Demonic Cultivator(304-309) (Patreon)

Chapter 304: Let it be named, Heavenly Infinite Sect

As a Deity Transformation cultivator, Blood Wine True Master had no need to be involved in the specific affairs of Mystic Azure Star. After receiving the list of achievements, he promptly departed. The detailed matters would be left for the Nascent Soul cultivators, like Chu Xuan, to handle.

The Nascent Soul cultivators chatted enthusiastically, each suggesting a name for the new sect.

Shi Juntian turned toward Chu Xuan, smiling, and said, "Fellow Daoist Chu, do you have any ideas for the name of our new sect?"

Chu Xuan furrowed his brow, deep in thought. Numerous names for sects flashed through his mind, but in the end, he calmly spoke, "Let it be called Heavenly Infinite Sect."

Heavenly Infinite Sect was a name that carried deep personal meaning for him. It was a tribute to the Infinite Sect, the place where he first began his journey. As the strongest among them, his decision was final, and no one voiced any objections.

Shi Juntian continued, "I suggest that Fellow Daoist Chu become the first sect leader of the Heavenly Infinite Sect. Does anyone have any objections?"

The others all responded in unison, "We have no objections."

Chu Xuan didn't decline. The strongest should naturally have the most authority and access to the greatest resources. Of course, he accepted the position of sect leader, but he intended to delegate the day-to-day management to others.

It was important to allow the younger cultivators to gain experience and grow. After all, the Heavenly Infinite Sect was just starting and was still in its infancy. If he handled every single detail himself, how could the other cultivators develop? He hoped they would understand his well-intentioned approach in the future.

Soon, all traces of Feather Transformation Heaven Palace were erased. Spirit Feather Island was renamed Infinite Island.

The news that Heavenly Infinite Sect had replaced Feather Transformation Heaven Palace spread across every inch of Mystic Azure Star, stirring up a storm.

...

In the Southern Wilderness.

Yuan Zichu, Wu Dalang, and Zhu Yuqiao gathered together in a cave residence. The table was covered with a variety of spiritual food, and there were three jars of aged wine, one of which had already been opened, filling the room with a rich, intoxicating aroma.

A single sniff was enough to make one's heart race and soul stir.

Wu Dalang raised his cup and toasted Yuan Zichu. "Yuan, my old friend, looking back at our time on the battlefield, I truly owe you my life. If you hadn't rescued us, Zhu and I wouldn't have made it back to Mystic Azure. Now, you've received this earth-shattering news and still shared it with us at the first opportunity. I'm deeply grateful!"

As he spoke, he couldn't help but raise his cup again in high spirits.

Yuan Zichu smiled. "It was no trouble at all, Wu. There's no need to be so polite."

Zhu Yuqiao sighed, "But who could have imagined that such a massive power as Feather Transformation Heaven Palace would ever be replaced?"

Yuan Zichu chuckled. "The cycle of rise and fall is an unchanging law of the universe. There is no eternal dynasty, and no sect is truly immortal. Feather Transformation Heaven Palace being replaced by Heavenly Infinite Sect—it's unexpected, but also inevitable."

He took a bite of food and continued, "Now that Heavenly Infinite Sect is in its infancy and rebuilding, it will undoubtedly need talent. We should head to Central Continent as soon as possible; we'll surely be given important roles!"

Wu Dalang laughed heartily. "Exactly! Qiao'er is a Golden Core-level formation master, You are a Golden Core-level talisman master, and I am a half-baked puppet master. When the three of us go to Zhongzhou, our future will be bright! Come, come, let's drink! In the past, every time we drank, you always tried to avoid it, Yuan. This time, you have to drink to your heart's content!"

Yuan Zichu glanced at Zhu Yuqiao without leaving a trace, then immediately raised his cup. "Alright, alright! Today, I'll drink with Wu to my heart's content!"

He took a big gulp of wine, but half of it dripped from the corner of his mouth. Before it could touch the table, it evaporated silently, disappearing without a trace.

A while later, Wu Dalang's face was flushed red. With a loud "thud," he collapsed at the table.

Zhu Yuqiao covered her mouth and giggled, then reached out to pull Yuan Zichu's sleeve. "Yuan, you really are bold."

Yuan Zichu smiled. "It's all the more flavorful this way, don't you think?"

Zhu Yuqiao laughed playfully, her cheeks flushed with a lovely pink glow. "So, where shall we exchange insights on the formation way this time?"

"I've already warmed up the pill furnace," Yuan Zichu said with a meaningful smile.

"You rascal!"

The room was filled with a light, cheerful atmosphere.

...

A similar scene played out across Mystic Azure.

The rise of the Heavenly Infinite Sect and the replacement of Feather Transformation Heaven Palace meant a significant reshuffling.

For many cultivators, this was a massive opportunity. Whether they could seize this moment and climb the ranks depended on their own abilities.

Soon, cultivators from all over Mystic Azure flocked toward the Heavenly Infinite Sect. Such trivial matters were left to people like Zheng Ji and Wan Hun to handle. There was no need for Chu Xuan to worry about them. He had already returned to Blue Star to assess the gains from the Mystic Azure battle.

"Such a pity. Why did Feather Transformation Heaven Palace not have any hidden treasure locations? Wouldn't it make sense for them to have a secret vault prepared for a future resurgence?"

After reviewing Zhao Kai's memories, Chu Xuan couldn't help but shake his head. He had intentionally spared Zhao Kai's life, hoping to find some unexpected treasure in his memories.

It turned out that not every sect was prepared for danger or had secret vaults ready.

Zhao Kai's physical body was handed over to Hu and Long, while his soul was absorbed and refined by Chu Xuan using the Inner Furnace Refining Method. Of course, Zhao Kai's lifespan wasn't neglected either. His final blow was entrusted to the Life Ghost, who managed to siphon away twenty years of Zhao Kai's remaining life.

It wasn't that Zhao Kai had only twenty years left to live, but rather that the Life Ghost could only take a maximum of twenty years. To drain Zhao Kai's entire remaining lifespan would require more than just a simple ghost—it would take something far more powerful.

"Zhao Kai's storage bag contains quite a few good items," Chu Xuan mused. "This Inverted Chaos Formation is a real treasure." He continued to go through the items. "And here's a top-tier magic treasure, Iron Peak Mountain, which combines offense and defense."

"Too bad the other magic treasures are all destroyed." He sighed, somewhat ruefully. "Being too strong can be a problem. I end up breaking my own treasures!"

He thought for a moment and then shrugged. It wasn't his fault. If anyone was to blame, it was Zhao Kai and the others for resisting so fiercely. It was a shame, though, to lose such good treasures.

"Ah, a Great Spirit Stone!" Chu Xuan's eyes gleamed as he continued searching. "Great Spirit Stones are typically used in transactions by Deity Transformation cultivators. I can't believe Zhao Kai had some."

He carefully examined the stones. Thirty Great Spirit Stones in total—each one the size of a fist. They were crystal-clear, sparkling with a radiant glow. They were far more perfect than Medium Spirit Stones.

Normally, one Great Spirit Stone could be exchanged for a hundred Medium Spirit Stones, but few people actually did that. Instead, many would trade one hundred and twenty, one hundred thirty, or even one hundred forty Small Spirit Stones for just one Great Spirit Stone. The reason for this was simple: the Spiritual Qi contained in a Great Spirit Stone was extremely pure.

Many cultivators faced the problem of depleted Spiritual Qi during battles. To restore it, they either had to take medicinal pills or use Spirit Stones. However, pills were expensive and typically saved for emergencies. The majority of cultivators used Spirit Stones to replenish their Spiritual Qi, and the purer the Spiritual Qi inside the stone, the better.

Chapter 305: Some People Are Meant to Die, Such Is Life

In this regard, Great Spirit Stones were certainly far superior to Medium Spirit Stones. Moreover, Great Spirit Stones had fewer impurities and their Spiritual Qi was far purer, making them the ideal energy source for formations. With these thirty or so Great Spirit Stones, Chu Xuan would be able to trade with other Nascent Soul cultivators in the later stages.

"This Dryland Earth Dragon Puppet isn't bad, but the current refinement method can't fully bring out its potential. I'll find time to refine it again; it could be a decent combat asset," Chu Xuan mused as he examined the puppet, nodding in satisfaction.

"Wait, what's this? Black Nether Falcon's flesh?"

He noticed a jade box at the bottom of Cheng Qi's storage bag. Inside was the lifeless body of a Black Nether Falcon, roughly the size of a palm. The falcon had clearly been dead for some time, but the box was engraved with a formation that maintained the falcon's physical condition, preventing it from decaying.

This was clearly a juvenile Black Nether Falcon, still in its early stages of growth. Chu Xuan couldn't help but wonder how Cheng Qi had acquired it. Most likely, it was meant for body refinement purposes.

"Seems like it's my lucky day!"

Chu Xuan was overjoyed. He quickly retrieved the dead Black Nether Falcon and placed it into the Psionic Cube. As expected, the feathers on the surface of the Black Nether Falcon began to shed immediately, and its body slowly began to transform. Eventually, it turned into a small, pink, square-shaped meat block.

Chu Xuan cut off a small piece and was pleasantly surprised. His initial judgment had been right! The vitality contained in the Black Nether Falcon's flesh was far more abundant than that of the Nether Crocodile's flesh!

He quickly stored the remaining pieces away and then retrieved another storage bag. This one had been brought back by Blood Wine from the "Heaven Shaking Star," which was the home of the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect. Inside were treasures granted by the sect.

When Chu Xuan had first made a request to Blood Wine, he had casually asked for two top-tier magic treasures, two peak Nascent Soul-tier secret methods for spirit sense, five top-tier Nascent Soul-tier talismans, and a vial of Spirit-Refining Liquid that would definitely arrive within a hundred years. He had made the request rather boldly, not expecting the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect to actually honor it.

But to his surprise, the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect had kept their word. The contents of this storage bag were what Blood Wine had given him a list of before he set out, with Chu Xuan personally selecting items from the list.

Of course, Chu Xuan had slightly altered his request—he no longer needed new secret methods for spirit sense, as he already had plenty. What he really wanted were more magic treasures to refine and upgrade.

As for the excess items, he had no use for them, so they were converted into sect contribution points, which he could redeem for whatever he needed later.

Rubbing his hands together, Chu Xuan opened the storage bag. Inside, there were only a few items:

- A pale white token,
- A small, pitch-black tower,
- A block of ancient beeswax,
- A crimson crystal nearly as tall as a person,
- And seven talismans imbued with powerful energy.

Let's first talk about the White Bone Token.

The front of the token was carved with an imposing hall made entirely of piled white bones. The back depicted a giant skeletal hand reaching up from deep underground, as if trying to tear down the very sky. This was the identity token of the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect.

Now that the Infinite Sect was a fifth-tier sect under the banner of the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect, Chu Xuan, as the Sect Leader, was naturally entitled to an identity within the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect.

However, as a Nascent Soul cultivator, he was not yet qualified to become an Elder, only eligible to serve as a Steward. This was a Steward Token.

Chu Xuan poured his spiritual sense into the token, immediately imprinting his own spirit sense upon it. The token was actually a fine magic treasure in its own right, equipped with various functions such as sound transmission, heating, cooling, insect repelling, and emergency summoning.

As he probed deeper, he saw a number glowing within the token: one thousand. This number represented sect contribution points within the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect. One contribution point was roughly equivalent to the value of one Great Spirit Stone.

"One thousand contribution points," Chu Xuan muttered. "Not much, but not too little either. If there's ever an opportunity, I'll definitely visit the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect's main mountain gate. As a sixth-tier sect, the resources they have stored—cultivation techniques, secret methods, magic treasures, pills, talismans—everything must be of the highest quality."

He carefully stored the identity token and shifted his attention to the next item.

This was an unusual, jagged black tower. The item was called the Heavenly Corpse Tower, and it was a top-tier magic treasure.

The corpse tower he had used before was only a magic tool, which had proven insufficient to handle the growing number of corpses he was collecting. When he had seen this particular item listed, he had eagerly chosen it.

The Heavenly Corpse Tower was larger and contained stronger yin qi, making it ideal for corpse refining. It also had defensive capabilities, unlike the regular corpse tower, which only served to nurture corpse puppets and store bodies.

Additionally, the Heavenly Corpse Tower came with its own Corpse Refining Pool. From now on, there would be no need for Chu Xuan to dig pits and mix medicinal fluids manually. With just a thought, the Heavenly Corpse Tower would automatically perform all necessary actions.

Then there was the Ancient Beeswax.

It looked corroded and blackened, almost as if it would soon start to emit a foul odor. However, this was the beeswax of the ancient "Nether Bees".

Although the beeswax appeared small and fragile, it was incredibly tough, harder than steel. Even a top-tier attacking magic treasure would be unable to destroy it.

Chu Xuan planned to incorporate this beeswax into his Blood Hive. Doing so would not only enhance the quality of the Blood Hive but would also likely increase its overall capabilities.

Next, there was the Deep Crimson Crystal, which was taller than a person. Blood seemed to flow within its depths, constantly emitting a sweet, pungent scent.

This crystal was called Blood River Crystal and was a rare product from the Blood River Star. The crystal could only be extracted from the deepest part of the Blood River, where mortal beings could not venture. Even Foundation Establishment cultivators were barely able to retrieve it.

This item was extraordinarily valuable. Any magic treasure infused with Blood River Crystal would gain the ability to absorb blood, including the blood of the living. Once refined into the Evil Soul Chain, this Crystal would not only allow it to bind souls but also absorb blood, adding a powerful new ability.

Additionally, the quality of the Chain might rise from being a top-tier magic treasure to becoming a peak magic treasure.

"So many treasures…" Chu Xuan grinned widely, the glint of greed flashing in his eyes. "I need to refine them quickly and turn them into usable combat power."

He settled into a meditative state and began the process of refining each item one by one.

...

Upon hearing the report brought by his subordinates, Wen Lingtian couldn't help but frown deeply.

"Mystic Azure Star was conquered by the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect in such a short time?" He turned to look at Situ Kong, asking, "Situ, do you know what happened on Mystic Azure Star?"

Situ Kong's expression was grim. "Reporting to Ancestor, I too am unaware. To be cautious, I even passed on the method to craft the Dryland Earth Dragon Puppet to Zhao Kai. Yet, Zhao Kai and the others still failed…"

Wen Lingtian furrowed his brows but remained silent.

"Ancestor, what should be done with Mystic Azure now?" one of his subordinates asked in a low voice.

Wen Lingtian shook his head. "The struggle for control over the Battlefield is the top priority. Mystic Azure Star being lost is no great concern."

The subordinate was taken aback. "But there are still many righteous cultivators on Mystic Azure Star fighting desperately. If we abandon Mystic Azure, wouldn't that mean we are abandoning them as well?"

Situ Kong cast him a glance and spoke coldly, "Those who hesitate when the time to act comes only bring disaster upon themselves. Mystic Azure Star's fate is sealed. The remaining righteous cultivators on Mystic Azure Star are still resisting the demonic path. While their courage is commendable, it does not warrant the Sect's intervention. Some people are meant to die. That is the way of life."

The subordinate sighed deeply. "Understood…"

With just a few words, Wen Lingtian had already decided the fate of the stubborn righteous cultivators still resisting on Mystic Azure Star.

Wen Lingtian's voice was calm. "Mystic Azure Star can be abandoned, but we must find out how it was conquered by the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect. We need to understand this clearly."

The subordinate immediately bowed. "Understood, Ancestor."

Chapter 306: If I Die, Bury Me in the Extreme Yin Cave of Wu Zhou, Southern Wilderness

On Blue Star, Chu Xuan stood before the hulking form of the Dryland Earth Dragon Corpse, a satisfied smile on his face. After using several tons of corpse-repairing potion, he had finally brought this beast to life.

"You'd better not disappoint me. Otherwise, all that effort would've been for nothing," Chu Xuan muttered to himself, snapping his fingers.

The Dryland Earth Dragon Corpse began to stir, its movements initially stiff, but soon it was moving with ease.

Bang!

With a powerful push from its legs, the dragon corpse leapt out of the massive pit with a force that caused the ground to shake. It felt as though a minor earthquake had just occurred.

Roar!

The Dryland Earth Dragon Corpse opened its mouth and let out a roar that reverberated through the heavens. The sound of its dragon's roar echoed across the sky, while flames shot from its mouth, soaring into the clouds. People several dozen kilometers away could see the fiery eruption clearly, and many were shocked and awestruck.

However, the members of Black Blade were unperturbed. They remained as calm as ever, as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. This vast Blue Star was protected by immortals, so what could possibly go wrong?

If it was a tiger, it would have to lie down. If it was a dragon, it would have to coil. Whatever demons or monsters appeared, the end result would always be the same: they'd become the immortal's beloved pet.

At that moment, Chu Xuan was already mounted on the Dryland Earth Dragon Corpse. He immediately felt a dense spiritual aura surrounding him, as the earth's spiritual energy enveloped his body. Without warning, the Dryland Earth Dragon Corpse burrowed into the ground.

The soil and rocks split apart on their own as the creature tunneled below. Though it was dark, Chu Xuan could still sense the flow of the earth's energy, thanks to the corpse's earth-burrowing abilities.

Having refined the Dryland Earth Dragon Corpse, Chu Xuan now shared some of its capabilities.

"This speed is incredible! It's even faster than my Ice Crystal Divine Light Escape!" Chu Xuan exclaimed, impressed.

The Dryland Earth Dragon Corpse was a master of earth-based evasion, able to appear suddenly and deliver devastating surprise attacks. Unfortunately, this creature couldn't fly. If it could, it would completely replace flying magic treasures. While others would soar on flying swords or knives, Chu Xuan would ride his own dragon corpse—how domineering that would look!

Whoosh!

The Dryland Earth Dragon Corpse suddenly leapt again, reappearing by the vast, endless expanse of the East Sea.

Chu Xuan patted the dragon's massive head with a smile. "Not bad. You need a name. You'll be called Dalong."

The Dryland Earth Dragon Corpse remained silent. Despite its King-level strength, it lacked a mind of its own. It could only carry out the simplest, most basic commands driven purely by instinct—commands like attacking, defending, or retreating. For more delicate actions, such as breathing fire or swinging its tail, Chu Xuan had to exert his spiritual sense to control it.

Naturally, the Dryland Earth Dragon Corpse didn't react to the name Chu Xuan gave it.

"In the future, I might be able to implant a demonic beast's soul into this thing to act as a pilot," Chu Xuan mused. "But that method... I haven't learned it yet." He paused for a moment before his eyes lit up. "Wei Ji's technique for creating wooden puppets is impressive. Maybe I can apply that to control the Dryland Earth Dragon Corpse."

A smile appeared on Chu Xuan's face. As the sect leader of the Heavenly Infinite Sect, it would be a simple matter to request the method from Wei Ji. Surely he would comply.

...

"Take care, Sect Leader. Feel free to come by again whenever you need anything!" Wei Ji smiled broadly as he sent Chu Xuan off. But once the sect leader had left, his expression fell, and he sank down onto the steps of his cave residence.

"That was my most prized wooden puppet..." Wei Ji muttered under his breath. "Chu Xuan, you..." He fumed with resentment, but when he thought about the terrifying way Chu Xuan had killed Zhao Kai, all of his anger instantly evaporated.

"He's right to take the puppet technique... it's for the good of the sect," Wei Ji muttered, trying to convince himself. "Yes, yes. As a Nascent Soul elder of the Heavenly Infinite Sect, I must always consider the sect's interests first."

He sighed, trying to push his frustration aside.

...

Later that night, atop Infinite Island.

Chu Xuan and Wan Wuying raised their cups, toasting to the moon. However, before they could take more than a few sips, Wan Wuying's face suddenly changed.

"Sect Leader..." he forced a smile. "With the gap in our strength so large, do you really have to poison me?"

Chu Xuan clicked his tongue, looking apologetic. "Sorry, I acted too quickly."

Wan Wuying stared at him in silence.

Chu Xuan tossed a storage pouch toward him. "This is the item I promised you."

Wan Wuying opened it to find a Soul Breaking Spike. His eyes immediately brightened.

"Thank you, Sect Leader," Wan Wuying said respectfully.

Chu Xuan nodded.

The Soul Breaking Spike was a spiritual tool required by Golden Core cultivators to break through to the Nascent Soul realm. It no longer held much value for Chu Xuan, but since he had promised Wan Wuying, it was only right to keep his word and give it to him.

"You're at the seventh level of Golden Core, right?" Chu Xuan asked casually.

"Yes, that's correct."

"Then keep working hard and strive to break through to Nascent Soul before your lifespan runs out."

Wan Wuying forced a smile. "It's not that simple. A single Soul Breaking Spike only increases the success rate by one or two percent. But right now, I don't have any other opportunities to obtain Nascent Soul tools. If I have no choice, I'll have to use this needle to force my way into the Nascent Soul realm. Success or failure... it all depends on fate."

Chu Xuan snapped his fingers casually, and Wan Wuying immediately felt a strange emptiness inside his body.

"Now that the Heavenly Infinite Sect is under the protection of the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect, we are no longer master and servant," Chu Xuan said. "I've removed the insect eggs from Wei Ji, Liu Ruoshui, Zheng Ji, Wan Hun, and the others. Yours has been removed as well."

"Don't stress when trying to break through to Nascent Soul," Chu Xuan continued. "If it doesn't work, at least try to form a fake Nascent Soul."

With that, Chu Xuan stood up.

Wan Wuying remained silent for a long while before finally speaking. "If I die and my path ends, please bury me in the Extreme Yin Cave."

"Alright, I promise you," Chu Xuan nodded.

Wan Wuying then rose, bowing respectfully. "I bid you farewell, Sect Leader."

Chu Xuan didn't turn around and continued walking away, leaving Wan Wuying standing there. The elder's expression darkened with melancholy.

From being master and disciple, to once being senior brother and junior brother, to now, with Wan Wuying as a Nascent Soul cultivator and Chu Xuan having surpassed him as a Golden Core cultivator—he had watched Chu Xuan grow stronger and faster, to the point where the gap between them was now insurmountable.

Chu Xuan sighed lightly to himself. The moment Wan Wuying had called him "Sect Leader," a thick, sad barrier had fallen between them. In the path of cultivation, power and rank always took precedence. Now, with their vast difference in cultivation realms and statuses, it was only natural that Wan Wuying could no longer call him by name.

"My dear master, my senior brother... I hope you can succeed in your breakthrough to Nascent Soul," Chu Xuan thought.

Without hesitation, he walked away.

...

Three years had passed in the blink of an eye since the fall of Mystic Azure Star. Cultivators from all over Mystic Azure had flocked to the Central Continent.

Soon, the Heavenly Infinite Sect held its first grand recruitment ceremony.

The ceremony was held on the massive plaza of Infinite Island. The square was packed with excited young disciples, their faces filled with anticipation. These were the chosen spiritual seedlings selected from all over the Central Continent to join the Heavenly Infinite Sect.

Only those with superior spiritual roots could qualify for cultivation in the Heavenly Infinite Sect.

As the sect leader, Chu Xuan could not simply sit back and relax, even though he wished he could. He had to be present for such an important event. Sitting beside him were Shi Juntian, Wei Ji, Liu Ruoshui, Zheng Ji, Wan Hun, and the other sect elders.

"Eh, that little child looks a bit familiar," Chu Xuan remarked, his eyes falling on a chubby, tiger-faced boy.

Chapter 307: Discipleship Ceremony

Wei Ji laughed when he heard Chu Xuan's words. "Those children are all from the Southern Wilderness. Sect Leader, you're from the Southern Wilderness too, right? Perhaps you know some of them."

Chu Xuan's interest was piqued.

At once, Bai Jinkun swiftly ran down to bring the child up to the stage.

The chubby-faced boy was clearly startled that he was being brought up before the elders. Though Chu Xuan and the others had concealed their Nascent Soul auras, the pressure from their decisiveness and authority still made the child struggle to breathe.

Chu Xuan smiled kindly. "Child, what's your name, and where do you come from?"

The boy blinked his big eyes, awkwardly bowing before he replied seriously, "Reporting to the Sect Leader, my name is Huang Feihu, from the Huang family of White Water City, Wu Province, Southern Wilderness."

Chu Xuan raised an eyebrow.

Some distant memories surfaced in his mind.

"The Huang family... Who's your ancestor?" he suddenly asked.

Huang Feihu respectfully answered, "My ancestor's name is Huang An, a Foundation Establishment cultivator."

Wei Ji and the others couldn't help but chuckle at the response.

A Foundation Establishment cultivator. In the eyes of a mortal child, such a title could easily be considered a "great cultivator."

Chu Xuan nodded slightly.

No wonder the boy's face seemed familiar. Now that he thought about it, he could see the resemblance. Huang Feihu looked almost exactly like Huang An.

Huang An had once been his subordinate, gathering intelligence and aiding him considerably. Later, Chu Xuan sent him some Foundation Establishment materials, unintentionally giving Huang An an opportunity to rise again.

"So, how is Huang An now?" Chu Xuan asked.

Huang Feihu's gaze dimmed slightly. "Ancestor... He passed away of old age some time ago. However, Ancestor worked hard throughout his life, cultivating many cultivators. Our Huang family in Baishui City is now a Foundation Establishment family!"

Chu Xuan nodded thoughtfully.

It had been an unintentional gesture, just giving Huang An a chance. Yet, Huang An had managed to revitalize himself, producing many descendants, despite his old age. Truly, the old steed never forgets its ambition.

But, of course, Huang An had grown old. Even after reaching the Foundation Establishment, his life expectancy wasn't long.

It was rare for cultivators of higher realms to live out their full natural lifespan, despite their strength. The phrase "passed away of old age" meant something quite different in their world.

"What's your talent?" Chu Xuan asked casually.

"Reporting to the Sect Leader, I have a top-grade Earth Spiritual Root," Huang Feihu said earnestly.

Chu Xuan smiled and nodded. "Very good. With such a talent, if Huang An is watching from beyond, he will surely be pleased. Go now, train well, and don't disappoint the spirit of your ancestor in the afterlife."

"Yes!" Huang Feihu replied excitedly, his head bobbing eagerly.

This was the Sect Leader of the prestigious Heavenly Infinite Sect, personally praising him. He couldn't believe it. He would certainly cultivate diligently and make his ancestor proud, contributing to the sect's greatness!

Wei Ji and the others didn't say much.

They were all clever people and could tell that Huang An had been an old acquaintance of Chu Xuan. Calling Huang Feihu up and asking a few questions was nothing more than a casual gesture.

But, since there was this bit of old friendship involved, Huang Feihu's future in Heavenly Infinite Sect would likely go smoothly. No one would intentionally make things difficult for him.

Bai Jinkun's eyes flickered as he spoke up, "Sect Leader, this child is quite promising. I'd like to take him under my wing."

Chu Xuan smiled. "Alright, then. I'll leave him to you."

It was obvious to him that Bai Jinkun wanted to take Huang Feihu as his disciple because of the connection to Huang An. After all, Huang Feihu was just a spiritual root candidate—most Foundation Establishment stage cultivators could easily take him in as a disciple. There was no need for a Golden Core cultivator to take on such a task.

However, Bai Jinkun was mistaken. Chu Xuan had only brought Huang Feihu up for a few words of encouragement because of the old connection. He had no intention of giving the boy any special treatment.

The discipleship ceremony continued. Shi Juntian, Wei Ji, and the other Nascent Soul cultivators each represented a faction within the Heavenly Infinite Sect and would take in their own disciples. This event was essentially about bringing the new spiritual seedlings into their respective caves to begin their training.

Chu Xuan, however, was barely paying attention. He felt drowsy and was lost in thought. For the first time, he realized how exhausting being a leader could be.

It wasn't until dusk that the discipleship ceremony finally came to an end.

"Farewell, Sect Leader!"

The crowd called out, their voices ringing through the air.

Chu Xuan quickly made his exit, eager to leave without lingering a moment longer.

...

However, not long after, new news arrived.

"Shang Xingchen? That guy is going to take a position at Heavenly Infinite Sect?"

Chu Xuan furrowed his brows as he received a transmission from Blood Wine True Master.

Shang Xingchen and his brother Shang Tianjue had done some things in the past that, even now, made Chu Xuan feel a bit of admiration. He didn't want people like that as his opponents.

A few months later, sure enough, Shang Xingchen passed through the teleportation array and arrived at Infinite Island.

Under Shi Juntian's guidance, Shang Xingchen made his way to the main hall of the sect to meet Chu Xuan.

It was the first time Chu Xuan saw this former genius of the Nether Dao Sect.

Shang Xingchen was handsome and fair-skinned, his face always carrying a gentle smile, giving him a harmless air.

"Shang Xingchen greets Sect Leader Chu."

He bowed respectfully to Chu Xuan.

Chu Xuan laughed heartily. "Fellow Daoist Shang, no need for such formalities. Come, bring the tea!"

Immediately, a graceful female cultivator stepped forward and served spiritual tea.

Shi Juntian bowed respectfully. "Sect Leader, I'll take my leave now."

"Alright, go ahead," Chu Xuan waved him off.

With that, the hall was left with only Chu Xuan and Shang Xingchen.

"Please, take a seat." Chu Xuan smiled.

Shang Xingchen cupped his hands. "I've heard of your outstanding achievements during the Mystic Azure Battle, Sect Leader Chu. Even Blood Wine True Master spoke highly of you. Inside the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect, there are many voices of praise for you as well. Shang greatly admires you, Sect Leader, truly!"

Chu Xuan simply smiled. "It's just empty fame. If I had the choice, I would rather stay away from conflict and not be involved in bloodshed. After all, I've never been someone who enjoys fighting."

Upon hearing this, Shang Xingchen laughed heartily but didn't say anything further.

He picked up his tea, about to take a sip, when he glanced around and smiled. "I've long heard that Sect Leader is proficient in the art of poison insects, and today I finally get to witness it firsthand. To think that even the hot tea can't harm the insect eggs. It must be extraordinary indeed."

Chu Xuan's expression remained unchanged. "Fellow Daoist Shang is no slouch either. Your poison techniques are quite exquisite. You've managed to spread four types of poisonous powder while speaking. One that can confuse the mind, another with fire toxicity, a third with ice poison, and the last one, which can slow down Spiritual Qi. These four poisons may not kill me immediately, but over time, as the dosage increases, they will slow down my ability to cast spells during battle."

Shang Xingchen smiled warmly. "Such a small trick, and it was easily seen through by the Sect Leader. It seems you're not only skilled in the way of poison insects but also quite proficient in the art of poison. I believe I'll have to discuss it further with you in the future, Sect Leader."

Chu Xuan smiled back. "That would be excellent. We can help each other improve, and that's a wonderful thing. I wonder, Fellow Daoist Shang, why did you choose to join the Heavenly Infinite Sect and become a Nascent Soul elder? With your talents and disposition, becoming a Nascent Soul disciple of the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect would have been no difficult task."

Chapter 308: Isn't It Just the Holy Ant Tribe? Charge!

Shang Xingchen sighed with a smile. "It's all because of my useless older brother. I gave up my spot for him. Master Luo of the Heavenly Blood Alliance invited me to his place. I thought it over, but in the end, I came to Mystic Azure Star. Not for any particular reason, but mainly because of you, Sect Leader Chu."

Chu Xuan raised an eyebrow. "Because of me?"

Shang Xingchen smiled warmly. "Sect Leader Chu went from a mere Qi Refining cultivator to the position you hold today. There must be something remarkable about you. Now, as I'm living under someone else's roof, I naturally have to choose a strong leader."

Chu Xuan smiled back. "In that case, I welcome you, Fellow Daoist Shang, to join the Heavenly Infinite Sect."

Shang Xingchen also smiled. "Thank you, Sect Leader, for your approval. Now, I'll be able to shine and contribute to Heavenly Infinite Sect."

The two walked out of the Sect Leader's hall side by side. One turned left, the other right, heading to their respective caves.

Shang Xingchen gently patted his sleeve, making sure to secure the poison powders even more tightly.

"I used four kinds of poison powder to test him, and he actually detected it quickly and even described their effects. It seems that Sect Leader Chu's poison techniques are also quite formidable.

This man, rising from a Qi Refining cultivator to his current position, truly isn't someone with just empty fame. It looks like I'll have to improve my poisons further. Since regaining my memories, this is the first person who was able to dissolve my poisons so easily. I've truly made the right choice returning to Mystic Azure."

Meanwhile, Chu Xuan furrowed his brows. The hidden bee egg had only been a test to gauge Shang Xingchen's abilities.

If Shang Xingchen had failed to detect the insect egg, it would have shown that his strength was average, and there would be no need to pay further attention to him.

But the fact that Shang Xingchen discovered it so quickly indicated that he was someone worth keeping an eye on.

Chu Xuan had used a different insect egg this time. It wasn't the standard second-transformation poison insect. It was a third-transformation insect, enhanced and refined with techniques he'd gained from studying various demon insects.

Most Nascent Soul cultivators would struggle to detect it.

"It seems the Hidden Bee still needs to be improved, at least to the level of a fourth-transformation insect, before it can't be detected by him," Chu Xuan thought to himself as he left.

He wasn't truly trying to control Shang Xingchen with the Hidden Bee; he merely wanted to understand the man's true intentions for joining the Heavenly Infinite Sect.

In the following days, Shang Xingchen quickly integrated into the Heavenly Infinite Sect. Every day, he followed the rules, doing what he was supposed to do. There was no sign of trouble from him.

Shi Juntian, Wan Hun, and the others found him to be a warm and approachable person. Bai Jinkun and the other Golden Core disciples saw him as a friendly Nascent Soul senior.

As for the lower-ranked disciples, they regarded Shang Xingchen as the epitome of a Nascent Soul Elder—always smiling, always approachable.

But Chu Xuan had an instinctive feeling that there was something off about him as if Shang Xingchen was hiding some kind of malice beneath his gentle exterior.

After all, anyone who tried to poison him every time they met, and always with different poisons, could not possibly be a normal person.

Of course, every time they met, Chu Xuan also made sure to iterate and improve his insect techniques. After all, as the Sect Leader, he had resources and disciples to acquire any kind of insect he wanted.

Every encounter between the two was a subtle test of each other's abilities.

...

In the Cave World.

As usual, Chu Xuan cast a glance into the cavern.

The traps set by Lie Yong had proven effective. The Holy Ant Tribe had learned the full story of the conflict between the Fire Ant Tribe and the Devouring Thunder Ant Tribe.

After conducting a field investigation, several of the Holy Ant Tribe's elders deliberated for a long time and finally decided that the Fire Ant Tribe was innocent. They were granted the full territory of the Devouring Thunder Ant Tribe.

After all, the Fire Ant Tribe had always held the moral high ground. After conquering the Devouring Thunder Ant Tribe, they didn't indiscriminately slaughter innocents but treated the Devouring Thunder Tribe's people fairly and even offered preferential treatment to them.

Naturally, the Holy Ant Tribe didn't feel they could say much.

Now, the Fire Ant Tribe, under the leadership of Lie Yong, had grown into a medium-sized tribe. Its scale was now comparable to, if not larger than, the former Devouring Thunder Ant Tribe.

The territories of several other medium-sized tribes around them had been partially taken over by the Fire Ant Tribe.

Chu Xuan's gaze shifted back to Lie Yong.

At this very moment, Lie Yong was lying in a chair, wrapped in soft white insect leather. He was holding a beautifully bound book and reading it with great interest.

Paper books were a luxury in the Cave World. Most people only had access to bone tablets engraved with characters.

Chu Xuan looked around. The decoration of this house was clearly very extravagant. Everywhere he looked, there were statues of demon insects made using secret techniques. They looked so lifelike as if they were about to leap out and launch an attack at any moment.

Chu Xuan carefully observed Lie Yong.

He noticed that the once muscular and vigorous man had aged considerably. His once-dark hair was now fully white at the temples, and the gray had spread throughout the rest of his hair.

"Last time I paid attention, Lie Yong was already approaching sixty," Chu Xuan thought. "Now, over forty years have passed, and Lie Yong is just over a hundred."

Chu Xuan felt a sense of melancholy.

Lie Yong was undoubtedly an outstanding figure, a true hero. But even such a person had one foot in the grave. After all, Lie Yong had never managed to break into the ranks of Platinum Insect Masters.

"He's truly reaching the end of his lifespan," Chu Xuan mused.

Suddenly, Lie Yong began coughing violently.

He hurriedly walked to the wall beside him, where there was a row of transparent, tube-shaped insects. These insects were called "Crystal Tube Worms." Those with some status would use these worms to hold their wine. The worms were quite obedient—just a light tap on their body, and the liquid inside would spill out from their mouths into a cup.

Lie Yong quickly filled a large cup with wine and drank deeply. After a long while, he let out a satisfied sigh.

"This longevity wine really works," he said, his voice full of contentment. "It's a shame my injuries never fully healed. My lifespan has probably been shortened considerably."

Lie Yong sighed deeply, his tone full of regret.

Chu Xuan nodded slightly. He was aware of this. Many years ago, when the Fire Ant Tribe had just established itself and had barely stabilized, they clashed with the nearby Flying Sky Ant Tribe. Lie Yong had stepped in, defeating the Flying Sky Ant Tribe's leader, but in the process, he had sustained severe injuries.

It was that battle that left him critically wounded and spurred him to seek out materials to extend his life. Five years ago, Lie Yong finally gathered all the required materials to make this longevity wine. It was a testament to his perseverance.

Those materials didn't exist in the Cave World and had to be painstakingly sourced, and he had managed to cobble them together. While it wasn't as instant as a Longevity Pill, the gradual effects of the wine would likely add about ten years to his life.

"Magic Mirror, oh Magic Mirror," Lie Yong muttered as he entered his room, closing the door behind him. He then took out the fragment of the Mirror, which he always kept close, along with several small crystals that he placed on its surface.

Chu Xuan quickly learned the contents of the insect breeding techniques from these crystals and couldn't help but shake his head.

"No good," he thought. "These methods are far too primitive. They're clearly limited in potential. At best, they could only reach the level of a three-transformation insect. This won't satisfy me."

With a shake of his head, Chu Xuan used his spiritual sense to write a line of text on the surface of the mirror shard:

"Holy Ant Cultivation Method."

Lie Yong saw the text appear and couldn't help but laugh bitterly. "Holy Ant Cultivation Method?"

"Kill me now," he thought. "Even if I were bolder, I wouldn't dare entertain such an idea. I have such a large tribe. I have children and grandchildren. I can't take that kind of risk."

At that moment, another line of text appeared on the mirror.

"Great Orifice Opening Scripture can open another Insect Orifice."

Lie Yong's eyes immediately turned red.

"Isn't this the Holy Ant Tribe?! Charge!" he shouted, determination filling his voice.

Chapter 309: Secret Mission

Chu Xuan was pleased as he watched Lie Yong's reaction.

The so-called "Orifice Opening Scripture" was a technique he had improved from a Golden Core-level insect cultivation method. In essence, it was similar to the "Blood Worms Tome", with the main difference being the focus on opening an additional Insect Orifice in the practitioner's body, allowing them to cultivate more powerful insect-based techniques.

For cultivators, it wasn't much different to open one special organ for cultivating insects or two. For instance, Chu Xuan only needed to enlarge his Bloodworm Sac, there was no need for a second one. However, for the Cave People, opening another Insect Orifice would significantly increase their combat power.

Chu Xuan had known from the beginning that Lie Yong would never be able to refuse such an opportunity. He had kept the "Great Orifice Opening Scripture" hidden for so long, waiting for the right moment to bring it out. Now, it seemed, was the time.

"People grow old, and they start to lose their drive," Chu Xuan muttered to himself, thinking about how much Lie Yong had changed over the years.

"Ah, how I miss the old Lie Yong—the one full of ambitions."

He couldn't help but feel some regret. In the past, Lie Yong had been fiercely driven, but now he was more concerned about his children and their future.

As a responsible and thoughtful golden finger, it was his job to reignite that fighting spirit within his host.

"Live to the fullest, fight to the end! Live old, fight old!"

Meanwhile, Lie Yong paced back and forth in his room, deep in thought. His mind was coming up with a plan.

"To get the Holy Ant Cultivation Method, I don't have to destroy the Holy Ant Tribe from the outside in..." he mused. "I can infiltrate from within, corrupt them slowly..."

"My eighth son has already married the granddaughter of the Fifth Elder of the Holy Ant Tribe." He smiled to himself, thinking that this connection could be used to plant a spy within their ranks.

His thoughts started to form into a clear plan. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to make a move. "Perhaps... I can eventually get my hands on the Holy Ant Cultivation Method after all."

Chu Xuan smiled in satisfaction. "A host with plans, ideas, and ambition is a qualified one. Otherwise, how would they be any different from Xiao Huo?"

"It looks like I'll be able to get the Holy Ant Cultivation Method soon enough," he thought. "I'm really curious about just how powerful the Holy Ant Cultivation Method can be."

Having observed the Cave World for so long, Chu Xuan had a rough idea of the strength of various insect masters. For instance:

- Bronze Insect Masters and their Bronze Yao Insects could rival Qi Refining cultivators.

- Silver Insect Masters and their Silver Yao Insects could be compared to Foundation Establishment cultivators.

- Gold Insect Masters and their Golden Yao Insects were comparable to Golden Core cultivators.

And so on.

The Holy Ant Tribe, a large tribe, had its strongest members as Platinum Insect Masters, whose power could rival Nascent Soul cultivators, though their lifespan was much shorter. Their strength came from the support of their demonic insects.

The Holy Ant Cultivation Method, which allowed the cultivation of ants up to the level of Nascent Soul cultivators, undoubtedly held immense potential. Chu Xuan was particularly intrigued because, after observing the various insect tribes in the Cave World, he realized that the Thunder-devouring Ants and the Sky-flying Ants were all descended from the Holy Ants.

That meant the Holy Ants had queen-like characteristics, and if he could understand their cultivation methods, he might gain insight into enhancing his own "Blood Bee Queen".

Slightly encouraging Lie Yong in his thoughts, Chu Xuan refocused his attention.

There was still much to do, especially with refining various treasures. The Heaven Corpse Tower had already been refined into his life-bound magic treasure, but the Nether Beeswax and Blood River Crystals still needed to be integrated into the Blood Beehive and the Evil Soul Chain. These things required time.

Now that Lie Yong was busy making his preparations, Chu Xuan decided to focus on these matters.

Time passed swiftly.

In the blink of an eye, three years had gone by.

Chu Xuan exhaled a deep breath and rose to his feet. He had spent the past three years in this secluded space, carefully refining his two magic treasures once again. Finally, the results were in.

The Blood Bee Nest, after incorporating the Nether Beeswax, had grown three times its original size and its outer shell had become significantly more resilient.

What delighted Chu Xuan even more was that the Blood Bee Queen, likely influenced by the Nether Beeswax, had experienced a rise in its cultivation, now reaching the late stage of the third-transformation.

The most surprising change was that the new brood of eggs laid by the Queen now exhibited a trait inherited from the Nether Bee—the ability to become invisible.

However, this invisibility was temporary and consumed the short lifespan of the bees, unlike the ancient Nether Bees, which could remain invisible indefinitely without any cost. Even so, this was a significant improvement.

Chu Xuan gave a mental command, and the black chains shot out. The Evil Soul Chain, which had been refined with the Blood River Crystals, had gained more sinister energy. The stench of blood was now even more potent.

Chu Xuan casually summoned a zombie and pulled it over. With a swift flick of the rope, the zombie's blood was immediately absorbed by the Evil Soul Chain. In the blink of an eye, the zombie turned into a desiccated corpse. A gust of wind blew, and it quickly turned to dust, scattering into the horizon.

"Roar!"

Huikong appeared, letting out a joyous howl. Chu Xuan noticed that the entity's soul had been slightly affected by the Blood River Crystals as well, showing a hint of red in its ethereal form. The overall presence of Huikong had visibly strengthened.

"Not bad," Chu Xuan murmured, pleased. "With the upgrades to both the Blood Beehive and the Evil Soul Chain, my power has increased once more."

He nodded in satisfaction and stored the treasures back into his storage space, then returned to the Mystic Azure Star.

Currently, the Mystic Azure Star was thriving with vitality, but the war between the Heaven Shaking Divine Sect and the Reincarnation Divine Sect was far from over.

Chu Xuan still made regular trips back to the Mystic Azure Star to check on the situation, primarily to prevent any underhanded attacks from the Reincarnation Divine Sect.

At this point, the Heavenly Infinite Sect was still in its infancy, and it was vulnerable to any destructive assault. Chu Xuan knew that there were still many cultivators in the Mystic Azure Star who were secretly loyal to the Reincarnation Divine Sect. Some were straightforward and unwilling to hide their intentions, which was not problematic.

However, others were patient and more adept at biding their time. They might use the opportunity of the Heavenly Infinite Sect recruiting talent from all over to infiltrate, acting as if they were part of the sect, appearing even more loyal than some of the demonic cultivators.

But over time, their true motives would inevitably surface. Chu Xuan was merely waiting for those who couldn't hold back anymore.

He took out a communication jade slip and asked, "How have things progressed with the task I assigned?"

After a brief moment, Bai Jinkun's respectful voice came from the jade slip.

"Reporting to the Sect Master, I have selected five loyal and capable Golden Core cultivators from within the sect. They are now awaiting my orders."

Chu Xuan nodded, satisfied. "Good. Bring them to the Flying Fish Lake on Infinite Island to meet me. Make sure no one else notices them."

"Understood!" Bai Jinkun replied respectfully.

Chu Xuan gave one last thoughtful look at his surroundings before focusing entirely on the next phase of his plans.

The Flying Fish Lake was located in the northern part of Infinite Island. It was home to many white flying fish. At noon, when the flying fish leaped out of the water, they would scatter droplets, creating a beautiful rainbow effect. However, few people ever visited this place, making it an ideal location for private meetings.

After a short while, Chu Xuan met with Bai Jinkun and the five individuals behind him at the lake.

Bai Jinkun stepped forward, presenting a list.

"Sect Master, these are the names, cultivation levels, and backgrounds of the five individuals," he said.

Chu Xuan quickly scanned the list before raising his head and subtly looking at one of them.

Yuan Zichu?

So this person had come as well. It wasn't bad that he had arrived. Chu Xuan remembered Yuan Zichu's cautious nature from before. Such matters were best entrusted to someone meticulous and prudent.

"Greetings, Sect Master," Yuan Zichu and the others said in unison.

Chu Xuan stood with his hands behind his back and spoke in a calm tone, "I trust you all, and therefore, I'm assigning an important task to you. There are bound to be some cultivators in the sect with ties to the Reincarnation Divine Sect who are trying to fish in troubled waters. You need to pay close attention and keep a record of these people. The safety of the sect depends on you."

Yuan Zichu and the others' eyes widened, filled with excitement and joy. They responded in unison, "We understand, Sect Master."

This was a great opportunity to become trusted subordinates of the Sect Master! Such a chance was one they absolutely could not miss!