A gloomy air pervaded the main hall, where all the critical decisions of the Eight Pillar Sect were made, and all the upper echelons were present. There were two abnormal circumstances inside. One was the presence of Monarch Nine Heavens of the Buzhou Immortal Sect, and the second was Emperor Infinity's attendance.
"What do you have to say for yourself!?" an immortal monarch questioned Ba Shifang, who was acting as Tianyi's alternate identity.
Ba Shifang internally grumbled, but he still calmly asked, "What do I have to say? What should I say?"
This answer caused the immortal monarch's nostril to flair. He looked to be able to spew fire from them at any moment. "Our casualties at the Goldlight Sect and Yangsource Sect. You were in charge of the teleportation formations. Why didn't you notice the danger and teleport them back."
Ba Shifang sneered. "If I recall correctly, wasn't it you guys who requested that I make keys for the teleportation formation, one for the sender and the other for the sent? Since I can only control the sender key, the sent key must be activated."
"Don't act coy, who knows what underhanded tricks you added," the immortal monarch pushed.
"Hmpf, your sect has produced monarchs that specialized in the Law of Space. Even if none of you are capable of utilizing it now, I don't believe you don't have extensive records and double, or even triple-checked the formations. How could I tamper with them? Unless you are saying that you are so woefully incompetent?"
An aura of fiery yang erupted from the immortal monarch, and he seemed a moment's notice away from launching himself at Ba Shifang. Ba Shifang didn't show any weakness and exuded a dense spatial aura, one that reached the peak of the Seamless Immortal Realm, a fifth-step immortal monarch's aura.
The sect master of the Eight Pillar Sect, Monarch Pathway, secretly raised his guard. For Monarch Nine Heavens to display the cultivation base of a fifth-step immortal monarch only confirmed the rumors that he was an ancient true immortal with deep accumulations before becoming an immortal monarch.
"Besides, I only set up the teleportation formation. It was your forces that died to those two first-rate sects," Ba Shifang continued. "Shouldn't you seek the problem from your end instead of blaming an outsider?"
"Hmpf, an outsider who has every reason and means to rat us out," the immortal monarch said.
Ba Shifang snorted. "Don't think I’m stupid. You monitor me every moment within the sect. Even outside, you use that annoying Eight War Mirror to peek at me."
The Eight Pillar Sect's immortal monarch gritted his teeth, "Don't think I've forgotten about Xi Tianyi returning early."
"Repeating old tricks, I see," Ba Shifang said. "In the Yellow Mausoleum, your sect's Tai Wuling used Immortal Jiang as a decoy to escape from the Divine Flame Monarch. In the Allbeast Sect, he repeated the same trick, leading Monarch Xi to engage an immortal emperor-level war formation as an end result. It's blatantly obvious that Tai Wuling wants to harm us, yet we stayed silent on his lenient punishment."
In the crowd, Tai Wuling bristled. He wanted to shout that Monarch Nine Heavens was just spewing nonsense, but one look from Monarch Pathway silenced him.
"Fine, since you're insincere in your cooperation, then I'll leave!" Ba Shifang turned, waving his sleeve in the process.
"Please hold on, fellow Daoist," Emperor Infinity spoke at this moment. "Elder Yanglight was overcome by the grief from the loss of his descendant and the loss to the Eight Pillar Sect. That's why he couldn't help but vent."
Ba Shifang turned his head and snorted. "And he used me as a convenient target? Doesn't he know that if he doesn't have anything useful to say, he should shut up? In either case, I can't see any sincerity from the Eight Pillar Sect. Since I've already accomplished what I was asked, it's time for the other immortals and me to return to the Heaven Continent."
Emperor Infinity glanced at Monarch Pathway, and he nodded. Monarch Pathway quickly rushed up and half-blocked Ba Shifang. With an almost fawning smile, he said, "Fellow Daoist, we'll admit it's our fault this time. We'll definitely show our sincerity."
"What? By pairing us with Tai Wuling again so that he has another chance to harm us?" Ba Shifang mocked.
Monarch Pathway's expression stiffened for a moment, and he couldn't help but glance at Tai Wuling, who had an ugly expression. "No, definitely not. I can swear to the Heavenly Dao that this incident won't repeat itself."
Finally, Ba Shifang appeared mollified and turned around as if to return to his spot. However, he glanced toward Monarch Yanglight. "But it seems that some of your people disagree. If I continue working with the Eight Pillar Sect, a few others can't help but backstab the Buzhou Immortal Sect."
This time, Monarch Pathway's expression remained that same fawning expression. "How can that be?"
He turned toward Monarch Yanglight with a warning in his eyes. Monarch Yanglight gritted his teeth, but he forced himself to cup his hands and kneel to Ba Shifang. His veins throbbed all over his body as his body was physically rejecting that act. "My apologies to Monarch Nine Heavens. Grief had clouded my mind, please don't quibble with someone like me."
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Ba Shifang hummed, "That remains to be seen. Once my usefulness is over, who knows what you plan to do? But enough of small matters, I know it's impossible for two hegemonic sects to cooperate honestly. If you plan to use my service, there must be a price to pay."
When Ba Shifang said those words, he stared straight at Emperor Infinity. Emperor Infinity's expression didn't change, as if Ba Shifang's impudence hadn't bothered him. With a wave of his hand, a violet lotus crackled with electricity in his palm.
"Although Monarch Xi majors in the laws of the five elements, I see that he has some accomplishment in the Law of Lightning. I have in my possession a Violetroar Thunder Lotus. Although it cannot compare to the Sovereign Nine Yin Lotus that recently appeared, it should be sufficiently suited for Monarch Xi." Emperor Infinity waved his hand, and the lotus flew to Ba Shifang. "I believe this is enough to show our sincerity."
"I'm sure the sting of betrayal from Tai Wuling will sting less with this," Ba Shifang said as he stored it. "However, this is far from enough for my services."
Tai Wuling clenched his fingers as he watched Monarch Nine Heavens fleece more treasures and resources from the Eight Pillar Sect. He felt his face flush with humiliation as the stares of his fellow sect members pierced his back, placing the fault of the deteriorating situation on him.
He endured, endured it until Monarch Nine Heavens was satisfied with the price and even vowed to summon more monarchs from the Buzhou Immortal Sect as aid. Finally, when the meeting was over, he quickly left, with Yang Linyin following after him.
Back in the main hall, Emperor Infinity sighed when he saw Tai Wuling's unbalanced state. He feared Tai Wuling would develop an inner devil, but if he pointed it out, it might worsen the situation considering his pride. In the end, he only sent a transmission to Yang Linyin, hoping they could calm Tai Wuling's aggravated state of mind.
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"That bastard!" When Tai Wuling returned to his and Yang Linyin's abode, he smashed his fist through the closest desk, shattering it into tens of pieces.
From the doorway, Yang Linyin sighed. "Calm yourself."
Tai Wuling snapped his head toward Yang Linyin with venom in his eyes, but when he caught sight of them, his gaze softened, and half his anger disappeared. He clenched his fist, causing the air within his hand to pop as it escaped his grip, almost like a sonic bomb, "You were there, you heard what he said. How can I calm myself after hearing that? It's already good that I didn't rush out and punch that bastard!"
Yang Linyin sighed. They regretted not staying by Tai Wuling's side and fighting the Divine Flame Monarch with him. If they had, Tai Wuling would not have been cornered like this. Or perhaps it was good that they did since even though Tai Wuling suffered, they managed to preserve more of the Eight Pillar Sect's force. Something sorely needed for the lost immortals at the Goldlight Sect and Yangsource Sect.
"It's not something that can be helped. In the end, it's because we're too weak. If we had the strength, would we need the Buzhou Immortal Sect's aid?" Yang Linyin rhetorically said.
Tai Wuling's eyes lit up as he heard Yang Linyin's words. "That's right. It's because we aren't strong enough. If we had enough strength, why would I need to put up with those bastards?"
Yang Linyin sensed something wrong and immediately asked, "Wuling, what are you planning? Don't do anything rash!"
He turned toward them, no anger present on his face. Instead, it was full of confidence. "Don't worry, I'm not doing anything rash. I can sense that I will master the Law of Metal soon. And once I do, I'll break through to the Seamless Immortal Realm. Not only that, but it will only take a short time for me to reach the fifth step."
"Cultivation shouldn't be rushed. Even if the decisive battle is almost upon us, you shouldn't make haste. Think about it carefully," Yang Linyin advised.
"Don't worry, Linyin. I know myself the best," Tai Wuling said. He walked toward Yang Linyin and stroked their cheek. "I thought we'd have more time to spend together, but unfortunately, it seems I have to enter secluded cultivation."
Yang Linyin placed their hand over Tai Wuling's. "I understand. After this war, we'll have all the time we need."
Tai Wuling released a gentle smile that seemed to brighten the world, causing Yang Linyin to reciprocate. Immediately after, he locked himself in a cultivation chamber. Outside, Yang Linyin pursed their brows as they stared at the locked entrance.
‘Finally.’ They sighed. Yang Linyin looked at their own hands. 'I haven't even become a first-step monarch yet, I have to continue to advance. Originally, I was more talented in the Law of Fire, but now, I'm more talented in the Law of Water and reached an impasse in the Law of Fire. I better focus on the Law of Water and comprehend enough to become a first-step monarch.'
Like Tai Wuling, Yang Linyin also entered secluding cultivation, hoping to break through and integrate an elemental qi into their immortal qi and become a first-step immortal monarch.
The Eight Pillar Sect entered an abnormal peacefulness, the calm before the storm. The silence was the result of preparation. Everywhere, immortals ran to and fro, arranging supplies, distributing weapons, and concocting pills, all for the upcoming battle. Even a few monarchs, who many thought had died tens of thousands of years ago, showed themselves.
Suddenly, the space above the Eight Pillar Sect shattered. From the lowest mortal cultivators running errands to the noble true immortals and even exalted immortal monarchs, all stopped what they were doing and stared at the Dao Manifestation.
It was the birth of a new immortal monarch.
In Reversed Heaven Abode, Tianyi leaned his chin on his knuckles as he watched the Dao Manifestation. Next to him, Daoyi stared intently at it, as did Ba Shifang in another room.
At the center of the Dao Manifestation was a black sphere lit with runes of red, black, yellow, green, and white. It floated among the Vast Void, and streams of energy of fire, water, earth, wood, and metal streamed around it, creating a realm of pure energy.
Daoyi began to ruminate on what she saw. Although it might not help her comprehend the Law of Life, it still saved her time in comprehending other portions of the five elements, making it easier for her to ascend once she became an immortal monarch.
"If you wanted to comprehend the laws of the five elements, you could have asked me," Tianyi griped, but he understood that a Dao Manifestation was different. Unfortunately, he still hadn't managed to replicate it in the Nine Heavens Universe.
Ba Shifang also stared at the Dao Manifestation, constantly comparing Tai Wuling's comprehension of the laws of the five elements to his own. Strangely, while it didn't seem that Tai Wuling had started merging the five laws into the Law of Five Phases, there was an undeniable link between the five and a charm that he couldn’t quite put his finger on.