In the current Kyushu cultivation world, the twenty major dominant forces of the righteous and demonic paths that rule Kyushu, their strongest cultivators, their ancestors, are only at the Purple Mansion stage.
Take the ten great demonic forces, for example: Nine Nether Myriad Demon Sect, Iron Blood Battle Heaven Gate, Ten Thousand Corpse Wasteland Heaven Gate, Heavenly Demon Gate, Demon Taming Beast Riding Gate, Curse God Curse Immortal Sect, Blood God Transformation Heaven Gate, Poison God Absolute Land Gate, Evil Buddha Sect, Earth Blade Evil Emperor Gate.
And the ten great righteous forces: Five Elements Sect, Alchemy Emperor Immortal Sect, Nine Profound Heavenly Qin Sect, Orthodox Unity Immortal Gate, Puppet God Crystal Sect, Heavenly Sword Divine Gate, Great Zhou Heavenly Star Gate, Talisman God Sect, Great Brightness Temple, Grand Unity Immortal Gate.
This is not just in the Kyushu cultivation world; it's the same in other cultivation worlds, such as the overseas cultivation worlds of the East, West, South, and North Seas.
Then there's the Southern Border cultivation world, the Everlasting Heaven Grassland cultivation world, the Southern cultivation world, the Extreme North cultivation world, and the Western Regions cultivation world where a hundred tribes intermingle, and so on.
The strongest cultivators among them, their ancestors, are also only at the Purple Mansion stage.
…
In fact, whether it's in other cultivation worlds or the Kyushu cultivation world, the top cultivators are all the same, only at the Purple Mansion stage.
Nascent Soul stage cultivators have not appeared for a hundred thousand years; the entire cultivation world has a gap.
In the cultivation world, a dominant force is proven by the presence of a Purple Mansion stage cultivator, and a major force is presided over by a Nascent Soul stage cultivator.
Similarly, a medium-sized force is presided over by a Core Formation stage cultivator, and a small-sized force is presided over by a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator. As for those without even a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator, they are not even considered.
…
Among the Nine Provinces, the cultivation worlds of Yong Province and Ji Province are the strongest, followed by Liang Province, Qing Province, Xu Province, and Jing Province, while Yan Province, Yang Province, and Yu Province are the weakest.
Yong Province, Yan Province, Yang Province, and Yu Province are located in the heartland of the Nine Provinces, with no external enemies from any direction, and have been peaceful internally for a long time, with no major wars erupting for many years.
The cultivation worlds in these four provinces have rigid and inflexible class systems.
The hierarchical system is strict, resource allocation is severely unfair, and there are no rogue cultivators or small sects with any room for survival.
As time passed, this further strengthened the power of cultivation families, leading to major cultivation families infiltrating the dominant forces and holding actual power, suppressing the living and cultivation space of other local cultivators.
However, Yong Province has an unparalleled advantage over Yan Province, Yang Province, and Yu Province.
That is, Yong Province is located at the very center of the Kyushu Continent, situated on the dragon脉 (dragon vein) of the continent.
In terms of resources and environment, Yong Province is the first among the Nine Provinces, and therefore, apart from Ji Province in the far north, Yong Province is also the most powerful province in the Nine Provinces.
It ranks second among the Nine Provinces.
The number one righteous sect in the Nine Provinces, the Five Elements Sect, and the number one demonic sect in the Nine Provinces, the Nine Nether Myriad Demon Sect, are both located in Yong Province.
…
Ji Province is located in the far north of the Nine Provinces, not only close to the Everlasting Heaven Grassland cultivation world but also to the North Sea cultivation world.
Ji Province has also been the province with the most regional wars in the Nine Provinces in the past nearly one hundred thousand years.
Almost every ten years, the Everlasting Heaven Grassland cultivation world or the North Sea cultivation world would launch an attack on Ji Province.
The harsh environment has led to almost all cultivators in Ji Province being warriors.
Under these circumstances, there are basically no weaklings among the cultivators living in Ji Province; their combat techniques and killing methods are unparalleled in the Nine Provinces, truly the best in the Nine Provinces.
Moreover, Ji Province also has the largest number of dominant forces.
Three major demonic dominant forces, the Iron Blood Battle Heaven Gate, the Ten Thousand Corpse Wasteland Heaven Gate, and the Blood God Transformation Heaven Gate, along with one righteous dominant force, the Great Brightness Temple, all gather in Ji Province.
Therefore, the cultivation forces of Ji Province are also the strongest in the Nine Provinces.
Thus, Ji Province ranks first among the Nine Provinces.
Next is Liang Province, which ranks third among the Nine Provinces.
Liang Province is close to the Western Regions cultivation world, where various cultivation resources are constantly exchanged, making it extremely abundant. Coupled with the harsh environment, the cultivation forces of Liang Province are also extremely powerful.
The Demon Taming Beast Riding Gate and the Puppet God Crystal Sect, one demonic and one righteous dominant force, rule Liang Province.
Following closely is Jing Province, which ranks fourth among the Nine Provinces.
Jing Province borders the mysterious Southern Border cultivation world to the south, and Yang Province lies behind it.
Jing Province's soil is muddy, its land is of medium-lower quality, and its taxes are of upper-medium level. Its special geographical environment, coupled with multiple battles with the Southern Border cultivation world, has formed its unique cultivation system.
Jing Province is ruled by two dominant forces: the Curse God Curse Immortal Sect and the Talisman God Sect.
Ranking fifth among the Nine Provinces is Qing Province.
This needs no further explanation.
Qing Province is ruled by the Grand Unity Immortal Gate and the Heavenly Demon Gate, and it is close to the East Sea cultivation world.
Ranking sixth among the Nine Provinces is Xu Province.
Xu Province is close to the South Sea cultivation world, with a mild climate and abundant spiritual energy.
The Sea, Dai, and Huai are Xu Province.
Xu Province is ruled by the demonic sect Evil Buddha Sect and the righteous sect Nine Heavens Profound Qin Sect.
Yang Province ranks seventh among the Nine Provinces.
The three rivers enter, and the lakes are settled. The bamboo grows lush, and the grass and trees are verdant. Its soil is muddy, and the islanders are of a humble disposition. It follows the river and reaches the Huai and Si. The provincial borders have much water, and the waves are扬 (raised/uplifted).
Yang Province is ruled by the Poison God Absolute Land Gate and the Great Zhou Heavenly Star Gate, one demonic and one righteous.
…
Ranking eighth among the Nine Provinces is Yu Province.
Its soil is loamy, and the lower soil is mounded. Its land is of upper-medium quality, and its taxes are of upper-medium level.
Yu Province is ruled by the demonic sect Earth Blade Evil Emperor Gate and the righteous sect Heavenly Sword Divine Gate.
Ranking ninth among the Nine Provinces, meaning last, is Yan Province.
Yan Province is ruled by the Alchemy Emperor Immortal Sect and the Orthodox Unity Immortal Gate, two major righteous dominant forces.
Perhaps because of this, with no competition, Yan Province has become the last province among the Nine Provinces.
…
In fact, logically speaking, Wu Tao's military achievements were much greater than those of Xu Sheng and Long Ao Potian.
He should have received more rewards than the two of them.
However, because Wu Tao was young and arrogant back then, he killed Zhao Yang and Li Chen, who had voluntarily begged for mercy, on the public martial arts arena, causing all his accumulated contribution points and merits to be wiped out.
He was also fined thirty years of monthly stipends as a warning.
This was only because it was on the martial arts arena, and the consequences were not so severe. Some high-ranking members of the Grand Unity Immortal Gate still spoke up for him, which is why the punishment was so light; otherwise, it is unknown what the final outcome would have been.
…
After a leisurely month, Wu Tao felt that he had rested enough.
He began his daily sword practice. After five hours, he started to ponder the Spirit Burning Technique and then looked at the egg of the Silver Moon Snow Back Wolf Demon.
Wu Tao lived a comfortable and regular life. Although mentally tired, he was incredibly fulfilled.
As days passed, Wu Tao's swordsmanship improved, he learned the Spirit Burning Technique, his cultivation in the Way of the Sword deepened, and he even gained some insights into the ancient Buddhist heritage that he had never understood.
On the surface, everything about Wu Tao was improving, but the reality was not entirely so.
Could the enemies and grudges Wu Tao had accumulated over the years allow him to continue smoothly?
…
In a grand hall of a majestic and imposing family ancestral residence, a bronze divine lamp quietly floated, suspended at the very top, with mysterious runes faintly blooming in the air.
Above the bronze divine lamp, Wu Tao's body and facial features were clearly visible.
"It really is this little thief!"
Sitting at the ends of the hall, looking at the phantom of Wu Tao appearing in the bronze divine lamp, a gaunt, stern-faced middle-aged man in a blue robe showed extreme anger on his face.
"Uncles and brothers, kill him."
Looking at the phantom of Wu Tao before him, his face filled with burning rage, he turned to the others in the hall, his eyes flashing with deep killing intent, and said coldly, "With the proof of the Family Guardian Divine Lamp, it has already confirmed this child's identity as the murderer. Why are you not acting quickly to eliminate him and avenge Yuwen and Yang'er!"
In the hall, their reactions to his words varied.
Some exuded killing intent, some were expressionless, and some had a look of amusement on their faces.
In a large family, everyone's interests and thoughts are different, so their attitudes toward handling matters vary greatly.
"Yujia, please calm your anger for now."
Zhao Wenming, the patriarch of the Zhao family, a cultivator at the mid-Core Formation stage, said in a deep voice, "This child's guilt is conclusive, but he is still an inner disciple of my Grand Unity Immortal Gate, so it is inconvenient to act directly."
"Moreover, there are rumors that some high-ranking individuals appreciate this child. We need to spend some time and devise a foolproof plan to deal with this child."
"Yes, Uncle, Yujia understands."
Hearing Zhao Donglai's words, Zhao Yuwen's "biological father," Zhao Yujia, who had spoken earlier, suppressed his killing intent and said, "However, this child has repeatedly killed our Zhao family disciples, including one of my sons. If I don't kill this person, how can I be at peace?"
"Alright, don't worry, Yujia."
Zhao Wenming frowned when he saw his nephew Zhao Yujia still fixated on the matter. Just as he was about to reprimand him, he seemed to recall something.
He sighed softly and then explained, "Yujia, you don't need to worry. I have already arranged for someone. I found a demonic cultivator at the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage, known for his ruthless methods and strong combat power, to deal with this child."
"In a few days, his soul will be brought back to you, and then you can torment him with secret arts for as many days as you wish. Just be patient for now."
Hearing this, Zhao Yujia's expression softened slightly. He suppressed the killing intent in his heart and silently retreated to his seat.
…
Like a blooming flower, each branch blossoms.
Some time passed. Due to the depletion of medicinal pills and other cultivation resources, Wu Tao, who had been staying at home, finally decided to go out to the market to purchase daily cultivation supplies.
About three hundred miles after flying out of the Grand Unity Immortal Gate's stronghold, Wu Tao faintly sensed something was wrong. Paying close attention, he finally discovered the anomaly.
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