Chapter 454: Graduation

Beiyuan Immortal City was bustling with activity, being constructed precisely according to Chen Mobai's plans.

Meanwhile, Nan Xuanjing also led the disciples of his lineage to begin constructing a branch sect and separate compound for Xuanxiao Dao Palace there. He had already consulted the Grand Elder before coming, so he personally carved the three characters "Nan Xuan Sect" onto a large stone at the entrance.

Nan Xuanjing also had his own intentions regarding his arrival in the Eastern Barrens. Of the nine Core Formation cultivators in Xuanxiao Dao Palace, he was at the Mid Core Formation stage, already three hundred years old, placing him in the middle ranks. If this trend continued, he would have no hope of achieving Nascent Soul in this lifetime. Xuanxiao Dao Palace was a major sect that had produced several generations of Nascent Soul cultivators. Naturally, they had their own unique insights into achieving Nascent Soul. The most crucial insight was to reach Peak Core Formation before turning three hundred, as this offered the highest chance of breaking through to Nascent Soul.

According to this rule, Nan Xuanjing, within the Dao Palace, no longer qualified to obtain spiritual treasures for Nascent Soul breakthrough. But he was unwilling to spend this lifetime in mediocrity, growing old and eventually passing away without achieving his goal. So, he heeded Zhao Xuankang's persuasion, volunteered, and came to the Eastern Barrens to establish a branch sect and separate compound. If he could rely on Xuanxiao Dao Palace to gather all the resources of the Eastern Barrens, he felt he might still have a chance to attempt Nascent Soul breakthrough in this lifetime.

Unfortunately, events unfolded beyond his and Zhao Xuankang's expectations. They had originally intended to use the war between Tremor Peak and Divine Wood Sect to provoke all seven major sects of the Eastern Barrens into joining, ideally escalating into a confrontation between two major factions. They would then secretly support the weaker Tremor Peak, maintaining a balance of power between the two factions, thereby continuously draining the Eastern Barrens of its resources. Once the seven major sects of the Eastern Barrens were exhausted from fighting, they, hidden behind the scenes, would personally intervene. If they had the strength to take over the entire Eastern Barrens, they would act directly. If not, they would at least destroy Divine Wood Sect first, to prevent Zhou Shengqing from achieving Nascent Soul.

Unfortunately, their policy of continuous bleeding failed right at the outset, thwarted by Divine Wood Sect's lightning-fast tactics. Where exactly did things go wrong? After Zhao Xuankang and Nan Xuanjing returned, they analyzed the entire war, finally pinpointing the crucial point. It was this: On the main battlefield at the border between Lei Kingdom and Yan Kingdom, Xuan Qiao and Xuan Jinzhi, whom they believed would surely suppress Divine Wood Sect, had their heads severed by Chen Guixian of Divine Wood Sect with two sword strikes. From then on, Divine Wood Sect seized the initiative, even sending surplus forces into Yan Kingdom to cause chaos.

With their rear ablaze, and Ji Zhenshe blocked at the entrance by Zhou Shengqing and two others, Ji Dingjin, the commander of the front-line battlefield, could only make a desperate stand, hoping to take Chen Guixian's life with his own. But the result was a complete defeat. Not only was Ji Dingjin slain, but the combined army of cultivators from Yan Kingdom and Xiao Kingdom was also utterly routed by Divine Wood Sect, scattering in all directions.

After that, Divine Wood Sect's army pursued them for a thousand li. Although Tremor Peak did not lack spirited cultivators who wished to defend market towns protected by grand formations to delay the enemy's advance, they were all like mantises trying to stop a chariot, eventually turning into corpses and ruins. Morale was high at first, then waned, and finally was exhausted. After Tremor Peak's three organized defensive efforts were all crushed by Divine Wood Sect's army led by Chen Guixian, the situation completely collapsed. The spineless cultivation families within Yan Kingdom began to defect en masse, opening their gates and surrendering their cities. At this point, Tremor Peak's three-hundred-year rule over the two kingdoms completely disintegrated. When Divine Wood Sect's army besieged Tremor Peak's main headquarters, the victor had already been determined.

If the other major sects of the Eastern Barrens did not attack Divine Wood Sect's headquarters to relieve the siege, it would be impossible for just the two of them to salvage the defeat. And it was clear that the Core Formation cultivators of the other major sects in the Eastern Barrens were cowards who didn't understand the principle of mutual dependence; they actually stood by and watched as Divine Wood Sect annexed Tremor Peak. When Zhao Xuankang received the news, he could only sigh.

Nevertheless, the plan to annex the Eastern Barrens and turn it into Xuanxiao Dao Palace's backyard still needed to proceed. So he and Nan Xuanjing immediately came to exert pressure, using the contract Ji Zhenshe had signed beforehand, along with the Grand Elder's and Xuanxiao Dao Palace's reputation, forcefully extracting Tremor Peak's three most precious mineral veins. With this, they inserted Nan Xuan Sect into the Eastern Barrens region.

Next, it would depend on their methods. They would see if they could form alliances and diplomatic ties, unite with Divine Wood Sect's enemies, and once again stir up trouble. If possible, without relying on the main Xuanxiao Dao Palace's power, they would completely take over the Eastern Barrens. Regarding this, Nan Xuanjing and Zhao Xuankang were quite confident. Because Mount Liujia was their natural ally, their relationship was even closer than with Tremor Peak. The territory of Blowing Snow Palace lay between Nan Xuan Sect and Divine Wood Sect. With just a little pressure and using Xuanxiao Dao Palace's reputation, they could probably win them over. As for the remaining Five Elements Sect, they also had a deep-seated grudge against Divine Wood Sect. If it was merely to destroy Divine Wood Sect and Golden Radiance Cliff, Zhou Ye would likely be very pleased.

Zhao Xuankang had already gone to handle this matter. What Nan Xuanjing needed to do was to firmly establish Nan Xuan Sect in Yan Kingdom, using his grand strategy to continuously squeeze Divine Wood Sect's living and operating space here until they were completely driven out. Regarding this, Nan Xuanjing was full of confidence. Because he had not only brought the three hundred disciples of his lineage but also cultivation families like the Jiao family, who had fled from Yan Kingdom to Dongyi after Tremor Peak's demise. These families were originally major clans in Yan Kingdom, second only to the Ji family. United, they controlled nearly half of the market town's mineral trade. Although Divine Wood Sect had captured Tremor Peak, causing a major reshuffle of cultivation forces in Yan Kingdom, Nan Xuanjing was well aware of the nature of rogue cultivators. As long as they were given enough spirit stones and resources, they would return like dogs to the market towns controlled by families like the Jiao family.

Nan Xuanjing re-evaluated his plan to drive out Divine Wood Sect. After confirming there were no issues, filled with ambition, he summoned the Foundation Establishment cultivators from the three major families—Jiao, He, and Qu—and ordered them to seize the opportune moment to rebuild the market towns that had been reduced to ruins. The Foundation Establishment cultivators of the three major families were also brimming with suppressed rage, eager to use the power of Xuanxiao Dao Palace to exact their revenge against Divine Wood Sect. They quickly obeyed the command, leading the returning family elites back to their ancestral homes. Their families' original locations were all places with third-tier spiritual veins. Among them, the Jiao family was in the most awkward position, because their family's third-tier spiritual vein location was Baose Mountain, but it had already been occupied by Nan Xuan Sect.

Nan Xuanjing had indeed proposed that the Jiao family merge into Nan Xuan Sect, as he was just worrying about the insufficient number of disciples in his own lineage. The Jiao family's Old Ancestor considered it and selected twenty younger generations from the family to join Nan Xuan Sect. But he himself led the rest to another family's separate spiritual mountain. Although that place only had a top-grade second-tier spiritual vein, it was sufficient for Qi Refinement cultivators.

As for Jiao Deyun, the Jiao family's Old Ancestor, he was over two hundred years old, with not much lifespan left, and no longer had the inclination to improve his cultivation. He only wanted to peacefully support his family through the remaining years of his life, ensuring they would continue, at least not letting the Jiao family be destroyed under his watch. Of course, if he could get revenge on Divine Wood Sect, the culprit who had caused his family's downfall, he would be willing to stake his old life.

After Jiao Deyun bid farewell to Nan Xuanjing, he led the more than one hundred remaining family members from this brutal war to Mount Chiying, where their separate compound was located. When he flew over, he surprisingly saw a group of a dozen or so rogue cultivators attacking Mount Chiying's grand formation. The family cultivators who remained here were a few white-haired Jiao family Qi Refinement cultivators. They also did not have much lifespan left, and after Divine Wood Sect's army invaded Yan Kingdom, they had chosen to stay behind rather than leave their homeland. Unfortunately, this second-tier spiritual mountain, without the Jiao family's reputation, had become a treasure in the eyes of rogue cultivators and pillagers. If Jiao Deyun had returned a few days later, Mount Chiying would likely have been breached and plundered clean by the pillagers.

"How dare you!" After a furious roar, Jiao Deyun took out a crimson long spear, displaying his formidable strength as a Foundation Establishment cultivator, and instantly shot down the leading pillager who was besieging Mount Chiying. The pillagers who witnessed this scene instantly scattered. However, the elite Jiao family cultivators who had followed Jiao Deyun descended from the airship and, leveraging their numerical advantage, surrounded the group of pillagers. With cruel expressions on their faces, they intended to slowly corner them.

"Old Ancestor, I never expected to see you again in my lifetime." At this moment, the formation within Mount Chiying opened, and an old Jiao family Qi Refinement Stage 9 cultivator who had stayed behind walked out. Upon seeing Jiao Deyun, he burst into tears, sobbing uncontrollably. He had already resigned himself to death. Who would have known that in a mere instant, the situation would take such a dramatic turn?

"Don't worry, everything will be alright. Now that we are back, we will definitely reclaim everything that once belonged to us from Divine Wood Sect." Jiao Deyun spoke, comforting his weeping grandson. Hatred for Divine Wood Sect surged within his heart once more.

At this moment, with the last shriek, all the pillagers who had besieged Mount Chiying had died at the hands of the Jiao family cultivators.

On a nearby hilltop, three people stood in the shadow of a large tree. The one in the lead held a talisman that concealed their figures. They had observed the entire scene.

"It's confirmed; the Jiao family has indeed colluded with Nan Xuanjing." These three were Zhou Wangshen, Yu Lian, and Liang Lingzhen.

"Should we find a way to eliminate them?" Liang Lingzhen asked, with Zhou Wangshen as their leader.

"Mount Chiying's formation is not weak. If the three of us attack, Jiao Deyun will have enough time to hold out until Nan Xuan Sect's reinforcements arrive. Let's investigate the He family and Qu family first." Zhou Wangshen shook his head.

"He will leave Mount Chiying someday. I think we can ambush him on the way." At this moment, Yu Lian suddenly spoke.

"In that case, the timing is too uncertain. The construction of Beiyuan Immortal City is the top priority right now, and Junior Brother Chen also said to avoid anything that might provoke a conflict with Nan Xuan Sect."

"Then I'll stay. Jiao Deyun clearly harbors deep resentment towards our Divine Wood Sect, so it's better to eliminate him as soon as possible." Hearing Yu Lian's words, Zhou Wangshen and Liang Lingzhen exchanged a surprised glance. They thought, "This Junior Brother has a very strong murderous nature."

"Although Jiao Deyun is old, he is still a cultivator at the peak of the Mid Foundation Establishment stage. It would only be safe if all three of us act together. So, I'll trouble Junior Brother to stay and monitor him. Notify us promptly when you find an opportunity." Zhou Wangshen recalled Yu Lian's situation when he acquired the Foundation Establishment Pill, and generally understood his state of mind. He nodded gently, and finally, to prevent Yu Lian from taking risks, added a sentence. "Don't force it. You and I still have enough time for cultivation. It's not worth risking it for this old fellow."

After saying this, Zhou Wangshen and Liang Lingzhen departed. Yu Lian, with a stern expression, glanced at Jiao Deyun, who had already entered Mount Chiying, and silently sat down.

Seven days later, Chen Mobai, who was overseeing Divine Wood Sect's army's relocation to Beiyuan City, received a call from Zhou Wangshen. Jiao Deyun, the Jiao family's Old Ancestor, had died in their combined assault. They were now keeping an eye on the He family's Old Ancestor and the Qu family's Old Ancestor, and would act if they found an opportunity. However, after Jiao Deyun's death, these two had not left their families' formations.

"Didn't I say not to do anything that might provoke conflict?" After hearing this, Chen Mobai frowned.

"Well... Jiao Deyun harbored deep resentment towards our Divine Wood Sect. If this person wasn't eliminated, and he assisted Nan Xuan Sect in rebuilding Baose Market Town, it would likely be detrimental to our upcoming Beiyuan Immortal City." Zhou Wangshen explained that he felt ambushing and killing Jiao Deyun was quite normal in the Eastern Barrens, merely a matter of eliminating the enemy entirely, so he hadn't reported it to Chen Mobai.

"As long as Beiyuan City is built according to my plans and regulations, even if Xuanxiao Dao Palace moved their immortal city to the Eastern Barrens, they wouldn't be able to compete with me... Forget it, since he's already dead, so be it. All three of you should return. If you act again, you might fall into Nan Xuan Sect's trap." Chen Mobai was still not entirely accustomed to the customs of the Eastern Barrens, but since Jiao Deyun was already dead, he wouldn't blame Zhou Wangshen and the other two for it. After all, from the sect's perspective, they had performed a meritorious deed. He only hoped it wouldn't trigger a strong reaction from Nan Xuan Sect.

However, Nan Xuanjing's reaction was calmer than Chen Mobai had expected. He seemed to treat Jiao Deyun's death as if he had simply died of old age. Instead, after Jiao Deyun's death, he directly merged the Jiao family's elite cultivators into Nan Xuan Sect. Then, he single-mindedly began reopening Baose Market Town. To make a name for himself, Nan Xuanjing even spread rumors that a year from now, an auction would be held in Baose Market Town, with a Foundation Establishment Pill as the grand finale item. However, to qualify for the auction, one needed to have resided in Baose Market Town for a year. After hearing this news, the rogue cultivators in Wuliu Mountain Market Town indeed became restless. Almost all those at Qi Refinement Stage 9 chose to flock to Baose Market Town.

Chen Mobai could only sigh at this. Relying on Xuanxiao Dao Palace was indeed different; they could even put Foundation Establishment Pills up for auction. However, he did not lose his composure. He continued to direct the sect disciples to construct Beiyuan City in an orderly manner.

Time quickly passed, and it was soon the end of the year. Chen Mobai, engrossed in city construction, could only reluctantly put aside his work and return to the Immortal Sect. He was about to graduate!

(End of chapter)