Fifteen years.
For mortals, that was enough time for an infant to grow into a graceful youth, or for a full head of black hair to become streaked with white.
But for Jiuyou, an old Nascent Soul monster who had lived over eight hundred years, it was merely the snap of a finger.
Yet he had not slackened for even a single day during these fifteen years.
One after another, he had used the Little Green Bottle to cultivate over twenty stalks of thousand-year Coldwind Wood, transforming the entire Soul Wraith Great Hall into a frozen wasteland. Day and night, bone-piercing cold surged from within the hall, spreading down the mountain peak until even the sea at its base was covered in thick layers of ice.
The disciples on the island suffered terribly, but none dared to complain even half a word.
They only knew that their Grand Ancestor was probably cultivating some heaven-shaking divine ability, but they had no idea how terrifying that ability truly was.
Using the dense cold energy from the numerous Coldwind Woods, combined with the soul force obtained by refining countless cultivators' souls, Jiuyou had pushed Nether Capital's Frozen Domain all the way to its perfected state. Now that the domain was unleashed, its power was a full thirty percent stronger than when it had first been formed.
If he had barely been able to suppress Early Nascent Soul cultivators with his frozen domain back then, now even a Mid-Nascent Soul cultivator who fell into it carelessly would suffer a great loss.
Aside from that, he had also fully mastered—and even improved upon—the Appearance-Changing Art obtained from that "continent" Nascent Soul cultivator's corpse.
Jiuyou was stunned to discover that this secret art was far more profound than he had imagined. Not to mention cultivators of the same rank, even a Mid-Nascent Soul powerhouse would be unable to see through his true form as long as he used this technique.
First, there was the high-grade ancient relic of the white-jade bottle, then the top-tier Qi-concealing technique, and then treasures like the Ten Thousand Year Spirit Milk for recovery. Every single one of these items was worth fighting over for numerous Nascent Soul cultivators.
And all of these treasures had been hidden on the corpse of that cultivator who was suspected to be from the "continent."
For a moment, Jiuyou's heart was filled with even more imagination about that so-called continent.
Just how many treasures were still hidden in that legendary land?
That day, Jiuyou sat cross-legged in his cave dwelling and slowly opened his eyes.
He spread open his palm, and a bone-chilling blue flame ignited from the center of his hand.
It was completely different from the green flames he had released before.
The moment this blue flame appeared, the entire cave dwelling and even the entire hall was instantly covered in thick ice. The stone walls, the ground, the ceiling—all were wrapped in a layer of deep blue ice crystals, as if time itself had been frozen.
This was a powerful ability from the "Nether Capital Art," called the "Nether Capital Ghostfire."
Although it was not as overwhelmingly powerful as the three great divine abilities—Nether Capital Gate, Nether Soul Devourer, and Nether Capital's Frozen Domain—it was still nothing to sneeze at. Even a Nascent Soul cultivator, if caught off guard and stained by it, would suffer no light injuries.
This Nether Capital Ghostfire was something he had barely managed to form into a prototype after ten whole years of refining, using the fire-attribute eighth-level beast pill given by Blood Sea True Person, along with the remaining thousand-year Coldwind Woods and the earthly vein cold energy of the entire Soul Wraith Island.
Jiuyou's figure flickered, and he suddenly appeared on the sea surface several hundred feet away from Soul Wraith Island.
He flicked his fingertip.
A wisp of blue flame shot out from between his fingers and fell into the sea.
In an instant, the sea surface within a radius of several hundred feet was completely frozen! The thick ice layer glowed with deep blue cold light, and cold energy radiated everywhere. The sea beasts trapped within were instantly frozen to death, without even time to struggle.
Jiuyou looked at the effect and nodded in satisfaction.
Compared to a large-scale domain ability like Nether Capital's Frozen Domain, the Nether Capital Ghostfire was more direct and faster. If the two were used together, supplemented by Nether Capital Gate and Nether Soul Devourer, he would have the confidence to fight even a Mid-Nascent Soul cultivator.
"Fifteen years... about time."
Jiuyou muttered to himself and looked up at the sky.
Heavenly Abyss Mountain was about to appear. It was time to set out.
Three days later.
The Soul Wraith Great Hall.
Jiuyou sat upright in the main seat, while below stood Canfeng and the few remaining Golden Core elders on the island.
Fifteen years had passed, and Canfeng's cultivation was still stuck at Mid-Golden Core, only his mana had grown a bit thicker than before. Jiuyou had long since given up hope for him. This grand-disciple had limited talent; being able to reach Late Golden Core was already his limit. Forming a Nascent Soul? As difficult as reaching the heavens.
Still, Canfeng was obedient and handled his tasks competently. Jiuyou was too lazy to change a tool he was already used to.
"Canfeng."
"Disciple is here."
"For this trip to Heavenly Abyss Mountain, you will accompany me."
Upon hearing this, Canfeng lowered his head to conceal the joy in his eyes, but his voice was a few notches higher than usual.
"Yes! Disciple obeys!"
He had been waiting for this day for a long time.
The Heavenly Abyss Mountain secret realm appeared once every five hundred years, containing countless opportunities. Even if he couldn't snatch a Life-Extending Fruit, just picking up some spiritual herbs and treasures would be more than enough for him. Moreover, following the Grand Ancestor meant his safety was guaranteed.
Jiuyou swept a glance at him and said calmly.
"This trip is dangerous. You only need to follow behind me. Do not cause trouble, do not speak out of turn. If you dare act on your own—"
"Disciple would never dare!" Canfeng immediately knelt down, his forehead touching the ground.
"Get up."
Jiuyou stood up, swept his gaze across the hall, and finally fixed his eyes on the distant sky.
"Let's go."
A black spirit boat rose from Soul Wraith Island and tore through the air.
The spirit boat was not large, only big enough for a few people, but it was extremely fast. The entire boat was made from Soul Wraith Wood and covered in concealment runes. Jiuyou had prepared it specially; this trip required keeping a low profile.
Canfeng stood at the rear of the boat to steer it, while Jiuyou sat cross-legged at the front, resting with his eyes closed.
The spirit boat flew westward, racing toward the junction of the three alliances.
Half a month later.
The spirit boat flew over an unfamiliar sea area.
In the distance, a desolate island appeared faintly. The spiritual energy on the island was thin and unremarkable, but Jiuyou's Divine Sense had already swept over it. Hidden on the island were three not-weak auras, two of which were especially familiar.
"We're here."
Jiuyou opened his eyes and stood up.
The spirit boat slowly descended onto the desolate island.
Someone was already waiting on the island.
A blood-colored figure stood with hands clasped behind his back. It was Blood Sea True Person. Behind him stood Xie Yunqing and an old monk with a gaunt face, draped in a blood-red kasaya.
The old monk's eyes were half-closed, his aura deep and restrained. He was spinning a string of Buddhist prayer beads in his hand, and he was also a Nascent Soul cultivator.
On the other side, a dry, shadowy figure sat cross-legged on a huge rock, surrounded by faint blood-colored mist. It was Senior Blood Vine from Ten Thousand Blood Island.
Seeing Jiuyou arrive, Senior Blood Vine stood up first, let out a hoarse laugh, and said, "Brother Jiuyou, you're late."
Jiuyou unhurriedly stepped off the spirit boat and said calmly, "I was delayed a few days on the road. My apologies for keeping you all waiting."
Blood Sea True Person turned around, a hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth. "Not late. Just in time."
He glanced at Canfeng behind Jiuyou, nodded slightly, and said nothing more.
The old monk in the blood-red kasaya slowly opened his eyes, his gaze lingering on Jiuyou for a moment. He pressed his palms together and said in a low voice, "I am Blood Withered. I have long heard of Dao-Friend Jiuyou's great reputation."
Jiuyou returned the greeting, thinking to himself: This person must be the other Supreme Elder that Blood Sea True Person had mentioned. Early Nascent Soul, steady aura, not an easy opponent.
The four exchanged a few pleasantries before getting straight to the point.
Blood Sea True Person took out a jade slip from his sleeve. As he activated his mana, a projection of a map appeared in the air.
"The location where Heavenly Abyss Mountain appears is at the junction of the three alliances. It has always been the most fiercely contested place. When the time comes, the Righteous Path Alliance, the Heaven and Earth Alliance, and our own Demonic Path Alliance will all send people. A chaotic battle is inevitable."
He pointed at several marked spots on the map and said in a deep voice, "The four of us will join forces and should not split up. My suggestion is to cut in from the southwest side, avoid cultivators from the other alliances, and grab a few Life-Extending Fruits first."
Senior Blood Vine nodded. "Dao-Friend Blood Sea makes sense. However—"
He paused, glanced at the old monk Blood Withered, then looked at Jiuyou, and laughed hoarsely. "Our Demonic Path Alliance isn't the only one sending people this time. From what I know, that old fiend Yin Gu has also recruited three people. Then there's that couple from Black Fiend Island... when we run into them, do we join forces or each grab what we can?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere grew slightly tense.
Blood Sea True Person's expression remained unchanged. He gave a cold laugh and said calmly, "Heh. There are only so many Life-Extending Fruits. I'm not generous enough to share them with others."
Blood Withered the old monk slowly opened his eyes and said in a hoarse voice, "I've dealt with that old fiend Yin Gu a few times. That man has a very ugly way of doing things. If we really run into him, he won't let things go easily."
Jiuyou listened to their words and understood clearly.
Within any of the three major alliances, they appeared united on the surface but were actually all harboring their own schemes. Allies today, enemies tomorrow. In the dog-eat-dog world of the Abyssal Sea, this was the most normal thing in the world.
He pondered for a moment, then slowly spoke. "I have a suggestion."
Everyone looked at him.
Jiuyou's eyes flickered, and he said unhurriedly, "Everyone only needs one Life-Extending Fruit. The four of us don't have a big goal. Instead of charging to the front and becoming targets, it's better to observe for a while first. After the Righteous Path Alliance and the Heaven and Earth Alliance start fighting, and after Yin Gu and those people rush in to grab the fruits—"
He paused, and a cold smile curled at the corner of his mouth.
"That's when we make our move. No hard feelings, and we get the spoils."
Senior Blood Vine's eyes lit up. "Brother Jiuyou means... let them fight desperately first, and we clean up at the end?"
"Exactly."
A glimmer of approval flashed in Blood Sea True Person's eyes, but he did not immediately express his agreement. Instead, he looked at Jiuyou with a half-smile.
"Brother You has a good scheme. But if everyone thinks the same way, waiting for someone else to make the first move, then who will take the lead?"
Jiuyou met his gaze without flinching.
"Someone will always lose their patience. The Life-Extending Fruit is right in front of them. Who can really hold back?"
The two locked eyes for a moment, and Blood Sea True Person was the first to burst out laughing.
"Hahaha, good! We'll follow Brother Jiuyou's plan."
He set down his wine glass, swept his gaze across the three people present, and his tone suddenly grew heavy.
"But I'll say this first. Once we enter the secret realm, the four of us advance and retreat together. If anyone stabs us in the back, don't blame me for not showing any mercy."
These words were spoken neither lightly nor heavily, but they carried the unique pressure of a Mid-Nascent Soul cultivator.
Senior Blood Vine chuckled. "Rest assured, Dao-Friend Blood Sea. I'm not stupid enough to cut off my own limbs."
Blood Withered the old monk pressed his palms together and nodded slightly.
Jiuyou's expression remained unchanged. He looked up at the direction where Heavenly Abyss Mountain would appear, his expression serious as he slowly said, "You worry too much, True Person. Since we are allies, we will naturally advance and retreat together."
His words sounded nice on the surface, but he had a different plan in his heart.
Allies? They were just using each other.
When the critical moment came, who would care about anyone else?
With the plan decided, the four settled down on the desolate island to wait quietly for Heavenly Abyss Mountain to appear.
Canfeng, Xie Yunqing, and the other Golden Core cultivators were tasked with perimeter security and setting up formations.
Deep in the night.
Jiuyou sat cross-legged on a reef, gazing into the distance.
The sea wind howled, and waves crashed against the shore.
He touched the Little Green Bottle in his arms, his heart completely calm.
The Life-Extending Fruit... he was determined to get it.
But he was definitely not going to fight to the death for it.