Heavenly Premier Absolute also did not care about that. After listening to Chen Feng’s story, he pondered for a moment.

“It seems, although you were away from Eternal World for ten years, you did gain considerable benefits from it,” Heavenly Premier Absolute said smilingly.

“I don’t know about that. For benefits such as those, I will surely have to pay it back in the future. I would personally want the benefits to be something I had to fight tooth and nail for. That way, I would be able to rest easy.” Chen Feng waved it off.

“However, I am curious about one thing. Senior Absolute, you should have reached the Ascendant Immortal stage for quite some time now. Why did you not ascend to the Immortal Plane? As cultivators from our Eternal World, cultivating up to the Ascendant Immortal stage and ascending to the Immortal Plane is the ultimate objective. At this level, you would be able to protect yourself even in the Immortal Plane,” Chen Feng asked.

“You even understand the situation in the Immortal Plane. Kid, you really are not to be trifled with.” Heavenly Premier Absolute lifted the wine cup in his hand and gulped down its contents.

“Me, Heavensight, Four Cardinals and Eternal have known each other since we were weaklings. We are both rivals and friends. Reaching this level had not been easy for us.”

After saying that, Heavenly Premier Absolute paused for a moment, seemingly reminiscing some memories.

“One by one, the four of us cultivated up to the Ascendant Immortal stage. Logically speaking, we should have ascended to the Immortal Plane long ago. However, we did not. There is a reason for that.

“Because there is an enemy that we cannot handle in the Immortal Plane.”

“Enemy? Is this enemy also someone who ascended from one of the lower worlds?” Chen Feng grew curious.

“No, it is someone from the Immortal Plane. I don’t want to go into the specifics, but if we enter the Immortal Plane, we will instantly end up in a wretched situation.”

“Your enemy has some power and status in the Immortal Plane.” Chen Feng understood.

“Because of that, we want to grow stronger before entering the Immortal Plane. For example, reach the True Immortal stage first. In the Immortal Plane, True Immortals can already be considered as experts. Unfortunately, upon reaching the Ascendant Immortal stage, we realized that our rate of cultivation at this cultivation stage is too slow.

“Obviously, the cultivation resources here cannot be compared to the cultivation resources in the Immortal Plane. Thus, we had been spending our time exploring outer space, hoping to come across serendipity. After all this time, we finally realized that our goal of reaching the True Immortal stage here is like a far-fetched dream.” After saying that, Heavenly Premier Absolute became somewhat depressed and he poured himself some more wine.

Bi Qing nodded. “For some low-level worlds, breaking through to the Earthen Immortal stage is already enough for them to ascend to the Immortal Plane. Some are even more outrageous, only needing the Human Immortal stage to ascend. However, the potential of those people cannot be compared with the cultivators from cultivation worlds like Eternal World. In truth, there are quite a few formidable characters amongst those who ascended from Eternal World.

“I would still suggest that you go to the Immortal Plane to cultivate yourselves. The rate of cultivation that you can achieve in a lower world is just too slow. Exploring outer space to search for serendipity is not a good long-term plan. If you are fated for serendipity, you will find it no matter where you go. In the end, for cultivation worlds, the Immortal Plane is the true place for cultivation.”

“I agree. Although the Immortal Plane is a somewhat chaotic place and also somewhat brutal, it had to be said, the Immortal Plane is very rich in terms of resources. Besides, it is also very big. There are many places there just waiting for cultivators of varying levels to explore.”

Seeing Heavenly Premier Absolute becoming dejected when they discuss this topic, they decided to change the subject. Soon enough, they turned to discuss about Chen Feng.

“I hear that you were chased out from the Northern Plains in the past. Now, your strength has risen and you also possess a force of your own. Isn’t it time you return to deal with it?” Heavenly Premier Absolute asked with a smile on his face.

“I do have such a plan. However, the several great sects of the Northern Plains are not easy to deal with either. Having Earthen Immortals defending them is only natural, but I am just concerned that it would be similar to this place. If an Ascendant Immortal suddenly appears, I will be in trouble.” Chen Feng shook his head.

“At present, I am not afraid of Ascendant Immortals. Even so, I am also no match for them. My plan is to advance to the Earthen Immortal stage before returning. By then, my territory will have expanded again and I will have even more confidence.”

“I fear you can no longer wait that long,” Heavenly Premier Absolute said.

“What do you mean?”

“Ten days ago, Nine Firmaments, Purple Firmaments and Transcendent Firmaments, the Three Palaces joined forces to attack Extreme Celestial Sect. Given the disparity of power between the two sides, I believe you can already guess what will happen,” Heavenly Premier Absolute said coolly.

“What?!”

Chen Feng jumped to his feet.

“They attacked ten days ago?”

Chen Feng’s face darkened. No matter what had happened, he was still a disciple of Extreme Celestial Sect. Although some of them had plotted against him before, he also had some friends in Extreme Celestial Sect.

In any case, he could not simply watch as Extreme Celestial Sect was destroyed. Not to mention, the one attacking it was the one he had a grudge with, Nine Firmaments Palace.

Thus, Chen Feng had to take action.

“Looks like I will have to set out,” Chen Feng said calmly.

“So urgent?”

“I have to. The power of the Three Palaces is simply far superior to that of Extreme Celestial Sect. If I am too late, Extreme Celestial Sect may be no more. Not to mention, it has already been ten days since then.”

“There is more bad news. Truth be told, it is not just the three sects. Some other sects are also secretly plundering the burning house,” Heavenly Premier Absolute continued [1].

“I knew it. Seniors, I will take my leave.” Chen Feng then turned and made to leave.

“Wait!” It was then that Heavenly Premier Absolute spoke up again.

“Youngsters these days really are hot-blooded. Can you not let me finish what I want to say first?”

“What is it, senior?” Helpless, Chen Feng then stopped.

“It’s about how to deal with what happened earlier.”

“Senior, you can handle that however you like. I have no interest in it.”

“You will be. I have already more or less figured out what happened. It seems I have been away for too long. There’s been some changes to the academy. Those who took action against you and even the current Academy Head, I will deal with them.”

“However, I will still need to compensate you a bit. Remember what I told you just now?” After saying that, Heavenly Premier Absolute deliberately paused, seemingly fishing for a response from Chen Feng.

“Sigh! Senior, if you have something to say, then just hurry up and say it.” Chen Feng felt somewhat frustrated. Only then did he realize that this Heavenly Premier Absolute had quite the interesting character.

“Compensation, eh? 100 cultivators.”

“What?” Chen Feng was temporarily puzzled at what he meant.

“One hundred of Absolute Academy’s students will follow you back. I believe that they would be of some help to you.” Heavenly Premier Absolute said smilingly.

Chen Feng’s eyes instantly shone and a delighted smile appeared on his face.

“Thank you, senior!” Chen Feng quickly said.

One hundred students from Absolute Academy. What kind of force was that? Every single student who could join Absolute Academy was a pinnacle genius in the world of cultivation. Killing off opponents who were at a higher level and even going solo against five or even ten cultivators who were on the same level as them were all possible for these characters.

This force would greatly help him in his efforts to carve his way back to the Northern Plains.

“Naturally, amongst the 100 students, only 20 will be Human Immortals. The rest will all be Sky Human stage cultivators. As for those with good relationships with you, if they decide to go along, they will not be counted amongst the 100 students,” Heavenly Premier Absolute said.

“That’s enough!” Chen Feng hastily said.

Chen Feng had originally assumed that the earlier incident would cause his relationship with Absolute Academy to fall apart. Unexpectedly, Heavenly Premier Absolute would be able to settle everything the moment he appeared.

In the end, Chen Feng was able to take 120 students from Absolute Academy with him. The additionally 20 students were his friends. Naturally, they were all at the Human Immortal stage.

A total of 40 Human Immortals and 80 Sky Human stage cultivators. This force was already comparable to that of a mid-sized sect.

However, Chen Feng was aware that this force was not strong enough, far from it. There was no Earthen Immortal amongst them.

Thus, Chen Feng led them back to East Dragon Island first. That was his territory, one that boasted Earthen Immortals amongst its ranks.

As he was heading back, Chen Feng secretly speculated just how far East Dragon Island had grown in power and territory. The bigger it was, the better it would be.

After Chen Feng left, Heavenly Premier Absolute and Bi Qing laughed at the same time.

“It’s been a long time since I returned to the Northern Plains. I can make use of this opportunity to return and have a look. If an Ascendant Immortal really shows up, I will have to ask some pointers from the other party,” Bi Qing said smilingly.

“You’ll have to go first. I still need to make some arrangements here,” Heavenly Premier Absolute said.

After returning to East Dragon Island, Chen Feng began mobilizing the forces there.

Before Chen Feng left, East Dragon Island’s territory had already reached a radius of half a million kilometres.

After ten years, its territory had doubled, reaching a radius of one million kilometres. The number of subordinates and ocean yaos under it had more than doubled. In addition to ocean yaos, there were also a good number of human cultivators.

There were 500 subordinates at the Human Immortal stage. As for those below the Human Immortal stage, there were even more of them, practically uncountable. However, to Chen Feng’s disappointment, the number of Earthen Immortals was too small.

In addition to the ones that he had left behind back then, East Dragon Island now had five additional Earthen Immortals.

Chen Feng was aware that Earthen Immortals were few in numbers. Generally speaking, such characters would not join any force. Thus, for a force like East Dragon Island, getting five Earthen Immortals was already quite something. Even so, Chen Feng was still feeling disappointed.

He was presently in need of manpower.

However, due to how fast East Dragon Island had been expanding, Chen Feng was incapable of mobilizing too many of them. Doing so would cause East Dragon Island to become unstable, which could lead to it becoming susceptible to attacks from other forces.

Due to that, Chen Feng mobilized 200 Human Immortals. As for those below the Human Immortal stage, he mobilized even more of them, up to 20,000.

As for Earthen Immortals, they were great powerhouses. After careful consideration, Chen Feng decided to mobilize four of them.

The four were the Hell Dog, Divine Phantom Mink and two more who joined in later.

Chen Feng believed that this was the most reasonable choice.

“This is already quite a formidable force. Just in case, though, I should gather some more. At any rate, Nine Firmaments Palace is not to be trifled with.”

In the end, Chen Feng turned to Heavenly Sword Faction.

He was an honorary elder of Heavenly Sword Faction, after all. Even if it were to fail, he should have no issues getting his friends there to help him.

Before reaching Heavenly Sword Faction, however, Chen Feng encountered a certain incident. It was something he had not expected. As assassination attempt.

1 Plundering the burning house. An idiom, meaning: Taking advantage of a chaotic or unfortunate situation.↩

1 li = 0.5 km