Cultivation: When you take things to the extreme

Chapter 253: Chapter 172: Countermeasure_1

Translator: 549690339

Void Spirit Realm?

Cave Heaven Blessed Land!

Void Spirit Monarch?

Integration Great Power!

I understand, I understand.

After searching his soul, Xu Yang instantly clarified all the relationships between the Liang Kingdom Cultivation Realm and the Three Sects of Golden Core through the secrets he learned from Li Longpeng’s memories.

Why is the land of Liang Country so barren?

It is because in the past, an Integration Cultivator of the Northern Region Cultivation World, “Void Spirit Monarch,” fell here.

After the fall of this Integration Great Power, his Purple Mansion Primordial Spirit merged with the Immortal Artifacts left behind, creating a small Cave Heaven world on this land, absorbing spiritual energies from all directions to seek a chance for rebirth.

Thus, this realm not only appears as a dangerous wilderness outwardly, but it is also extremely barren within, with the majority being mundane lands, and only a few areas possess Spiritual Energy.

This was all the result of the machinations of the Purple Mansion Immortal Treasure belonging to the Void Spirit Monarch.

The Yuan Spirit power of this world has mostly been absorbed by the Purple Mansion Immortal Treasure, whose location remains unknown.

Although Yuan Spirit is scarce and the land is barren, the legacy left by an Integration Great Power still brings numerous benefits to the creatures of this world.

For example—Immortal fate.

Despite such barrenness without spirituality, why are there so many treasures and legends of “Immortal Fate Men”?

Because these treasures are all relics of Void Spirit Monarch, who for some unknown reason perished back then, leaving behind his Purple Mansion Immortal Treasure hidden somewhere, with most of his other belongings scattered throughout this world.

Qi Cultivation, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core.

Nascent Soul, Divinity Transformation, Return to Void.

Integration, Mahayana, Crossing the Tribulation.

An Integration Cultivator is already a great power, capable of dominating a territory even in the Northern Region Cultivation World.

The relics of such existences, even if just scattered pieces, represent Heaven-reaching opportunities for mortals and low-tier Cultivators.

Therefore, within Liang Country, there are so many “Immortal Fate Men” emerging within the common folk.

It is also because of the presence of Immortal Fate Men that such a stringent surveillance system exists, as well as the pursuit and hunting of Immortal Fate Men.

The legacy of Void Spirit is the underlying cause.

The Three Friends of Bright Moon are the prime culprits.

The Three Sects of Golden Core are merely the hounds and claws.

The Three Friends of Bright Moon, sworn brothers and fellow cultivators, also hold significant fame within the Northern Region Cultivation World.

Their eldest brother “True Monarch Tianshu,” a master of the Tianshu lineage of Big Dipper Immortal Sect and of Immortal Gate heritage, possesses the cultivation of Return to Void.

The two younger brothers, “Green Jade Venerable” and “King of Bright Moon Pill,” are also founders of their own sects with the cultivation of late-stage Soul Transformation and Divinity Transformation, respectively.

Their sworn brotherhood and collective cultivation are also considered a beautiful tale of their time.

Upon discovering the Void Spirit Realm, they set up a grand Formation around it, intending to take the Immortal Treasure legacy left behind by the Integration Great Power for themselves.

However, in the path of cultivation, there is always a higher mountain, a stronger realm,

The gap between a Returned Void Cultivator and an Integration Great Power is hundreds, thousands of times greater than the gap between Golden Core and Nascent Soul!

In the early stages of Qi Cultivation and Foundation Establishment, up to Golden Core and Nascent Soul, there are prodigies who could use various means to kill enemies across boundaries.

But in the later stages, during Soul Transformation, Return to Void, Integration and Mahayana, let alone crossing a major realm, it’s extremely difficult even to overcome one minor bottleneck.

Forget relying on any methods, those who can cultivate to such realms are all prodigies with incredible opportunities and fortunes.

You have your methods, I have my reliance. If our cultivations are on par, that’s one thing, but you expect to kill across a realm, as if others are merely made of clay?

Hence, the higher the cultivation, the stronger the power, the more difficult it becomes to battle across realms.

Among the Three Friends of Bright Moon, the one with the highest cultivation and greatest strength is True Monarch Tianshu, a Great Return to Void Cultivator.

Yet even such a person, born from an Immortal Sect and proficient in the Array of the Big Dipper, could not breach the Void Spirit Realm and take the Immortal treasures left by Void Spirit Monarch.

The difference between Return to Void Union and Integration is as vast as that between heaven and earth.

Even though Void Spirit Monarch has long perished, mon, the Three Cultivators of the Bright Moon are helpless against the Cave Heaven formed by his Purple Mansion Immortal Treasure.

In the end, after much research, the Three Cultivators barely managed to develop a Mana Point that allowed them to send disciples into this realm.

The Three Sects of Golden Core came about because of this.

So, it is no wonder that the cultivation environment in Liang Kingdom is so harsh; people are here for the pursuit of the Immortal Mansion treasures, thus “kill the wrong, never let go” is the natural course.

The situation has now become clear.

So, how do we solve the problem?

Currently, Xu Yang has two main troubles.

The first one is still the Three Sects of Golden Core.

Although most of the Golden Cores of the three sects have been slain by him, leaving only a few “small cats and dogs” holed up in their sect gates, barely clinging to life, they are not a serious threat.

But… the three sects have backers.

The Three Friends of Bright Moon provide support to their main sect.

According to the memories from Li Longpeng, the outside world is filled with Yuan Spirit, a golden age for cultivation practices, which is far superior to this Void Spirit Cave Heaven that has been drained of its Yuan Spirit by the Purple Mansion Immortal Treasure.

In the land of Liang Country, one can dominate a region by merely achieving Foundation Establishment, and one can establish a sect with the power of Golden Core.

But in the outside world, what’s the worth of Foundation Establishment? Even the wild dogs (Demon Beasts) on the streets are on that level.

Golden Core is just the beginning of the journey.

Nascent Soul is only somewhat accomplished.

Only by achieving Divinity Transformation can one truly set foot into the inner circle, qualify to establish a sect, and leave behind a legacy.

And above Divinity Transformation, there are the mighty powers of Return to Void Union and the True Immortals of the Great Ascension Tribulation.

Immortal Sects govern the world, and the powerful vie for supremacy!

Numerous schools flourish, and mighty heroes stand side by side!

This is the landscape of the outside world.

Compared to it, Liang Country is far too insignificant.

Any random Sect from the outside brought here would be an overwhelming colossus, casting a shadow that blots out the sun.

And these Three Sects, even in the outside world, are not ordinary inheritances.

Without saying more, let’s just consider the strongest among them, True Monarch Tianshu.

This person is not only a Grand Return to Void Cultivator but also the leader of the Tianshu lineage of the Big Dipper Immortal Sect.

The Big Dipper Immortal Sect is one of the sacred places of the Northern Domain, a formidable Immortal Sect lineage with a reputation that has resonated through ages. Having produced seven Mahayana True Immortals, renowned for its “Heavens and Stars, Array of the Big Dipper,” it has shone brilliantly for tens of thousands of years. To this day, it remains as brilliant as the middle of the day, showing no signs of decline.

True Monarch Tianshu, born to this sect, holds sway over the Tianshu lineage among the Seven Stars of the Big Dipper and possesses a highly respected position and astonishing strength.

Had he been able to enter the Void Spirit Realm, squashing Xu Yang would not have been much more difficult than crushing an ant.

But since he can’t enter, he can dispatch his subordinates, disciples, and sect members, bringing various magical treasures to offer support.

Based on Li Longpeng’s memories, every hundred years, the Three Sects of Golden Core would drive the Golden Core cultivators from other forces under the pretext of breaking through the Hundred Thousand Mountains, making them fight against the demon beasts within.

In the Hundred Thousand Mountains, there is a Nascent Soul Demon Beast that has long become a lackey of the Three Sects, playing along with their scheme, and driving the demon beasts to slaughter the human clan’s Golden Core cultivators.

Thus, without expending much effort, the Three Sects can obtain various materials which fuel their formations, and with internal and external assistance, they can open the Void Spirit Cave Heaven.

This is currently the only known method to reach the outside world.

Besides that, in urgent situations, such as discovering remnants of an immortal abode’s treasures, they can also notify the main sect and forcibly open the passage.

Now, that constitutes an urgent situation.

Xu Yang has massively struck the Three Sects; their Golden Core members are nearly annihilated, and the only Nascent Soul has had his true body destroyed.

Such combat power has completely exceeded the norm and should not exist within Liang Country.

When things are abnormal, there must be demons at play!

Now, the Three Sects would either regard him as an outsider who sneaked in or identify him as an heir of the Void Spirit Monarch or a reincarnated soul seeking to rebuild his cultivation.

No matter what, they wouldn’t let him off the hook and would certainly open the passage to call in reinforcements from the main sect.

Even though grand cultivators like True Monarch Tianshu who have reached the Great Return to Void can’t enter, nor can soul-transforming cultivators like the Green Jade Venerable and the Bright Moon Pill King, Nascent Soul cultivators are hardly affected.

With the potentiality of the Three Sects, do not take the number of Nascent Soul cultivators lightly; just sending over a dozen or so could be enough to deal with him.

This poses a problem!

There’s another problem!

Void Spirit Monarch!

Has this Integration Great Power, who was famous throughout the Northern Domain, truly fallen?

What caused his fall, and why did he fall?

Is he utterly dead?

Xu Yang couldn’t be sure.

But by comparison, with his current Golden Core cultivation, he already has many life-saving techniques; even if he were to die, there’s hope for a return.

If Golden Cores have them, why not Integration cultivators?

This doesn’t add up!

Therefore, it’s possible that the Integration Great Power still has a contingency plan, and the treasures of the immortal abode in the Void Spirit Realm might yet return to their original owner.

Returning to their original owner is not an issue in itself, as Xu Yang is not the kind of cultivator who covets the treasures of others.

But… it is unwarranted to have harmful intentions, but necessary to guard against others! Who knows what Void Spirit Monarch might do after retaking possession of the immortal treasure.

An uncontrollable great power is a hidden danger and a threat.

Externally, there is the menace of the Three Sects, and internally, the looming concern of the Void Spirit.

How to respond?

The best method, undoubtedly, is to leave, to go as far away as possible from this dreadful vortex.

But Xu Yang cannot leave right now; the only way out is controlled by the Three Sects, and if he were to go through, it would mean seeking his own death.

If he can’t leave, then he must find another way to break the situation.

As for Void Spirit Monarch, there’s no need to worry at the moment. It wouldn’t make sense for nothing to happen for a thousand years, and then as soon as he arrives, the Integration Great Power is revived.

The main concern remains the Three Sects.

How many troops will the Three Sects’ reinforcements have?

According to Li Longpeng’s memories, the spatial structure of the Void Spirit Realm is incredibly robust, with a powerful force resisting outsiders; thus, the passage opened by Tianshu Sect can’t transport too many cultivators, especially powerful Nascent Souls, which are limited to three to five at most per transmission…?

The exact number is unclear to Li Longpeng, as such crucial matters are always managed by his senior brother Jing Yue.

However, the Three Sects are unlikely to dispatch an army of Nascent Souls; otherwise, Jing Yue would not have such dire urgency this time.

Thus, Xu Yang now has two choices.

The first is to attack the mountain gate of Tianshu Sect before the arrival of the reinforcements, destroy their internal and external transportation formations, which should be able to delay them for a significant amount of time.

The second is to ignore it, fully focus on scouring the resources of Liang Kingdom’s cultivation world, hit the major forces, and take whatever can be taken before the reinforcements from Tianshu Sect arrive, and then return to Fish and Dragon Island, continue undercover, waiting in silence, growing stronger before settling accounts with the Three Sects.

The former option or the latter?

Xu Yang tends to prefer the former, as it could buy him a lot of time.

But there are also significant risks since behind the Three Sects stands True Monarch Tianshu and the Big Dipper Immortal Sect.

Who knows if the enemy would become desperate after their own sect is destroyed and if they would pour all the Big Dipper Immortal Sect’s resources into forcibly breaking the Void Spirit Cave Heaven, causing him to shoot himself in the foot?

Therefore, the only option is to not pay attention to them, to fully exploit the resources of Liang Kingdom’s cultivation world before the reinforcements arrive.

This seems feasible, but after the plunder, would he still be able to lay low safely?

If the forces of the Three Sects arrive and he has vanished, would the Three Sects just let it go?

They would definitely turn Liang Country upside down, purging the cultivation world, and perhaps even slaughtering the common populace.

Do not doubt that they could commit such acts.

To err on the side of caution, in matters involving the treasures of an Integration Great Power, what does it matter to them if they bloodbath an entire world? After all, there are no moral constraints to cultivating here, cultivators act unrestrainedly, it is common for Demon Path practitioners to refine their cultivation with the blood of tens of thousands; while Righteous Daoist cultivators would not go that far, in case of necessity, they are also decisive in killing.

Xu Yang does not believe that Fish and Dragon Island would be spared from the Three Sects’ purging afterward.

He must find a way to avoid pushing True Monarch Tianshu and the Big Dipper Immortal Sect into a corner, while also preventing the Three Sects from launching a purge-like slaughter in Liang Kingdom’s cultivation realm afterward.

Is there such a perfect solution to the problem in the world?

Xu Yang couldn’t be sure, but he thought it was worth a try.

To be honest, the way things have unfolded has really been unexpected.

But Xu Yang does not regret causing this series of events and stirring up these waves.

A powerful enemy is not to be feared.

What’s frightening is the unknown, the inability to respond, to guard against nothing, and the lack of any room for maneuver.

The power of the Three Sects is formidable indeed, but with his methods, it’s not impossible to compete with them.

If he hadn’t done all this, unaware of the true situation in the Liang Kingdom’s cultivation realm, he would probably have developed Fish and Dragon Island and entered the Three Sects’ field of vision with his true incarnation.

By then, the risks and threats would be a hundredfold, a thousandfold greater than now.

Now, the enemy is in the light while he is in the dark; despite their strong hands, it’s not impossible for him to give it a try.