soul realm.
Although the normal cultivation speed of human cultivators is much faster than that of demon cultivators.
However, the fact that Song Qingming could break through a realm in just over a hundred years still caused a slight surprise on the face of the "Gui Xuan Demon Saint".
"Over the years, I have been fortunate enough to have some opportunities, but I am still far behind you, fellow Daoist."
When the "Gui Xuan Demon Saint" praised his cultivation, Song Qingming replied with a touch of humility.
He then turned around and greeted Chen Qingxuan, and the three of them went together to the location of the "sealing array" not far away.
"Fellow Daoist Song, I heard from Fellow Daoist Chen that you have found a way to strengthen the sealing array. I wonder if this method is confident that it can completely resolve this matter?"
"A few years ago, I accidentally obtained a book of formations left by an ancient cultivator. After decades of research, I finally found a sealing formation suitable for this place."
If we can successfully set up this array, we should be 70-80% confident that we can completely seal this spatial passage.
However, setting up this formation requires the combined efforts of six Nascent Soul cultivators.
"We'll need to trouble Fellow Daoist Guixuan to invite a few more fellow Daoists over."
"With Fellow Daoist Song, Fellow Daoist Chen, and myself, there are now three Nascent Soul cultivators here."
I can send a message to Fellow Daoists Huo Feng and Yu Lin, asking them to come immediately. However, Fellow Daoist Bai Yang's physical body has not yet recovered from the injury he suffered last time, so I'm afraid he is unable to help set up the formation.
Fellow Daoist Chen, why don't you go to Xihua Prefecture and ask around to see if you can find a fellow Daoist to help you?
"Since this concerns the sealing formation, if the other party has any requests, our Northern Frontier can also contribute a spiritual item."
Of the six demon saints of the "Northern Frontier," "Thunder Demon Saint" unfortunately died in the great war against demons two hundred years ago, and "White Sun Demon Saint" was still recovering from the damage to his physical body.
Subsequently, due to his insufficient lifespan, "Crimson Demon Saint" also chose to sneak through the spatial node and leave the Huayang Realm ahead of time.
Now, only three demon saints remain: Gui Xuan, Huo Feng, and Yu Lin.
Including Song Qingming and Chen Qingxuan, there is still one person short of the six Nascent Soul cultivators he requested.
Upon hearing the suggestion from "Gui Xuan Demon Saint," Chen Qingxuan was instructed to go to Xihua Continent to invite a fellow Daoist for help.
Before he could reply, Song Qingming spoke up first.
"Senior Chen, there's no need for that trouble."
Before I came, I sent a message to a friend, inviting her to come to Jade Mystic Island to help set up the formation. I estimate she should arrive soon.
"Oh! Fellow Daoist Song has also invited a friend to help. May I ask which state's cultivation world this friend is from?"
Upon hearing that Song Qingming could so easily invite a Nascent Soul cultivator for help, "Gui Xuan Demon Saint" changed his expression slightly and couldn't help but ask a question.
But the other party simply shook their head.
"This fellow Daoist is actually also a cultivator from our Eastern Phoenix Immortal Continent, but she has always liked to travel around, so you have never met her."
"What?! A Nascent Soul cultivator from Donghuang Immortal Continent!"
Upon hearing Song Qingming's reply, the "Gui Xuan Demon Saint's" expression became even more puzzled, as if he still couldn't quite believe what the other party was saying.
It is known that when a cultivator breaks through to the Nascent Soul realm, they will attract a large amount of spiritual energy from heaven and earth, and the commotion will be difficult to conceal from nearby cultivators.
If a new Nascent Soul cultivator were to be born in the Eastern Phoenix Immortal Continent, the Northern Frontier demon race should have been able to find out at all.
Faced with his doubts, Song Qingming did not offer much explanation, but turned around and focused on studying the "sealing array" in front of him.
After receiving the message from "Gui Xuan Demon Saint", "Fire Phoenix" and "Jade Unicorn Demon Saint" arrived at Jade Xuan Island in just a few days.
Two hundred years have passed, and "Fire Phoenix" has made further progress in its cultivation, reaching the second level of the Nascent Soul realm.
"Jade Unicorn Demon Saint" remains at the peak of the first level of the Nascent Soul stage, and his cultivation has been surpassed by the "Fire Phoenix" who came later.
Born into the "Heavenly Phoenix Clan," the strongest clan in the Northern Frontier, the Fire Phoenix's innate bloodline surpasses that of most demon clans in the cultivation world.
In addition, before leaving, "Red Desolate Demon Saint" also left her with a lot of resources.
While Chen Qingxuan and the others were somewhat surprised that her cultivation speed could surpass that of "Jade Scale Demon Saint" and catch up with Song Qingming, they were not too astonished.
After the five of them reunited, they waited on the island for a few more days.
On this day, a white beam of light suddenly descended from the distant horizon, heading straight towards the location of "Jade Mystic Island".
Just as everyone was wondering who the newcomer was, the light of escape landed on the island, revealing a beautiful figure in white with a veil on her face.
The Nascent Soul cultivator that Song Qingming specially invited was Xia Mo, who had been in seclusion outside the heavens for many years.
Although Xia Mo was cultivating outside the heavens, she was not too far from the "Huayang Realm" and quickly rushed over after receiving the message that Song Qingming needed help.
Now, several decades later, her cultivation has successfully broken through the bottleneck and reached the third level of the Nascent Soul realm.
"Fellow Daoists, this Fellow Daoist Xia is a friend of mine whom I invited to help."
Upon seeing the other party appear, Song Qingming immediately took the lead in greeting them and gave a brief introduction.
When "Gui Xuan Demon Saint" first learned that Song Qingming's friend was also a cultivator from Donghuang Immortal Continent, he thought the other party might be someone who had just reached the Nascent Soul stage in recent decades. He never expected that Xia Mo was also a Nascent Soul stage cultivator like him.
For so many years, no human cultivators have ever heard of this person; he has truly kept his identity hidden very well.
Just as "Gui Xuan Demon Saint" and "Yu Lin Demon Saint" were looking puzzled.
Standing to the side, "Fire Phoenix" glanced at Xia Mo, a thoughtful expression on her face.
Back then, in the Silver Light Orb Secret Realm, Xia Mo and I had fought each other for the treasure "Fire Phoenix," so it must have left some impression on me.
Back then, Xia Mo's cultivation level was only at the ninth level of the Nascent Soul stage, but now she has reached the third level of the Divine Transformation stage.
In just a few hundred years, the other party's cultivation level has changed so much.
For a moment, "Fire Phoenix" seemed unsure whether she had mistaken the person in front of her for someone else, and did not take the initiative to ask about the other party's identity.
The three demon saints had different expressions, but Chen Qingxuan, who was also a human cultivator, had a big smile on his face when he saw Xia Mo.
Although Song Qingming had not mentioned Xia Mo to him over the years, Chen Qingxuan only recently learned that Xia Mo had reached the Nascent Soul realm.
However, she was the only one among the younger generation of human cultivators to be such a talented person.
The old ancestor who had protected the human race of "Eastern Phoenix Immortal Continent" for two thousand years now had an undisguised look of satisfaction on his face.
".
Once Xia Mo arrived, the six Nascent Soul cultivators had all gathered.
Song Qingming immediately took out a formation diagram from his person and placed it in front of everyone, then began to introduce the ancient formation he was about to set up.
"The Earth Yuan Jade Cauldron Formation!"
This "Earth Origin Jade Cauldron Formation" is a high-level sealing formation created by ancient cultivators. It contains six jade cauldrons as the core of the formation, all of which are made of extremely rare level-five materials.
Its power is enough to seal the spatial passage in front of us, and it is not much less powerful than the great formation left by the ancient cultivators.
As soon as Song Qingming raised his hand to cast the spell, six palm-sized jade cauldrons appeared in front of him, emanating powerful pressure.
Over the years, in order to refine these six jade cauldrons.
Song Qingming personally sent orders to the major sects of the "Eastern Phoenix Kingdom" to help collect high-level materials. Even the major business alliances related to the Eastern Phoenix Immortal Continent participated.
Fortunately, although these materials were extremely rare, Song Qingming managed to collect them all quickly by pooling the resources of the entire Donghuang Immortal Continent.
After that, he spent more than a decade refining them one by one.
Next, by combining the power of six Nascent Soul cultivators and refining the six jade cauldrons into the formation as the core of the array, the "Earth Origin Jade Cauldron Grand Array" can be successfully set up.
Once Song Qingming casts his spell to lock onto one of the jade cauldrons, Chen Qingxuan and Xia Mo immediately follow.
The other three demon saints also used their spells to control the remaining three jade cauldrons.
Under Song Qingming's guidance, the six people poured their magic power into the jade cauldron, and many golden runes immediately appeared in mid-air, surrounding them.
".
Previously, when Lei Yuanhai helped Granny Jin Yue and the others set up the grand formation, the same "Earth Origin Jade Cauldron Grand Formation" was used to stabilize the spatial nodes.
The difference is that the great formation set up by Granny Jin Yue and others back then only had four jade cauldrons, so its power was much smaller than it is now.
After returning to the "Floating Cloud Mountain Range," Song Qingming, based on his experience over the years, successfully improved the formation by adding two jade cauldrons, raising its power to the mid-grade level five.
Although it was the first time he had cast a spell to set up such a high-level magic array, Song Qingming was very confident because of his previous experience.
With the assistance of Chen Qingxuan and others, the six of them spent nearly five years successfully placing the "Earth Origin Jade Cauldron Formation" on the formation platform.
Once the array started operating on its own, the previously loose array platform quickly quieted down, and the sounds of spatial storms crashing inside disappeared.
Seeing this, everyone's faces showed a hint of joy.
After spending so much time, it was finally worth it. We successfully reinforced the sealing array here and resealed the fellow Daoist in the space.
"Hahaha, Fellow Daoist Song is indeed amazing. The spatial passage here has been resealed. We have finally escaped the crisis and there is no need for us to stay here any longer."
Seeing the great formation resealed, the happiest person besides Song Qingming and Chen Qingxuan was "Gui Xuan Demon Saint" who had been stationed here all along.
Now that everyone has resolved the immediate problem, the agreement between the two clans to take turns guarding this place can be voided ahead of schedule.
With the reinforcement of the "Earthly Jade Cauldron Grand Formation", the sealing formation on the island is now as powerful as it was back then. Even a Nascent Soul cultivator would not be able to destroy the formation in a short time.
Next, all we need to do is, just like with the "Tai Xu Sect" back then, arrange some Nascent Soul cultivators to guard the island and warn surrounding cultivators to get close.
There's no longer a need for these Nascent Soul elders to be stationed on the island at all times.
Seeing that "Gui Xuan Demon Saint" was already planning to leave early, Song Qingming did not stop him.
"Fellow Daoists, I still need to set up a few more concealment formations on the island. I will be in charge of Yuxuan Island for a while."
If you need to leave early, please feel free to do so!
"Then I will have to trouble Fellow Daoist Song!"
As Song Qingming had expected, the moment he opened his mouth, "Gui Xuan Demon Saint" was the first to take his leave and leave the island.
Next to leave was Xia Mo, who had been somewhat aloof and hadn't spoken much to the others.
After exchanging a few pleasantries with Song Qingming, "Jade Unicorn Demon Saint" and "Fire Phoenix" returned directly to the Northern Frontier one after the other.
Chen Qingxuan, who stayed behind, did not choose to remain on the island to help Song Qingming set up the formation because he was not very proficient in formations.
After discussing it, Chen Qingxuan left "Yuxuan Island" and returned to Donghuang Kingdom, intending to select a group of Nascent Soul cultivators who were proficient in formations to come to the island to take charge.
Firstly, these people can help Song Qingming set up the magic array.
Secondly, although "Jade Profound Island" does not need a Nascent Soul cultivator to oversee it.
However, in case of any unforeseen circumstances, it is still necessary to have cultivators stationed there at all times.
As long as Song Qingming sets up a high-level "mountain-protecting formation" on the island, and with some Nascent Soul cultivators stationed there, they can also deal with the invasion of Deity Transformation level forces in a short period of time.
Once Chen Qingxuan left, only Song Qingming remained on "Yuxuan Island".
Just as he was concentrating on studying how to set up the formation, he suddenly saw a crimson spiritual light fall on the island.
Song Qingming looked over and was surprised to find that the person who came was "Fire Phoenix," who had just left the island half a day ago.
"Hey! Why are you back again? Did you run into some trouble?"
Seeing that "Fire Phoenix" had suddenly returned, Song Qingming was also a little puzzled, thinking that the other party had encountered some trouble on the way.
However, in response to Song Qingming's words of concern, "Fire Phoenix" simply shook her head at him.
"I came back specifically to talk to you, nothing else."
"Hmm! If there's anything, you can just have Brother Longfeng send a message via telepathy, why go through all this trouble?"
I've almost run out of spirit stones lately in order to refine the Earthly Jade Cauldron Formation.
"You've come to see me in such a hurry, could it be that you need some kind of spiritual item again?"
Since the two reunited in the "Northern Frontier" after forming their nascent souls, Song Qingming and Huo Feng have maintained contact, often secretly exchanging special spiritual items they each need.
The "Precious Flame Pill" needed for the Fire Phoenix's cultivation and the "Crimson Fire Spirit Liquid" used by Song Qingming to refine puppets were among the many spiritual items they exchanged.
However, they have always kept their special "relationship" well hidden, and even their closest friends and family are unaware of it.
In the last two hundred years, Song Qingming and "Fire Phoenix" have both broken through to the Nascent Soul stage.
As their cultivation levels improved, the spiritual items they needed for cultivation became even more difficult to find.
The contact between the two did not decrease; on the contrary, it increased significantly.
In the last hundred years alone, Song Qingming has acquired several spiritual items from the Fire Phoenix that have helped him improve his cultivation.
This is one of the reasons why he was able to successfully cultivate to the second level of the Nascent Soul realm in just over a hundred years.
Not only Song Qingming, but also "Fire Phoenix" is the same.
The reason she was able to catch up with Song Qingming's cultivation level so quickly over the years was partly due to his "contribution".
When Song Qingming saw that "Fire Phoenix" had come back to find him, he thought that she needed something again and wanted him to help her search for it.
Having long been accustomed to negotiating with the other party, he immediately blurted out that he was broke.
Upon hearing this, Huo Feng couldn't help but smile slightly.
"He's a Nascent Soul Ancestor after all. Shouldn't his subordinates bring you whatever you need? Why should you spend spirit stones?"
"What you said is true, but as a Nascent Soul Ancestor, I should still have some dignity when I go out."
Even if I do have something I like, I can feel more at ease spending a few spirit stones, so people won't talk behind my back about me, Old Ancestor Song, as a bully who forces people to buy and sell.
Since breaking through to the Nascent Soul realm, Song Qingming has become one of the leaders of the human race in the entire "Eastern Phoenix Immortal Continent".
Over the years, many sects have also sent numerous high-level spiritual items to Qingyun Mountain in an effort to curry favor with this Nascent Soul Ancestor.
Although among these spiritual objects, Song Qingming could only truly value a very small number of them.
However, he would usually exchange anything he accepted for spirit stones, and he would not actually take the other party's spiritual items for free.
After exchanging a few words with Song Qingming, "Fire Phoenix" quickly put away her smile and became serious.
"I won't argue with you about this anymore. The reason I came to you this time is that I really want you to help me find something."
However, this item is rather special; it's not in the Eastern Phoenix Immortal Continent, and it doesn't require you to pay any spirit stones.
"Oh! You can't even find it in Donghuang Immortal Continent? I wonder what exactly you're looking for, and where we should go to find it?"
Seeing that what "Fire Phoenix" was looking for was not in Donghuang Immortal Continent, Song Qingming immediately asked a question with a hint of doubt.
"This item is in the Dragon Abyss Sea; it is a relic left behind by our ancestors." (End of Chapter)