Chapter 1731: Found
Venerable Yunfu moved closer to Venerable Fatian and spoke in a low voice. "They've been down there for about an hour, right?"
Fatian nodded. "Roughly, yeah."
Yunfu frowned slightly. "It's been long enough. Could it be that they would rather perish than defect? Venerable Zuimeng and Venerable Feishe shouldn't be that foolish."
Fatian couldn't help but laugh. "You think everyone is like you?"
Yunfu's tone sank. "Like me? What do you mean by that? You defected even faster than I did. Don't make it sound like I was the first to pledge allegiance to Monarch Yan."
"We are not the same," countered Fatian. "I defected because what the Motian Division is doing now fundamentally conflicts with my beliefs, not simply out of betrayal. You're afraid of death."
"I... So what if I'm afraid of death? Heh. At our level, who isn't afraid of death? Those ninth-transformation experts are probably even more afraid than we are," admitted Yunfu, no longer trying to defend himself.
Just as they were speaking, a gust of cold wind swept through them. In an instant, Venerable Zuimeng and Venerable Feishe reappeared, bringing back their ghost soldiers.
The two Venerables looked at Yunfu and Fatian with complicated expressions.
"So... are we colleagues now?" Yunfu asked cautiously.
"Yes," Feishe replied coldly.
"Although we are working together, for the time being, the two of you should refrain from speaking to us," said Zuimeng, her face twisting with anger.
After saying that, she truly ignored Yunfu and Fatian, speaking only with Feishe.
Yunfu gave a self-deprecating smile and fell silent.
The four Venerables, along with a million ghost soldiers, continued to wait. But this time, the one they were waiting for was no longer the same as before.
More and more cultivators gathered in Fire Spirit Valley. Almost every notable figure on Mingwang Star, along with their juniors, had come to witness the event.
They weren't simply here to watch the show—it had become a declaration of stance. Those who came were effectively showing their recognition of the Fallen Alliance, which consisted of the demon race and the Demonic Beast Race. The people who stayed away feared being targeted afterward. After all, in a few years, the vast Taicang Realm would belong entirely to the Fallen Alliance. It would be the greatest change in Taicang Realm's history.
Whether it was the Black Sun Empire, the Nine Nether Immortal Sect, the Wandao Immortal Sect, or the Grand Wei Study, those top-tier powers were all deeply entangled, reduced from decision-makers to mere pieces on the board.
In the void, more and more cultivators gathered around the Great Virtue Heavenly Venerable and the Yuanyang Saintess. There were fourth-, fifth-, and even sixth-transformation immortals, all standing respectfully with hands lowered.
Saintess Yuanyang glanced at the vast sea of people around before quickly losing interest. She looked at the Great Virtue Heavenly Venerable and transmitted, "Great Virtue Heavenly Venerable, I don't think this tactic will draw that person out. Why not swiftly execute these core disciples of the Fangcun Realm and Shenwang Realm and make our stance known?"
"Saintess Yuanyang, you've heard of the Xie Zhi Division, haven't you?" replied the Great Virtue Heavenly Venerable through transmission, his expression unchanging as he smiled at the crowd.
The Yuanyang Saintess's expression shifted slightly, and she nodded. "The Xie Zhi Division? I've heard of it. It was something jointly established by the Fangcun Realm and the Shenwang Realm in recent years. I've also heard that some figures from the Taicang Realm are involved."
She glanced at the Great Virtue Heavenly Venerable. "Are you saying... we're not here just for Wang Ye?"
The Great Virtue Heavenly Venerable explained, "The Xie Zhi Division possesses a very remarkable treasure. According to the information I've received, Wang Ye is also a member of the Xie Zhi Division. The Motian Division has people within it, and so does the demon race. However, our people are all being watched and cannot act freely. So we must act ourselves. If Wang Ye appears, we may be able to obtain a mask from him. That mask allows free entry into and exit from the Xie Zhi Division.
"Although your race hasn't received any invitations from the Xie Zhi Division, you should know that each member within it is a top-tier genius, holding extremely important identities. What if we could kill half of them in one strike?
Saintess Yuanyang looked surprised. "You're planning that? Just the two of us? But the Xie Zhi Division has several ninth-transformation Immortals backing it. How would we kill them?"
A faint smile curled on the Great Virtue Heavenly Venerable's lips. "There is a window and an opportunity. For the next three years, those experts behind the Xie Zhi Division cannot act recklessly."
Saintess Yuanyang narrowed her eyes. "What exactly has the demon race learned? Since we're cooperating, why keep hiding things from me?"
Her tone was tinged with clear dissatisfaction.
"It's not that we intended to conceal it. I only received this directive shortly before departure," explained the Great Virtue Heavenly Venerable. "To put it simply, besides us, others are also luring those suspected to be members of the Xie Zhi Division into traps. If any of us manage to infiltrate the Xie Zhi Division, we can deliver them a heavy blow.
The Great Virtue Heavenly Venerable glanced at Saintess Yuanyang. "Over the years, the Xie Zhi Division has caused us considerable trouble. That treasure should no longer remain in their hands. Our goal is to destroy the Xie Zhi Division and seize that treasure. This matter has significant implications for both our races. My race seeks a foothold in the Nine Mortal Realms, while yours seeks to restore the glory of the Demonic Beast Race. For that, the Xie Zhi Division cannot be allowed to exist."
Saintess Yuanyang remained silent for a long time before speaking. "Then why tell me now? Wouldn't it have been better to keep it hidden?"
The Great Virtue Heavenly Venerable smiled faintly. "I hope that the Divine Path expert secretly protecting you can join us in storming the Xie Zhi Division."
Hearing that, Saintess Yuanyang let out a cold laugh. After a moment of silence, her gaze suddenly shifted to a certain spot. There, a middle-aged man in a green robe sat beneath a tree, calmly brewing tea.
Sensing her gaze, the man looked up, smiled, and nodded.
Saintess Yuanyang withdrew her gaze and glanced at the Great Virtue Heavenly Venerable. "How can you be certain there's an expert of the Divine Path protecting me? Even if there is, they'd at most be at the eighth transformation. Would that really make such a difference? The Motian Division has brought more than one expert at that level this time. You could just use them."
The Great Virtue Heavenly Venerable sighed softly. "The Motian Division's objectives differ from ours. They will only ensure our safety. They won't risk storming the Xie Zhi Division for us."
After saying that, he glanced at the green-robed man.
Noticing where he was looking, shock surged through Saintess Yuanyang's heart.
A faint smile appeared on the Great Virtue Heavenly Venerable's lips. "That senior was already an eighth-transformation Immortal long ago. Now that he has entered the Divine Path, he should be what they call a half-step ninth-transformation immortal. In a world where no ninth-transformation appears, who could be his match? With him accompanying us into the Xie Zhi Division, this mission will earn us unparalleled merit."
Saintess Yuanyang looked conflicted. "You demons... really do know quite a lot."
The Great Virtue Heavenly Venerable smiled but said nothing more. Instead, he quietly gave a few instructions to Abbot Wufa, who nodded and ordered the three hundred monks below to intensify their chanting.
The sound of scriptures filled Fire Spirit Valley, and the power of the fire poison surged even higher, burning Ji Sheng and the others until they screamed and cursed in agony.
Fang Chen slowly opened his eyes. A cold gleam flashed within them as his gaze fell upon the Great Virtue Heavenly Venerable and the Yuanyang Saintess.
At that moment, both of them sensed it.
"Found you... heh."
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