Invincible Starts From Dao Fruit

No.6 Cave.

The heavens and earth stretch boundlessly.

Chen Jichuan sat cross-legged atop the mountain peak, gazing upon the sun, moon, and stellar rivers, executing the nine revolutions of his Mysterious Skill.

Mana surged powerfully, coursing through his meridians in an endless cycle, resembling the ceaseless flow of mighty rivers, overcoming all obstacles.

Sword Qi wandered within, akin to fish swimming in the river.

Alive and vivid.

Sharp and dominating.

The Sword Qi tempered itself within the meridians, simultaneously refining Mana.

Sometimes it dwelled within the Dantian.

Strands of Sword Qi demonstrated sets of Swordsmanship. The Swordsmanship secretly merged, transforming into Sword Arrays.

The Swordsmanship changed endlessly.

The Sword Arrays clanged with resonance.

Continuously refining and tempering Mana while expanding and fortifying the Dantian.

Yet ultimately, it reached its limits.

Mana within the Dantian, akin to an ocean, could no longer increase or improve by even the tiniest fraction.

A year.

Two years.

Ten years.

Twenty years.

Remaining stagnant through time; it was the easiest way to erode one's will.

"Nine Acupoints open, Second-order limit."

"Very difficult to advance further."

Chen Jichuan let out a sigh and ceased his cultivation.

Three hundred years had passed since he ascended to the Ten Layer Heaven realm, with his Mana reaching perfection almost two hundred years ago, yet he had struggled to make even an inch of progress.

"Second-order Enlightenment."

"Third-order Divinity Transformation."

"Currently, nine acupoints have been opened, with only one step remaining towards Heaven and Human Communication. Adjust the nine acupoints, and I can develop the consciousness sea, stepping into the Unity of Heaven and Man—Divinity Transformation realm."

"But this Heaven and Human Communication—"

Chen Jichuan furrowed his brow slightly.

Over the years, he had diligently studied countless texts and considered his understanding of 'Heaven and Human Communication' remarkably comprehensive and profound.

Yet, despite years of attempts, he had never found a way forward, causing him some doubt.

"Since the ancient catastrophe, the Central Continent World has not seen a single Third-order figure."

"Initially, I thought it might be due to the severance of inheritance or the depletion of Spiritual Energy."

"But now it seems—"

"It may be due to a flaw in this heaven and earth."

Heaven and Human Communication.

With his nine acupoints opened, Chen Jichuan considered his self perfected. Thus, the only thing obstructing his further progress must come from the limitations of this world.

Certainly, among millions of cultivators across the realms, only a scant few ultimately reach the Third-order level.

Besides the limitations of heaven and earth, perhaps Chen Jichuan had his own shortcomings as well.

"Either this heaven and earth have issues."

"Or I have issues."

"Or both have issues."

With the 'heaven and earth' and 'self' as two variables, Chen Jichuan could not yet reach a definitive conclusion.

To determine whether the barrier preventing his advancement lay in the limitations of heaven and earth or his own inadequacy, he needed to break the stalemate.

"A complete rebuild isn't possible."

"Switching to another world would be far simpler."

Chen Jichuan rose to his feet and left the borderlands.

...

No.6 Cave.

Northern Territory's Yulan Mountain.

Chen Jichuan stood atop a blood-drenched peak, gazing beyond the cave at the Evil God World. A towering fortress rose amidst the mountain ranges, guarding the cave's entrance.

From within the cave, Chen Jichuan could faintly glimpse soldiers patrolling inside the city.

They were on high alert.

After three massacres, with thousands of High-level Evil Gods having fallen in battle or been slaughtered, even the Evil God World dared not send more people to their death.

"A pity."

Chen Jichuan muttered inwardly.

Over twelve hundred years.

He had relied on strategies like 'feigned death' and 'lure traps,' deceiving and killing nearly a thousand High-level Evil Gods who had ventured from the Evil God World in search of treasures.

Counting the initial massacre upon his arrival, he had triggered three bloodbaths, slaughtering the gods of the barbaric lands thrice over.

Blood flowed like rivers across the wilderness.

The Evil Gods dared not infringe further.

More than three hundred years since the last massacre, even reusing old tricks proved ineffective—

Second-order Evil Gods of the Evil God World viewed the barbaric wilderness as a dead zone, refusing to venture and waste their lives!

Chen Jichuan had considered waiting for the lower-tier and mid-tier Evil Gods within the wilderness to mature.

But the timeline was too short; it held little allure.

"Matchless under heaven."

"It's time to leave."

Chen Jichuan carried his hands behind his back, examining the Evil God World across the divide.

He pondered stepping into it.

Yet, this life would not afford him that chance.

"Grandmaster."

"Paying respects to Grandmaster."

Down the mountain.

A group of more than ten climbed up step by step, respectfully bowing upon reaching Chen Jichuan, addressing him as 'Grandmaster.'

These individuals ranged from youthful to aged, yet regardless of appearance, each had lived several hundred years, some nearly reaching eight to nine centuries. Their cultivation had universally reached the Ten Layer Heaven realm, renowned throughout the Central Continent.

Should anyone encounter this group, they would undoubtedly be dumbfounded.

For among this assembly were nine Supreme Elders, six Hall Masters, and the Sect Master of the Heaven Mending Sect—seventeen of the highest-ranking figures.

Any one of them strolling a few paces across the Central Continent would shake the entirety of Slaughter Ring Sea.

Now, however, they stood humbly before Chen Jichuan.

And Chen Jichuan indeed deserved such deference.

As the eldest living and most senior figure of Heaven Mending Sect, he had lived for one thousand nine hundred years.

Practically undying.

A silent witness to the departure of numerous Heaven Mending Sect True Persons—

Jiulong True Person, Sun Jiuzhang, Luo Pu, Chen Pu, Zhang Wuya, Li Ji, Zhang Kaixuan...

All current True Persons and Qi Refining cultivators of Heaven Mending Sect—every single one—were his juniors.

Time bore testament.

Added to that was Chen Jichuan's undeniable mastery and terrifying strength.

This granted him unparalleled influence within Heaven Mending Sect.

Not only that.

Over the years, Chen Jichuan had not only combated the Evil Gods and cultivated his own skills but had also handpicked disciples from across Heaven Mending Sect's ranks. These disciples were sent to him, where he continuously guided their training.

Each cycle lasted a hundred years.

One hundred disciples per cycle.

Chen Jichuan, being at an extraordinarily high realm, taught with exceptional expertise, having memorized the entirety of Heaven Mending Sect's Scripture Pavilion contents.

Utilizing the Great Method of 'Enlightenment.'

Guiding disciples with proficiency and ease.

Over twelve hundred years, he trained and guided eleven cohorts, totaling eleven hundred disciples.

From his tutelage in this wilderness, four hundred forty-six disciples ascended as Second-order True Persons.

This number excluded the most recent two cohorts, many of whom were still in the Qi Refining Stage.

Given another hundred years.

The count would significantly rise.

Not only had he nurtured new talent, but those already progressing externally—advanced Qi Refinement cultivators, Second-order True Persons—were periodically sent to this domain to further cultivate under Chen Jichuan's tutelage.

A unique form of 'advanced training.'

Among Qi Refining Peak cultivators who ascended to Second-order True Persons, the numbers reached thousands.

Over the passage of years.

Nigh all esteemed high-level True Persons and high-ranking officials of Heaven Mending Sect had emerged under Chen Jichuan's guidance.

Some merely received his counsel.

Others were wholly forged by his hands.

Such a legacy.

Such unparalleled authority.

Within Heaven Mending Sect, every individual paid him reverence.

"Grandmaster."

"The Central Continent's Five Sects have long scattered like stars. Now, our Heaven Mending Sect reigns supreme as the sole dominator of the region."

Present sect master Ling Fang, gazing at the Grandmaster's back, displayed nothing but admiration in his aged yet dignified demeanor.

With near solitary effort, reclaiming No.6 Cave.

Over twelve centuries, personally raising four hundred forty-six Second-order True Persons, among them two hundred Middle-stage, fifty-two High-level, and eleven Ten Layer Heaven True Persons.

That count included Ling Fang himself, the current sect master.

He had been part of the fourth cohort, recruited eight hundred years ago, now standing as the leader of the mighty Heaven Mending Sect.

The sect was not what it once had been a millennium past, then merely one among the Central Continent's Seven Great Immortal Sects.

Nor twelve centuries ago, when it ranked among the Central Continent Six Great Immortal Sects as a prominent but not unrivaled force.

But now, Heaven Mending Sect—

Buoyed by Chen Jichuan's assistance, elevated by access to No.6 Cave, and armed with Chen Jichuan's cache of twenty-two Fourth-order Divine Artifacts and hundreds of Third-order Divine Artifacts—had achieved unprecedented dominance, standing unchallenged within the Central Continent.

Not too long ago.

The sect even swept away the other five sects, ascending as the Central Continent's sole hegemon.

As sect master of such a Heaven Mending Sect, Ling Fang's exalted position need hardly be elaborated upon.

Yet he, too, had emerged from the Grandmaster's tutelage.

And felt grateful that the Grandmaster had once encountered that fabled lifespan-extending 'Immortal Herb' within the borderlands.

Without it, had the Grandmaster only lived a thousand years, Heaven Mending Sect could never have risen to its current stature.

Ling Fang was not alone.

The other fifteen present harbored similarly profound respect for the Grandmaster.

"Dominating Central Continent."

"Indeed."

Chen Jichuan nodded at the words.

With Heaven Mending Sect's might, there was indeed little need to squabble with other sects. Particularly given the looming threat of the Evil God World—a peril akin to a blade hanging overhead. Heaven Mending Sect needed to consolidate the Central Continent and all resources within Slaughter Ring Sea, marshaling every conceivable effort to prepare for the inevitable great war.

The Central Continent World.

The Evil God World.

Two worlds converging, gradually merging. The former, left ravaged by calamity, now lay desolate. The latter boasted powerhouses of the Third-order and Fourth-order.

The disparity between the two was overwhelming.

"Fortunately, their complete fusion remains a distant prospect."

"But the time left for the Central Continent World is undeniably finite."

Chen Jichuan could not remain in this world indefinitely. He could only do his utmost to leave a mark before he departed—

Strengthening Heaven Mending Sect.

Eliminating rival sects.

Thus, avoiding internal strife within the Central Continent, ensuring unified efforts for the monumental challenges looming ahead.

"Take this."

Chen Jichuan casually waved his hand, removing the Storage Bag from his waist and passing it to Ling Fang.

"Grandmaster—"

Ling Fang accepted the Storage Bag, and upon flipping through two Jade Scrolls within, his breath immediately became erratic.

The bag contained the twelve Fourth-order Divine Artifacts Chen Jichuan had carried with him, along with hundreds of Jade Scrolls.

The Divine Artifacts needed no elaboration.

As for the Jade Scrolls, they detailed the 'Sword Map,' over twenty Super-level Techniques, as well as various cultivation techniques and spells Chen Jichuan had tried to fuse and enhance over the years, though many remained imperfect.

They also included earlier versions of over twenty Super-level Techniques before enhancement, ranging from High-level to Middle-stage.

From basic to advanced.

From simple to intricate.

These would enable Heaven Mending Sect cultivators to master them systematically, step by step, eventually achieving mastery of the Super-level Techniques.

Upon first glance, even someone like Ling Fang could not help his astonishment.

And when he came across a particular Super-level Technique titled 'Mystical Gate Skill,' Ling Fang found himself even further deeply struck, rendered speechless.

"Whether Divine Artifacts or cultivation techniques, they are secondary."

"Against the Evil God World, cultivation strength is paramount."

Understanding Ling Fang's shock, Chen Jichuan offered no additional explanation.

As for the 'Mystical Gate Skill.'

He had refrained from revealing it earlier due to its connection to 'Affiliated Dao Fruit.'

Those nearing death, frozen eternally between life and death—how could he conduct ceremonies of 'sending off the deceased,' 'mourning the departed,' or 'weeping at graves'?!

Now that he was departing, revealing it mattered little.

'Mystical Gate Skill' had been amplified to Super-level; whereas its original High-level version could preserve one's life for millennia, the enhanced version extended this to ten thousand years.

Though the process demanded rarer materials.

Each revival consumed far greater reserves of vitality.

But even so, controlling seven Second-order Caves and the entirety of the Central Continent World ensured Heaven Mending Sect would not lack resources in the short term. Freezing each Ten Layer Heaven cultivator for millennia and reviving them when the heavens ascended or war commenced would undeniably bolster their odds against the Evil God World's invasion.

With the 'Mystical Gate Skill' secured, so long as its secrecy remained intact, Heaven Mending Sect's supremacy within the Central Continent would remain unchallenged.

The more time passed, the deeper its foundations.

"Grandmaster."

Ling Fang emerged from the Storage Bag's contents, lifting his gaze towards Chen Jichuan, his joy overshadowed by a hint of concern.

Divine Artifacts.

Cultivation techniques.

Spells.

This bore the unmistakable signs of preparing one's legacy.

"Grandmaster is one thousand nine hundred years old—could it be—"

A thought struck Ling Fang, too unsettling to utter aloud; a mix of shock and numbness took root.

Since Sun Jiuzhang's era.

The Grandmaster had outlived Sun Jiuzhang, outlived Gu Feng.

One after another, the Grandmaster had seen six successive sect masters pass away.

Ling Fang was the seventh.

...

Ling Fang's apprehension was not misplaced.

This Grandmaster, ultimately, did not outlast his seventh disciple-leader. On the day he met the current high-ranking members of Heaven Mending Sect atop Yulan Mountain, he entered final ascension and departed this mortal realm.

A legendary era had ended.

He lived one thousand nine hundred years.

...

The Central Continent Arc Concluded!