Chapter 464 - 426: Finalized

Chapter 464: Chapter 426: Finalized

"Senior, that’s the general situation as I know it. I’m not aware of anything more secretive..."

The man spoke cautiously, not daring to even glance at Chu Mu.

Chu Mu glanced at the Foundation Establishment Cultivator he had casually grabbed for questioning. After a moment of contemplation, he waved his hand, dismissing him.

The man looked as if a great weight had been lifted. He bowed once, then fled as if for his life without a single look back.

Chu Mu watched him disappear over the horizon, his expression thoughtful.

’The current situation in the Vast Sea Cultivation Immortal World seems rather strange, based on what I know.’

’After all, when chaos erupted in Great Chu back then, the Vast Sea Chen Family stirred up trouble in the Great Chu Cultivation Immortal World, showcasing their immense power and dominance.’

’A colossal power capable of so easily influencing the situation in the Great Chu Cultivation Immortal World... Even if they had a geographical advantage, the strength of the Vast Sea Chen Family was undeniable, no matter how you looked at it.’

’And yet, ever since this conflict began, the Vast Sea Cultivation Immortal World has seemingly never won.’

’They’ve suffered one defeat after another, from the Outer Sea to the Inner Sea, and now all the way to the Chixia Sea Area.’

’Beyond Chixia lies the Sea Border Land.’

’If Chixia falls, the Vast Sea Cultivation Immortal World might have to change its name...’

’Such weakness clearly doesn’t match the dominance they showed when they were making waves in Great Chu...’

’Moreover, the Flood Dragon Race and the Profound Serpent Race harbor a deep-seated hatred for each other. In recorded history, the Flood Dragon Race has often been on good terms, even allied, with the Vast Sea Chen Family, stirring up trouble together in the Vast Sea Territory.’

’Now, with the Profound Serpent Race making such a major move, the Flood Dragon Race has shown no reaction at all...’

’This whole affair is undoubtedly shrouded in mystery.’

’For now... I can’t go back to Chixia...’

Chu Mu gazed in the direction of Chixia. As his thoughts turned, he had already made a decision.

’The current chaos in Chixia is surely a gathering place for Golden Core Cultivators, with Nascent Soul experts presiding over it all.’

’If I go there, with my Demonization nearly halfway complete, it would be impossible to hide from the prying eyes of those with intent.’

’Even though I haven’t completely Fallen into Demon, in this world where Immortals and Demons cannot coexist, to be tainted by demonic influence is a death sentence!’

’Even if no one discovers the truth of my Demonization, if I get involved, the current situation in Chixia would inevitably entangle me in endless trouble.’

’And in my current condition, I don’t have any time to spare...’

’But... if I don’t go to Chixia, it’ll be difficult to use my reputation there to gather resources...’

’My festering injuries and the dire situation of the Demonization Erosion can’t afford any delay.’

’Besides, when I left Chixia, I placed Wangcai in the True Understanding Pavilion as a precaution...’

After a moment of contemplation, Chu Mu leaped into the air and flew straight toward Chixia.

The Chixia Sea Area, which should have been calm and peaceful, was now even more chaotic than the Outer Sea.

Bloodline Cultivators were merely having their minds affected by bloodline erosion.

Demon Beasts, on the other hand, aside from a rare few like the Giant Eagle that developed Spiritual Wisdom before reaching Tier Four, almost all acted purely on instinct.

And the instinct of a Demon Beast is savagery!

Even though the Profound Serpent Race was driving these Demon Beasts into the coastal waters for their own use, their methods of control were naturally not very refined.

This often resulted in a Beast Tide, a kind of herd effect. After a Beast Tide passed, the attacked area would be left in ruins, and the dispersed countless Demon Beasts would then fight and kill each other in the surrounding waters, a brutal survival of the fittest.

Such a sea area was practically a Cultivator Forbidden Land.

A concentrated Beast Tide was a monstrous disaster, and a dispersed one was a great calamity all the same!

It took Chu Mu nearly half a year just to get near Chixia Island. He didn’t enter the island but stopped temporarily on a desolate isle a few thousand miles behind it.

After sending out a sound transmission, he sat cross-legged on the island and began to nurse his festering injuries.

Soon, a reply came via sound transmission. Chu Mu perceived it briefly before his mind returned to silence.

The faint fluctuations of Spiritual Qi on the desolate island also vanished after the light of an Array Prohibition flickered and concealed them.

Unless someone came to inspect the island up close, it would be impossible to detect Chu Mu’s presence.

After nearly a month of recuperation, his Essence, Qi, and Spirit felt somewhat fuller, and only then did Chu Mu turn his attention back to his Lifebound Treasure.

Inside the cave, a Spiritual Brush dipped in Spiritual Ink moved across a piece of white Beast Hide that had been specially processed and refined to serve as paper. On it, a crimson, Nine-Layer Ancient Tower was already taking shape.

Under the influence of the Spirit Paper, Spiritual Ink, and the infusion of Magical Power, the Ancient Tower looked incredibly lifelike, like a model that could be viewed from any angle without missing a single detail. As the brushstrokes continued, it became increasingly clear.

Chu Mu seemed to have every detail of the Ancient Tower already planned out in his mind. Methodically, he drew the internal and external structure, the extremely detailed combination of Spiritual Materials, the refining method, the Nine Dragon Divine Fire Array Prohibition, and even specified the inscription method and exact position for specific Array Prohibitions!

This process continued for nearly three full months.

The final depiction of the Ancient Tower on the white Spirit Paper was somewhat similar to the Nine Dragon Prison Suppression Tower he had refined in the Inheritance Land, but there were also distinct differences.

The body of the tower was crimson, and the layout of the dragon patterns had been greatly altered. In terms of the Artifact Formula itself, it had undergone a transformation that was almost a quantum leap compared to the previous Nine Dragon Prison Suppression Tower.

This transformation applied to both its potential Mighty Power upon refining and its capacity for future growth.

Chu Mu silently studied the Ancient Tower on the Spirit Paper, a "Spiritual Radiance Charm" still present in his eyes. From time to time, he would set his brush down to make modifications, attempting to bring this Lifebound Treasure closer to Perfection.

Chu Mu knew very well that what he currently considered Perfection was only Perfection based on his current understanding.

Once his Cultivation improved and his knowledge of the Artifact Refining Skill broadened, this "Perfection" might reveal itself to be full of flaws.

Therefore, his design for this Lifebound Treasure was very conservative, leaving a great deal of room for future modifications.

Even if he were to find flaws in this Lifebound Treasure in the future, he would have the leeway to change it with ease, unlike ordinary Artifacts, which were nearly impossible to alter in the slightest.

The special nature of a Lifebound Treasure lay in its connection to one’s own life and, most importantly, its potential for growth.

And this growth, according to his understanding, stemmed from two aspects.

First, the Spiritual Materials used to refine the Lifebound Treasure.

The rarer the Spiritual Materials, the more powerful the resulting Lifebound Treasure, and naturally, the greater its growth potential.

Second, and most importantly, was the Cultivator’s own Cultivation.

A Lifebound Treasure was linked to a Cultivator’s life. After being refined, it would be nourished day and night by the Cultivator’s own Essence, Qi, and Spirit.

A Cultivator’s Cultivation, therefore, naturally determined the Grade Level of their Lifebound Treasure.

The room for modification he had left, while making the treasure less than perfect for now, would undoubtedly increase its growth potential by a great deal.

As for its current imperfections, Chu Mu didn’t mind.

After all, based on his vision for this Lifebound Treasure, it was simply impossible for him to refine it to Perfection in one go with his current Cultivation.

According to his plan, besides using rare Spiritual Materials like Fiery Sun Fire Essence and Fusang Wood as the main body, he would also need to smelt nine Fire Attribute Dragon Souls into it in the future. This would cause the Magical Treasure to undergo a qualitative leap, fully completing the Nine Dragon Divine Flame.

Moreover, even after smelting nine Dragon Souls, this treasure would still not be truly perfect.

He still needed to find the "Celestial Cyan Amethyst" and smelt it into the treasure, allowing it to change size at will. Only then could it be stored in his Dantian for nourishment, achieving the best possible nurturing effect.

Only by doing so could he attempt the legendary Sumeru Mustard Seed Technique to further refine the treasure. This would allow it to achieve true size manipulation, transforming it into a worldly grand prison—a truly versatile weapon that could attack, defend, seal, and suppress, and even serve as the core of any Fire Attribute Grand Array!

The vision was long-term and perfect.

But achieving it completely would clearly not be easy.

Whether it was the nine Dragon Souls, the Celestial Cyan Amethyst, or the legendary Sumeru Mustard Seed Technique, obtaining any of them would be as difficult as ascending to the heavens.

For now, all he could do was refine a Magical Treasure Prototype to first suppress and eliminate the Demonization Erosion within his body. He would have to slowly plan for the rest of the treasure’s development later.

Of course, even if it was just a Magical Treasure Prototype!

With the Nine Dragon Divine Flame as its skin, Fiery Sun Fire Essence and Fusang Wood as its bones, and his own transformed Great Sun True Flame as its source, its Mighty Power... With such a combination, it would absolutely not be weaker than anyone else’s treasure!

This treasure could both attack and defend, and he also possessed his Unrivaled Attack Sword Intent.

Once this treasure was complete, he would have sufficient Protective Means in the Golden Core Realm to firmly establish himself.

The brush tip slowly came to a halt. Chu Mu raised a single hand, and the Spirit Paper floated up, the Ancient Tower on it appearing almost solid as it hovered before him.

He studied it for a moment, and after confirming there were no mistakes under the "Spiritual Radiance Blessing," Chu Mu finally put the Artifact Formula away.

He sat cross-legged and closed his eyes to recuperate.

「Nearly two more months passed.」

Across the vast, misty waves, a Flying Boat slowly approached the island. It circled the vicinity for a while, as if trying to confirm the island’s existence.

The Flying Boat landed, and Chang Er descended from it, surveying his surroundings with extreme vigilance.

"Come here."

Only when a familiar voice sounded in his ear did Chang Er relax as if a great weight had been lifted. He leaped up and headed toward a mountain peak on one side of the island.

"Senior."

The moment he landed, Chang Er immediately bowed.

Then, as if sensing something, Chang Er looked sharply at Chu Mu, unable to hide his thrilled excitement. His voice even trembled, "Senior, you’ve formed your Core?"

"It’s been several years."

Chu Mu nodded, his voice calm.

"My congratulations, Senior!"

THUD. Chang Er dropped to his knees, kowtowing and shouting his congratulations.

"Alright, there’s no need for such formalities."

Chu Mu raised a hand, helping Chang Er to his feet before asking:

"Have you prepared everything I asked for?"

"Reporting to you, Master, everything is ready."

Chang Er respectfully presented a Storage Talisman.

After Chu Mu took the Storage Talisman, Chang Er asked cautiously, "Senior, now that you’ve successfully formed your Core, should this little one begin preparations for a Golden Core Ceremony?"

"Keep the matter of my Core Formation a secret for now."

Chu Mu’s brow furrowed slightly. "We’ll discuss it when I return to Chixia."

"This junior understands..."

...