Misty Illusion Secret Realm, deep within the Wildlands.

On the vast, boundless land, a colossal river, tens of thousands of miles wide and stretching for countless billions of miles, extended from before their eyes to the horizon. Waves, several feet high, surged on the river’s surface, occasionally revealing glimpses of unknown aquatic beasts swiftly swimming by.

In fact, this great river was not naturally formed. Just over a month ago, it was an unimaginably vast top-grade spirit crystal mine, buried deep within the rock layers, unseen by the world.

But then Qing Muling came. In just a few days and nights, he used the Creation Heavenly Palace to completely deplete this rare super mine, eventually breaking through the underground river veins, causing a massive influx of underground water to create this enormous surface river.

In mid-air, dozens of figures enveloped in golden light and exuding a formidable aura hovered silently. Not far behind them stood tens of thousands of celestial soldiers and generals.

Powerful divine senses swept repeatedly over the land for billions of miles, continuously uncovering numerous suspicious traces yet to be cleared. There were towering mountains split in half, bottomless chasms, super spirit veins drained dry by secret methods, and spirit spring paradises completely relocated.

The evidence was clear.

An unknown force had secretly infiltrated the Misty Illusion Secret Realm, plundering its precious resources ruthlessly for years!

As for the exact extent of the losses, it was impossible to estimate at the moment.

“…Who did this?!”

After a long silence, a man’s voice, filled with anger, questioned coldly, like a vengeful spirit emerging from the depths of hell.

“Lord True Monarch, this must be the work of cultivators from the Great Void?”

A voice cautiously suggested, “They must have used some unknown means to evade our surveillance, then brazenly plundered and stole our wealth here!”

Another cold and harsh voice retorted, “The Great Void has been in decline for countless millennia. Do they still have such capabilities? Could it be… some of our own people breaking ancient taboos and committing theft?”

“This…”

The voice faltered, evidently acknowledging that similar incidents had occurred before, though they were usually minor and covert.

But this time, the scale was unprecedented, even alarming the high-ranking Emperors. Those involved wouldn’t dare, even if given a thousand chances, and they certainly didn’t have the capability.

The leading figures gathered, setting up multiple layers of restrictions around them, and quickly discussed:

“I still hold my previous view: this must be the work of cultivators from the Great Void, just like the last time the secret realm was opened and resources mysteriously vanished. I have ample reason to believe both incidents were caused by the same force.”

“I agree. Besides them, I can’t think of any other force capable of this. Even if long-lost enemies reappeared, they wouldn’t be so blatant, as it wouldn’t benefit them.”

“However, entering this time-space from the Great Void while evading our surveillance is incredibly difficult. Even we would struggle, let alone the cultivators from the Great Void.”

“Still, it’s possible they accidentally unearthed some ancient treasure from the primordial era, using its power to freely traverse time and space, stealing resources from here.”

“Hmm, that’s possible. Now that it’s happened, our priority is to identify the culprits and punish them! We can contact Zihuang and Lingxi, who are stationed at the Calamity Fate Palace, and have them investigate this matter thoroughly.”

“That’s feasible. It shouldn’t be hard to find out. Just watch which force in the Great Void suddenly becomes wealthy; it’s likely them!”

“Agreed, let’s proceed!”

…

Imperial Dao Peak, within the Supreme Sect Master’s abode.

Mu Yinghua and Fengge Emperor sat across from each other, a round table between them laden with spiritual wine, nectar, and various fruits and snacks, indicating they had been conversing for some time.

Despite the vast difference in their generations, they appeared similar in age, both stunningly beautiful, elegantly dressed, with serene smiles, like best friends chatting in a chamber.

“…You shouldn’t be so hesitant,”

Fengge Emperor scrutinized the radiant Mu Yinghua, her tone filled with evident reproach, “Such an effortless opportunity to attain the Dao, others seek it their entire lives in vain, yet you’re being so coy? Is it necessary?”

“Ancestor, it’s not like that, I…”

Mu Yinghua’s fair face flushed with embarrassment, feeling somewhat ashamed.

She knew the benefits for herself, but despite her years of cultivation, she had never had a Dao Companion. Essentially, she was still an untouched maiden. Now, to have intimate contact with her own disciple felt emotionally and logically unacceptable.

Even if it had to happen, couldn’t she have some time to adjust?

Fengge Emperor stared at her deeply, “Do you know, the Great Golden Immortal elders from Xinyu’s lineage have been pestering her endlessly, pressuring her to make you relinquish the position of Supreme Sect Master? Their reason is clear: with the great calamity approaching, the sect needs someone with enough power and prestige to lead, and you’re evidently not the ideal candidate.”

“…”

Mu Yinghua’s face turned pale. As Sect Master, she had her own sources of information and knew Fengge Emperor wasn’t exaggerating.

Xinyu Emperor hadn’t taken a stance, not out of favoritism for Mu Yinghua, but because of Qing Muling.

“Ancestor, should I just step down then?”

Mu Yinghua whispered, feeling immense pressure recently. High-ranking elders were privately discussing her inadequacy, saying she wasn’t fit to hold the sect’s authority.

Previously, there were no such voices in the sect. It was after Qing Muling healed the severely injured Supreme Elders in the Hidden Cave Mystical Realm, strengthening the sect’s high-end combat power, that the dynamics subtly changed.

In Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace’s factional landscape, Xinyu Emperor’s lineage held dominance, with other factions having produced multiple Supreme Sect Masters and hosting several Great Golden Immortals. Fengge Emperor’s faction, however, hadn’t been very influential.

Nearly ten thousand years ago, if not for Luoyun Shui’s mismanagement of the sect, creating a mess no one else wanted to clean up, Mu Yinghua wouldn’t have risen to her position.

Now, with Mu Yinghua’s inadequate cultivation, the restored Great Golden Immortals didn’t want her to continue holding the position.

Fengge Emperor sneered slightly, “Do you think stepping down will bring peace? Taking your position is just the first step. If you yield, they’ll go further, perhaps even taking Muling! Their reason? You’re too weak to teach the Harmony Spirit Seed, so Qing Muling should find a better mentor!”

“But I found him and brought him to the sect! How can they do this?”

Mu Yinghua’s face flushed with anger. Losing the position was one thing, as it was a public role, not personal property. But taking her disciple was too much, challenging her bottom line and violating sect rules.

However, thinking carefully, they might indeed do it. Qing Muling’s value was incomparable, offering a chance to attain the Dao and become a saint.

In the face of such immense benefits, past camaraderie and sisterly bonds meant nothing. They wouldn’t hesitate to seize opportunities.

Fengge Emperor sighed, “I don’t need to explain further. You’ve been Sect Master for years and should understand the stakes. Don’t make such basic mistakes again.”

“As for Muling helping me reach the Quasi Holy realm, I’ll allow it. When he returns, let him stay with me under the pretext of seeking guidance.”

“Alright, I will!”

Mu Yinghua glanced at the awe-inspiring Fengge Emperor. This woman from the sect’s founding era had seen countless changes and hardships, indifferent to such matters.

With the reward of Quasi Holy Dao fruit, what’s co-cultivation? Even being Muling’s maid wouldn’t be a loss.

What? You’re unwilling? Feel humiliated? Ridiculous.

No worries, there are thousands of female cultivators waiting! Compared to achieving Quasi Holy Emperor status, this is nothing. If you don’t want to, many others do!

With this thought, Mu Yinghua steeled herself, her last hesitation vanishing.

…

Nine Springs Star Domain.

On a floating landmass spanning billions of miles, black clouds covered the sky. Rolling chaotic light, like liquid mercury, dispersed the lethal dark miasma. Where it passed, the barren, lifeless desert began visibly changing.

The chaotic light contained the miraculous power to reverse creation and yin-yang. It easily purified the dark negative energy and violent toxic spiritual energy in the soil and rock layers, transforming them into fertile spirit fields, even giving the stones a faint luster.

Centered on Qing Muling, the light enveloped an area of ten thousand miles in radius and two hundred miles deep, slowly fading after half an hour.

This was the innate divine ability “Heavenly Palace Paradise” of the Harmony Creation Blue Lotus, capable of restoring any polluted or damaged environment into a suitable cultivation paradise.

Dragon Ritual Princess crouched to examine the soil, finding the negative energy gone, with wisps of black gas dissipating into the air. The soil now contained an indescribable vitality, slowly growing stronger over time.

“Junior Brother’s methods are truly extraordinary,”

Qingchan Fairy sighed, “With him here, this vast land will fully recover in days, adding a significant territory for the sect, enough to support trillions of mortals.”

Dragon Ritual Princess nodded. The annual offerings from a mortal nation of trillions could sustain tens of thousands of inner disciples. Over time, Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace’s disciples would only increase.

Every Dao Lineage’s territory had many uninhabitable death lands, too costly to transform, left abandoned.

But with Qing Muling’s abilities, given enough time, he could turn all these lands in the Cloud Dream Immortal Domain into paradises, supporting thousands or millions more disciples.

Su Yuanzhen softly suggested, “The Dao Court also has many wastelands needing transformation. Perhaps Junior Brother could help in the future? We can’t always rely on the Great Golden Immortals.”

Dragon Ritual Princess smiled, “That’ll have to wait. Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace wouldn’t dare let him travel far now. At least not until he becomes a Great Golden Immortal.”

As Qing Muling continued his work, from above, vast circular patches of vibrant land appeared on the floating land, contrasting sharply with the harsh surroundings.

This was just surface-level purification. Deeper layers remained untouched, so Qing Muling planned to delve deeper after transforming the surface.

Using his divine sense, Qing Muling saw a thick layer of golden merit light around the Harmony Creation Blue Lotus, rapidly increasing.

With his current cultivation, he calculated that transforming twenty more floating lands of similar size would provide enough heavenly merits to advance to True Immortal.

The scale seemed daunting, but with the Blue Lotus’s power, performing “Heavenly Palace Paradise” every half hour, with enough rest, he could easily do it a hundred times a day without exhausting his magical power.

At this rate, in fifty years, he could fully transform twenty floating lands.

This might seem long, but for other cultivators, advancing from Elemental Immortal to True Immortal could take tens of thousands of years. Qing Muling’s speed was extraordinary, merely the time for one closed-door cultivation session.