The replica of the Primal Chaos Nifty Pagoda was, in the end, merely a minor episode.
However, even as the Primal Chaos Tower before their eyes was only a medium-grade spirit treasure, under the current circumstances of the Spirit Energy tidal surge, it still remained a rare treasure.
The significant cost of manifesting it in the physical world attests to the considerable effort that the Great Xia’s Imperial Court must have expended.
This spirit treasure-level tower served both as a form of security and a deterrent to the sects that came and went.
As Shen Yuan and the others stepped into this Primal Chaos Tower, the dramatically higher concentration of Spirit Energy filled their bodies instantly. Looking around, Shen Yuan didn’t see any reception personnel from the Imperial Astronomical Bureau.
A trace of spatial force lay within the tower, making its inside appear much larger than it seemed from the outside.
All who moved about inside were cultivators dressed in the attire of the major sects.
With just a glance, Shen Yuan recognized a few familiar faces.
A handful of cultivators, their backs carrying wooden swords covered in talismans and dressed in Taoist robes, walked through the corridors. The way they were dressed was clearly recognizable as members of the Talisman Sword Sect.
Shen Yuan had previously encountered disciples of the Talisman Sword Sect who were controlled by Old Monster Kuang. He had even obtained some of their true talisman techniques, which were quite enlightening for him.
“That’s the Talisman Sword Sect from Yun Province, one of the largest sects under Mount Laojun. They have the support of the blessed land of Mount Jinting, one of the 72 Blessed Lands.”
“Not only did the blessed land of Mount Jinting not collapse during the last instance of Spirit Energy depletion, but the surviving True Being within it even established contact with the Talisman Sword Sect in advance, allowing the sect to seize the opportunity when the Spirit Energy tidal surge first arrived.”
“Despite the Talisman Sword Sect not having any notable Qi Training stage powerhouses, they do have two elite cultivators at the peak of the Qi Transformation Stage.”
Xue Mingzhi quietly explained to Shen Yuan.
The Spirit Energy tidal surge was accelerating, and the Qi Transformation Stage was no longer as rare as it had been when Shen Yuan first set out. However, to reach the Peak Stage of Qi Transformation at this stage, cultivators needed exceptional talent and substantial resource backing.
Apart from the Talisman Sword Sect, Shen Yuan also noticed other Sects in the tower that he had seen before at Yunfu Market, namely, the Dense Ground Sect and the Star Observation Sect.
However, to Shen Yuan’s surprise, although several members of the Dense Ground Sect were dressed in their distinct brownish-yellow robes, only three of them were at the Qi Transformation Stage, with the highest amongst them only reaching the Middle Stage. The remaining dozen or so were all at the peak of Essence Refining.
These Essence Refining cultivators were seated in the corners of the tower, swallowing and exhaling Spirit Energy, and their intense energy fluctuations caused a slight breeze.
This scene left Shen Yuan somewhat perplexed.
As a major sect backed by a blessed land, the Dense Ground Sect, even without experts at the peak of Qi Transformation, shouldn’t have sent out so many cultivators at the peak of Essence Refining.
It even seemed that these people weren’t here for the Daoist Assembly at all – rather, they seemed to have come to take advantage of the dense Spirit Energy within the Primal Chaos Tower.
Noticing Shen Yuan’s gaze, Xue Mingzhi followed his sight and said with a hint of surprise:
“Those are people from the Dense Ground Sect. I can’t believe they dare to come here.”
Shen Yuan looked at Xue Mingzhi with a doubtful gaze, and Xue Mingzhi immediately clarified:
“Sir may not be aware, but the blessed land behind the Dense Ground Sect is not part of the original 72 Blessed Lands. However, their foundation is quite unordinary, and they have managed to continue their cultivation practices down from ten thousand years ago.”
“In the era of this Spirit Energy Tidal Surge, one could say that the Dense Ground Sect was one of the first sects to rise to prominence. They once formed an alliance with many small sects, with the Dense Ground Sect as the leading sect, they were incomparably glorious at that time.”
“Even during the Yunfu Market Fair that took place earlier, the Dense Ground Sect had a place, and even Mount Laojun didn’t dare to underestimate them.”
Shen Yuan pointed at those Dense Ground Sect disciples who were frantically swallowing and exhaling Spirit Energy and asked in confusion:
“How did they fall into such a state?”
Xue Mingzhi hesitated momentarily with a strange expression on his face, unsure where to begin.
“Actually, the blessed land that the Dense Ground Sect was relying on collapsed during the period of Spirit Energy depletion.
But the members of the Dense Ground Sect successfully passed down their cultivation methods over these three thousand years. That’s why they could rise quickly at the beginning of this period.”
“Even by seizing this opportunity, the Dense Ground Sect, with the help of various small sects, gained quite a few benefits.”
“However, such methods could only maintain their prosperity for a while. The sects that lost their blessed lands had an inherent inferiority in terms of their foundation.”
“At first, they could hide their situation behind their heritage and a few treasures they had luckily acquired. But as time passed, major sects began to realize something was amiss.”
“Although the Dense Ground Sect had two members who advanced to the Qi Transformation Stage very early on, they progressed very slowly after the advancement, and the capabilities of their disciples varied greatly.”
“Just half a month ago, one of the sects within Dense Ground Sect’s alliance confirmed that the Dense Ground Sect’s blessed land had already collapsed.”
“This news caused a stir in the entire world of sects, for many sects had been tricked by the Dense Ground Sect into giving away many benefits under the guise of learning and exchange.”
“All at once, everyone was against Dense Ground Sect, and their alliance also disintegrated.”
Shen Yuan’s eyelid twitched as he listened to Xue Mingzhi’s explanation.
A sect without a blessed land behind it that can still create such a fuss certainly had some talent. At this moment, Shen Yuan was convinced that these people from the Dense Ground Sect had indeed come here to take advantage of the rich Spirit Energy in the Primal Chaos Tower.”
The density of Spirit Energy in the Primal Chaos Tower was even higher than in the Yunfu Mountains; if the Dense Ground Sect could take advantage of it for a few days, they may, indeed, be able to produce a few cultivators at the Qi Transformation stage.
But considering what the Dense Ground Sect has done before, Shen Yuan was very curious about how they were able to get this far.”
“When those sects found out, did they not take action against the Dense Ground Sect?”
A twitch appeared at the corner of Xue Mingzhi’s mouth:
“Dense Ground Sect could do this because they had already prepared beforehand.
The things they cheated from those major sects with blessed lands were not any valuable treasures. Added to that, they targeted orthodox sects of good reputation, none of whom were willing to admit they had been fooled by a sect with no blessed land inheritance. This situation could not be brought out into the open and was simply left unresolved.
As for the Sect Alliance, the Dense Ground Sect didn’t care at all because all its members were carefully selected small sects with no blessed land inheritance or sects that had fallen from glory.
These sects joined the Sect Alliance seeking to cling to the coattails of the blessed lands behind the Dense Ground Sect, using the name of the blessed lands to get things done, but ended up being sheared by the Dense Ground Sect.
None of them individually could stand against the Dense Ground Sect, and it’s unrealistic to expect them to unite against it either. They are all scheming against each other and have no foundation for cooperation.
Even if the blessed land issue was exposed, the Dense Ground Sect would only lose their reputation and some worldly assets, with no other significant losses.”
Upon saying this, Xue Mingzhi couldn’t help but sigh:
“Although no major sect would openly go against the Dense Ground Sect, there surely are sects that desire revenge in secret.
The Dense Ground Sect could preserve peace if they remained within their own sect, but this time they made such a grand appearance out of their sect, which somewhat exceeded my expectations.”
Upon hearing this, Shen Yuan gently shook his head:
“No, their participation in the Dao Discussion Conference is the truly wise move.
If they stubbornly stayed within their sect, the lack of resources will only make the gap between them and other sects widen.
When more sects give birth to high-ranking cultivators, only destruction awaits the Dense Ground Sect.”
After a pause, Shen Yuan continued to explain:
“The Dao Discussion Conference is essentially the Imperial Astronomical Bureau attempting to interfere in sect affairs. Participating in the conference can establish a relationship with the Bureau, and if future sect affairs were to arise, they could legitimately invoke the Bureau’s intervention.
In addition, the spirit energy in this Primal Chaos Tower is far denser than any ordinary Spirit Vein. Bringing all successful Essence Refining disciples here and taking advantage of the opening of the conference, they can absorb and exhale spirit energy diligently.
You should know that the largest obstacles in the Refining Essence to Qi Transformation are cultivation techniques and spirit energy. As long as there’s sufficient spirit energy and talent isn’t too poor, anyone could cross this threshold.
If a third of these more than ten peak Essence Refining disciples manage to break through, the strength of the Dense Ground Sect would double.
Even if a sect plans to take action, unless it dispatches a Qi Transformation Stage powerhouse, it would be hard to quickly eliminate so many Qi Transformation Stage cultivators.
Among the sects that the Dense Ground Sect offended, there shouldn’t be any Qi Transformation Stage powerhouses, right?”
Xue Mingzhi was slightly shocked, and quickly responded:
“The upgrading to the Qi Training Stage at this time only applies to top-tier major sects with large blessed lands, or to a certain grotto heaven. Even with the courage of a bear and leopard, the Dense Ground Sect wouldn’t dare to provoke them.”
After speaking, Xue Mingzhi’s face was filled with admiration:
“Still, you thought this through thoroughly, I was short-sighted.”
Shen Yuan paid no attention to Xue Mingzhi’s praise, but fell into deep thought.
Despite the absurdity of the Dense Ground Sect’s actions, it’s undeniable that it represents the limits that a sect without grotto heavens blessed land and genius-level individuals could reach.
Looking ahead, the current situation of Xuanming View, backed by Xuan Kong and Xuan Le, is typical for most sects with grotto heavens and blessed lands.
Keep in mind that Xuanming View is backed by the 72 Blessed Lands, its foundation is deeper than the Dense Ground Sect at its peak, but now it has fallen materially behind the Dense Ground Sect.
“Spirit Energy depletion and collapse of blessed land, although it’s a brief sentence, it signifies the demise of a once-flourishing force in the long river of history.
In these countless years, who knows how many sects have experienced such events.
Many of these lost inheritances will eventually be ground away by the passage of time, not even leaving behind legends.
Because sects without grotto heavens and blessed lands can hardly survive the long three-thousand-year Spirit Energy depletion period to pass on their inheritance to the next Spirit Energy Tidal Surge epoch.
This is like an inescapable gamble, Spirit Energy depletion can happen countless times, but everyone only has one chance. Failure means absolute ruin.”
Shen Yuan’s mood turned heavy. Gong Buyu, who was holding Bai Xue, seemed to sense something and curiously looked at Shen Yuan.
Just then, the entire Primal Chaos Tower swayed suddenly, leaving all sect cultivators stunned, even the Dense Ground Sect ceased their spirit energy consumption.
“Smack!”
The mid-aged man, who was the strongest in the Dense Ground Sect, slapped a peak Essence Refining young disciple on the head, scowling:
“What are you all gawking at? Hurry up and cultivate!”
“This is an opportunity that’s hard to come by. If you still can’t break through the Qi Transformation Stage in such a good environment, you’ll be sent to mine for a month when we go back!”
With this, all the peak Essence Refining disciples of the Dense Ground Sect immediately resumed their absorption of large amounts of spirit energy.
The offbeat Dense Ground Sect eased some of the tension within the hall. Everyone looked out the window to see swarms of Aquatic Tribe members rushing toward this location like tidal waves. Under their control, violent waves continuously shook the Primal Chaos Tower.
At the forefront of the Aquatic Tribe, a young man with missing legs sat on a flood dragon, staring ominously in the direction of the Primal Chaos Tower.
The green flood dragon under him headed straight for the Primal Chaos Tower.

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