Chapter 299: Turning Point

"Many thanks to Brother Baiyun for arriving in time to save me!" True Monarch Xuanchen wiped the blood flowing from his nose and mouth as he expressed his gratitude.

"Sigh, I never imagined the Xuanhua Sect would dare to use such a vicious method against you, Brother. However, this matter is truly difficult to handle. We can only protect you for this moment; in three days, the Immortal Alliance Assembly will officially begin, and chaos will inevitably arise again. Although Uncle-Master Chixia is an Immortal Alliance Elder, he is ranked last after all, and I fear he is powerless to help." True Monarch Baiyun sighed and shook his head.

"I know, but things have reached this point, and it is death either way. It is just that I, this poor Daoist, have been strong-willed my entire life, and I never expected to fall because of this matter. Sigh, it truly is Heaven's will. Back then, my disciple Xu Chen brought back a stalk of Blood God Grass, which helped me succeed in Spirit Transformation. I was in high spirits, thinking that longevity was within reach. Now, Xu Chen's life or death is unknown, yet he has left behind such a calamity. Truly, the secrets of Heaven are hard to fathom, and karma is difficult to sever!" True Monarch Xuanchen's face was full of helplessness as he sighed gloomily.

True Monarch Baiyun remained silent for a long time before asking, "Does Brother truly not know the pill formula?"

True Monarch Xuanchen shook his head with a bitter smile: "Although I am strong-willed, I am not a fool. How could I disregard a thousand years of lifespan and my future on the Daoist path, or sacrifice the lives of dozens of people in my sect, for the sake of a mere pill formula? Xu Chen stayed in Yuqing Hall for nearly a month, and Brother Baiyun naturally witnessed the natural phenomena that occurred when the Taiyuan Soul-Entering Pill was refined. This was not due to the pill formula, but rather other reasons. How do you expect me to explain this, and how would you expect others to believe it?"

True Monarch Baiyun was silent for a long time again before sighing: "That is indeed the case, but things have reached this point, and it is no longer something my Yuqing Hall can control. Does Brother have anything else to say? If this poor Daoist can do it, I will certainly not refuse."

"This poor Daoist has nothing to entrust, and I do not wish to drag you into this either. My Taiyuan Sect was merely using a name to re-establish the sect; we lived in seclusion, uncontending with the world, and had no desire for power or conflict. I have no wish to have any dealings with the so-called Shenzhou Immortal Alliance. This Nether Beast Catastrophe is coming on aggressively, and now Brother Taiwu has also suffered heavy injuries. It is impossible to predict how many people will die in the future, but before I die, I still hope that Yuqing Hall can stand up for the large and small Immortal Sects of the Song Kingdom, so they do not become cannon fodder and ultimately hand over Southeast Shenzhou to others." True Monarch Xuanchen said in a calm tone.

True Monarch Baiyun smiled bitterly and shook his head: "Since Brother has seen it, how could Uncle-Master not see it? But the situation is so dire that requesting the Immortal Alliance to intervene is a last resort. Otherwise, the foundations of the Immortal worlds of the Song, Ming, and Wu Kingdoms will not be preserved. However, Brother, rest assured: no matter what happens in three days, Yuqing Hall will do its utmost to protect your life and the Taiyuan Sect..."

However, as he said this, True Monarch Baiyun suddenly closed his eyes and focused his mind, his expression instantly turning one of great surprise.

True Monarch Xuanchen knew that True Monarch Baiyun was using Divine Sense Transmission with someone, so he waited quietly.

A moment later, True Monarch Baiyun suddenly transmitted his voice in a low tone: "Brother Xuanchen, there may be a turning point. Uncle-Master just sent word that the Taiqing Palace will also be coming to attend the Immortal Alliance Assembly."

A look of surprise also appeared on True Monarch Xuanchen's face, but it quickly returned to normal, and he said calmly: "So what if the Taiqing Palace comes? How could they not be tempted by the Taiyuan Soul-Entering Pill?"

True Monarch Baiyun was stunned for a moment and said: "That may be so, but the Taiqing Palace is, after all, the leader of the Shenzhou Immortal Alliance; they should not act too disgracefully. Moreover, the one coming this time is Yufu Shenjun. It is said that Yufu Shenjun is the Great Cultivator in Shenzhou most likely to achieve Void Breaking and become an Immortal. He has long since ceased to be tempted by these worldly matters and would absolutely not cause trouble for himself over a pill formula."

"What do you mean by that?" True Monarch Xuanchen asked, dumbfounded.

"Brother, have you forgotten the person hidden behind Xu Chen?" True Monarch Baiyun reminded him.

True Monarch Xuanchen was stunned, then smiled bitterly: "If Xu Chen were still alive, this might truly be a turning point. But unfortunately, Xu Chen is gone. This thread is broken, and it is meaningless to talk about it further."

True Monarch Baiyun nodded after a moment of silence:

"That may be so, but there is still a connection after all. When the time comes, if we bring up the name of Senior Wu Yazi, perhaps Yufu Shenjun will have some reservations. At this moment, we cannot give up as long as there is a glimmer of hope.

In this matter, my Yuqing Hall is also under great pressure. Uncle-Master Chixia has also been overwhelmed recently.

Sigh, think of how high-spirited you and I were when we were young, drinking tea and discussing the Dao together, exploring for Immortal Treasures together. I thought that after Spirit Transformation, the world would be vast and open, but I never expected that today, the higher our cultivation, the more restricted we feel. I feel the path of the Dao is dim and unpredictable. Just as Brother said earlier, even if this Nether Beast Catastrophe is quelled, it is unknown whether this poor Daoist will survive, and it is even more impossible to predict how many people will be left in Yuqing Hall and the various Immortal Sects of the Song Kingdom. The Heavenly Dao is hard to fathom; life and death are but a thin line apart. When the nest is overturned, how can any eggs remain intact?

Brother, please take care. Uncle-Master is summoning me, so this poor Daoist will take his leave first!"

True Monarch Xuanchen nodded and performed a salute: "Go carefully, Brother Baiyun!"

True Monarch Baiyun hurriedly took his leave and walked out of the cave, which was covered in three layers of restrictions inside and out, and soon appeared in a magnificent palace floating more than a hundred feet above the ground at the summit of the mountain.

This palace was actually a Six-Rank Dharma Treasure called Xianyun Palace, brought by the Thunder God Hall for all the Great Cultivators to rest.

The exterior of the palace appeared small, only about a hundred feet in size, floating amidst rolling clouds and mist radiating spiritual light. However, there was a different world inside. Once one stepped through the gate, the view transformed into a continuous stretch of palaces and Dao Courtyards, numbering at least a hundred, large and small. Moreover, it was filled with abundant Spirit Qi, shrouded in mist, and covered with spiritual plants, with Spirit Beasts and Spirit Birds playing and moving about, just like a true Immortal palace.

It is said that the foundation of this Magic Treasure is an Upper-Grade Spiritual Vein, built by countless predecessors and great artifact refiners of the Thunder God Hall who spent countless rare treasures and materials to continuously expand and craft it.

Such a luxurious Immortal dwelling is the only one of its kind in all of Shenzhou; even the top-ranked Taiqing Palace does not have one.

However, the Taiqing Palace itself resides alone in the Mustard Cave Heaven of Xumi Mountain. The world does not even know its location; they only hear its name but do not know where it is. Therefore, compared to it, the Thunder God Hall appears a step behind, and can only use such a luxurious and powerful Magic Treasure to save face.

But even so, the dozens of large and medium-sized Immortal Sects in Southeast Shenzhou that were gathered at Langya Mountain this time, looking at this brilliant palace floating above the clouds on the mountaintop all day long, could only feel envy, jealousy, and hatred, filled with longing.

Unfortunately, only Spirit Transformation Great Cultivators are qualified to enter this palace. The remaining low-to-mid-level cultivators at the Refining Essence into Qi stage, apart from sighing in admiration and drooling, could only look on and lament, while simultaneously developing a greater desire and impulse to achieve Spirit Transformation.

Many cultivators' greatest luxury is that if they could enter this palace and stay for one night in this lifetime, they would die without regrets.

True Monarch Baiyun entered Xianyun Palace and soon arrived at a quiet Dao Courtyard in a side hall.

True Monarch Chixia, with silver-white hair and beard and wearing a purple Dharma robe, was meditating and breathing in the room. Blue and white Qi was continuously being exhaled and inhaled with his breath from his nose and mouth. As the spiritual light flickered, a profound and obscure aura was emitted in waves.

"Uncle-Master, why did you summon me?" True Monarch Baiyun bowed slightly in salute.

True Monarch Chixia slowly opened his eyes and said, "Is Xuanchenzi still refusing to speak?"

True Monarch Baiyun smiled bitterly: "If he knew, he would certainly not resist so stubbornly. We can only prepare for the worst in this matter. However, the Xuanhua Sect's actions are too excessive; Uncle-Master should still issue a warning!"

True Monarch Chixia was silent for a moment, then sighed: "It is indeed excessive, but at present, quelling the Black Wind and the Nether Beast Catastrophe is the top priority. Other matters can only be handled as the situation demands. Why do you think these Immortal Sects are so eager to come to the assembly? It is not necessarily because of the Immortal Alliance Elder Order, but because of the benefits—the Taiyuan Soul-Entering Pill is one of them. If not for this, it would be good if even half of them came this time."

True Monarch Baiyun sighed and shook his head: "Immortals and mortals are no different; the bustling world is all for profit. It is just a pity that Xu Chen is dead. I fear there is no one left in the world who can refine the Taiyuan Soul-Entering Pill. I fear everyone will be disappointed this time."

True Monarch Chixia lowered his eyes for a long time before saying: "This person Xu Chen has great mysteries about him; do not view him as an ordinary cultivator. It is too early to conclude whether he is dead or not."

True Monarch Baiyun was immediately full of surprise: "Uncle-Master is saying that Xu Chen might still be alive?"

True Monarch Chixia nodded slightly: "If he truly met Wu Yazi in the cave at Black Wind Ridge back then, he would certainly not die so easily. The methods of a True Immortal are not to be judged by ordinary standards. However, it is useless to think too much about this. We must still face this assembly and suppress the Black Wind and Nether Beasts in the Southeast as soon as possible. Otherwise, the foundations of many Immortal Sects will not be preserved, and Yuqing Hall will have nowhere to stand in the future.

Additionally, no matter what the situation is in three days, you must restrain the disciples of the sect and not let them follow the crowd to cause trouble and disrupt our own footing."

True Monarch Baiyun bowed respectfully: "Yes, this disciple will make proper arrangements. However, how should we deal with the matter of You'er?"

True Monarch Chixia was silent for a moment and sighed: "Since the Thunder God Hall has spoken, what else can be done? It is just a pity for such a good seedling. Being able to build good relations with the Thunder God Hall is also a good thing for us. Perhaps fewer disciples will die this time."

True Monarch Baiyun wanted to say something but stopped, and in the end, he could only let out a long sigh and take his leave.

(End of chapter)