Chu Xingchen held two maps of unusual texture in his hands.
Both were system rewards—one was the Shanhai Map from the recruit disciple quest, and the other was the Mountains and Rivers Painting from completing Li Yingling's Spirit Transformation breakthrough mission.
Back then, Chu Xingchen had tried to find some way to merge these two maps. After all, used separately they could only show the changes in the world's terrain, without any mountain-moving or sea-filling capabilities.
Chu Xingchen had originally thought there was a third map, but what was missing was actually a board that could hold these two maps.
The system's [World Map True Board] was a translucent double-layered ultra-thin folder that could stack the two maps on top of each other with almost no seam.
Shanhai Map on the bottom. Mountains and Rivers Painting on the top.
When the two maps were stacked, even areas that had been entirely unrelated—or where both maps had ink marks—now fit together perfectly.
The inked portions merged flawlessly, filling in the blanks and completing the missing parts.
Once inserted into the maps, the size could be controlled at will. This was probably the complete form.
The Five Continents and Myriad Regions—all within the map.
Water veins and spirit veins—all revealed.
No miraculous glow, no earth-shattering Dao resonance.
The water veins flowed freely, but the spirit veins were dammed at Central Continent. The original thick spirit veins, diverted by the Eighteen Immortal Sects, were reduced to about a third of their original width flowing toward the other continents.
Chu Xingchen studied the map carefully, tracing each spirit vein back to its source.
After all, who wouldn't be curious about where all that massive spiritual energy began and approximately where it was generated?
But after watching for a while, Chu Xingchen found that none of the spirit veins could be traced to their root. They essentially vanished upon reaching a certain point, with only small tributary spirit veins occasionally branching in nearby.
Had their origins been deliberately erased, or was the creation of these spirit veins something else entirely?
This question sounded meaningful for the moment, but it would have to wait.
Better to study the complete version of the map the system had given him. Since it had been placed in his hands at this particular time, it surely had something to do with the demon uprising.
After all, if someone was truly building a great formation capable of spanning two realms for calling reinforcements, the spiritual energy supply would have to be astronomical. The spirit stone consumption would be so enormous that even the Celestial Demons might not be able to sustain it—they'd necessarily rely on spirit veins.
First, he needed to ensure the Eighteen Immortal Sects' spiritual energy wasn't being diverted. The probability of that was low.
After all, they were at the pinnacle of the immortal sects—collaborating with Celestial Demons would serve no purpose.
Unless some sect's old fogies genuinely wanted to become immortal. But that would be a minority, since the great tribulation wasn't that far off for Tribulation Transcendence cultivators.
The images of humanity's near-extinction like ants—they probably hadn't forgotten those yet.
As for the spirit vein tributaries flowing to other continents, these needed to be carefully recorded, and checked from time to time for any unusual fluctuations.
Chu Xingchen began operating the map, while using jade tokens to record the current state of every spirit vein.
This thing was live—without recording, if it changed, he wouldn't know.
Once he'd recorded today's full map situation, Chu Xingchen started investigating—were there any other uses for this thing?
Though being able to display spirit veins, water veins, and other unknown things in real time was already incredible, what if there were even more powerful abilities?
Like… moving small spirit veins? Shifting small water veins?
If it could actually do that, it would be extraordinary.
Chu Xingchen carefully fed spiritual energy into it, intently sensing the map's response.
Spiritual energy entered, but it merely dispersed slightly—overall, still controllable.
Could it be… that this thing really could be controlled?
Chu Xingchen's eyes lit up. He gradually increased his spiritual energy while directing it toward a nearly invisible, almost nonexistent spirit vein.
Then!
Nudge it!
Chu Xingchen's spiritual energy touched it, and he felt absolutely no movement.
Increase spiritual energy output!
Not enough!
Increase more!
Still not enough?!
Chu Xingchen felt not even the slightest change—like a mortal trying to push a mountain.
The map perfectly withstood all his spiritual energy.
The next moment.
Chu Xingchen's entire Tribulation Transcendence spiritual energy surged forth, while he simultaneously drew a large amount of divine sense from the Primordial Chaos Twin Spirit Beads, attempting to shift the spirit vein.
The Heavenly Dao Map blazed with light under this massive infusion of power.
But even this spirit vein, tiny to the point of being nearly invisible—barely enough to support a sect—remained immovable as a mountain. Not even the slightest sign of budging.
Fine! Can't move the spirit vein? Then move the water vein!
Fine! Can't move the water vein either?!
Was this junk map even usable?!
Chu Xingchen's spiritual energy surged, his gaze locking onto a water vein. But the next moment, Yunxiao's cautious voice came from outside:
"Fellow Daoist Chu! Is anything unusual in there?"
Chu Xingchen instantly stilled his spiritual energy. The Primordial Chaos Twin Spirit Beads materialized beside him.
He'd drawn too much divine consciousness, and the Primordial Chaos Twin Spirit Beads hadn't fully concealed his exposed Tribulation Transcendence aura. That wisp had been detected by Yunxiao outside.
"No."
Chu Xingchen responded, then stored the Heavenly Dao Map in his system space. At Tribulation Transcendence level, even he probably couldn't budge this thing. He might have to get Bai Xuanling to try.
At least from what the Heavenly Dao Map had shown, it should be supported.
Research would stop here for now. He'd study it together with Bai Xuanling later.
Chu Xingchen adjusted his aura, re-controlled the Primordial Chaos Twin Spirit Beads to conceal his presence, then pushed the door open.
Yunxiao stood at the door, brow slightly furrowed, his gaze instinctively sweeping into Chu Xingchen's room.
The aura that had leaked moments ago was extremely profound, its Dao resonance terrifying—ordinary Tribulation Transcendence cultivators didn't have that.
Chu Xingchen didn't block his view. He walked down the stairs, his gaze falling on Xu Jin and Daoist Yuyang, who looked relaxed, sipping spirit wine, seemingly unconcerned about Chu Xingchen at all.
Seeing Yunxiao's still-guarded expression, Chu Xingchen began making things up:
"Just now I was studying a talisman Bai Xuanling gave me. Didn't expect it to contain her aura."
Yunxiao nodded slightly, clearly not buying the explanation. But seeing that Chu Xingchen genuinely seemed fine, he didn't press further.
He understood that Chu Xingchen had no obligation to tell him the truth—especially about matters concerning Chu Xingchen's own secrets. Even if Chu Xingchen didn't explain, he couldn't say much.
Chu Xingchen saw that Yunxiao had the good sense not to keep digging, so he glared at Xu Jin and the other:
"You two, not even as concerned as Fellow Daoist Yunxiao! I'm cutting ties with you!"
"Cutting ties can wait." Xu Jin tossed a jade token from his chest. "Look at this first. I thought it looked familiar."
Chu Xingchen caught the jade token and probed it with his consciousness.
This was a message from the task's central hub—the position temporarily held by Ye Antao.
It seemed a series of actions and arrangements had been finalized.
Chu Xingchen looked for a moment and found it somewhat familiar. This way of handling things seemed like something he'd seen before.
This was definitely not something Ye Antao could have arranged. She wasn't this thorough.
It was more like… something Bai Qing could do.
Chu Xingchen's brow furrowed, his tone confused:
"No way…"
Shouldn't Bai Qing be in Southern Zhanbu Continent right now, under the strict watch of his eldest disciple?
Was someone imitating her? Who could imitate her so perfectly?
But this plan was so well done—whatever, whoever did it, just execute it first.
If it really was Chen Baiqing, that should be fine.
Chen Baiqing, his little cotton-padded jacket, had been personally certified by Chu Xingchen.
Absolutely no leaks.
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