Immortality and Cultivation: I Have Too Many Talents

Chapter 604 Half-Step Divine Power (Seeking Subscriptions)
A month later, Shen Xuan led the right wing of the expeditionary force back to the Qingyun Sect.

The Mysterious Immortal came to greet them.

Master Tianlei and Master Zixia followed closely behind, expressing their gratitude.

This time, the central army of the Yan State expeditionary force suffered heavy losses.

Of the more than two thousand disciples, eight hundred perished.

Among them were three Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Most people sustained injuries of varying degrees.

Some even suffered setbacks in their subsequent cultivation, leading to the severing of their spiritual path.

These are all elites from sects and affiliated cultivation families.

The Qingyun Sect suffered considerable losses this time.

Fortunately, Shen Xuan arrived in time to help and repel the demons Niu Dali and Ding Chunhua.

Otherwise, the consequences will be disastrous.

Master Tianlei and Master Zixia bowed repeatedly in gratitude, each leaving a gift as a token of their appreciation.

The Purple Cloud Immortal left behind a piece of Purple Dragon Spirit Jade.

It is said to be formed from the essence of a true dragon and its energy.

It is a rare Tier 3 auxiliary spiritual artifact.
The jade is light purple, crystal clear, and its shape is a divine dragon surrounded by auspicious clouds, lifelike and full of spiritual energy.

This kind of auxiliary spiritual artifact, when carried with you, can not only ward off evil and bring good fortune, but also increase your luck and enhance your understanding.

What Master Tianlei left behind was a section of Thunder Sound Bamboo over seven feet long.

Over a thousand years old, reaching the middle grade of the third rank, it is a superior material for refining lightning-attribute spiritual weapons.

Master Tianlei and Master Zixia exchanged a few pleasantries before politely taking their leave.

The Mysterious Master met with Shen Xuan alone to inform him of the follow-up matters.

After he left.

Master Lingjian and Master Tianfeng arrived just in time.

At that time, the demons broke up tens of thousands of demon soldiers and scattered them throughout the Yan Kingdom.

Two Golden Core cultivators from the Qingyun Sect joined forces to fight back, finding the demon clan's Niu Dali and Ding Chunhua, and engaged in fierce battles for several days.

Niu Dali was no match for Lingjian Zhenren and was severely injured, so he fled alone.

Ding Chunhua used some kind of phantom magic technique to abandon her physical body and disappear into the shadows.

"Senior Brother Lingjian and Senior Brother Tianfeng, you failed to capture these two demon leaders?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Xuan found it unbelievable.

He had fought against Niu Dali and Ding Chunhua.

These two may have some tricks up their sleeves.

However, in the Xuan Yuan Realm, he could not possibly be a match for Lingjian Zhenren or Tianfeng Zhenren.

The Mysterious Master smiled slightly and offered no explanation.

Shen Xuan understood.

Things are not as simple as they seem.

The demonic tide is mentioned in many places in cultivation classics.

Various magical beasts are also described.

However, there are very few records of demons.

Demons have always been arrogant.

If they were to seize the Xuan Yuan Realm, they would certainly not hold back and would have launched a full-scale invasion long ago.

Right now, simply driving away monsters and smuggling low-level demon soldiers is not a sure thing.

"What truly determines the outcome of a war is the highest level of combat power on both sides."

"Even if a powerful demon descends into the Xuan Yuan Realm, his strength will be limited, and he may not be able to defeat the powerful human beings in this realm."

"If that's the case, why did the demons still send demonic beasts and demonic soldiers here? Isn't that redundant?"

"Why haven't the True Lords of the Yan Kingdom's sects made a move? Are they truly unable to seal the passage to the Demon Realm?"

These questions lingered in Shen Xuan's mind, leaving him unable to find a solution.

He directly asked the mysterious master.

"The demons are merely testing the waters, Junior Brother Xuanbing, do not worry."

"This kind of thing has happened countless times over thousands of years."

The Qingyun Sect captured many demon soldiers to establish their foundations.

After the soul-searching interrogation, a general understanding of the matter was obtained.

The Mysterious Master told him that Niu Dali and Ding Chunhua came from the Golden Spirit Clan of the Demon Realm.

The Demon Realm has thousands of races.

The Golden Spirit Clan is just one of the medium-level demonic sects.

It is said that thousands of years ago, the various demon races in the demon realm divided up their territories.

The five kingdoms of Yan, Song, Liang, Lu, and Yue were assigned to the Jinling tribe.

In other words, all the cultivators and mortals in these five countries are servants of the Golden Spirit Clan.

"If there's a demon realm, then what about a spirit realm?"

Shen Xuan asked.

Most cultivators in the Xuan Yuan Realm are spiritual cultivators.

Ascending to the Spirit Realm is the true path for them, the spiritual cultivators of the Xuan Yuan Realm.

However, the answer from the mysterious master left him unable to calm down for a long time.

The Spirit Realm and the Xuan Yuan Realm have been separated for ten thousand years.

In these ten thousand years, not a single cultivator from the Xuan Yuan Realm has been able to ascend to the Spirit Realm.

Within the Xuan Yuan Realm, there are various demonic spaces and passageways.

However, they never discovered a spirit world space or a spirit world passage.

The Xuan Yuan Realm is inherently resource-scarce, with narrow avenues for advancement among cultivators, leading to fierce competition.

We can only follow the natural law of survival of the fittest and the strong preying on the weak.

In the entire Xuan Yuan Realm, only the Tian Yuan Sect of the Jin Kingdom has a Supreme Elder who is a Nascent Soul cultivator.

In other countries, even powerful ones like Qin, Zhao, and Wei, the Supreme Elders were still Nascent Soul True Monarchs.

Of the six patriarchs of the Song state, nine were Nascent Soul True Lords.

The three, Zifeng Zhenjun and Jinhua Zhenjun of Xuantian Sect, and Guangxian Zhenjun of Jinyang Sect, are all in the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm.

The other six, including Qingyun Zhenjun of the Qingyun Sect, are all at the early stage of the Nascent Soul realm.

In the demon realm.

Even within the Jinling Clan, a mid-level demon race, all its elders, hall masters, young masters, and young ladies are at the Demon Infant Realm.

Equivalent to the Demonic Infant Ancestor of the Liang Kingdom's Demonic Sect.

In the Golden Spirit Clan, the clan leader and several senior elders were already at the Demon Transformation Realm many years ago.

It is the same as the Nascent Soul Realm of human cultivators.

The strength of the Jinling Clan is greater than that of all the sects in the five kingdoms of Yan, Liang, Song, Lu, and Yue combined.

If it weren't for the restrictions imposed by the rules of the Xuan Yuan Realm.

The Golden Spirit Clan could easily wipe out all the cultivator sects in the five kingdoms.

"The Golden Spirit Clan drove away the demonic beasts and demonic soldiers, intending to defile the Xuan Yuan Realm, allowing the demonic beasts and demonic soldiers to take root here, multiply and survive, and transform this realm into a small demon realm to facilitate their future actions."

"However, we have long seen through the Golden Spirit Clan's intentions. This time, our four sects joined forces to wipe out the demonic beasts and quell the demonic tide. They cannot stir up any trouble."

"Illusory Master said with full confidence."

In his view, the four sects joined forces to extinguish the demonic tide in Yan, a remarkable achievement.

This probing attempt by the Golden Spirit Clan of the Demon Realm, as in the past, ended in complete failure.

Shen Xuan glanced at the smug look on the face of the Mysterious Master, but said nothing more.

He wasn't as optimistic as the real person who was lost in the mystery.

It is human nature to seek advantage and avoid harm.

If magical beasts and demonic soldiers can bring benefits to cultivators.

Many monks would cooperate with them.

Within the Xuan Yuan Realm, there are many places with harsh environments and few inhabitants, unsuitable for cultivators to live in.

The monsters and demon soldiers, however, were able to survive.

Where there is life, there is always a way.

Natural selection, survival of the fittest.

These surviving magical beasts and soldiers will continue to evolve after adapting to the environment and ensuring the survival of their species.

The earliest cultivators were transformed from ordinary mortals who practiced slash-and-burn agriculture.

However, the cultivators of today are high above and have long forgotten this history.

They wouldn't even give ordinary people a second glance.

Shen Xuan did not explain these principles to the Mysterious Master.

Even if he explained this kind of prior knowledge, the natives like the Lost Traces Master wouldn't be able to understand it.

"Therefore, the actions of the Golden Spirit Clan may not be in vain. Many places in the Yan Kingdom have been defiled by demonic energy and are no longer suitable for human cultivators to live in."

"Some cultivators with ulterior motives secretly colluded with the demon race in order to enhance their own strength and practiced various demonic techniques."

"Most of the high-ranking members of the Liang Kingdom's Demonic Sect stand on the side of the Xuan Yuan Realm. However, some mid- to low-level demonic cultivators are easily swayed by the allure of lifespan and strength, and are prone to side with the demons."

Shen Xuan thought to himself.

The Golden Spirit Clan is eyeing the Xuan Yuan Realm with predatory intent, making long-term preparations for a full-scale invasion.

There are definitely more than just one Golden Spirit Clan member in the Demon Realm who thinks this way.

As long as you persevere.

The Xuan Yuan Realm will inevitably be tainted by demonic energy.

"Further words are pointless. We should focus on improving our own strength as soon as possible."

Because of their differing philosophies, even if Shen Xuan were to speak his mind, the higher-ups of the sects in the Xuan Yuan Realm would not agree.

Even now, they still harbor illusions about the demon race.

The powerful human beings, adhering to the rules, did not harm the demonic beasts or demon soldiers.

Only Core Formation Real Persons and True Core Demon Lords were dispatched.

Even the passage to the Demon Realm wasn't completely destroyed.

Shen Xuan couldn't believe that the Nascent Soul True Monarchs of the major sects didn't even have this much ability.

It's not that we can't, but that we choose not to.

They did not want to give the demons an excuse to invade.

This is the truth behind the rampant demonic tide!

……

Shen Xuan returned to Starshine Island and devoted himself to cultivation.

He made a strong impression by leading the team on this expedition.

This also confirms the rumors that Xuanbing Zhenren's combat strength is above that of Tianlei Zhenren.

Master Xuanbing protected the right army, rushed to the aid of the central army, and defeated the two demon leaders.

Many aristocratic families and vassal families of the Qingyun Sect are grateful to Shen Xuan.

Shen Xuan didn't take it to heart.

He never thought that these so-called connections were that important.

As long as you are strong, all kinds of connections will follow.

Now, he's on the Golden Spirit Clan's blacklist.

If I'm not mistaken, Jin Zhijian, the young master of the Jinling Clan, is at the Demon Infant Realm.

The Golden Spirit Clan is a powerful force, and there are even beings at the Demon Transformation Realm.

Fortunately, they dared not easily descend upon the Xuan Yuan Realm.

Damage to one's strength will not only affect cultivation.

There is even a risk of being executed by the Heavenly Dao of this realm.

"No matter how powerful the Golden Spirit Clan is, they cannot cross realms to hunt me down."

"What can these little shrimps do to me?"

Shen Xuan wasn't too worried about this.

According to his understanding, as long as his body-refining technique breaks through to the Divine Power Realm, he can achieve this.

Even if a powerful demon descends upon the Xuan Yuan Realm, he cannot do anything about it.

During this trip, Shen Xuan obtained tens of thousands of black-eyed three-headed demon wolf corpses.

Both are of the fire element.

That wolf king was a mid-grade third-tier wolf.

There are also dozens of demonic wolves, which have reached the second tier.

These wolf carcasses are excellent nutrients for the Treasure Gourd Spirit Vine and the Frosty Soul Tea Tree.

Wolf skin and wolf teeth are excellent materials for refining weapons.

Now, everything on Star Island is on track.

In the trade with the demon race in the desolate wilderness, he alone can earn millions of spirit stones in profit every year.

There are also the profits from alchemists making talismans.

Shen Xuan is wealthy and has a considerable number of captured magical artifacts and weapons.

It is enough to support the expenses of spiritual practice for a long time.

There's absolutely no need to go out and take risks.

After returning to Starshine Island, Shen Xuan continued to refine the Demon Dragon Core, focused all his efforts on cultivating the [Dragon Blood Boiling] technique, and refined the Ice Soul Spirit Crystal.

Two demon cores and three reverse scales are enough to sustain three years of cultivation.

Demon Lord Wanmeng is still collecting such treasures for him.

Shen Xuan also extended an invitation to the Thousand-Eyed Demon Lord, offering to purchase the third-tier divine dragon descendant spirit item at a high price.

Now, the states of Song and Liang have ceased hostilities and formed an alliance.

The petty grudge between Shen Xuan and the Thousand-Eyed Demon Lord is insignificant in the face of the transaction value.

The Thousand-Eyed Demon Lord readily agreed and was willing to serve him.

……

Three years later.

In the secret room, Shen Xuan slowly opened his eyes.

On the mysterious jade talisman.

【Shouyuan: 191/1095】

【Dragon Blood Boiling Perfection (3200/3200)】

【Ice Soul Rebirth Mastery (18/400)】

【Daoyun: 2082286】

Looking at the shimmering golden characters on the mysterious jade talisman.

Shen Xuan breathed a long sigh of relief.

Over the past three years, he has diligently studied and practiced, refining two demon cores and three reverse scales, finally pushing the [Dragon Blood Boiling] technique to its ultimate perfection.

As he expected, once he reached the bottleneck, he could not break through using only the reverse scale of a common demonic dragon's core.

Diligent study and hard work are even less effective.

Even if you obtain another Frost Dragon and refine [Dragon Blood Boiling] again, it won't have much effect.

Ultimately, it comes down to not being of high enough rank.

Foundation Building Pills are made primarily from the cores of second-tier demonic beasts to help cultivators in the Qi Refining Realm break through to the next level.

Shen Xuan estimated that to break through to the Divine Power Realm using body-refining techniques, one would need the essence blood and reverse scale of a fourth-order divine dragon descendant.

At the same time, his physical strength needs to be further enhanced.

Only then can one withstand the immense pressure of a breakthrough.

"So, I'm now at the half-step Divine Power Realm?"

Shen Xuan stared thoughtfully at the data on the mysterious jade talisman.

(End of this chapter)