"Who?"
The Golden Core True Person from Red Hades Mansion sharply turned his gaze towards the entrance of the hall.
In a flash, a figure swiftly stepped in from outside.
Seeing this figure, many in the Ancient Origin Sect widened their eyes in astonishment. Notably, the Sect Master and Wind Sovereign's eyes grew even larger, their bodies trembling with a mix of excitement and elation.
"Lin... Sovereign Lin!"
"Sovereign Lin has returned!"
"This is great news! The foremost Sovereign of the Ancient Origin Sect has come back!"
"With Sovereign Lin on our side, perhaps we can indeed tear down the Profound Light Cave Heaven."
The morale of those in the Ancient Origin Sect surged at this development. The Golden Core True Persons from Red Hades Mansion narrowed their eyes slightly. They recognized the identity of the person who had just entered: Lin Fei, the number one Sovereign of the Ancient Origin Sect.
There were rumors of Lin Fei causing a significant commotion with Taiyi Dao Palace in the past. Reports even came from Cangli Ancient City suggesting that Lin Fei, singlehandedly, defeated the five elders from Taiyi Dao Palace. These elders were among the pinnacle Golden Core True Persons of Taiyi Dao Palace. The fact that all five, even when joining forces, were reportedly slain by Lin Fei spoke volumes about his strength.
However, the veracity of these rumors remained unknown to both Red Hades Mansion and the Ancient Origin Sect. Yet, following these tales, the five elders indeed have disappeared.
"Sect Master, Wind Sovereign," Lin Fei greeted as he glanced at the leaders and the Golden Core True Persons from Red Hades Mansion, nodding slightly. He had rushed back from the Xiao family of the Martial King lineage to the Ancient Origin Sect, unexpectedly arriving just as the Red Hades Mansion representatives were discussing matters with the sect.
"Sovereign Lin, where have you been during this time?" the Sect Master of Ancient Origin Sect inquired.
"I visited the Xiao family of the Martial King lineage. Taiyi Dao Palace wouldn't dare to provoke them," Lin Fei responded. "I learned of Taiyi Dao Palace's recent activities and their assimilation of Profound Light Cave Heaven, prompting my immediate return. What exactly happened with Profound Light Cave Heaven? Why would they suddenly merge with Taiyi Dao Palace?"
Throughout his journey back, this question plagued Lin Fei's mind. It made no sense. After all, with a rich heritage spanning thousands of years, Profound Light Cave Heaven was a deeply rooted immortal sect. Why would they so easily join Taiyi Dao Palace? If they had intended to merge, they would have done so long ago, instead of allying with the Ancient Origin Sect and Red Hades Mansion against Taiyi Dao Palace. There had to be an unknown event or reason behind this decision.
Upon hearing Lin Fei's query, the face of the Ancient Origin Sect Master turned solemn. In a deep voice, he began, "The situation with Profound Light Cave Heaven is all because of one person... True Person Xuanwu. He's the pinnacle Golden Core True Person of Profound Light Cave Heaven, one could even say the pillar of their sect. However, Xuanwu is already over nine hundred years old, with his end nearing. Without confidence in breaking through his Golden Core to transform into a Nascent Soul, he faces inevitable death.
At that moment, Taiyi Dao Palace made its move. They presented a Nascent Soul Transformation Pill, once refined by a powerful Nascent Soul cultivator. In essence, this pill has the power to transform a Golden Core into a Nascent Soul, albeit a false one. This false nascent soul does not offer any significant enhancement in strength; in fact, it might even weaken the individual slightly. But its prime attribute is to extend one's life, adding at least another thousand years.
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Before his imminent demise was approaching, True Person Xuanwu wouldn't have been tempted. But facing his final days and the chance to live for another millennium, even without the hope of ever achieving a true Nascent Soul, he accepted. What followed was straightforward. True Person Xuanwu started to purge Profound Light Cave Heaven, and once he had full control, he integrated the entire sect into Taiyi Dao Palace."
Upon hearing this, Lin Fei's eyes sparkled with sharpness and surprise. He was deeply shocked.
A Nascent Soul Transformation Pill? Taiyi Dao Palace possesses such an invaluable artifact? Capable of converting a Golden Core into a false Nascent Soul, and extending one's life for another thousand years? This is tantamount to adding another Golden Core True Person to their ranks! It must be among the most precious elixirs in Taiyi Dao Palace. Without a Nascent Soul cultivator, it's impossible to craft another Nascent Soul Transformation Pill. Each time they use one, they lose one.
Normally, such a pill would be granted to the most crucial Golden Core True Persons within Taiyi Dao Palace. Even the Five Elders wouldn't be eligible to consume it. Yet, they gave one to True Person Xuanwu. This is equivalent to trading one Nascent Soul Transformation Pill for the entirety of Profound Light Cave Heaven. A worthy trade for Taiyi Dao Palace! If they successfully assimilate Profound Light Cave Heaven, then eradicating Ancient Origin Sect and Red Hades Mansion will just be a matter of time.
"I see now," Lin Fei voiced, "So True Person Xuanwu, for his selfish desires, collaborated with Taiyi Dao Palace and essentially sold out the entirety of Profound Light Cave Heaven to them."
Wind Sovereign, the Sect Master, and the Golden Core True Persons from Red Hades Mansion nodded in agreement. It was more or less the truth. True Person Xuanwu, for the sake of living an additional thousand years, sacrificed his sect. Profound Light Cave Heaven was then integrated into Taiyi Dao Palace as Profound Light Dao.
However, with the loss of Profound Light Cave Heaven, the balance of power among the three major factions opposing Taiyi Dao Palace collapsed. Now, both the Ancient Origin Sect and Red Hades Mansion are on shaky ground. Only by overthrowing Profound Light Cave Heaven might Red Hades Mansion and Ancient Origin Sect stand a chance to continue opposing Taiyi Dao Palace.
"Sect Master, who is currently overseeing Profound Light Cave Heaven?" Lin Fei inquired. If they planned to overthrow Profound Light Cave Heaven, they must be aware of the enemy's strengths and weaknesses.
"True Person Xuanwu still remains in Profound Light Cave Heaven," the Sect Master explained. "Furthermore, many of Taiyi Dao Palace's Golden Core True Persons have also arrived there. We don't have the exact count of how many Golden Core True Persons are present, but one thing is certain. As long as True Person Xuanwu is in Profound Light Cave Heaven, controlling the mountain's protective formation, breaking through will be a formidable challenge."
This was the most difficult aspect of taking down Profound Light Cave Heaven – the mountain's protective formation! Every immortal sect's mountain protection formation was exceedingly formidable.
For instance, Taiyi Dao Palace felt invincible primarily because their formation had been set up by a Nascent Soul Great Being. Even a cultivator of the Nascent Soul realm would struggle to break through this formation quickly. Profound Light Cave Heaven might not be on par with Taiyi Dao Palace, but their protective formation was still terrifying. Even if the combined forces of Red Hades Mansion and the Ancient Origin Sect joined hands, breaking through the formation might prove impossible.
"The protective formation, huh?" Lin Fei mused. "How will we know if we can't break it unless we try? Sect Master, Wind Sovereign, there's no time to waste. I'll go destroy Profound Light Cave Heaven now. When the time comes, I hope the Sect Master and our allies from Red Hades Mansion will send reinforcements to oversee Profound Light Cave Heaven. Only then can we oppose Taiyi Dao Palace for an extended period."
Lin Fei's declaration rendered the hall silent. Him, alone, storming Profound Light Cave Heaven? It seemed improbable. Even the most elite Martial Sovereign, having mastered the eight Divine Ability, wouldn't dare claim such a feat.
"Sovereign Lin, attempting to demolish Profound Light Cave Heaven is no jest," a Golden Core True Person from Red Hades Mansion warned. "Shouldn't we discuss and plan more extensively?"
Lin Fei glanced at Red Hades Mansion's Golden Core True Person but remained silent. He turned and transformed into a streak of light, shooting out of the Ancient Origin Sect's main hall.
"In two hours, I will level the Profound Light Cave Heaven!" Lin Fei's promise echoed in the ears of the onlookers.