Time flew by, and three months passed.
Li Mu, controlling the Earth Element Spirit Ship, broke through the air and returned to the Central Province Spirit Domain, arriving at Seven Profound Sect.
"Sect Master, you're back! Vice Sect Master Celestial Evolution, he, he has disappeared."
As soon as Li Mu stepped into the Sect Leader's Mansion, preparing to summon the Sect Elders to inquire about the Sect's situation, Elder Qin Wentong arrived first, reporting with an anxious expression.
"I already know about this matter. Fellow Daoist Celestial Evolution, he, he has probably fallen," Li Mu said in a low voice, not at all surprised.
Hearing this, Qin Wentong's expression tightened, and he asked with concern, "Sect Master, what exactly happened?"
Li Mu gave a wry smile and informed Qin Wentong about encountering the Undying Demon Lord during his trip: "The Undying Demon Lord probably captured Fellow Daoist Celestial Evolution first, and then interrogated him for my whereabouts. According to the Undying Demon Lord's character, he is likely in grave danger!"
"Undying Demon Lord, how can this be! Wasn't he eliminated by the Sect Master and several Seniors from the Sword Sect last time!" Qin Wentong's eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief, extremely shocked that the Undying Demon Lord was still alive.
"Demon Cultivator methods are strange and unpredictable. Fortunately, he is now completely dead! This can be considered revenge for Fellow Daoist Celestial Evolution," Li Mu sighed, then looked at Qin Wentong and asked with concern, "Elder Qin, how has the Sect been during my absence? Are there any important messages or events I need to know about?"
Qin Wentong immediately put away his shocked expression, returning to the calm and composed demeanor of a Sect Elder. After a moment of thought, he replied, "Sect Master, during your absence, the Sect has been generally stable. The Disciples are diligently Cultivating, and several Elders have returned one after another, constantly monitoring the Sect's defenses and various affairs. However, there are a few minor matters that require your attention."
"Oh? Tell me about them," Li Mu gestured for Qin Wentong to continue.
"One is about the Vice Sect Master. Before he disappeared, he seemed to be gathering Formation resources to set up a Formation, but he disappeared before it was completed!" Qin Wentong nodded and explained.
"Oh! Where was the Formation set up?" Li Mu asked with surprise and concern.
After he left, why would Divine Lord Celestial Evolution collect Formation resources everywhere? Did he discover something!
Thinking of this, Li Mu's heart skipped a beat, and he immediately recalled the Five Elements Yin Yang Spirit Gathering Array formed by the seven main peaks of Seven Profound Sect. It was not only a Gathering Spirit Formation but also the mother Formation among a set of mother-child Formations, gathering Yin and Yang and Five Elements power. Together with the child Formation, the Five Elements Shifting Array, it gathered Five Elements power to break through the space-time barrier and reach a certain Secret Realm.
That child Formation, the Five Elements Shifting Array, was hidden within the Sect's treasure vault. Could Divine Lord Celestial Evolution have set his sights on this?
"It's located on Wangyun Peak!" Qin Wentong looked at Li Mu with a puzzled expression and replied.
Li Mu frowned. Wangyun Peak was outside the seven main peaks, an inconspicuous low peak. Could he have guessed wrong?
"Hmm, I will personally go to Wangyun Peak later to investigate. Besides this, Elder Qin, are there any other matters in the Sect?" Li Mu nodded, pondered for a moment, and asked cautiously.
A hint of deep thought flashed in Qin Wentong's eyes, and he replied with a solemn expression, "Hmm, Sect Master, there's something that must be mentioned. Along with Vice Sect Master Celestial Evolution, the newly promoted Elder Min Mo also disappeared. If there's no accident, she is very likely an inside agent planted by the Undying Demon Lord in our Sect. There might also be other unruly individuals hidden within the Sect. This matter concerns the Sect's safety, and we must take strict precautions."
Li Mu nodded, his expression growing even more serious. The Undying Demon Lord went to great lengths to ambush him, even perishing in the process. He feared that the Demon Abyss forces would continue to send people to pursue him, so he had to be on guard.
"Elder Qin's concerns are indeed prudent and cautious. Please help me keep an eye on the Core Disciples who have joined this Sect within the last hundred years and investigate their backgrounds one by one, just in case," Li Mu looked at Qin Wentong and instructed solemnly.
"Yes!" Qin Wentong nodded, then continued to report Sect matters to Li Mu.
After seeing Qin Wentong off, Li Mu successively inspected the seven main peaks, briefly communicated with his seven Soul Transformation Clones, and checked the seven types of fifth-grade Spiritual Plants planted on the Ling Peaks, confirming their healthy growth, which made him breathe a sigh of relief.
Subsequently, Li Mu's figure appeared at the summit of Wangyun Peak, his gaze fixed on the remnants of a Formation ahead, where the original Formation was only half-completed.
Under the Heavenly Talent - Identifying Myriad Spirits, the attributes of the Formation remnants appeared one by one in Li Mu's eyes.
Li Mu pondered for a moment, then his mind suddenly cleared, and he immediately understood Divine Lord Celestial Evolution's intention. He couldn't help but feel a hint of relief at Divine Lord Celestial Evolution's demise, while also expressing heartfelt admiration for his wisdom and courage.
Divine Lord Celestial Evolution's Primordial Spirit was reshaped, and his Spiritual Root, reshaped using the power of the reversing death spirit grass, had a unique attribute: no attribute. However, this did not affect his profound attainments in the Dao of Formations.
Looking at the unfinished Formation before him, it was the Grand Primal Chaos Formation set up by Divine Lord Celestial Evolution.
This old fellow, taking advantage of his absence from the Sect, intended to use the power of the Five Elements Yin Yang Spirit Gathering Array to complete the Grand Primal Chaos Formation for Cultivation, and to reshape his own Chaos Spiritual Root. This was an extremely bold idea; once successful, his Spiritual Root Aptitude would reach a whole new level.
However, fortunately, Divine Lord Celestial Evolution's plan did not succeed. The Formation was not yet complete when he was ambushed by the Undying Demon Lord and unfortunately perished.
Divine Lord Celestial Evolution's demise also ensured the preservation of the seven types of fifth-grade Spiritual Plants planted on the seven main peaks. Otherwise, once Divine Lord Celestial Evolution completed the Grand Primal Chaos Formation, used it for Cultivation, and reshaped his Spiritual Root, the seven types of fifth-grade Spiritual Plants he had planted in Seven Profound Sect would undoubtedly suffer devastating damage.
Thinking of this, Li Mu couldn't help but sigh with emotion, feeling incredibly fortunate.
Thankfully, thankfully!
Li Mu took a deep breath, then summoned a sixth-grade Spirit Sword from the nine storage spiritual pearl, and with a soft cry, the Spirit Sword streaked through the air like lightning, directly charging towards the ruins of the half-finished Grand Primal Chaos Formation.
As the Spirit Sword swung and slashed, the Formation stones and Formation patterns disintegrated under the impact of the sharp Sword Qi, turning into countless tiny fragments that scattered in all directions.
After completing the 'destruction of evidence', Li Mu flew on his sword towards Xuantian Sword Sect, intending to inform Qiu Changming about the Undying Demon Lord and inquire about the war situation in the Southern Wilderness Spirit Domain.
Currently, Li Mu had obtained five of the seven Extreme Sealed Lands and had planted suitable sixth and seventh-grade Spiritual Plants in them, leaving only two Extreme Spirit Lands yet to be controlled.
Li Mu had inquired extensively about the Extreme Yang Land but had always failed to ascertain its exact whereabouts, which made him feel a hint of worry. The other Extreme Fire Land was occupied by the Demon Abyss forces, and the war in the Southern Wilderness Spirit Domain concerned whether this place could be seized.
Li Mu sped on his sword, moving like lightning, and soon arrived at Xuantian Sword Sect, flying towards Sword Asking Peak, and descending towards the Contribution Hall.
"Elder Li, you're finally back!" Just as Li Mu was about to step into the hall, a hearty laugh came, and the Hall Master, Qiu Yuanhong, with a joyful expression, strode out of the hall personally to greet him.
"Elder Qiu, it's truly too much trouble for you to greet me personally. I'm truly sorry," Li Mu cupped his hands in a salute, his respect for Qiu Yuanhong evident.
"Haha, Elder Li, you're too polite. Was your journey smooth this time?" Qiu Yuanhong waved his hand and asked with concern.
"Although there were some minor twists and turns along the way, overall it was quite smooth. This time, I successfully learned the exact location of another Sealed Land. This is a detailed map of Lingxu Blessed Land," Li Mu smiled slightly, took out a map Jade Slip from the nine storage spiritual pearl, and handed it to Qiu Yuanhong.
The value contained in Lingxu Blessed Land was immeasurable; it was not only a treasure land for Cultivators but also an object coveted by the Demon Abyss forces. However, Li Mu had never had the intention of monopolizing it. The reason he offered this place was precisely to use the powerful strength of Xuantian Sword Sect to guard this Sealed Land and prevent it from falling into the hands of other forces.
For Li Mu, being able to plant Spiritual Plants in these Extreme Spirit Lands without being destroyed or spied upon by others was already satisfying.
Qiu Yuanhong took the map Jade Slip, a hint of joy flashing in his eyes. He eagerly immersed his Divine Sense into the Jade Slip's content. A detailed map appeared within the Jade Slip, marking the specific location of Lingxu Blessed Land and its surrounding environment. When he confirmed the location of another Sealed Land, the excitement on his face was indescribable.
"Elder Li, you have rendered a great service to the Sect on this trip! Good! Good!" Qiu Yuanhong looked at Li Mu excitedly, nodding repeatedly with joy, praising him endlessly.
Li Mu chuckled, responding with a smile, "As a Grand Elder, this is what I should do. Besides, the Sect will not treat me unfairly, right, Elder Qiu?"
Hearing this, Qiu Yuanhong laughed heartily, nodding repeatedly, "Of course, of course. Elder Li has rendered such great service to the Sect, the Contribution Points will certainly not be few. Just tell me what you want, Elder Li."
Amidst their cheerful conversation, Qiu Yuanhong enthusiastically invited Li Mu into the hall and inquired about the details of his journey.
"What, the Undying Demon Lord isn't dead? He specifically pursued Elder Li? This..." Qiu Yuanhong was startled and shocked by Li Mu's description, breaking into a cold sweat for him.
"Hmm, I don't know what methods he used before, but he successfully revived. However, Heavenly Dao Reincarnation, retribution is swift. He was ultimately mercilessly obliterated by the power of the Dao Lord in the Dao Lord Legacy trial. This time, he should be completely fallen. It is precisely because of this that I was fortunate enough to escape, saving my life from his demonic clutches," Li Mu took a deep breath, a hint of relief flashing in his eyes, and replied.
Qiu Yuanhong listened to Li Mu's narration, a look of realization appearing on his face, and said in a deep voice, "So that's how it is. The Seals conceived by the Seven Dao Lords inherently contain powerful strength and have a natural restraint on the Demon Abyss forces. This is also why the Spirit Realm has been able to hold out until now without being eroded by the Demon Abyss."
Qiu Yuanhong paused, then thought of something, his gaze turning to Li Mu, asking with some concern, "Elder Li, do you know who the Dao Lord Legacy ultimately fell to?"
Li Mu frowned and shook his head, replying, "I don't know about that. The Undying Demon Lord was frantically searching for my whereabouts in the trial, so naturally, I didn't dare to show myself easily. Therefore, I also didn't complete the trial, and I have no way of knowing the whereabouts of the Dao Lord Legacy."
"It was difficult for Elder Li! This trip was truly dangerous! I will send people to guard this place as soon as possible," Qiu Yuanhong nodded, his expression serious.
Li Mu asked with concern, "Elder Qiu, how is the war in Southern Wilderness Spirit Domain? After so long, Sword Master Feng and the others still haven't taken that Sealed Land?"
Hearing Li Mu inquire about the war in the Southern Wilderness Spirit Domain, Qiu Yuanhong gave a wry smile, not knowing how to respond for a moment, then sighed heavily, "Southern Wilderness Spirit Domain, alas! It's difficult, alas!"
Li Mu gazed at Qiu Yuanhong in confusion, his brows tightly furrowed, awaiting his explanation.
After a moment, Qiu Yuanhong took a deep breath, looked up at Li Mu, and said in a heavy tone, "The Seal in the Southern Wilderness Spirit Domain has now been corroded by the power of the Devil God Altar, causing the power of the Seal to greatly weaken, thereby opening a rift leading to the Demon Abyss. For the past few decades, Sword Master Feng and Sword Master Chen have led armies into the Demon Hall several times, attempting to Seal that rift, but each time they failed due to the sudden descent of a Devil God Incarnation, suffering heavy losses."
Qiu Yuanhong paused, then continued, "Now, as the rift between the two realms continues to expand, Devil God Incarnations are descending more and more frequently, and the Demon Abyss forces are surging like a tide, their strength continuously increasing, firmly occupying the Demon Hall. Sword Master Feng and the others have tried their best to stop them, but the Demon Abyss forces are too strong now. Unless the two Dao Lords return, Sword Master Feng and the others probably won't be able to completely clear them out of this realm in a short time, alas!"
Hearing this, Li Mu's brows furrowed tightly, and he asked with concern, "Elder Qiu, what should be done in such a stalemate? If this continues to drag on, who knows what changes will occur. When will the two Dao Lords be able to return to the Sect?"
Li Mu had been Cultivating in Xuantian Sword Sect for over a hundred years, but these two Dao Lords were like mysterious figures in legends, whose true faces he had never seen. These two Dao Lords were the strongest pillars of Xuantian Sword Sect, and only their successful return could bring about a turning point.
If the two Dao Lords did not appear for a long time, Sword Master Feng and the others would definitely be unable to reclaim the Extreme Fire Land, which would seriously affect his plan to plant Spiritual Plants. Thinking of this, Li Mu couldn't help but feel a headache.
Qiu Yuanhong gave a wry smile; how could he know the whereabouts of the two Dao Lords?
"The whereabouts of the two Dao Lords have always been mysterious and unpredictable. They bear the heavy responsibility of resisting enemies from outside the Domain and need to fight long-term outside the Domain to ensure the peace of this realm. Regarding when they can return, I cannot give a definite answer," Qiu Yuanhong explained to Li Mu.
Hearing this, Li Mu fell silent, deep in thought, understanding that if the Extreme Fire Land could not be reclaimed from the Demon Abyss forces, then he must find another way to continue his Spiritual Plant planting plan.
Fortunately, he possessed two rare Heavenly Fires, Extreme Yang Heavenly Fire and Yin Yang Lightning Fire, which gave Li Mu hope. By using the power of these two Heavenly Fires, he could set up a Fire Element Grand Formation to simulate a Spirit Land similar to the Extreme Fire Land. This way, even if he couldn't have a complete Extreme Fire Land, the plan to plant high-grade Spiritual Plants could still proceed.
The urgent matter now was to quickly find another Extreme Yang Land.
Li Mu continued to chat with Qiu Yuanhong for a while, using the newly acquired Contribution rewards to exchange for some urgently needed high-grade Spiritual Materials, and accepted several Artifact Refining Delegation tasks before bidding farewell and leaving the Contribution Hall. (End of this chapter)
