Sect Master’s Immortal Journey

From the ground to this height, there are already tens of thousands of zhang in distance. At this height, even a Gold Core initial stage cultivator would find it strenuous and difficult to move freely.

As Meng Zhang followed Jin Li True Monarch and rushed into the Nine Heavens, he immediately felt as if he had entered another world. He felt as if he was carrying a huge mountain on his back, and the pressure of the mountain caused his body to tremble slightly, making it extremely difficult for him.

The circulation of True Essence within his body also began to slow down. Even if he tried his best to activate it, True Essence still flowed sluggishly and laboriously like a snail crawling within him. Meng Zhang also felt a bit dizzy and his mind was foggy, making it hard to focus.

Whether it was Jin Li True Monarch's reminder earlier or the knowledge he gained from Extreme Sword Spirit General, Meng Zhang immediately understood his situation. Nine Heavens is the outermost layer of this world, like a membrane that tightly wraps the entire world, isolating most influences from the void.

Extreme Sword Spirit General, who originated from the glorious era of the Taiyi Sect, was well aware of various secrets and knowledge in the Cultivation World. Many times, his insights surpassed those of loose cultivators like Jin Li True Monarch.

How Nine Heavens was formed and why this world had such a membrane, even the oldest artifacts in the Cultivation World couldn't explain. The generally accepted view in the Cultivation World is that Nine Heavens is a spontaneous defense mechanism formed by this world, a manifestation of the will of the heavens.

The void contains many worlds and countless races. It is not peaceful but filled with bloodshed and slaughter. Fierce inter-racial wars and world wars have almost never ceased.

Although the Cultivation World in the Grand Dust World is also a place of survival of the fittest with constant struggles, the intensity, cruelty, and scope of wars are far less than those in the void. If it were not for the protection of Nine Heavens, Grand Dust World might have been invaded and turned into a battlefield of world wars.

Of course, Nine Heavens' spontaneous defense system is not enough to resist the invasion of extraterritorial great powers. The true protectors of this world are the top-tier great powers in the Cultivation World, including the formidable experts from the Holy Land Sects.

Cultivators who break through the Primordial Spirit stage and enter the Return to Emptiness stage are at the top level of power in this world. Cultivation bases at the Return to Emptiness stage are generally referred to as Void Immortals or half-immortals.

However, due to some pretentious mortals claiming to be half-immortals, the term has lost its value. So, in the Cultivation World, more and more cultivators call the great powers at the Return to Emptiness stage "Void Immortals."

Most of the Void Immortal great powers in the Grand Dust World spend most of their time above Nine Heavens, defending against extraterritorial invaders. According to Jin Li True Monarch, the external situation in Grand Dust World has been relatively stable in recent years, giving them the strategic initiative. These Void Immortal great powers can not only rely on Nine Heavens for defense but also charge out of Nine Heavens to repel invaders beyond the country's borders.

The surrounding void in a large area around Grand Dust World is controlled by these Void Immortal great powers, forming the outer defense line of Grand Dust World. It is difficult for powerful extraterritorial invaders or large groups of them to break into the Nine Heavens and enter the Grand Dust World.

Of course, the number of Void Immortal great powers in Grand Dust World is limited, while both Nine Heavens and the void beyond it are vast and boundless. Occasionally, there are some Extraterritorial Invaders who manage to break through the defense and enter Grand Dust World, and there have been several such cases known to Jin Li True Monarch.

The closest incident to the Endless Sea of Sand involved a Fifth Rank Earth Spirit who suffered severe injuries to enter the Deadly Sea of Sand. Another instance was when a Barbarian Clan army from the extraterritorial regions bypassed the defenses of the Void Immortal great powers and arrived at the Yuantu Great Prairie. There seem to be hidden details in these incidents, but Jin Li True Monarch's knowledge is limited due to his level.

The Void Immortal great powers of Grand Dust World generally don't bother dealing with these intruding Extraterritorial Invaders; instead, various forces within the Cultivation World handle such matters. These invaders often land in remote and desolate areas on the fringes of the Cultivation World, like the edge of the Middle-Earth Continent. If they had landed in more central areas, they would have been easily wiped out.

However, these matters are still tens of thousands of miles away from Jin Li True Monarch and Meng Zhang, and they have no need to worry about them. In fact, apart from the Holy Land Sects and a few top-tier sects, many other forces in the Cultivation World are indifferent to these things. They focus on their own internal struggles and are still ready to fight and engage in battles when needed.

Meng Zhang shares a similar mindset. He remembers that Taiyi Sect faced the threat of annihilation a few years ago, and the struggle for survival was intense throughout the entire sect. Although the situation has improved slightly in recent years, they cannot rest easy.

Meng Zhang has many things to worry about, such as the future of his sect and his own cultivation. While thinking about various matters related to Nine Heavens, he gradually adjusts his state to adapt to this new place.

As Nine Heavens is located on the outermost layer of Grand Dust World and influenced by the void, the rules of the land differ significantly from the Grand Dust World. The native creatures of Grand Dust World would feel uncomfortable when they first enter this place and experience many areas of discomfort. At this time, the combat strength of cultivators is greatly reduced, leaving them in a very weakened state.

Depending on various factors such as individual constitution and cultivation base, cultivators need to actively adjust and spend varying amounts of time to adapt and recover their state. Some cultivators may recover in a few hours, while others might take several days to catch their breath.

Encountering any danger during this weak period could be disastrous. Nine Heavens is not a peaceful place, and cultivators can face various enemies at any time. Therefore, for cultivators entering Nine Heavens for the first time, it is best to have experienced seniors accompanying them. These experienced seniors can help the cultivators get through the initial adaptation period, which is also the most dangerous time.

Meng Zhang swiftly restores his combat strength following the experiences passed down by Extreme Sword Spirit General and Jin Li True Monarch. Once he passes this weak period, even without Jin Li True Monarch by his side, he will have the ability to survive on his own. Interestingly, he finds that he adapts very quickly, needing little time to adjust to the rules of this place. His mind becomes clearer, the pressure on his body gradually lightens, and the circulation of True Essence within him becomes smoother.

At this rate, Meng Zhang will recover his combat strength faster than planned.

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