I Have A Cultivation World Chapter 2351: 1061: Early Pioneering (Part 2)

Mu Youyi persisted with his persuasion, honestly detailing his motives for seizing the Yellow Dragon. He gave his word that should the Five Elements Sect be dismantled, the Fire Cloud Palace would receive unwavering support when the time came for the upcoming exploration.

Through this arrangement, both parties would have a genuine shot at obtaining Deity Transformation resources.

“We should revisit this conversation once the exploration is concluded.”

Hong Yun, however, was unwilling to gamble. Having spent over a century toiling for the Communicating Holy Spirit Pill, he refused to allow any complications to arise during the final stretch.

“Striking during the exploration is actually a prime opportunity. The Five Elements Sect is protected by a Fifth Rank Great Formation at their home base, but no such defenses exist within the ruins.”

“Furthermore, we must remember that Chen Guixian once detonated the East Wu Spirit Vein. Should he be pushed to the brink and act with reckless abandon, the resulting devastation would be catastrophic.”

“If we could convince Mount Wudi to join our cause, success would be guaranteed.”

Mu Youyi feigned ignorance of Hong Yun’s hesitation, continuing to propose various tactics to take down the Five Elements Sect.

He noted that while the Primordial Five Elements Extinguishing Divine Thunder posed a major threat alongside the Fifth Rank Great Formation, it could be neutralized by utilizing Primordial True Qi.

“If Earth Virtue can be persuaded to lead Mount Wudi into this alliance, I suppose it might be feasible.”

After weighing the options, Hong Yun finally showed a hint of flexibility.

“This is a matter of great consequence. Why don’t you accompany me to Mount Wudi, Dao Brother?”

Recognizing that his own influence was insufficient, Mu Youyi sought to bring Hong Yun along to bolster his case.

“Very well.”

Believing the journey to be a minor inconvenience, and harboring his own reservations about the Five Elements Sect's rapid ascent, Hong Yun agreed to travel to Mount Wudi with Mu Youyi.

“The True Spirit Yellow Dragon…”

Earth Virtue found himself deeply conflicted after hearing their proposal.

His current priority was solely the arrival of the Communicating Holy Spirit Pill, yet the True Spirit Yellow Dragon was the sacred emblem of the Grandmaster, Yi Yuan True Monarch.

Was it possible that the Five Elements Sect truly held the legitimate Yi Yuan Orthodoxy?

The news that Chen Mobai was nurturing a Rank-4 Yellow Dragon made even Earth Virtue begin to doubt the legitimacy of the Yi Yuan Dao Palace.

“Dao Brother, you have already mastered the Primordial True Qi through earth-element arts and refined the Primordial Dao Fruit. If you were to obtain the Earth True Spirit Yellow Dragon, a successful Deity Transformation would be certain even without the Communicating Holy Spirit Pill. This is a gift from the heavens; you will surely regret it forever if you let it slip away.”

Noticing Earth Virtue’s flicker of interest, Mu Youyi pressed his advantage relentlessly.

“There is but a single Yellow Dragon. How would it be divided?”

Earth Virtue inquired with a calm demeanor, listening to the pitch.

“The inner core shall be yours, and the physical remains shall be mine.”

Mu Youyi had prepared his answer in advance and responded without hesitation.

The process of refining the Heavenly Spirit Pill is quite similar to the Communicating Holy Spirit Pill, as both rely heavily on True Spirit Essence Blood.

“That holds little value for me.”

Earth Virtue declined with a shake of his head, showing his lack of interest.

While a Rank-4 Yellow Dragon’s inner core would be a peerless prize for most earth-element Cultivators, it wasn't essential for someone of his standing.

While it would be a fine acquisition, he did not feel he lacked anything without it.

Had the offer included the entire dragon or a Rank-5 core, he might have been swayed.

“Dao Brother, the Five Elements Sect is loudly proclaiming themselves as the Yi Yuan Orthodoxy to the entire world. As fellow residents of the East Land, we cannot tolerate such claims. This is a perfect chance for our three factions to unite and utterly crush the Five Elements Sect.”

Mu Youyi continued his attempt to persuade him, but Earth Virtue merely shook his head again before rising to show his guests to the door.

“That man is nothing but a coward hiding in his shell, utterly hopeless!”

Once they had departed from Mount Wudi, Mu Youyi spat on the ground and cursed Earth Virtue bitterly in Hong Yun’s presence.

Had he been in Earth Virtue’s shoes—knowing the Grandmaster’s symbol, the Yellow Dragon, had surfaced in a backwater like the Eastern Wilderness—he would have seized it by any means necessary.

“Let us put this matter aside until after the exploration, Dao Brother.”

Seeing that Earth Virtue refused to move, Hong Yun lost all enthusiasm for the scheme. He left Mu Youyi with those final words before vanishing in a flash of Escaping Light.

“Every single one of them... completely devoid of ambition…”

Mu Youyi grumbled to himself during his return to the Beast Commanding Sect, resenting Hong Yun just as much as the others.

Chen Mobai had not foreseen this particular outcome.

Despite his careful planning, he hadn't expected the Five Elements Sect’s reputation to be so formidable that even the knowledge of his True Spirit Yellow Dragon wouldn't embolden his enemies to attack.

Mu Youyi might complain, but if he weren't so desperate for his own Deity Transformation path, he likely would have shared the cautious perspective of Hong Yun and Earth Virtue.

“Master, a message has arrived from Uncle Tian.”

Upon his return to the sect, Mu Youyi accepted a letter from Ao Shizheng. His brow furrowed as he scanned the contents.

The Taoist Child of the Ten Thousand Spirits Sect had caught wind of the Yellow Dragon and desired to make it his contracted spirit beast, offering a Heavenly Spirit Pill in exchange.

However, because the dragon was located within the Eastern Continent’s borders, the Ten Thousand Spirits Sect could not send an entire army. At most, the Taoist Child could bring a handful of Elders, and even then, they had to move in secret.

Understanding the situation, Mu Youyi sent a reply detailing his failed attempt to rally Fire Cloud Palace and Yi Yuan Dao Palace. He admitted that even with the full power of the Beast Commanding Sect and several Nascent Soul Cultivators, they likely lacked the strength to force a surrender from the Five Elements Sect.

“A pathetic little sect from the Eastern Wilderness... just wait until I arrive!”

The Taoist Child of the Ten Thousand Spirits Sect sent back only this single, arrogant line.

Recalling the legendary reputation of this Taoist Child in the Central State, Mu Youyi felt a spark of hope return.

...

At the Dao Morale Sect.

Having learned of the Five Elements Sect’s True Spirit Yellow Dragon, Shenxi reported the news to Dustless True Monarch.

“It appears that Yi Yuan True Monarch left the bulk of his treasures in the Eastern Wilderness before his ascension.”

Dustless True Monarch remarked calmly, his attention focused on regulating the True Fire within his Pill Furnace.

“Master, how should we handle this? In the past, the Eastern Emperor Court was only able to cultivate the Temporal Dragon-Sovereign Scripture because of the Eastern Wilderness' Yellow Dragon; it was essential to their power. This creature seems to be its direct lineage. If we ignore it, we may face trouble later.”

Dustless True Monarch’s hands faltered for a second at the mention of the Eastern Emperor Court.

It was a dark chapter of history that the Holy Lands of the Eastern Continent preferred to forget.

During the height of the Eastern Emperor Court’s reign, even a figure of his status was forced to serve the royal family as a physician and alchemist.

“Since the Five Elements Sect has unified the Eastern Wilderness in recent years, a Dragon Vein Spirit should have naturally manifested by now, shouldn't it?”

Dustless True Monarch asked suddenly.

“I have been tracking that. However, the Xuanji Instrument shows no activity either above or below ground, suggesting the Dragon Vein has yet to produce a spirit.”

Shenxi reported the facts plainly.

“Before Yuan Qingque ascended, he asked me to look after that young man, claiming he would become a pillar of the Eastern Continent’s Righteous Path. I must honor that request.”

Understanding his master's intent, Shenxi nodded and prepared to withdraw.

“The preparations for the exploration have gone on long enough; it is time.”

“Deliver my command: starting today, every major sect in the Eastern Continent is to commit one-tenth of their strength to the ruins.”

“Alert the Nine Heavens Morality Sect, the Taixu Piaomiao Palace, the Yi Yuan Dao Palace, the Burning Heaven Meridians, and the Star Heaven Dao Sect.”

“This expedition will push thirty thousand miles forward, carving out the Seventh Domain of the Eastern Continent.”

Shenxi’s face betrayed his shock at these words.

This launch was far earlier than the original schedule.

Nevertheless, this was a massive opportunity for the various sects of the Eastern Continent.

Many organizations had spent their wealth, and the resource veins they controlled had become exhausted over the years.

Without outward expansion, they would eventually be forced into internal wars for survival.

Furthermore, this sudden move would catch the Demonic beasts completely off guard.

If they succeeded, the Communicating Holy Spirit Pill could be finished much sooner.

“As you command!”

With a determined expression, Shenxi accepted the order and departed.

...

Back in the Eastern Wilderness, Chen Mobai received a message from Yuan Zhen.

In her capacity as the Saintess of the Nine Heavens Morality Sect, she was among the first to learn of the Dao Morale Sect’s accelerated exploration plans. She immediately dispatched a messenger to inform the Five Elements Sect.