Immortality and cultivation begin with full comprehension.

Chapter 788 Re-entering the North, Forging an Enmity with the Xuanbing Palace (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

"allow!"

"The necessary resources shall be drawn first from the share allocated to this seat and the secret treasury for war preparations."

"The Supreme Elder Xuan Yezi of the 'Heavenly Craft Hall' and the Supreme Elder Xuan Jizi of the 'Seven Star Peak' are fully responsible for completing the upgrade within three years."

After a moment's thought, Li Yunjing picked up his pen and wrote: "If successful, reward handsomely; if delayed, punish severely."

As the brush touched the paper, thunder patterns appeared spontaneously, and the decree was instantly formed.

The second document is a briefing on the first battle of the "Conquest Hall".

Led by a Nascent Soul Grand Elder, they wiped out a newly discovered demonic lair ten thousand miles northwest of the mountain gate, reaping considerable gains, but at the cost of several Golden Core disciples being seriously injured and one person dying.

"The results of the battle are known; those who have made contributions will be rewarded, and their families will receive generous compensation."

"However, casualties should not be judged solely by numbers."

“The ‘Conquest Hall’ should summarize the gains and losses of this battle, refine the reconnaissance, joint attack, and defense procedures, and submit a detailed report.”

Li Yunjing frowned slightly and picked up his pen: "Next time we go to war, I want to see less cost and greater results."

The third report was an urgent intelligence report from the "Patrol Hall": an unusually dense fluctuation of demonic energy had been detected in the border area of ​​the Southern Wilderness, suggesting that a large demonic lair was forming or that there were signs of instability in the spatial rift.

Upon seeing this intelligence report, Li Yunjing's expression became extremely serious.

"The disturbances in the southern wilderness are likely no small matter."

He tapped his fingertips on the table, pondered for a moment, and then directly communicated with a certain being sitting in the sect's forbidden area through divine sense: "I trouble you to personally go and investigate the truth. If it can be done, then sweep the place with lightning speed; if it cannot be done, then report back immediately."

An ancient divine thought, imbued with terrifying lightning power, responded calmly: "As you command!"

After finishing these urgent matters, the sky outside the window was already full of stars.

Li Yunjing slowly stood up, walked to the window, and gazed at the cultivation lights below that dotted the peaks like thousands of lights, as well as the energy fluctuations of the "Myriad Manifestations Demon Refining Tower" faintly emanating from the darkness in the distance. His gaze was profound.

Holding the reins of power is as weighty as a mountain.

Every command concerns the rise and fall of the sect, and even the fate of billions of lives.

He cannot afford to be negligent in the slightest.

A moment later, he turned back to the table and picked up another jade slip.

The light on the desk never went out until dawn.

The decrees he approved were quickly disseminated through the sect system, and each peak and hall did their utmost in accordance with the orders.

The entire Shenxiao Dao Sect was like a sophisticated and massive war machine, operating efficiently under the guidance of the sect leader's decree.

Upon receiving the imperial decree, Tiangong Hall and Qixing Peak immediately lit up their rooms, with the flames of their forging furnaces and the light of their array runes burning all night long.

The Supreme Elders Xuan Yezi and Xuan Jizi personally oversaw the operation, with tens of thousands of disciples, stewards, and elders busy at their respective posts. A vast amount of rare materials were being allocated, smelted, and inscribed in an orderly manner.

Upgrading the "Nine Heavens Thunderfire Demon Refining Array" was an enormous project, but no one dared to complain in the slightest. Everyone understood the significance of this array for the future of the sect.

The atmosphere inside the "Hall of Conquest" was solemn.

The compensation for the fallen disciples was delivered to their respective mountain peaks or families immediately, and the rewards were also distributed swiftly.

The Palace Master personally summoned all the Golden Core cultivators and above who participated in the first cleanup operation to repeatedly rehearse the battle process and analyze every detail.

New reconnaissance protocols, squad-based attack tactics, and priority deployment plans for protective magical artifacts were quickly formulated and deployed for drills at the fastest possible speed.

A more refined and cautious aura gathered in the "Conquest Hall".

The ancient being from the forbidden area whom Li Yunjing had secretly contacted had already quietly left the "Divine Firmament Mountain Range," like thunder merging into the night, silently heading towards the southern border to investigate the source of that unsettling demonic energy.

Li Yunjing himself continued to bury himself in the side hall of the "Purple Cloud Palace".

The jade slips still piled up like mountains, covering topics such as resource allocation, disciple training, relationships with affiliated forces, communication with other righteous sects, and analysis of signs of demonic disasters in various regions...

The task was extremely complex, yet of paramount importance.

His divine sense was incredibly powerful, and his processing speed far exceeded that of ordinary people, but he still felt that time was of the essence.

The position of the Supreme Master of the Shenxiao Dao Sect is not as comfortable as one might imagine. His shoulders are full of responsibilities, and there is no time for leisure.
During this period, Li Yunjing didn't even have time to cultivate.

A few days later, a reply regarding Wen Bin and Liao Wanqing was presented through a trusted elder.

In the jade letter, Wen Bin's handwriting remained as free and unrestrained as ever, but his tone was more solemn and emotional. He expressed his deep honor and said that once the affairs in Donghai were settled, he would definitely go to the "Shenxiao Mountain Range" with Liao Wanqing to visit and reminisce.

Liao Wanqing then added a piece of elegant handwriting to express her gratitude and briefly mentioned the recent situation in the East China Sea. Her words expressed admiration for Li Yunjing's achievements, but also revealed a subtle sense of distance due to the difference in their cultivation levels.

After reading it, Li Yunjing simply smiled and put the jade slip away.

It is a good thing that old friends have not become distant.

As for that slight sense of distance, it's only natural, and there will be ways to resolve it when we meet.

His gaze returned to the desk, where another new urgent report had appeared.

Another tip from the "Patrol Hall".

On the edge of the northern ice plains, several mortal kingdoms simultaneously reported large-scale incidents of "livestock mutations and villagers going mad." Local minor sects were at a loss and suspected that there was a very subtle demonic energy at play, but the source was difficult to trace.

"Demonic energy... has it already begun to infiltrate the mortal realm?"

Li Yunjing tapped his fingers lightly on the table, his eyes sharp as knives.

This is not an isolated incident.

Combining the unusual activity in the southern wilderness with the strange phenomena reported sporadically from various places, a picture of undercurrents gradually became clear in his mind.

The shadow of a great calamity is spreading from every corner at an unexpected speed.

"Order: 'Heavenly Medicine Peak' shall immediately increase the production of 'Heart-Clearing and Demon-Dispelling Pills' and give priority to supplying border regions and affiliated mortal kingdoms."

"Order 'Wanfu Peak' to expedite the production of low-level 'Exorcism Talismans' and 'Dust Purification Talismans,' reduce costs, and make them available for exchange at low prices in mortal towns."

"Notice to all affiliated sects and families, and the Dynasty: Be on high alert, form patrol teams, and report any suspected demonic incidents immediately, and request sect support if necessary."

A series of instructions were issued quickly.

These measures can only delay, not eradicate.

The real test is yet to come.

However, Li Yunjing could not stand idly by while problems arose in the mortal realm.

He stood up and walked to the window again.

In the distance, the energy fluctuations in the direction of the "Myriad Manifestations Demon Refining Tower" seemed to be more intense than usual.

The more demons are suppressed and refined within the tower, the more powerful the energy they emit becomes. This is a good thing for the sect, but it is also necessary to be vigilant at all times to prevent accidents from happening.

“Power…we need even greater power.”

Li Yunjing muttered to himself.

Not only does he personally need to improve, but the entire sect, and even all forces that can be united, need to become as strong as possible before the catastrophe fully erupts.

He recalled Zhu Wanyun, Fu Chao, Ma Xingyuan, Wen Bin, Liao Wanqing, and the affiliated forces that had just been allowed to raise their power limits.

These pieces have been placed, but whether they can play a key role in future games requires time and resources.

A moment later, he returned to his desk and took out a specially made golden jade slip.

This is a "Jade Slip of Inheritance" that only the sect leader can use. It contains the insights and speculations of past masters on breaking through to the Nascent Soul Realm, as well as some of the sect's most core secrets and taboo knowledge.

His cultivation had reached the first level of the Nascent Soul realm, and he was only one step away from the second level. However, this step was more difficult than cultivating several minor realms before.

Li Yunjing's foundation was exhausted, and he no longer had many pills to support him. It would not be easy for him to achieve perfect magic power, perfect divine sense, perfect divine body, and have his essence, energy, and spirit all at their peak.

He can break through now!
However, when one is not at their peak, their inherent strength will be depleted, affecting their foundation.

Every breakthrough Li Yunjing makes requires him to reach the pinnacle of progress and become the best in the world!

Li Yunjing would not allow anyone in the first level of the Nascent Soul realm to be more powerful than him!

This is the bottom line!

Even if it means sacrificing cultivation speed, we cannot cross the bottom line!
Of course, Li Yunjing also yearns for improvement in his cultivation level; he needs a balance before he chooses to break through.

At this critical juncture when the demonic calamity is imminent, if he can take this step, his combat power will greatly increase, and the sect will have more protection.

"Perhaps... the only way is to find another way."

Li Yunjing's gaze deepened, and his fingertips unconsciously traced the jade slip.

He thought of the near-infinite energy of the "Myriad Manifestations Demon Refining Tower," and even of the fragment of the "Divine Firmament World-Destroying Thunder Scripture," which was hailed as a taboo of the sect, possessing immense power yet also extreme danger.

The risks are extremely high, but the rewards are equally enormous.

Just as he was deep in thought, a respectful announcement came from outside the hall: "Reporting to the Supreme Master, Elder Xuan Yezi of the 'Heavenly Craft Hall' and Elder Xuan Jizi of the 'Seven Star Peak' have come to see you together to discuss the upgrade of the great formation and have important matters to report."

Li Yunjing composed himself and put away the golden jade slip.

"Xuan!"

The two Supreme Elders strode into the hall, their expressions a mixture of excitement and solemnity.

"Your Excellency, the core materials needed for the upgrade of the grand formation, 'Nine Nether Profound Crystal' and 'Solar Refined Gold,' have been consumed far beyond expectations, and the reserves are severely depleted."

Xuan Yezi spoke first, his tone urgent, "Especially the 'Nine Nether Mystic Crystal,' which may only be produced in the Ten Thousand Year Mystic Ice Cave deep in the far north ice plains, but the environment there is extreme and powerful ice demons reside there, making mining extremely difficult and time-consuming!"

Xuanji Zi added, "'Sun Essence Gold' requires a place of extreme yang energy, absorbing the sunlight of a thousand years to condense even a trace... Time, what we lack most is time!"

Upon hearing this, Li Yunjing frowned.

This is exactly what he feared most!
Resource bottleneck.

Without sufficient resources, even the most perfect plan is just empty talk.

"I already know the whereabouts of the 'Nine Nether Mystic Crystal'."

He pondered for a moment, a resolute glint in his eyes: "I will personally find a solution."

"As for 'Sun Essence'..."

He turned his gaze to Xuanjizi, "Order the 'Dan Ding Hall' to open the 'Gathering Yang Cauldron,' gather all disciples and elders who cultivate pure Yang techniques, and have them work day and night in shifts to infuse true essence and accelerate the condensation! Double the supply of the necessary pills!"

This is a clumsy method, which is time-consuming and labor-intensive, but it is currently the only way to speed up the process.

Upon hearing this, the two elders were first startled, then bowed and said, "Yes, sir!"

They understood that the sect leader was willing to go to any lengths to achieve his goals.

After the two elders withdrew, Li Yunjing slowly sat back down behind the desk.

The far north ice sheet...

The environment there is harsh, and it is within the sphere of influence of the "Mysterious Ice Palace"!

The relationship between the "Shenxiao Dao Sect" and the "Xuanbing Palace" is extremely poor; several Xuanbing Palace True Persons have died at the hands of Li Yunjing. In addition, the "Shenxiao Dao Sect" has cooperated with the Xiao family of the "Luofu Continent" to send a group of experts there using an ultra-long-distance teleportation array.

The goal is to one day form an alliance with the Xiao family, attack from both sides, and destroy the "Xuanbing Palace".

This plan was originally suspended due to the demonic calamity, but now it seems it will be forced to start again?

He glanced at the report on the mortal kingdoms of the Northern Regions on his desk, and then thought about the predicament of scarce resources.

It seems necessary to make the trip myself.

He took a deep breath, and with a slight thought, sent a command into the forbidden area.

"I will be leaving the mountain for a few days. The affairs of the sect will be decided by you all for the time being. If there is any emergency, you can contact me through the 'Divine Firmament Token'."

Having arranged everything, Li Yunjing quietly disappeared from the "Purple Cloud Palace" without alerting anyone.

The next moment, a tiny, almost imperceptible purple bolt of lightning tore through the clouds and shot straight toward the northern horizon at incredible speed.

Li Yunjing's figure merged into the Nine Heavens Gale, his body surrounded by purple lightning, pushing his speed to the limit.

His Nascent Soul Realm cultivation, combined with the profound mysteries of the Thunder Escape Technique, allowed him to fly at speeds far exceeding those of his peers, almost to the point of instantaneous teleportation.

Even his personal vehicle, the "Sky Patrol Ship," couldn't travel as fast as Li Yunjing at full speed.

The mountains and rivers below receded rapidly, gradually transforming from the beautiful and serene "Shenxiao Mountains" into the desolate and vast northern landscape, and the temperature dropped sharply.

What would take ordinary cultivators months or even years to travel was covered in a single day by his unrestrained flight, and an endless ice field came into view.

The far north ice sheet!

The world seemed to be filled with only white and blue hues, and the cold wind was like a knife, scraping to the bone and eroding the soul.

The thin spiritual energy was mixed with an ancient and unchanging extreme cold, enough to cause the magic power of a Golden Core cultivator to stagnate.

This is a remote and desolate place, serving as a buffer zone between the "Shenxiao Dao Sect" and the "Xuanbing Palace".

Returning to this familiar place, Li Yunjing concealed his aura and landed atop a majestic ice peak. His divine sense, like an invisible tide, cautiously spread outwards.

His primary goal is to find the "Nine Netherworld Crystal".

This item was born deep within the Mysterious Ice Cave, imbued with the extremely cold and yin energy. It is a top-tier spiritual material of the utmost yin and coldness, and is also a strategic resource that the "Mysterious Ice Palace" strictly guards and never allows to leave the palace.

"The Xuanbing Palace..."

Li Yunjing's gaze turned slightly cold.

The two sects have a long-standing feud, and when their disciples meet outside, they often fight to the death.

Although he did not want to cause any unnecessary trouble on this trip, he would not mind adding a few more blood debts if the other party obstructed him.

With a sweep of his divine sense, he quickly located several locations deep within the icy plains where spiritual energy was fluctuating abnormally.

In one particular spot, the chilling aura was especially pure and intense, and there were traces of an array concealing it.

"That's it."

A flash of purple lightning, and the figure vanished once more.

A moment later, Li Yunjing appeared at the edge of a huge glacial crevasse.

The crack was bottomless, and a chilling aura emanated from it, forming a visible white mist.

At the entrance to the rift, a concealed and protective ice array was set up. The array was exquisite and exuded the unique magical imprint of the "Mystic Ice Palace".

"Humph!"

Li Yunjing snorted coldly, but did not forcefully break the formation. Instead, he condensed a barely perceptible purple lightning bolt at his fingertips.

Thunder magic is extremely yang and strong, and it is also the ultimate power to dispel falsehoods and evil.

With an array mastery far exceeding that of the array setter, he silently cut a gap in the array barrier, just wide enough for one person to pass through, like a skilled butcher dissecting an ox. He slipped inside, and the array remained intact without triggering any alarms.

Beneath the crack lies a hidden world.

It is a huge natural ice cave, with walls made of black ice that has never melted for thousands of years, shimmering with a ghostly blue light.

In the center of the ice cave, a small area was particularly cold, and even formed a cluster of dark blue crystals resembling stalactites.

It is indeed the "Nine Netherworld Mystic Crystal"!
However, the ice cave was not empty.

Three cultivators dressed in the "Mysterious Ice Palace" attire were sitting cross-legged near the crystal cluster, cultivating by taking advantage of the rich, extremely cold air in the area.

The leader was a Nascent Soul cultivator at the first level, while the other two were Golden Core cultivators at the seventh or eighth level.

Li Yunjing's intrusion immediately startled the three of them.

"Who?!"

The Nascent Soul cultivator suddenly opened his eyes, shouted sharply, and a burst of cold energy erupted from his body, instantly freezing ice crystals in front of him.

"Who are you?"

When he realized that the newcomer's aura was unfathomable and that he was not a cultivator from this hall, his expression changed drastically: "How dare you trespass into the forbidden area of ​​my 'Mysterious Ice Hall'!"

Li Yunjing remained expressionless as his gaze swept over the expanse of "Nine Nether Mystic Crystals," estimating the quantity to be sufficient for the sect's grand formation upgrade.

"This is the territory of my 'Great Ming Dynasty'."

His voice was calm, yet carried an undeniable authority: "Your 'Mysterious Ice Palace' actually dares to enter my realm to excavate rare and precious materials?"

"Rare and precious materials are for those who are destined to obtain them."

Upon hearing this, the Nascent Soul cultivator from the "Mystic Ice Palace" laughed in fury: "You madman! No matter who you are, you won't get away with this today..."

Before he could finish speaking, Li Yunjing made a move.

He didn't even use any magic weapons; he simply pointed his fingers like a sword and lightly touched the ground.

"Hey!"

A purple lightning snake, condensed to its fullest extent, appeared out of thin air, ignoring spatial distance, and instantly pierced through the layers of ice barriers set up by the Nascent Soul cultivator, striking his brow.

The Nascent Soul cultivator's angry expression froze instantly, his eyes filled with disbelief and horror.

The surging chill around him melted away as quickly as ice and snow baked by the scorching sun, and his body slumped down, lifeless.

There was only a tiny, charred hole between his eyebrows.

one strike!
The Nascent Soul has perished!

"not good!"

The other two Golden Core cultivators were so terrified that they turned around and tried to flee.

Li Yunjing didn't even look at them, casually flicking his sleeve.

Two faint flashes of lightning streaked across the sky, and the two Golden Core cultivators were reduced to charred corpses before they could even utter a scream.

The ice cave returned to deathly silence, with only the eerie blue ice emanating a chilling aura.

Li Yunjing walked up to the "Nine Netherworld Mystic Crystal," rolled up his sleeve, and collected it all, leaving nothing behind.

After doing all this, he frowned slightly, not because of the killing, but because he sensed with his divine sense that in the far distance, another powerful aura was being attracted by the energy fluctuations of the brief confrontation here and was rushing over.

Its aura was chilling and powerful, far surpassing that of the Nascent Soul cultivator from before.

"'Xuanbing Palace' reinforcements? They arrived quickly."

Li Yunjing didn't want to linger here any longer, so he turned and left.

However, just as he was about to burst out of the ice cave, the entire glacier crevasse began to shake violently!
"Boom!"

The endless ice and snow above collapsed with a deafening roar, as if the sky had fallen and the earth had caved in!
This was not a natural avalanche, but a vast magical power that drew upon the glacial energy of the surrounding hundred miles, attempting to completely bury and seal the entire fissure!
"Kill my Supreme Elder of the Xuanbing Palace and seize my Sacred Crystal!"

At the same time, a chilling voice, filled with boundless rage, resounded throughout the heavens and earth: "You think you can leave? Stay here!"

Endless icy cold air pressed in from all directions, as if the space itself had been frozen and solidified.

A gigantic hand, formed from millennia-old ice, slammed down towards the entrance of the crack, obscuring the sky and the sun!

The power of his attack was unmistakable; he was a great cultivator at the seventh level of the Nascent Soul realm!
Li Yunjing's eyes narrowed.

Trouble has come after all.

Moreover, it came faster and stronger than he had anticipated.

Purple lightning erupted around him, like a thunder god descending to earth, fearlessly meeting the descending giant palm of icy light.

"boom!"

The ultimate collision of lightning and ice erupted suddenly deep within this far northern ice field!

The blinding purple lightning exploded instantly, and the violent thunder power, like countless angry dragons, frantically tore at and annihilated the giant icy hand containing the law of extreme cold.

Ice shards mixed with lightning scattered everywhere; each ice shard was enough to freeze and crack metal and stone, and each ray of lightning could easily tear apart the protective aura of a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

"Boom!"

The terrifying shockwave spread wildly in all directions in a ring shape from the point of impact.

The glacier below groaned under the strain, instantly being flattened by tens of feet. The ice peaks further away shook violently, triggering a chain of avalanches that swept across the world like a white tsunami.

Li Yunjing swayed slightly, his body crackling with purple lightning, easily neutralizing the force of the backlash.

He hovered in mid-air, his clothes fluttering in the turbulent energy currents, his eyes coldly fixed on the source of the attack.

In the distance, in the void, cold air gathered, and a figure slowly solidified.

The newcomer wore the distinctive dark blue robes of the "Mysterious Ice Palace," embroidered with ice crystal patterns. He appeared to be middle-aged, but his eyes were cold and aged, like those of ancient ice, devoid of any emotion.

The aura emanating from him was vast as the sea and chilling to the bone, far surpassing that of the Grand Elder who had just reached the first level of the Nascent Soul realm. He was clearly a Nascent Soul Grand Cultivator!

"No wonder you dared to kill my 'Mysterious Ice Palace' elder and seize my Holy Crystal, since you could withstand one of my palm strikes."

The middle-aged cultivator's voice was calm, yet it carried a chilling intent that could freeze one's soul: "State your name. I, 'True Man Han Chi,' do not kill nameless nobodies."

"The Immortal Han Chi?"

Li Yunjing raised an eyebrow slightly, having heard of this name before. He was a renowned expert from the "Mysterious Ice Palace," whose "Mysterious Netherworld Cold Dragon True Qi" was renowned throughout the "Southern Heaven Continent."

"I am Li Yunjing."

Now that things have come to this, Li Yunjing naturally has no reason to hide his identity.

"Li Yunjing?"

"The new leader of the 'Shenxiao Dao Sect'?"

"It's like searching high and low without finding it!"

A subtle ripple flashed in the cold eyes of the Cold Dragon Immortal, which then turned into a deeper chill and a hint of barely perceptible greed. "You dared to venture alone into the Northern Plains. Today, it is my turn to perform this great service!"

(End of this chapter)