Stealthily cultivating in the chaotic world of demons and martial artists
Chapter 1140 - 994: The Grand Gathering

Chapter 1140: Chapter 994: The Grand Gathering

Divine Wood Island.

This island is lush and verdant, filled with all sorts of bronze trees.

These trees are of a clear yellow hue, radiating a faint metallic luster. A ten-year-old bronze tree is exceptional material for forging various colossal ships and Baochuans.

A Baochuan forged with this method can carry tens of thousands of pounds and fear neither typhoons nor sea monsters, making it the number one treasure ship in the East Sea.

Bronze trees that are one hundred to a thousand years old are already sufficient to forge magical tools and treasures.

And the Ten-thousand-year-old Bronze Wood, also known as ’Red Primordial Mother Copper,’ can even be used to forge Pure Yang Treasures!

The renowned Divine Wood Sword of Divine Wood Island was forged from such materials.

And at the deepest part of the island, there is an "Origin Magnetism Well"!

This well is unfathomably deep, with untold miles burrowing into the earth. Any metal that approaches is inevitably drawn in by the force of the origin magnetism, never to escape.

Elder Divine Wood looks ordinary, with a slightly protruding forehead and dressed in a gray robe, a circle of gray light surrounding him.

He is now sitting cross-legged in the void, as if a natural magnetic force from the heavens and the earth kept him suspended, looking at Duanmu Long in front of him, "Disciple, have you truly considered it? Once you use the ’Origin Magnetism Well’ to aid your breakthrough of the Origin Soul barrier, I fear that even if you attain the magic power of an Earth Immortal, you will still be unable to leave Divine Wood Island even one step!"

Duanmu Long, dressed in a green robe, replied with a determined expression, "Master, there is no need for further words. With my aptitude, even if I were to reincarnate three times over, I fear I would still be unable to open the gate to the Origin Soul... Using the secret method of our school and the aid of the Origin Magnetism Well to achieve Individual Immortal Fruition, this life will be without regret! Besides... Master is a Scholarly Celestial. In the future, you may well deduce our school’s origin magnetism magic power up to the level of a Celestial Immortal, and then we could escape the constraints of the Origin Magnetism Well."

"Very well... Go then, my disciple," Elder Divine Wood said.

Duanmu Long immediately transformed into a streak of green light and plunged into the Origin Magnetism Well.

The foundation of his school’s legacy was developed by Elder Divine Wood himself, cultivating the power of origin magnetism. With the aid of this well of origin magnetism and Duanmu Long’s root potential, breaking through to the Origin Soul was almost certain.

However, by doing so, his magic power would be fused with the well, and even upon achieving the Origin Soul, he would not be able to leave the island even one step.

Watching his beloved disciple’s figure disappear, Elder Divine Wood’s expression became far more solemn. He continuously calculated with his fingers, "This time, my son will surely become an Origin Soul, attain the fruition of an Individual Immortal, and even encounter some opportunity... Yet the cause and effect of this chance are quite significant. My Divine Wood Island seems to have some foreboding of a disaster of blood. Fortunately, it’s not supposed to fall upon my disciples... It seems that instructing my followers to prepare for that grand event indeed has some effect in averting disaster..."

...

Several days later, Divine Wood Island.

At the temporarily constructed dock, treasure ships arrived one after another.

Immortals from various schools of the East Sea appeared gracefully, and even took the opportunity to open a sea market, with a dazzling array of commodities that was almost overwhelming for onlookers.

The treasure ship of King Xiaoyao was mixed among the many large ships, appearing almost insignificant, moored inconspicuously as he led his people ashore.

"Welcome to Divine Wood Island, Sirs," came Wenwan’s voice from a streak of escape light, revealing a female figure—it was Wenwan herself.

She looked at Zhuo Yifan and asked politely, "And who might you be, Sir?"

"I am Zhuo Yifan. This is King Xiaoyao of Great Zhou, here to participate in the celebration!" Zhuo Yifan replied courteously, bowing his hands.

"So it’s Zhuo Sir..." Wenwan replied with a slight smile, though she was somewhat skeptical inside.

Even when ’Cold Mountain Sword Peng Xifan was alive, his backing was considered a third-rate school to Divine Wood Island, let alone Zhuo Yifan.

Furthermore, Peng Xifan’s school had once incurred the wrath of Xin Hongyun, the star of calamity of the Shu Mountain Sect and was nearly annihilated.

Cold Mountain Sword barely escaped, only to be saved by a mortal.

Decades later, Peng Xifan passed away in meditation, and somehow the legacy fell into the hands of this mortal, certainly arousing some speculation.

"This fairy, I am a royal brother of the Emperor of Great Zhou, especially here to participate in the Immortals’ grand gathering..." King Xiaoyao intervened, seeing Wenwan’s amiable demeanor and mustering the courage to strike up a conversation.

But Wenwan simply said, "So it’s a mortal world prince..." and paid him no more attention, leaving King Xiaoyao quite embarrassed.

He was thus affected, and the ordinary martial artists on the treasure ship were even more deferential. After seeing Wenwan and Zhuo Yifan leave, they scattered in all directions toward the sea market, seeking their fortunes.

"That different person who taught me three moves of swordsmanship, although I don’t know who he is... he must also be one of the Sword Immortals or Swordsmen... I evidently have no immortal fate, otherwise why wouldn’t my benefactor take me as a disciple?" Greenvine Sword Cui Feiniang was inwardly resentful yet resigned.

Seeing the somewhat simple-minded farm boy Niu, she thought of how he gave assistance previously and could not help but approach him, "Brother Niu, why not take a stroll in the sea market and seek an immortal fate?"

She saw that even the little prince brought a steward with various treasures, heading to the market with hope. Could they perhaps fulfill their desires?

"I..." Niu stammered as talking to Cui Feiniang seemed to exhaust him more than the previous battle with the fishman pirates.

With a naive smile, he said, "I’m a bit slow... I’m afraid the noble immortals might not take notice of me..."

Just then, a ray of rosy light descended, radiant and spellbinding, while an air of grandeur filled the sky.

Atop the central palace and bell tower of Divine Wood Island, a bronze bell began to toll seemingly of its own accord.

The sound was so mighty that it was heard throughout the island.

A bronze sword light flew out from the depths of the island, transforming into the figure of Elder Divine Wood who laughed and said, "It turns out Fairy Piaomiao has arrived. What merit and virtue does my unworthy disciple possess to be graced with the Fairy’s congratulations?"

The sky full of rosy light gathered, revealing a woman of peerless grace—it was Yun Shanshan!

She folded her hands in a curtsey and smiled, "We dwell in the Eastern Ocean and are indeed neighbors. It is only proper for me to come and congratulate you on your disciple’s achievement in refining his Origin Soul."

"Haha, please come into the Divine Leaf Palace for some tea!"

The Elder Divine Wood was immediately delighted, and two escape lights fell into the depths of the island.

Meanwhile, the group in the sea market was naturally stunned.

"From afar, it shines like the rising sun amidst the morning clouds; up close, it dazzles like the lotus emerging from clear waves... Shoulders carved like jade, waist as willowy as a slender cord. A graceful neck and a fair complexion revealed... Who could imagine that there would be such a peerless fairy in the world?"

King Xiaoyao sighed admiringly.

"Hehe... so uninformed."

A passing individual cultivator immediately sneered, "One look and it’s clear you’re not from the Eastern Ocean, to have never heard the name of the Eastern Ocean’s number one beauty—Fairy Piaomiao Yun Shanshan."

"The number one beauty of the Eastern Ocean, truly lives up to her reputation."

King Xiaoyao’s eyes brightened, then he became disheartened, "Alas... I am but a common man, not a cultivator in pursuit of the Immortal Path."

"Hah, even if one is a cultivator, how could they get close to such grace? Know that this number one fairy of the Eastern Ocean, had long ago refined her Origin Soul into an immortal one, and later achieved the Taoist Fruition of an Earth Immortal, becoming one of the renowned seniors of this realm."

The individual cultivator, a young man with peach blossom eyes, upon seeing King Xiaoyao, felt an instant kinship and slung an arm over his shoulder, saying, "I see in you a potential talent... Interested in cultivation and following the Immortal Path? I have a ’Peach Blossom Sutra’ here that I could sell to you for a good price..."

"The ’Peach Blossom Sutra’? Is it legitimate?"

King Xiaoyao was tempted, but a sharp-voiced and sinister-faced old servant at his side hesitated, "Our lord is not without the means to acquire a few Daoist texts, we merely seek righteous Fruition, not some lowly art..."

"It’s most certainly legitimate. This art can cultivate the ’Peach Blossom Evil Qi,’ which is not born of heaven and earth, but derived from the mortal coil... It speaks of governing three thousand beauties and ascending in broad daylight..."

The individual cultivator with peach blossom eyes lowered his voice.

King Xiaoyao’s eyes lit up immediately, "This sounds great, I want to learn this..."

...

King Xiaoyao was of noble birth and still possessed some assets.

Even if they were worthless trinkets, there would always be someone willing to buy them.

In comparison, those so-called martial world heroes and Martial World greats were truly hitting wall after wall in the sea market.

To sell themselves into servitude in exchange for an opportunity would be considered their ancestors’ graves emitting green smoke in fortune.

Cui Feiniang and Niu had roamed around and seen some different people and opportunities, but either the prices were too high, or they were outright scorned.

They returned to their Baochuan and prepared to meditate and practice Qi Refining in silence, waiting for the grand event to end.

Not long after, a bronze bell rang out again.

"Who could it be this time, attracting such illustrious figures?"

Cui Feiniang opened her eyes and smiled at Niu.

Before long, the voice of an announcer echoed throughout the island.

"Master Yuekong has arrived..."

"Lord Tianlong has arrived..."

"Divine Master Great Wild has arrived..."

"Ancestor Lie Huo of the Hua Mountain Sect has arrived..."

"The Ling Chan Master of the Shu Mountain Sect and a group of elders and disciples have arrived..."

...

Elder Divine Wood couldn’t afford to continue entertaining Yun Shanshan and had to fly out again, his face beaming with a smile, "My ignorant disciple truly doesn’t deserve such profound kindness..."

He felt slightly perplexed in his heart.

Even for his own disciple’s celebration of refining the Origin Soul, having Fairy Piaomiao and Master Yuekong from the Eastern Ocean as neighbors offer their congratulations was one thing.

But why were recluses like Lord Tianlong and Divine Master Great Wild also coming to offer their felicitations?

Lord Tianlong and Divine Master Great Wild were one thing, but to have heads of the prestigious mystical sects like the Hua Mountain Sect and Shu Mountain Sect personally attend was another.

’Even when I achieved my Origin Soul and established my school... it seems it wasn’t as glorious as this?’

Elder Divine Wood felt a mix of joy for the honor his eldest disciple brought him and a twinge of private sorrow.

Forcing a spirited expression, he welcomed all these distinguished seniors into the Divine Leaf Palace, serving tea to one after another, busier than he had ever been.

"Congratulations on your eminent disciple achieving his Origin Soul, and his hopes for ascension in the future."

Ling Chan Tongzi happily sipped his tea, then spoke up.

"Thank you for your generous praise... My unworthy disciple has already refined his Origin Soul and simply needs to quietly practice the Profound Art for a moment, then he will come out to meet all the seniors."

Elder Divine Wood responded with a beaming smile.

In fact, Duanmu Long had achieved his Origin Soul and was absorbed by the Origin Magnetism Well. He needed to employ the unique methods of Divine Wood Island to dissolve this effect to maintain his freedom within the island. Otherwise, not even able to leave the well would be rather embarrassing.

’Strange... According to my calculations, my eldest disciple should have the dumb luck of a fool, not subject to the calamity of being absorbed by the Origin Magnetism Well... Where is that opportunity then?’

As Elder Divine Wood felt amazed internally, the disciple acting as the announcer once again called out loudly:

"Individual Cultivator Fang Xi from Qinghe Mountain... has arrived!"

At those words, Elder Divine Wood immediately sensed a shift in the atmosphere within the palace!