Nine Transformations of the True Spirit.

Lu Wangquan's eyes narrowed, the joy in his heart slowly fading, and he said in a deep voice, "What do you mean by that, Fellow Daoist Chen?"

Chen Yuan stared into his eyes and slowly said, "That spatial passage is actually a gateway to this world. The so-called 'smuggling into the Spirit Realm' is completely unfounded!"

Lu Wangquan's expression changed drastically. His divine power suddenly spread out, and a gale arose, scattering the cotton-like white clouds in the sky within a hundred miles. However, when it encountered the light blue mist, it seemed to hit an iron wall and vanished without a trace.

Looking up from the ground, a huge hole suddenly appeared in the sky where white clouds drifted lazily, like a flawless blue gemstone.

In his turmoil, he was unable to control his aura, causing the wind and clouds to change color.

However, Lu Wangquan was ultimately a Nascent Soul cultivator. Although his state of mind fluctuated slightly, he quickly calmed down, suppressed his aura, and everything returned to normal.

He took a deep breath and said, word by word, "Does Fellow Daoist Chen have any proof?"

Chen Yuan said, "The myriad realms are as numerous as the stars. If that spatial passage truly leads to the Spirit Realm, I, Chen, would never have been stranded in this realm with Fellow Daoist Lu."

"Moreover, this world, like the human world, has a Kun fish clan, which is too much of a coincidence."

Lu Wangquan frowned: "The chances of us all being stranded in this world together are not high, but it is not impossible."

"As for the Kun fish clan, although they are somewhat rare, they are probably not uncommon in the myriad worlds."

Chen Yuan pondered for a moment and said, "Fellow Daoist Lu should know that in ancient times, the human realm was incredibly powerful, conquering thirteen realms and being invincible."

"Later, this led to a rebellion by the demon race, and the Demon King and Demon Lord descended to earth, leading a demon army to invade."

"The ancient cultivators also asked the Void Refinement cultivators of the Spirit Realm to descend and help them. After a series of battles, the world was shattered and the ascension passage was cut off."

"We were forced to try every means to sneak into the spirit world and continue our path."

Lu Wangquan nodded: "I am aware of that."

Chen Yuan said, "This realm is one of the thirteen realms that were conquered by ancient cultivators in ancient times, and there are still legends about the human realm that have been passed down."

"It is called the 'Tai Xuan Realm' by cultivators in this world, probably because it was named after the Tai Xuan Sect, the most powerful sect in the ancient human world."

"How could such a coincidence happen between us, two people who have been stranded here by accident, and in a realm that was once connected to the human world?"

Lu Wangquan's eyes narrowed. As a Nascent Soul cultivator, how could he not know how powerful the Tai Xuan Realm was in ancient times?

That was undoubtedly the number one sect in the human realm. Legend has it that it once had more than seven Nascent Soul cultivators, whose power overwhelmed the human realm and was unmatched.

He had no more doubts, and a murderous glint flashed in his eyes. He gritted his teeth and said, "So, we were all deceived by Qin Wuyai, mistakenly believing that the spatial passage led to the Spirit Realm. In reality, we went to great lengths only to arrive at this realm where the demon race reigns supreme!"

Chen Yuan carefully observed Lu Wangquan's expression and, seeing that he didn't seem to be faking it, felt relieved.

After learning of Lu Wangquan's whereabouts from Cui Yuheng, he finally confirmed that the spatial passage did indeed lead to this world.

However, he was still not entirely sure whether Lu Wangquan already knew the truth of the matter or had also been deceived by Qin Wuyai.

Lu Wangquan's reaction suggests that he, like him, is unaware of the inside story, rather than being one of those conspiring with Qin Wuyai.

Chen Yuan asked, "I wonder how Qin Wuyai deceived you back then? Did Daoist Cangsong and Old Demon Ren know the inside story?"

At this moment, Lu Wangquan recalled how he had been traveling around the human realm to collect the five elements of spiritual energy for Chen Yuan, and how he had risked his life to join forces with Qin Wuyai and the other two to kill Sun Yuan.

Later, in the spatial passage, they encountered spatial storms one after another, and then met the Void Cicada. They almost lost their lives in the void and were seriously injured.

After arriving in this realm, he could only hide invisibly, venture into dangerous places, and search for healing herbs, and he didn't even dare to meet with powerful cultivators.

A dignified Nascent Soul cultivator has actually arrived here in such a panic.

His anger surged, and he wished he could tear Qin Wuyai to pieces. He said coldly, "Qin Wuyai only said that he knew of a spatial passage leading to the Spirit Realm, and he even produced a jade slip left by Qingya Zi of the Taiming Sect as evidence, which contained the divine consciousness imprint left by Qingya Zi."

"Of course, Lu would not believe his one-sided story. He personally went to the bottomless abyss, entered the spatial passage, and verified it before he put aside his doubts."

Chen Yuan frowned: "It seems that Qingya Zi's divine sense imprint was forged by Qin Wuyai."

Lu Wangquan shook his head: "I have examined it carefully. The divine sense imprint was left by another Nascent Soul cultivator. It cannot be faked."

"Moreover, Qin Wuyai explicitly stated that he would enter the spatial passage with us."

"How could we have imagined that the spatial passage didn't lead to the spirit realm?"

"As for Daoist Cangsong and Old Demon Ren, they probably don't know the truth about the spatial passage either."

"Otherwise, the two of them would never have abandoned their sect and risked their lives to join forces with Qin Wuyai."

“Old Demon Ren would not risk everything by violating the sect rules and even taking the Xuan Yin Armor out of the sect.”

Chen Yuan nodded slightly: "Fellow Daoist is absolutely right. In that case, it was Qin Wuyai who deceived the four of us."

Lu Wangquan's anger had not subsided: "Why did Qin Wuyai do this? In order to help you, fellow Daoist, reach the Nascent Soul stage, he spared no effort to use many rare and precious materials to refine the Five Elements essence, which greatly damaged the foundation of the Taiming Sect."

"If we hadn't encountered the Void Cicada in the spatial passage, we would have discovered the clues very quickly after arriving in this world."

"When we become enemies with Qin Wuyai, do you think he'll be able to escape unscathed when surrounded by four people?"

Chen Yuan sighed softly: "Perhaps he has already calculated that even if we know the truth, we will not turn against him."

Lu Wangquan frowned: "What do you mean by that, Fellow Daoist Chen? We have gone through many hardships and almost died in the spatial storm, all thanks to Qin Wuyai. How can we let this go so easily?"

Chen Yuan said, "I don't know what Qin Wuyai is thinking either, so I can only speculate."

"Fellow Daoist, have you ever considered what our fate would be if we remained in the mortal realm?"

Lu Wangquan replied without hesitation, "Naturally, he died of old age..."

His expression froze, and the anger on his face solidified.

Chen Yuan nodded: "That's right. If we stay in the human realm, our path to ascension is cut off, and we Nascent Soul cultivators will all be doomed."

"Chen guessed that after Qin Wuyai discovered this spatial passage, he was unwilling to remain trapped in the human realm, but worried that we would not come, so he falsely claimed that the spatial passage led to the spirit realm."

"Once we come to this world with him, even if we discover the truth, we will never be able to return to the human world."

"Although this realm is not connected to the spirit realm, there is still a passage for ascension."

"No matter how unwilling we are, we have no choice but to cooperate with him to find a way to ascend to immortality."

"After all, even if one cannot enter the spirit realm, as long as one can ascend to the upper realm and continue the path of cultivation, it is a hundred times better than being trapped in the human realm and waiting to die."

Lu Wangquan gradually calmed down and said slowly, "Fellow Daoist is right. Qin Wuyai is willing to take a gamble, but if I had known in advance that the spatial passage did not lead to the Spirit Realm, I would not have been willing to risk entering the spatial passage."

Chen Yuan gazed at the Qingxu Mountains shrouded in a pale blue mist in the distance and said calmly, "Of course, this is just my guess."

"Perhaps Qin Wuyai was misled by Qingya Zi and thought that this spatial passage led to the Spirit Realm. Like us, he was kept in the dark." Lu Wangquan sneered: "Absolutely impossible. Qin Wuyai is unfathomable and cunning. How could he easily believe the words of a jade slip?"

"Moreover, Qingya Zi only went a short distance into the spatial passage before retreating. Why are you so sure that the spatial passage leads to the spirit world?"

"Now that I think about it, Qin Wuyai's words actually had many flaws."

"It's just that Lu was trapped in the human realm for hundreds of years at that time, and his mind was restless. When he heard about this, he was like a drowning person grabbing a lifeline. Meanwhile, Daoist Cangsong and Old Demon Ren were also persuaded by Qin Wuyai, so they overlooked the oversight."

"Perhaps Qin Wuyai didn't know where that spatial passage led, but he couldn't cross it on his own."

"In order to escape the prison of the human world, he falsely claimed that it was a gateway to the spirit world, trying to get us to agree to join forces with him. His intentions are despicable!"

Chen Yuan said, "It's useless to talk about these things now. Our plan now is to find a way to ascend to immortality."

"If Qin Wuyai had not died in the spatial passage and had also come to this world, we would have to join forces with him."

"We also need to find the whereabouts of Daoist Cangsong and Old Demon Ren, and join forces to deal with those five demon generals."

A hint of resentment flashed in Lu Wangquan's eyes: "There is no other way. I thought that all of you fellow Daoists had already entered the Spirit Realm, and that I was the only one left stranded here."

"I have no choice but to go into hiding and come to the Qingxu Mountains to find spiritual herbs to heal my injuries."

"I am fortunate to have met you today, so I have fewer concerns about what I do."

"Just now, I heard you mention that great cultivator who had met me before. It seems you have a lot of contact with human cultivators in this world?"

Chen Yuan nodded: "I was seriously injured and fell into a coma in the spatial passage. I was found by a Foundation Establishment cultivator and taken back to a city."

"After Chen awoke, he encountered a beast tide, took action to kill the demon general, and saved the Nascent Soul cultivator who was in charge of the city."

"After that, Chen had many dealings with human cultivators and has now subdued five great human cultivators."

"They also knew that Chen and his four fellow Daoists came from the human realm, and were ordered by Chen to search for the whereabouts of the four fellow Daoists..."

Lu Wangquan frowned: "Fellow Daoist, you've revealed all our secrets. What if a human cultivator secretly informs the five demon generals about this, causing us to move from the shadows into the light and arouse their suspicion? What should we do then?"

Chen Yuan smiled and said, "Fellow Daoist, rest assured, I have already planted the mark of the Vermilion Flame within their bodies. Their lives are in my hands, and they will never submit to the demon race..."

He briefly recounted how he subdued Cui Yuheng, Shen Jibai, and the other three, as well as how he searched for Lu Wangquan's whereabouts.

Two years ago, Chen Yuan learned from Cui Yuheng that Lu Wangquan had appeared in the Qingxu Mountains, so he set off for him.

But after being persuaded by Cui Yuheng, he finally gave up the idea.

The spiritual energy of heaven and earth in the Qingxu Mountains was violent and chaotic, which restricted divine sense. Even though Chen Yuan's divine sense was comparable to that of a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, it could only cover a maximum of twenty miles.

Searching for Lu Wangquan's whereabouts in the Qingxu Mountains, which span over a thousand miles and are fraught with danger, is like looking for a needle in a haystack.

In comparison, it would be better to guard the three exits of the Qingxu Mountains and wait for Lu Wangquan to show himself.

Because the space within the Qingxu Mountains is extremely unstable, many places are riddled with spatial rifts, making them impassable.

Only three places had fewer spatial cracks, which naturally became three entrances and exits.

Human Nascent Soul cultivators and demon generals all enter the Qingxu Mountains by passing through these three locations.

Chen Yuan had also worried that if Lu Wangquan had already left the Qingxu Mountains, this trip would be in vain.

However, Cui Yuheng stated that if Lu Wangquan was indeed seriously injured as Chen Yuan said, he must have entered the Qingxu Mountains to find spiritual herbs to heal his wounds.

After tens of thousands of years of plundering, the Qingxu Mountains have very few remaining natural treasures, and the environment is extremely dangerous. Even Nascent Soul cultivators must search carefully.

Lu Wangquan has only been in this world for a few years, and he should not have been in the Qingxu Mountains for long. The spiritual herbs he needs are extremely rare, so he should not have left the Qingxu Mountains yet.

Chen Yuan readily accepted Cui Yuheng's suggestion and sent Yuheng and Yuanting Zhenren to the other two exits.

He himself was waiting there when Lu Wangquan happened to leave the Qingxu Mountains from this spot.

If Lu Wangquan had taken one of the other two exits, Cui Yuheng and Yuan Ting Zhenren would have had to go through a lot of trouble to gain his trust.

Lu Wangquan then learned that Chen Yuan's experiences after arriving in this world had been so turbulent, and briefly recounted his own healing process.

When Chen Yuan heard Lu Wangquan talk about killing the Nightmare Crow Demon General, he suddenly remembered that Ao Ye had once said that the Nightmare Crow clan had made some unusual moves, which must be because of this.

The Frost Bear clan has also undergone changes, which even prompted Dugu Sha to investigate. Could it be related to the other three people?

Chen Yuan expressed his thoughts, and Lu Wangquan agreed: "There are only five great cultivators among the human race in this world, and none of them have provoked the Frost Bear Clan. Only these three can make the entire Frost Bear Clan be on guard."

Chen Yuan pondered for a moment and then said, "I wonder how your injuries are recovering?"

Lu Wangquan said, "I found a lot of spiritual herbs in the Qingxu Mountains. After refining them, my injuries have recovered by 70-80%. I only need to rest for another two or three years to fully recover."

Chen Yuan said, "Fellow Daoist's injuries are serious. You need to find a quiet place to recuperate and should not move around lightly. I will go and investigate this matter myself."

Lu Wangquan said, "Then I will trouble you, fellow Daoist. I just heard you say that the human race in this world has long been unaware of the affairs of the human realm."

"But that Lone Goose knows such ancient secrets, so he must be a person who is knowledgeable in both ancient and modern times."

"If we can find out this person's background, it might help us find the path to ascension."

Chen Yuan nodded: "What you say is very true, fellow Daoist. Then please pay close attention to this matter during your recovery period."

The two then went to the other two exits and met Cui Yuheng and Yuan Ting Zhenren, who had also been waiting there for two years.

The two already knew that Lu Wangquan was a Nascent Soul cultivator, so they naturally treated him with great respect upon meeting him.

Lu Wangquan didn't put on airs as a Nascent Soul cultivator. He knew very well that if he wanted to ascend to the Upper Realm, he would have to confront the demon race and would also need the help of human cultivators in this realm.

Therefore, his expression was very gentle, and his words were full of encouragement, which made the two of them feel quite flattered.

Chen Yuan wasted no time and immediately bid farewell to Lu Wangquan to investigate the unusual activities of the Frostfire Bear clan, instructing Yuan Ting Zhenren and Cui Yuheng to follow Lu Wangquan's orders.

After Chen Yuan left, Lu Wangquan turned around and said gently, "I would like to trouble you two young friends to find me a quiet place, preferably one with plenty of spiritual energy, so that I can recuperate from my injuries."

Master Yuan Ting immediately spoke up: "If you don't mind, senior, there is a medium-sized spiritual vein in my cave, and the spiritual energy is quite rich."

Lu Wangquan smiled and said, "Then I will trouble you. Please continue to search for the whereabouts of the other three fellow Daoists and keep an eye out for news about Gu Hongzi."

Cui Yuheng lowered his head and pondered for a moment before saying, "According to Fellow Daoist Zhang, this Gu Hongzi is at least at the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm, but he was previously unknown and may be a person who has been cultivating in seclusion."

“Reclusive cultivators also need treasures and elixirs, and they occasionally exchange information with each other.”

"I happen to know a few people who know him, and I will pay them a visit soon to inquire about this person." (End of Chapter)