Chapter 1518: Completing the Nine Star Pagodas
With the celestial darkdevil tree's help, Xiang Shaoyun's group was able to return to the Ziling Sect on the same day. After all, the celestial darkdevil tree's cultivation had reached an extremely terrifying level. If he could take one more step forward, he would become a divine tree of an even higher tier, completing his final evolution to gain an even more terrifying strength.
At the Ziling Sect, Xiang Shaoyun first settled Yu Caidie and Devil Concubine down before calling over Purple Lightning Marquis. He told Purple Lightning Marquis that the Yu Clan might come looking for trouble, and he had Purple Lightning Marquis prepare for trouble.
"If the Yu Clan dares to come, I'll make sure they leave their lives here," said Purple Lightning Marquis confidently.
"That's right. I just happen to be itching for a fight. They will make for nice target practice," said Scarlet Flame Monarch as he appeared out of nowhere. He now looked about 20 years younger than before, regaining the look of a middle-aged man. Most of the wrinkles on his face were gone, as though he had gained a new layer of skin. His spirit seemed to have become anew, proving that he had reached an even higher level in his cultivation.
"Scarlet Flame, did you reach the Rebirth Realm?" exclaimed Xiang Shaoyun in shock.
"Haha, yes! Big brother has quite a lot of treasures. I used his treasures to attempt my breakthrough and was successful!" said Scarlet Flame Monarch excitedly.
Ten thousand years ago, he had only reached peak Great Saint Realm. He wasn't even a pseudo-God. Thus, his joy for having taken that step forward was understandable.
"Haha, well done!" Xiang Shaoyun was overjoyed.
The Ziling Sect had gained yet another God. Together with the ten-winged angels who had also migrated over recently, they would have enough strength to face the reprisals from the Yu and Di Clans.
In the past, Xiang Shaoyun had thought that the dead high priest was only a Great Saint. Only when the high priest revealed his twelve wings did he realize that the high priest progressed quite far in the God Realm. If it wasn't for the fact that the Dark Devourer Clan was too strong, the high priest would still be alive and well.
Xiang Shaoyun went to a location outside the Ziling Sect that temporarily housed the migrating angels. At present, all the angels had moved over here from the City of Light.
When the angels saw him, they all greeted him warmly, "Lord envoy!"
Xiang Shaoyun flashed them an earnest smile and asked them how they were doing recently. Because the angels had left their city, they were naturally unaccustomed to their new place of living. But when they felt the concern Xiang Shaoyun showed for them, they felt much better.
After taking a stroll through the angels' place, Xiang Shaoyun headed to the Nine Star Pagodas. The Nine Star Pagodas area had nine mountains. At the peak of each mountain was a nine-story high pagoda. The entire place looked rather picturesque.
"After I complete the Nine Star Pagodas, I will have to start my mission of defending the Dusk Dynasty from the devils," muttered Xiang Shaoyun to himself as he started planting numerous saint crystals into the Nine Star Palace formation he had laid out in the area. He then activated the formation.
After the formation was completed, a storm of astral energy started gathering in the sky above the nine mountains. A curtain of nine-colored light covered the sky, forming an area with the thickest concentration of astral energy in the Ziling Sect.
All the Ziling Sect members were shocked. They could all sense the pure astral energy the Nine Star Pagodas were emanating. For them, that was an extremely suitable place for cultivation.
They finally understood why Xiang Shaoyun had asked for nine pagodas to be constructed atop nine mountains. So it was all for the sake of the sect.
After activating the formation, Xiang Shaoyun entered the first pagoda and meditated inside for seven days.
During the seven days, he branded the pagoda with the profundity of gold and some gold elemental battle techniques. Additionally, he left behind a Saint Realm energy clone who would be responsible for testing the Ziling Sect disciples who wished to enter the pagoda. He then went to the second Star Pagoda and did the same with the wood element. He spent the following month branding all nine pagodas, leaving some inheritances inside for the disciples talented enough to benefit from them.
It was no easy feat for any cultivator to comprehend the profundity of powers. The nine pagodas would serve as a guide for the sect's disciples, making it easier for them to comprehend the profundity of powers. If even the nine pagodas couldn't increase the sect's overall strength, then there really wasn't anything he could do anymore.
By the time he was done with the nine pagodas, the old drunkard in his astral cosmos sea had finally come back to life. Xiang Shaoyun released Old Drunkard, leaving the old drunkard in total confusion.
"Young sect master, how did I return?" asked the old drunkard in astonishment.
"You're back. The Ziling Sect is doing well," said Xiang Shaoyun joyfully.
He gave the old drunkard a rough explanation of the events that had transpired. After listening to the story, Old Drunkard finally recovered from his confusion.
"Thank you for risking your life for me, young sect master," said Old Drunkard with a sigh.
"Don't say that, Old Drunkard. Without you, I would have died long ago. I have always viewed you as my family. I believe you think the same of me as well. There is no need for things to be so formal between us," said Xiang Shaoyun earnestly.
"Ok, ok, we're family," said Old Drunkard, appearing visibly touched.
He had always viewed himself as a servant. Although Xiang Yangzhan and Xiang Shaoyun had never treated him like a servant, he was still clearly aware of his actual identity. Thus, he was incredibly moved to hear he was family from Xiang Shaoyun.
After coming back from death, Old Drunkard had also broken through into second-stage Heaven Battling Realm. He had even gained some enlightenment regarding the Rebirth Realm, which would most certainly be helpful in his future path of cultivation. One could say that he had profited from a disaster.
With the old drunkard's return, the sect had gained another capable helper who would contribute to the sect's continued growth.
Looking at the coffin containing his father, Xiang Shaoyun sighed when he saw no signs that his father was about to break free. "I wonder when Father will be able to break free."
Before leaving for the Dusk Dynasty, Xiang Shaoyun also shifted the gold tree from his astral cosmos sea to the mountain with the gold elemental Star Pagoda. The tree would serve to enhance the gold energy in the pagoda while also continuing to grow by benefiting from the energy gathered around the pagoda. In such an environment, it was likely that the tree would grow as fast as when it was within Xiang Shaoyun's astral cosmos sea.
As for the other tree, Xiang Shaoyun decided to keep it with him for now. He had a feeling that the tree was incredibly mysterious. Perhaps something extraordinary would happen to it in the future.
Xiang Shaoyun was finally ready to once again leave the sect and head for the Dusk Dynasty. There, he would guard the Devil Domain's entrance and complete his mission of guarding the entrance for three years.