Li Mu exhaled a turbid breath, and the Five Elements Primordial Energy circulating around his body gradually calmed down, with his Five Elements Dao Body slowly fading away.
“Although I cannot fully control the Five Elements Law Idol at this moment, being able to activate it at a crucial juncture is a blessing in disguise,” Li Mu thought, his deep gaze fixed on the direction Di Tianxing had fled, as he entered a state of Epiphany.
This battle was not only a comprehensive test of Li Mu’s hundreds of Years of Cultivation Technique, exquisite skills, and carefully refined Dao Artifacts and Puppets, but also a baptism of his Soul.
Hovering on the brink of life and death allowed him to gain a clearer understanding of his own Cultivation, and his comprehension of the Five Element Dao reached an unprecedented depth.
With this thought, Li Mu’s mind stirred, and with a flick of his finger, the nine storage spiritual pearl glowed.
Several bottles of incredibly rare Spirit Pills appeared out of thin air, and he unhesitatingly took out the Heavenly Gang Spirit Refining Pill and the Too Profound Clear Spirit Pill, consuming both at once.
He then closed his eyes, focused his mind, and circulated his Cultivation Technique.
The sixth-tier Spirit Pills instantly transformed into a warm and majestic torrent of Spiritual Qi upon entering his mouth.
Like fine streams, they permeated his body, not only rapidly repairing his Physical Body and Primordial Spirit damaged in battle, but also, under the fierce intertwining of the Heavenly Gang Spirit Refining Pill and the gentle Too Profound Clear Spirit Pill, completing a purification and sublimation of his mind.
Li Mu’s Divine Soul received unprecedented nourishment, and his state of mind became exceptionally clear, as if he could perceive the essence of all things in the world.
Li Mu couldn’t help but close his eyes, immersing himself once more in the Epiphany of the Five Element Dao.
When Li Mu opened his eyes again, a joyful smile spread across his face.
Five Dao Swords, shining with the light of the Five Elements, and the majestic Myriad Swords Mountain seemed to sense their master’s change in mood, flying to his side and dancing around him.
The crisp and melodious sound of the swords seemed to sing in celebration of his Breakthrough.
“Alright, you’ve worked hard, all of you may return,” Li Mu said softly, his voice full of tenderness and affection.
The five Dao Swords and Myriad Swords Mountain seemed to understand their master’s words; their light flashed, transforming into points of flowing light, rapidly shrinking, and flying into Li Mu’s body as streaks of light.
Li Mu turned his head to look at the floating soul world pearl, curious as to why Senior Qingyang Zi had been silent all this time.
“Senior, are you alright?” Li Mu released a wisp of Divine Thought onto the soul world pearl, asking Qingyang Zi.
“I’m fine, this old man is just a bit shocked.
Little friend actually defeated the Night Emperor – Di Tianxing.
Such talent and strength, even in ancient times, would be as rare as a Phoenix feather or a Dragon horn, truly awe-inspiring,” Qingyang Zi said, awakening from his daze, responding to Li Mu with a hint of emotion.
In truth, the degree of shock in Qingyang Zi’s heart was far greater than what he expressed verbally.
Having lived in the same era as the Night Emperor - Di Tianxing, Qingyang Zi knew better than anyone his terrifying strength.
For some unknown reason, he failed to cross the final step into the Dao Lord Realm.
However, a myriad of Years of accumulation had made his Cultivation unfathomable, having already reached the Half-step Dao Lord Realm.
During that previous battle, the Night Emperor - Di Tianxing also displayed his Half-step Dao Lord strength.
His True Dragon Law Domain, Heavenly Dragon Cauldron Dao Artifact, Dragon Emperor True Body, and various Heaven-Defying methods were all demonstrated, their might capable of shaking Heaven and Earth, instilling fear in countless powerful Cultivators.
However, facing such a powerful opponent, Li Mu, like the light of dawn, single-handedly defeated the Night Emperor - Di Tianxing.
The various methods he employed left Qingyang Zi “dumbfounded.”
A talisman capable of resisting a Combined Body Realm strike from Di Tianxing, a Sword Formation orchestrated by multiple Puppets, simultaneous Cultivation of the Five Elements, proficiency in space-time techniques, Divine Sense comparable to a Body Integration Cultivator, Body Refining ability on par with a Body Integration Cultivator, and even possessing several Dao Soldiers and skilled in Sword Formations… his methods and trump cards were endless.
Qingyang Zi personally witnessed how Li Mu continuously broke through his own limits in battle, utilizing the Five Element Dao with consummate skill.
The Formations he deployed contained the profound principles of Heaven and Earth, as if he were the master of the Five Elements, controlling the birth and death of all things.
When Li Mu finally conjured the five Dao Swords shimmering with five-colored light, Qingyang Zi could even feel the resonance and tremor of the Five Elements’ power in Heaven and Earth.
That was not merely the sharpness of the sword, but Li Mu’s profound understanding and mastery of the Five Element Dao…
When Li Mu displayed the Five Elements Law Idol, which only a Combined Body Realm Cultivator could manifest, and then used his Dao Swords to defeat Di Tianxing, Qingyang Zi’s shock deepened even further.
It was already rare for a Combined Body Realm Cultivator to condense a Law Idol, but Li Mu achieved this feat with Void Refining Cultivation, and fused the Five Elements Law Idol so perfectly, which was an unprecedented accomplishment.
This was not only a profound comprehension of the Five Element Dao but also a display of power control reaching its pinnacle.
Recalling the great battle, Qingyang Zi’s heart still could not calm down for a long time.
“Senior, you flatter me.
To win this battle, I also paid a huge price,” Li Mu said with a wry, slightly pained smile.
In this battle, most of the Spirit Swords equipped to Myriad Swords Mountain were damaged, the spirituality of the five Dao Swords was impaired, dozens of sixth-tier Puppets were destroyed, and almost all of the refined spirit talismans were used up… it could be said that this battle nearly depleted Li Mu’s accumulated resources of several hundred Years.
But it was precisely this battle, fought with almost everything he had, that gave Li Mu a deeper understanding of his fighting style and his own strength, which could be considered a blessing in disguise.
“Little friend, the cost and losses can be recovered!
In this battle, Di Tianxing fled in haste.
His lair must still contain countless treasures and high-tier spiritual materials.
His accumulated wealth over ten thousand Years should be enough to compensate for your losses and even allow you to ascend to a higher level,” Qingyang Zi said with a hearty laugh upon hearing this, quickly enlightening him.
Upon hearing this, Li Mu’s eyes lit up, overjoyed!
That’s right!
The entire Dark Spirit Star was occupied by Di Tianxing.
Ten thousand Years ago, Dark Spirit Star was still a crossroads for trade routes between the outer and inner domains, bustling with activity, with countless Cultivators and merchant caravans stopping here for transactions.
Although Dark Spirit Star has now completely declined, Di Tianxing is, after all, a Half-step Dao Lord existence, and he must have accumulated unimaginable wealth and resources.
“Thank you, Senior, for the guidance!”
Li Mu thanked Qingyang Zi, then tidied up the battlefield, collected the dozen or so Dragon Corpses left by Di Tianxing, and treated the severe injuries of the two Nine Nether Kun Whales…
Not long after, Li Mu’s figure appeared above Dark Spirit Star, releasing his Divine Sense to continuously scan and search the entire planet.
Finally, Li Mu learned the location of Di Tianxing’s lair on Dark Spirit Star.
Di Tianxing’s lair was hidden within a mysterious mountain range on Dark Spirit Star.
Over countless Years, the entire area was covered by a large Formation, enveloped in thick mist.
If Li Mu hadn’t possessed a seventh-level Formation and been skilled in the Dao of Formations, he probably wouldn’t have been able to glimpse its true appearance.
Soon, Li Mu confirmed the origin of the mountain-protecting Formation.
The Formation was named the “Misty Hidden Dragon Formation,” specifically designed to protect and conceal an Immortal Cave.
This Formation possessed boundless power.
Once activated, it could completely seal off the surrounding space, forming a misty illusion that made it difficult for intruders to discern direction, let alone find the core of the Formation.
Even more terrifying, several illusory Dragon shadows, formed by condensed Spiritual Qi, were hidden within the mist.
They would transform into corresponding forms and attack power based on the intruder’s Cultivation and aura, launching all-out assaults on trespassers.
Knowing the origin of the protective Formation, Li Mu broke it with ease.
He first used his Divine Ability to interfere with the flow of the mist, temporarily exposing its flaws, then located the Formation patterns, and using his sword as a pen, modified the direction of the patterns…
Soon, the “Misty Hidden Dragon Formation” covering the mountain range became Li Mu’s plaything.
He effortlessly adjusted the “Misty Hidden Dragon Formation”’s recognition rules, causing the mist and Dragon shadows, originally used for defense, to turn and serve him, becoming an aid in exploring the Immortal Cave.
Li Mu stepped into the mist, moving as freely as a fish in water.
The terrifying illusory Dragon shadows now gently circled around him, some appearing ahead to guide his way.
Li Mu’s figure moved like lightning, passing through layers of mist, directly reaching the core area of the mountain range.
There, an ancient, massive, and incomparably majestic palace stood silently, like a colossal black mountain, as if Years had left no trace upon it, revealing an indescribable solemnity and antiquity.
Almost all of Dark Spirit Star’s Spiritual Veins were forcibly confined here by a large Formation.
The Spiritual Qi around the Immortal Cave had formed a dense white mist, just one step away from liquefaction.
Li Mu recognized the extraordinary nature of this large Formation at a glance; it was named the “Dragon Vein Locking Spirit Formation.”
This Formation was no small matter; it was an extremely rare Formation passed down from ancient times, specifically designed to imprison the Spiritual Qi and Spiritual Veins of Heaven and Earth.
Once the Dragon Vein Locking Spirit Formation was deployed, it could forcibly extract and condense the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi within tens of thousands of miles, or even a wider area, as well as the Spiritual Veins buried deep underground, into the core of the Formation, forming a Secret Realm with extremely concentrated Spiritual Qi, for the Formation’s deployer to Cultivate or store resources.
A light curtain woven from countless runes stretched across the sky, appearing incongruous with the surrounding natural environment yet harmoniously coexisting, serving as the entrance to the Dragon Vein Locking Spirit Formation.
The Formation shimmered with powerful spiritual light, like stars adorning the night sky, or Dragon scales covering the earth, exuding an ancient and mysterious aura.
However, Li Mu didn’t observe the grand Formation for long before his gaze was drawn to the surroundings of the colossal palace at the center of the Formation.
Around the colossal palace, a vibrant scene entered Li Mu’s eyes, as if it were nature’s most exquisite masterpiece, specially crafted for Cultivators and Alchemists.
What first caught his attention were the vast spiritual fields surrounding the palace.
These spiritual fields were meticulously divided into different areas, each planted with Spiritual Plants suited to its characteristics.
To the east was a lush, emerald-green spiritual herb garden, filled with various rare spiritual herbs such as ten-thousand-year green vines, ice mist spiritual herbs, purple gold spirit flowers, and so on.
They bloomed with colorful spiritual flowers, appearing even more vibrant under the nourishment of the dense Spiritual Qi.
Turning to the south, there was a medicinal field, where most of the medicinal ingredients required for Alchemy were planted, such as purple cloud ganoderma, golden thread spiritual lotuses, and so on.
They varied in form and color, exuding a rich medicinal fragrance that invigorated one’s spirit.
Within the medicinal field, various elemental Formations were also set up to assist the growth of these spiritual herbs, providing the optimal environment for the growth of various high-tier Spirit Medicine.
To the west was an orchard, with trees laden with various spiritual fruits, such as flat peaches, colorful Phoenix fruits, Heavenly Heart pears, etc.
They were not only delicious but also contained abundant Spiritual Qi and special effects; some could enhance the Physical Body, others could boost Divine Sense, making them excellent supplements for Cultivators during their Cultivation.
And most notably, the Spiritual Plant garden on the north side of the palace, where some extremely rare high-tier Spiritual Plants were cultivated, such as Dragon blood spiritual wood, wind heart green bamboo, and so on.
They were not only uniquely shaped but also contained the profound principles and Laws of Heaven and Earth.
These Spiritual Plants often required thousands or even tens of thousands of Years to mature, their preciousness self-evident.
Within these spiritual fields, medicinal fields, and fruit fields, various plant spirits roamed, busy tending to them.
Looking at these vast expanses of spiritual fields, with thousands of types of Spiritual Plants, Li Mu’s eyes glowed, and an uncontainable joy spread across his face.
“I’m rich!”
“Hahaha! I’m rich beyond belief this time!”
Li Mu was ecstatic in his heart.
Possessing the Heaven-Defying Divine Ability of Plant Spirit Absorption, the higher the tier and the more diverse the types of Spiritual Plants, the greater the harvest for him.
This vast expanse of complete high-tier Spiritual Plants before him was even more valuable than the rare treasures and various Legacy Secret Manuals stored by Di Tianxing in the palace.
Besides the massive amount of Spiritual Plants, the enormous Spiritual Veins confined by this palace also held extremely high value for Li Mu.
After the eighth-tier Immortal Cave Spirit Treasure, the Painting World Treasure Mansion, increased its space, its demand for Spiritual Qi grew even higher.
Moreover, Li Mu’s refining of spirit talismans, Spirit Treasures, and Dao Artifacts within the Treasure Mansion would also consume a large amount of Spiritual Qi within the Treasure Mansion.
If he could collect all these Spiritual Veins into the Painting World Treasure Mansion, it would not only satisfy his enormous Spiritual Qi needs but perhaps also allow the Painting World Treasure Mansion’s quality to undergo another sharp improvement.
Thinking of this, Li Mu’s smile grew even brighter.
He began to meticulously investigate the distribution of Spiritual Veins around the palace, using his profound understanding of Formations to carefully plan how to collect these Spiritual Veins into the Painting World Treasure Mansion, while also preserving the integrity and stability of the Dragon Vein Locking Spirit Formation.
It was not an easy task to package and take away so many Spiritual Veins at once.
Improper operation could not only trigger the collapse of the entire Formation but also lead to the Spiritual Veins going out of control, causing unpredictable disasters.
However, Li Mu quickly discovered something amiss.
The direction of the Spiritual Veins drawn by this grand Formation showed that most of the Spiritual Qi flowed into the core of the palace, like a bottomless pit, constantly devouring the surrounding Spiritual Qi, yet almost none leaked out.
However, when he used his Divine Sense to probe, it was blocked by a mysterious power.
This abnormal phenomenon set off alarm bells in Li Mu’s heart.
One must know that his Divine Soul was powerful enough to rival a Body Integration Realm expert, and the Major Achievement Perfection of the Star Cloud Contemplation Method had imbued his Divine Thought with many powerful Divine Sense Divine Abilities, making it almost impossible to find a force that could obstruct his Divine Thought from prying.
But this power before him was like a mist in the abyss, both profound and ancient, making Li Mu’s Divine Sense feel like a mud ox entering the sea, unable to reach its core.
He immediately realized that this palace was probably not simple.
Li Mu’s gaze focused on the colossal palace before him.
The majestic structure appeared even more mysterious and unfathomable under the shroud of Spiritual Qi.
Di Tianxing had been lurking on Dark Spirit Star for ten thousand Years, and he must have set up multiple layers of defenses in his lair, surely harboring an unspeakable secret. (End of Chapter)
