Rule 12 Chapter 86 207-215 Eternal Tale

Chapter 207: The massive ship crossed the sky

Fifty Years Later. Chen Xun had been opening the Earth Acupoints of the Five Elements Immortal Path deep underground. Even his Nascent Soul began to mutate, and acupoints in his body started to open up.

However, when he reached the 15th acupoint, the process was forcibly halted. The Five Elements' energy of heaven and earth surged into his body, breaking open yet another acupoint.

Chen Xun fully regained his sense of control over his realm, and every part of his body felt completely his own again, without any sense of emptiness.

Each acupoint in his body carried a vast amount of the Five Elements' power, deep and profound, with a solid foundation.

"Breaking through the Earth Acupoints without any bottlenecks, even breaking into the 16th acupoint—this corresponds to the mid-Nascent Soul stage." Chen Xun's gaze was deep and dark. "It seems I need to break through at least 26 acupoints to reach the late Nascent Soul stage, as described in the cultivation method."

The operation of Human Acupoints and Earth Acupoints is entirely different. Human Acupoints are like a foundation, forming a small cycle and providing a continuous supply of the Five Elements' energy. In contrast, Earth Acupoints act like a valve, capable of harnessing terrifying amounts of the Five Elements' power, turning the ethereal into the tangible.

Chen Xun had also discovered that opening 40 acupoints marks a major realm, while opening 120 acupoints completes a small cycle, unlocking certain latent abilities within the body.

The synergy between the Spiritual Qi Immortal Path and the Five Elements Immortal Path, converting broken meridians into acupoints without bottlenecks, was remarkable.

"It must be an issue with divine consciousness and the imperfection of the Five Elements Immortal Path that prevents me from breaking free from the framework of the cultivation world." Chen Xun's eyes were filled with understanding. He had yet to find his own path. "Still a long way to go, but that's what makes it exciting..."

A deep sigh echoed from underground, though if one listened carefully, there was a hint of glee in it.

Chen Xun's body dissolved into earth particles, instantly disappearing underground, with no trace of pressure around.

However, after returning to the surface, Chen Xun did not allow the big black ox to practice this method—it was still incomplete, even somewhat dangerous.

...

Another fifty years passed. At Canghai Sect.

Chen Xun had now perfected the Five Elements Immortal Path technique from the Qi Refining stage to the Nascent Soul stage. The big black ox worshipped him like a god, bowing every day to honor his elder brother.

Now, they were about to leave, having fully absorbed the essence of a hundred schools of thought from the cultivation world, even gathering pill recipes.

The big black ox also snatched a bunch of spirit herb seeds along the way, figuring that leaving two plants behind would keep everyone happy.

In today's cultivation world, even Nascent Soul cultivators no longer dared to challenge them—their strength had grown so immense that it was hard to believe.

However, just as they were about to leave, something interesting happened.

A young man, on the verge of screaming in shock, saw the familiar man and ox outside the pavilion, their appearance and attire unchanged after all these years.

Moreover, this was one of the Top Ten Sects in the Qian Nation—how could it be?!

"Huh?" Chen Xun looked at the youth under the tree in the distance and smiled faintly, "It's you."

"Moo?" The big black ox also turned to look, its eyes filled with amusement. Wasn't this the disciple from the Chi Ling Sect they had encountered before?

It remembered that the youth had been in the Qi Refining stage back then, yet in just over 300 years, he had reached the early Golden Core stage.

Such terrifying cultivation speed, and from a small sect no less—what kind of spiritual root did he have?

"Sen... Senior..." The young man smiled wryly as he approached. The cultivation world was so vast yet so small.

"Hehe, no need to worry. Who among cultivators doesn't have some luck and secrets?" Chen Xun sat in his rocking chair, smiling peacefully. "Why aren't you staying at Chi Ling Sect? What brings you so far from home?"

The young man was startled. Why was this senior striking up casual conversation? Something felt off. His mind raced, trying to figure out the meaning behind these words.

"I once received a token, allowing me to join the Canghai Sect directly." A flicker of panic flashed in the youth's eyes. "So, I came to the Qian Nation, seeking a path to go further."

Chen Xun squinted slightly. It was probably a case of either killing for treasure or finding it by chance. Otherwise, what was he doing at Chi Ling Sect in the first place?

The youth struggled to calm his emotions. He did have a great secret, but it absolutely couldn't be revealed.

"What's your name?"

"Meng Sheng."

"You have a good name, young man. Keep cultivating well. Off you go."

Chen Xun stood up, put on his straw hat, and said, "Old Ox, let's go."

"Moo~" The big black ox nudged Chen Xun. It had been ready for a while.

"Thank you, Senior!"

Meng Sheng bowed deeply, forever remembering Chen Xun and the big black ox, feeling as though he had just escaped death.

He had experienced too many betrayals and schemes on his journey and had grown distrustful of others. Yet this senior gave him a uniquely comforting feeling.

Meng Sheng briefly recalled his childhood in a war-torn small country and the way elders had cared for him.

He shook his head, casting aside the distracting thoughts. He must achieve the great way of immortality! Walk on the supreme path!

...

Two years later. A massive ship floated in the sky, hidden in the clouds and formations, utterly silent with no sound of it cutting through the air.

It seemed to be flying yet also appeared to teleport through the heavens, slowly passing over the Qian Nation and Wu Nation, heading north!

The Northern Region was a wasteland of broken glaciers, crisscrossed by chasms.

Snowflakes fluttered down from the sky, like countless dandelions or tiny, indescribable life forms, trembling, floating, and drifting in the vast night sky.

Roar!

In the depths of the Northern Region, the angry roars of spirit beasts echoed. Some of the beasts were as large as mountains, roaring toward the heavens with Nascent Soul mid-stage power!

The glaciers creaked violently from beneath the earth as if something was awakening.

Deep within the frozen plains of the North, dark pupils flashed with a fierce light, staring toward the sky.

Buzz

The clouds in the vast night sky began to shatter, revealing the form of an enormous ship. The great tree at the stern of the ship swayed wildly in the snowy winds.

The black and white leaves, even in the night sky, shone with brilliance—clearly no ordinary object.

The entire northern frontier was in turmoil because of this sight.

At that moment, inside the massive ship in the sky, an aura stirred, and light spread everywhere. Two figures stood atop the crane-shaped bow.

One was a man, arms crossed, looking coldly down at the earth, his gaze as indifferent as it could be.

The other was a black ox, standing firmly at the front, staring at the Nascent Soul spirit beasts on the glaciers, its eyes filled with battle intent.

The wind howled, making their robes flap violently, and the straw hats on their backs flew backwards in the gale.

At the same time, two terrifying shadows gradually emerged behind them, their aura so strong it covered the sky with divine brilliance.

Intense rays of light gathered, turning the heavens fiery red. Huge fireballs, like meteors, slowly appeared from dozens of spinning Five Elements discs.

The scorching heat only intensified, evaporating the clouds until they were completely gone, lighting up half the night sky.

Crack! Crack!

Heaven and earth trembled, and a powerful spiritual pressure descended!

Boom!

A deafening roar echoed.

The spiritual energy in the glaciers seemed to boil over, trembling, scattering, and collapsing!

At that moment, the spirit beasts that had been roaring wildly frozen in terror, sensing a wave of destruction. They all felt the despair of imminent death.

The land fell silent. No more roars.

Chapter 208: A bright future, heading for a further destination

"Humans, what is the meaning of this?!"

A voice, neither beast nor human, echoed from the depths of the Northern Region, laced with an unmistakable hint of wariness.

In the sky, Chen Xun's eyes sharpened, lightning flashed in his pupils, and he spoke:

"The war in the Northern Region is over. We've come to collect some corpses, gain merit, and perform some rituals." Chen Xun's mighty voice reverberated across the sky, "I hope you'll give us some respect."

"Moo!"

The big black ox let out a skyward bellow, its body now covered in dense fur. Under the moonlight, it shone with divine energy, flooding in all directions!

It slowly revealed a bloodthirsty smile. "You little spirit beasts better know your place. When the big brother speaks, he doesn't joke."

Some spirit beasts' pupils shrank to needlepoints. Why did they feel an overwhelming suppression deep in their bloodlines?

What kind of spirit beast is this black ox?!

"Retreat three hundred miles!"

The strange voice from deep within the Northern Region echoed again, filled with an inexplicable heaviness.

Roar!

The glaciers trembled, and the spirit beasts at the front, as if prepared, retreated frantically as if they were waiting for this command!

"Thank you."

"Humans, keep your word, or there will be no end to this."

"You dare threaten me?!"

"Moo?!"

Chen Xun and the big black ox suddenly erupted in fury. The flames behind them blazed even brighter, and the power within them was far beyond mere spiritual energy.

A strange silence enveloped the scene.

The voice from deep within the region fell silent, as though something had caught its throat.

Chen Xun glanced toward the glacier's depths, filled with the faces of cultivators, lifeless, as though their consciousness had been wiped away by something.

Slowly, he pulled out a mountain-opening axe infused with both the power of the five elements and deathly energy.

Boom!

A terrifying slash of the axe descended from the sky, splitting the glacier apart, revealing the bones of many cultivators at the bottom.

Some Nascent Soul spirit beasts deep within the Northern Region twitched nervously. When did the human race produce such a powerful figure...

A shadow with glowing blue eyes gazed at the vast chasm in the glacier, as if warning all of the Northern Region—cross this line, and you die!

Its expression was dark, suppressing an anger that threatened to explode.

The aura and pressure from those two had already surpassed its understanding—it could not risk certain death.

Half a month later. In the Northern Region, piercing suona music and the constant ringing of bells echoed across the glacier, terrifying many spirit beasts. It sounded like a soul-calling melody, as if luring them across the boundary.

At the same time, the Top Ten Sects released an astonishing message, urging all sects and cultivators to head to the Northern Region to claim their dead.

In the Northern Region. Chen Xun cradled the body of Jin Yu. Her skin was pale as snow and all traces of life within her was gone, her Nascent Soul utterly obliterated.

The big black ox carried a few bodies from the Five Element Sect, having found only a handful.

They boarded their massive flying ship and headed for the Five Element Sect and Nine Palaces Mountain.

Chen Xun and the big black ox did not disturb anyone, simply making coffins with their own hands and placing the bodies back in their sects before quietly leaving.

Jiang Xuechen watched, heart in agony, her face devoid of any emotion or smile.

She knew exactly who had returned Old Ancestor Jin Yu's body. Only those two seniors in the cultivation world could possess such power now.

Several high-ranking members of the Ten Great Sects, upon seeing the chasm carved into the glacier, immediately understood who had done it.

Zheng Yi sighed deeply, cupping his hands to the heavens, "Those two deserve the respect of every cultivator in the world."

...

A year later, at Bailing, a border city in the west of Qian Nation.

Today, the morning sun rose like a round lantern in the sky. Soon, it transformed into a blazing wheel of fire, casting golden rays upon everything, bathing the world in resplendent light.

The vast Tian Duan Plains remained desolate, with rolling yellow sands rushing in all directions, a scene of endless barren wilderness.

A massive flying ship rested far outside the city. The giant tree at the stern was tinged with golden hues, swaying in the fierce sandstorm.

Within the city, countless people emerged from their homes, staring blankly at the sight of the giant tree, towering higher than the city walls.

Children jumped and cheered, never having seen such a spectacle.

At this moment, many immortals soared across the sky, and more flying ships hurtled toward the west.

From above, one could see the cultivation sects of every state in Qian Nation, with beams of light flashing across the sky and ships speeding toward Bailing.

Not only from Qian Nation, but even from the eastern regions, many cultivators were rushing to this location.

Some wore anxious expressions, others were filled with curiosity, while some looked exaggeratedly amazed, unable to believe what they were seeing.

On the ground, even more mortals were galloping on horseback, kicking up dust, with banners flying for Ning!

On the giant flying ship outside Bailing, two figures stood.

They were busy checking everything, uncertain of how long the journey ahead would be, not daring to be careless.

"Old ox, have we brought all our old brothers?" Chen Xun shouted from the bow, "Damn it, we're really leaving, huh?!"

"Moo!!"

The big black ox scurried around frantically, checking formations and testing the five-element energy of the Tian Duan Plains.

Though the area lacked spiritual energy, the five-element power was sufficient—energy wouldn't be an issue.

"Damn it, we're really leaving! Old ox, we're leaving this cultivation world!"

Chen Xun stood at the lookout, gazing into the distance, not even sure what he was saying. "Damn it, why am I so excited..."

"Moo!!" The big black ox bellowed angrily, already overwhelmed, while Chen Xun kept distracting it.

Chen Xun's face flushed, his chest heaving. "A superpower, at the edge of the Milky Way, that legendary world... Damn!!!" he shouted into the distance. The yellow sands surged, and the road ahead remained vast and unclear.

An hour later.

"Moo~~~!!!" The big black ox howled, on the verge of bursting from excitement, rubbing against Chen Xun, pots and pans hanging from its sides.

"Damn it, Old Ox, take off!!!"

"Moo!!!"

They both roared together, their voices shaking the heavens as the yellow sands swirled wildly.

Buzz

The massive ship began to lift off, powered by the five elements. The swirling sands were swept aside, as a brilliant sun lay low on the horizon, radiating endless light.

Chen Xun and the big black ox clung to the side of the ship, winds rushing toward them and howling in their ears.

They gazed back at Qian Nation, at the mortal realm, and at the cultivation world they had known for so long.

The once naïve boy and the big black ox from a small mountain village had now become forces to be reckoned with.

The fierce wind roared on as countless cultivators stood outside Bailing, staring blankly at the ship. What kind of flying ship was this...

"Five Element Sect, bidding farewell to the Old Ancestor!!!"

Suddenly, a thunderous shout filled with spiritual energy echoed across the sky. The entire Five Element Sect stood in the air, watching the ship ascend.

Liu Han, Shi Wujun, Ji Zhao were all tearful, trembling, and bowed deeply.

"Moon Tower, bidding farewell to the Senior!!!"

On another side of the sky, Jiang Xuechen smiled as she led hundreds of female disciples. They watched the rising ship with awe in their hearts.

"Farewell, Senior!"

Whether in the sky or on the ground, the resounding voices drowned everything out. Even members of the Top Ten Sects had come, all bowing toward the distant ship.

"Hahaha..."

"Moo moo moo~~!!!"

Chen Xun and the big black ox laughed, waving at everyone below. "We're off, see you if fate allows!!!"

"Chen Xun!! Don't forget, if you become famous one day, remember where you came from!!!"

Suddenly, a booming shout echoed from afar. A Nascent Soul-level master had arrived—Zheng Yi, pulling at his beard. "Safe travels!!"

"You bet!!"

Chen Xun shouted back, his voice shaking the heavens and stirring hearts.

The big black ox snorted with excitement, staring deeply at the faces of everyone below, unsure when they might return.

The world was vast, and their spirits remained as boundless as ever.

Buzz!

The massive ship completed its ascent, disappearing into the clouds. The distant figures grew smaller and smaller, and everyone watched the ship with hopeful gazes.

Chen Xun and the big black ox's laughter echoed across the skies.

Boom!!

Suddenly, a large hole opened in the distant clouds. as the ship, powered by the five elements, embarked on its journey into the unknown!!!

Chapter 209: Third Brother, Little Crane

Buzz

A massive flying ship glided through the clouds above the desolate Tian Duan Plains, almost as if it were teleporting.

The vast energy of the Five Elements from the heavens and earth continuously gathered toward the ship, and it even seemed to be accelerating.

Chen Xun and the big black ox stood at the stern of the ship, next to the Five Elements Spirit Tree, their gazes lingering for a long time in the direction of their homeland.

With so many seeing them off, their thousand years of cultivation had not been in vain. They were never truly alone.

"Old Ox..."

"Moo?"

"We'll definitely return one day, won't we?"

"Moo!"

The big black ox nodded firmly, pressing its head against Chen Xun. Now, it was just the two of them once again.

With a smile on his face, Chen Xun slowly turned, his eyes fixed on the distant horizon, filled with unwavering determination.

The big black ox snorted, its gaze also growing resolute, and it too turned to face forward. The journey ahead was long, with an uncertain future.

Chen Xun and the big black ox headed inside to the pavilion and began their cultivation. The ship was fully controlled by formation arrays, so there was no need to worry.

He could vaguely sense that one day, the 360 acupoints of heaven, earth, and man might form a great cycle and undergo some sort of transformation—perhaps they would merge, or something else entirely.

Their cultivation no longer required sleepless nights, as the Five Elements' energy constantly nourished their bodies.

Now, Chen Xun found the Five Elements spiritual roots far from weak—quite the opposite, they were incredibly powerful. Without these roots, none of their accomplishments would have been possible.

The biggest issue now, however, was the lack of advanced techniques, especially when it came to breaking through to higher realms. They had no guide for the next stage, and it was unclear how they should proceed.

These acupoints were derived from techniques of the spiritual and immortal paths…

He dared not recklessly open his acupoints. A disorder in the minor cycle could cause his acupoints to collapse, cutting off his path on the Five Elements Immortal Path.

The realm beyond the Nascent Soul stage was known as the Transformation Stage!

The Top Ten Sects had very little written about this realm, and no heritage left behind. It seemed that ancient cultivators had been in a rush to leave.

Chen Xun had only caught a few vague hints, but even that filled him with a sense of awe. What kind of world was it? He couldn't even begin to imagine.

White clouds drifted like solitary sails across a blue sea, floating freely alongside the ship.

The sun's rays constantly shone, bathing the ship in brilliant golden light.

Time passed with the rising and setting of the sun, as they sailed over the Tian Duan Plains, where there were no signs of life or spiritual energy—only endless rolling sands.

But now, with the ship as their home, Chen Xun and the big black ox no longer saw only yellow sand with their eyes.

Before they knew it, a hundred years had passed.

"By my ancestors! This ship is faster than even we are!"

A roar echoed from within the pavilion of the flying ship. "I ought to sing now!"

"Moo, moo?!!"

A piercing sound of an ox's horn echoed from the pavilion. "Moo, moo, moo??"

A day later, the pavilion once again fell into silence, filled with the dense energy of the Five Elements, and the two resumed their acupoint cultivation.

Though cultivators had long lives, much of that time was spent in cultivation, making their days quite full.

They were now working on opening their 30th earth acupoint, equivalent to the late Nascent Soul stage, and their speed had improved tremendously compared to before.

Chen Xun had also noticed that as they opened their acupoints, both their spiritual senses and physiques grew stronger, enhancing every aspect of their beings.

But despite these changes, Chen Xun couldn't help but feel a sense of regret. These developments were still rooted in the spiritual path, not their own unique Five Elements Immortal Path. The road ahead remained long, requiring further exploration.

...

Time flew by, and the wheels of fate turned as the mortal world passed by in its complexity. Another two hundred years had quietly slipped away.

The massive flying ship continued its journey across the skies of the desolate Tian Duan Plains, bearing witness to all the changes on the ground below.

At the stern of the ship, two figures sat beside the mystical tree, both wearing confident smiles.

"Little Crane, your Ox Brother and I just finished opening more acupoints recently, leaving little time to nurture you." Chen Xun spoke regretfully, one hand patting the tree while the other rested behind his back, casually revealing a giant axe. "You don't blame your big brother, do you?"

"Moo~~~" The big black ox's eyes twinkled with laughter as it nuzzled the Five Elements Spirit Tree with its horns.

"Hmm... yes, I understand."

Chen Xun pressed his ear to the tree, nodding thoughtfully. "Old Ox, Little Crane says it's okay—it can wait!"

"Moo?! Moo~" The big black ox's eyes widened as it flicked its tail a few times—it believed it again!

"You see, that's why Little Crane is our third brother—it knows how to go with the flow." Chen Xun laughed heartily, patting the tree again. "Old Ox, let's tell Little Crane about the time we fought all those experts on the Southern Dipper Mountains, and how countless prodigies bowed before us."

"Moo, moo!" The big black ox snorted excitedly and quickly took out a small notebook to flip through.

And so, a man, an ox, and a tree exchanged exaggerated stories high in the vast sky, occasionally pouring tea and watering the tree.

Ten years ago, Chen Xun and the big black ox had achieved complete mastery in their cultivation, having opened all 40 earth acupoints and fully elevated their Nascent Soul stage to its pinnacle.

Chen Xun's spells, as well as the big black ox's formation arrays, were now those of true Nascent Soul experts.

The technique left deep scorched craters on the ground, the result of Chen Xun and the big black ox's work, demonstrating the true power of a Nascent Soul cultivator—meteorites falling from the sky!

The damage was comparable to that caused by a heavenly tribulation, yet it required very little energy to cast, making it both fast and efficient.

The big black ox's Five Elements Formation had left Chen Xun secretly gritting his teeth—without his axe, it was nearly impossible to break through!

These past few years, they had been taking it easy. Incense burners were placed all around the ship, and every day they performed rituals, absorbed violet energy, praying to the heavens, and worshiping the immortal gods and buddhas.

Eventually, they even roped the Five Elements Spirit Tree into their routine, sharing stories of their past adventures with it.

In the entire cultivation world, no one could outdo Chen Xun when it came to "living it up." The big black ox eagerly followed along every day, never once feeling bored.

...

Five years later.

Dark clouds pressed down upon the sky, obscuring the once crimson horizon, and hung so low it seemed that they would collapse. The oppressive atmosphere made the entire world fall eerily silent.

A cold, strange wind swept through the heavens and earth, its unsettling nature apparent.

Chen Xun and the big black ox stood atop the crane's head, their gazes sharp as an eagle's.

"Old Ox... ready your weapon." A calm, low voice broke the silence.

"Moo~" The big black ox's eyes grew deep and serious as it nodded lightly.

In an instant. A pitch-black figure appeared atop the crane's head, with three dark, inky axes strapped to its back.

The big black ox stood tall, shrouded in darkness, with a large black coffin materializing behind it.

The eerie wind passed through the Five Elements Formation, rustling their robes as it swept past.

Chapter 210: The Tian Duan Planis

"The ox has appeared, attacking with spiritual power." Chen Xun's gaze sharpened, and he spoke gravely, "The stabbing pain just now in my spiritual sense, and the fact that your formation couldn't block it—there's only one explanation."

"Moo!" The big black ox took a deep breath; this was the first time it had encountered something like this in all its years.

However, once they donned their bandit gear, the ominous wind could no longer penetrate their spiritual defenses.

At the rear of the ship, the Five Elements Crane Spirit Tree swayed with the wind. Silently, the tree emitted a faint glow, which vanished as quickly as it appeared.

The world grew darker and darker, no longer filled with sweeping yellow sands.

The eerie wind wrapped around the heavens and earth as the massive airship slowly sailed inward. Standing at the ship's prow, Chen Xun and the big black ox gazed into the distance, fearless and unflinching.

A month later.

Both Chen Xun and the big black ox's eyes widened in shock. Their mouths hung open as something before them shook these thousand-year-old beings to their core.

"Holy... crap!!!"

"Moo!!!"

The exclamations echoed as the massive ship came to a halt in the sky, no longer moving forward.

From this aerial vantage point, they looked down to see the land torn asunder, revealing a gigantic, unfathomable Plains. The eerie wind that blew through the area came from this abyss.

It was as if they stood at the edge of a cliff, but the other side of the precipice was nowhere to be seen. The earth's path was brutally severed, just like... a celestial divide!

Chen Xun and the big black ox gasped. What kind of wondrous natural spectacle was this? How were they supposed to cross?

They were only at the edge, and even from here, they couldn't see the other side of the Plains. It was beyond imagination, stretching endlessly into the unknown.

"Old Ox, take notes! Record this, dammit, make a sketch—holy crap!" Chen Xun was so excited he could barely speak coherently, his heart filled with exhilaration rather than fear. "Incredible, worth every minute of living!"

"Moo~~" The big black ox's eyes bulged like copper bells, still in awe. They had been to many cliffs, but none that had ever left such an impression on its ox heart.

For an ordinary cultivator, merely approaching this place would likely result in their spiritual sense being shattered by the ominous wind, causing instant death.

Chen Xun's hands trembled as he pulled out a sketchpad and a small booklet. The big black ox rested its head on his shoulder. Despite the peril of this place, they found themselves admiring the view, already beyond the realm of an ordinary cultivator's imagination.

The ominous wind brushed against their bandit outfits like a gentle breeze, barely an inconvenience. To Chen Xun and the big black ox, it was a weakling of an opponent.

"Wait, this is a power that can destroy spiritual senses." Chen Xun suddenly tensed, his brow furrowed. "Old Ox, do you remember how Jin Yu died?"

"Moo!" The big black ox locked eyes with Chen Xun. They had carefully studied Jin Yu's Nascent Soul when he passed away.

"By all accounts, a cultivator's Nascent Soul should be able to escape in time. Jin Yu's showed no sign of attempting to flee."

Chen Xun grew more pensive, his frown deepening. "And that night, when we ventured to the northern region, something wasn't right. There was a mountain."

The big black ox snorted. Their spiritual senses couldn't penetrate the area, and they still had no idea what lay within.

However, they had gone there only to retrieve bodies, not to start a major conflict.

As long as they didn't overstep boundaries, both sides maintained mutual respect. After all, they didn't want the northern spirit beasts to go berserk once they left.

"That night, I wasn't entirely confident. Whatever, they're probably guarding something." Chen Xun sneered, his eyes cold. "When our strength grows, we'll return and settle the score. I don't take action unless I'm certain."

"Moo!" The big black ox grinned. Big Brother was right.

"But the restrictions on spiritual power here are intense. Something must be causing this." Chen Xun gazed into the dark abyss. "Who knows what kind of demons or monsters lurk down there? Old Ox, proceed with caution."

The big black ox glanced around. Their spiritual sense was limited to a mere mile radius, unable to stretch any further.

Chen Xun stowed away his sketchpad and booklet. This place might be connected to the spirit beasts of the northern region.

"Moo~~" The big black ox pulled out a simple herb, examining it.

"What's up, Old Ox?"

"Moo?"

"Hmm?"

Suddenly, Chen Xun slapped the big black ox and shouted, "Old Ox, what made you think of this?"

The big black ox cast a sideways glance at Chen Xun. Weren't they originally investigating what was corrupting the spiritual energy in the Tian Duan Plains?

Now that they were no longer affected by the spiritual energy, they couldn't feel the corruption, so they used the herb as a substitute.

"Damn, Old Ox, you've got three-tenths of my brains!" "Moo~"

The big black ox suddenly burst into laughter, feeling much smarter than before.

As the ominous wind blew over the herb, its medicinal properties visibly drained away. In less than an hour, the century-old herb lost all its spiritual energy.

Chen Xun and the big black ox exchanged glances—one, two, three times...

"So it's this stuff that's corrupting the spiritual energy."

"Moo~"

"Wait, when we were in the Tian Duan Plains, there wasn't any of this wind. There's more going on here."

"Moo~"

The big black ox nodded repeatedly. Even the underground had no spiritual energy.

"It must be some long-term process. This place is incredibly vast—who knows how long this Tian Duan Plains has existed." Chen Xun cursed, "This is insane! Is this how the Tian Duan Plains came to be?"

"Moo?"

"Old Ox, does anyone in our cultivation world even know how the Tian Duan Plains were formed? There's no mention of it in any texts, right?"

"Moo?"

"That means the name must have come from that superpower on the other side of the Tian Duan Plains. They even cut off our large teleportation arrays." Chen Xun shook his head in amazement. "Who knows what happened back then? Fascinating stuff."

The big black ox finally understood. It seemed that the superpower knew about all this, and their cultivation world had been abandoned.

"Old Ox, let's go down and have a look. If it gets dangerous, we'll bail."

"Moo!"

In an instant, they stowed away their airship. They had already refined it with two Wood Nascent Souls, nurturing it whenever they had time.

Now, Chen Xun and the big black ox stood at the edge of the Tian Duan Plains, dwarfed by its immensity.

They stared into the abyss, where gusts of ominous wind surged upwards as if the Plains itself were gazing back at them.

Chen Xun and the big black ox stepped into the void, plunging into the depths of the Plains!

Inside, it was pitch dark. The ominous wind howled, but it didn't affect the vision of Nascent Soul cultivators—only their spiritual senses were suppressed.

"Old Ox, what is this stuff? It doesn't seem like soil." Chen Xun advanced cautiously, observing the pitch-black walls of the Plains. "This place feels like a completely different world from the outside."

The big black ox sniffed the walls, discovering they weren't made of dirt but of some kind of stone, altered by the long-term effects of the wind.

Boom!

Chen Xun punched the wall, causing a thunderous rumble. Stones crumbled down, but there was no echo. The depth of the Plains was unfathomable.

"What the hell is this? Some kind of ore?"

"Moo?!"

The big black ox's eyes lit up. Could it be they had finally stumbled upon an unclaimed ore vein?!

Chen Xun squinted and picked up a chunk of rock, studying it closely. With a gentle squeeze, it crumbled to dust. His expression soured

"Old Ox, it's just ordinary rock, altered by the years of ominous wind."

"Moo~~" The big black ox sighed, its dreams of striking it rich dashed.

"What's that look for?"

Chen Xun raised an eyebrow and gave the big black ox a firm slap. "We've barely explored anything, and you're already losing enthusiasm?"

"Moo?" The big black ox jolted awake from the slap.

"This place is unclaimed territory—who knows what treasures might be hidden here? According to the Holy Sage's rule of 'first come, first served'..." Chen Xun paused for effect, then adjusted his robe and folded his hands behind his back. "Old Ox, are you familiar with the rule of rounding up? This place basically belongs to us!"

"Moo?!" The big black ox's eyes widened in shock. "Moo moo moo???"

"Heh, it's been two thousand years, and do you think anyone knows what we've been through? We haven't even found a single chunk of iron essence, dammit!" Chen Xun suddenly grew angry, then melancholic. "But now, the heavens are finally on our side. They've seen our sincerity. This place is ours—anyone who comes will die!"

"Moo!!!" The big black ox raised its head and roared, rubbing its head excitedly against Chen Xun. It wanted Big Brother to teach it the art of rounding up—Chen Xun had never explained it before.

"Heh, Old Ox, stick with me, and you'll learn plenty. The Great Dao's teachings are vast."

"Moo!!"

The big black ox was overwhelmed with excitement as Chen Xun held its head, boastfully exaggerating as they slowly descended deeper.

This place was devoid of both spiritual energy and spiritual senses—a graveyard for countless cultivators, capable of destroying an entire cultivation world. It was truly a place of great danger.

And yet, the man and ox felt perfectly at ease, punching walls and examining stones with casual interest, calm and unhurried.

Chapter 211: Unclaimed mineral vein. We are the masters of the mine

Rumble…

For three consecutive days, they continued to descend slowly, occasionally causing a great commotion.

Chen Xun's gaze was fixed downward. Normally, something eerie would emerge at this point, and they would have a fierce battle.

The big black ox's eyes glinted with determination as his bovine hoof pounded the Plains walls, sending shockwaves that traveled a considerable distance.

"Old Ox, let's draw out the snake from its hole. We're not far from the surface; we need to be prepared in case something suddenly emerges." Chen Xun was surrounded by the Five Elements divine light, illuminating a large area of darkness. He suddenly shouted, "Ghosts, show yourselves! I see you!"

"Moo~~!!" The big black ox joined in with a loud roar.

At this moment.

A ball of fiery-red meteorite suddenly descended from above. The dark wind attempted to corrupt the spell, but this spell was not formed by gathering spiritual power.

The dark wind was powerless against it. The fiery-red meteorite roared through the Plains, carrying the violent power of the Five Elements, and crashed toward the Plains's bottom.

It streaked quickly, lighting up the surroundings, but the walls remained pitch-black, with nothing else visible.

"Old Ox, let's get out of here!"

"Mooo!"

They shot up into the sky, quickly reaching the surface, their eyes still on the meteorite in the Plains. With the Five Elements power surging around them, they were ready to take off in their boat.

After a while, the fireball disappeared from their sight and could no longer be sensed.

"Interesting." Chen Xun sat down, one hand raised to the sky, and the Five Elements power gathered frantically in mid-air.

The big black ox also started casting spells alongside him.

They deviated from the expected approach and began a frenzied bombardment of the Tian Duan Plains, determined to draw out any ghosts within.

Chen Xun's lips curled into a cold smile as countless possibilities flashed through his mind.

Although the big black ox's eyes were filled with doubt, he never questioned his older brother. He thought they might continue descending.

For seven whole days, the roaring sounds in the Tian Duan Plains never ceased.

"Hmm... It seems this thing is quite resilient, or perhaps our meteorite technique has killed it?!" Chen Xun's eyebrows lifted. Even with his temper, he couldn't endure such continuous bombardment. "Old Ox, as expected, it's temporarily safe here."

"Moo~~~" The big black ox's eyes widened as he exhaled a hot breath, slowly retracting the Five Elements power into his body.

"Hehe, let's go!"

"Moo!"

They suddenly emitted a sly shriek, and two black shadows darted into the Plains with incredible speed, far surpassing ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators.

Chen Xun and the big black ox were surrounded by ten large fireballs, lighting up the surroundings like fireflies in the night.

Yet it remained eerily quiet and desolate, with only the dark wind swirling in all directions and no cries of living beings to be heard.

Half a month later.

Chen Xun and the big black ox suddenly stopped mid-air, their eyes revealing an unusual color. They discovered a unique stone on the Plains wall, no longer just ordinary debris affected by the dark wind.

This stone was translucent black, about the size of a fist, with spider web-like fine lines inside it.

"Old Ox, what is this?"

"Moo?"

Their eyes gleamed. Chen Xun instinctively probed the stone with his divine sense, but his expression suddenly changed. "Damn it!"

"Moo Moo?!" The big black ox exclaimed, eyes wide with concern, quickly placing a hoof on Chen Xun. What happened?

"Old Ox, don't use divine sense to probe this thing; it's problematic." Chen Xun's face darkened, feeling dazed, and after a while, he recovered. "This stone harms divine sense."

"Moo!" The big black ox's eyes flashed with anger. How dare this stone harm his older brother!

"Dig it out." Chen Xun drew a mountain-opening axe and struck the Plains wall heavily.

Immediately, deathly energy spread, turning chunks of stone into a viscous substance, which then gradually disintegrated into fine dust.

"Moo!" The big black ox waved his hoof, quickly using the Water Spirit Technique to suppress the deathly energy and protect the stone.

"Hehe, is this all? It still can't withstand the deathly energy?!"

Chen Xun laughed maniacally. The stone showed clear signs of withering the moment it came into contact with the deathly energy.

"Moo~~~" The big black ox grinned, feeling content, thinking about how to deal with this stone in the future to avenge his older brother.

Before long, the stone was pried loose and held in their hands for examination.

"Old Ox, with our years of experience in collecting rare stones, I'm confident."

"Moo?"

"This thing is definitely not an ordinary stone..."

"Moo..."

The big black ox nodded thoughtfully. His older brother's reasoning made sense.

Chen Xun began to analyze with the big black ox, speaking clearly, and the latter kept nodding, his eyes showing wisdom.

"So, this must be a mineral, and one used in the cultivation world."

Chen Xun concluded firmly; hands clasped behind his back. "Old Ox, this is an unclaimed mineral vein!"

"Moo?!!" The big black ox suddenly became excited. He understood this statement.

"By rounding it up, we are the masters of this mineral vein. We can't miss a single piece of this stone; we need to dig three feet into the ground."

"Moo~~~~"

The big black ox trembled with excitement, exhaling heavily. He even wondered if they should dig up the area around the surface.

Suddenly, the stone in Chen Xun's hand emitted an inexplicable dark light.

Their perception was sharp, and their gaze immediately focused on it.

The dark light was actually emitted by the web-like lines inside the stone, resembling veins. The light moved around, and eventually, a gentle breeze burst out from the stone.

They were stunned. This breeze was none other than the overwhelming dark wind that corrupted divine sense and spiritual energy.

"This dark wind is coming from the stone?!" Chen Xun was astonished, truly having learned something new. "Old Ox, get the booklet and record this marvel!"

"Moo Moo~" The big black ox spat, quickly taking out the booklet to jot down and sketch.

"This cultivation world is indeed full of wonders. Not only are there deadly plants, but now even stones can kill." Chen Xun clicked his tongue, finally understanding the source of this dark wind. "Old Ox, it seems there are many such minerals in the Tian Duan Plains, but I wonder how they came to be."

"Moo Moo~~" The big black ox continued to write, adding many of Chen Xun's recent analyses.

They then began to dig for these stones, finding more and more as they descended deeper into the Plains. The peculiar minerals varied in size, some large, some small.

The big black ox even used deathly energy to break a stone. The divine sense within the stone erupted instantly, attacking them like sharp silver needles.

It was quickly neutralized by the bandit suit, having no effect on their divine sense.

Two months later, they were almost at the bottom. The dark wind roared, raging from all directions.

However, in different areas, the strength of the dark wind varied according to the flickering frequency of the dark light emitted by the minerals.

Chen Xun and the big black ox were overjoyed. Their storage rings were filled with these stones, and they were sure to strike it rich!

Chapter 212: The ghost ship in the Tian Duan Plains

"Old Ox, this trip has been worthwhile." Chen Xun laughed heartily; the surroundings were already filled with firelight as massive fireballs swirled everywhere.

"Moo~~" The big black ox's eyes were gleaming, wondering if any cultivators would collect these things.

"Hmm? Why are there so many skeletons?"

"Moo!"

They looked around, and the ground was covered with enormous white bones, some as large as small mountains. These were not humans but rather more similar to spiritual beasts.

Chen Xun frowned slightly. Throughout their descent, there had been no signs of life, so where did these skeletons come from?

Boom!

Chen Xun landed heavily, and the ground was as dark and hard as the ravine walls. The big black ox landed beside him.

As the tremors spread, many of the skeletons around turned to dust, making their eyelids twitch. What does this mean? Should they not have come here?

At the bottom of the ravine, an endless darkness surrounded them, with faint glimmers of light scattered everywhere, continually producing yin wind.

"Old Ox, those dark glimmers are all mineral deposits. We mustn't miss them."

"Moo!"

The big black ox nodded, looking at several spots on the ground where these minerals were embedded, some as small as jade beads, others as large as boulders.

Chen Xun scanned the area, searching for any discarded storage rings or bags.

Since beings had once been here, it meant that it wasn't initially so terrifying. The wind emitted by these minerals must have accumulated over the years.

But now this place was probably too dangerous to touch; the accumulation of yin wind was too great.

"Moo Moo!" The big black ox suddenly called out from one location.

"What's the matter, Old Ox?" Chen Xun stepped forward, instantly arriving beside the Big black ox.

There were no storage bags or rings around, and even the skeletons turned to dust upon contact.

The enormous spiritual beasts made Chen Xun think of the Nascent Soul stage. He had seen a few such beasts in the Northern Region, and they were indeed quite large.

Spiritual beasts' cultivation methods differed greatly from humans; some cultivated their bodies, while others focused on bloodline inheritance techniques. However, they all relied on spiritual energy to refine themselves.

In the realm of cultivation, it was said that the larger the spiritual beast, the stronger it was. Transforming into a human form was considered a misstep, which Chen Xun had never heard of or seen.

Demon beasts, on the other hand, were the food for spiritual beasts and humans. They had low intelligence, were not educated, grew freely in nature, and acted on instinct. Even reaching the Golden Core stage was difficult for them.

Spiritual beasts formed groups and had intelligence, and they could assist humans, having an equal status. Chen Xun had seen a few Golden Core spiritual beasts. Even Qi Condensation and Foundation Establishment disciples had to pay respects to them.

The guardian spiritual beast of their mountain was an old turtle in the Nascent Soul stage, said to be sleeping, so they had not disturbed it.

Chen Xun had not seen the big demons in the South, but he had read about them in the records of the Top Ten Sects. He heard they were demon beasts that had become intelligent...

Moreover, those great demons had no interest in humans; they went about their own business, and there was no record of them slaughtering human beings. Such incidents had never occurred.

"Moo!" The big black ox's bellow brought Chen Xun's thoughts back.

It pointed at the ground, describing what had happened earlier.

"Old Ox, you used the Five Elements power to decompose it? You wasteful fellow!" Chen Xun laughed heartily and patted the big black ox. "Old Ox, this is a gift from heaven. We're the masters of the mine. How much could we lose if a piece is missing?"

The Big black ox grew anxious upon hearing this, quickly explaining to Chen Xun that it was upset seeing this stone injure Chen Xun two months ago.

Chen Xun was stunned, but his lips curled into a faint smile, nodding repeatedly without saying a word.

The big black ox continued to describe its discovery. The decomposition and destruction of the mineral were entirely different; destruction was attributed to heaven and earth.

When it decomposed the mineral using the Five Elements power, it restrained the dark glimmer, and as it decomposed, a peculiar power seemed to return to its body.

"What?! Is this for real? Old Ox, you actually have a bit of my brain?!" Chen Xun's eyes widened in exaggerated surprise. "Our Five Elements Decomposition power can really restrain this peculiar destructive force, preventing it from returning to heaven and earth."

"Moo Moo!" The big black ox grinned and patted Chen Xun, thoroughly enjoying the praise.

"No wonder this place erodes spiritual energy and consciousness but cannot erode the Five Elements energy." Chen Xun's eyes showed deep thought, stroking his chin. "So, it's restrained. Old Ox, keep experimenting. Take notes!"

But it wasn't truly restrained, merely that they did not interfere with each other. Who would have thought that in the realm of cultivation, there would be such a peculiar phenomenon, practicing the Five Elements Immortal Path?

Transforming the Five Elements energy into Five Elements power naturally created this restraining chain.

"Moo Moo~~" The big black ox nodded deeply. The peculiar power hadn't been felt seriously before it entered its body, and no further changes were detected.

Chen Xun waved his hand, bringing out various minerals of different sizes from his storage ring and placing them on the ground.

"Old Ox, get to work!"

"Moo!"

As soon as the words were spoken, their bodies were enveloped in Five Elements divine light, wrapping around the various minerals.

Sounds of cracking echoed as the dark glimmer within the minerals flickered continuously as if stimulated, struggling madly.

"Ah, not bad." Chen Xun's eyes gleamed with excitement as he felt the peculiar power merge into his consciousness.

"Moo~~" The big black ox looked satisfied. The peculiar power was no longer so ferocious and did not attack their consciousness.

It seemed to have been purified, using the Five Elements power as a medium, benefiting itself.

"Kekekeke…"

"Moo Moo Moo Moo~~~~"

Two terrifying laughter echoes came from the bottom of the Tian Duan Plains. Their surroundings were filled with fireballs, making the two shadows appear even more terrifying.

The yin wind before them seemed relatively benign. The ground was covered with decomposed dust, swept into the high sky by the wind.

Although these minerals were large and the destructive force was strong, only a few traces were usable after decomposition.

Chen Xun and the big black ox felt nothing significant yet, but as long as there was no danger, it must be good stuff.

After two thousand years in the cultivation world, couldn't the brothers finally get some great fortune?!

Even if it was a great fortune, it was visible, in literal plain sight, and no cultivator seemed to have obtained it. All the conditions were indispensable.

"Haha, Old Ox, charge ahead!" Chen Xun sat on the big black ox's back, heading towards the dark glimmers. "Those dark glimmers are our guide lights. First, clear the horizontal area, then attack vertically."

"Moo~~!" The big black ox snorted, raised its head, and began to charge.

Crack!

Chen Xun and the big black ox's expressions became increasingly frenzied. Every day they roared and ran through the bottom of the ravine, taking out their notes to record the changes.

Occasionally, they would see the skeletons of spiritual beasts but never the remains of cultivators, which puzzled them.

Later, they even let their flying boat out to let the third brother, Little Crane, witness the scene. This ravine had no life forms or ghosts, making it a paradise for them to harvest.

"Old Ox, Little Crane, perform the ritual and thank the heavens for the gift!!!"

"Moo Moo Moo!!!"

The Five Elements Tree of Crane Spirit rustled in the yin wind, its black and white leaves flashing faintly as if responding to the elder brother and second brother.

Chen Xun and the big black ox sat at the stern of the boat, surrounded by incense burners, with fragrant smoke curling up. They chanted.

Whenever there were dark glimmers, the massive flying boat would immediately stop, and Chen Xun and the big black ox would instantly cease their ritual, their devout eyes turning into bloodthirsty ones.

Boom!

Large pieces of minerals from the bottom of the Tian Duan Plains were drawn onto the boat's deck, then broken into fragments and blown away...

Buzz—

A colossal flying boat hovered at the bottom of the pitch-black ravine, gradually moving away.

In the perilous Tian Duan Plains, it was like a ghost ship, drifting aimlessly, its eerie presence making one's eyes bulge and even causing shivers of fear in the soul.

Chapter 213: God-killing Power: Opening Divine Acupoints

One month later, Chen Xun and the big black ox finally sensed some changes, and it became clear that the God-killing power was indeed targeting their spiritual consciousness.

They were sitting atop a tree, their eyes scanning the surroundings. As the saying goes, "The higher you sit, the farther you can see," and their spiritual consciousness was more effective here than their eyesight.

"Old Ox, the Five Elements Immortal Path may be about to undergo another change."

"Moo~~"

The big black ox felt deeply about it. They had been studying the changes in their spiritual consciousness, and now the Five Elements Immortal Path had only caused an anomaly in the spiritual energy of their bodies.

Chen Xun took a deep breath. The God-killing power was still far from enough to use the Five Elements power as a medium to transform their spiritual consciousness towards the Five Elements Immortal Path.

"Moo!"

"Huh, big fellow."

Chen Xun turned his gaze toward the direction of the big black ox's voice. There was a small mountain composed entirely of this kind of mineral, with an intense dark glow and flickering at a rapid frequency.

The spider web-like network within the mountain was enough to make one's scalp tingle.

Buzz—

The flying boat slowly moved towards it. They looked down at the small mountain, and the brilliant Five Elements divine light erupted from their bodies, wrapping and decomposing from top to bottom.

They had become quite adept at decomposing this kind of mineral along the way—fast, accurate, and ruthless.

At this moment, the small mountain of mineral was being decomposed and consumed by Chen Xun and the big black ox at a visibly slow pace, with the dark wind swirling and making its last struggle.

"Old Ox, this is to rid the immortal world of harm; we can't leave it behind!"

"Moo moo!!"

After an incense stick's worth of time, they exchanged glances, and grinned, and the entire mountain turned to ashes, becoming dust in history.

Chen Xun shivered, feeling the God-killing power. His spiritual consciousness had not grown, but there was a sudden sensation of enlightenment.

"Old Ox, do you feel it?"

"Moo!"

"Indeed, the spiritual consciousness of our Five Elements Immortal Path also has its acupoints, defined as divine acupoints. With this God-killing power as a supplement, it helps us break through these acupoints!"

"Moo~~~!"

The big black ox was excited all over, releasing a long breath. The elder brother's Five Elements Immortal Path was indeed advancing further.

Buzz!

The flying boat continued its journey. Chen Xun's eyes were increasingly bright. What exactly were these minerals? They were certainly not ordinary.

The big black ox didn't think much of it. It scanned everywhere for flickering dark glows, following the elder brother's instructions and helping with the work.

Boom!

The Plains's bottom began to produce roaring sounds again, and the howling of the dark wind seemed to grow louder and more tragic.

One year later, Chen Xun and the big black ox were sitting on the deck of the boat, their eyes calm, while a dark glow swirled above their heads.

Their spiritual consciousness was undergoing a remarkable transformation, with surging spiritual power pouring out and the surrounding dark wind instantly sweeping in.

"Old Ox, stop!"

"Moo?"

"This path created by my ancestor is natural for me to comprehend first."

"Moo~" The big black ox, trusting his elder brother, immediately withdrew his spiritual consciousness, and the dark glow above him faded.

Chen Xun's eyes were bloodshot, with slight bleeding at the corners. His spiritual consciousness was being destroyed; he needed to break free from the constraints of the spiritual energy immortal path step by step.

The big black ox's eyes widened, observing Chen Xun's changes. What was the elder brother doing?!

At this moment, in Chen Xun's mind.

The Five Elements Nascent Souls were shrouded in a hazy glow, their expressions showing pain. The disintegration of the spiritual consciousness could already affect the Nascent Souls.

He was now experiencing both pain and pleasure; the disintegration seemed to purify, accompanied by the powerful fluctuations of the Five Elements power, with the God-killing power constantly surging.

Chen Xun could faintly glimpse a thread of the Five Elements spiritual consciousness network in the void.

"Break for me!"

He let out a painful cry. The Five Elements Nascent Souls gradually coalesced into a human form above his head, tightly binding the God-killing power; otherwise, it would follow the disintegration of the spiritual consciousness.

Boom!

Chen Xun felt millions of thunderclaps exploding in his mind simultaneously! A prototype of an acupoint was gradually forming, but it did not appear in his body.

It was quite ethereal and elusive, like the place where spiritual consciousness first sprouted during the breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment stage.

"Old Ox, bring more minerals!"

"Moo!"

The big black ox's eyes widened, transforming into a beam of divine light. Without a word, it swept through the Plains, and the minerals were continuously gathered onto the boat's deck.

Chen Xun waved his hand, and the minerals were rapidly decomposed by the Five Elements power, turning into God-killing power to strengthen himself.

He slowly closed his eyes, his mind bombarded by the sounds of thunder.

An acupoint was forming independently from the earth and human acupoints, slowly taking shape like a small black hole, mysterious and unfathomable.

For several days, the big black ox never stopped, constantly moving minerals. Chen Xun didn't say stop, so it continued.

Chen Xun sighed with relief, glad to have the big black ox by his side; otherwise, the formation of the divine acupoints might have been in vain, rotting away and never forming.

"That's enough. We've taken the first step."

Chen Xun's spiritual consciousness erupted with God-killing power, turning into a vast storm. The surrounding ground cracked, shattered, and disintegrated!

One thought shattered the ground!

"Moo?!!" The big black ox was shocked, its scalp tingling and unable to speak coherently. What kind of spell was this, "Moo moo moo??!"

Chen Xun hadn't used the Five Elements power, so why did the surrounding ground shatter?

"Hehe, is this the limit of this body..." Chen Xun's pupils were deep and dark as he looked at the big black ox, showing an inexplicable, low laugh.

"Moo??!" The big black ox, scared, retreated into the boat's formation and quickly summoned the incense burner.

"Hahaha... Damn it, Old Ox, come over here."

"Moo moo~~"

The big black ox, excited, let out a breath and hurried over to Chen Xun, rubbing against him vigorously.

"Old Ox, my divine acupoint is open, and I can now use this God-killing power, but one divine acupoint is far from the limit." Chen Xun patted the big black ox's head, his eyes filled with joy. "Old Ox, let's mine. I'll open your acupoints too."

"Moo~~" The big black ox looked at Chen Xun in confusion, not quite understanding.

"Let's go. I'll explain to you while we mine. I'll start by analyzing the booklet."

"Moo~"

They suddenly burst into laughter on the boat, which began to move, travelling everywhere. They didn't know where they were going.

Wherever there were minerals, they went. They weren't in a hurry, with plenty of lifespans ahead, and vowed not to leave until they had mined it all.

Buzz—

A massive flying boat slowly sailed through various places, its deck piled high with minerals.

All of them were flashing dark glow, dazzling and eye-catching—rare treasures in the immortal world. Chen Xun and the big black ox thought so and couldn't get enough of them.

In the following days, they were thoroughly busy, starting to cultivate their divine acupoints and using these minerals to break through.

Chen Xun could feel the difference between divine acupoints and spiritual consciousness.

They were no longer afraid of the God-killing power. Instead, they could turn the virtual into the real, using divine acupoints to attack silently.

Three years later, Chen Xun and the big black ox had completely opened their divine acupoints on the boat, creating a total of sixteen divine acupoints!

However, they had reached a bottleneck. Their spiritual consciousness had not increased; they had only converted their Nascent Soul spiritual consciousness into divine acupoints.

They were no longer afraid of using spiritual consciousness to explore, and the Tian Duan Plains had completely become their domain. They had no idea how many minerals they had mined.

Although the number of divine acupoints could no longer increase, they could still decompose and store the God-killing power.

Chapter 214: Terrifying beings sealed deep underground

Today, Chen Xun and the big black ox stood by the edge of the boat, eating fruits with juice splattering everywhere. The boat was still surrounded by piles of mineral rocks, all emitting a chilling wind.

Chen Xun was secretly estimating whether clearing out all these minerals would stop the erosion of spiritual energy in their cultivation world. He was also curious about the origin of these minerals and why they eroded spiritual energy. Despite dissecting them inch by inch, he had yet to find an answer.

Today, Chen Xun and the big black ox were at the bow of the boat, using their divine acupoints to scan the surroundings and sweep up the minerals.

The big black ox was still carefully scanning the ground, but Chen Xun had started to probe beneath the Plains floor with his divine acupoints.

Half a day later, Chen Xun's face suddenly changed drastically, a sense of horror spreading throughout his body. The entire flying boat slowly came to a halt.

"Moo moo??!" The big black ox looked puzzled, wondering why Chen Xun had such a reaction.

With their current strength, shouldn't they be unshaken by anything?

"Old Ox…" Chen Xun stared blankly at the big black ox, his voice deep, "Use your divine acupoints to look beneath the ground…"

"Moo~" The big black ox nodded and used its divine acupoints to investigate.

After a short while:

"Moo!!!"

"What the hell!!!"

They shouted in shock, their bodies covered in sweat. They couldn't understand what could cause such a reaction from two late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators.

The cause was revealed to be several enormous mineral deposits underground, but they were no longer pure black; instead, they were a strange black-purple color!

The veins were still intricately spread out, and within these mineral deposits were actually living beings!

These black-purple veins were embedded in their bodies. Although they had no spiritual energy or divine sense fluctuations, they were definitely not dead!

They seemed to be sealed within, their bodies quite imposing, not human, and clearly had a third eye. Just looking from afar could evoke awe and fear.

"What the hell! Damn it!" Chen Xun was so frightened he became incoherent, his movements frantic. "Old Ox, do…do something."

"Moo~~~" The big black ox's breath was erratic, its forehead covered in sweat. What kind of creatures were these beneath the ground?

"Heaven, Gods and Buddhas bless us! The heavenly qi is vast; may our path flourish!! Protect us from all evil!!" Chen Xun babbled incoherently, his lips trembling, not knowing what he was saying. He ended with a loud cry, "The auspicious time has come!!!"

"Moo~~!!"

The big black ox panicked and frantically waved its hooves. A hundred and eight incense burner arrays surrounded them, and the ultimate protective formation was activated!

The air around the flying boat was filled with rising green smoke, intermittent flashes of Five Elements divine light, and some very strange incantations.

They were genuinely terrified this time. Just observing the physical form of these beings with their divine acupoints gave them an overwhelming sense of danger, penetrating to their core.

It was more shocking than when they first encountered a Golden Core cultivator, though it was still a bit less frightening compared to their fear of the Sky Lord.

Chen Xun trembled as he sketched images of these beings with a small booklet, terrifying and bizarre. They had never heard of such beings, looking like humans but not quite like spiritual beasts.

"Old Ox, get the hell out of here! These…these mineral veins have an owner." Chen Xun's lips were dry, swallowing hard, "Let's grab some more God-killing power and leave. Don't be greedy."

"Moo moo~~" The big black ox's pupils were shaking. It hadn't felt this way in a long time.

Buzz

The flying boat accelerated with a huge noise, quickly fleeing. They no longer dared to use their divine acupoints to probe the depths of the ground.

For the next six months, they remained in a state of fear, afraid that these beings might break through the ground and attack them.

They stopped exploring the Plains, slowly regaining a sense of comfort. They avoided curiosity and participation, adhering to the secret of longevity in the cultivation world.

Chen Xun and the big black ox spent a terrifying year in the Tian Duan Plains.

…

"Hmm?!"

"Moo?!"

Today, they were once again shocked as they looked into the distance and saw several Foundation Establishment cultivators hovering in mid-air!

In the distance:

There were three men and one woman, clinging tightly to the Plains wall, carefully wielding a rather strange artifact to mine minerals…

What was most peculiar was that they were surrounded by four spirit grasses emitting a soft glow, absorbing the chilling wind.

Upon closer inspection, these spirit grasses were Qinghun Grass!

"Junior brothers and sisters, since this is your first time here, you must pay attention to the strength of the God-killing Wind," a man with a sharp gaze reminded them. His name was Qu Zhong, sent by the sect to mine minerals. "The Tian Duan Plains has the God-killing Wind weaken three times a year; seize the opportunity!"

"Yes, Senior Brother Qu," the three responded nervously, using the most primitive methods to mine.

Here, where spiritual energy was eroded, they dared not use spells recklessly. The God-killing Wind was highly sensitive to spiritual power, and even flying with the artifact was the limit for Qinghun Grass.

No one dared to fight here; anyone who fought would die. There were too many examples.

"These five-hundred-year-old Qinghun Grasses should last us for ten days."

Qu Zhong's divine sense is embedded in the Qinghun Grass, continuously sensing changes. "But Qinghun Grass can't absorb the God-killing Wind for more years; it must be left as soon as it begins to wither."

At these words, the other three quickened their pace, sweat beading on their foreheads, yet their hearts were somewhat excited.

At this moment, the junior sister looked hopeful and asked, "Senior Brother Qu, should we be able to get a lot of spirit stones this time?"

The other two also perked up their ears, still working without stopping. This was their first time here, and the sect had been quite vague about it.

But they had heard rumors that a fist-sized God-killing Stone could sell for tens of thousands of lower-grade spirit stones in Dali!

Qu Zhong's eyes narrowed as he nodded slightly, "Subtracting the costs of the teleportation array, buying Qinghun Grass, and the sect's quota, we should at least get 20%."

"Thank you, Senior Brother, for clarifying." The three were quite excited, wondering how many God-killing Stones they could mine in ten days.

Qu Zhong, however, was not as optimistic. He was quite nervous, his divine sense constantly sensing changes in the Qinghun Grass.

He had been here several times before, and Qinghun Grass was provided by the sect. It was in high demand in Dali, and many desperate people bought it in the black market.

There were many methods to cultivate Qinghun Grass, but the fastest way was definitely in bloody places.

"Ah!!!"

"Help… Help!"

Suddenly, several miserable cries echoed from all directions, reverberating in the desolate and eerie Tian Duan Plains, extremely eerie and terrifying.

Qu Zhong and the others' hearts jolted at the screams, realizing that someone had been killed by the God-killing Wind. They quickened their mining speed.

Qu Zhong took a deep breath, his expression returning to normal. Such incidents were too common. Only those who were not afraid of death came here, all seeking a chance.

God-killing Stones had a wide range of uses. The five great ancient sects and three great ancient cultivation families specifically sought them, and they could be exchanged for various pills and other cultivation items.

Suddenly!

"Hmm?"

Qu Zhong squinted and looked towards another direction. In the distance, something seemed to be moving.

He blinked once, unable to see clearly. He blinked again, and then a few more times…

Suddenly, Qu Zhong's eyes widened, sweat pouring down like rain, his body trembling uncontrollably as if struck by lightning, with a horrified expression.

From a considerable distance away, he seemed to see a strange flying boat drifting in the air, with two dark figures standing on its edge.

They appeared curious and were eating some unknown crimson fruit, their gazes directed towards them.

Qu Zhong gasped heavily, almost dumbfounded, not blinking at all. Where did such a giant flying boat come from in the Tian Duan Plains?!

In an instant, they seemed to show a friendly smile, which in Qu Zhong's view was the smile of soul-reapers. There were ghosts in the Tian Duan Plains!!!

"Ah!!! No!!!"

Qu Zhong let out a piercing scream, slamming against the Plains wall, his whole body going limp, muttering repeatedly, "A ghost ship... there's a ghost ship!!"

"Senior Brother Qu?!"

"Senior Brother Qu! What happened?!"

"Senior Brother Qu?! What are you saying?!"

The three felt a chill run down their spines, wondering what Senior Brother Qu had seen.

They looked in horror, quickly turning their heads, but saw nothing. Only the chilling wind was still eroding their Qinghun Grass.

"Impossible…" Qu Zhong's hair was disheveled, his mind in turmoil, "Junior brothers and sisters, did you see it?"

"Senior Brother Qu, what exactly are you talking about?"

"Ghost ship! There are ghosts on it!"

Qu Zhong screamed like a madman, "Didn't you see it?!"

The three looked at each other, shaking their heads. They hadn't seen anything. Was Senior Brother Qu's divine sense eroded, causing hallucinations?

"No, we must leave quickly!" Qu Zhong's pupils contracted to pinpoints. "This place is not safe."

A ghost ship that could come and go freely in the Tian Duan Plains was not something he was curious about or willing to risk his life over, and it definitely wasn't an illusion.

As soon as he finished speaking, he drove the artifact and shot into the sky, clearly not wanting to stay a moment longer.

The three frowned, not understanding why Senior Brother Qu was acting this way. They could only reluctantly follow, as it was their first time here, and without a guide, it was easy to meet with disaster.

In the depths of the Tian Duan Plains:

A massive flying boat was still flying through the air, with two deep, cold voices coming from inside:

"Old Ox, look at those people's artifacts and clothing. They are not from our cultivation world."

"Moo~"

"I didn't expect Qinghun Grass to be effective against this wind. Heh heh, but it seems we have some too."

"Moo moo~~"

"If I'm not mistaken, they are people from the other side of the Tian Duan Plains, from a superpower!"

"Moo!"

"These minerals are indeed treasures. Even Foundation Establishment cultivators risk their lives to mine them. Old Ox, we're going to get rich."

"Moo~~~"

"Next, let's find a few cultivators to inquire about the superpower. Things are getting interesting…"

"Moo…"

The two deep voices grew fainter, and the giant flying boat accelerated, eventually disappearing into the darkness.

Chapter 215: The Extinguishing Spirit Artifact (TL: Unknown_Daoist)

Over the next month, Chen Xun and the black bull continued traversing the depths of the Heaven's End Ravine. They noticed more and more cultivators mining along the ravine walls, some in large groups, others in smaller ones, with scattered patches of Clear Soul Grasssurrounding them.

They quietly gathered more information and learned that the eerie wind in the Heaven's End Ravine was called the Extinguishing Spirit Wind, and the stones they were mining were *Extinguishing Spirit Stones*, found only in this place and nowhere else in the cultivation world.

There were three periods each year when the Extinguishing Spirit Wind was at its weakest, although Chen Xun and the black bull hardly noticed any difference. To them, it had no effect, as they weren't affected by the wind.

The highest level of cultivators they encountered were in the Golden Core stage. It seemed that Nascent Soul cultivators avoided this place, perhaps fearing for their lives.

Every time Chen Xun and the black bull attempted to approach other cultivators, they unintentionally terrified them. On one occasion, they even caused a female cultivator to have a seizure and roll her eyes in shock. Seeing this, they had no choice but to leave and come up with another plan.

Today, the Extinguishing Spirit Wind was especially strong. Along the ravine wall, two middle-aged cultivators were hard at work mining, their divine sense locked onto their Clear Soul Grass.

"Brother Huang, the teleportation fees are outrageous. Even traveling from the nearest province costs 100 mid-grade spirit stones," sighed Dai Xinqing, a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. "And the cost of Clear Soul Grass alone takes up most of our savings. This isn't a place for ordinary cultivators."

*Clang!*

Huang Shao remained silent, simply focusing on his Clear Soul Grass while using a pickaxe-shaped artifact to strike the ravine wall. Embedded in the wall was an Extinguishing Spirit Stone, occasionally emitting a dim glow.

"Heh, looks like another 10,000 low-grade spirit stones are coming my way," Dai Xinqing chuckled, though his hands never slowed, revealing his experience as a veteran miner. "Brother Huang, think we'll make at least a hundred thousand this trip?"

"If we make it out alive, we might," Huang Shao replied coldly. "This is nothing but small change. Next year, I'll buy more Clear Soul Grass from the black market."

"Brother Huang, what are you planning?" Dai Xinqing asked, his curiosity piqued.

"To forge an Extinguishing Spirit Artifact," Huang Shao answered.

"What?!" Dai Xinqing exclaimed, stopping mid-swing. "You'd need an entire mountain of Extinguishing Spirit Stones for that! The wind around those deposits is incredibly dangerous. You're really going to try?"

Huang Shao's gaze turned icy as he glanced at Dai Xinqing. "Xinqing, I plan to go alone. You don't need to risk your life."

Dai Xinqing fell silent, casting a deep look at Huang Shao. He couldn't bear to leave him behind.

Huang Shao resumed mining, his expression growing colder. He carried a deep, unquenchable hatred—his entire family of 200 had been massacred by someone from a particular sect. Without an Extinguishing Spirit Artifact, he had no chance of harming a Golden Core cultivator. He needed to strike when they least expected it.

"Brother Huang, the ancient immortal sects don't come cheap. Forging an Extinguishing Spirit Artifact requires Extinguishing Spirit Stones as payment," Dai Xinqing pointed out.

"I know," Huang Shao nodded calmly.

Hearing this, Dai Xinqing quickened his pace. The method to create an Extinguishing Spirit Artifact was only known to the five great ancient immortal sects and the three ancient cultivation families. Though these artifacts didn't have a rank limitation, they harmed both the user and their target. An Extinguishing Spirit Artifact could permanently damage one's divine sense unless they reached the Nascent Soul stage, where they could repair it.

It was clear that Huang Shao's enemy had far greater potential than him. The longer he waited, the larger the gap between their cultivation realms would grow.

"Heh, gentlemen, care to join us on the boat for a chat?"

As they mined diligently, a calm voice suddenly echoed from the darkness behind them.

Huang Shao and Dai Xinqing froze, their tools slipping from their hands and falling into the depths of the ravine. A storm of emotions—confusion, dread, terror—raged within them. What… was happening?

They slowly turned around. Out of the darkness floated a massive flying boat, with two shadowy figures standing on it, their faces indistinct but smiling. Most unnervingly, the Extinguishing Spirit Wind wasn't harming them at all.

"E-Elder!"

"Please, no!"

Their cries of terror echoed through the ravine. Suddenly, golden light enveloped them, dragging them helplessly toward the flying boat. They were completely powerless, their bodies moving on their own. This force wasn't magic—this was something they had never encountered before.

It's over!

The two cultivators felt their hearts sink as tears streamed down their faces. They still had so many Extinguishing Spirit Stones to mine, so many years of life left to live.

Dai Xinqing, in his despair, couldn't help but curse his fate. Why hadn't he visited that brothel when he had the chance? Now he would die without ever experiencing a woman's embrace.

Huang Shao's eyes were empty, his hopes for vengeance shattered. The Heaven's End Ravine truly lived up to its dreadful reputation.

Thud!

The two landed unsteadily on the deck of the flying boat, their legs weak, eyes glued to the floor. They didn't dare resist or even speak a word.

"Gentlemen, don't worry. We're good people," a voice said from above.

"Moo moo~" added another voice, gentle and soothing.

Chen Xun sat cross-legged at the front of the boat, while the black bull stood proudly beside him, exuding an air of friendliness.

Huang Shao and Dai Xinqing exchanged a glance, their hearts racing. Slowly, they lifted their heads, only to be struck by an overwhelming sight. The boat was filled with Clear Soul Grass, each plant at least a thousand years old!

Now it made sense why the Extinguishing Spirit Wind had no effect on them. The Clear Soul Grass was absorbing it all.

These plants had been cultivated by the black bull in its spare time. Who would've thought they'd be so useful now?

"Elder!" the two cultivators bowed deeply toward the source of the voice, not daring to raise their heads or use their divine sense. The voice sounded human, but they still didn't know who—or what—they were dealing with.

"We just have a few questions for you," Chen Xun said gently. "Nothing that concerns you personally. After we're done, you'll be rewarded for your trouble."

The black bull had already begun rummaging through its storage ring, looking for suitable items to offer as rewards.

Upon hearing this, Huang Shao and Dai Xinqing visibly relaxed. The danger seemed to pass, though they were still in shock. Who were these beings who could travel freely in the Heaven's End Ravine and cast spells without care?

"Elder, please ask anything. We'll answer truthfully," Huang Shao replied, bowing even lower.

"Where are you from?"

"Elder, we are both rogue cultivators... we belong to no sect."

"Hmm... I didn't mean your backgrounds. Did you come from Da Li?"

"To answer the elder, we're from Huoyuan Province," Huang Shao replied respectfully, not daring to hide anything. "This province is closest to the Heaven's End Ravine, so it saves on teleportation costs."

Dai Xinqing, drenched in cold sweat, remained silent. His usual chatter was gone, and he couldn't even muster a word.

"I see. What is this Extinguishing Spirit Artifact you mentioned? Can the Extinguishing Spirit Stones be refined?" Chen Xun asked, his eyes filled with curiosity. "If it breaks, wouldn't the Extinguishing Spirit Wind burst forth uncontrollably?"

The black bull nodded in agreement, sharing the same concerns as Chen Xun.

Huang Shao's heart sank. Could these elders not be from Da Li after all? The questions were strange, making him wonder what was really going on.

Clearing his throat, he replied, "Elder, the Extinguishing Spirit Artifact can bypass a cultivator's magical defenses and directly attack their divine sense. However, we don't know the method to forge them. Only the five great ancient immortal sects and the three ancient cultivation families possess this knowledge."

"And how much do these sell for in Da Li?" Chen Xun asked.

"An Extinguishing Spirit Stone the size of a fist sells for around 10,000 low-grade spirit stones," they both answered in unison, heads still lowered.

Suddenly!

The Extinguishing Spirit Wind outside the boat fell silent, and an oppressive, terrifying pressure filled the air. It was brief, but both cultivators felt as though they had fallen into a bottomless abyss, their faces turning pale. What kind of unimaginable power were they facing?

"E-Elder?!" Huang Shao and Dai Xinqing stammered, terrified. Their spiritual energy and divine sense froze, rendering them as helpless as mortals.

After a long pause...

"I see..." came the calm, emotionless voice. The Extinguishing Spirit Wind resumed its usual pace, gently brushing past them once more.

Huang Shao and Dai Xinqing silently swore that they had never felt the Extinguishing Spirit Wind so comforting. They almost wished it would blow even harder—anything was better than the terror they had just experienced.

Chapter 86 - 207-215 Eternal Tale

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