The Immortal Martial Battlefield was surrounded by sparse spiritual energy, with only a few small sects extending throughout the area.
Among them, the most powerful was called 'Sanhe Palace'. Within the sect, there were only two great cultivators at the Soul Condensing Realm, and one of them had just broken through recently.
Sanhe Palace had hundreds of disciples and more than ten cultivators at the Entry Dao Realm. In this area extending hundreds of thousands of miles, they could be considered second to none.
The location of the Immortal Martial Battlefield was indeed too remote, and sects with a bit of strength were unwilling to develop in this area.
The sect gate of Sanhe Palace was located in a secluded ravine. In this place, there was also a minor spirit vein that could barely sustain the cultivation of these hundreds of cultivators.
A Spirit Spring Realm cultivator, about sixty years old, slowly approached the ravine. After a long hesitation, he finally mustered the courage to step inside.
The disciple guarding the entrance of the ravine quickly responded.
The old cultivator fell silent for a moment and then spoke, "A loose cultivator, Mo Fu. I have news regarding Chu Zheng's whereabouts and have come especially to report it."
The disciple of Sanhe Palace guarding the gate did not dare to delay and immediately turned to run into the sect.
A gust of wind picked up after a short while, bringing Mo Fu into the sect gate.
By the time he regained his senses, he was standing before a grand hall.
Two figures stood not far away, one nearing sixty years old, with snow-white temple hair, and the other younger, barely past thirty. Both had their cultivation fiercely unrestrained, with the light of their Spirit Souls faintly twinkling at their glabellas.
Great cultivators of the Soul Condensing Realm!
Mo Fu's heart shook, and he bowed deeply: "Mo Fu pays his respects to the two seniors."
"You say you have news of Chu Zheng?"
The older man spoke first, with a slight frown on his brow, "Do you have proof?"
Nowadays, news about Chu Zheng had soared to the price of five thousand high-quality Spirit Stones.
Because of this, there were too many false leads. There were not a few cultivators who wanted to deceive others for the reward. Every piece of news had to be meticulously screened and verified before it could be reported.
Mo Fu nodded repeatedly, presenting a jade token with both hands. The jade token had a seal that could not be opened by anyone without cultivation beyond the Soul Condensing level.
"All things in the world take their shape from water, and cultivation is like flowing with the current, which shows rigidity through softness and should be like the vast flowing clouds, forging ahead with the force of a rapid torrent..."
The elder broke the seal and, upon seeing part of the content, exclaimed in shock:
"What kind of formula is this?"
From just these opening lines, he knew that the quality of this cultivation technique was beyond his imagination.
"The entry mental method of the Great Void Scripture, given to me by Chu Zheng. He said he was afraid you wouldn't believe his words. As for the contents, I do not know them."
Mo Fu quickly said, his expression uneasy.
"Why didn't you say so earlier?!"
Upon hearing this, the elder's expression changed dramatically, and he threw the jade token to the ground as if it was a venomous snake.
A method of Immortal Ascension from a Holy Land was like a hot potato for small sects like theirs; handling it carelessly could lead to annihilation.
After a moment, his expression changed sharply:
"Did Chu Zheng send you?!"
Mo Fu nodded, "Yes, he said he's there, waiting for those who desire the reward to seek him out."
For a while, the grand hall fell into deathly silence.
"About this reward..."
The elder waved his hand, "I will report to the Holy Land. If the news is true, once the reward is issued, I will give it to you."
"Senior, may I ask how many Spirit Stones are in this reward?" Mo Fu asked, rubbing his hands with apparent nervousness.
The elder hesitated for a moment, then frankly said: "Five thousand high-quality Spirit Stones."
He was naturally tempted by the astronomical reward, but he couldn't not grant it; at least not until Chu Zheng's death could they touch those Spirit Stones.
Hearing this figure, Mo Fu's breath caught in his throat. With these Spirit Stones, he could take his family and leave this barren land, seek a new life elsewhere.
"Wait here for now, we will immediately report the news to the Holy Land."
Gritting his teeth, the elder summoned a disciple to take Mo Fu away to be accommodated.
"Should we really report this news? Should we pretend that we don't know, or suggest he chooses another sect?"
Before sending the message, the elder hesitated, looking towards the middle-aged cultivator by his side. As he was nearing the end of his lifespan, he simply wished to spend his days in peace before dying.
Ever since the reward was issued, Chu Zheng's value had been skyrocketing, but those daring to seek him out had drastically decreased.
Even as a Soul Condensing Monk, no one now dares to rashly attempt to hunt down Chu Zheng.
A Protector at the Perfection of Soul Condensing Realm from Jinli Holy Land had already died at Chu Zheng's hands, and this news had spread throughout the world as well.
Chu Zheng's rate of growth was abnormally and excessively rapid, not something everyone could withstand if Chu Zheng decided to retaliate in the future.
"You've already seen this jade token, and we cannot detach ourselves from it now. We might as well report directly."
The younger cultivator in his thirties said softly, "Since Chu Zheng has sent him to deliver the message here, he must have made complete preparations. Not passing the message might instead provoke his resentment."
Soon, Chu Zheng might have the power to flatten Sanhe Sect on his own. Going against him now would clearly be unwise.
"Very well, I will report at once and leave the decision to the Holy Land."
Convinced by these words, the elder made his decision and began drafting the message.
The Five Great Holy Lands of the Southern Region.
Apart from Taixuan, the other great Holy Lands had subtly divided their territory.
The Primordial Spirit Holy Land was located in the southeastern part of Zhongtu, influencing more than half of the Southern Region. Jinli Holy Land was situated in the northwest, standing opposite it.
Tai Xu Holy Land was in the northeast, remotely facing the Heavenly Throne Holy Land in the southwest.
The location of Chu Zheng in the Immortal Martial Battlefield fell within the sphere of influence of Primordial Spirit Holy Land; thus, they were the first to receive the message from Sanhe Palace.
Atop a towering Spirit Peak, an ancient tree rose from the ground, nearly a thousand feet tall, with a canopy that extended dozens of miles, shading the sun and blanketing the sky.