Invincible Starts From Dao Fruit

"Who's there, making such a commotion?"

"Who else could it be? In the Barbaric Lands, with such speed, it can only be the 'Jade-faced Judge' of the Heaven Mending Sect."

"That's the Little Four Nine Wind and Thunder Escape Method!"

"Jade-faced Judge? In the Barbaric Lands, he's not called by that title."

"The Sword Prison Master indeed lives up to his name."

...

The entrance to the Barbaric Lands Earth Cave was guarded by a grand array arranged by True Person Jiulong and other Formation Masters of the Seven Sects.

A hundred years have passed, and this place has developed into a large workshop, acting as the central hub for connecting the cultivators of the Seven Sects.

The core area of the workshop is enclosed by arrays, inaccessible without reason, with strict inspections that lend it an austere and solemn air.

Thus, the area outside the array is all the livelier.

First, the cold solemnity inside the array makes the outside seem bustling by contrast.

Second, there is indeed a heavy influx of people outside the array.

Cultivators from the Seven Sects operate here, and even many resourceful loose cultivators have settled down.

Those coming and going in the workshop are all Human Clan cultivators, with many in the Qi Refining Realm, but there are also not a few Postnatal and Innate Realm mortals.

Back when the first group entered the Barbaric Lands, the lowest cultivation among them was the Early Stage of Qi Refining. For instance, when entering this place, Chen Jichuan led a team of nearly two hundred, where even most miscellaneous disciples had Qi Refining Third Layer cultivation.

Yet time flies, and months and years pass like a shuttle.

The first batch of Qi Refining cultivators, along with subsequent cultivators from various sects who entered the Barbaric Lands, intermarried and bore offspring. These descendants were born and raised here, while the first generation has either grown old and frail or advanced to new cultivation realms.

Nowadays, the commonplace mortals active in the workshop are mostly those born in the past century, and very few are over a hundred years old.

When a cultivator begets a child, the child bears children, and their children once again have children, generation after generation, endlessly proliferating.

Over the span of a hundred-plus years and across generations, the majority have stayed here.

Though the word "Barbaric" may be in its name, the Barbaric Lands are actually rich in resources, with some areas surpassing even the Slaughter Ring Sea in wealth and abundance.

The Seven Immortal Sects had sent the Dharma Protecting Elders like Chen Jichuan to establish forward bases, initially selecting two of the seven Second-order Earth Caves without any traces of Evil Gods for priority development. This decision left Chen Jichuan and his cohorts in a semi-autonomous state.

In order to counter the Evil God threat, many Second-order True Persons made the same choice as Chen Jichuan, forming alliances with Demon Kings. As a result, the relationship between the Human Clan and the Demon Race became much more amicable within the Barbaric Lands.

The Demon Kings could directly collaborate with Second-order True Persons.

For instance, Demon Kings like the Tornado Demon King and the Fuling Demon King worked directly with Chen Jichuan. The same dynamics existed within the Wuling Mountain Alliance, where Demon Kings negotiated deals openly. If one wished to purchase Pills or Magic Artifacts, they could go directly to Wuling Mountain.

Even the Great and Little Demons within the Wuling Mountain range could engage in trade with the cultivators from Wuling Mountain, whom Chen Jichuan led.

Each forward base effectively became a massive "Human-Demon Market."

However, the output of these cultivators was limited—their Pills, Magical Treasures, talismans, and so on were not inexhaustible. Thus, the workshop at the base camp became their main supply and wholesale hub.

Even cultivators uninterested in trading could bring rare medicinal herbs or refining materials found in the Barbaric Lands to exchange for Pills or Magical Treasures there.

As for the forward bases?

They were primarily intended for the Demon Race, but their exploitative pricing ensured that Human Clan cultivators avoided being fleeced.

With such prosperous trade, it's no wonder that the base camp flourished.

Each time Chen Jichuan returned, the changes were unmistakable—throngs of people bustled about, a stark contrast to the harsh unease of the Barbaric Lands' depths.

It was the breath of civilization.

Hundreds of miles from the workshop's outskirts, numerous outposts were established to serve as sentinels monitoring and screening entrants. The two main objectives were clear: prohibit the entry of Demon Race members and issue warnings to prevent overwhelming enemy invasions from catching the base camp unprepared.

Chen Jichuan, flapping his Wind Thunder Wings, sped past these outposts without stopping.

The commotion startled cultivators stationed in the outposts, prompting them to look up. Seeing the gathering storm of wind and thunder, they immediately recognized that Dai Zong of the Heaven Mending Sect had returned.

...

"Brother Dai's Escape Technique grows increasingly formidable."

As soon as Chen Jichuan entered the workshop, someone approached to greet him.

Upon seeing the man, Chen Jichuan smiled. "Brother Murong, you're manning the base camp today? The last time I saw you must have been twenty years ago, no?"

The base camp was overseen by seven guards, each a True Person from one of the Seven Sects. For the Heaven Mending Sect, the guardian was the Vice Hall Master of the Five Directions Hall, Luo Pu.

The other six sects had similarly prestigious figures in charge.

For instance, standing before him now was Murong Jue, a True Person of the Seven Emperors Sword Sect—a sect renowned for its Swordsmanship. Renowned for his exceptional sword techniques, Murong Jue had already reached the Fifth Layer Heaven before entering the Barbaric Lands. After over a century in this place, he was now a major powerhouse who had attained the Sixth Layer Heaven.

The seven guards were originally tasked with protecting the base camp and managing the respective sect affairs there.

But as this was the Barbaric Lands—a realm distant from oversight—none of them wished to waste all their time in the base camp, content with just a modest share of profits.

Thus, figures like Luo Pu and Murong Jue cooperated privately, alternating two-year shifts to oversee the base camp. At all times, at least three guards remained to hold the fort—

One focused on immediate duties,

while the other two could cultivate in seclusion without interruption unless urgent matters arose.

Meanwhile, the remaining four guards were free to roam, seeking treasure or hunting down Evil Gods—ventures that could yield considerable rewards.

This time, it happened to be Murong Jue's turn to watch the base camp. Currently, two other guards were probably in seclusion.

During Chen Jichuan's previous visits, he had missed Murong Jue entirely—a gap of twenty years separated their encounters.

"Brother Dai has been making huge waves in the depths of the Barbaric Lands these past years but returns to the base camp increasingly rarely. I missed you during my last two rotations," Murong Jue warmly greeted as he led Chen Jichuan further inside.

Over the years—especially the recent ones—Chen Jichuan had led three Demon Kings to operate in the northern region near the First Meteorite Rift Valley, slaying eight Fourth Layer Heaven Evil Gods in succession.

The news had even reached the base camp.

Murong Jue, as one of the highest-ranking figures representing the Seven Immortal Sects in the Barbaric Lands, naturally heard about it. With each encounter, his attitude toward Chen Jichuan became increasingly warm.

It was not merely admiration for Chen Jichuan's prospects and strength but also considerations related to cultivation.

"Twenty years apart, Brother Dai must have made great strides in Sword Dao after honing yourself in the depths of the Barbaric Lands. This time, don't be in a hurry to leave so quickly—we brothers must have a proper gathering!"

Murong Jue's enthusiasm was evident, and he almost seemed eager to spar with Chen Jichuan in the workshop then and there.

Chen Jichuan's Sword Map and the Seven Elements Relieving Calamity Ruyi Tiangang Splitting Light Sword Technique had long been an itch Murong Jue wished to scratch.

"If Brother Murong commands, how could I refuse?"

Chen Jichuan smiled but added, "However, it will have to wait until my return."

"Oh?"

"You're heading out, Brother Dai?"

Murong Jue was a little surprised.

After all, they were stationed here under official orders, and venturing out required significant effort, not to mention their time outside was strictly limited.

In Murong Jue's memory, this Dai Zong rarely ventured out.

"Indeed."

"Senior Jiulong in the sect has always treated me kindly. I'm going back to visit him this time."

Chen Jichuan replied.

"Senior Jiulong?"

"I've heard—"

Murong Jue immediately caught on, glancing at Chen Jichuan with renewed respect.

He too had heard snippets of news—True Person Jiulong, the Heaven Mending Sect's Formation Master, was nearing his life's end. Many friends and kin were making their way to Mount Tailao to bid him a final farewell.

But Chen Jichuan's situation was unique. To return to the base camp alone took over two months. Then, traveling from the Earth Cave in Tan State back to Central Continent's Mount Tailao required another two-plus months. This round trip would cost over half a year.

Merely to bid farewell to True Person Jiulong—this sentiment was extraordinary.

Reflecting further,

it seemed that Dai Zong's few prior returns were similarly motivated by the passing of eminent elders in the Heaven Mending Sect. Murong Jue had done some inquiries and knew that this man hadn't established deep roots in the sect nor shared close ties with many senior figures.

He wouldn't seek to cozy up while these elders were alive, yet at their final moments, he'd journey to pay his last respects. Such character earned even someone like Murong Jue's admiration.

This made Murong Jue increasingly confident that forming a bond with Dai Zong was the right decision.

Still, given the somber nature of life and death, Murong Jue refrained from voicing any praise. Instead, upon hearing the purpose of Chen Jichuan's journey, he immediately said, "Your matter is of greater importance. Go ahead, I'll handle the exit paperwork and procedures for you."

"Brother Murong, I'm truly grateful!"

Chen Jichuan expressed his heartfelt thanks.

He was indeed pressed for time. When news reached him, he had been in the midst of hunting the Fire God 'Zhude,' unable to extricate himself.

It had already taken two months to hurry back to the base camp, and he still wasn't sure if he would make it in time. With Murong Jue's assistance, he wasn't about to hold back.

Without delay, he departed from the Barbaric Lands.

...

White clouds drifted,

and gentle breezes swept past.

Exiting the Earth Cave and returning to Tan State's Cangyan Mountain, the sky over the Slaughter Ring Sea brought a wave of nostalgia to Chen Jichuan.

Compared to the Barbaric Lands, the atmosphere here felt noticeably lighter.

For one, without the oppressive restrictions of the Barbaric Lands, Chen Jichuan's tunneling speed erupted a hundredfold. Soaring upward from Cangyan Mountain, wings unfurled, he shot straight into the heavens.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!

Violent gusts roared past his ears, and clouds shifted beneath his feet.

"It's been so long since I've felt this free."

The last time he had ventured out was thirty-two years ago, when the Heaven Mending Sect's Second Elder had passed, and he made a point to attend the final service.

Now, decades later, as Chen Jichuan emerged once more, he embraced the rare sense of relaxation. Yet, his speed didn't falter—

instead, he indulged in unrestrained exhilaration, reveling in the thrill and velocity so unattainable in the Barbaric Lands.

Back when he and Ding Xuan followed Luo Pu and True Person Jiulong from Mount Tailao to Cangyan Mountain aboard a warship, the journey took a full three months.

Now, traveling from Cangyan Mountain back to Mount Tailao, Chen Jichuan accomplished the trek via flying escape in merely twenty days.

Far faster than Murong Jue's projected "two-plus months."

This was the unparalleled speed of a Super-level Escape Technique at the Fourth Realm.

Twenty days later.

Chen Jichuan arrived at Mount Tailao.

"I'm back again."

A hundred and fifty years—long yet short.

Long enough for the mortal world to undergo transformations, shaping even the lives of cultivators over such expansive time. Yet, for the heavens and earth, it was a mere blink, far from the scale of "seas changing into mulberry fields."

Mount Tailao remained as it had always been.

The mountains were the same, the waters unchanged; the only difference lay in the people living among them.

Distant in the Barbaric Lands, the disciples of the Heaven Mending Sect stationed at the mountain were mostly unacquainted with Chen Jichuan. Among the batch of fellow true disciples he had joined earlier, few managed to ascend to the Second Order; many had passed away one by one. The scant few who advanced to True Persons had scattered across various lands, rarely crossing paths.

Chen Jichuan visited the dwellings of a few contemporaneous True Persons, only to find none were currently residing in their abodes.

He didn't linger.

After wandering for a short while, he made a direct line for the residence of True Person Jiulong.

...