Volume One: The Dawn of Immortality Chapter Ten: The Blessed Land of Langhuan

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“Demon cultivators, demon cultivators from the Southern Domain…”

“They’re about… to break through.”

An ancestor of the Hundred Arts Sect, severely wounded and at the late Foundation Establishment stage, flew straight into the sect’s forbidden grounds. Only ancestors at the Foundation Establishment level were allowed access to these grounds, so the urgency of his arrival made it clear that something momentous was about to happen.

The Hundred Arts Sect was located in Azure Dragon Nation, one of the Four Sacred Beast Nations, surrounded by several small countries. The Southern Domain, on the other hand, was a gathering place for demon cultivators, who frequently waged war against the Four Sacred Beast Nations, seeking to devour them.

“The Vermilion Bird Nation! The Vermilion Bird Nation has been destroyed!” the ancestor cried out with spiritual power, his voice echoing throughout the entire Hundred Arts Sect, even reaching Zhou Yue’s ears.

“Who was that? Was it one of the Foundation Establishment ancestors?”

“What’s happened?”

“What? The Vermilion Bird Nation has already fallen?”

“What could be so serious as to make the ancestor shout like that?”

For a time, the sect was abuzz with speculation, many eager to seek answers from the ancestor.

Even Elder Li from the Pill Refining Pavilion waited at the entrance to the forbidden grounds. Only after a long while did an early Foundation Establishment ancestor come out, instructing the elders and disciples to disperse, promising an answer in three days’ time.

Three days later, the sect master summoned all the elders for a meeting. He said little, only that great events were about to befall Azure Dragon Nation, and ordered all disciples and elders alike to devote themselves to cultivation. Furthermore, the Langhuan Blessed Land, which could only be opened once every three hundred years, would be opened two centuries ahead of schedule.

All disciples of the sect, except for the menial laborers, would be allowed to enter Langhuan Blessed Land to cultivate for a year. The menial disciples would be permitted to use the outer sect disciples’ training areas.

Originally, Langhuan Blessed Land was not intended for ordinary disciples, but for the elders and ancestors of the Five Sects and Twelve Clans of Azure Dragon Nation. Its opening required the cooperation of all five sects and twelve clans, so their disciples would also be coming to cultivate.

Clearly, matters had reached such a critical state that Azure Dragon Nation was forced to reveal this trump card. Zhou Yue realized things were far from simple.

The opening was set for three days later.

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During those three days, the disciples discussed the matter endlessly. Langhuan Blessed Land was usually reserved for elders and ancestors—none had imagined they would one day be allowed inside. Most were overjoyed.

But Zhou Yue knew it was not so simple. Through his investigations, he learned that the demon cultivators of the Southern Domain were about to attack Azure Dragon Nation, and the land would soon run red with blood. Those unaware might remain complacent, but for those who knew the truth, it was as if a mountain weighed upon their hearts.

The elders were busy beyond measure, with countless matters to attend to.

Most of the disciples were already prepared, awaiting only the day they could enter the Langhuan Blessed Land.

This blessed land was undoubtedly one of Azure Dragon Nation’s last trump cards.

The Four Sacred Beast Nations lay in the Central Domain. To the east was Dongyi, a collection of island nations. To the south lay the Southern Domain of demon cultivators—mostly monsters, though a few cultivators resided there as well. These, however, were not recognized as true cultivators and were often fugitives from the Sacred Beast Nations.

To the west was the Western Domain of barbarians, with no cultivators or spiritual energy, but many warriors who trained their bodies alone.

To the north was the Northern Frost Nation, a solitary realm, yet stronger than all four other domains combined. Cultivators below the Nascent Soul stage could not enter the Northern Frost Nation; those who tried would perish under the crushing cold. Most Nascent Soul and above experts from the Sacred Beast Nations had gone there, and none had returned. Perhaps this was because cultivators below Nascent Soul could not enter and thus could not send messages back, so only Nascent Soul ancestors could communicate with the outside. The Four Sacred Beast Nations could no longer contact their ancestors in the north.

Now, only three of the Four Sacred Beast Nations remained, for the Vermilion Bird Nation had fallen, and the others were not far from destruction.

On the third day, the ancestor of the Hundred Arts Sect led most of the disciples to the Langhuan Blessed Land—three or four thousand in all. Once the other four sects and twelve clans joined them, the number swelled to thirty thousand.

As the Foundation Establishment and Core Formation cultivators of the five sects and twelve clans poured their energy into the formation, Langhuan Blessed Land gradually opened.

“Langhuan Blessed Land is open!”

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A voice, more resounding than even the late-stage Foundation Establishment ancestor’s, boomed forth from the secret realm of Langhuan Blessed Land, echoing through the surrounding mountains, even reaching the ears of mortals.

“Enter now!” the sect master instructed the disciples.

Thus, the ancestors, elders, and disciples of the five sects and twelve clans of Azure Dragon Nation entered Langhuan Blessed Land one after another. It took several sticks of incense’s time for everyone to pass through the entrance.

Inside Langhuan Blessed Land, each sect and clan occupied their own territory, managing themselves, though some would occasionally visit others. This year, the place was more lively than ever.

In past years, the total participants in Langhuan Blessed Land never exceeded five hundred. This time, there were over thirty thousand—how could it not be lively!

Zhou Yue felt an aura of spiritual energy ten times denser than Elder Chu’s residence. Elder Chu’s residence was already ten times richer in spiritual energy than what Zhou Yue had experienced as a menial disciple. Here in Langhuan Blessed Land, the concentration was a hundredfold what it had been in those early days! This was an opportunity that could not be wasted, for who knew when, or if, it would open again? By then, even Azure Dragon Nation’s fate might be uncertain.

With such abundant spiritual energy, all disciples of the five sects and twelve clans entered into automatic fasting, their cultivation soaring rapidly. None wished to waste a single breath of the precious spiritual energy, so all focused on absorbing as much as possible during this rare year.

Moreover, the Hundred Arts Sect established the Dragon-Tiger Ranking for outer sect disciples and the Winds-and-Clouds Ranking for inner sect disciples.

Each month, the top three on the Dragon-Tiger Ranking could enter the inner sect, or one could advance by reaching the seventh level of Qi Refining. The cultivation environment for inner sect disciples was far superior, with greater monthly rewards.

On the twentieth day of the first month, Zhou Yue broke through to the fourth level of Qi Refining. Thanks to the Unrivaled Body Tempering Art, medicinal baths, Body Tempering Pills, and other resources, his foundation at the third level was already solid, so this breakthrough was natural. The greatest advantage was that absorbing the spiritual energy of Langhuan Blessed Land came with no pill toxins—so long as one could refine it, there were no side effects.

In the days that followed, Zhou Yue prepared to challenge the Dragon-Tiger Ranking. He too wished to join the inner sect as soon as possible. Though perhaps a bit greedy, his aspirations were hardly unique—many disciples shared the same ambition.

(The author: The real show is about to begin, sly smile ꉂ(ˊᗜˋ*))