A Mortal’s Journey to Immortality: Wang Yu’s Rebirth as the Reincarnation Dao Ancestor - Chapter 147

Chapter 145 Xiaomei, the Situation in Tiannan, Entering the Luoyun Sect

“Senior, do you know who the Nascent Soul Ancestor of the Hehuan Sect who is stationed in Yue Kingdom is?”

“Yunlu.”

He had already inquired about these matters from the small market run by the local cultivation families.

“Yes, Senior, the Hehuan Sect has arranged for Ancestor Yunlu to be stationed in Yue Kingdom, and Miss Dong is Ancestor Yunlu’s successor, so naturally she will come to Yue Kingdom as well. That ancestor has taken good care of Miss Dong, and in just over a hundred years, he has helped Miss Dong reach the mid-stage of Core Formation.”

Xiaomei found the cave dwelling she had created years ago and sat down.

There was no array formation covering the old residence here, which was a sign of respect for everyone.

“Senior Sister Xuan’er has already reached the mid-stage of Core Formation? Her cave dwelling is still in Taiyue Mountain?”

“Yes. I heard from Miss that Miss Dong also has a special physique, a special physique passed down through generations of the Hehuan Sect. After being activated by Ancestor Yunlu, her cultivation speed increased significantly, comparable to cultivators with Heavenly Spiritual Roots. Moreover, she has almost no bottlenecks in Core Formation. Therefore, Miss Dong formed her Core seventy years ago, and twelve years ago she even entered the mid-stage of Core Formation. Now she has returned to Taiyue Mountain to oversee that spiritual vein.”

Han Li narrowed his eyes upon hearing this.

That Yunlu fellow is quite generous; she must have given a large number of elixirs and medicines to save Dong Xuan’er decades of arduous cultivation.

“Senior, who are these two people beside you?”

“A descendant of my younger sister and a descendant of my close friend from back then.”

Han Li said frankly.

Unlike the original owner who had enemies all over the world, he actually didn’t have many enemies.

Most of the firepower targeting the Demonic Path Ghost Spirit Sect and the Hehuan Sect was drawn to Master Hongfu and Uncle Lei.

In addition, Ma Yunlong of Tianque Fortress would also share some of the burden.

Only Wang Chan harbored hatred towards him.

But the one Wang Chan should hate the most was the Yan family.

It was the Yan family’s betrayal and their pledge of allegiance that caused that scoundrel to lose his third leg.

“Xiao Mei, I, Han, still have some matters to attend to and will not return for more than ten years. Could you please take care of my two juniors for a while? And teach them some basics of immortal cultivation as much as possible?”

Originally, he could have left the two of them in the Seven Mysteries Sect and Qingniu Town.

But if he did that, they would be useless in more than ten years. They

would have pseudo-spiritual roots and be advanced in their cultivation, making even Foundation Establishment a distant dream.

Foundation Establishment is a very important step. After all, having offspring after Foundation Establishment is vastly different from having offspring before Foundation Establishment. If the two young ones cannot establish their foundations early, let alone establish an immortal cultivation family, they would be better off living as ordinary mortals.

And once the Han and Li families miss out on these two, who knows when the next spiritual root possessor will appear? It will be decades or even centuries later!

He obviously cannot wait that long.

As for taking them by his side and personally training them?

That’s impossible.

He himself was busy acquiring the Spirit-Stabilizing Pill and forming his Nascent Soul, leaving him no time to teach the two children. Therefore, he planned to first set up a mind-controlling restriction on them to prevent them from being captured by a Nascent Soul cultivator and having their souls searched, thus preventing the Nascent Soul cultivator from tracing their origins. He then arranged to try his luck at Xin Ruyin’s former residence.

Even if Xin Ruyin was gone, there were still Xiao Mei’s descendants,

right? However,

instead of encountering Xiao Mei’s descendants, he met Xiao Mei herself after she had reached Foundation Establishment.

Through Xiao Mei, he learned that Xin Ruyin was still alive and about Dong Xuan’er.

“Senior, it’s my honor to be able to help you in a small way,”

Xiao Mei said warmly.

She could never repay the kindness shown to her in this lifetime.

This small matter was naturally nothing.

“Then I’ll trouble you,”

Han Li nodded, a weight lifted from his heart.

If he didn’t encounter these two spiritual root possessors from the Han and Li families on his return, it would be best if he came and left quietly. Seeing it but not offering a helping hand leaves a lingering resentment.

In short, one must not allow such a weakness to remain when facing inner demons.

Later,

through Xiao Mei, Han Li learned more about the current situation in Tiannan.

…

Tiannan, a vast country spanning nearly ten million miles, has only two major powers.

One is the [Fengdu Kingdom], dominated by the righteous path.

The other is the [Tianluo Kingdom], dominated by the demonic path.

Of course, this

doesn’t mean that all of this vast land is suitable for population growth.

Over 98% of the land is desert, Gobi, plateau, towering mountains, and naturally formed treacherous areas.

For example, the area west of Fengdu Kingdom leading to the [Far West] contains a vast “Hurricane Desert” spanning millions of miles. Even high-level cultivators seeking spirit beasts for transportation would need at least a year to cross that vast desert, which even Nascent Soul stage cultivators cannot forcibly traverse at high altitudes.

It’s no exaggeration to say that the entire Tiannan region suffered from the depletion of its spiritual veins in ancient times, as most of them were drained to suppress the Boundless Sea Demon Abyss. This led to a significant decline in both the quantity and quality of spiritual energy. Consequently, most areas became desertified, with each country resembling an oasis in the desert.

For example, the Yue Kingdom and the Yuanwu Kingdom are separated by the vast Gobi Desert in the northeast, a distance that even high-level cultivators would need to fly for a day to cross—

the very wasteland hidden within the Blood Forbidden Land.

Therefore,

despite the immense size of the Fengdu Kingdom and the Tianluo Kingdom, the area suitable for mortals to live and multiply is limited.

This also results in relatively small populations for both countries.

Following the major powers are the medium-sized countries, ranging from over 100,000 li in size to under 5 million li.

There are more than a dozen of them.

The Yu Kingdom, which has been cultivated by the Huayi Sect for many years, is the largest of the medium-sized countries in Tiannan, covering an area of over 4 million li.

Next is the Dongyu Kingdom, located in the Demon Valley of Wanling Mountain. The outer poisonous miasma zone of Fallen Demon Valley alone stretches for a million miles. The inner circle, sealed by ancient cultivators, is also a hundred thousand miles wide. The total area exceeds four million miles.

Then come the kingdoms of Xi, Huayu, Fengyuan, Tianlu, Yuanwu, Zijin, Wangshui, and Yue.

Among them, Xi spans over three million miles from north to south. (It took Han Li, a mid-Nascent Soul cultivator, seven days to fly from Luoyun Sect to the edge of the Boundless Sea.)

Between Xi and Huayu lies a small desert spanning two to three hundred thousand miles.

The far west, where the Great Yan Divine Lord originated, is actually considered a medium-sized kingdom.

There are thirty to forty small kingdoms in the south.

Countries like Jiang, Cheqi, Beiliang, Xu, and Shayun,

spanning within 100,000 li, are all small nations.

Despite their size, these nations possess vastly different territories suitable for human habitation and reproduction, boasting populations in the hundreds of millions or even billions. This is why they can stand alone as independent nations.

Through Xiaomei, he also learned a great deal.

The bad news was that the Mulan people of the grasslands were continuously increasing their border military strength, launching a major offensive against the Nine Kingdoms Alliance led by Huayi Sect.

Half of the territory of a medium-sized border nation called Fengyuan had fallen.

The good news was that due to the Mulan people’s aggressive actions and the formation of the Heavenly Dao Alliance by a dozen or so small and medium-sized nations, both the righteous and demonic paths ceased their war against the southern heartland.

The righteous and demonic paths could no longer act recklessly.

On one hand, the overall power of the Heavenly Dao Alliance surpassed that of either the righteous or demonic paths alone. On the other hand, the Nine Kingdoms Alliance exerted pressure, explicitly stating that if the righteous and demonic paths, along with the Heavenly Dao Alliance, continued their internal strife without sending reinforcements to strengthen the Nine Kingdoms Alliance’s borders and reinforce the southern border defenses, then all cultivation sects within the Nine Kingdoms Alliance would relocate inland, ceasing all resistance against the grassland barbarians. Instead, they would allow those grassland tribes to advance unimpeded, reaching the heart of Tiannan.

The loyal and courageous Grand Cultivator Wei Wuyai was also driven to desperation. The righteous and demonic

paths naturally did not want to draw the battle lines with the Mulan people to the heart of Tiannan,

nor did they want to be neighbors with them.

Therefore, they had no choice but to compromise and cease the civil war.

In other words,

the situation in Tiannan was gradually improving.

The civil war, which had lasted for over a century, had finally come to an end.

Tiannan had formed a regional division dominated by the Nine Kingdoms Alliance, the Righteous Dao Alliance, the Demonic Path, and the Heavenly Dao Alliance, with each faction controlling the southeast, northwest, and southwest.

Among them, the Nine Kingdoms Alliance, which has absorbed the remnants of most cultivation sects from the six factions of Yue Kingdom, the three factions of Yuanwu Kingdom, several factions of Zijin Kingdom, and the vast majority of other large and small countries like Shayun Kingdom, is the strongest.

It is overseen by Wei Wuyai, a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator. It has

over a hundred Nascent Soul cultivators.

Next is the Heavenly Dao Alliance,

which comprises six medium-sized countries and over ten small countries.

It also has over a hundred Nascent Soul cultivators.

As the leaders of the elders, Long Han and Feng Bing, a couple with peak mid-Nascent Soul cultivation, could rival late-Nascent Soul cultivators for a short time when they joined forces using secret techniques.

Furthermore, there were the righteous and demonic paths.

The overall strength of these two forces was roughly equal,

both having late-Nascent Soul cultivators in their ranks.

Each side alone had seventy or eighty Nascent Soul cultivators.

Besides these major pieces of information, there were also smaller pieces of intelligence.

“So, back then, Old Monster Linghu led his disciples from Huangfeng Valley to the Nine Kingdoms Alliance in the south? And united with the Hidden Moon Sect, Qingxu Sect, Huadaowu, Tianque Fortress, and Giant Sword Sect to occupy the small kingdom of Beiliang as their new base?”

“Yes, senior.”

Tsk tsk, back to the original trajectory, exactly the same.

The rest of the major trends hadn’t changed much.

The difference was that the one occupying Yue Kingdom now wasn’t the Ghost Spirit Sect, one of the six demonic sects, but the Hehuan Sect, the leader of the demonic path… and the one occupying Yuanwu

Kingdom wasn’t the Demon Flame Sect, but the Yuling Sect.

Furthermore, because Master Hongfu avoided the decisive battle at Jingu Plain, she wasn’t plotted against and didn’t perish in that defeat.

Not only did she survive, but she also fell out with Linghu Laoguai and left Huangfeng Valley.

“Master Hongfu went to Luoyun Sect and even reached Nascent Soul stage many years ago?”

Although he gave advice back then, he only did his best and never expected Master Hongfu to sever ties with the Dong family and Huangfeng Valley.

Master Hongfu’s decisive action truly surprised him.

“Yes, yes, Ancestor Hongfu is amazing.”

Xiaomei’s eyes were full of admiration when she mentioned Hongfu:

“I heard that after consolidating her cultivation, she often helped some countries of the Heavenly Dao Alliance resist the invasion of demonic forces. She always appeared when various sects of the Heavenly Dao Alliance clashed with the demonic forces, actively confronting the Nascent Soul cultivators of the demonic path on the battlefield.”

Han Li’s eyelids twitched upon hearing this.

It has to be said, this is very much like Master Hongfu.

Once she has the ability, she will definitely seek revenge.

Unlike Elder Linghu, who, despite being at the mid-Nascent Soul stage, kept his grudges bottled up and dared not seek revenge even as his lifespan neared its end,

Master Hongfu’s death was seen as a sign of inferior skill.

Elder Linghu’s death was seen as disregarding the greater good.

How to put it? Neither is wrong, just a difference in skill.

“Didn’t those from the Luoyun Sect stop it?”

“Elder Mu Li of the Luoyun Sect not only didn’t stop it, but also supported it. During his lifetime, he helped Elder Hongfu resolve crises multiple times, even risking serious injury to repel Elder Yunlu. Half of the Luoyun Sect’s current prestige comes from Elder Mu Li, who passed away a few years ago, and the other half comes from Elder Hongfu. It’s a pity that Elder Mu Li was too old and passed away a few years early; otherwise, you would certainly have witnessed his glory.”

Xiaomei said regretfully.

Han Li also felt deep regret.

He was also amazed by the Luoyun Sect’s gamble.

Any other sect would never tolerate Master Hongfu repeatedly provoking the demonic path.

But the Falling Cloud Sect dares to

do it. The old ones are completely fearless.

“Didn’t the Demonic Path consider retaliating against the Falling Cloud Sect?”

“Twice. But both times the Nascent Soul elders of the Heavenly Dao Alliance stopped them. Elder Hong Fu and the others did offend the Demonic Path, but they also helped many countries and sects. Those sects’ senior experts didn’t just stand by and watch the Falling Cloud Sect suffer…”

I understand.

There are good and bad aspects to everything.

Master Hong Fu wasn’t recklessly offending the Demonic Path; she was just using this as an excuse to build her network of connections among Nascent Soul cultivators.

Those who received help were all grateful.

How could any side stand idly by when the Falling Cloud Sect was in trouble?

“After the Heavenly Dao Alliance and the righteous and demonic paths have quieted down these past few years, has Master Hong Fu still taken action?”

“I haven’t heard about that from Miss Dong…”

“As expected.”

Master Hong Fu was indeed not one-track-minded.

“By the way, senior, I also heard from Miss and Miss Dong that many young cultivators from Xi Kingdom and several nearby countries with good spiritual roots and cultivation physiques, especially young and righteous female cultivators, have joined the Luoyun Sect because of Master Hongfu’s good reputation.”

“Is that so?”

Han Li was taken aback.

“Yes, yes, although the Luoyun Sect’s reputation is not as high as that of the Ancient Sword Sect, one of the three sects of Yunmeng, it surpasses that of the Hundred Crafts Academy. Miss said that if Ancestor Hongfu can preside over the Luoyun Sect for five hundred years, the Luoyun Sect will surely usher in a period of prosperity.”

“Your young lady has a good eye.”

Han Li praised her generously, then left a storage bag and gave her a task:

“Xiao Mei, give this jade slip to your young lady. I need to trouble her to do me a small favor again. Consider the contents of the storage bag as my deposit.”

“Yes, senior.”

“…

“

After bidding farewell to Xiao Mei, Han Li embarked on his journey again.

“I need to go to the Yunmeng Three Sects in the north to get a Spirit-Stabilizing Pill.”

His destination this time was Xi Kingdom, a medium-sized country bordering the Boundless Sea in the northernmost part of Tiannan, located in the southern part of Xi Kingdom. There, lies the Yunmeng Mountain Spirit Vein, hailed as one of the ten major spiritual veins in Tiannan.

This spiritual vein not only nurtures a Spirit Eye Tree tens of thousands of years old, but also supports the Ancient Sword Sect, the Hundred Crafts Academy, and the Falling Cloud Sect. It also supports at least 100,000 cultivators.

Half a year later,

Han Li, having concealed his aura and whereabouts as much as possible, finally entered the Heavenly Dao Alliance’s territory from the Righteous Path Alliance’s sphere of influence after a long detour.

The Righteous Path indeed found him agreeable.

After another month or so, he arrived in Xi Kingdom.

Recently, he even went to the outskirts of Yunmeng Mountain.

Initially, he planned to visit his master, Hong Fu, and see if he could obtain a Spirit-Stabilizing Pill from her. After all, the materials for refining a Spirit-Stabilizing Pill are extremely scarce.

As far as he knew, besides needing the essence of the Spirit Eye Tree as the main ingredient, various thousand-year-old spiritual herbs were also required as auxiliary ingredients.

While he had no shortage of the essence, he lacked the corresponding thousand-year-old spiritual herbs to serve as the necessary auxiliary ingredients. Furthermore, the formula for the Spirit-Stabilizing Pill was only known to a few members of the Falling Cloud Sect, making it even more difficult for him to obtain it.

Using connections would undoubtedly be an easy shortcut.

But…

After much deliberation, he decided to play it safe.

He wouldn’t rush to pay his respects.

His current cultivation level was simply too conspicuous.

If someone with ulterior motives discovered his background, there would be a lot of trouble.

“I need to see Master Hongfu’s attitude first.”

It was quite a coincidence.

In the recent sword-testing tournaments of the three sects of Yunmeng Mountain, the disciples of Luoyun Sect hadn’t won first place even once. The only first place they won in the last hundred years was thirty years ago,

achieved by a female disciple named Song Yu.

“Song Yu is only in her fifties now, she shouldn’t have formed her core yet, right?”

“Then…”

“Wait until the sect’s grand opening two years later, then approach her upon entering.”

With his current ability to conceal his presence, at least a Nascent Soul cultivator would need to be in close proximity to him to see through his disguise.

“Moreover, after dealing with the Han and Li families, my mind has become much more peaceful. Knowing that Master and Senior Sister are doing well has further improved my state of mind. Even my cultivation of the fourth level of the Great Evolution Technique has made some progress.”

This is the tempering of the heart in the mortal world.

(End of Chapter)