Chapter 143: The Myriad Stars Sea's Grand Dharma Exposition

In the southeastern region of Qian Prefecture, within the Great Qian Immortal Kingdom, lay a sacred land known as the Myriad Stars Sea.

Bordering the East Sea, the Myriad Stars Sea bore the responsibility of suppressing the East Sea Monster Clan.

The journey from the Profound Pill Sect in Shu Prefecture to this southeastern corner of Qian Prefecture took over a month—even longer than their previous trek to Jade Capital Mountain.

Unlike their earlier glimpse of Jade Capital Mountain, where they hadn't truly seen its full grandeur, this time Han Yi beheld the Holy Land's majesty from a distance of several kilometers.

A colossal Immortal Island hovered above the East Sea.

Yes, it floated—suspended in mid-air without any visible support, defying gravity at a height of roughly a hundred meters.

Upon the island clustered Immortal Peaks shrouded in swirling clouds and permeated with celestial energy. A sprawling complex of palaces adorned these peaks, so densely packed they stretched beyond the horizon.

Even a fleeting glance revealed cultivators soaring through the sky on their magical instruments, Immortal Boats weaving through the air—a common sight in this realm.

Truly a majestic display of Immortal grandeur.

In terms of sheer land area, this Immortal Island could rival a continent, dwarfing the Profound Pill Sect's territory by over a hundredfold. Among the cultivators taking flight, many had reached the Golden Core Stage, and some were even Great Cultivators of the Nascent Soul Stage.

"The East Sea teems with Demon Cultivators. The Demon Slaying Assembly is held once a century, and in the intervening years, Variant Demon Beasts break through to become Demon Cultivators, sometimes even reaching the Golden Core or Nascent Soul Stage. However, those who attain human form tend to seek profit and avoid danger, fleeing into the depths of the East Sea."

"At this year's Demon Slaying Assembly, Qi Refining Stage disciples will hunt Demon Beasts on the islands between the near and deep seas, while Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators and above will venture deeper into the East Sea to slay Demon Cultivators."

"Whether you slay Demon Beasts or Demon Cultivators, all spoils are yours to keep, without any need to surrender them. After the assembly, the Myriad Stars Sea will rank you based on the number of Demon Race members you've killed and award prizes accordingly."

"Top-Grade Magic Artifacts, Flawless Spirit Pills, Foundation Establishment Pills, High-Grade Spirit Stones, and even Magic Treasures and Top-Grade Spirit Stones are among the rewards."

"Therefore, while this undertaking is fraught with peril, it also presents a rare opportunity."

"The danger lies not only in the Demon Race but also among your fellow cultivators. Remain vigilant against others."

"The opportunities extend beyond the flesh and Inner Cores of the slain demons to the rewards from the Myriad Stars Sea."

Aboard the Immortal Boat, Zhuge Wuyou spoke gravely, then lifted his gaze toward the Myriad Stars Sea, a flicker of yearning in his eyes.

The Profound Pill Sect's spirit vein, located only on Profound Pill Peak, was a mere Fifth-Tier vein. In contrast, the Myriad Stars Sea boasted a Ninth-Tier spirit vein—one of only two such veins in the entire Great Qian. Even a small leak from this vein could sustain the Profound Pill Sect for tens of thousands of years.

"According to the Gathering of Immortals' agenda," Zhuge Wuyou explained, "the event is divided into two parts: the Demonstration of Methods and the Demon Slaying Assembly."

"The Demonstration of Methods showcases the strength of cultivators from various sects. Historically, the primary participants have been representatives from the Great Qian Immortal Kingdom, the Two Great Holy Lands, the Three Great Sects, and the seven sects led by Nascent Soul Stage True Monarchs. These demonstrations are friendly sparring matches, emphasizing restraint rather than mortal combat."

"That concludes the Demonstration of Methods."

"The second event is the Demon Slaying Assembly. All cultivators will receive a jade ring with video recording capabilities, which they must carry at all times. They will then follow guides from the Myriad Stars Sea to designated sea areas teeming with seaweed, where they will slay any Demon Beasts or Demon Cultivators they encounter. Afterward, they simply await retrieval by the Myriad Stars Sea cultivators."

"The Demonstration of Methods is merely a prelude; the true purpose is the Demon Slaying Assembly."

Zhuge Wuyou fell silent, as they had arrived at their destination.

The Immortal Boat halted ten kilometers from the Immortal Island's perimeter. Zhuge Wuyou flew ahead to exchange a few words with a middle-aged cultivator who had also flown forward to greet them. After a brief conversation, he returned to the boat.

"Let's go. We're assigned to Courtyard Twenty-Three in the C-Class District."

Zhuge Wuyou held a dark golden token. Activating it with his Divine Sense, he conjured a faint golden arrow pointing the way for the Immortal Boat.

The boat, now moving at a deliberate pace, took a full quarter of an hour to traverse the ten-kilometer distance. During this time, the faces of everyone on board were etched with awe.

If the Profound Pill Sect could be likened to a small sect nestled in a mountain hollow, then the Myriad Stars Sea was a sacred land akin to the Immortal Court itself.

As they crossed this stretch, the group encountered no fewer than five Nascent Soul Stage cultivators, over twenty Golden Core Stage experts, and countless Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators. After all, anyone capable of flight using magical artifacts had to be at least at that stage.

Of course, not all the Nascent Soul and Golden Core cultivators belonged to the Myriad Stars Sea. Roughly half had come from various sects within the Great Qian Immortal Kingdom to participate in the Demon Slaying Assembly.

Just as the Immortal Boat settled into the courtyard, a sonorous voice, as profound as that of a true Immortal, resonated across the entire Myriad Stars Sea:

"The Pure Void Dao Lord has graced us with his presence. The Myriad Stars Sea welcomes him with utmost reverence."

The occupants of the boat, newly disembarked, startled and looked up, even Zhuge Wuyou among them, staring intently.

Emerging from the depths of the Myriad Stars Sea Immortal Island was a bald middle-aged man with a sheathed blade at his hip. With each step he took, the void trembled, and vibrant, multicolored light blossomed beneath his feet from condensed Spirit Energy.

Upon clearly seeing the middle-aged man's face, a tremor of fear ran through the crowd. Visions of blood-soaked seas and mountains of blades suddenly materialized within their Divine Souls, filling their chests with a ferocious bloodlust, an uncontrollable urge to kill.

"Don't look! Calm your minds!" Zhuge Wuyou snapped, the first to break free from the trance. His face paled, and he dared not raise his head again.

A soft rebuke jolted the others back to reality. They abruptly lowered their heads, afraid to look up, as the killing intent within them gradually subsided and their faces slowly regained their composure.

"So powerful... A single glance nearly plunged me into the depths of a slaughtering hell," Fei Qing whispered hoarsely, his face ashen. The others' expressions mirrored his shock.

At that moment, immortal spirit qi drifted down from the heavens as a Daoist descended onto the Immortal Island. He stood in mid-air, completely detached from worldly concerns, his true depth unfathomable. Yet, anyone who scanned the space he occupied with their Divine Sense would be shocked to find it utterly empty—a stark contrast to what their eyes perceived.

This was Pure Void Dao Lord, a Transformation God Stage Great Power from Jade Capital Mountain.

In the Cultivation World, those who attained the Golden Core Stage were revered as True Persons, Nascent Soul cultivators were honored as True Monarchs, and those who surpassed the Nascent Soul Stage to reach Transformation God earned the title of Dao Lord.

"Seven Kill Dao Lord, please proceed!"

Two Transformation God Stage Great Powers hovered above the Immortal Island, their presence paralyzing the surrounding cultivators. Only after Pure Void Dao Lord followed Seven Kill Dao Lord into the depths of the Myriad Stars Sea did the others finally exhale in relief.

In a certain district of Immortal Island, at Courtyard No. 23 in the C-Class District, the assembled cultivators had just looked up when all traces of the overwhelming power of the Transformation God Stage Great Powers vanished from the island.

"A Transformation God cultivator is revered as a Great Power, honored with the title of Dao Lord, and considered a demi-immortal in the Cultivation World," Zhuge Wuyou said, his eyes gleaming with ambition. "We cultivators should strive for such heights."

Turning to the others, he instructed them to each choose a meditation chamber within the courtyard to settle in.

Han Yi selected a chamber, closed the door, and found his mind still restless.

This is the might of a Transformation God Dao Lord... Compared to me—no, not just me, but even Zhuge Wuyou at the Golden Core Stage—a Transformation God Dao Lord is practically an immortal.

I wonder if Pure Void Dao Lord serves the Great Qian Immortal Kingdom or Jade Capital Mountain.

Seven Kill Dao Lord... that must be the bald, middle-aged man with the sheathed blade.

For me, the Immortal Path remains a long and arduous journey. Han Yi sighed softly, then steeled his wandering thoughts and began cultivating. Unable to practice the Li Fire Sword Manual properly in the Myriad Stars Sea, he focused on advancing his cultivation realm instead.

Half a month later...

The Myriad Stars Sea officially commenced the Gathering of Immortals. Zhuge Wuyou led ten cultivators from the Profound Pill Sect aboard a Flying Boat, following the Myriad Stars Sea's guidance ten miles offshore to a vast, flat island. There, they would host the first half of the Gathering: the Method Demonstration.

The island spanned roughly ten miles in each direction—an immense area for mortals, large enough to accommodate a small town.

However, to cultivators, the island was merely adequate.

This time, the Myriad Stars Sea's guidance led them only to this unnamed island, without specifying a precise location. Zhuge Wuyou landed along the shoreline and stowed the Immortal Boat.

"The first half of the Mountain and Sea Immortal Gathering, the Gathering of Immortals, is primarily for observation by ordinary Golden Core Stage sects like ours. Under normal circumstances, we have no active role. However, if someone issues a challenge or if the urge to test your skills arises, you may step forward. But remember, facing cultivators from the One Nation, Two Saints, and Three Great Sects, you must prepare for defeat."

"Even I would face certain defeat if I were to step onto the stage. This is a truth we cannot deny."

Zhuge Wuyou spoke solemnly, without a trace of resentment, only a clear-eyed understanding of his own limitations.

Despite being second-in-command of the Profound Pill Sect, ranking just below Sect Leader Yuan Shun and on par with another Supreme Elder at the eighth layer of the Golden Core stage, Zhuge Wuyou was still considered insignificant at such a grand gathering of the cultivation world.

No one raised any objections, not even Han Yi, whose heart remained unmoved.

Having once glimpsed the Heaven's Chosen of the Great Qian cultivation world during his time in the True Dawn Grand Void Heaven, Han Yi knew that without his Proficiency Panel, any one of those prodigies could have left him in the dust.

Yet that had only been a fraction of the Great Qian's cultivation world. This Gathering of Immortals, however, represented its entirety.

The arrival of the Profound Pill Sect caused no stir, as they were far from the first to arrive.

Before and after them, sects, rogue cultivators, cultivation families, and others continued to arrive steadily. The Myriad Stars Sea placed no restrictions on participation; even an eighth-layer Qi Refining rogue cultivator was welcome to join the Mountain and Sea Immortal Gathering. No invitation letters were required. Anyone arriving at the Myriad Stars Sea during the event period and declaring their intention to attend the Mountain and Sea Immortal Gathering would be guided accordingly.

"The Blood God Sect is here," Fei Qing, the most talkative of the five Qi Refining cultivators, muttered with a scoff. The others turned to follow his gaze.

Two kilometers away, along another edge of the island, a dozen cultivators descended. Each wore blood-red robes, their bodies radiating a palpable bloody aura and emanating intense killing intent.

As the Profound Pill Sect cultivators glanced over, the Blood God Sect members returned their gaze. An invisible clash of wills collided in mid-air, only to dissipate in an instant.

Han Yi raised an eyebrow. He didn't spot the former Blood God Son, Han Xuxiao, among the group. Fei Qing's next words cleared up Han Yi's confusion.

"The Blood God Sect's supply of Legendary Qi Refining cultivators seems endless. The previous generation had three Blood God Sons who achieved that level, and now that they've advanced to the Foundation Establishment Stage, two more have emerged. It's infuriating!" Fei Qing's face twisted with murderous intent, clearly recalling unpleasant memories of being hunted by Blood God Sect disciples.

"Those two must be them," Han Yi said, his gaze settling on two Blood God Sect cultivators whose auras far surpassed those of the other Peak Qi Refining experts. Their presence exuded an unsettling air of mystery.

Seeing Han Yi's gaze fixed on the two Legendary figures from the Blood God Sect, Fei Qing explained, "The one on the left is Zeng Zixuan, a swordsman trained by Mo Wen, a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator from our own Profound Pill Sect—yes, the very Mo Wen who slew Senior Brother You Wu with his blade."

"The one on the right is Xue He, another swordsman. Rumor has it that his strength surpasses even that of the previous Blood God Son, Han Xuxiao."

Fei Qing's expression turned grim as he mentioned You Wu.

Over the years, Han Yi had vaguely suspected that the Profound Pill Sect's public announcement of You Wu's death served as a stark warning to all its disciples. It was a bucket of cold water for the inner and outer sect disciples—and even many elders—who had grown complacent, convinced that the sect's current strength rendered the Blood God Sect inconsequential. It jolted them out of their self-satisfied complacency.

The road ahead would be fraught with peril, demanding utmost caution.

The sheer magnitude of this sacrifice had seared this lesson deep into the collective consciousness of the entire sect, etching itself into their very souls.

"Zeng Zixuan, Xue He," Han Yi murmured, committing their names and appearances to memory. He then asked, "By the way, Senior Brother Fei, does our Profound Pill Sect have any Legendary Qi Refining cultivators in this generation?"

Fei Qing showed no surprise. From Han Yi's earlier introduction, everyone knew he was an ascetic cultivator who frequently secluded himself for long periods, his knowledge of Qi Refining Stage disciples limited to their rankings on the Earth Ranking.

"Of course," Fei Qing replied. "Senior Brother Wu Hui broke through to the Peak Qi Refining Stage a year ago and earned the title of 'Legendary.' Unfortunately, he has pressing matters to attend to and couldn't make it."

"As for the previous generation's Legendary Qi Refining cultivators, Geng Changxu and An Xin, the top two on the Earth Ranking, have already reached the Foundation Establishment Stage and ascended to Elder positions."

Han Yi nodded. After emerging from his seclusion, he had at least familiarized himself with the Earth Ranking, though he only knew a few individuals personally.

Among those he recognized, He Fengdi had climbed to ninth place on the Earth Ranking. Under the Sect's new Escort Program, He Fengdi might have a chance to secure one of the final slots in the third year.

As the Gathering of Immortals approached, more and more sects descended upon the Myriad Stars Sea. Eventually, cultivators from the One Nation, Two Saints, and Three Great Sects also arrived on the immortal island. This time, however, these powerful cultivators refrained from emitting their terrifying auras, suppressing their spiritual pressure as a gesture of respect to the Myriad Stars Sea.

The Gathering of Immortals officially commenced. A Nascent Soul True Monarch from the Myriad Stars Sea stood in the void above the center of the island and declared in a resounding voice:

"Welcome, everyone, to this year's Mountain and Sea Immortal Gathering..."

After a dazzling opening address, it was time for the demonstration of techniques. A young woman in a flowing blue gown glided gracefully to the center of the island, her voice as melodious as a celestial being descending to the mortal realm. "Su Wanqing of the Myriad Stars Sea humbly requests guidance from my fellow Daoists."

A young man stepped forward from the Great Qian Immortal Kingdom's delegation, a smile playing on his lips. His regal purple-gold robes accentuated his noble bearing.

"Pang Quan of Great Qian."

The moment his words faded, both figures vanished simultaneously.

Five miles away, Fei Qing exclaimed softly, "So fast!"

Shi Lengyan, the female cultivator who had remained relatively silent during their journey, spoke quickly, "Su Wanqing is the close disciple of a Nascent Soul True Monarch from the Myriad Stars Sea. Her Water Attribute Dao Techniques have reached the Transformation Realm, perfectly complementing her Water Attribute Heavenly Spirit Root. Among the Legendary Qi Refining cultivators, she ranks within the top five of the Myriad Stars Sea."

"Pang Quan is the ninth-generation grandson of the Great Qian Emperor. He practices the Heavenly Evolution Emperor Manual, the emperor's renowned technique—though he's only mastered the Qi Refining chapter. Even that is formidable."

The crowd fell silent, astonished by Shi Lengyan's vast knowledge.

"I simply have a particular interest in this subject," she explained calmly, shaking her head slightly. "I've gathered information from various sources and just happened to know a little. In a real confrontation, they would be no match for me." Though her tone remained steady, Han Yi sensed the complex emotions churning beneath her composed demeanor.

While Shi Lengyan was speaking, the match had already concluded.

Su Wanqing had unleashed the Water Prison Technique, summoning seawater from the East Sea to create a nine-layered Profound Bell that trapped Pang Quan inside. No matter how powerful his Dao Techniques, he couldn't break free.

Demonstration battles were meant to be brief and non-lethal. In an instant, the Water Prison dissipated, leaving no lingering animosity.

Pang Quan showed no sign of discouragement. He merely smiled and returned to the Great Qian Immortal Kingdom's delegation. However, in the brief moment he turned away, Han Yi caught a fleeting glimpse of a cold, sinister expression flashing across his face.

This ninth-generation descendant of the Great Qian Emperor was far from a benevolent figure.