Cultivating with Top Enlightenment Chapter 793 - 334: Calm Before the Storm
Previously on Cultivating with Top Enlightenment...
Edge of the Central Domain in the Southeast War Realm.
Abruptly, a teleportation portal materialized, and a figure dressed in white robes stepped out.
Moments later, three groups of cultivators from different realms arrived, traversing the boundaries.
They floated in orderly formation through the emptiness, all eyes fixed on the white-robed individual leading them.
Ning Qi gripped the communication jade slip firmly, quietly reviewing the details relayed by the cultivators from the True Martial Realm.
This very intelligence allowed Ning Qi to comprehend the layout of this particular domain.
From the reports provided by his allies, Ning Qi discovered that the Central Domain mirrored the Lower Realm in structure, comprising Six Domains split evenly across the two realms.
The Mountain and Sea Realm encompassed the Celestial Fire Realm, Earth Gold Realm, and Vine Wood Realm, whereas the Vast Realm included the Yangchun Realm, Xiahe Realm, and Autumn Fruit Realm.
Within the Six Domain forces, the Celestial Fire Realm and Xiahe Realm stood out as the most powerful, so only their leaders directed their cultivators separately.
The remaining four domains merged their troops in pairs to survey the full expanse of the Central Domain.
Right now, the Mountain and Sea Realm's Three Domain cultivators had secured nine nodes across the Central Domain, with each domain claiming an average of three.
Ning Qi stored the communication jade slip, then retrieved the Soul-Searching Plate and channeled magical power into it.
Supported by the thorough records from the Lower Realm, the disparity between the Central and Lower Realms proved minimal, making the prior data Ning Qi acquired remain effective even here in the Central Domain.
In a brief instant, a layout of node positions in the Central Domain surfaced automatically on the device.
Ning Qi examined the layout with sharp focus.
The layout displayed thirty-six nodes shimmering in varied hues, illuminating one after another.
Nine of these nodes glowed in cyan-blue tones, exactly those seized by the Mountain and Sea Realm's Three Domains.
Beyond those, ten more nodes carried a subtle golden shade, representing areas controlled by the Vast Realm's Three Domains.
This indicated that forces from both realms had claimed nineteen nodes in the Central Domain, with seventeen still unclaimed, among them six concealed ones.
The Central Domain spanned far wider than the Lower Realm, yet the cultivators from the two realms had seized so many nodes with remarkable speed!
After all, they lacked a tool like Ning Qi's compass capable of pinpointing node locations.
Trailing Ning Qi were Sword Ancestor, Qi Keqing, and Zhu Yanchuan, positioned side by side.
These three guided the Three Domain cultivators, and to effectively manage the combined forces upon entering the Central Domain, they needed to remain united for discussions.
Currently, the trio also drew out their compasses, testing if they could sense the nodes within the Central Domain.
As they poured spiritual power into the devices, a hum resonated, and the pointers on their compasses spun to life, indicating various directions.
This result stemmed from the custom features Ning Qi had programmed into the compasses they held.
The purpose was to prevent all three from detecting the identical node site, which might draw the entire force to one spot and squander the advantage of their alliance.
The Three Domain forces at their backs remained utterly still, like motionless sentinels, ready to receive commands from Ning Qi and his companions.
A glint appeared in Ning Qi's gaze.
In that instant, six glowing spots began to emerge gradually on the compass layout he wielded.
These spots shifted steadily, at times spreading out, at others grouping close, resembling mist that scattered and reformed, denoting the whereabouts of the Six Domain forces throughout the Central Domain.
Spotting these indicators, Ning Qi colored them according to the intel from the True Martial Realm.
He assigned red, gold, and green marks to the Mountain and Sea Realm's Three Domain forces: Celestial Fire Realm, Earth Gold Realm, and Vine Wood Realm.
Regarding the Vast Realm's hostile Three Domain forces, lacking any True Martial Realm spies within their ranks, Ning Qi could not differentiate them as clearly as he did for the Mountain and Sea Realm allies.
Nevertheless, it held little consequence; they were all Vast Realm cultivators regardless.
"You three, hand over your compasses for a bit. I'll upgrade them with some extra features!"
Upon hearing these words, Sword Ancestor and the others felt a brief jolt of astonishment, lifting their heads to regard Ning Qi with mild bewilderment.
Yet another enhancement? Just how potent would it prove?
By years alone, the least aged among them was dozens of times Ning Qi's senior.
They boasted vast expertise, yet now that knowledge felt insignificant before Ning Qi's prowess.
Ning Qi seemed to possess far deeper insights and mastery, rendering the three like novice soldiers, able only to follow in puzzled obedience.
Without delay, the three channeled their spiritual qi, directing their compasses toward Ning Qi.
However, Ning Qi refrained from grasping them; instead, he swiftly formed a Daoist seal using both hands.
Instantly, three tiny yet fiercely blazing fireballs ignited in the void, each one encasing a compass.
Through their spiritual sense, the compasses resembled tiny vessels tossed upon ocean waves, rolling within the flames.
Abruptly, three azure rays shot from Ning Qi's palms, piercing into the fireballs and instantly infusing the compasses.
The whole ritual of enchanting the artifacts unfolded swiftly, concluding in mere seconds as the fireballs imploded, leaving the three compasses radiating a gentle light while hovering in the air.
Observing Ning Qi's fluid and masterful technique, be it the three like Sword Ancestor or the tool-forging experts among the Three Domain cultivators, all watched in mesmerized awe.
This level of proficiency bordered on the Dao itself, so much so that mere observation felt like a visual delight.
Ning Qi had upgraded the three compasses to include the full node distribution map of the Central Domain and the positions of the Six Domain forces, mirroring what appeared on his own device.
Naturally, as always, Ning Qi subtly omitted any trace of the six unique nodes in the Central Domain from their view.
These six nodes lay beyond the reach of the two realms' wills, and Ning Qi planned to seize them solely for himself, integrating their realms into the True Martial Realm—a secret he would guard fiercely.