Chapter 1024 - 533: Retreat Grounds (Part 1)

Chapter 1024: Chapter 533: Retreat Grounds (Part 1)

By the time Li Mu returned from the Xuantian Sword Sect to the Seven Profound Sect, several days had already passed. During that period, he had discussed the Dao with Sword Master Feng, obtaining from him and the many sword elders their experiences on promotion to the Integration Realm.

He then followed Qiu Yuanhong to the Contribution Hall to exchange for cultivation resources, and made a trip to the Extreme Gold Secret Realm to visit the Jade-Eyed Golden Ape and inspect the six-tier and seven-tier Gold Element Spirit Plants planted within the secret realm. At the same time, he recalled his Gold Element Divinity Transformation Avatar, preparing to use it for Dharma Realm Refinement.

When Li Mu returned to the Seven Profound Sect, he was once again warmly welcomed by all the elders of the sect.

Li Mu, honored as the sect master of the Seven Profound Sect, was proficient in Artifact Refining and Array Formation. Openhanded and straightforward in character, with wide connections, he was deeply loved throughout the sect. Because of him, the relationship with the Upper Sect Xuantian Sword Sect was extremely harmonious. Even during the more than one hundred years of his disappearance, the Seven Profound Sect had enjoyed many benefits thanks to his favor.

As Li Mu controlled the sky and appeared above the Seven Profound Sect’s iconic seven Divine Mountains, stepping into the core region of the sect, Third Elder Qin Wentong, Fourth Elder Zhong Zilin, and Fifth Elder Ge Xinyu led the disciples of the sect, long since lined up in formation in the air above the Sect Plaza, waiting. Their faces were full of excitement; they had all been eagerly expecting Li Mu’s return.

"Sect Master Li, you’ve finally returned!" Qin Wentong’s voice trembled slightly as he stepped forward, bowed deeply, and tears glimmered in his eyes.

Zhong Zilin followed closely, stepping forward as well, his eyes shining as he said excitedly, "Sect Master, we never expected your journey this time to be so long; you made us wait and wait!"

Ge Xinyu, on the other hand, gave a gentle smile. Lightly moving her lotus steps, she came before Li Mu and offered her congratulations: "Sect Master, welcome back to the sect. Everything in the sect is just as it was when you departed, waiting for your return."

"Disciples pay respects to Master!"

Lin Maosan, Zhao Tianchen, Su Hongxiu, Liu Yuqian and the others all stepped forward in turn, saluting and paying their respects.

Li Mu smiled and nodded, his gaze sweeping one by one over all the familiar faces, and at once he made many discoveries. Of his seven disciples, apart from Lin Maosan, who was still at Late-Stage Golden Core, the other six had already ascended the Nascent Soul Realm. Zhao Tianchen and Su Hongxiu had even successfully promoted to Divinity Transformation, standing at the Early Stage of Divinity Transformation.

"Very good, not bad at all. Elder Fang, Elder Nangong—where are they? Are they not in the sect?"

Li Mu scanned the area, but did not see the figures of Second Elder Fang Shixin and Sixth Elder Nangong Chenxing, and could not help but ask in puzzlement.

Upon hearing this, the expressions of Qin Wentong, Zhong Zilin, and Ge Xinyu all dimmed involuntarily, and the atmosphere instantly grew heavy.

Qin Wentong let out a soft sigh, hastily explaining to Li Mu, "Sect Master, Elder Fang... answered a summons from the Upper Sect and went to the Northern Domain to carry out a mission, but unfortunately fell; Elder Nangong, some time ago, attempted to assault the Refining Void Realm of Refinement and failed, and also... departed from us."

Li Mu’s expression immediately grew grave. He was silent for a moment, as though digesting this sudden news.

"How could this be? The fall of Elder Fang and Elder Nangong is a great loss to the sect!" Li Mu’s voice was low, then he shifted his tone to encourage everyone: "But the dead are already gone, and the living must go on. All of you should turn grief into strength, inherit their will, and pass on the Seven Profound Sect."

Hearing this, Qin Wentong, Zhong Zilin, and Ge Xinyu all nodded repeatedly, a firm light flashing in their eyes.

"Sect Master, be at ease. We will certainly not fail your expectations, and will cultivate diligently to bring honor to the sect." Lin Maosan, Zhao Tianchen, Su Hongxiu and the other disciples also spoke up one after another, their voices full of power, revealing the responsibility and resolve of the younger generation.

After that, accompanied by the elders and disciples, Li Mu inquired in detail about the sect’s circumstances in recent years, and then announced that he would enter seclusion to prepare for assaulting the Condensing Void Realm.

"Sect Master, you must be cautious regarding the matter of Condensing Realm. Elder Nangong’s lesson lies before us." Qin Wentong’s face showed worry; he hesitated, but in the end mustered his courage and continued, "Condensing Realm is the crucial step for a Refining Void cultivator to promote to the Integration Realm; it touches upon Dao Principles, and its danger is truly extraordinary. Since ancient times, countless outstanding geniuses have, in the course of attempting to condense their Dharma Realm, either suffered backlash from Celestial Tribulation or been invaded by Heart Demons; worse yet, some were directly scattered into ash, without even a chance to reincarnate and start cultivating anew. To condense a Dharma Realm, a cultivator must fuse his own Spiritual Power, Divine Sense, and even his comprehension of Heaven and Earth Law to the utmost. The slightest mistake is a calamity without end."

"Indeed so. Condensing a Dharma Realm not only requires that the cultivator possess extraordinary strength and enlightenment, but also that he find a place where Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi is to the extreme dense and Law Fluctuation exceptionally pronounced, as a site for seclusion, to aid in comprehending the void and arousing Heaven and Earth Law." Zhong Zilin took up the topic and added, "Sect Master, you cultivate the Five Elements together; the Dharma Realm you condense will surely be anything but ordinary. You must properly seek such a Spiritual Land, and must not act rashly!"

"On this matter, I already have my plans. You may set your hearts at ease." Li Mu gave a slight smile, his smile unhurried and incomparably resolute.

With the Star Nebula Visualization Method at Perfection Realm, coupled with the absorption of vast amounts of vitality and lifespan, and in addition his research into the Three Thousand Divine Patterns, at this moment, whether in cultivation or in Divine Soul, or even in his comprehension of the Five Elements and the Yin Yang Dao Principle, Li Mu had already reached an extremal degree.

By further cooperating with ingesting the Tier Seven Dao Pill, Returning Void Pill, to assist in condensing his Dharma Realm, Li Mu had a seventy to eighty percent certainty of success. The only deficiency lay in what Zhong Zilin had mentioned: he needed to seek a place where Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi was extremely dense and Law Fluctuation appropriate.

However, Li Mu already had plans in mind; he raised his head to look at an Array Pillar standing at the summit of the mountain.

Under the Innate Divine Power - Recognition of Ten Thousand Spirits, the attribute of the Array Pillar standing on Golden Sword Peak was displayed before him.