Chapter 989: Jiao Mo Yan Tian Sphere

Three years later.

Jiang Ding awoke within the pillar's soul, a dull gray stone sphere already in his hand.

Behind him, they had agreed to his plan.

Moreover, the Immortal Sect's strategic department and eight Great Beings personally refined this plan, drawing upon their own experience and tens of thousands of years of wisdom, meticulously perfecting every detail—and fully accounting for the mindsets, political struggles, rivalries, and alliances among the Jiao Mo Yan Tian's many Emperors—

In these matters, the eight Great Beings possessed extraordinarily rich experience and could grasp human nature with precision.

Jiang Ding read the revised plan and was instantly drenched in cold sweat.

Many things, he had simply assumed without thought.

If he acted without understanding the full picture, he would be exposed instantly, and in the eyes of the Emperors, he would be no different from a jumping clown.

The Emperors might even watch the clown's performance for a while, then crush him with a single palm at his moment of greatest pride—this would be a small pleasure in life, a tiny adornment to their long, tedious existence.

"Lower-tier cultivators must never scheme against higher-tier cultivators."

"Do not presume you possess earth-shattering wisdom or cunning stratagems, looking down upon others."

Jiang Ding reflected again within himself: "Safety exists only within the concealment of time and space."

"In short, strive to hide, avoid fame, grow quietly and steadily—until the moment you are forced to appear before the powerful, you must have already gained the strength to protect yourself."

This Jiao Mo Yan Tian sphere thus came into his hands.

Crafted by the Celestial Mechanism Immortal Palace, with technical support and celestial treasures provided by the Immortal Sect and other Qitaxian Sects, when placed in the proper location, it can gather the fate of the realm and the fate of the clan, promoting the birth of the Yan Shi Emperor's Crown.

After prolonged deliberation among the Jiudaxian Sect, it was ultimately decided that Jiang Ding would lead this plan.

This meant Jiang Ding was granted temporary authority to command the Nine Candidate Daozi.

This authority was granted to him by the Badaxian Sect.

Remember, the Immortal Sects are rigidly disciplined, unlike the dual-system of Sword Lord and Sword Disciple in the Grand Sun Sword Pavilion—Great Beings within the Immortal Sects hold absolute power; Candidate Daozi, no matter their status, must obey the Great Beings' orders.

Otherwise, life and death may occur.

Those eight Great Beings are each cold and ruthless beings—if they deem it necessary, sacrificing a Candidate Daozi is no hesitation at all.

Of course, Jiang Ding's orders must be reasonable and must not harm the Immortal Sect's interests; otherwise, they are useless.

Jiang Ding's spiritual sense and sword intent surged into the Jiao Mo Yan Tian sphere, slightly refining it and leaving a spiritual imprint.

He quickly understood how to use it.

"Need to make contact with a Jiao Mo Yan Tian Emperor's heir? Preferably the heir of Yan Shi Emperor."

Jiang Ding's brow furrowed slightly.

He did not fully understand the fate and celestial mechanism techniques within the Jiao Mo Yan Tian sphere, but the principle was clear: use a Jiao Mo Yan Tian clan heir with strong innate talent as a catalyst to draw forth the clan's fate and the realm's fate, thereby condensing the Emperor's Crown.

But the Emperor's heirs are not easy to approach.

For example, himself—he is constantly monitored by the Central Array Spirit's calculation mechanism within the Immortal Sect's territory; don't think that wandering around gives him a chance to assassinate—he never had such an opportunity, and that illusion was all it was.

By extension, Yan Shi Emperor must surely have methods to constantly monitor his own offspring.

After all, even Emperors have few children, and only one or two are truly worthy, bearing their legacy and emotions—they cannot possibly ignore them.

"Target the Ying Mo Zi?"

A thought arose in Jiang Ding's mind.

"No, no, this person is too weak, utterly unreliable."

Jiang Ding sighed.

The Ying Mo Zi's entire arsenal—her Gong Fa, spells, and Ben Ming Fa—were all focused on concealment; her concealment ability was indeed far superior to other Qitaxian Sect Candidate Daozi.

Yet her soul and spiritual intent strength were merely average.

A simple numerical advantage could utterly crush her painstakingly cultivated concealment, leaving no room for evasion or retreat whatsoever.

She is not incapable of carrying out this task, but there is some risk of exposure.

"I'll go myself—go see the Jiao Mo Yan Tian Emperor's heir…"

Jiang Ding murmured to himself.

He did nothing, did not step out from within the pillar's soul, and continued to wait silently.

Not long after—only twelve years later—a chance arose.

Shicheng, under the rule of the Mo Yan Ancient City tens of thousands of miles away, was visited every fifty years by a Mo Yan Clan Inspector who traveled the region to inspect mines, spiritual veins, spirit herb gardens, and to verify whether the slave races were embezzling resources and whether next year's tribute could be fully collected.

These matters were fundamental to the Mo Yan Clan and could not be taken lightly.

This time, ten years before the scheduled inspection, the Mo Yan Clan Inspector arrived at Shicheng.

It was not due to Jiang Ding's actions.

His lifespan was long; he could wait a hundred years if necessary, doing nothing, silently awaiting a natural opportunity, never adding unnecessary steps.

The Mo Yan Clan Inspector arrived early because a "Blood Demon Disaster" had occurred a thousand li away—several Wei-class slave tribe leaders and their clansmen had been killed, their blood qi and souls entirely plundered, leaving only gleaming white skeletons.

Among these dead slave tribe leaders was one from Shicheng: the Jin Dan-level chieftain of the Niu Shi tribe.

Jin Dan

Level, in the Jiao Mo Yan Tian Emperor Clan's hierarchy, is called "Wei Class."

Nascent Soul Level corresponds to "Jiang Class."

"Hail, Kuo Yan my lord!"

Chun Jian Shi Zhen Ren, along with the Fox Clan, Tiger Clan, Vine Demon Clan, and other Jin Dan beast cultivators, bowed three times and kowtowed nine times before a giant resembling a small mountain, showing utmost humility.

This mountain-like giant also bore Jin Dan-level aura, his entire body pitch black as ink, constantly emitting low chants of demonic language that shook the spirit and instinctively stirred fear.

Though equally Jin Dan-level, these dozens of slave tribe Jin Dan beast cultivators from Shicheng appeared like quails before him.

"The Blood Demon Disaster at Lingjing Lake has been dealt with."

"The Blood Demon has been slain."

Kuo Yan showed no interest in small talk; his voice rumbled like stone: "The Niu Shi tribe's chieftain is dead, but the Niu Shi tribe's tribute cannot go unpaid."

"You must carry them."

"The Fox Clan bears two parts, the Tiger Clan bears three parts, the Human Clan bears one part..."

He asked nothing, giving the order casually.

He clearly knew the situation of each clan inside out, not careless as his build might suggest, able to ensure maximum exploitation without draining the pond dry.

"Any problems?"

After Kuai Yan finished speaking, heavy pressure spread out as he looked coldly at the dozens of slave-clan Jin Dan demon cultivators below.

"We humbly obey my lord Kuai Yan's order!"

The Jin Dan demon cultivators of the Fox Clan, Tiger Clan, and others looked bitter but dared not speak, bowing respectfully.

"You know how to distinguish priorities."

Kuai Yan's expression softened slightly: "Then the remaining people and territory of the Niu Shi Clan shall also be divided among you in the same manner. Do not say that I, Kuai Yan, treat those beneath me harshly."

"We thank my lord Kuai Yan!"

The surrounding slave-clan Jin Dan cultivators were overjoyed.

With the Niu Shi Clan as nourishment, it would not be so difficult; if things were a bit harder this year, the tribute should be made up.

Kuai Yan sat with an air of profound calm, saying nothing more.

"My lord Kuai Yan has had a hard journey..."

The Fox Clan leader was a handsome man; with a charming smile, he clapped his hands, and two handsome Fox Clan cultivators stepped forward shyly to serve the towering Mo Yan Clan cultivator.

"Excellent, excellent."

Kuai Yan smiled, slowly opening his mouth and closing it.

Crack.

The two handsome Fox Clan cultivators were left with only their legs twitching before they fell to the ground.

"The taste is still so exquisite."

Kuai Yan sighed in admiration.

"As long as my lord enjoys it."

The Fox Clan leader was delighted.

Immediately after, the Tiger Clan, the Teng Yao Clan, the Human Clan, and others each presented their own gifts; some were heavenly treasures,

some were spirit stones, some were clan members, and so on.

The Human Clan's gift was a mid-grade third-rank purple jade stone.

Kuai Yan accepted each with a smile, storing them within his dark stone body.

"The tribute must be paid in full."

Kuai Yan's expression softened a bit more as he spoke again.

These gifts could only ensure he would not continue to increase the tribute; the original tribute must be handed over, otherwise he would have to advance it himself.

At that time, people would be killed.

"Yes, my lord Kuai Yan."

The many slave-clan Jin Dan cultivators around showed no surprise, kneeling respectfully once more.

No one noticed that the mid-grade third-rank purple jade stone placed within the dark stone body flickered with a faint spiritual light, as an invisible force flowed through the dark stone body and surged into the Mo Yan Clan cultivator's divine soul.