However, sometimes things do not proceed as normally as expected.

For instance, at this very moment, news broke that trouble had erupted at the Divine Soul River. Upon investigating further, the source was traced to the actions of Zhang Xuxuan, a traitor from the Qingcheng Sect.

If Yuan Ling was the most notorious traitor of Mount Hua over the years, then Zhang Xuxuan held that title for Qingcheng. Coincidentally, both men belonged to the ninth generation.

Yuan Ling was infamous for researching all manner of forbidden arts, using the human body as his laboratory—an evil bordering on the absolute. Meanwhile, the Qingcheng traitor, Zhang Xuxuan, was renowned for his research into magical arrays. This individual studied countless formations, constantly improving upon them, marking him as a genius among geniuses.

It was rumored that this man had also joined the 'Heaven-Assisting Alliance' (Tiān Tìng Méng), becoming one of their formidable figures.

The events of a short while ago unfolded thus: Zhang Xuxuan infiltrated the Divine Soul River, reportedly intending to sink the entire river into the earth. However, when he breached Qingcheng, he revealed a trace of his presence, was immediately discovered, and a cataclysmic battle erupted between the Qingcheng Ascetic, Zhang Qingshan, and Zhang Xuxuan.

That battle, it was said, shook the very foundations of heaven and earth.

In the end, Zhang Xuxuan was forced to retreat from the Divine Soul River. Yet, even in his departure, he managed to leave behind nine intricate arrays within the river. These arrays, subtly harmonizing with various cosmic principles, possessed the power to utilize immense forces to submerge the Divine Soul River deep beneath the ground.

Normally, Mount Qingcheng possessed a wealth of masters, including several figures at the Ascetic (Shangren) level. However, due to the specific measures left by Zhang Xuxuan, if any Ascetic-level expert were to fully exert their power in the Divine Soul River now, it could trigger the river’s immediate collapse and descent into the earth.

To utilize arrays to such an extent was truly unfathomable, akin to the work of spirits and demons.

Thus, Qingcheng now found itself in a bind.

The original plan for numerous cultivators to explore the Divine Soul River was naturally abandoned.

Abandoned it is, Lu Yuan mused contentedly, sipping his wine. Frankly, he wasn't particularly bothered by the inability to visit the Divine Soul River.

But just as he thought this, he was sought out by Sun Xiuli, the 'Sword Immortal of Elegance' (Xiù zhī Jiàn Xiān) from Qingcheng.

It turned out that Sword Immortal Sun Xiuli had come to Mount Hua seeking assistance.

The Divine Soul River was currently precarious due to the presence of these arrays. Therefore, what was needed was someone to mend the nine corresponding breaches in the river. Only by repairing these nine holes could the Divine Soul River return to normal operation. If the river truly sank into the ground, it would enhance the primordial spirit (Shenhun) for the demons lurking underground—that was the first concern.

The second concern was this: if, at the crucial juncture of the Five Mountains Alliance Summit, a Qingcheng traitor like Zhang Xuxuan, a member of the Heaven-Assisting Alliance, succeeded in sinking the Divine Soul River, all five major Immortal Sects would suffer a profound loss of face. This was a direct provocation leveled against the prestige of the five supreme Immortal Sects; failing to retaliate fiercely would mean losing all dignity.

Now, the most critical factor was that under the influence of Zhang Xuxuan’s arrays, any cultivator reaching the Eighth Layer of Longevity (Changsheng Bāchóng) in magical power risked causing the river to plunge into the earth.

Consequently, only cultivators at the Seventh Layer of Longevity (Changsheng Qīchóng) or below could be requested to undertake the task.

Qingcheng Sect naturally had many cultivators at the Seventh Layer of Longevity or below, but they still felt it was insufficiently safe. Thus, they sought help from all allied Immortal Sects. Mount Hua was only one of the invited parties; Qingcheng had dispatched envoys to invite aid from ten other sects, regardless of whether they were high-tier or mid-tier.

Faced with such a plea, Mount Hua naturally agreed.

They had no choice. If the breaches in the Divine Soul River were not sealed, the Mount Hua Immortal Sect would also lose face.

On a certain day, numerous cultivators gathered near the Hundred-Foot Bridge (Bǎizhàng Qiáo).

The scenery at Hundred-Foot Bridge was exquisite, situated between the Min River and Qingcheng Mountain, where tributaries flowed like clustered streams. The bridge was constructed of wooden planks, winding and curving—truly a sight of immense beauty.

And there, hundreds of cultivators were assembled.

These cultivators ranged from the Third Layer of Longevity (Changsheng Sānchóng) to the Seventh Layer of Longevity. For the task of repairing the nine breaches in the Divine Soul River, those with lower cultivation would be useless. A minimum of the Third Layer was required, while the Seventh Layer represented the maximum stress the Divine Soul River could currently withstand; reaching the Eighth Layer risked causing the river to shatter and fall into the subterranean world.

Such a magnificent Divine Soul River could certainly not be allowed to sink into the ground.

Standing highest in the void was an elegant woman clad in green robes. This woman was Ren Bining, the current Sect Master of Qingcheng, known as the 'Nine Bends of the Yellow River' (Huáng Hé Jiǔ Qū). She was the only female Sect Master among all the assembled Immortal Sects.

In the cultivation world, the status of males vastly superseded that of females; it was fundamentally a patriarchal society. For a woman to serve as the Sect Master of a supreme Immortal Sect in such an era was extremely rare. However, Ren Bining, holding the title 'Nine Bends of the Yellow River,' possessed exceptional skill and formidable strength.

"Fellow cultivators, I shall not waste time with superfluous words," the voice of the green-robed beauty, Ren Bining, resonated with extreme clarity.

"The Divine Soul River currently has nine breaches. If these are not repaired, the river will sink into the earth. We have only seven days; if that time expires, the river will be lost. Therefore, I ask for your utmost effort." Ren Bining continued, "However, if the time runs too short, by the sixth day, we shall withdraw. You are the backbone of the righteous path cultivators of Jin State; there is no need for unnecessary sacrifices."

"Moreover, there are considerable benefits within the Divine Soul River. You may seek them out during your free moments."

"Haha! Repairing nine breaches is hardly an issue," scoffed one cultivator.

"With me present, the nine breaches will certainly be fixed." This was Yue Qingshan, a cultivator at the Seventh Layer of Longevity from the Wudang Immortal Sect. His magical power was immensely potent, reaching a truly astonishing level. Few opponents Lu Yuan had previously faced could boast such profound depths of internal power.

"A simple matter, there won't be much difficulty," declared Sun Junyi, a Sixth Layer Longevity cultivator from the Qingcheng Immortal Sect, displaying extreme confidence as he spoke.

"If there are difficulties, so what? As long as I am here, everything becomes much simpler. With me, victory is assured!" stated Qiao Leng, a Seventh Layer Longevity cultivator from the South Sea Immortal Sect. His expression was cold, his longsword unsheathed, and his killing intent billowed forth so fiercely that those nearby instinctively gave him space.

"Water battles suit me best," laughed Elder Qi Haozhi of the Mount Hua Qi Sect. He had reached the state of 'Heaven's Heart in Hand,' wielding water-attribute spells with unbelievable mastery, even possessing forbidden-level techniques, which accounted for his immense self-assurance.

"My Sea Fire can burn even in the ocean, let alone in the Min River!" Wang Zhongling of the Kunlun Immortal Sect retorted sharply. He cultivated the 'Sea Fire' from the Five Fires of Kunlun. This fire could burn fiercely even underwater and was perfectly suited for combat in rivers or seas. His own magical power had reached the Seventh Layer of Longevity, naturally lending him overwhelming confidence.

Every single one of these individuals exuded self-confidence.

They were one after another more arrogant than the last.

This was the self-assurance of cultivators at the Seventh Layer of Longevity.

The Seventh Layer of Longevity truly represented an incredible echelon of power.

Lu Yuan merely let them boast. Their strength was indeed formidable. He took another draught of wine.

The taste was excellent going down.

The Min River, in its origin, sprang from Minshan.

Clear water flows for ten thousand miles, dragon ships sail down to Yangzhou—this famous poem speaks of the Min River.

This Divine Soul River followed the Min River downstream, passing through numerous famous locations, such as the Black Water River, the Three Demons' River of Minjiang, the Dadu River, and the Leshan Giant Buddha. It was rumored that the nine breaches were all located near these highly significant landmarks. Lu Yuan had already passed through the Hundred-Foot Bridge and entered the Divine Soul River section of the Min River.

Upon first entering this stretch of the river, he observed the mighty torrent: layer upon layer of clear waves, wave upon wave of rippling water; the clean crests rolled and coiled, the ripples transformed into clear tides—what a vast and surging river it was, seemingly flowing from the edge of the sky and heading back to the edge of the sky. Lu Yuan had never witnessed such grand waves. Looking up, he could still see the sky, but it was faintly shrouded by an extra layer, obscuring its clarity. It was said that the founding ancestor of Qingcheng used immense power to condense this river into a semi-ethereal state. Indeed, if the founding ancestor hadn't passed away so long ago, and this barrier hadn't been maintained for so long, even Zhang Xuxuan’s mastery of arrays might not have been enough to alter the Divine Soul River and cause it to drop to ground level.

The accompanying cultivators, having entered through the Hundred-Foot Bridge, were all in the Third to Seventh Layers of Longevity, possessing considerable skill. Upon entering, few paid much attention to their surroundings. Lu Yuan estimated the incoming group numbered around five to six hundred.

"The first point is the Dadu River, about seventy li from here," someone among the five or six hundred cultivators announced.

"Then let us head for the Dadu River."

This section of the Divine Soul River stretched over a thousand li.

And this first spot was barely seventy li away. Everyone decided to proceed to that point together. Not long after they started, a cultivator cried out in astonishment, "Not bad, not bad! Good fortune! I actually obtained a Minor Divine Soul Stone!"

It had been explained earlier that there were items within the Divine Soul River that could enhance the primordial spirit, categorized as Minor Divine Soul Stones, Major Divine Soul Stones, and Divine Soul Crystals.

Minor Divine Soul Stones were the most common, with limited effects, though still possessing some utility.

Major Divine Soul Stones offered a significantly enhanced effect.

Divine Soul Crystals were exceedingly rare—truly crystallized essence of the primordial spirit. It was rumored that unlike the stones, they were entirely translucent and crystalline. If Lu Yuan possessed a Divine Soul Crystal, advancing from the Fourth Layer of Longevity to the Fifth would not be difficult.

It turned out this cultivator had spotted a water monster in the river and attacked it with his sword. After slaying it, he found a Minor Divine Soul Stone—a small profit. This immediately excited everyone, and they all began hunting river monsters. However, not every water monster yielded a Minor Divine Soul Stone; those who found one were exceedingly few. Lu Yuan drew his Yangwu Sword and slew several water monsters himself, but failed to obtain a single Minor Divine Soul Stone.