On the other side, Chen Sheng had completed all preparations. Surrounded by a faint void power, like being wrapped in a layer of transparent gauze, he merged into the void and flew towards the depths of the Great Wilderness.
In the beginning of his journey, the land below still showed continuous mountains, rivers, and vegetation—the dark green mountains resembled slumbering dragons, winding into the distance.
The streams between the mountains shimmered, and patches of Spirit Woods exuded vitality.
His Divine Sense spread out casually, detecting the presence of many Golden Core and Foundation Establishment cultivators. Some were searching for Spirit Grass in the forest, some building temporary abodes in the valleys, clearly all exploring outer resources.
Yet the further he flew into the depths of the Great Wilderness, the more desolate the surroundings became.
The once sparse Spirit Woods gradually disappeared, leaving only bare, gray-brown rocks, with the ground full of deep, abyssal cracks, like scars left from the earth being torn apart.
The void winds also became more frequent, no longer just sporadic ripples, but gusts of white airflow howling between heaven and earth, making a "sizzling" sound as they swept across the earth veins.
Such power, even if a Golden Core Early-Stage cultivator were caught directly, their Protective Spiritual Light would instantly shatter, and they would be seriously injured if not careful.
Gradually, within Chen Sheng's Divine Sense, he no longer perceived the presence of other cultivators, only the sound of the wind and the whoosh of his own flight through the void remained.
Two days later, a faint Spiritual Light suddenly appeared on the horizon ahead.
Chen Sheng slowed his flight, concentrating to look, only to see an ancient landmark standing on a flat rocky ground.
The landmark was made of unknown black rock, towering several dozen feet high, its surface engraved with mottled runes. Weathered by time, many runes were blurred but still emitted a faint spatial fluctuation.
At the top of the landmark was embedded a dim Crystal Stone, which was emitting guiding Spiritual Light—this was the iconic landmark of the Eastern Wilderness ancient path.
"Finally entered the inner region of the Great Wilderness!"
De parasieten verlaten het lichaam! Doe het voor het slapen gaanOpen
Chen Sheng landed next to the landmark, reaching out to touch the rough surface of the landmark, his fingertips feeling the remnants of weak power in the runes.
He secretly breathed a sigh of relief. According to Daoist Sect records, beyond this landmark was a region only fit for Nascent Soul True Monarchs to tread.
Among it lay not only more violent void winds but also hidden dangers like void thunder storms and erratic spatial flows—cultivators below the Nascent Soul level scarcely dared to set foot in this place.
Chen Sheng took out a map drawn by the Three Elements Dao Sect, laying it out on the ground.
The map, with animal hide as its base, used special pigments to mark the terrain of the Great Wilderness, landmark positions, and danger zones. The parts closer to the Eastern Domain were marked in more detail, even noting the appearance patterns of each void rift.
He matched the landmark with the map, then glanced up at the sky—the sky of the Great Wilderness was different from the outside world; even during the day, clear star constellations were visible. These constellations, relatively fixed in position, had been determined as natural coordinates by Daoist Sect cultivators.
Based on the correspondence between the constellations and the landmark, Chen Sheng quickly confirmed his location, then packed up the map, randomly selecting a direction before once again leveraging his void power to continue his journey.
The further he went into the depths of the Great Wilderness, the more intense the sense of solitude became.
The surrounding void became increasingly exposed, occasionally glimpsing transparent void rifts flickering in the air, within which chaotic shadows could faintly be seen, exuding a daunting aura.
However, such an environment was exceptionally beneficial for understanding void power!
Chen Sheng needed only to calm his mind to clearly capture the flow of void power, even sensing more complex void mysteries from the spatial rifts.
Where once it took months of study within the Daoist Sect to grasp certain details, here it only took a few days to comprehend, making his control over void power ever more adept.
...
Thirty years of time quietly slipped by amidst such a solitary journey.
At this moment, deep within the Great Wilderness, a massive cluster of void asteroids floated between heaven and earth, like a moving sea of stars.
The asteroid cluster extended tens of thousands of miles, with the largest asteroid spanning a thousand miles wide, its surface pockmarked and covered with a thick black crust, slowly rotating in the void.
The smaller asteroids were also dozens of miles in size, like floating boulders, sweeping past at extreme speeds, colliding and breaking apart during high-speed travel, only to recombine, producing deafening booms.
At the tail of the asteroid cluster, a triangular asteroid stood out—it spanned ten miles in diameter, with a relatively smooth surface, tightly enveloped by a dense Five-Colored Spiritual Light.
Amidst the Spiritual Light, Chen Sheng sat cross-legged at the center of the asteroid, eyes closed, surrounded by a faint golden Mana.
In front of him floated a Tier Four Elixir, its alluring medicinal fragrance slowly transforming into strands of medicinal power, absorbed by him into his Dantian, merging with the operational meridians.
Through thirty years of journeying in the Great Wilderness, he long since fully adapted to such a cultivation rhythm, being able to refine elixir pills and carry out daily cultivation undisturbed, even on fast-moving asteroids.
"The solitude of the Great Wilderness really tempers the mind."
Chen Sheng slowly opened his eyes, exhaling a turbid breath. In thirty years, he had only encountered two Nascent Soul cultivators—the first time on a desolate plain, where the two merely exchanged a hasty greeting with Divine Sense from a thousand miles apart, before heading in different directions.
The second time was near a spatial rift, where the other merely glanced at him with Divine Sense before turning and vanishing into the depths of the void, without any further exchange.
He sighed inwardly. Though the number of Nascent Soul cultivators in the entire Eastern Domain wasn't low, Yue Country alone had several dozen, and with others from neighboring countries, the total could reach several hundred, yet dispersed within the vast, boundless Great Wilderness, they seemed exceedingly sparse, like a few grains of sand in the ocean.
Moreover, he found his luck pretty average—in thirty years, aside from some gains in understanding void power, no other spiritual resources came his way.
Not even the most common Void Yin Yang Evil Qi in the Great Wilderness, which aids cultivation, had he managed to capture.
However, Chen Sheng remained unperturbed. He fetched a Jade Bottle from his Storage Ring, poured out a Tier Four Elixir, and ingested it into his Dantian, refining it slowly.
Having previously served a century at the Daoist Sect, the four-tier elixirs he had stockpiled were enough to support his cultivation for a hundred years, until he reached the peak of Nascent Soul Early-stage, without worry over resources.
Over the years, he refined elixirs to improve his cultivation, while gaining insights into void power near void rifts, and even at leisure, using the Blood Sacrifice Technique to refine the Stone Bead—his days passed both fulfilling and orderly, never feeling tedious.
"The advantages of the Great Wilderness for understanding void power are truly apparent."
Chen Sheng, sensing the increasingly skillful void power within him, revealed a hint of satisfaction.
In these thirty years, his comprehension of void power equaled that of a hundred years of grueling practice in the Daoist Sect—where difficult void tenets once elusive could be grasped merely by observing the changes in void rifts here.
His control of void power also grew ever more precise with each instance of maneuvering through the void.
But this satisfaction soon drifted into a bit of helplessness.
Chen Sheng took out a gray Stone Bead from his robe. Despite thirty years of Blood Sacrifice refinement, the bead's restrictions showed not a hint of looseness, far slower than he had anticipated, leaving him unable to establish any connection, let alone uncover its secrets.
He gazed at the Stone Bead, eyes full of wonder: "Such a peculiar restriction—what of a treasure could this bead truly be?"
Another few months have passed.
At this moment, a stream of jade green light is traversing through the void deep within the Great Wilderness.
It is a small ship formed from seventy-two array banners, with its entire body exuding a glossy jade hue. The array banners are hidden within the ship's pattern, occasionally flickering with spirit light, skillfully guiding the void power around it so that the ship hardly creates any disturbance while flying.
Chen Sheng is seated at the center of the small ship, eyes slightly closed, holding the gray stone bead as he slowly refines it using the Blood Sacrifice Technique. Faint blood-red threads can be vaguely seen wandering among the gray patterns on the surface of the stone bead.
Suddenly, a powerful aura of thunderstorm emanates from the front, causing Chen Sheng to instantly open his eyes.
His Divine Sense spread out, seeing the dust gathering before him in the void at a speed visible to the naked eye as if pulled by an invisible force, rapidly forming several sky-covering tornadoes.
The columns of wind were mixed with tiny flashes of thunder light, emitting "crackling" sounds, causing subtle ripples in the surrounding space.
"It's a void thunderstorm!"
Chen Sheng's heart tightened, his Divine Sense went past the tornadoes, looking into the distance.
Hundreds of miles away, a stretch of thousands of miles of dark clouds was hovering in the void, as pitch-black as ink, like a gigantic curtain enveloping the world.
Within them, countless thunder lights like silver serpents and green snakes were wildly darting, some as thick as giant pillars, some as thin as strands of hair, colliding and erupting into deafening roars, shattering the surrounding space.
Amidst the thunder light, transparent cracks could faintly be seen, chaotic light flickering within, exuding a chilling aura of destruction.
The scale of such a thunderstorm is enough to tear apart even an ordinary Nascent Soul Cultivator's Dharma Body if caught, not even lifebound Spiritual Treasures could surely protect themselves.
Chen Sheng didn't hesitate at all, instinctively about to steer the array banner small ship away from this perilous area.
Krijg op elke leeftijd een erectie met deze oude truc! Tweemaal daags innemenOpen
However, just as his Divine Sense touched the ship's array pattern, he suddenly halted — within the raging dark clouds, a mysterious light was dazzlingly bright, and at the center of that light, a red-robed figure was sitting cross-legged, baring his upper body, positioned in the densest part of the thunder clouds.
The figure was burly, with skin as smooth as jade, yet covered in fine thunder lights that wandered and entwined over its surface, at times permeating the body, at others oozing out from the pores, making him appear like a deity commanding the thunder.
Numerous thunders struck upon the figure, whether thin like silver serpents or thick like green pythons, they dispersed into smaller thunder lights without leaving a single mark.
Chen Sheng's heart jolted:
"Such a formidable physique! When has a character like this emerged in the Eastern Domain?"
His mind rapidly scanned through the known body cultivation experts of the Eastern Domain — neither sects proficient in Body Refining nor renown Nascent Soul Cultivators could match the presence before him.
Not daring to approach recklessly, Chen Sheng released a gentle Divine Sense, greeting the figure lightly to avoid being mistaken for a provocation.
Having done this, he prepared to swiftly exit. Staying near a void thunderstorm was inherently dangerous, combined with an unknown powerful cultivator, even a second more could bring unforeseen changes.
Unexpectedly, the red-robed figure slowly opened his eyes, the light in them resembling flashing thunder; merely glancing in the direction of Chen Sheng, a robust Divine Sense traversed hundreds of miles of void, transmitting directly into Chen Sheng's sea of consciousness:
"Are you Fellow Daoist Micro-Image from Yue Country?"
Chen Sheng's heart tightened, instinctively preparing for battle — the five-colored spirit light around him surged instantly, enveloping the array banner small ship tightly, while the Tingyu Sword in his Dantian trembled lightly, ready to be deployed at any moment.
The God-Suppression Seal and Beidou Seven Stars Map within his sea of consciousness woke simultaneously, intertwining hues of light and starlight, guarding the sea of consciousness as solidly as a fortress.
He sensed through Divine Sense that the opponent's cultivation was at mid-stage Nascent Soul; though the physique was absurdly strong, at least he hadn't comprehended the Void Domain that only late-stage Nascent Soul Great Cultivators possess.
With his current strength, if it comes to a fight, he may not be able to defeat the opponent, but escaping with the speed of the array banner small ship and Tingyu Sword wouldn't be difficult.
"That's me, yet I haven't inquired about Fellow Daoist's esteemed name?"
Chen Sheng's Divine Sense transmission carried a hint of caution while maintaining the courtesies between cultivators.
The red-robed figure seemed to sense his vigilance, laughed heartily, his voice reverberating like thunder across the void, yet without malice:
"No need to worry, I am Taiyi of the Celestial Thunder Sect in the Western Domain, once had some dealings with Fellow Daoist Xuan Zhao, considered half an old acquaintance."
"An acquaintance of Xihua?"
Chen Sheng heard the words, the vigilance in his heart did not dissipate, and he quietly released a Communication Jade Scroll to inquire about the relationship between Xihua and Taiyi True Monarch of the Celestial Thunder Sect in the Western Domain, while slowly revealing a smile on his face, transmitting with his Divine Sense:
"So it is Fellow Daoist Taiyi, please forgive my rudeness. I offer my greetings to Fellow Daoist here."
Taiyi True Monarch laughed heartily:
"No need for so many courtesies, Fellow Daoist. Seeing your direction, are you perhaps intending to go to Xuanxing Palace? If so, why not travel together with me for some mutual care?"
Xuanxing Palace is the core area of the Eastern Great Wilderness Domain, located in a stable void area, with a Tier Five Cross-Domain Teleportation Array built within the palace, connecting the Western, Southern, and Northern Domains, making it a critical junction for cultivators from the Four Domains.
This palace was jointly constructed by the top eight forces of the various countries in the Eastern Domain, among which Myriad Swords Sect from Yue Country was the only sect selected — Myriad Swords Sect is an ancient sect that has produced a Celestial Venerable of Divinity Transformation, and currently has a Late-Stage Nascent Soul Cultivator presiding, making it a top strength in the Eastern Domain.
Nonetheless, Chen Sheng maintained maximum vigilance, he slightly shook his head, lightly smiled and transmitted:
"I appreciate Fellow Daoist's kindness, but I have long been accustomed to traveling alone, and I fear that I would disrupt Fellow Daoist's journey, so I shall not trouble you."
Taiyi True Monarch nodded lightly, seemingly having anticipated his answer, with no surprise in his eyes:
"Since that is the case, I won't force it. Just as you head to Xuanxing Palace, it's wise to conceal your identity — Fellow Daoist Xuan Zhao did such a major event years ago, and now his name is well-known in the Western Domain, I fear some scoundrels might implicate you."
Upon hearing this, a thick fog arose in Chen Sheng's mind, and confusion appeared on his face:
"Implicate?"
Taiyi True Monarch noticed his bewilderment, with a slightly surprised tone: "Could it be that Fellow Daoist is unaware of Fellow Daoist Xuan Zhao's exploits?"
Chen Sheng hurriedly cupped his hands, transmitting with sincerity:
"I have been cultivating deep in the Great Wilderness for years, my knowledge of external news is very limited, may I trouble Fellow Daoist Taiyi to enlighten me?"
Upon hearing this, Taiyi True Monarch laughed heartily, with some admiration in his Divine Sense:
"Speaking of which, Fellow Daoist Xuan Zhao truly has great courage!"
"A few years ago, he struck down Red Flame True Monarch of the Wuji Immortal Mansion with a single sword in the Western Domain, and later he escaped entirely from the hands of True Monarch Zi Xiao, a Late-Stage Nascent Soul Cultivator. This matter has been fervently spread in the Western Domain, and now his name is known to all."
"The Red Flame True Monarch was originally a demon transformed from a red python, with cultivation at Nascent Soul Early-stage, backed by the Wuji Immortal Mansion, had committed numerous evil deeds in the Western Domain, countless cultivators were harmed. Fellow Daoist Xuan Zhao's act, however, has accumulated great virtue!"
"What?"
Chen Sheng's Divine Sense instantly froze, he secretly lamented in his heart, even though he didn't know much about the forces of the Western Domain, he had heard of the Wuji Immortal Mansion's reputation.
It's a top-tier power established by Celestial Venerable Wuji, considered an overlord in the Western Domain, with countless Nascent Soul cultivators under its banner, its strength is unfathomable.
Xihua dared to provoke such a colossal entity, and even killed their Nascent Soul cultivator, and escaped from a Late-Stage Nascent Soul Cultivator; it's truly dancing on the edge of a blade.
What added to Chen Sheng's frustration was that Xihua carried out such a earth-shattering event, yet not even a single communication was sent to him.
If he had known earlier, he would have made preparations in advance, rather than being "unaware" and exposed to potential dangers.
He secretly complained in his heart, this move is truly a pitfall!
However, Chen Sheng quickly composed his Heart Spirit, cupping his hands transmitting towards Taiyi True Monarch's direction:
"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Taiyi, for informing me, I am aware now, and will certainly exercise more caution in the future."
Taiyi True Monarch waved his hand with a smile:
"Fellow Daoist need not be courteous, merely a lift of the hand, since you do not wish to travel together, I shall head to Xuanxing Palace first, until we meet again."
As his words fell, Thunder Light around him suddenly surged, transforming into a red lightning, merging into the void, leaving behind the continued roaring thunderstorm in heaven and earth.
Chen Sheng gazed in the direction of Taiyi True Monarch's departure, with countless thoughts in his heart.
He put away the Array Banner Small Ship, adjusted his direction once more, and activated the "Void Qi Concealment Skill" altering his aura, and slightly obscured his appearance.