"Fellow Daoist, do you know about the Immortal Burial Sea?" Wei Ye, the Sect Master of Gold Toad Tower, put down his wine cup and asked Shen Mo with a smile.

Immortal Burial Sea...

Shen Mo's thoughts stirred, quickly retrieving all relevant information about this sea.

The Immortal Burial Sea is located in the extreme east of the Red Flame Country, contiguous with the Sea State, and is immeasurably vast. It's rumored that even Immortals from the heavens would not dare cross this sea. It also blocked the Red Flame Country's route from the east to the outside world. Hence its name!

Of course, this was likely an exaggeration. Over thousands of years, cultivators from the outer regions had come from the east, making a name for themselves in the Red Flame Country. The Divine Bridge Heavenly Monarch, who left his sword Qi on Tianshan Mountain, was suspected to have arrived by crossing the sea. However, this Heavenly Monarch never disclosed his origins, making it impossible to confirm.

Seeing Shen Mo deep in thought, Wei Ye continued, "Fifteen years ago, shortly after I had pioneered my Spirit Sea, I traveled with friends to explore the world..."

As the Sect Master of Gold Toad Tower spoke, Shen Mo felt as if he were there by the sea. Wei Ye and several of his fellow daoist friends set sail together. Witnessing the vast azure tides, they felt their own insignificance. They dared not venture too deep, lest they lose their way and become trapped in the boundless sea.

By chance, Wei Ye and his companions encountered an island with breathtaking scenery. Their curiosity piqued, they decided to explore and landed on the island. To their surprise, they found an ancient magic altar there. After careful investigation, Wei Ye and his companions were thrilled to discover that this Formation possessed teleportation capabilities. However, they had no idea where it would teleport them.

The lands beyond the Immortal Burial Sea? Some hidden Dungeon? Or perhaps a Minor World like the Heavenly Demon Realm? All were possibilities!

More importantly, to activate this Formation, besides Spirit Stones, an ultimate sword Qi was needed as a key. Wei Ye's eyes burned as he stared at Shen Mo, clearly viewing him as a humanoid key. "In other words, we need someone with Godlike Swordplay to execute a divine sword technique at the altar!"

For the past ten-odd years, he and his friends had been searching for masters of swordsmanship, taking them to that island in the Immortal Burial Sea—the Altar Island—to try and activate the Formation. However, every attempt had failed! They had even considered using the sword Qi of the Heavenly Monarch on Tianshan Mountain. But their strength was insufficient. It was exceedingly difficult for them to even approach the Heavenly Monarch's sword Qi, let alone capture and transfer it to the magic altar on Altar Island.

"We even sent an invitation to the Sect Master of the Heaven Sword Sect, hoping he would explore the other side of the ancient array with us."

"Unfortunately, he declined," Wei Ye remarked with considerable regret.

What had initially been a whim had, after so much effort, become an obsession. Wei Ye and his friends simply couldn't let it go. That was until yesterday, when Wei Ye witnessed the sign of Godlike Swordplay. In that instant, he was even more overjoyed than Shen Mo himself. Their long-held wish finally showed a glimmer of hope for fulfillment! And so, he had sent Xu Tong to invite Shen Mo to Gold Toad Tower.

Shen Mo didn't deny that he had caused the sign of Godlike Swordplay. However, he also didn't immediately accept Wei Ye's invitation. He furrowed his brow slightly, deep in thought.

When Shen Mo left Gold Toad Tower, Wei Ye personally escorted him out of the mountain gate. Meanwhile, Shen Mo's Universe Bag contained an additional batch of Spirit Stones and resources. He was now accompanied by a dozen or so cultivators from Gold Toad Tower. Xu Tong was among them, along with four others at the Qi Gathering Realm. The remainder were all late-stage or peak Body Tempering cultivators.

The Spirit Stones and resources were, naturally, the overdue dividends from properties that Gold Toad Tower owed the Defense Division, all of which had now been settled. As for Xu Tong and the others, they were disciples Gold Toad Tower intended to register with the Defense Division. Additionally, Wei Ye promised not to hinder any Gold Toad Tower cultivator who wished to join the Defense Division to earn a monthly salary and rewards. He would also persuade other minor immortal sects to fully support all affairs of the Defense Division.

In return, Shen Mo agreed that after pioneering his Spirit Sea, he would accompany Wei Ye and the others to Altar Island and help them activate the ancient array. Whether he would proceed to the other side of the Formation would be decided then.

A sword intent of Godlike Swordplay is required to activate the Formation's teleportation... Perhaps it leads to a Dungeon related to the Sword Path.

Shen Mo was indeed curious about what lay beyond, but he couldn't depart immediately. Firstly, he was under orders from the Riverside Sect. Unless the term expired or the sect issued new orders, he couldn't neglect his duties. Leaving for a day or two would be one thing, but the Altar Island with the magic altar was not close. Reaching it required a boat journey of over a month each way, meaning two months for a round trip. Even if he disregarded storms and maritime dangers and used Flying Escape, it would take at least ten-odd days!

Secondly, Wei Ye and his friends were all Spirit Sea Realm experts. Shen Mo, not yet having reached the Spirit Sea Realm, dared not venture to the distant Altar Island with them, entrusting his safety to others. Currently, Wei Ye seemed amicable. But this was Qing State territory, and Wei Ye was asking a favor of him. Without long acquaintance, it was impossible to judge Wei Ye's character—whether he was good or evil! Moreover, Shen Mo knew nothing of his friends' dispositions. Traveling with them rashly would be too risky.

Lastly, Shen Mo had several pressing matters to attend to first. His secret agreement with Shopkeeper Qian of Baodan Pavilion had only three months remaining. At that time, he would have to help Shopkeeper Qian resist pressure from the Qian Family and Elder Qian. He also needed to establish two shops in Jiyun Town. The substantial profits involved were not something he could easily relinquish. Then there were the Alchemy rewards from the Alchemy Tower. Soon, he would pass the thirty-year age limit and no longer be able to 'fleece' the Alchemists Alliance. He had to seize the time to improve his Elixir refining proficiency, break more records, and gain more experience in the Alchemy Path.

The road is long. I'll take it slow. Shen Mo sighed deeply.

The registration of Xu Tong and a dozen others signaled Gold Toad Tower's stance. Soon after, Shen Mo visited the Thriving Gold Sect. Unlike typical immortal sects, its cultivators favored commerce. Their enterprises could be found in Jiyun Town, major city immortal workshops, and other locations. Its Sect Master also dressed like a merchant and wore a perpetual, amiable smile. Interacting with him felt much like dealing with Shopkeeper Qian. This visit also went exceptionally smoothly; Shen Mo and the Thriving Gold Sect's Master had a very agreeable discussion.

Consequently, this change in circumstances led Shen Mo to abandon his plan of favoring one faction to suppress another. After all, the Defense Division was established to unite all forces against demonic calamities. If all parties within his jurisdiction were sensible and cooperative, there would be no need for suppression. Of course, the Thriving Gold Sect Master's amenability was undoubtedly related to Shen Mo's victory over the Spirit Sea Realm expert, Tian Qisheng.

The reactions of Gold Toad Tower and Thriving Gold Sect dispelled any lingering doubts among the minor immortal sects, Cultivating Families, and rogue cultivators. Large quantities of overdue resources were continuously delivered. Many cultivators confident in their strength came forward to register and enlist...

The affairs of the Defense Division began to proceed smoothly! However, this overwhelmed Chen Mengze and his team, who were busy recruiting and assessing registered cultivators, initiating repairs on the Division's mansion, organizing defenses for Hongye City and nearby major towns, and dispatching cultivators to patrol the countryside, among other tasks.

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