Cultivation: When you take things to the extreme-Chapter 859 - 532: Pros and Cons

White clouds gather over serene ravines, as peaks line the distant heavens.

Rugged rocky gates take shape, through the mist the scent of incense wafts.

Purple hues linger on temple eaves, perilous steps hang suspended.

Noble men too find solace, their virtuous selves severed from earthly ties.

The marvels of the Dao, once grasped, offer fairness in every action.

The heart aligns with beloved pursuits, why should one shy from tangled affairs?

It is indeed the Northern Immortal Sect, Taixuan Tao Mountain!

"Qi Zhengming, has become a Ninth Calamity True Immortal."

"The Heaven and Earth Path Sword, it’s definitely the Heaven and Earth Path Sword."

Atop Tao Mountain, two figures play chess, speaking their thoughts.

"The Ninth Heaven Sword Pavilion, though overbearing, still belongs to the Northern Immortal Sect. With ancestors from the Upper Realm balancing it, it can dominate temporarily but cannot oppress forever."

"After resolving his karma, Qi Zhengming shall also ascend to the Upper Realm, he can’t linger in the mortal world forever."

"Also part of the Northern Immortal Sect, the Ninth Heaven Sword Pavilion, even if dominant, only holds sway for tens of thousands of years."

"But that Wandao School..."

"Mysterious origins, unclear intentions!"

"Ambitious and planning something big!"

"That Li Xuanyuan, taking unconventional paths with his sword, recklessly ignoring the balance of power in the Northern Domain."

"The forces of the Upper Realm might not be able to check him; if allowed to grow unchecked, the consequences are unimaginable."

"With Qi Zhengming becoming a Ninth Calamity True Immortal, this man is certainly not his match, but if he went into hiding, even the Ninth Heaven Sword Pavilion might not be able to root him out, considering his proficiency in the art of Heavenly Secrets..."

"So, we must still trouble you, junior brother, to take the Tai Xuan Mirror to the Southern Sea to assist the Ninth Heaven Sword Pavilion."

"Senior brother, you speak too highly of me. For the safety of the Northern Domain, it is my duty!"

"..."

The two strategize and agree, then one rises, summoning his Escape Light, heading straight for the Southern Sea.

Not just Taixuan Tao Mountain, but other Immortal Sects mirror this scene.

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The Five Elements Immortal Sect, the Great Sun Immortal Sect, the Big Dipper Immortal Sect, and the Haoyu Heavenly Sect, along with two major religious schools.

The Ten Great Holy Lands, moved by the news, all make their way to the Southern Sea.

Thus...

At the Southern Sea, calm and undisturbed waters, until a sweeping sword current crashes down like a meteor.

"Boom!!!"

With the sword’s entry, the sea stirs, cold winds begin to howl, dark fog rolls in swiftly, instantly darkening the sky and dimming the sun and moon, turning the vast sea and sky into an indiscernible and desolate realm.

"A Formation!?"

The rushing Sword Light halts, revealing several figures, led by Qi Zhengming.

Qi Zhengming looks on coldly, his gaze sharp as a sword, moving through this atmospheric tumult, only to see the dark gloomy aura overwhelming the skies, the dim sun and overcast clouds, an ominous prelude to danger, undoubtedly a malicious Formation.

Despite the formation’s malevolence, Qi Zhengming, unfazed, feels a burst of exhilaration.

The more skilled, the bolder – the aura of a True Immortal even more potent!

As a Nine Tribulations True Immortal, a peerless Sword Cultivator who has roamed the Northern Domain for over a hundred thousand years, why would he fear a junior just entering the Tribulation Realm?

Although this formation hints they were prepared, he fears not their preparedness, but rather their evasion; their desertion of their Southern Sea base to go into hiding.

After all, everyone knows that Wandao Palace’s master Li Xuanyuan, who spread Cultivation Techniques and disrupted the Northern Domain a millennia ago, is that enigmatic figure.

In those days when he stirred the Northern Domain, even the combined forces of the Ten Great Holy Lands and the alliance of Taoist gates could not root him out.

This shows his skill in evading capture, mastered in the Heavenly Secret Technique, the Art of Seeking Fortune and Avoiding Calamity.

Although he himself is a Nine Tribulations True Immortal with unmatched combat power, if the opponent avoids battle and flees, abandoning his base, then there’s little he can do, hoping only that Taixuan Tao Mountain and Haoyu Heavenly Sect could divine his whereabouts.

If Taixuan Tao Mountain and Haoyu Heavenly Sect fail in their divination, then the situation becomes troubling.

Being a True Immortal sanctioned by heaven and earth, although he has sect-heritage secret techniques allowing him to linger for a while, it is just for a while; ultimately, he must ascend to the Upper Realm.

If Li Xuanyuan keeps hiding and avoiding battle, then both he and Ninth Heaven Sword Pavilion will be in a very passive position.

Fortunately, things did not develop this way.

Li Xuanyuan, whether unwilling to give up his base in the Southern Sea or too naively courageous, knowing he had ascended True Immortal and was coming to settle scores, did not flee early. Instead, he prepared formations to wait.

Is it confidence?

Or arrogance?

Qi Zhengming does not know, nor is he interested to find out.

Now, he only wants to do one thing: break the formation, defeat the enemy, and establish his might!

While the path of immortality values solitude, as the head of the Ninth Heaven Sword Pavilion, he must still do something for the sect.

Otherwise, after ascending to the Upper Realm, facing the generations of palace ancestors, he would have a hard time explaining himself.

People from all the great holy lands, once they become True Immortals and before ascending, would annihilate their great enemies to benefit their sects and pave their own paths. This has become a tradition and a norm.

Now it’s his turn, the same; Li Xuanyuan undoubtedly possesses a great treasure and secret. Capturing him not only eliminates a menace from the Northern Domain but also serves as his resource for cultivation in the Upper Realm after his ascension.

With these thoughts, Qi Zhengming feels even more motivated and immediately raises his hand, pointing a sword towards the formation to probe it.

"Bang!!!"

With one pointing gesture, Sword Qi pierces the air, like a startling swan passing through, tearing apart the gloomy fog, yet still not revealing the mysterious strategy of the formation, as if disappearing into the sea without a trace.

"This..."

This outcome, causing Qi Zhengming to frown, leaves the Sword Pavilion cultivators uncertain.

"This formation contains profound mysteries!"

"Never seen before, unknown specifics!"

"That Li Xuanyuan, must have reached the Eighth Order Realm of Array Formation, with sufficient resources, he can definitely set up an Eighth Order Immortal Array."

"What of an Eighth Order Immortal Array? As a Nine Tribulations True Immortal, senior brother has the power to break thousands of methods with one sword; why fear his formation’s ability?"

"Several years ago, at the Spiritual Treasure Congress, that Wandao School displayed a Supreme Immortal Artifact called the Earthly Branches Apricot Yellow Flag, an Earthly Immortal Flag, a top-quality defensive treasure; it’s unclear whether it’s connected to this formation?"