Chapter 30: 030 Part 2

The Daoist thought for a while and said seriously, “They might hinder us when exchanging from the Heavenly Merit Ledger. The Heavenly Dao Alliance’s pills and magical artifacts might also not be sold to us.” As soon as her words fell, she laughed at herself. In the Wild Domain, as long as one was willing to pay enough Merit Points, they could also trade with fellow Daoists. They didn’t necessarily have to go to The Lifeless Land.

The wraiths, like a sea tide stirred by a hurricane, rampaged unstoppably along the way. Wherever flesh, blood, and vitality gathered, the wraiths grew denser and more overwhelming. Daoists who couldn’t return to a safe zone in time, whether Golden Core or Nascent Soul, were torn to shreds by the surging wraiths. Or they allowed themselves to be eroded by the filth, turning into one of the wraiths.

The Fire Element Dwelling was continuously battered by wraiths, but the most severe brutality of the evil tide was at The Lifeless Land. For the wraiths, it was a place where countless lives and vitality gathered, like a brilliant sun that was utterly impossible to ignore. No matter which direction the wraiths surged from, their final destination was The Lifeless Land.

The Lifeless Land, Heavenly Dao Alliance Encampment.

The restriction array here was refined by Grotto-Heaven Daoists of the past. But it suffered the most ferocious impacts from the evil tide, time and again, continuously being worn down. And whenever a flaw appeared, cultivators would promptly step in to repair it.

But herein lay the problem. The restriction array, having been patched by different people, was filled with different Daos and magical powers. By the time the Heavenly Dao Alliance realized it, the protective restriction array itself had become a massive, distorted monstrosity. It looked indestructible, guarding The Lifeless Land, yet in truth, it was tottering on the brink.

Within the Heavenly Dao Alliance, the Four Great Clans had brought up the matter of the restriction array more than once, but they could never reach a decision. Some believed that since it hadn’t collapsed yet, they should just keep maintaining it. Others suggested a complete recasting. But they were at loggerheads over the resources needed for recasting the array. And so, this restriction array remained as it was.

When the evil tide came surging in, every crucial node had Daoists defending it. If the collisions were too violent and the restriction array was in danger of collapsing, the defending Daoists had to act and slay the wraiths. The Lifeless Land encampment was a place where the array and its people combined their strength.

Southeast direction.

Daoists of the master-disciple lineage had taken up the duty of guarding a corner.

Ji Tianhe only had Foundation Establishment cultivation, and originally didn’t need to be there. But like others of the master-disciple lineage, she had come to the edge of the restriction array. Looking up, the air seemed to be boiling; one could see currents of air rolling and leaping. Gloomy clouds were like lead, a bleak mist filled the air. In the boundless wilderness ahead, earth-shaking howls rang out, as if thousands of great drums were being struck at the same moment. The restriction array was constantly battered by wraiths. The talismans upon it manifested, like countless lamps dotting the area. Under the powerful impacts, the light of the talismans flickered unsteadily.

The gathered wraiths brought a momentum that could crush mountains and overturn seas. Ji Tianhe’s expression was solemn. She said, “Perfected One, could none of the encampments built outside possibly survive? Have the efforts of the past several years all been in vain?”

“Not necessarily,” a Jade Emperor Sect Daoist shook her head. Expressionless, she said, “Some people are very lucky. Others receive protection. Or they might possess heaven-commanding methods. But such existences are ultimately a minority.”

This evil tide was very unusual. Its intensity was higher than previous ones. According to the deductions of Heavenly Evolution Mountain, it might last for several months. Let alone the scattered encampments outside, even the Pure Land of The Lifeless Land might be forced to shrink back by several yards.

“Does Fellow Daoist Ji really think that Yangchun Terrace could still survive?”

A sarcastic voice came from the side. Ji Tianhe looked towards the sound and realized it was Yan Luo, a Daoist of the Pure Clean Sect. She was taken aback. She hadn’t even mentioned Yangchun Terrace. But seeing Yan Luo’s eyes, full of resentment and hatred, Ji Tianhe suddenly understood. Yan Luo had been slapped outside Yangchun Terrace and had firmly etched this grudge in her heart. Even as the wraiths raged, all she could think about was Yangchun Terrace being destroyed, so her great vengeance would be achieved.

Hopeless.

Ji Tianhe thought to herself, too lazy to bother with Yan Luo.

Looking outside, her heart felt somewhat heavy.

If they had been just a step faster? Perhaps they could have brought the Chongyuan Sect Daoists into The Lifeless Land.

But now, they were probably still outside. The possibility of survival was infinitesimally small.

The evil tide pressed upon the city. The Lifeless Land’s restriction array needed manpower to defend it. Over several months, casualties were naturally unavoidable, not to mention those who took the opportunity to strike due to various grudges. By December, the wraiths seemed to have lost momentum. Their stampeding movements suddenly became sluggish, and they no longer charged towards The Lifeless Land.

The wraiths’ movements became scattered, and the Daoists in The Lifeless Land seized this opportunity. The moment the city gate opened wide, they rushed out to hunt wraiths and earn Merit Points. Wraiths had to be killed, losses had to be tallied, and the remains of Daoists scattered outside naturally had to be collected whenever possible. At this time, cultivators didn’t dare go too far, fearing a resurgence of a minor evil tide. But Yangchun Terrace and the Fire Element Dwelling were not considered extremely remote locations. Soon, someone discovered these two completely intact encampments, standing like solitary peaks!

The evil tide had swept over everything, shrinking even the Pure Land of The Lifeless Land. How could such large encampments survive the evil tide unscathed? The Daoist who first saw this sight thought it was an illusion! He pinched his companion hard. After hearing a yelp of surprise, his pounding heart still couldn’t calm down.

Could it be that they possessed a heavenly mandate, and the wraiths bypassed this area? But judging from the lingering Primordial Chaos Qi and wraith remains nearby, this place had also been on the path of the evil tide! The Daoists, having withstood the massive impact, sent word to their fellow Daoists while also thinking of entering Yangchun Terrace and the Fire Element Dwelling.

But Yangchun Terrace was empty, with no one responding.

Inside the Fire Element Dwelling, however, moving figures of Daoists could be seen. But their expressions were strange, as if immersed in overwhelming joy. They walked and jumped around like madmen, occasionally letting out bizarre shouts.

How could the Daoists in the Fire Element Dwelling not be ecstatic?

At first, they thought the encampment would be finished in three or four days, but it stubbornly held out for ten. After ten days, the Daoists inside were still fearful, thinking it would surely be gone after a month. Who knew the Mountain Protection Array would remain steadfast? And so, their hearts oscillated between sudden joy and sudden sorrow, their emotions rising and falling as they hovered between life and death, until finally, the whole person became numb, lying paralyzed like a walking corpse, no longer contemplating their own survival.

And just like that, the evil tide receded.

No one knew who let out the first shout of surprise. The pent-up emotions of the Daoists in the Fire Element Dwelling erupted instantly like a volcano. It was unstoppable.

Some people hadn’t been able to return to The Lifeless Land in time; others had returned but had no place to stay. But now, there was the Fire Element Dwelling, a foothold that could withstand the evil tide! How could they not be wild with joy? This was an unprecedented event!

Upon arriving at the Fire Element Dwelling, the Daoists learned that this place had been bought from the cultivators of Chongyuan Sect. The emotion blazed like a fierce fire. In the end, everyone’s shouts turned into the two characters “Chong Yuan,” their voices shaking the heavens so that even the Daoists outside could hear them clearly.

Chong Yuan? What was that?

The Daoists who had come out to investigate brought news of Yangchun Terrace and the Fire Element Dwelling back to The Lifeless Land.

The Heavenly Dao Alliance, usually arrogant and self-proclaimed superior beings, couldn’t help but feel a tremor in their hearts and souls.

Even The Lifeless Land had barely withstood the evil tide! How could two ordinary, unremarkable encampments remain?

Chongyuan Sect… Was that a sect of the master-disciple lineage? But they had never heard of it before!

The Heavenly Dao Alliance Daoists were shocked and horrified. Within the master-disciple lineage, the Daoists of the three great sects, who normally couldn’t stand each other, gathered together for once. The expression of the Jade Emperor Sect’s elder changed repeatedly. She recalled Ji Tianhe mentioning “Chong Yuan” and wanted her to explain everything related to Chongyuan Sect in detail.

Ji Tianhe was speechless. She hadn’t even entered Yangchun Terrace, so what did she know? She only knew that inside Yangchun Terrace was a self-proclaimed sect from the Nine Provinces called Chongyuan Sect.

As for Yan Luo, her face was ashen, like the bottom of a pot. She had previously been insulted by the Daoists of Yangchun Terrace. She hadn’t done anything like Gold Mountain’s Yan Clan, but hatred festered in her heart. She had wished for Yangchun Terrace to be razed by the evil tide.

And now, Yangchun Terrace had become a miracle?!

How could that minor, somewhat famous little sect achieve this? It was all false!

For a time, everyone was asking about Chongyuan Sect, but no one knew anything about Chongyuan Sect.

The three words “Chongyuan Sect” became a legend in The Lifeless Land.

Inside Chongyuan Sect.

Wei Mingyi noticed another achievement had popped up. She let out an “Ah,” somewhat puzzled by the words “Minor Fame.” Hadn’t she already received the “Minor Fame” achievement badge after occupying Cangwu City?

She carefully read the achievement’s description and realized it was because Chongyuan Sect had become famous in the Wild Domain. Since they currently only had the reputation of a Fourth-Rate Clan, the achievement was also just “Minor Fame.” But during the evil tide, hadn’t they done nothing?

Wei Mingyi couldn’t figure it out, so she simply stopped thinking about it. As for the achievement name, be it “Minor Fame” or “Eternal Renown,” from the looks of it, achievements only added a hundred Achievement Points.

A mere hundred—how could that compare to the natural monthly settlement? From August until now, five months of base salary had made her flush with funds again. Including the latest hundred points, she was now a wealthy householder with seven thousand nine hundred points, and her Talent Points had also accumulated to nineteen.

Unfortunately, her cultivation speed couldn’t keep up with the growth of her Achievement Points. Over several months, she had only pushed open two Qi meridians, not even breaking past the twentieth gate.

Daoist True Words was still at the superficial understanding stage, and as for Six Classics Unrolled, she hadn’t learned it at all.

“No rush, no rush. Some people might not even push open nineteen meridians. One must alternate tension with relaxation, balance work and rest,” Wei Mingyi reassured herself, quickly suppressing that sliver of eager urgency.

She shifted her gaze from the panel and looked towards Wu Chongyun under the pear blossom tree.

The Spirit-Restoring Pill had taken effect. Shizun’s spirit and energy had recovered somewhat. She no longer looked frail and pale.

But Shizun seemed to prefer nestling in her wheelchair. Although she could walk by herself, she rarely left the chair. Even at night, when it was time to sleep, she needed to be carried to the bed by Wei Mingyi.

Wei Mingyi naturally enjoyed this physical contact with Wu Chongyun, but if this continued, she felt that Shizun hadn’t actually gotten better at all. The vitality she saw was something Shizun deliberately displayed to mislead her.

“Shizun, how about going down the mountain to walk around Cangwu City?” Wei Mingyi walked up to Wu Chongyun and said.

Wu Chongyun lowered her eyes and said lazily, “No.”

Wei Mingyi turned a deaf ear. She smiled slightly, “If Shizun wants to go, let’s set off now.”