Translator: AnubisTL
The Great Wilderness Domain trembled!
True Monarch Crimson Origin, the nascent soul ancestor of the Taiyi Sect, had been ambushed by Gui Li, sect master of the Ghost Sword Sect, and Rakshasa Demon Lord, ancestor of the Blood Spirit Sect!
The pitiful True Monarch Crimson Origin was nearly beaten to death. Had the Taiyi Sect's stronger nascent soul ancestor not arrived on his ox in time, Crimson Origin would have surely met his demise.
Even so, Crimson Origin suffered catastrophic injuries, his vital energy severely depleted and his very foundation damaged.
That night, True Monarch Taixuan, riding his ox, clashed fiercely with the two Demonic Path Patriarchs. Despite facing two opponents alone, he held his ground without yielding an inch.
In the end, True Monarch Taixuan, having demonstrated his overwhelming power, still managed to carry away the critically wounded Crimson Origin and the half-crippled Zhang Xiao.
Even the combined might of the two Demonic Path Patriarchs couldn't stop him.
This news sent shockwaves through the entire Great Wilderness Domain, igniting a storm of speculation and awe.
Many marveled at True Monarch Taixuan's strength, capable of holding his own against two opponents and forcefully retrieving his allies.
"True Monarch Taixuan's power likely solidifies his position as the undisputed number one in the Great Wilderness Domain now," some murmured.
"To hold his own against two opponents without losing ground... the Taiyi Sect's ancestor truly possesses profound abilities."
"Incredible! Even the combined might of two Demonic Path Patriarchs couldn't stop True Monarch Taixuan?!"
"..."
Amidst the exclamations, another earth-shattering revelation spread like wildfire, leaving the entire cultivation world of the Great Wilderness Domain reeling in disbelief.
The three demonic sects had formally declared war on the Taiyi Sect!
Though the declaration targeted the Taiyi Sect, as the leader of the righteous path, this impending immortal dao war was inevitably destined to escalate into a full-scale conflict between the righteous and demonic paths—a predictable outcome.
When Li Qing received this news in his cave abode, he was momentarily speechless with shock.
"Who would have thought that the spark igniting the war between the righteous and demonic paths would be the duel between Gui Fan and Zhang Xiao?" Li Qing murmured to himself, his eyes flickering with thought.
Ever the meticulous analyst, he instinctively began dissecting the deeper underlying causes.
"When the righteous and demonic paths jointly hosted the grand auction, their relations seemed so harmonious. It appears that harmony was merely a facade."
"Recently, feng shui masters invited by both the righteous and demonic paths discovered the imperial tombs of the Ancient Hua Immortal Dynasty's emperors. It's unlikely that the division of spoils from these tombs will be harmonious."
"Moreover, there's the Pure Yang Physique. Ever since rumors spread years ago that the righteous path had secretly nurtured a cultivation prodigy with this physique, the three demonic sects have likely harbored ulterior motives."
A Pure Yang Physique cultivator who reaches the nascent soul realm would be the worst possible news for the three demonic sects.
They refuse to allow the righteous path to produce a so-called True Monarch Pure Yang and must crush this potential threat in its infancy.
With these factors converging, the war destined to engulf the entire Great Wilderness Domain is finally about to erupt.
Since ancient times, the righteous and demonic paths have been irreconcilable. Their previous cooperation was only possible due to the looming threat of the Ancient Hua Immortal Dynasty.
Now that the Immortal Dynasty has fallen, this superficial harmony has naturally vanished without a trace.
"The world is about to turn upside down!" Li Qing sighed, feeling the world outside growing increasingly dangerous.
His primary concern now was how to navigate this impending chaos.
Though the Ghost Sword Sect's territory might remain untouched by the immortal dao war for now, there's always a chance of the unexpected!
Hadn't True Monarch Taixuan, the old man, managed to hold his own against two Demonic Path Patriarchs single-handedly?
With such formidable combat power, the demonic path's decision to initiate the war didn't seem so wise after all.
"No, I should seek refuge in the World of Eternal Night first. Let's hope that by the time I return, the Great Wilderness Domain will have entered an era of peace and prosperity."
Of course, such a scenario was highly improbable.
Both the righteous and demonic paths were at the height of their power, and their conflict was destined to rage on for the foreseeable future.
The rogue cultivators who had witnessed these events firsthand would likely be caught in the crossfire, suffering the fate of innocent bystanders.
Sighing repeatedly about the impending upheaval in the Great Wilderness Domain, Li Qing immediately began writing two letters: one for Shen Ningbing and another for Zhang Da, the manager of the black market.
The letter to Shen Ningbing was simple: Li Qing explained that he would be entering secluded cultivation for an extended period. Given the escalating chaos in the Great Wilderness Domain, he urged his junior sister to exercise caution, practice restraint, and avoid placing herself in harm's way.
Of course, Shen Ningbing was also in seclusion.
Having obtained the Millennium Ice Core, she was still pondering how to refine her natal magic treasure. After all, she wasn't an artifact refinement master, so even with the right spiritual materials, the process wouldn't be as swift as it was for Li Qing.
Li Qing had considered offering his help, but a person's natal magic treasure was a matter of utmost importance. Entrusting its refinement to another would inevitably lead to complications, so he ultimately abandoned the idea.
The second letter was even simpler:
Lie low!
Li Qing instructed Zhang Da to remain hidden in the shadows. With the current situation chaotic and uncertain, it was crucial to avoid exposing the black market and intelligence network.
Zhang Da could quietly expand their influence, taking advantage of the immortal realm's turmoil to recruit personnel and further expand the intelligence network.
However, maintaining a low profile remained paramount. If there was any risk of exposure, all activities should cease immediately!
"Although our black market here has no direct conflict with either the righteous or demonic paths, there's still no guarantee we won't be swept up in the chaos."
"Ah, these chaotic times... risk and opportunity walk hand in hand. I hope everything turns out alright."
Li Qing sighed deeply before continuing to write, promising Zhang Da, his loyal and hardworking subordinate, a few grand rewards.
Upon emerging from seclusion, he would refine the remaining segments of Zhang Da's magic artifact prosthetic limb. Furthermore, he pledged that if Zhang Da continued to serve diligently, he would help him obtain yin-yang spirit liquid in the future!
Of course, when exactly this "future" would arrive remained uncertain. After all, Li Qing had no idea how long the yin-yang cave would take to nurture another batch of the spirit liquid.
But at least there was hope. Zhang Da had no choice but to swallow this promise, whether he liked it or not.
After all, the magic artifact prosthetic limb was undeniably useful!
Having finished writing the spirit letter, Li Qing sent it off.
As the spirit bird vanished into the sky, Li Qing's gaze gradually settled into calm.
The Great War between the righteous and demonic paths? What did it have to do with him?
Next, he would venture into the World of Eternal Night to seek out third-tier crimson crystals. After all, he was still bound by a great heart demon oath.
He had no desire to be devoured by his heart demon during cultivation one day.
The higher one's cultivation realm, the stronger the restrictions imposed by a great heart demon oath.
Realizing this, Li Qing resolved to never make careless promises again, especially those sworn upon his heart demon.
"Time to go! On the way back, I might as well investigate the Blood Lotus Sect. I want to see what this sect is really about."
With that, Li Qing laid down a layer of strict restrictions before turning and returning to his cave abode.
(End of the Chapter)
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