Chapter 976

"Same-rank and higher-rank cultivators are not enemies—they are the nourishment for my Dao."

The green-robed teenage boy before him, with a naive and adorable expression, a shy smile on his face, spoke these words.

The Divine Mechanism True Person’s heart lurched; he was suddenly startled.

The surrounding spiritual energy subtly stirred.

At that moment, the Divine Mechanism True Person could barely control himself—he instinctively wanted to command the Void Refinement formation to strike the green-robed boy, utterly destroying his soul and sword intent.

Similar.

Too similar!

He is just like Xi Yuan, the Great Sun Sword Master of old—identical, equally mad, equally bloody.

Xi Yuan viewed all living beings as nourishment, deliberately allowing his enemies to grow stronger, solely to forge the strongest, sharpest sword; he watched his own death draw ever closer, completely ignoring the warnings in his soul.

Now, the Sword Heir of the Immortal Sect has walked the same mad path.

Many concerns surfaced in the Divine Mechanism True Person’s heart.

"Fine. Submit your application—I will report it to the Citizen Assembly, and we will modify the End Law City’s imprint so that no force below Void Refinement can trigger it, under any circumstances."

But in the end, he said nothing and agreed.

"Thank you, Elder."

Jiang Ding felt moved.

He realized the Divine Mechanism True Person had been wary just now.

It was reasonable—such close proximity, even as a sixth-rank Immortal Sect array master, facing a Great Sun Sword cultivator still carried danger; the Immortal Sect was not strong in individual combat.

Jiang Ding had expected the Divine Mechanism True Person to offer advice, but he ultimately said nothing, choosing to trust him.

Just as he trusted the other’s mastery in arrays, military formations, and shipbuilding, the other trusted his mastery in swordcraft, offering no skepticism or counsel as an outsider.

Barriers between different Immortal Dao specialties were rigid; even the most learned cultivator dared not claim expertise in every field.

"What thanks? This is your own path. Submit the application—can the Immortal Sect refuse?"

The Divine Mechanism True Person shook his head.

"Elder, how do you resolve this array...?"

After finishing the main matter, Jiang Ding pulled out numerous array-related questions and asked the Divine Mechanism True Person—problems he had accumulated over decades of cultivation, now asked all at once.

He had always done this: asking the Divine Mechanism True Person, asking Yuan, asking authorities in every discipline.

Meanwhile, in daily life, he also answered questions from other cultivators—many True Persons seeking advice on swordcraft.

It was a cycle; every Immortal Sect cultivator grew accustomed to this life.

Even if an unknown Immortal Sect cultivator came to ask a question, no one would be surprised, as long as [29] there was no urgent matter, they would usually answer if they could.

Unless it's urgent, anything that can be answered usually is.

"The logic should be like this..."

An old man and a young boy discussed array knowledge in low, calm voices.

One taught; one listened.

The young one occasionally asked questions, his expression slightly embarrassed; the old one tried explaining from every angle, striving to make the other understand—his teaching skill was exceptional.

The instruction lasted for months before ending.

"You don’t understand this—set it aside."

The Divine Mechanism True Person said dismissively: "Many things, when you don’t understand them now, you’ll grasp them later—after time passes, after more experience, or after your realm advances."

"Oh."

"Understood, Elder."

Jiang Ding blushed slightly and answered humbly.

To be honest, in array talent, he was merely a junior before the Divine Mechanism True Person, the Ten-Thousand Mechanism True Person, and others—even among peers, he was the same.

When teaching array knowledge, they often unconsciously wore the expression of a supreme array genius looking at an idiot—hurting one’s self-respect.

"Wait."

As Jiang Ding packed away his notebook jade slip and was about to leave, he paused.

"Recent developments in the Jiao Ming Realm are connected to you."

"Familiarize yourself with them."

The Divine Mechanism True Person called him back.

"Jiao Ming Realm?"

Jiang Ding’s expression turned serious.

It was an alien Immortal Dao civilization capable of annihilating all human Immortal Dao civilizations in this realm, destroying the Nine Immortal Sects and slaughtering all humanity—he could not take it lightly.

"Yes. The Shadow Demon Sect’s reconnaissance cultivators have not been exposed and have gathered critical intelligence."

The Divine Mechanism True Person recalled and said: "The Jiao Ming Realm end of the dimensional passage is called the Cang Yan Star Sea—the star domain ruled by Cang Yan, one of the Nine Ancient Emperors of Jiao Ming."

"The Ancient Emperors of the Jiao Demon Clan are equivalent to our Void Refinement peak cultivators—this is our speculation."

"But the first we’ll face is not Cang Yan—he rules vast star domains, not limited to the narrow region around the dimensional passage."

"The direct ruler of over a dozen small worlds around it is the Flame Stone Emperor."

"The Flame Stone Emperor owes allegiance or cooperation to Cang Yan, and in return gained control over these dozen small worlds—he is the first Jiao Demon Void Refinement cultivator we will confront."

"The Jiao Demon Clan calls Void Refinement cultivators 'Emperors.'"

"So... are we going to war?"

Jiang Ding took a deep breath.

This seemed too hasty—Void Refinement experts live thirty thousand years; even if urgent, why rush so soon? They should prepare for a thousand years at least.

"I don’t know."

The Divine Mechanism True Person said gravely: "The Immortal Sect has always opposed it—no need to elaborate. Those eight old bastards have enough patience; they wouldn’t rush to attack after just a few centuries."

"Something has changed."

"Changed?"

"Yes. Changed."

The Divine Mechanism True Person sighed: "The dimensional space passage, as the Nine Spirit Realm and Jiao Ming Realm move relative to each other, has grown increasingly unstable. We’ve been suppressing it fiercely—these past years, the eight Great Ones and the Central Array Spirit Computer have been occupied with this."

"But no one knows when the dimensional passage will suddenly be exposed."

"Thus, the eight Great Ones have grown impatient—they want to strike now, while we still have the advantage, before the passage is exposed, to suddenly ambush and eliminate a certain number of Jiao Demon Emperors at the outset."

"Currently, two factions have emerged within the Nine Immortal Sects."

"One faction, including the Xuanwu Heavenly Palace and several others, favors direct military action—kill a number of Jiao Demon Emperors and seize Jiao Ming Realm."

"If the Jiao Demon Clan has beings beyond Void Refinement, we fight to the death—or die."

"The other faction—Tianji Heavenly Palace, the Immortal Sect, Qingmu Immortal Sect, and others—favors a surprise strike: capture the Flame Stone Emperor, then use soul techniques to control him, and with his cooperation, reinforce the passage from the other side, coordinating both ends to reseal the dimensional passage’s instability, delaying exposure and gaining more preparation time."

"The Nine Immortal Sects’ final decision: pursue both plans simultaneously. First attempt the sealing plan; if it fails, immediately launch a full-scale assault on Jiao Ming Realm for a final, desperate battle."

The Divine Mechanism True Person transmitted a flood of information to Jiang Ding, explaining the current dimensional situation.

"But what does this have to do with me?"

Jiang Ding asked, puzzled.

He had no qualification to step onto a Void Refinement battlefield—the residual shockwaves alone would kill him.

"It does. Deeply."

"Just like the Shadow Demon Sect Heir."

The Divine Mechanism True Person sighed: "The eight Great Ones hope you and the Nine Dao Heirs will be the first to enter Jiao Ming Realm, hidden beneath layers of Void Refinement spells, stirring chaos in the surrounding worlds, and pre-deploying a half-completed Void Refinement array to assassinate and clear out some of the Jiao Demon Clan’s royal line—their Nascent Soul cultivators."

"You’ve been chosen because your Nascent Soul realms allow passage through the dimensional gateway without triggering detectable fluctuations—Jiao Demon Clan won’t sense you in advance."

"You should create disturbances near the space passage to lure the Flame Stone Emperor closer, so the Nine Immortal Sects can instantly subdue and control him."

"This is extremely difficult—we must ensure the Flame Stone Emperor cannot send out [83] even a single message; he must be captured instantly, or we’ll fail completely and be forced into open war with the Jiao Demon Clan, a fight to the death."

A single clue, instantly captured—or else all effort is in vain, leaving only the option to launch a direct assault on the Jiao Demon Emperor Clan, a fight to the death.

"We don’t know what the consequences will be."