Chapter 222: Middle Land Immortal Hall (2)
A breakthrough? Zhao Xing fixed his gaze on the purple-robed figure. "The Golden Core phase?"
The purple-robed figure chuckled. "Haha, it is incredibly difficult to advance from the Qi Sea phase to the Golden Core phase. I cannot say I’m confident in my chances of success."
Zhao Xing and Hai Feizhang fell into silence. By not denying it, it meant they agreed.
"Jin Quan, what do you need us to do now?" Hai Feizhang finally spoke, his voice slow and measured.
"I need time," the purple-robed figure replied calmly. "Help me hold the fort for the Great Jin and grant me sufficient time to complete this breakthrough. Just as we agreed over a century ago, all the martial arts prodigies from Great Jin will join your sects."
"When I succeed with my breakthrough and unify the Central Plains, I promise that the Yuanxia Palace and Starsea Pavilion will reign supreme in the Central Plains. I will also teach you how to reach the Golden Core phase," the purple-robed figure spoke gently.
Zhao Xing and Hai Feizhang exchanged a glance. Their support for Jin Quan had propelled Great Jin to expand rapidly, paving the way for him to unify the Holy Continent over a century ago. The Jin royal family wanted to rule over all. Meanwhile, the two sacred martial sects strived to strengthen their foundations. These three factions thus united to establish the Great Jin Empire.
"Very well," Zhao Xing murmured in a deep voice. "Jin Quan, I will lend you my support. However, you must first allow us to peruse the ‘Amethyst Cradle Jade Record’."
"Agreed,” Hai Feizhang quickly chimed in. It was a treasure he had long yearned for.
"No problem," the figure in purple robes spoke calmly. "I shall also gift each of you a piece of fifth-grade spirit equipment."
Time passed swiftly. In the blink of an eye, October drew to a close, and more than ten days passed since the bloody battle at Cloudhill.
The world was shaken by the news, yet its impact on ordinary folk and martial artists remained minimal.
Deep beneath Cloudhill, within the jade chamber, the four highest-ranking members of the Cloudstride Sect gathered.
Fang Xia had emerged from his seclusion two days prior, and his vital aura was markedly improved.
"Ancestor, all commands have been issued, and the news has been disseminated widely," Huan Jian, who was in charge of overseeing sect matters, spoke softly. "I believe the ten provinces will swiftly stabilize. There should no longer be any rebellions against the previous edicts."
"This battle showcased Ancestor’s divine might and dealt a heavy blow to Great Jin. It was a pivotal moment for the rise of the Cloudstride Sect," Bu Yu said with a smile. "Everyone now knows that our Cloudstride Sect will not only endure, but even flourish. Who would dare harbor ill intent?"
Both of them felt their chests swelling with pride. Bu Yu not only achieved a breakthrough in her twilight years, but would also get to witness the rise of the sect firsthand. She felt truly fortunate.
"Ten provinces is just the start," Fang Xia declared, his voice steady and composed. "Yesterday, Zhao Xing and Hai Feizhang arrived outside Cloudhill together."
Bu Yu and Huan Jian were immediately taken aback. They knew who these two were. Zhao Xing and Hai Feizhang were leaders of their respective factions, and their fame lasted several centuries. This was especially so for Zhao Xing, who had risen to prominence long before Wan Xing, having lived for well over 400 years. The fact that these two powerful cultivators arrived at Cloudhill was a matter of utmost gravity.
Wu Yuan listened silently. He had sensed the arrival of the two powerful cultivators but was unaware of the details surrounding their visit.
"They have promised us that Great Jin will relinquish control over the six provinces in the western region of the Jiang Continent to our Cloudstride Sect," Fang Xia uttered slowly.
Bu Yu, Huan Jian, and Wu Yuan exchanged glances, their brows furrowing. Great Jin, having already suffered the loss of six Heavenly Rankers, was now promising to cede their territory?
"Ancestor, what are the terms they have put forth?" Wu Yuan inquired, his forehead wrinkling with concern.
"A ceasefire on both sides," Fang Xia responded.
Before anyone else could interject, Fang Xia continued, his voice soft but resolute, "I have already agreed. If I had not, the Cloudstride Sect would never find peace. A truce is beneficial."
“Quite a reasonable proposal.” Huan Jian said softly.
“Achieving the unification of the Jiang Continent without sacrificing any soldiers or pawns is an excellent outcome. However, the three holy sanctuaries of Great Jin suffered massive losses. If Imperator Jin and his allies decide to launch a joint attack, Ancestor may not be able to hold them off alone,” Bu Yu commented in a deep voice.
After reviewing the information from the Pleiades Guild, they understood Great Jin’s strength.
“In November, Great Jin will begin to withdraw from the Jiang Continent. Huan Jian, you are to oversee the handover to the sect's military and civil officials. You must swiftly consolidate the six provinces. If Eastdream and Westdream submit obediently, then all is fine. If any reject our rule, show no mercy.”
“Understood.” Huan Jian acknowledged his orders with a nod.
“The unity of a sect cannot be fostered overnight. Once everything is in order, the responsibility of managing the sect will be left to your subordinates,” Fang Xia said. “Also, there is one more matter that involves you.”
Fang Xia turned over his palm, revealing a few bluish crystals. These crystals resembled jade but were even more translucent and ethereal.
“This is?”
“Etherstone? It doesn’t look like it.” Bu Yu and Huan Jian voiced their confusion, unsure of what these crystals were.
“Voidrealm jade?” Wu Yuan, recognizing them as a special type of treasure mentioned in the immortal slips,
“These are hall jades of the Middle Land Immortal Hall. By imprinting your Soul Force on the Palace Jade, it is akin to claiming ownership, which will grant you access to the Middle Land Immortal Hall once it is opened.”
Bu Yu and Huan Jian were completely confused.
“These contain information on the Middle Land Immortal Hall. Have a read.” As Fang Xia handed out three thin books, Bu Yu, Wu Yuan, and Huan Jian eagerly started scanning the pages.
“Middle Land Immortal Hall?”
“There’s actually a place like this? Individuals can manifest their Soul Force in a virtual form, allowing them to communicate instantly despite being tens of thousands of li apart?" Bu Yu exclaimed in awe.
"The Wu Sect wields such a wondrous artifact?" Huan Jian, too, found himself taken aback. "This is truly an immortal treasure. It means the Middle Land Heavenly Rankers can communicate instantly during crucial moments."
Swiftly flipping through the pages, Wu Yuan pieced it all together. The so-called Middle Land Immortal Hall matched the description of the voidrealms mentioned in the immortal slips. And the crystals were none other than voidrealm jades.
As the immortal slip suggests, the high-grade voidrealms are far more wondrous than the metaverse of my previous life. I wonder how impressive the Wu Sect's Middle Land Immortal Hall is.
The metaverse was a completely virtual world. Though very impressive, it was confined to the limits of technology. On the other hand, the voidrealms crafted by powerful cultivators were spaces that blurred the line between the real and virtual, capable of accommodating countless entities.
"The Middle Land Immortal Hall requires the utilization of Soul Force to enter," Fang Xia explained, "which means only Heavenly Rankers can gain access."
"According to what Dong Pan told me, in response to the Cloudstride Sect’s rise, they will open the Middle Land Immortal Hall on the tenth of November.”
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