Chapter 391

Yunhe, you've come.

A female cultivator wearing a purple skirt and a veil proactively greeted Yunhe.

Purple Robe True Lord.

Yunhe also recognized the other party—it was none other than the Mid Yuan Ying Cultivator from the Formless Sword Sect who had once co-guarded the Listening Fragrance Pavilion with him, the Purple Robe True Lord.

Although they had gone through hardships together, given their relationship, they were merely nodding acquaintances.

Compared to Yunhe only knowing one Purple Robe True Lord, the King of Jinling knew many more people; he smiled and exchanged a few pleasantries with each cultivator he knew.

While exchanging simple greetings, the King of Jinling was effectively introducing these people to Yunhe.

Some of those who appeared friendly also proactively nodded at Yunhe as a greeting.

Then, a cultivator with a thick, explosive hairstyle, bare-chested and revealing his bulging muscles all over, strode in.

At the same time, within Yunhe's qi sea dantian, the Five Elements Heavenly Thunder Sword spontaneously burst forth with specks of golden arc light, as if responding to something.

Thunder techniques are renowned for their strong attack and high speed.

Although this sect was originally obscure and could even be said to have declined, after Yinleizi joined it, the sect began to develop and grow, and has now become a place eagerly sought by many cultivators passionate about thunder techniques in the Eastern Border Cultivation Realm.

This sect originally had little reputation, even could be said to have declined, but after Yunlei Zi joined the sect, the sect began to develop and grow; now it has become, among the cultivation world of the Eastern Border, a place most coveted by many cultivators fond of thunder techniques.

Meanwhile, the Nine Thunder Sect is a relatively rare sect that specializes in thunder techniques.

This person is an elder of the Nine Thunder Sect, self-styled as Yinleizi, a rare cultivator with a heaven-grade thunder spiritual root, immensely powerful in thunder techniques, but his strongest aspect is still his physical body.

This person is an elder of the Nine Thunder Sect, self-styled Yunlei Zi, a rare heaven-grade thunder spiritual root cultivator, extremely powerful in thunder techniques, but his strongest aspect is his physical body.

The King of Jinling also noticed the newcomer, his face showing a hint of solemnity, and he softly said:

The King of Jinling also noticed the newcomer, his face showing a hint of solemnity, and he said softly:

Nine Thunder Sect? Yinleizi?

Yunhe quickly found information about this sect and this person in his mind, all of which had been provided by the Hall of Hundred Knowledges.

Not long after Yunhe and the King of Jinling took their seats, a faint buzzing sound could be heard, as if thunder was flickering and accumulating.

It was obvious that the reputation Yunhe had built up recently, while not exactly renowned, was still somewhat known, so none of the old monsters present failed to recognize him.

It is said that when his cultivation was still weak, he once encountered a Falling Thunder Calamity—a catastrophe that occurs only once every few hundred years—and managed to survive, after which he gained the ability to absorb thunder.

'The ability to absorb thunder to strengthen oneself is somewhat similar to a demon beast's body.'

Yinleizi also once had the experience of escaping from a Late Yuan Ying old monster, which is quite similar to you, Fellow Daoist Yunhe, though I wonder whose escape speed is faster.

Yunhe's expression remained unchanged; a quick glance around revealed that it wasn't just the King of Jinling who looked solemn—almost everyone wore a grave expression, indicating that the newcomer was certainly no ordinary person.

Yunhe had a blank expression; merely sweeping his gaze around, he realized it wasn't just the King of Jinling who looked solemn—almost everyone wore a grave expression, showing that the newcomer was certainly no ordinary person.

Faint arcs of light flickered on his body, and he was covered in scars of various sizes, looking extremely ferocious—at a glance, he was clearly someone who had endured four battles.

For most Yuan Ying cultivators, being able to escape from a Late Yuan Ying cultivator is absolutely something to be proud of.

For most Yuan Ying Cultivators, being able to escape from a late-stage Yuan Ying Cultivator is absolutely something to be proud of.

The King of Jinling gave a brief introduction: 'This person is utterly obsessed with absorbing various thunder forces, tempering his body with thunder techniques; not only is his strength extraordinarily terrifying, but his speed is outstanding even among Mid Yuan Ying cultivators.'

As for which Late Yuan Ying cultivator Yinleizi has feuded with, Yunhe didn't ask; instead, he asked:

If Fellow Daoist Fang were to face this Yinleizi, what are his chances of winning?

It was meant as a joke, but the King of Jinling actually pondered for a moment and then said: 'At most forty percent.'

It was meant as a joking question, but the King of Jinling really pondered for a moment and then said: "At most forty percent."

It seems the King of Jinling, while wary of Yinleizi, is not afraid of him.

It seems the King of Jinling, while wary of Yunlei Zi, is not actually afraid.

Most of them are Mid Yuan Ying cultivators, but there are also some Early Yuan Ying cultivators, and some even bring along one or two disciples or juniors to see the world.

Afterward, another acquaintance of Yunhe appeared—the sect leader of the Blood Sect, Xue Wuchen.

At this time, he had previously been on bad terms with Guang Chengzi of the Hall of Hundred Knowledges at the abode of the Floating Cloud Elder, but upon seeing Yunhe again—now a guest elder of the Hall of Hundred Knowledges—he still wore a familiar, smiling face and greeted Yunhe with a smile.

What surprised Yunhe was that Xue Wuchen had brought someone along—not his son, but the Blood Sect's Dharma Protector, Xue Zhili.

Now, Xue Zhili has also achieved Golden Core Perfection cultivation, preparing to advance to Nascent Soul.

I never expected that both residents of Four Lords City, Green Plum and Mountain Chrysanthemum, would actually come. Yunhe heard someone exclaim softly.

As the hall gradually fell silent, two figures quietly arrived side by side and took their seats in two of the chairs.

As the hall gradually fell silent, two more figures appeared soundlessly, walking side by side, and took their seats in two of the chairs.

They were two cultivators dressed as scholars in long robes.

Although these two residents are clearly male cultivators, I don't know why I feel their relationship is somewhat unusual.

Although these two lay practitioners are clearly male cultivators, he somehow felt that their relationship was a bit unusual.

As for Four Lords City, he does know a bit—it is one of the immortal cities famed alongside the Qing Kingdom Capital and Fengdu City, and is also one of the Five Capitals Cities.

However, unlike the Qing Kingdom Capital and Fengdu City, Four Lords City has no Late Yuan Ying cultivators, but it does have four Yuan Ying cultivators who call themselves the Plum, Orchid, Bamboo, and Chrysanthemum residents—specifically, Green Plum, Quiet Orchid, Empty Bamboo, and Mountain Chrysanthemum.

Among them, Green Plum and Mountain Chrysanthemum are the most renowned, excelling in joint attack techniques. It is said that they once joined forces to oppose and clash with the number one of the Demonic Path, the Rakshasa Old Demon of Black River Valley; although they ultimately lost, they survived, and thus their fame spread widely.

Among them, the two lay practitioners Qingmei and Shanju are the most famous; they are highly skilled in joint attack techniques, and it is said that they once teamed up to fight the number one demonic cultivator, the Rakshasa Old Devil of Black River Valley, clashed and fought him; although they ultimately lost, they were not killed, and thus their fame spread widely.

In that case, although the Five Capitals City is merely an alliance of five immortal cities and five factions, it is nevertheless the strongest lineage among all factions.

"'In that case, although the Five Metropolises is merely an alliance of five immortal cities and five forces, it is actually the strongest lineage among those forces.'"

Whether it is the Dao Alliance led by the Tai Xu Zhengyi Sect, the Weapon Alliance led by the Formless Sword Sect, or the Demonic Alliance led by Black River Valley, each has only a single Late Yuan Ying cultivator holding the fort.

As for the Five Capitals City side, as far as is known, there are at least three Late Yuan Ying cultivators: the Yellow Spring Old Ancestor, the Qing Kingdom Old Ancestor, and Green Plum and Mountain Chrysanthemum.

However, although it is called the Five Capitals City, the attitude of the King of Jinling upon seeing the Green Plum and Mountain Chrysanthemum residents reveals that the cooperation among the five immortal cities likely harbors some unknown issues, preventing them from exerting full influence over the Human Cultivator Alliance.

"'Although called the Five Metropolises, from the King of Jinling's attitude upon seeing the two lay practitioners Qingmei and Shanju, one can see that the alliance of the five immortal cities still seems to have some unknown problems, preventing them from exerting full control over the entire human cultivator alliance.'"

One has to admit, just sitting here silently watching some cultivators interact reveals many things.

For example, the contradictions that exist between some sect forces necessarily represent the choices they will make.

In fact, many sects, when faced with factions such as the Dao Alliance, the Artifact Alliance, and the Demon Alliance, have little choice; no matter how they decide, certain labels have long been affixed to their doors.

Only a few forces like Bai Xiao Lou can make any choices in such a broad environment.

Thus Yunhe can clearly feel the "goodwill" that many forces are actively extending toward him.

The King of Jinling is one of them.

The chairs in the hall gradually filled, and the noise in the hall gradually subsided, each person wearing a solemn expression.

When an elderly Daoist dressed in white robes, holding a dust‑sweeping fan and exuding a distinctly celestial aura, appeared, the old monsters in the hall cast their gazes toward him.

Supreme Elder of the Tai Xuan Main Sect, a late‑stage Nascent Soul cultivator, the foremost of the righteous path, the Profound Void Daoist!

He is truly a top figure in the entire Eastern Territory cultivation world who can sway many affairs.

Moreover, within Bai Xiao Lou there are many Jade Slips recording this Profound Void Daoist's experiences, which Yunhe has taken time to peruse.

It is said that this Profound Void Daoist was once a lone cultivator; when he joined the Tai Xuan Main Sect, his cultivation had already reached the perfect Core Formation realm, he concealed his own level to enter the sect, and using the sect's spiritual vein to shock his Nascent Soul, he ultimately succeeded.

Later, at the invitation of the previous Supreme Grand Elder of the Tai Xuan Main Sect, he joined the sect and now serves as a pillar of the Tai Xuan Main Sect, the largest sect in the Eastern Territory.

Precisely because of exemplars like the Profound Void Daoist, many sects in the Eastern Territory are not especially opposed to half‑path outsiders joining.

Of course, accidents caused by such half‑path admissions are not uncommon, but due to survivor bias, few know of them.

When the Profound Void Daoist appeared, he smiled like a neighborly old man, scanned the crowd, and said with a grin, "Wuxiang fellow, Luocha fellow, since you arrived early, why not come in and sit?"

Upon hearing this, those present were startled.

The Wuxiang Sword Sovereign and the Luocha Old Demon have both arrived?

Buzz—

Only then.

A blade of sword light shot in through a window on one side of the hall.

Immediately after, leaning on that window was a scruffy old man holding a wine gourd; an uninformed onlooker would think him a beggar, showing no trace of a late‑stage Nascent Soul cultivator, yet on closer inspection it seemed not a man at all but a sword!

Wuxiang Sword Sect, a late‑stage Nascent Soul master, the Wuxiang Sword Sovereign!

At the same time.

Raging demonic aura surged in through a window on the other side, the hall's temperature dropped sharply, and a terrifying magical wave and pressure, like a mountain, bore down on everyone's hearts, causing the cultivators present to change complexion.

When the demonic aura subsided, a middle‑aged cultivator emerged, hands clasped behind his back, clad in a black fur robe, his gaze lethal; without anger he exuded authority, and none dared meet his stare.

Black River Valley, Luocha Old Demon, the foremost figure of the demonic path!

Among the three late‑stage Nascent Soul cultivators present—Profound Void Daoist, Wuxiang Sword Sovereign, and Luocha Old Demon—the Luocha Old Demon most resembled a great late‑stage Nascent Soul cultivator.

"Two fellow cultivators, long time no see," the Profound Void Daoist said with his smile unchanged, bowing toward the two.

However, before his words finished, the Profound Void Daoist—who had shown no magical aura—suddenly halted, his eyes flashing with a piercing light, and the previously benevolent face was instantly cloaked in cold.

But the change came swiftly and faded even faster; he soon returned to his indifferent demeanor.

Only a handful noticed the shift, Yunhe among them.

He, together with the three late‑stage Nascent Soul cultivators, looked toward a direction outside the window.

Only then.

In the distance the horizon was tinged a brown‑yellow, faintly accompanied by surging waters, yet the impression was a chilling dead aura pressing down.

"Hahaha! I, Xiao, have arrived uninvited; I hope the Profound Void fellow will not mind."

Fengdu City, Yellow Springs Ancestor!

Yunhe's heart tightened slightly, and a thought arose.

"Could it be that the Profound Void Daoist and the Yellow Springs Ancestor are at odds?"

"A distant guest is still a guest; since the Yellow Springs fellow has arrived, let us gather inside," the Profound Void Daoist said lightly.

A torrent of Yellow Springs qi surged into the hall, forming a cultivator clad in earth‑colored robes who landed beside the Profound Void Daoist.

Suddenly.

Within Yunhe's qi‑sea dantian, the 'Assimilation' of the second Nascent Soul's Nascent Soul twitched its eyelids and opened.

It showed a puzzled expression.

(End of Chapter)