a few days later.

Tianshou Mountain, back mountain.

Lingxiao Palace, a forbidden area.

This is the cave that Zheng Yi specially selected for his own meditation. Not only is the environment beautiful, but the terrain is also difficult to navigate. Ordinary warriors cannot reach it by physical means.

The most important thing is that this place is also guarded by a formation, and it is very quiet.

In the quiet valley, there are steep cliffs all around, like a huge screen carved by magic.

A light mist filled the valley, lingering like a veil among the rugged rocks.

These strange rocks have various shapes, some look like ferocious beasts, some look like elegant cranes, as if telling the story of time in this quiet environment.

The valley is covered with lush vegetation, and exotic flowers and plants sparkle with mysterious light in the weak sunlight.

The sound of gurgling water came from a clear stream. The water meandered at the bottom of the valley, sparkling like a flowing silver ribbon.

At this time, Zheng Yi was sitting upright on a flat boulder, his eyes closed and his face calm.

As he practiced, the aura around him began to undergo miraculous changes.

At first, a faint wave of magical power emanated from his body, gently blowing the flowers and plants around him like a breeze.

Gradually, the fluctuation of magical power became more and more intense, as if forming an invisible vortex, and the surrounding fog was slowly drawn into it.

His breath also changed from being calm at first to being strong and powerful, like a dull thunder echoing faintly in the valley. Every breath he took seemed to resonate with the spiritual power between heaven and earth, and the surrounding spiritual power continuously flowed towards his body.

His clothes fluttered gently under the surge of spiritual energy, and his hair stood upright as if being pulled by a mysterious force.

There seemed to be a faint halo flickering on his body, which was a manifestation of highly concentrated magic power.

As his practice deepened, the flowers and plants around his body seemed to be nourished, their colors became brighter and their vitality more abundant.

His entire body and aura almost merged into one with the entire valley, just like an immortal in a painting.

After an unknown amount of time, his breathing became steady again.

The surrounding clouds and mist slowly dissipated, revealing his true appearance.

At this moment, he let out a long sigh, and the surrounding magic power quickly condensed, turning into two white dragons and being inhaled into his nostrils at an extremely fast speed.

The aura around him also began to stabilize.

After a few breaths, he slowly opened his eyes.

There were no accidents during this advancement to the foundation-building stage.

He did not choose to use the Foundation Establishment Pill to advance, but instead relied on his own spiritual roots to forcibly break through to the Foundation Establishment stage.

Fortunately, due to the existence of Tuoba Qingying and others, his spiritual root qualifications have become extremely excellent.

Especially the water-attributed spiritual roots, which have even entered the realm of top-grade spiritual roots.

This also enabled him to break through the foundation-building process without any bottlenecks or difficulties.

Everything falls into place.

It was just a matter of sitting in meditation quietly for a few months, and the vortex of mana in the body condensed into liquid on its own.

The foundation has been laid.

Afterwards, after some "warm-up" with the invading cultivators, he gradually became familiar with the operation of magic power in the foundation-building period.

After suppressing the rebellion of the independent cultivators, he continued to retreat and stabilize his cultivation.

Several days of meditation have made his cultivation extremely solid.

Foundation building, initial stage!
His mind moved, and his spiritual consciousness connected with the Yin-Yang Treasure Mirror.

Because of the breakthrough in strength, the Yin-Yang Treasure Mirror also underwent strange changes.

[Owner: Zheng Yi]

[Talent 1: Yin and Yang]

[Talent 2: Illusion]

【Lifespan: 35/48852】

【灵根：水（天灵根0/100000）、土（上品855/10000）、木（上品465/10000）、金（上品110/10000、火（上品12/10000）、风（上品/010000）】

[Mana: 100000/100000]

【Constitution: Body of a Hundred Flowers】

【Comprehensive Strength: First Floor】

[Innate Spiritual Energy Progress (Level 0): ​​20/ (Banned)]

[Three Thousand Worlds Progress (Level 10: 10/ (Banned)]

[Upper Realm: Capturing...]

The other properties have not changed much.

The water-attributed spiritual root has reached the highest level.

The data behind it actually increased to 100000 points in one go!
But the strange thing is that after the water attribute spiritual root grew to the level of heavenly spiritual root, it could no longer grow.

He had tried it before with Tuoba Qingying, Cui Xiabing and others.

No matter how much he practiced dual cultivation, or how long he practiced dual cultivation, he could not make further breakthroughs.

It was as if their Heavenly Spiritual Roots were already their pinnacle.

Or... the apex of this world?

Except for the water attribute spiritual root which has reached the heavenly spiritual root, the other earth attribute, wood attribute, gold attribute, and even fire attribute and wind attribute have all grown to the upper level.

With time, these five attributes of spiritual roots may be able to enter the realm of heavenly spiritual roots.

This also makes his foundation extremely solid.

He can practice any skills and spells of any attributes.

If there are some other women with special spiritual roots practicing dual cultivation, he can also obtain special spiritual roots!
This thought only flashed through his mind, and then his mind was focused on the bottom of the attribute panel.

[Upper Realm: Capturing...]

Upper Bound?

what is it?
Could it be the spirit world?
Or is it... a world with a higher level of energy than the three thousand worlds?
Since it is called the upper realm, it proves that it is at least of a higher grade than the current Xuancang Realm or Canglan Realm.

Not to mention immortals or something, at the very least there should be gods everywhere and Nascent Souls as numerous as dogs.

I wonder what kind of world it will be?
Capturing...

It seems that it will be impossible to connect to the upper realm in a short period of time.

"The upper realm, the upper realm..."

Zheng Yi frowned slightly: "I just don't know, is it related to my breakthrough to the foundation-building stage, or...I came into contact with someone from the Earth Demon Realm?!"

The demon world!
The Tyrant Demon Lord who is now sealed and suppressed in the Thousand Illusions Glazed Painting is from the Demon World of Earth!

A few days ago, after suppressing the Demon Lord Tyrant, he also subdued Feng Lao Mo, a cultivator in the Foundation Establishment Stage.

According to what he said, this so-called Demonic World had appeared in the world of cultivation thousands of years ago.

At that time, they did not know how they opened up the passage connecting to the Xuancang Realm and launched a massive invasion.

At that time, the Xuancang Realm still belonged to the era of cultivators and sects, and for a time, the war between the two realms was in full swing.

That war lasted for hundreds of years.

Most of the Xuan Cang Realm is almost occupied by people from the Earth Demon Realm.

Seeing that the Xuan Cang Realm was about to be occupied by the people of the Earth Demon Realm, the people of the Spirit Realm discovered that something was wrong and sent monks to the lower world to assist the monks of the Xuan Cang Realm in resisting the Earth Demon Realm.

With the help of the monks from the spiritual world, it took nearly a hundred years to drive out the people from the demon world.

At the same time, the passages between the Xuancang Realm and the Dimo ​​Realm were also sealed.

It is even rumored that some of the demonic techniques currently circulating in the Xuan Cang Realm originated from the Dimo ​​Realm.

"I don't know if this Earth Demon Realm belongs to the 'Upper Realm'?" Zheng Yi murmured, "If the Earth Demon Realm is also the 'Upper Realm', then Xuan Cang Realm will be in trouble..."

At this moment, his mind moved slightly.

With a wave of his hand, the surrounding clouds and mist dissipated, and a beam of fire flew in with a whoosh.

It suddenly exploded when it was still ten feet away from Zheng Yi, and at the same time, Cui Xiabing's familiar voice was heard.

"Your Majesty, your sister and I have already found out the situation of many independent cultivators, and we have come to report to you. I wonder if you have come out of retreat?"

"Self-cultivator..."

Zheng Yi nodded slightly, stood up and left.

This group of independent cultivators is related to the establishment of the future Dayu Immortal Dynasty, so naturally we have to deal with them.

Outside the forbidden area, in a pavilion not far away, a woman was waiting.

She was wearing a moon-white palace dress, with gauze as light as clouds, dancing in the wind.

The hem of the dress is like a waterfall, delicate and soft, with a faint luster.

A thin silk belt is tied around the slender waist, revealing a hint of gracefulness in the flowing dress.

Her face was like finely carved porcelain, warm and smooth.

Her eyebrows are like distant mountains, her eyes are like autumn water, and her gaze is deep and smart.

His nose was straight, his lips were like cherry blossoms, and the slightly upturned corners of his mouth revealed a casual smile.

Standing under the pavilion, she seemed to be integrated with the surrounding flowers, birds, fish and insects, exuding an otherworldly temperament, like a fairy walking out of a wonderland.

After years of practice, Cui Xiabing has now reached the peak of Qi training and is only one step away from building a foundation.

After a period of time, she will also go into seclusion to build her foundation.

If successful, the Dayu Immortal Dynasty will have the third cultivator in the Foundation Establishment Stage!

Seeing Zheng Yi coming, Cui Xiabing hurriedly trotted out of the pavilion and said respectfully: "Your Majesty, I greet you~!"

"My beloved, please stand up~"

Zheng Yi held her hand and came to the pavilion. After looking around, he asked curiously, "Didn't my beloved concubine say that the Imperial Concubine was here too? Where is she?"

Cui Xiabing said: "My sister waited for a while, but His Majesty had not yet come out of seclusion, so he left on his own."

"Your Majesty, Sister Qingying is a person of sentimental temperament and is not used to the royal rules. I hope Your Majesty will forgive me."

"Regarding the matter of the independent cultivators invading Tianshou Mountain a few days ago, and how to deal with this group of independent cultivators, I know everything. Your Majesty can ask me."

Zheng Yi smiled and said, "I know what kind of personality she has. After all, she entered the palace late."

"Regarding the matter of the independent cultivators... can you find out anything?"

"Have."

Cui Xiabing said: "According to Sister Qingying's test of the soul-bewitching techniques on the many casual cultivators who surrendered, I have also learned the general ins and outs of the matter."

"This matter was initiated by the Four Ghosts of the South Mountain, who then contacted the Taoist Priest Tieguan of the East Sea, the Snake and Toad Brothers, the Flower Demon and other independent cultivators, and united to plunder our Tianshou Mountain."

"Afterwards, the Du family of Beimang Mountain and other cultivator families also joined in."

Cui Xiabing said succinctly: "Besides them, there is also a foreign cultivator who calls himself 'Ba Tian Mo Zun'. They don't know where he came from."

"Several of them said that this Tyrant Demon Lord was a cultivator from the overseas Xingchen Island, Hong Shan, who used some secret method to practice and possessed himself."

"The root of everything is actually on Xingchen Island!"

"Star Island..."

Zheng Yi murmured, with a flash of murderous intent in his eyes.

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Cui Xiabing said: "Hong Shan is actually Xingchen Island's middleman and contact person in Dayu."

"In addition to being Junior Brother Hong Hai, the Lord of Xingchen Island, his true identity is also one of the people behind the Fishing Country's Mayfly Tower."

"The Floating Island of the Fishery Country is actually one of the contact points of Xingchen Island in Dayu."

"For thousands of years, it has been monitoring the Great Yu Cultivation World and ruling it remotely."

Zheng Yi frowned and said, "Xingchen Island is extremely far away from Dayu. Even if a cultivator in the Foundation Establishment Stage flies at full speed, it will take several years or even ten years!"

"What is Hong Hai's purpose to spend so much manpower and resources to monitor Dayu?"

"Dayu...is there something he must get?"

"Or... is it an order from the Demon Realm?"

Zheng Yi was puzzled, but when he thought of the spirit of Tyrant Demon Lord suppressed in the Thousand Illusions Glazed Painting, he immediately had an idea.

"Let's put this matter aside for now. Can all the surrendered cultivators pass the test?"

Cui Xiabing shook his head and said, "Your Majesty, there are a total of eighty-seven independent cultivators who surrendered this time."

"Among them, there were fifty-nine people who committed murder in Tianshou Mountain. Only twenty-eight of them did not kill anyone, but they also looted a lot of things..."

"Fifty-nine people..."

A flash of murderous intent flashed across Zheng Yi's eyes: "Where are the four Shannan ghosts?"

"You Linzi and Hong Niang surrendered, and the other two died in the melee that day."

"You Linzi and Hong Niang will be tortured to death, and all nine clans will be killed!"

Zheng Yi said bluntly: "Order the Shadow Guards to investigate the identities and clans of these two people. All relatives within the nine clans must be killed!"

Although independent cultivators like You Linzi and Hong Niang are alone, as cultivators, they will certainly give certain support and protection to their own clansmen.

Not to mention bringing him into the world of cultivation, but he can give him countless worldly skills, gold and the like at will.

Only by exterminating the nine clans of You Linzi, Hong Niang and others can we be absolutely safe.

"This……"

Cui Xiabing still hesitated for a moment, and finally said respectfully: "Yes, Your Majesty! I will go and convey your order later."

"What about the other independent cultivators?"

"The rest of the independent cultivators..."

Zheng Yi's eyes flickered as he said, "Those fifty-nine who committed the crime of killing monks will be killed and their three clans will be exterminated!"

"The remaining twenty-eight monks who surrendered, offer their souls and ignite the soul fire."

"Those who disobey will be killed!"

After saying this, Zheng Yi said, "First, let the twenty-eight surrendered monks offer their souls and ignite the soul fire."

"Let them kill those fifty-nine monks. Do you understand?"

Cui Xiabing said with a stern expression: "I obey your order!"

But she still hesitated and said, "Your Majesty, among these fifty-nine cultivators, there are many who are in the late stage of Qi training, and even family cultivators. Isn't it a bit... wasteful to just kill them like this?"

"Oh? What do you think, my dear?"

“Your Majesty, why don’t you let them offer their souls to ignite the soul fire? Up to now, they are all under the control of our Great Yu Immortal Dynasty. You can order them around as you like and let them serve our Great Yu Immortal Dynasty…”

Zheng Yi shook his head coldly and said, "Ordinary people can indeed forgive, but this group of monks absolutely cannot forgive!"

"I am only doing this to scare the monkeys!"

"Only by killing this group of independent cultivators who committed treason with thunderous means can I suppress the 28 surrendered cultivators and shock the entire Dayu cultivation world!"

Zheng Yi's tone was filled with murderous intent.

"From now on, I will make the entire Dayu cultivation world subject to my orders!"

"Also, after killing this group of independent cultivators, have Feng Yunzi lead these 28 independent cultivators to annihilate the Du family of Beimang Mountain, the He family of Qingyun Mountain, and the Zhou family of Louguan Mountain, leaving no one alive!"

"Don't surrender? Then die!"

"Your Majesty... obeys your order!" (End of this chapter)