Chapter 1385

Chongguang Island.

This is one of the hundred and eight most beautiful isles within the Xianshan Archipelago's grand array, where two celestial divine lights converge, forming a rainbow twilight—exquisitely beautiful, and a sacred ground for cultivators of light-based Gong Fa, a rare opportunity unseen in ten thousand years.

The nine Candidate Daozi arrived long ago.

They had no attachment to their homeland, having trained for years in the Zhong Senior Qian Shi Gao Jie's Jiuling Realm, close enough that no inter-realm portal was needed—travel was extremely convenient.

"This meeting between the two sides is framed as a discourse on the Dao and diplomatic exchange, with no hint of hostility."

"But I think we'll still have to test each other—both sides want to gauge the other's strength."

An Tu Zi said: "Theoretically, our strength should be slightly greater, since our ancestors grew stronger under the pressure of the Dayu Chun Jian Ge, developing for a long time—compared to the past, both our sect's elder ancestors and Candidate Daozi have made significant progress."

"If their strength is too weak, I suggest we feign weakness."

"Now is not the best time to launch war; our sect's strength has not yet reached its peak, and we still haven't confirmed whether the Ancient Divine Domain contains any cultivators beyond He Dao—there are still many risks."

He seemed extremely confident.

"Hahaha!"

"Maybe they're thinking the same thing?"

The Wan Shouxianzong Candidate Daozi laughed loudly: "They grew up in the heart of the Ancient Divine Domain, raised with superior resources, trained from childhood by He Dao cultivators, and constantly fighting against the Yao Shen Zong and Wanzu Meng, who possess legacies beyond He Dao—in their eyes, their strength far surpasses ours."

This is true.

In terms of cultivation conditions, the nine Xianzong of the Ancient Divine Domain vastly surpass the nine Xianzong of Jiuling Realm—they were merely a Lián Xū-level sect in the past.

From a normal perspective, the Candidate Daozi of the Ancient Divine Domain should be far stronger.

"Correct."

"They should think that way."

Taiyi Taiyi Qingmu Candidate Daozi Ji Liuyue strongly agreed: "It's like a rich man among mortals and his poor relatives—they naturally feel superior. It's unlikely they'll feign weakness, because they hold the position of strength, occupying one of the best realms in the Ancient Divine Domain; showing weakness would encourage rebellion and attacks against them."

"Unlike our Nine Sects, which are so poor across three realms."

"For the strong, the best approach is to display their power, intimidate opponents, and seize maximum benefit—they won't dodge like we do."

"So we'll feign weakness?"

The Yingmo Candidate Daozi asked indifferently: "After the clash, will we hold out and then be defeated, fight fiercely and then be defeated, or collapse at the first touch?"

"Fight fiercely—after all, we're Xianzong heirs; too weak and they won't believe it…"

"We have no problem."

Ji Liuyue was worried: "It's that guy…"

Everyone frowned.

Suddenly, they all looked up, gazing into the distance.

A group of several hundred cultivators flew toward them—some strong, some weak, their qi signatures varied, yet their steps were perfectly synchronized, as if measured by a ruler, with near-innate military formation runes floating around them, even during ordinary walking.

Though numbering several hundred, their collective aura felt like that of a single being.

This subtle display of their innate military formation mastery, even in such minimal form, far surpassed the Dao-bing formations of their own sects—vastly different, not even on the same level.

"Fine, like this."

"I think it's good."

Jiang Ding flew before them and smiled: "The Taiyou Dayan Jianzi and Guangming Dayan Jianzi of Youming Chun Jian Dongtian will challenge me to a sword duel—I can afford to lose narrowly, right?"

He spoke warmly, as if greeting an old friend.

Xiu!

Xiu xiu xiu!

Instantly, eight of the nine Candidate Daozi vanished in an instant, using Dun Fa to flee in all directions, nowhere to be found.

Only Yu Yu Qianzi remained, face cold.

"..."

Jiang Ding's smile froze.

After thousands of years, these bastards are still the same!

They completely distrust him, their prejudice too deep, too much!

There is no trust between people—that's why the Cultivation World has become so cold; it's all because these bastards have ruined the atmosphere.

"Come back."

"All of you, no need to hide…"

Yu Yu Qianzi gently stroked her sword hilt, like a ten-thousand-year ice block—cold energy radiated with her words, freezing the surrounding space and order.

"A Chun Jian Hun Jianxiu has no interest in us."

"When there's no intense conflict of interest, we are safe with them—even safer than with you. Jianxiu rarely resort to deceit or scheming, as they're accustomed to communicating with swords."

She had changed too much since thousands of years ago.

Now, she was like an ice mountain—her words carried no emotion, devoid of any warmth a living being should possess.

"Taiyin Line…"

"No, Pure Yin Line…"

Jiang Ding regarded the Taiyin female cultivator with interest: "How many times have you suffered qi deviation in these millennia? Still alive? Good—you might become a decent cultivator."

Both the Pure Yang Line and Pure Yin Line have severe flaws.

The Pure Yang Line is mad and erratic, often suffering qi deviation, its path extremely perilous;

the Pure Yin Line is no less dangerous, easily falling into Tai Shang Wang Qing, losing humanity and self—many horrifying crimes in the Cultivation World were committed by Pure Yin cultivators, who lack normal human emotions.

"Jiang Ding Zi,"

"You're only basking in the reflected glory of that demon, the First-Generation Dayu Chun Jian Master."

Yu Yu Qianzi showed no reaction to Jiang Ding's words, speaking coldly: "One day, I will resolve the flaws of the Pure Yin Line and forge my own Dao, achieving my sword path alone."

"Taiyin is no weaker than Taiyang."

"Then I wish you success."

Jiang Ding did not laugh at anything, merely nodding.

The probability of this matter succeeding was extremely slim.

A peerless prodigy like the First Great Sun Sword Lord, destined to be remembered through the ages, had only appeared once in tens of millions of years. It wasn't the case that simply having a pure-yin line of thought meant one could produce such a result; the gap between the line of thought and the finished product was worlds apart.

The First Great Sun Sword Lord was the one who opened the Dao.

His greatness was comparable to the Ancestor who opened the Yin-Yang Sword Dao in the Great Yin-Yang Sword Realm—no, for the cultivators of the Great Sun Sword Pavilion, he far surpassed the Ancestor who opened the Yin-Yang Sword Dao in the Great Yin-Yang Sword Realm!

In the distance, Antu Zi and the others, after confirming it was safe, returned with not the slightest trace of anything unusual on their faces.

"Since Daoist Jiang approves, then all the better."

Tianji Candidate Daozi cupped his hands in a salute and said, "You can entangle the Taiyou Sword Son and the Guangming Sword Son of the Youming Sword Grotto-heaven for more time, and in the end, a narrow defeat would be best."

"We can't let them look down on us too much. There still needs to be someone capable of bearing the brunt to appear, lest they misjudge our strength too greatly and rashly start a war."

"Daoist Brother Xuanwu over there has the same plan, because the Heavenly God Palace is simply being far too aggressive."