Chapter 3 The Journey

The star map of the Endless Territories showed that each territory occupied by cultivators was about sixty to seventy percent the size of a different universe! Yet there were many 'deadly lands'.

For instance, the deadly land marked on the star map as 'Yu Star Sea' was ranked as the number one deadly land of the Endless Territories! The area already explored alone exceeded the entire Endless Territories! The danger level was extremely high! Of the Dao Lords who entered, fewer than one in ten thousand came out alive! Generally, only some exceptionally heaven-defying Dao Lords managed to escape by luck, and even most Eternal Emperors who entered died within.

The Yu Star Sea, in terms of sheer scope, felt comparable to an entire different universe.

This was the number one deadly land of the Endless Territories.

Within the Endless Territories, there were several other similar deadly lands, each terrifying in its own right, and once entered, there was almost no hope of coming out.

"Including some deadly dangerous regions, the Endless Territories is much larger than a different universe." Ji Ning was shocked as he carefully read the extensive introduction to the Endless Territories on the star map.

"This is—"

Ji Ning's pupils contracted.

The star map introduced that the Endless Territories was divided into six major powers.

The Dao Alliance, which gathered almost all cultivators, was the largest and most decentralized power. In terms of the number of Dao Lords and Emperors, the Dao Alliance actually had the most. Because internal strife within the Dao Alliance was great and its territory was too vast, the Dao Alliance had always practiced 'governance by non-interference'.

The Mangya Kingdom, a power founded by the Great Dominator, who was the foremost of the three Great Dominators of the Endless Territories!

The Eternal Clan, which fed on cultivators, was extremely united, and after awakening, their strength was immense.

The Special Life Clan, beings of all kinds born from chaos. Since the birth of the 'Wind Rain Dominator', who created the 'Wind Rain Kingdom', that place became the holy land for all special lives, with countless special lives gathering there.

The Ancient Cultivator Clan, the most mysterious group in the entire Endless Territories. They were few in number, each immensely powerful, with heaven-defying divine abilities and secret arts. The Ancient Cultivators were led by the 'Minglan Dominator'.

The Dark Kingdom, a power formed by cultivators from foreign territories who migrated and settled on the border.

"It's much more complicated than a different universe," Ji Ning thought to himself.

"Junior apprentice-brother." Woodflower Palace Master looked at Ji Ning with a smile. "Surprised?"

"This is the first time I've learned that our Endless Territories has such terrifying deadly lands, and that there are six major powers," Ji Ning said.

"Ordinary World Gods have no need to know; after all, the territory is too vast and the journey full of danger, so World Gods can't travel very far," Woodflower Palace Master said. "But you are different. Now that you've become a Dao Lord, you still need to know these things."

Ji Ning nodded.

"Deadly lands? Especially the number one deadly land, 'Yu Star Sea', which is boundless and endless; even the Great Dominator cannot explore its limits," Woodflower Palace Master said. "Actually, what you most need to remember are the six major powers. Our Mangya Kingdom is relatively detached, with decent relations with the Dao Alliance, the Eternal Clan, and the Special Life Clan. We are enemies with the Dark Kingdom, after all, they are outsiders... Remember, we are absolute mortal enemies with the Ancient Cultivators!"

"Mortal enemies?" Ji Ning was startled.

"Yes." Woodflower Palace Master nodded solemnly. "So you must be careful of the Ancient Cultivators! Of course, you also need to be careful of other powers. For example, the Dao Alliance, because it is so vast, has all kinds of internal strife and conflict, so it's normal for some mighty figure to suddenly attack you. The same goes for the Eternal Clan; you are a cultivator after all, and the Eternal Clan loves to devour some Life-and-Death Dao Lords."

"Alright, you now know what you need to know." Woodflower Palace Master looked at Ji Ning. "In short, be careful on the journey."

"Yes." Ji Ning nodded solemnly.

...

Ji Ning dismissed the servant and then left the Sword Palace with Su Youji.

The Mangya Kingdom was similar to the Three Leaf Realm, also having three spacetime passageways.

"These three spacetime passageways lead to three places in the Endless Territories, allowing our Mangya Kingdom cultivators to spend as little time as possible on the journey." A black-armored Dao Lord guarding the passageway explained with a smile.

"Yes." Ji Ning, with Su Youji, stepped into the spacetime passageway.

In his heart, he thought...

It seemed that the Alchemist and the Great Dominator were relatively close in the Dao of Spacetime.

...

The Da Mo Territory and the Tian Cang Territory seemed relatively far apart.

But if viewed on the star map of the entire Endless Territories, they were actually in a corner! After all, from the Da Mo Territory to the Tian Cang Territory, with the strength of Ji Ning's clone, it would take a few hundred years.

"It should take about three hundred years to arrive." Ji Ning's true body could be even faster; the spacetime passageway saved a great deal of distance.

"Whoosh."

A flying boat穿梭ed through the void.

Ji Ning, Su Youji, and Danbao the World God were all inside the flying boat.

"Master, what is this Tian Cang Palace?" Danbao asked curiously.

"It's a place I must go. Strictly speaking, I am also a member of Tian Cang Palace," Ji Ning said with a smile. Yes, he had to go; only by going could he fulfill his life-bound oath and enter the Three Realms. For so long, his second soul had been protecting the Three Realms but could only live in the chaos outside the Three Realms, not daring to approach.

"Youji, Danbao, both of you have gained a lot and should be able to become Dao Lords now," Ji Ning said.

"Yes." Su Youji nodded. "Before going to the Origin Source之地, after receiving the Flying Immortal Saint Lord's inheritance, I was already comparable to a peak World God. In the Origin Source之地, I also had some encounters; without using any treasures, I can be considered beyond peak existence."

Ji Ning nodded.

Relying on Eternal Divine Weapons wasn't impressive; if one could have strength beyond peak without relying on treasures, they were generally ready to become a Dao Lord at any time.

"Thank you, Master, for the Ancient Domain Token; otherwise, I don't know when I would have broken through," Su Youji said excitedly, never expecting that she too could become a Dao Lord.

"I also thank you, Master. If not for you, I don't know when my alchemy path would have advanced further," Danbao also said excitedly. "Fire Fairy, I am also ready to become a Dao Lord at any time."

Ji Ning smiled. He was very happy that his two most worthy followers could become Dao Lords.

"By the way, have Feng Yi, Qing Huan, and the others broken through to become Dao Lords?" Ji Ning asked.

"Ah, I was so happy that Master returned that I forgot to mention it," Su Youji quickly said. "Prince Qing Huan broke through to become a Dao Lord about three thousand years after returning! Just two years later, Fire Jin Water Lord also broke through to become a Dao Lord! After another twelve thousand years, Feng Yi also broke through to become a Dao Lord."

Ji Ning was startled.

All had become Dao Lords?

"That makes sense. After all, they had long reached a bottleneck, and they all gained something from going to the Origin Source之地. It's too hard to take another step forward; it's only right that they broke through to become Dao Lords," Ji Ning said.

"Master, when will you become a Dao Lord?" Su Youji asked curiously.

"Yes, Master," Danbao also asked curiously.

"It won't be too long," Ji Ning said. Regardless, he first needed to merge with his clone. Secondly, his Sword Dao still seemed to have a slight flaw. Ji Ning himself vaguely felt that a breakthrough should be soon; he just needed an opportunity.

"Since both of you can become Dao Lords, how about this: choose a secluded place, and the two of you can break through first," Ji Ning asked. "Or do you want to cultivate a bit more and consolidate?"

"I've already consolidated; I've been waiting for Master to return. I can become a Dao Lord at any time, no need to wait," Fire Fairy Su Youji said with a smile.

"I consolidated back in the Three Leaf Realm; I'm just waiting to break through," Danbao also said. After obtaining the first six chapters of the 'Dan Ye Seven Chapters', he had cultivated for nearly a million years (with time acceleration) before Ji Ning obtained the six life-bound divine weapons.

"In that case... let's choose that place."

Ji Ning moved his mind.

The flying boat穿梭ed through space in another dimension. In just a moment, it broke through space and landed on a silent chaotic star. This chaotic star had no life; its surface was all rock.

Ji Ning waved his hand, and a celestial mansion descended, landing on the star's surface. With Ji Ning's thought, all the formations and restrictions of the mansion were activated one by one. Instantly, a vast power enveloped the entire chaotic star, yet it was completely contained. If one were a bit farther from this chaotic star, they wouldn't sense any aura at all.

Because breaking through to become a Dao Lord caused a great commotion, it was natural to isolate the aura as much as possible to prevent discovery and avoid trouble.

"You two break through inside the mansion; I'll protect you," Ji Ning said.

"Yes, Master." Danbao and Fire Fairy Su Youji were both excited and nervous. Although confident, becoming a Dao Lord was an extremely important breakthrough for any cultivator.

...