Preparations for the Abyss

Within the Sword Immortal Realm, before the rocky cliff face of the fourth peak of the majestic Five Treasures Peak, Ji Ning was riding on a cloud, meticulously studying the fourth chapter of the Five Treasures Sword Art. Although he had encountered many mighty figures from Nuwa’s camp earlier, he hadn’t immediately headed for the Moon Underwater Abyss. Instead, he had first come to this Five Treasures Peak to carefully examine this fourth chapter.

Years of cultivation had passed, yet he still had not managed to fully comprehend the third chapter! Now, he was repeatedly studying this fourth chapter, a clear sign of impatience! The reason for this was his imminent entry into the Moon Underwater Abyss.

The Moon Underwater Abyss was an enigma of untold mystery.

Once one entered…

they would be completely cut off from the outside world. Even with methods like a Primaltwin or a clone, one could not communicate with the clone within the Moon Underwater Abyss! Thus, from ancient times to the present, several thousand Empyrean Gods had entered the Abyss. Many of them had Primaltwins or clones living in the Three Realms, yet none knew what had actually transpired within.

Even the only one who had ever emerged, the now-Buddha ‘Buddha Jueming’, when he brought back three treasures, only spoke of the great abundance of treasures found within. He meticulously described the origins of those three treasures. As for what dangers lay within the Moon Underwater Abyss, or what the scenery was like, he refused to speak of it at all.

The only one to return refused to say a word.

The Moon Underwater Abyss had become a complete mystery! Yet, the fact that Buddha Jueming had risen from a mere Empyrean God to his current status as a Buddha led many Empyrean Gods in the Three Realms to believe that within this Abyss lay the opportunity for great tempering. And so, more Empyrean Gods continued to enter. Alas, not a single second one ever came out again.

“My true body clone, once it enters the Moon Underwater Abyss, will be completely severed from contact with the outside world.”

“I suspect my time within the Moon Underwater Abyss will not be short. Since that’s the case, my true body clone can focus on bitterly cultivating the Five Treasures Sword Art within the Abyss, primarily perfecting the ‘Shadowless Stance’ of the Brightmoon Sword-Art. As for my many other clones and Primaltwin, they will remain in the Three Realms, comprehending the Five Treasures Sword Art to perfect the other four stances of the Brightmoon Sword-Art.”

With no memory link…

there was no point in both the clone in the Abyss and the clones in the Three Realms studying the exact same things. That would simply be a waste of time.

The Shadowless Stance was the most bizarre and incredibly swift sword stance. It was very well-suited for the true body to pursue alone.

Once he emerged from the Moon Underwater Abyss, the memories would be linked. By following different training paths and then combining their insights… his level of attainment could be greatly increased.

“The Icefire Golden Core Refining Art?” As Ji Ning was carefully studying the fourth chapter, trying to grasp the artistic conception more clearly, he suddenly froze.

At that moment, his clone in the World Prison had discovered the Icefire Golden Core Refining Art.

“Originally, I planned to study the Five Treasures Sword Art a bit more before heading to the Moon Underwater Abyss. It seems I’ll need to make a trip to the Da Yu Human World first,” Ji Ning mused to himself.

…

A day later.

Having memorized the Five Treasures Sword Art through repeated study, Ji Ning rode the Void Boat to the ancestral home of the ancient imperial clan, the ‘Da Yu Human World’.

“Daoist Ji Ning.” A voice rang out. A muscular man clad in animal skins tore through the void and appeared.

“Heavenly God Fuqu.” Ji Ning smiled. Fuqu had been the one to receive him last time. He was currently the Heavenly God in charge of hospitality for the ancient imperial clan.

Heavenly God Fuqu’s gaze towards Ji Ning was different now. The day before, Ji Ning had used his Lightning-Serpent Teleportation to traverse the Three Realms, slaying members of the Seamless Gate until they had bowed their heads. The news had already spread. Even the mighty figures of Nuwa’s camp sighed in admiration when it was brought up. “That Ji Ning is truly gifted in Heartforce.”

The mighty figures of Nuwa’s camp all believed that Ji Ning had tamed the serpent through Heartforce.

In truth, after carefully studying the ‘Lightning-Serpent Teleportation technique’, Suiren had concluded that taming the serpent with Heartforce was still a faint possibility. Thus, he himself had devised a Heartforce-taming method and inserted it into the ‘Lightning-Serpent Teleportation technique’ to hide the existence of the Chaos Nectar. Only by confusing their own side's mighty figures could they better confuse the Seamless Gate.

“What brings Daoist Ji Ning here today?” Heavenly God Fuqu asked.

“I wish to visit the treasure vault to exchange for some treasures,” Ji Ning said.

“Oh. Many Daoists from the Three Realms visit our treasure vault, but you are only coming now. I thought you looked down on our collection,” Heavenly God Fuqu chuckled. “Come, come, come. I’ll take you there.”

Soon.

Within a stretch of ancient, cloud-shrouded palaces, two beams of light flew past, entering one of the ancient halls.

“As expected of the ancient imperial clan. Truly extraordinary.” As Ji Ning flew in, he took in the scene before him and couldn’t help but feel awed.

The ‘Heavenly Court’, which was the nominal ruler of the Three Realms, was exquisitely beautiful, with jade towers and pavilions. The imperial palace of the Grand Xia world, with its majestic Heavenly Tribute Hall, was also incredibly imposing, no less than the Heavenly Court.

But—

The imperial palace of the ancient imperial clan was quite simple and unadorned. Yet, each hall exuded a palpable pressure that Ji Ning could feel.

“These were forged by our human race over countless eons during the Primordial Era,” Heavenly God Fuqu said proudly. “Initially, thirty-six Pure Yang supreme-grade treasure palaces were forged. Over time, they all grew into ‘Innate spirit-treasures’. These thirty-six Innate spirit-treasures, combined with the formation diagram laid down by Fuxi, act as a single unit. They are in no way inferior to a chaos treasure.”

“During the Primordial Dawn War, our human imperial palace made great contributions,” Heavenly God Fuqu said.

Ji Ning nodded in admiration.

The human imperial palace was like a fortress!

“This is the Tianfan Hall.” Heavenly God Fuqu led Ji Ning into a tall, grey palace. “The treasure vault is inside. There are some Immortals within. Whatever you need, just take your pick. As long as you have sufficient treasures to trade. I have other matters to attend to, so I won’t stay.”

“Thank you, Heavenly God Fuqu.” Ji Ning smiled. As Heavenly God Fuqu transformed into a beam of light and departed, Ji Ning turned and stepped inside.

…

All the mighty figures and powerful experts of Nuwa’s camp had placed the treasures they no longer needed here. How astonishing was the collected bounty?

Piles of Innate spirit-treasures, with the lowest grade all being at the Pure Yang level. A vast number of chaos curios, all sorts of rare materials… it truly encompassed everything. In peacetime, many mighty figures would simply hoard such treasures, leaving nowhere to trade for them. But with the great calamity approaching, everyone was bringing out what they didn’t need.

“Excellent treasures.”

Ji Ning was well aware that what suited him was best.

He first selected ten jin each of the two materials the Seamless Gate had demanded. In truth, the Seamless Gate had underestimated Ji Ning. They thought that since he was merely a True God and True Immortal, he couldn’t possibly produce overly precious treasures. So of the three treasures the Godking had demanded, the first two were quite ordinary.

If they knew that Ji Ning possessed the World Prison of the Nine Chaosworlds, and that acquiring treasures a hundred or a thousand times more valuable would be easy for him, they would surely regret it.

“How much Nine-Yang Magma is there?” Ji Ning inquired.

“Senior Northmont.”

Immediately, a Celestial Immortal approached respectfully and said, “There is quite a lot of Nine-Yang Magma, over two million jin remaining. It was discovered in the chaos by the Human Sovereign, Suiren. If Senior Northmont requires more, Human Sovereign Suiren should have some more.”

Ji Ning nodded. “Give me one million jin.”

…

Chaos curios also had their high and low grades. Chaos Goldstone, for instance, was found in almost unlimited quantities. Some chaos medicinal herbs were incredibly rare, while others appeared in massive batches.

‘Nine-Yang Magma’ and ‘Iceheart Marrow’ were both mid-grade among chaos curios, appearing in massive quantities. The ‘Icicle Heart Leaves’ of the Moon Underwater Abyss, for example, grew on large amounts of Iceheart Marrow. Naturally, Iceheart Marrow was less valuable than Icicle Heart Leaves.

The Icefire Golden Core Refining Art…

also existed on different levels.

Just as when Ji Ning cultivated the Starseizing Hand, the higher the level, the more precious the treasures imbued with the essence of the Five Elements he required! Just as with melting a treasure, the stronger the treasure, the more powerful the flame needed to melt it!

The higher the grade of one’s Golden Core, the more refined the external materials required by the Icefire Golden Core Refining Art.

For a Celestial Immortal’s Golden Core, a certain level of external material was needed.

For a True Immortal’s Golden Core, an even higher level was required.

For an Ancestral Immortal’s Golden Core (a Daofather), a Daofather’s Golden Core was incredibly powerful. To cause it to transform, the required materials were far more precious, and not so easily obtained.

“According to the records, to elevate a True Immortal’s Golden Core from the third rank to the second, ten thousand jin of Nine-Yang Magma and ten thousand jin of Iceheart Marrow are needed. I have over thirty clones, so I need over three hundred thousand jin each. Hm, acquiring the Nine-Yang Magma was easy. As for the Iceheart Marrow, I wonder how much there is in the Moon Underwater Abyss.” Ji Ning rode the Void Boat away from the ancient human imperial palace.

For this exchange, Ji Ning had only paid with six Innate spirit-treasures and three sets of Pure Yang supreme-grade treasures. Just from killing the Empyrean Gods and Celestial Immortals of the Seamless Gate, he had already obtained several dozen Innate spirit-treasures, as ordinary True Gods and True Immortals each possessed a few Innate spirit-treasures.

“It’s time for the Moon Underwater Abyss.”

The Void Boat rapidly entered the endless void, then entered the boundless chaos.

PS: What do you all think of Nuwa’s original painting? Can she be called the most beautiful woman in the Three Realms?