[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-immortal-path-among-the-stars":3,"chapter-the-immortal-path-among-the-stars-the-immortal-path-among-the-stars-chapter-360":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Immortal Path Among the Stars",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2320292,4537,"Chapter 360: Hidden Truths","the-immortal-path-among-the-stars-chapter-360",360,"\u003Cp>“What do you mean? Isn’t this demonic invasion simply because the demonic sects want to expand their influence and have set their sights on our Wu Kingdom’s two prefectures?” Wang Yu asked, puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“On the surface, yes—but there are hidden details behind it. Does Brother Wang know?” Princess Tianhe said with a smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hidden details?” Wang Yu was startled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Indeed. Brother Wang should know that although I am a disciple of the Thousand Bamboo Sect, I also hold another identity—I am of the imperial family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though due to the influence of cultivation sects, most secular power in Wu Kingdom’s twelve prefectures and forty-eight states rests in the hands of major sects, all prefectures and states still outwardly recognize the imperial family as supreme, for our Wu family once produced a Nascent Soul cultivator; otherwise, how could we have remained imperial rulers for thousands of years?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tianhe Prefecture is a branch of the imperial family, so we naturally have channels to learn certain special information,” Princess Tianhe said with deep implication.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lady Wu, please enlighten me—I am all ears,” Wang Yu bowed respectfully, his demeanor turning solemn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enlightenment is too much to say—you saved my life, and I’ve never truly repaid you. These tidings are merely my token of gratitude,” Princess Tianhe smiled sweetly, brushing a strand of black hair from her forehead, her entire presence radiant and captivating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yu assumed an expression of focused attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With the demonic sects’ invasion imminent, and given how easily the Four Symbols Sect lost Tongzhou, it is clear the demonic forces surpass the four sects of Great Ming Prefecture in strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I could obtain some key information from Princess Tianhe, I could accurately assess and analyze the coming battle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you know, Brother Wang, that when the Heavenly Luo Demon Lord broke through to Nascent Soul, our Wu Kingdom’s Nascent Soul elder—the Supreme Elder of Haoran Sect, ‘Tianru’—infiltrated Yu Kingdom, intending to disrupt his breakthrough and even kill the demon on the spot,” Princess Tianhe revealed a shocking piece of news.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What? Our Wu Kingdom’s Nascent Soul cultivator has already acted against that man from the Heavenly Luo Sect?” Wang Yu stared in disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Correct. Yu Kingdom’s sects are all demonic, and they already had two Nascent Soul cultivators, matching our Wu Kingdom’s number. If they gained another, the balance of power between the two kingdoms would be shattered—our Nascent Soul elders could not allow such a thing to happen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But unfortunately, although Elder Tianru was immensely powerful, he never anticipated being ambushed by the ‘Tongtian Demon Lord’ and a host of demonic Jin Dan cultivators in Yu Kingdom. He returned severely wounded and has remained in seclusion within Haoran Sect’s forbidden grounds ever since.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, the only Nascent Soul cultivator currently able to act for our Wu Kingdom is the Supreme Elder of Xuanzhen Sect, ‘Fuchen Zhenren.’ In top-tier strength, we are now outmatched.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, Fuchen Zhenren is a third-rank array master. Though he remains stationed at Xuanzhen Sect and no longer leaves the mountain gate, the demonic Nascent Soul cultivators dare not easily enter Wu Kingdom’s core regions, fearing Fuchen Zhenren might use the terrain to set up a massive array and annihilate them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now that the Heavenly Luo Demon Lord has stabilized his realm and emerged from seclusion, this fragile balance has been shattered—hence the demonic invasion of our two prefectures.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to imperial intelligence, the three demonic Nascent Soul cultivators have met secretly multiple times. Thus, this invasion is not merely the Heavenly Luo Demon Lord’s arrogant attempt to expand his power, but a coordinated probe by the entire Yu Kingdom’s demonic sects against our Wu Kingdom’s cultivation world. One misstep, and the entire Wu Kingdom may be swallowed whole,” Princess Tianhe said in a melodious voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So now, our Wu Kingdom has only one Nascent Soul cultivator with normal strength, while the demons have three. Is our cultivation world not in grave danger?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under these circumstances, how can our four sects of Great Ming Prefecture possibly resist a demonic invasion backed by Nascent Soul cultivators? Shouldn’t our ancestral elders have abandoned Great Ming Prefecture long ago and relocated the sects to other prefectures?” Wang Yu gasped, his voice filled with shock and doubt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It is dangerous—but this battle, our four sects’ ancestral elders must fight. There is no retreat for them,” Princess Tianhe replied softly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you mean?” Wang Yu blinked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Simple. Haoran and Xuanzhen Sects have already issued decrees.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this demonic invasion, no sect may avoid battle. Any sect that abandons its mountain gate will be considered dissolved and barred from rebuilding anywhere in Wu Kingdom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Conversely, if a sect fights hard and then retreats to another region of Wu Kingdom, Haoran and Xuanzhen will redraw territorial boundaries and permit them to rebuild a new mountain gate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this information is known only to the Jin Dan ancestral elders—not to ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators,” Princess Tianhe said with deep implication.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So that’s why our sect’s ancestral elders, despite knowing victory is nearly impossible, still risk battle. Besides this, Lady Wu, do you have any other information to share? If you could tell me everything, I would be deeply grateful,” Wang Yu murmured, his mind racing with thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This demonic invasion is far more dangerous than previously imagined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Wang, you’re too kind. I will tell you everything I can.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this stage, you need not worry too much about the demonic invasion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Haoran and Xuanzhen Sects have issued the no-retreat decree, our four sects’ ancestral elders have secretly formed an alliance with Tianhe Prefecture’s ‘Qingyan Sect,’ ‘Wusha Valley,’ and ‘Juding Sect.’ Whichever sect is attacked first, the others will come to its aid—otherwise, why would our Great Ming Prefecture’s Foundation Establishment cultivators be wandering so openly through Tianhe Prefecture without being stopped and questioned by the three Tianhe sects?” Princess Tianhe added with a light laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“With the combined strength of our two prefectures’ seven sects, as long as that man from the Heavenly Luo Sect doesn’t intervene lightly, we can handle the early stages,” Wang Yu said, his spirits lifting slightly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Moreover, Haoran and Xuanzhen Sects seem to have promised additional support to the two prefectures’ sects, so this war cannot end quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Also, one other thing—have you noticed any changes within the sect over the past two or three years?” Princess Tianhe suddenly asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Changes within the sect?” Wang Yu frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our Thousand Bamboo Sect’s true heir, Yan Tieyi, and Huang Yun, my junior sister famed for her millennium-rare talent in puppetry, have not been seen in the sect for three years. It seems both accepted secret missions and are no longer in Great Ming Prefecture,” Princess Tianhe said with a knowing smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yu’s pupils contracted. After a moment’s thought, he replied cautiously:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My sect’s White Tiger lineage’s senior brother Chen Tianxing and my master’s disciple Qin Jie have also not been seen these past years—they too appear to have taken on long-term missions.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Heh, it seems Brother Wang already understands my meaning. Then I shall say no more.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This large-scale demonic invasion is no trivial matter. Not only are Wu Kingdom’s major sects considering their options, but many powerful cultivation clans also have their own agendas—nothing unusual about that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, when the situation becomes truly hopeless, seeking a safe retreat will already be too late,” the white-robed woman said, giving a final light gesture.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a long while, Wang Yu said nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>",1245,"2026-06-20T15:44:32.161Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","4ab4c5bc99658d5e3a90b7c43d19287b996afd8a54154d4f3bb40069bf627dc5","the-immortal-path-among-the-stars-chapter-361","the-immortal-path-among-the-stars-chapter-359",530,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-immortal-path-among-the-stars-cover.jpg"]