"Young miss, what do you think?" Elder Chen said, his fingers gently caressing his long, white beard. His wrinkled face showed signs of confusion mixed with a hint of curiosity.
Mi Ling leaned back in her ornate chair, her bored expression never faltering. "I have already anticipated this, Elder Chen," she said dismissively, her voice dripping with nonchalance. "Of course, we will accept their invitation."
Just a short while ago, a jade slip had been delivered to the palace door by one of the expert members of the Devil Court. It was a gesture that demanded attention, and though Elder Chen was admittedly confused, he knew better than to ignore it. So, he had brought the jade slip to Mi Ling, seeking her guidance.
The jade slip holds a remarkable invention credited to Mo Di, the ruler of the Devil Court. In his profound wisdom, he extended a heartfelt invitation to the renowned Starry Sky Alliance, urging them to grace the Holy Devil continent with their presence. The intricately carved slip conveys the richness of Mo Di’s words, emphasizing the significance of this unprecedented alliance. The invitation from the Devil Court’s ruler serves as a testament to his diplomatic prowess and highlights the importance he places on fostering harmonious relations between the realms.
"Sacrificing one of our members was a tax we had to pay if we want to cooperate with the Devil Court," Mi Ling continued, her voice filled with calculated pragmatism. "After all, we ventured into their realm willingly."
Elder Chen let out a heavy sigh, his old eyes filled with a mixture of resignation and concern. "Maybe," he muttered, unsure of the consequences that lay ahead.
Mi Ling, always quick-witted and cunning, flashed a sly smile. "Elder Chen, we should gather everyone and inform them," she suggested. "One hundred years from now, we will mate with the Devil Court in the inner ring."
Elder Chen nodded, silently acknowledging her decision. With a flick of his cloak, he disappeared from the room, leaving Mi Ling alone to contemplate the weight of their impending alliance. After a few moments, she raised her delicate hand and waved it through the air. In an instant, a majestic peacock materialized before her, its feathers shimmering in a variety of vibrant colors.
However, something seemed off. The once resplendent seven-colored peacock appeared dull and exhausted. One of its feathers had lost its brilliance, fading into a muted shade, transforming its plumage into a combination of six colors.
This peacock was far from ordinary. It was a unique and rare being known as the Heaven Sacrificial Peacock, a being that only appeared every three hundred thousand years. It possessed no combat capabilities, but its true value lay in its ability to defy the heavens themselves. It could ward off heavenly tribulations, with its power extending up to seven tribulations.
In the past, when Mi Ling had attempted to peer into the fate of Liang, she had encountered a powerful force that prevented her from gaining any insight.
Although she may feel limited in her options, there is another alternative available to her called Heavenly Fate Seer-ing, a spirit technique. However, using this technique comes with a significant drawback - the practitioner must face a Heavenly Punishment tribulation.
This tribulation poses a challenge and potential consequence that she must confront. It is important for her to carefully consider the risks and benefits associated with employing the Heavenly Fate Seering technique. While it may provide valuable insights into her situation, the tribulation that follows could potentially make her pay a heavy price.
After she caught a glimpse of Kai’s fate line, all hesitation disappeared. The pieces were beginning to fall into place, and Mi Ling realized the immense significance of the information she had obtained. She had uncovered the connection between Kai and Liang, as well as the presence of lurking corpse cultivators hidden in the shadows.
In addition to consuming one of the peacock’s seven chances, utilizing its power had caused Mi Ling’s cultivation, which had previously reached the late stage of the Sixth Grade Realm, to regress to the middle stage. But the sacrifices were worth it if it meant securing an advantage in the dangerous web of conspiracies that surrounded them.
****
In a desolate region on the Holy Devil continent, a group of several black-robed figures could be seen. Each of them appeared to be in deep meditation. Amidst them, a middle-aged man slowly opened his eyes, revealing a pair of ghostly flaming orbs.
This man was none other than Revenant Xuan, whose powerful presence enveloped the surroundings. With a simple wave of his hand, a communication talisman materialized, and as its glow intensified, a figure materialized - none other than Liang. "It’s been a while, Senior Xuan. I hope you have been well," Liang greeted with a smile.
"Where are you now?" Revenant Xuan inquired.
Liang’s smile widened. "I am currently in the Common Road Realm. After attending to some matters, I will return."
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"You better not linger for too long," Revenant Xuan chuckled.
Liang’s eyes narrowed, curiosity evident. "Why is that?"
Revenant Xuan explained, his voice tinged with mystery. "In about a hundred years, the Heavenly Will Palace will open."
Liang’s expression turned serious as he queried, "How did you come by this information?"
Revenant Xuan’s smile grew enigmatic as he replied, "Consider it my intuition."
Liang smiled reassuringly at Revenant Xuan, his expression a mix of determination and confidence.
"Then we will prepare ourselves when the time comes," he said softly, his voice filled with a sense of purpose.
Revenant Xuan nodded, his eyes narrowing with curiosity. "Why have you connected me now?" he asked, his tone tinged with intrigue.
"Something urgent occurred!" Liang replied, his previous smile fading into a more serious expression.
"What is it?" Revenant inquired, his voice laced with a hint of concern.
Liang took a deep breath, his gaze unwavering. "Most likely, our plan has been discovered," he revealed, his voice filled with a mix of caution and urgency.
Revenant Xuan’s lips curled into a faint smile, an air of amusement surrounding him. "You mean that girl with the Destiny Seer Physique?" he remarked, his tone laced with a hint of mischief.
Liang’s sharp gaze narrowed into a thin line as he processed the information, his suspicion growing with each passing moment. It became evident to him that the cunning old man had already caught wind of the recent events, a realization that sent chills down his spine.
"Without a doubt, it must be her," Liang muttered under his breath, his voice laced with a mix of concern and determination.
Revenant Xuan met Liang’s gaze with a reassuring smile, his confidence shining through. "In that case, there’s no need for alarm. She may have noticed our presence, but she lacks the depth of knowledge to truly comprehend the extent of our power."
Liang felt a glimmer of relief wash over him as he absorbed Xuan’s words. The fact that their true strength remained concealed offered them a strategic advantage. However, Liang couldn’t shake off a lingering sense of unease, knowing that their secretive endeavors were no longer shrouded in complete darkness.
"Should we change our plans?" Liang said, his voice tinged with uncertainty.
After a brief pause, Revenant Xuan responded, his tone resolute, "Indeed, we should. However, our decision should not be solely based on this girl’s presence. If I am not mistaken, other realm lords are anticipating the opening as well."
"Realm lords, are there any other realm lords besides the devil realm lord?" Liang asked, curiosity gleaming in his eyes.
Revenant Xuan nodded sagely, his ethereal presence filling the room. "Indeed, there are two other realm lords, at least there were in the past. However, the situation has changed recently. Currently, only Wu Wei, the realm lord of the Martial Rising Realm, remains in power. The realm lord of the Common Road Realm was unfortunate enough to be slain by Mo Ji not long ago."
The mention of Wu Wei’s involvement sparked a flicker of concern in Liang’s eyes. "So, should we also consider Wu Wei’s role in these tumultuous events?"
Revenant Xuan nodded once more, his inscrutable expression retaining a hint of mystery. "Indeed, Wu Wei’s position as a realm lord warrants careful consideration."
Liang nodded in understanding, his mind whirling with the implications of Revenant Xuan’s words.
"Very well," Liang agreed, his voice steady. "We will shift our focus towards the realm lords and the impending opening of the Heavenly Will Palace. It appears that our plan is no longer solely reliant on our own actions."
Revenant Xuan nodded in agreement, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of excitement and intrigue. "Indeed, this turn of events adds an element of unpredictability to the situation. We must be prepared for any challenges that may arise."
Liang took a deep breath, his resolve strengthening. "I will gather the necessary resources and information to ensure our preparations are solid. We cannot afford any missteps as we navigate these uncertain waters."
Revenant Xuan flashed a broader smile, his ethereal orbs blazing brightly. His voice resounded with determination, "Excellent. Let us always keep in mind that our ultimate objective remains unchanged - to reach the Heavenly Will Palace before anyone else."
With these words, the connection between Liang and Revenant Xuan faded.