Chapter 63: 063 Part 1

Wei Mingyi didn’t need to spell it out; the Daoists already understood the Mountain Protection Array’s ingenious use.

More and more wicked wraiths were developing intelligence. Even The Lifeless Land had been infiltrated, let alone the Wild Domain. Aside from Yangchun Terrace, the other garrisons within the Wild Domain were open to the public and saw Daoist traffic. Those who had lingered in the garrisons, once eroded by the filth, had transformed into something inhuman. Yet, upon their return, they were blocked outside the mountain gates. At first, they pretended to be normal, but after a few failures, they no longer suppressed their temperament and malice.

The Mountain Protection Array allowed the Daoists in several garrisons to breathe a sigh of relief.

If The Lifeless Land couldn’t solve the problem, then they, too, were incapable of discerning friend from foe.

Thankfully, the Mountain Protection Array could distinguish between the two.

Some felt fortunate to possess such an array, while others burned with fervent desire. After all, lodging temporarily somewhere was not the same as truly owning it.

They had initially assumed that Heaven-tier materials were necessary, but the Public Pavilion’s listing indicated otherwise. The Chongyuan Sect bore most of the cost itself. So, with some effort, could one actually acquire a treasured land?

In The Lifeless Land, at the Celestial Overseer Hall, the increasing appearance of intelligent wicked wraiths completely shattered any lingering hopes among the crowd. However, the four Perfected Ones stationed there weren’t idle. When they first encountered an intelligent wraith, they had already begun pushing for the refining of a specialized artifact.

Within the hall, the four Perfected Ones were seated.

But none of them spoke. As the slow, resonant chime of a bell echoed, the Dharma Hall began to fade, and a long, radiant river of light emerged. Within that seemingly endless river, silhouettes appeared one after another. Cranes called, flowers fell, and zither music flowed, each sound and sight distinct. These silhouettes represented the heads of the Four Great Clans and several Prosperous Clans—all paragons among the Nine Provinces’ cultivators.

Most matters within the Heavenly Dao Alliance were handled by the four elected Perfected Ones. But when faced with crucial issues, the Perfected Ones of each clan would also project their silhouettes to attend and deliberate.

“The artifact for identifying wicked wraiths has been successfully forged. It’s named ‘Discern Mechanism, Know Evil,’ and will be delivered to The Lifeless Land shortly, to be hung above the city gate,” the Shifang Celestial Palace Daoist spoke first.

“Then how will Daoists outside the city identify them?” another inquired.

“‘Discern Mechanism, Know Evil’ has a ‘Subsidiary Eye.’ The Heavenly Mechanism Institute in The Lifeless Land will sell them publicly,” the Chen Family Daoist added. The Heavenly Mechanism Institute, much like the Alchemical Cauldron Pavilion, was a clan power. As the Shifang Celestial Palace was most proficient in artifact refining, most of its staff came from that family.

“The Alchemical Cauldron Pavilion will also soon introduce Heart Illumination Pills,” the Daoist from the Cloud Realm followed up. Wicked wraiths and Daoists responded differently to medicinal pills. Some, like the ‘Miasma-Breaking Elixir,’ were harmful to wraiths. The alchemy cultivators of the Yun Clan had built upon the Miasma-Breaking Elixir to create the Heart Illumination Pill, which could illuminate a corrupted heart.

The other Daoists remained silent. These commercial dealings were minor and didn’t warrant deep discussion.

After a few moments of silence, the Daoist from Heavenly Evolution Mountain spoke: “Now that we have established indestructible garrisons within the Wild Domain, should we resurrect the ‘Pure Fortress’ plan?” Every Daoist in the Nine Provinces was, in essence, part of the ‘Pure Land Plan.’ To advance the Pure Land, the Daoists had cycled through countless methods over thousands of years. One abandoned proposal was ‘Pure Fortress,’ an idea to take root deep within the Wild Domain.

The Shifang Celestial Palace Daoists had already developed a material called ‘Sky Crystal’ for constructing fortresses. However, the material had a flaw—it couldn’t extend indefinitely. A single, seamless block of Sky Crystal could resist wicked wraiths, but if multiple pieces were joined together, the gaps between them became the greatest weakness. A mere Golden Core wraith, let alone an Evil Tide, could breach those seams. The initial plan was to build robust fortifications over the seams to hide this weakness. But resisting wraiths on a normal day was one thing; surviving an Evil Tide was near impossible. Thus, the plan was effectively dead on arrival.

But now, the situation had changed. One after another, garrisons had fallen into the Wild Domain—garrisons impervious to wraiths. Linking them with Sky Crystal could create a true fortress wall. Once the encircled wasteland was purified, the pace of pushing deeper from The Lifeless Land would accelerate.

Heavenly Evolution Mountain guarded the great trend of heaven and earth. Anything beneficial to the Pure Land of the Nine Provinces would be proposed.

“Those garrisons came from the Chongyuan Sect. If we push the ‘Pure Fortress’ plan forward, we may not be the ones calling the shots,” the Shifang Celestial Palace Daoist was the first to object.

“And what does Fellow Daoist Chen propose?” the Yu Clan Daoist asked flatly. “The wicked wraiths have already mutated. The Lifeless Land can no longer maintain its previous pace.”

“Extending the Pure Land forward isn’t the only measure,” the Spirit Mountain Daoist calmly interjected. “It’s simply a matter of killing. If we have enough people on this side, why fear an Evil Tide?”

“Human tides against Evil Tides?” Among the four Ministers, Yu Zhiyi was the first to speak. She clicked her tongue. “Don’t end up unable to pass your own heart’s trial. You’ll turn into a wraith before one even strikes.”

“That’s easily solved. The Cloud Realm will provide adequate pills.”

“So that means you’ll be sending your clan’s exceptionally talented geniuses here?” Yu Zhiyi asked with interest. Guarding The Lifeless Land was a bitter, dangerous duty; one misstep and you were dead. Many came here to trade Merit Points for cultivation resources. But those of good birth had no need for such trouble—they could simply sit at home and receive resources. Why risk danger?

“They will come,” Wu Weiye responded coldly. “Heaven and earth are changing. The intelligence emerging in wicked wraiths is not an isolated case. And Lin Prefecture… it likely isn’t isolated either.”

“Haven’t we already issued the Wild Domain Restriction Decree? Without Wild Domain objects in the Pure Domain, how could there be any more changes?” one Daoist blurted out.

Yu Zhiyi tossed her copper coin in the air. “Ah,” she said, “have you esteemed ones already discarded the heavy artifacts you obtained from the Wild Domain?”

The light and shadows within the long river flickered. After a long while, a polite voice emerged: “Perfected One Yu, we are not like the Guo Clan. We cannot discern the aura of wicked wraiths.”

“I have a proposal as well.” The Chen Clan Daoist, having waited left and right without Chen Shifei speaking, was forced to speak up herself. “What do you all think of the ‘Wild Domain Integration Plan’?”

“Opposed.” The moment the Chen Family Daoist’s words fell, a chilling voice rang out.

The ‘Wild Domain Integration Plan’ was not the Chen Family Daoist’s first suggestion. It was a branch of the Chen Clan’s ‘Heaven-Mending’ lineage, in collaboration with the Cloud Realm, dedicated to researching human modification. Ten thousand years ago, the Ancient Sages could roam freely in the Wild Domain. For unknown reasons, cultivators found it increasingly difficult to survive there later on, a phenomenon they could only attribute to the deepening malice in the Wild Domain’s heart. In the past, some predecessors tried to harmonize Spiritual Energy and Primal Chaos, but ultimately failed. Yet, the experience of these predecessors inspired the Shifang Celestial Palace Daoists.

The Chen Family Daoist’s ‘Wild Domain Integration Plan’ didn’t require cultivating a chaotic technique. It only required constructing a second ‘Heart of Chaos’ capable of functioning within the Wild Domain. To this end, the Chen Family Daoist had captured and studied numerous wicked wraiths. Through repeated experiments, they saw results. A Daoist carrying a ‘Heart of Chaos’ could walk the Wild Domain without fear of chaotic erosion. According to the follow-up plan, the Heart of Chaos would gradually merge with the original heart, allowing the Daoist to traverse the Wild Domain as freely as the Ancient Sages, even forming ‘battle formations’ to resist Evil Tides. After all, the most terrifying thing in the Wild Domain was that silent, insidious erosion of filth.

The Chen Family Daoist promoting the ‘Wild Domain Integration Plan’ had noble intentions. But countless Daoists opposed it. To them, merging a Heart of Chaos with the original heart meant accommodating filth, rendering the ‘self’ into ‘non-self.’ If a cultivator’s path led to the dissolution of the self, then what meaning was there in any of it?

To the Chen Family Daoist, this reasoning was nonsense. After all, ‘Sky-Mending Art’ had been practiced for a long time. Some had replaced their entire flesh and blood; others had swapped their Golden Cores and Nascent Souls. They were no longer their innate selves. What obstacle was there in merely swapping a heart?

When this plan was voted down, the Chen Family Daoist didn’t halt her research. She merely waited for the right moment to propose it again. The chorus of opposition the moment she finished speaking was, to her, utterly expected.

…

The debate would yield no conclusion. Wu Weiye grew tired of listening. She flicked the blade of her saber, and a rhythmic sound rang out. The quarreling silhouettes in the long river abruptly stopped. “Let’s vote,” Wu Weiye said.

The voting results were quickly revealed. Not a single proposal passed.

Wu Weiye’s expression showed no surprise. This outcome was also within expectations.

Thus, regarding the broader strategic direction, The Lifeless Land would continue as before.

As the silhouettes in the long river vanished one by one, Wu Weiye, blade in hand, abruptly stood up to leave.

Yu Zhiyi let out a “Hey,” pushed off the table, and hopped up, calling after Wu Weiye, “We shouldn’t have let those people deliberate, right?”

Wu Weiye’s steps halted abruptly. She turned her head to look at Yu Zhiyi, a cold glint flashing in her eyes. “Can you refine the artifacts and pills that purify the wastelands, or can I? Where do the Sky Crystals for building fortresses come from?” Even if they could persuade Chen Shifei, the Chen representative, and impose their will by decree, how long it would take to implement was unknown. They were the most powerful people below the Grotto-Heaven realm, but that power was not limitless.

Wu Weiye walked closer to Yu Zhiyi and asked coldly, “What does Heavenly Evolution Mountain intend?”

Yu Zhiyi paid no mind to the chill in Wu Weiye’s eyes. A playful smile tugged at her lips. “My people only follow the great trend of heaven and earth.” Among the four families, only Heavenly Evolution Mountain refrained from emphasizing the bloodline of the Ten Shamans. This clan’s stance was clear: when the Heavenly Dao favored the great clans, they worked for the clans. But should the Heavenly Dao shift… then the Yu family would be at the forefront of that change.

“Don’t you think it’s fitting?” Yu Zhiyi raised her hand. Her copper coin bounced against the blade Wu Weiye held in her arms with a clink and returned. She met Wu Weiye’s icy stare. “The Chongyuan Sect contributes, and we contribute. That way, we still hold onto something.”

“Have any of you considered that even without ‘Sky Crystal,’ the Chongyuan Sect might still build an indestructible ‘wall’? What if their garrisons are inexhaustible? When all the points are connected, what will that be?”

Wu Weiye’s expression shifted abruptly. After a long pause, she said, “Even the divine abilities of a Grotto-Heaven have limits.”

Yu Zhiyi disagreed. “How can we presume to know the heavens?” She took a step back, feigning a turn to leave. But a sudden weight pressed down on her shoulder—Wu Weiye had placed her hand there.

Yu Zhiyi looked back at her, tugging at her slightly slipping robe. She gave Wu Weiye a teasing smile. “This Daoist robe of mine can’t withstand a tear from Fellow Daoist Wu, you know. In front of all these people… wouldn’t that be a bit unsightly?”

Wu Weiye ignored her banter. She withdrew her hand expressionlessly. “Are you going to push ‘Pure Fortress’ privately?”

“No,” Yu Zhiyi blinked. “What does Heavenly Evolution Mountain’s plan have to do with me, Yu Zhiyi?”

Wu Weiye endured it, her patience fraying. “Then why say all that?”

Yu Zhiyi replied with a beaming smile, “Because you wanted to hear it.” Before Wu Weiye could strike, she flashed away and fled at full speed. In a fight, even three of her wouldn’t withstand a single slash from Wu Weiye.

Although the deliberations on the Pure Land Plan in the Celestial Overseer Hall yielded no results, the Perfected Ones of the Four Great Clans were stirred by Wu Weiye’s words. Usually, those clan members with the most potential were not sent to The Lifeless Land unless they volunteered. While they were taught knowledge about the Wild Domain from the start, true exposure was a different matter. If another ‘Linzhou Incident’ erupted in the Pure Domain, could their clan members adapt and respond correctly?

After some discussion, the Perfected Ones of each clan decided to hold another competition to select Daoists suitable for training in The Lifeless Land. The location for the competition would, of course, be the Eternal Cosmos Heavenly Realm on Supreme Peak.

When news reached Wei Mingyi, she was flipping through the roster of disciples from the Chongyuan Great Marsh.