Chapter 977: The Great Sun Heavenly Pool Will Be Restored to Void Refinement Stage

Dispatch the Dao Zi to infiltrate the Jiao Ming Domain.

The Nine Immortal Sects proposed this operational plan.

The Dao Zi themselves are of low cultivation level, yet their combat power is extraordinary, proving immensely valuable in special circumstances—especially where stealth and infiltration are required.

Undoubtedly, this is an extremely dangerous move.

Once exposed, the alien races won’t care about equal-rank duels or imperial blood feuds; a Void Refinement powerhouse could crush you with a single hand—how many Nascent Soul Dao Zi would die without resistance?

“What does the Immortal Sect think?”

Jiang Ding asked.

What the Eight Immortal Sects think is not his concern.

It would be best if the Eight Immortal Sects all perished.

If the Immortal Sect monopolized the Nine Spirit Domains and sealed them off for tens of thousands of years, they’d have everything they needed—no need to risk being dragged into a genocidal war by those eight madmen.

“The Immortal Sect approves the second operational plan.”

“Make every effort to capture the Flame Stone Emperor, delay the decisive battle, and gain more time for maneuvering.”

Shenji Tianjun did not conceal it, stating frankly: “From the Immortal Sect’s perspective, this maximizes our gains—we hope to obtain the Void Refinement scriptures from the Flame Stone Emperor’s own lineage.”

“The Jiao Ming Domain once produced emperors beyond Void Refinement; its civilization has evolved over countless eons, yielding numerous Void Refinement scriptures.”

“As a Void Refinement cultivator, the Flame Stone Emperor must possess the Void Refinement lineage!”

“If we obtain these Void Refinement scriptures, our Void Refinement project will achieve a monumental breakthrough—perhaps even allowing us to ascend to Void Refinement. I myself might ascend. The risk is great, but so is the reward—we cannot help but be tempted.”

“Indeed.”

Jiang Ding nodded in agreement and asked: “Will the Eight Immortal Sects agree? Will they not interfere?”

The Eight Immortal Sects have always regarded preventing the Immortal Sect from acquiring Void Refinement scriptures as their fundamental strategy—even when facing the threat of the Jiao Ming Domain, they refused to yield an inch, willing to concede only elsewhere.

If the Immortal Sect gains the Void Refinement lineage, it means utter annihilation for them.

If the Eight Immortal Sects are destined to perish,

they would rather die at the hands of the Jiao Demon Imperial Clan, which once produced beings beyond Void Refinement, than be destroyed by the Immortal Sect—it would be worse than death to them.

“They disagree.”

“But it doesn’t matter what they want.”

Shenji Tianjun spoke coldly: “What the Immortal Sect does, how it acts—it follows only the Immortal Sect’s will, its own needs. It has never needed to consider the views of the Eight Immortal Sects.”

“If the Eight Immortal Sects obstruct us, we fight. Whoever has the stronger methods survives.”

The Immortal Sect’s army has never feared the Eight Immortal Sects.

“Since the elders have already considered everything, then I’ll go.”

Jiang Ding, seeing this, agreed.

“The Emperor’s heirs of the Jiao Demon Clan? I see them as nothing but paper tigers and clay dogs—not worth mentioning. As for Void Refinement...”

The imperial sons of the Horn Demon Emperor Clan are all just mud chickens and broken dogs, not worth mentioning; as for Void Refinement...

“Don’t worry about that!”

“Nothing should happen.”

Shenji Tianjun was overjoyed upon hearing this.

The man before him was the strongest individual cultivator in the entire realm—a Nascent Soul cultivator, albeit a junior, yet in terms of personal power and status, he was no inferior to Shenji Tianjun himself; no one could force him into anything.

“Jiang Ding, rest assured—we’ve thought of everything.”

Shenji Tianjun counted off on his fingers for Jiang Ding: “For your journey to the Jiao Ming Domain, we’ve prepared many things.”

“First, the Void Refinement-level Shadow Cloak—no offensive power, purely for concealment. Crafted jointly by the Immortal Sect and the Shangqing Lingbao Sect, with aid and celestial treasures provided by other Immortal Sects; eight Great Beings will each contribute their sealing spells to prevent you from being detected by the Jiao Demon Emperors.”

“Second, the Immortal Sect and the Eight Immortal Sects will jointly restore the Great Sun Heavenly Pool, bringing its combat power back to Void Refinement Mid-Stage level—its output, offensive and defensive capabilities will all improve.”

“This was originally the reward promised to you by the Eight Immortal Sects—we’ve secured it ahead of schedule.”

“This is standard practice. Influenced by the Great Sun Sword Pavilion, the Eight Immortal Sects’ Great Beings traditionally treat the Great Sun Sword Disciple and Great Sun Sword Master as equals—this tradition made our negotiations far easier.”

“With these two things, your safety is guaranteed.”

Shenji Tianjun said solemnly: “The mission is vital, but if you encounter an unstoppable foe, flee immediately.”

“At the moment you fail, the Immortal Sect and the Eight Immortal Sects’ armies will break through the realm together, sweep across all directions, no longer hiding or holding back.”

At the very moment you fail, the Immortal Gate and the eight great immortal sects’ armies will unite to break through the boundaries and surge forth, sweeping all directions without further concealment or hesitation.

[46] The Dao heirs will soon arrive at the Immortal Gate for special training; you must receive them and make sure they don’t cause trouble.

Jiang Ding exhaled in relief.

Facing Void Refinement—even just potentially—was far too dangerous for him.

The Immortal Sect was still the Immortal Sect; it wouldn’t force him to die. Everything had been prepared.

“Then it’s settled.”

Shenji Tianjun said happily: “The exact time to break through will be roughly a hundred years from now. Restoring the Great Sun Heavenly Pool takes time, and the Dao Zi of the Immortal Sects need time to train in concealment techniques and refine the Shadow Cloak—many Dao Zi have historically been poor at concealment.”

“The Dao Zi will then arrive at the Immortal Sect for special training. You’ll need to receive them—don’t let them cause trouble.”

"The Dao disciples will arrive at the Yu Xianmen shortly for special training; you’ll receive them and make sure they don’t cause trouble."

“Many Dao Zi have grown accustomed to lawlessness within their sects, acting as if they’re the only ones who matter—so their temperaments are strange, even insane. The Immortal Sect’s laws are not lenient—if the situation is severe, execution on the spot is common.”

“In the past, it didn’t matter—kill one Dao Zi, kill another. But now, we’re uniting against the Jiao Ming Domain; such incidents could disrupt the situation.”

“Understood, Elder.”

In the past, it didn’t matter if a Dao heir was killed—kill him and be done with it. But now, precisely when we need to unite against the Horn Ming Domain, it could affect the broader situation.

He was inwardly unconvinced.

Based on his own experience with Dao Zi, nearly all were level-headed, courteous, and sensible—hardly likely to cause trouble.

For instance, the Five Elements Dao Zi An Tu Zi, the Green Wood Dao Zi Ji Liuyue, even the infamous Shadow Demon Dao Zi and the Xuanwu Dao Zi—all were calm, embodying the demeanor of true sect heirs.

He wondered where Shenji Tianjun’s prejudice came from.

Jiang Ding took leave of Shenji Tianjun and approached the Golden Emperor Bathing Beauty Painting, closing his eyes to contemplate the Golden Cause.

To this day, after countless Tian Jun of the Immortal Sect had studied it and published numerous treatises, the Immortal Sect’s research into the Golden Cause was far more advanced than what Shuoyang Tianjun had ever achieved.

“Shuoyang Tianjun...”

To this day, after extensive contemplation by numerous True Persons of the Immortal Gate and the publication of countless treatises, the Immortal Gate’s research into the Golden Cause has grown profoundly deep, far surpassing the methods of Shuoyang True Person in his time.

Now, he could clearly determine that Shuoyang Tianjun and the Immortal Technique fragments had undergone a degree of “fusion.”

This was the source of his distortion and strength—and carried grave danger.

“But if it’s only Shuoyang Tianjun, the problem isn’t severe.”

Jiang Ding calculated: “I possess the entire world-scale Great Sun Fixed Realm Array. Within it, I sense I could even trade blows with a Nascent Soul True Immortal’s heir. Shuoyang Tianjun cannot. Mingguang Zi cannot.”

“In a few centuries, I should be able to purge them all.”

Jiang Ding calculated: “I possess the entire world-scale Great Sun Boundary Array; within this array, I vaguely feel I could even trade a few blows with a Nascent Soul-level True Immortal’s heir—Shuoyang True Person couldn’t, nor could Mingguang Zi.”

Jiang Ding’s expression darkened.

He thought of the desiccated flesh—and what that flesh was seeking.

Jiang Ding’s expression grew grim.

He thought of that dried-up flesh, and what that flesh was searching for.