Nine Transformations of the True Spirit.

When Chen Yuan and his senior brother Zhang (note) returned to Qianwei City, it had changed completely.

On that day, Ao Xuan set the sky ablaze, sending down a shower of fire stars, which the Qianbu (a military unit) could not stop.

Most of Qianwei City was burned down, and a large number of palaces and buildings were destroyed. Only a few areas covered by the formation were largely preserved.

But now, less than ten days later, there is no trace of ruins left in Qianwei City. The newly built houses are tall, magnificent, and well-organized.

Only the sparser crowds in the city, several times less than usual, and the charred remains on the ground, remind one that not long ago, this magnificent city had just experienced a man-made disaster comparable to a natural catastrophe.

Compared to the vast area of ​​Qianwei City, the number of dragon people in the city is not large.

However, they possess immense strength comparable to that of demons, as well as dragon energy cultivated through practice, allowing them to move boulders or rebuild houses with astonishing speed.

Like the Ying Shan tribe, the Teng Yun realm elders in the Ying Qian tribe are also searching for traces of the demon race.

This was not only Chen Yuan's suggestion, but also because the Yingqian tribe, as one of the five major tribes of the Xuanli Realm, already had many tribes that submitted to it, paying tribute regularly in exchange for the Yingqian tribe's protection.

Yingqian tribe certainly did not want to see the dragon's breath platform of these tribes destroyed by the demon race, and their people slaughtered.

The Xuanli Realm was not large to begin with, and there were many demon generals who came to this place. Elder Yingqian quickly made some discoveries.

However, among the Yingqian troops, only Chu Weicai was confident in killing a high-ranking demon general. His escape speed was far inferior to Chen Yuan's, and he also had to take care of Qianwei City. Therefore, he had not made any progress during this period.

Before Chen Yuan arrived, Zhou Muyun had sent a message to Chu Weicai using a conch shell with the same pronunciation.

Therefore, when everyone arrived, Ying Qian treated them with great courtesy. Chu Weicai led a group of elders to personally welcome them, showing no airs of a cultivator at the Dragon Transformation Realm.

Chu Weicai was unaware that Chen Yuan was an ascended cultivator. Seeing that he had indeed brought the Tai Xuan Sect cultivators over, and that they addressed each other as fellow disciples, he became even closer to Chen Yuan.

However, Chen Yuan did not continue to hide it. Zhou Muyun already knew about it, and given his relationship with Chu Weicai, he would find out sooner or later, so it was better to tell him proactively.

However, this matter should not be publicized, so Chen Yuan asked Chu Weicai to dismiss Elder Ying Qian, leaving only Chu Ming and Wang Xuanyue.

The Tai Xuan Sect cultivators, led by the Ying Qian Department cultivators, went to their pre-arranged residences to meditate and regulate their breathing. Only Senior Brother Zhang was present.

Han Xuan divided the Tai Xuan Sect cultivators into two halves, leading one half to the Wan Yan Mountain Range, where they would have to deal with the demon race and disciples from the other two lineages and three families of cultivators. Yuan Shuheng and Senior Sister Hu accompanied him.

Only he could make Yuan Shuheng submit and dare not act recklessly.

According to Han Xuan, Senior Brother Zhang is calm and composed, so it would be good for him to stay and lend Chen Yuan a helping hand.

Chen Yuan learned from Yuan Shuheng that Senior Brother Zhang's name was Zhang Yanqing, and he was a disciple of a Void Refining Protector of Huayu Peak. More than seven hundred years ago, he had already raised his cultivation to the peak of the Divine Transformation stage.

The "Chengyuan Jingzhao Scripture" he cultivated was not considered a top-tier technique in the Tai Xuan Sect, but it excelled in its abundant true essence, rapid recovery, and continuous flow. His water-based supernatural abilities were renowned for their vastness and grandeur, making him quite formidable.

However, his strength is not among the top among the true disciples, and he has no hope of competing for a place as a Dao Seed disciple.

Therefore, he was stuck at the Nascent Soul stage for many years and never advanced to the Void Refinement stage.

However, his true essence became increasingly refined and perfected, he mastered several supernatural abilities, his combat experience became more and more seasoned, and his strength became increasingly formidable.

This trip into the Xuanli Realm to search for the True Dragon's Relic is Zhang Yanqing's last chance to break through to the Refinement Void Realm.

Almost all the Tai Xuan Sect cultivators who entered the Xuanli Realm this time were in this situation, including those from the Jade Sword Peak and the Moon Embracing Peak.

Talented geniuses like Han Xuan and Yuan Shuheng are extremely rare, like shooting stars shining brightly in the world.

Ninety-nine percent of cultivators accumulate their cultivation over time, spending thousands of years of hard work to advance to the next minor realm.

Breaking through the bottleneck and reaching a higher level is even more difficult than ascending to heaven.

These Nascent Soul cultivators, who have cultivated diligently for thousands of years, have reached the pinnacle of their Nascent Soul cultivation, but their lifespans are nearing their end.

They lack the extraordinary comprehension to directly comprehend the power of laws from the myriad phenomena of heaven and earth.

They also lacked the extraordinary opportunity to obtain a treasure containing the power of laws, and thus only gained a superficial understanding of the power of laws.

They lacked the courage to venture into those extremely dangerous places for Nascent Soul cultivators, risking their lives to directly comprehend the manifested power of the laws.

This trip to the Xuanli Realm is their last chance to break through to the Void Refinement Realm.

As long as one can make contributions, the elders of the Tai Xuan Sect will certainly not be stingy with rewards, and will also bestow pills and spiritual items that can help one break through the Void Refinement stage, greatly increasing the chances of breaking through the bottleneck.

When Han Xuan asked Zhang Yanqing to help Chen Yuanqing eliminate the demon general, he agreed without hesitation and immediately found Chen Yuan. Although he addressed Chen Yuan as his junior brother, he was extremely polite and said that he would follow Chen Yuan's lead.

However, Chen Yuan would not actually treat Zhang Yanqing with condescension, since he had only temporarily joined the Huayu Peak lineage and could not yet be considered a true Tai Xuan Sect cultivator.

Throughout the journey, he was very polite to Zhang Yanqing, always addressing him as "Senior Brother." After arriving in Qianwei City, he naturally did not avoid Zhang Yanqing and met with Chu Weicai alone.

Chen Yuan recounted his true origins, then bowed apologetically to Chu Weicai, saying, "I had no choice but to conceal some information; I hope Senior Chu will forgive me..."

When Chu Weicai and the other two learned that Chen Yuan was just an ascended cultivator with such a tortuous experience, they were all astonished.

However, having cultivated to such a level, they were all knowledgeable and experienced, and quickly returned to normal, though the surprise in their eyes lingered for a long time.

Chu Weicai gave Chen Yuan a deep look: "Young friend Chen, you flatter me. You are a cultivator of the Tai Xuan Sect, and the Tai Xuan Sect is a major sect in the Spirit Realm. What you said is all true and there is nothing wrong with it."

Zhang Yanqing smiled and said, "Senior Chu is absolutely right. Junior Brother Chen has already joined our sect. We are just waiting for the elder to arrive so that he can be truly accepted as a disciple."

"Currently, the demon race is rampaging through the Xuanli Realm, extremely vicious and ruthless, slaughtering the dragon-human tribes. We must not allow them to run rampant."

"Senior Brother Han and Senior Zhou have already gone to the Ten Thousand Flame Mountains to prevent the demon race from entering the True Dragon Cave first."

"We have come on the orders of Senior Brother Han, precisely to lend Senior Chu a hand in eliminating the Demon General."

Chu Weicai said, "You young friends have come at the right time. This elder is busy rebuilding Qianwei City and has no time to spare to search for the Demon General's whereabouts."

"Even if we find the Demon General's whereabouts, I am too busy to stop him in time."

"Since your sect's cultivators have been fighting against the demon race for many years, you must have the means to find traces of the demon race."

"Chu Ming, later take out a few conch shells from the tribal treasury and give them to these young friends."

"Yes," Chu Ming immediately agreed.

Zhang Yanqing expressed his gratitude, noting that the homophonous conch shells were extremely rare, and these conch shells refined by the Dragon People tribe were the result of years of accumulation.

The Yingshan tribe, residing inland, had entrusted the stored conch shells to Han Xuan, Yuan Shuheng, and others, and they were now exhausted.

Qianwei City was built by the sea, and the Yingqian tribe possessed the most homophonous conch shells among the five major tribes, enough to supply Zhang Yanqing and the other four Tai Xuan Sect cultivators. As a Mahayana sect, the Tai Xuan Sect naturally had no shortage of means to transmit sound over long distances.

However, the Xuanli Realm is filled with dragon energy, and the Tai Xuan Sect's sound transmission methods, which are based on spiritual energy, are not very effective.

Since conch shells can transmit sound over a greater distance and can also determine the approximate location, Zhang Yanqing readily agreed.

Chen Yuan said, "The Yingshan tribe has already evacuated Tielin City to prevent them from being attacked by the demon race after we leave."

"After Elder Yingshan settles his people, he will come to Qianwei City to help us eliminate the demon general. Please make preparations in advance."

Chu Weicai looked surprised: "The Yingshan tribe has abandoned the Dragon Breath Platform in the Ironclad Mountains?"

Chen Yuan said, "This is just a temporary measure. The Demon General is too strong. Without the protection of a Dragon Transformation Realm cultivator, we Tai Xuan Sect cultivators cannot stay in Tie Lin City indefinitely. If the Ying Shan tribe stays, it will only increase the risk."

Chu Weicai pondered for a long time before looking at Chu Ming: "Give the order to stop rebuilding Qianwei City and prepare for relocation. Three days later, the entire clan will leave Qianwei City."

Chu Ming's expression changed: "Elder, isn't this a bit too hasty?"

"Moreover, it is only when Senior Zhou goes to the Wanyan Mountains that the Yingshan tribe needs to relocate. The main tribe has a Supreme Elder in charge, so why should it abandon the Dragon Breath Platform?"

Chu Weicai solemnly said, "When the human and demon races are fighting, no dragon tribe can remain uninvolved."

"The True Dragon Cave is of utmost importance. Although we will stay behind to eliminate the demon general, we will eventually have to head to the Ten Thousand Flame Mountains."

"Most of the elders from this headquarters will also go together to fight against the demon race."

"There are a large number of demon generals entering the Xuanli Realm, and it is hard to guarantee that no one will be missed. If they take advantage of the situation, it will be too late to regret it."

"Although the Dragon Breath Platform in the Beichen Mountains is the foundation of our tribe, the dragon energy within it is becoming increasingly thin. How can it compare to the lives of 100,000 tribesmen?"

Chu Ming was still somewhat reluctant, but he changed his mind and said, "I understand. I will make the arrangements later and will not delay."

Wang Xuan Yue, standing to the side, spoke up with a solemn expression: "Our Cangnan region was almost attacked by the demon race before, but fortunately Fellow Daoist Chen saved us. However, we cannot be careless."

"I need to return to Tushan City and lead my clan to migrate to a remote place for a while."

After he left Tushan City, he used the homophonous snail to send a message to the elders of Cangnan, and Tushan City remained safe and sound.

But Chen Yuan's words reminded him that the demon race was destroying Dragon Breath Platforms and slaughtering dragon tribes everywhere. Without Wang Xuan Yue in charge, Cangnan was even more dangerous and could not be ignored.

Chu Weicai readily agreed: "Young friend Wang may go, but please return immediately after the matter is over."

"If the situation changes, I will have Chu Ming send a message via a conch shell."

Wang Xuanyue immediately agreed, stood up, clasped her hands in a salute to everyone, and turned to walk quickly out of the stone hall.

After arriving in Qianwei City, he left the mark of the Yingqian tribe on the conch shell, which allowed them to communicate with each other.

After Wang Xuanyue left, Chen Yuan said again, "Could you please ask the senior to contact the other three major tribes and tell them the truth about the demon race's invasion of Xuanli Realm?"

"And I ask the other three seniors to join us in fighting against the demon race."

Chu Weicai frowned: "Is this your idea, young friend, or that young friend Han's?"

Chen Yuan's eyes flashed, and he said, "Before leaving Iron Frost City, Senior Brother Han and I discussed this matter carefully, and we were of the same mind."

Chu Weicai had just been extremely decisive, abandoning the Dragon Breath Platform and Qianwei City in the Beichen Mountains, and the entire tribe was to be relocated elsewhere.

But now, Chen Yuan was only proposing to unite with the other three major tribes, and he hesitated: "This matter needs to be considered carefully. Young friend, you may not know this, but there has never been a lack of conflict among the five major tribes, and we Dragon Transformation Realm cultivators also have our own grudges..."

Chu Ming added from the side, "There have been frequent conflicts between my Yingqian tribe and Yingmo tribe, but because we both have Dragon Transformation Realm experts in charge, we haven't gone to war."

"But over tens of thousands of years, several cultivators at the Cloud Ascension Realm have died at each other's hands."

"Countless cultivators at the Manifestation Realm and Blood Condensation Realm have died in battle, making it impossible for them to join forces against the enemy."

"We don't need to join forces with them. Now that your sect's cultivators have entered the Xuanli Realm, along with the Chonghua Sect, Xuanji Sect, and Wei Family cultivators, you have a large and powerful force."

"Ao Xuan has already died at the hands of Fellow Daoist Chen, and more than a dozen demon generals have lost their lives in succession."

"Since we already have the upper hand and victory is assured, why bother with unnecessary actions that would only introduce more variables?"

Chu Weicai stroked his beard and nodded, clearly agreeing with this statement.

He didn't want to join forces with other tribes, not only because of the existing conflicts among the five major tribes, but also because he didn't want the other three Dragon Transformation Realm cultivators to get involved and share the benefits.

Chen Yuan said solemnly, "Fellow Daoist Chu, you are mistaken. The battle for the True Dragon Cave is related to the rise and fall of the Dragon People and the lives of us human cultivators. We cannot be careless in the slightest."

"Even a lion uses its full strength to hunt a rabbit. We should be prudent in our assessment of the enemy and gather the strength of the five major tribes to deal with the demon race. Only then can we be absolutely certain of success."

"Moreover, although the demon race is bloodthirsty, they are not without intelligence and will not indiscriminately slaughter the dragon people tribe."

“They certainly won’t show any mercy to those weaker dragon tribes.”

"But if they learn of the existence of a cultivator at the Dragon Transformation Realm, the demon race, which has always valued strength, will most likely seek to join forces with him."

"After all, the Demon Burning Realm has always been at a disadvantage in front of the Spirit Realm, and would never dare to underestimate the strength of our human cultivators."

"If we do not fight for them, it will be tantamount to pushing them towards the demon race. I urge you, senior, to see this clearly."

Chu Weicai seemed to be persuaded by Chen Yuan. After pondering for a long time, he asked, "Young friend Chen is right. I will send someone to Yingtian and Yingmang tribes to contact Feng Zhiheng and Zhou Lang and persuade them to fight against the demon race together."

"But Zhuang Buhui and I have fought several times, and we have a deep grudge."

"This person is selfish and will definitely not agree to join forces with us, so there's no need to waste our time."

Having been in the Xuanli Realm for so long, Chen Yuan had long been acquainted with Wang Xuan Yue, Chu Ming, Lin Huai, and others. He already knew the names of the five cultivators at the Dragon Transformation Realm and the grudges between the five tribes.

However, he did not agree with Chu Weicai's words and shook his head: "Zhuang Buhui may not agree, but senior should still send someone to Yingmo Department, but you must be careful."

"If Zhuang Buhui can consider the overall situation, that would be the best outcome."

"Even if he doesn't agree, if he can stay out of it, the demon race will lose a great help."

"If their reaction is unusual, they have most likely already sided with the demon race, and we can take precautions in advance."

Chu Weicai was finally persuaded by Chen Yuan and nodded slightly: "Young friend Chen has considered everything carefully, so I will follow your advice." (End of this chapter)