The disappearance of the celestial master

Chapter 642: The Disappeared Celestial Venerable

Toward the end of the great plague era, under the coercion of the Immortal Cultivators, the vast majority of Mortals had already been relocated into various grotto-heavens and Small Worlds.

But then, as the impact of incompatible cultivation methods grew stronger and stronger, the Immortal Cultivators ultimately failed to escape the fate of killing each other. The immortal sects shattered, and the immortal cultivation civilization also ushered in a long period of pitch-darkness.

As the saying goes, as one rises, the other falls.

The number of Immortal Cultivators drastically decreased, nearing extinction. However, the Mortals, like tenacious weeds full of vitality, popped up again from all over the world.

Regarding the origin of these newly born Mortals, some said they were those who slipped through the net during the initial great migration movement. Others said they were the offspring born to Immortal Cultivators. Still others said that the Mortals of the Small Worlds broke through the blockade of the Immortal Severing Grand Formation and returned.

In any case, as the Immortal Cultivators slowly vanished from the earth, the Mortals of the Xuanhuang World also began to gradually grow strong in the cracks.

Appearing alongside the Mortals was the Mystic Yellow Heart Cleansing Mantra.

It was just like folk songs and legends whose origins were unknown. Passed down by word of mouth, almost all human tribes came to know of this method that enabled Mortals to shake off the influence of the Immortal-Mortal Miasma and once again embark on the path of cultivation.

Present-day practitioners guessed that this was very likely the work of that mysterious East Pole Celestial Venerable of the Myriad Immortals Alliance.

Because the Net Body Spiritual Pool, which could similarly purge the Immortal-Mortal Miasma, was precisely created by the East Pole Celestial Venerable. It was very likely that the Mystic Yellow Heart Cleansing Mantra was an attempt made by the East Pole Celestial Venerable before creating the Net Body Spiritual Pool.

But Li Fan, who now knew the true face of the Mystic Yellow Heart Cleansing Mantra, understood that this possibility was very low.

The East Pole Celestial Venerable, this nominal leader of the Myriad Immortals Alliance, had only appeared a few times in the earliest recorded history of the Myriad Immortals Alliance before completely disappearing without a trace.

Rather than saying he was a True Immortal, Li Fan believed it was more likely that he, just like himself, had discovered the mystery of the Mystic Yellow Heart Cleansing Mantra.

Inspired by it, he subsequently created the Net Body Spiritual Pool.

"Perhaps the disappearance of the East Pole Celestial Venerable is also related to the Profound Yellow Immortal Heart Mantra?" This thought involuntarily surfaced in Li Fan's mind.

Yet when Li Fan wanted to search for information on the East Pole Celestial Venerable, just like before, it was nearly a blank slate without the slightest bit of redundant records.

This clearly did not match the identity of the leader of the Myriad Immortals Alliance at all.

"It really makes one shudder to think deeply about it."

Thus, Li Fan stopped probing deeply and instead carefully comprehended the Profound Yellow Immortal Heart Mantra once again.

Half a month later, Li Fan once again summoned a group of people at the Government Affairs Hall.

They originally thought Li Fan had some blockbuster news to announce, but unexpectedly, what they waited for was the news that Li Fan was going into seclusion once again.

"Didn't he just leave seclusion not long ago? He's going into seclusion again? Could it be that ancient Cultivators are all this diligent when cultivating?"

"Lord Secret Envoy doesn't lack Contribution Points and can maintain the [Enlightenment] state permanently. Cultivation is simply an enjoyment. If it were me, I could do it too."

"There were rumors before that Lord had already recovered to the Nascent Soul Realm. Could it be that he is now going to Breakthrough to Soul Transformation?"

…

Amidst the bustling discussion of the crowd, only He Zhenghao looked thoughtful.

"It seems this should be Lord Secret Envoy preparing for the descent of the heaven and earth spirit."

He inadvertently glanced at Zhou Qingang by his side.

When Lord Secret Envoy announced this matter, there was no unusual expression on his face, clearly showing that he had already known about it beforehand.

Thinking back to the very beginning, he was clearly the one most trusted by Lord Secret Envoy. Unfortunately, due to his momentary greed, this brat snatched that trust away.

At this thought, a wave of discomfort surged in He Zhenghao's heart.

With a roll of his eyes, an idea suddenly popped up in his mind.

So he sent a voice transmission to Zhou Qingang: "How has Daoist Zhou's cultivation state been recently?"

Zhou Qingang looked somewhat surprised at He Zhenghao who came over to strike up a conversation. After thinking for a moment, he instantly understood the little scheme He Zhenghao was playing.

Sneering inwardly, he answered along with He Zhenghao's words: "Heh heh, Brother He is joking. You also know that Lord Secret Envoy does not manage government affairs, leaving all trivial matters big and small for us to handle. Originally, Gao Yuan was helping to share the burden, but not long ago he also asked for leave to go out, making things even busier."

"Just dealing with government affairs every day consumes the vast majority of our time, so how can we quiet our hearts to cultivate."

He Zhenghao feigned a look of deep agreement, sighed, and chimed in.

However, very soon, his tone shifted.

"I have something to say, I wonder if Fellow Daoist is willing to listen?"

Zhou Qingang was stunned at first, then hurriedly said: "Please speak, Brother He."

He Zhenghao said with a solemn expression: "It is certainly commendable that Fellow Daoist is doing your utmost to share the worries of Lord Secret Envoy."

"But…"

He Zhenghao earnestly said: "To forge iron, one must be strong oneself! No matter how much favor you receive from Lord, your strength is only at the Golden Core after all, and moreover, the weakest early Golden Core. Right now in this tiny Congyun Sea, you can still suppress your subordinates. But as Lord's cultivation continuously recovers and his Realm grows higher and higher, his subordinates will surely be swarming with Soul Transformations and Nascent Souls. If Fellow Daoist stagnates and fails to advance, how will you command respect from others then?"

Hearing this, Zhou Qingang's expression changed slightly.

First wearing an expression of opening his mouth to retort, he soon fell into deep thought.

Seeing this, He Zhenghao couldn't help feeling secretly proud in his heart.

"Gao Yuan's rhetoric really is useful. If not for my firm Dao Heart, I'm afraid I almost would have been persuaded by him back then." He Zhenghao thought to himself.

After a long while, Zhou Qingang seemed to have figured it out, his face revealing bitterness.

"What Fellow Daoist says makes sense. But I truly cannot pull myself away, making it difficult to quiet my heart for cultivation." He looked at He Zhenghao and said.

He Zhenghao's expression perked up: "Why doesn't Daoist Zhou emulate Gao Yuan's actions? Within that Chaoyuan Sect Ruins, there must be tremendous Opportunity. If you can obtain it, you will improve by at least a small Realm. Even breaking through to the Nascent Soul Realm is not impossible."

Zhou Qingang opened his mouth to speak but stopped.

He Zhenghao cut in ahead of him: "I know what Fellow Daoist is worried about, aren't you just afraid of delaying government affairs? Rest assured, with me here! Since I've taken on an extra errand, I don't mind taking on yet another one!"

Zhou Qingang revealed a suspicious expression: "Since that's the case, why don't you go, Daoist He? Since when have you become so considerate of your colleagues?"

He Zhenghao's expression turned displeased: "What kind of talk is that? Back then, Lord Secret Envoy reminded me that among us few, unity should come first. For the sake of my two brothers being able to elevate their cultivation, what does it matter if I work hard for a period of time?"

"You must know that as Lord Secret Envoy's cultivation gets higher and higher, there will definitely be more and more people following behind him in the future. We are a natural alliance; helping you is helping myself."

He Zhenghao paused, observed Zhou Qingang's expression for a bit, and then continued: "Furthermore, I have had some insights recently, and I'm afraid I'm not far from breaking through to the Nascent Soul. Without needing any Opportunity, I am confident of advancing within ten years!"

"Why not help someone fulfill their wish?"