https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-593-Shadowy-Figures-Towering-Buildings/12942380/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-595-The-Ten-Thousand-Immortals-Assembly-s-Misleading-Name-/12942382/
Chapter 594: The North Sea Barrier, Nine-Star Demon Hunters
Chapter 594: The North Sea Barrier, Nine-Star Demon Hunters
In the bustling port of Whale Harbor, people came and went like a flowing river. Countless cultivators wandered about, most of them in the Qi Condensation and Foundation Establishment stages.
Occasionally, Golden Core Cultivators, rarely seen in ordinary times, would also appear, often in a hurry, lacking the usual untouchable air of superiority.
A tall man with a red face and black eyes, dressed in white feathered robes, strolled along the wide walkway, his dark eyes curiously scanning left and right as if he couldn't get enough of the sights.
Behind him was a beautiful female cultivator carrying a long, white cloth-wrapped object on her back. Her figure wasn't particularly graceful, but the defiance in her brows gave her an unusual, untouchable air.
Suddenly, the red-faced man's steps came to a halt at a seaside railing.
His gaze fixed on a distant giant ship in the distance.
"That movement just now was a bit too much."
"Fortunately, it was only for a moment. I had anticipated it and disembarked early."
Over the years, Luo Chen had persistently worked on removing the bad luck from the Soul Nourishing Tree, gaining a profound understanding of it.
This bad luck must have come from an abnormally powerful creature!
Its cultivation realm was at least Nascent Soul Stage or higher.
Just a lingering trace of its aura was enough to make Han Zhan avoid it like a tiger.
The feeling was even more oppressive than the pressure he had felt from Demon Monarch Frost.
However, it didn't seem like a Divine Transformation-level creature either.
Such an existence, even if it were just a lingering aura, was far beyond Luo Chen's ability to remove.
Shaking his head, Luo Chen stopped thinking about these matters.
He turned around, his expression calm, and looked at a hesitant man not far away.
He waved his hand.
"Come here!"
With Luo Chen's permission, the middle-aged man hurried over with small steps.
"What are your instructions, Senior?"
Looking at him, Luo Chen asked, "Shouldn't you be the one with a request? Otherwise, why would you have followed me all this way?"
The middle-aged man bowed even lower.
"I am Liu Fu, and I run a small intelligence business at the port and also work as a tour guide. Seeing that you seem to be new here and curious about everything, I, Liu Fu, am willing to offer my services to you."
Luo Chen nodded.
Indeed, his previous 'newbie' demeanor had caught the attention of those who were paying attention.
At this moment, he had regained his original appearance, no longer with a pale, sickly complexion and a hunched back. He displayed his true prowess.
Even his cultivation realm, which he had previously suppressed, was now revealed as the Golden Core Stage.
The unique spiritual pressure of a Golden Core Cultivator occasionally spread outward, causing low-level cultivators to make way.
To approach him at this time and dare to do business with him, one must possess true abilities and not be a mere pretender.
"Senior, are you heading to Divine Essence City? I have some connections there, whether it's for accommodation, shopping, participating in the black market, selling resources, or renting cave dwellings, I can help you with all of that."
Liu Fu spoke with confidence.
However, Luo Chen's answer caught him off guard.
"Divine Essence City?"
"I won't be going there for now."
Luo Chen's gaze drifted towards the distant north, his hand resting on the railing as he asked lightly, "Do you have a way to get to the Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly? Arrange a route that is both fast and with minimal trouble. If you do well, there will be a substantial reward."
Liu Fu was taken aback; this was the first time he had seen someone come to Divine Essence City but not enter.
But soon, he understood.
"Are you a wanderer, Senior?"
"Yes, I am Luo Hai. I've heard that the Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly is a sanctuary for wanderers, and I wish to witness its splendor."
"A sanctuary?"
Liu Fu's scalp tingled, and he whispered, "That's not a kind place at all! Only those who are confident in their strength or those with no other choice dare to go to the Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly. It's a place that strictly adheres to the law of the jungle, where strength is the only thing that matters."
Luo Chen glanced at him, "What? Do you think I'm not strong enough?"
Liu Fu's face paled, and he shook his head vigorously, "That's not what I meant. I'm just afraid that you might not be aware of the situation there and end up in a dangerous place, then blame me for it later."
"Oh, in that case, tell me everything you know about the Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly. After I understand the situation, I'll decide whether to go or not, and I won't blame you no matter what happens."
Liu Fu breathed a sigh of relief and immediately shared everything he knew about the Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly.
...
Another merchant ship, but this time, Luo Chen was on a vessel that was half-merchant and half-passenger.
Besides the numerous goods on board, most of the remaining passengers were wanderers who had paid a hefty amount of spirit stones for the journey, specifically heading to the realm of the Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly.
Standing on the deck, Luo Chen looked at the second-tier dragon whale pulling the ship's bow, his mind processing the information Liu Fu had shared earlier.
Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly! One of the four major powers in the Northern Sea.
Although it was the lowest-ranked, it was still not to be underestimated.
Benefiting from the vast region of the Northern Sea, scattered spirit veins, and cultivation resources not entirely controlled by the major powers, powerful wanderers emerged one after another.
The Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly was founded by three powerful wanderers.
Blood Scattered Hermit, Moon Hermit, and Mad Hermit!
These three hermits all possessed Mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivation, and rumors even claimed that one of them had secretly advanced to the Late-stage Nascent Soul realm, making them one of the few true great cultivators in the world!
Primordial Empress Grand Cultivators were not easy to come by.
Although every state had quite a few, most of them came from sacred lands.
With the destruction of the Primordial Demon Sect in the Northern Sea, most of the high-level cultivators perished, making Primordial Empress Grand Cultivators even rarer in the outside world.
As far as Luo Chen knew, among the current four major powers, each had only one Primordial Empress Grand Cultivator, a scarcity second only to Tribulation Transcendents.
This was also one of the reasons why the Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly could rank among the top four.
However, according to Liu Fu's introduction, the Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly had actually been established long ago.
This "long ago" was before the Primordial Demon Sect's destruction.
It was only after the Primordial Demon Sect's fall that the Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly seized the opportunity to divide up much of the Primordial Demon Sect's territory, thus truly expanding its influence.
Another reason why the Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly could exist peacefully under the watchful eyes of the Heavenly Yuan Commerce Alliance and Demon Tide Sect was something unknown to outsiders.
"According to high-level cultivators from Divine Essence City, when the demon race's army broke through the Primordial Demon Sect, it wasn't without cost. Not only were countless warriors killed, but the army was also trapped in the Northern Night Mara Heaven."
"It's said that a Grand Master of the Primordial Demon Sect, before his death, used his life-bound magical treasure, the Million Soul Banner, combined with a special geographical environment, to set up the Million Soul Array, enveloping the entire Northern Night Mara Heaven. That Grand Master wanted to use his own power to refine and trap the countless demon race army within it!"
"Although it's unknown if he succeeded, it did indeed trap the Fourth Rank and above experts of the demon race's army inside, allowing none to escape!"
"Because of this Grand Master's final strike, the Northern Sea cultivators gained a century of respite."
"However, although high-level demons couldn't get out, the Fourth Rank and below demon beasts were not greatly affected, and from time to time, low-level demon beasts would flee in groups from the Northern Night Mara Heaven."
"These demon beasts are those that survived the battle with the Primordial Demon Sect's elites. Although their numbers are small, they are exceptionally fierce. Often, when they escape, they will gather surrounding low-level demon beasts and launch attacks on human territories."
"The Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly is the first force to bear the brunt of this!"
"Their Three Oceans Defense Line is like a bloody meat grinder, and every year, countless cultivators die within the Three Oceans."
...
After learning this news, Luo Chen finally understood why the Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly could gradually grow under the watchful eyes of the three major powers.
The three major powers were using the Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly as a barrier to defend against the demon race!
After all, it was the wanderers who died, and they didn't care about them.
Moreover, they could use this opportunity to decide the ultimate winner among the three powers, unifying the Northern Sea cultivation world.
It was said that over the past hundred years, the Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly had endured several waves of low-level demon beasts' attacks, and except for the newly returned Penglai Immortal Sect, the Demon Tide Sect and Heavenly Yuan Commerce Alliance had sent numerous reinforcements.
Even the Heavenly Yuan Commerce Alliance from Divine Essence City provided substantial resources as support.
Because of the existence of the Three Oceans Defense Line and the trapped demon race army in the Northern Night Mara Heaven, all wanderers who joined the Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly, without any rules or regulations, had only one rule.
That was when the demon beast tide attacked, all wanderers must unconditionally enter the Three Oceans Defense Line to fight and defend against the demon race!
"This condition is quite relaxed for me."
Luo Chen was in high spirits, and fighting with reckless and ignorant low-level demon beasts was much simpler and more direct than battling cunning and treacherous cultivators.
He liked this style.
Most likely, the other wanderers would also prefer this!
As expected, when he eavesdropped with his Divine Perception, the other wanderers on the ship who wanted to join the Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly also shared this idea.
However, there was an exception.
Luo Chen quietly glanced at an old man and a young man standing on the upper deck.
They were the owners of the ship, the Gao Family from Divine Essence City.
Although they were native cultivators from the Northern Sea, their ancestors had some connection with the Heavenly Origin Dao Sect, which allowed them to do business outside of Divine Essence City.
At this moment, the old man and the young man were conversing.
"Grandfather, is the Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly really that good? Why do these wanderers not think of relying on us, cultivation families, or sects, and instead run thousands of miles to join them?"
"Little Yuan, you don't know the hardships of wanderers! If they don't gain the attention of a master, even if these wanderers rely on us, they'll only be treated like cattle and horses. Especially now, during the Demon-Devil War, there's a high chance they'll be used as cannon fodder. Would they still want to join us?"
"So that's why! No wonder our Gao Family, with those conditions, has only managed to attract a few Golden Core Cultivators as tribute over the years, and even Foundation Establishment Guest Cultivators are few and far between."
"Haha, Little Yuan, don't think too highly of the Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly."
"Grandfather, what do you mean?"
"They don't know about the rumored Three Oceans Defense Line and how terrifying it is! It's known as the Life and Death Grinder, a sea of blood and flesh. Very few wanderers can survive in the Three Oceans Defense Line."
Even at the Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly, they have joined forces with the three major powers to establish the Star-Ranked system, specifically to reward powerful wanderers who have survived numerous great wars."
"Could it be the Star-Ranked Monster Hunter?"
"Yes, these cultivators are not judged by their cultivation realm but solely by their Star-Ranked strength. If a Golden Core Early Stage cultivator obtains the Nine-Star Monster Hunter title, even Golden Core Late Stage Great Cultivators would have to show three parts respect!"
Upon hearing this, the boy's eyes shone with admiration.
"Nine-Star Monster Hunter, does one really exist?"
"There used to be one, but he isn't one anymore."
"Ah! Did he fall?"
"Not exactly. It's just that that senior has already advanced to the Nascent Soul Stage fifty years ago, achieving the status of a Nascent Soul Immortal, and automatically relinquished the Nine-Star Monster Hunter title."
"A Nascent Soul Immortal!"
The elder stroked his beard, his expression turning solemn as he said, "That's why I said the Star-Ranked Monster Hunter title was established jointly by the Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly and the three major powers. It is said that those who obtain the Nine-Star title will receive a substantial reward from the four major powers after reaching Golden Core Grand Completion, including a set of resources for Baby Formation. It seems like a special compensation for wanderers who have made great contributions to humanity!"
"They deserve it!" The boy's expression was filled with envy and determination. Then, he said, "I also want to go to the Three Seas Defense Line to see if I can obtain the Star-Ranked Monster Hunter title..."
"Nonsense! This isn't something you should be thinking about. You are the treasure of my Gao family. Bringing you to the Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly is to broaden your horizons, not to put you in danger."
...
Luo Chen paid little attention to the subsequent conversation between the old man and the boy.
Instead, he silently recited the crucial information he had gleaned from their conversation.
Star-Ranked Monster Hunter, Baby Formation resources.
He never expected that there would be such benefits within the Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly.
Could he also have a chance?
After obtaining the Baby Formation Pill Formula, his confidence in refining the Baby Formation Pill increased significantly.
However, regarding the matter of the Baby Formation Spirit Land, he still had no clue.
If he could receive the support and rewards from the four major powers, everything would fall into place.
"It seems that reality differs from my previous plan. Once I arrive there, I'll need to make some adjustments."
As Luo Chen was thinking this, his gaze fell upon a man and a woman on the ship.
Their demeanor was casual, and they occasionally glanced at the nearby wanderers who were heading towards the Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly, their eyes filled with disdain.
After a moment's thought, Luo Chen took the initiative to approach them.
Sensing his movement, the man and the woman's faces changed slightly, revealing a look of resistance.
"This fellow Daoist..."
Before they could refuse, Luo Chen spoke up.
"I am Luo Hai. It's good to make your acquaintance, young friends."
The spiritual pressure of the Golden Core Stage was subtly released, causing the two to stiffen.
The male cultivator took a deep breath, "I am Zhang Jiadi, and beside me is my Dao companion, Wen Xiu. I wonder what instructions you have for us."
"I dare not accept your instructions." Luo Chen smiled and kept his eyes on the two, constantly appraising them. Finally, he nodded and said, "I presume you are the Star-Ranked Monster Hunters!"
"No, I'm not. Don't speak nonsense," Zhang Jiadi immediately denied.
The female cultivator beside him also showed a tense expression.
Luo Chen was taken aback. According to Liu Fu and the Gao family's elders and juniors, the Star-Ranked Monster Hunter status was quite prestigious.
Even outside the Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly, those with this identity would often receive respect when traveling in the Northern Sea.
From his observation, these two Foundation Establishment Cultivators exuded a strong aura of blood malevolence.
This was a result of experiencing numerous killings.
Moreover, this blood malevolence aura was filled with the mixed and chaotic auras of various demonic beasts.
Clearly, it was formed from killing numerous demonic beasts.
With such an extent, they should at least have a Star-Ranked Monster Hunter status!
Why were they unwilling to expose their identities?
After a brief moment of speculation, a smile appeared on Luo Chen's face.
"Whether you are or not, I can discern it. However, I've never been to the Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly and am unfamiliar with it. I'm sure you won't be stingy with introducing me to it, right?"
Under his gaze, Zhang Jiadi's forehead was covered in sweat, and his face was forced to maintain a calm expression.
The female cultivator beside him was so nervous that she had already grabbed her Dao companion's hand without realizing it.
At this moment, the Gao family's Golden Core Cultivator standing above, the same elder, noticed something amiss.
"Fellow Daoist, on the Gao family's ship, we cannot engage in fights. I hope you will give us some face."
Luo Chen turned around and cupped his hands, "It won't come to a fight. I just want to ask this experienced Star-Ranked Monster..."
"Senior, if you have any questions, I, Zhang, will answer them truthfully!"
"Hehe."
Luo Chen chuckled and lowered his hand.
Up above, the elder's eyebrows furrowed slightly as he quietly observed the scene.
But as the red-faced cultivator released a soundproof barrier, and his spiritual power flowed, preventing him from seeing their lip movements, the elder withdrew his gaze.
"Grandfather, they..."
"Little Yuan, this is your first time traveling far. Let me tell you the first of the three laws of the cultivation world: Mind your own business!"
(End of Chapter)
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