The old Daoist rose slowly, taking a towel from a middle-aged Daoist beside him and wiping his face. "Right, what is the Shushan Sect best known for? Do you happen to know?"

The middle-aged Daoist paused, thinking: He said before that he didn't need to be told when we arrived, so why is he asking me now?

But outwardly, he still replied with utmost respect, "Reporting to Martial Ancestor Uncle, it is said that the Shushan Sect is a reclusive martial cultivation sect. Furthermore, this Ye Wen seems to possess a superb flying sword, though I do not know its name!" The scene where Ye Wen used the Myriad Sword Art occurred within an illusion, which few people today have witnessed, so this man was unaware.

The old Daoist frowned, muttering to himself, "Unlikely! Unlikely!"

"Martial Ancestor Uncle, what do you mean 'unlikely'?" This middle-aged Daoist had no idea what the Martial Ancestor Uncle was up to. They had come to investigate the true capabilities of that Ye Wen, but unexpectedly, after meditating with his eyes closed for only a short while, the Martial Ancestor Uncle opened them again, and the sweat coating his head suggested his probing had not gone smoothly.

The old Daoist paid him no mind, shaking his head continuously. "The martial cultivation lineage excels at close-quarters combat; their physical bodies are formidable and their spirits tenacious. While they are not afraid of various illusions, their application of Divine Sense is not particularly flexible... When my Divine Sense probed just now, I was repelled by an invisible sword qi condensed from Ye Wen's Divine Sense. This shows Ye Wen has cultivated his Divine Sense to a considerable level, but this path is not the forte of martial cultivators..."

Beyond this, the old Daoist found it strange that although martial cultivators also used weapons, they preferred to swing them to strike people, rarely using them as flying swords—though similar techniques existed, they were only auxiliary; they were more accustomed to closing the distance for a deadly melee.

He hadn't seen what Ye Wen’s flying sword looked like, so he couldn't judge, but surely a martial cultivator wouldn't specifically cultivate the flying sword technique, would they?

The old Daoist did not know that Ye Wen's Divine Sense was honed due to Muladrak’s curse, and his flying sword... was merely another form of the martial world's external energy projection. Even if the Zixiao Sword approached true swordsmanship, it was ultimately not a true sword, and though its usage was incredibly similar to a sword cultivator's, there was a vast fundamental difference.

However, these matters were closely guarded secrets within the Shushan Sect. Even members of their own sect, unless they reached the requisite level, would never know these things. How could this old Daoist possibly know the distinction?

Thus, no matter how hard he thought, he couldn't grasp the core issue, eventually causing his own head to ache: "Truly troublesome. The current state of the Cultivation World is vexing enough, and now such a figure appears. Is this a blessing or a curse for the Cultivation World?"

The old Daoist sighed heavily for a while, then stood by the windowsill, staring blankly at the sky where not a single star could be seen. Behind him, besides the middle-aged Daoist, were two younger Daoists... compared to the middle-aged one, the status of these two was clearly much lower. They stood there with downcast eyes, not daring to even breathe heavily.

With two elders present, they dared not use subtle techniques like secret vocal transmission to converse, knowing that such minor skills would certainly not escape the notice of these two seniors. So, they could only stand awkwardly there, awaiting the seniors' next instruction.

The old Daoist gazed at the night sky for a moment, then suddenly spoke, "We all rushed to Europe this time precisely to resolve that matter overseas. Frankly, it’s not a glorious affair for us. The Cultivation World cannot endure any further great upheaval..."

The middle-aged Daoist simply nodded in agreement, "Martial Ancestor Uncle, please do not blame yourself. It is not only our Wudang Sect taking action this time, is it? Which of Huashan, Qingcheng, or Emei hasn't sent experts? The Kunlun Sect publicly claims to be helping Ye Wen search for the God-Beating Whip, but isn't the Layman of Beihe using that as a pretext to stay right by his side? I suspect that when it truly comes to blows, the Kunlun Sect might fight fiercer than anyone..."

The old Daoist’s frown deepened as he listened, "Alas... For us, the esteemed orthodox sects, to be reduced to doing such covert, injurious things... Truly..."

What "truly," the old Daoist left unsaid, primarily because at this moment, he couldn't find suitable words to describe the actions of all of them gathered here.

The more he thought, the more agitated he became. He recalled how powerful the Eastern Cultivation World once was! And because of that power, the people of Huaxia had always been the center of the world.

But as the environment changed, it became increasingly difficult for cultivators to progress. The lives they led over the past few centuries were night and day compared to millennia ago, or even a thousand years ago.

Even some fellows from the island nation next door dared to defecate atop the heads of the Huaxia Cultivation World. If not for the collective rage that led them to summon the many old seniors cultivating in seclusion within the Kunlun Immortal Realm—and those seniors sacrificing much of their power to salvage the situation—the Huaxia Cultivation World might have become a footnote in that fierce conflict.

After that, the status of the Huaxia Cultivation World declined significantly. Now, the Western Church has emerged as the top dog among various powers. Their presence in Europe this time was only due to some conveniences provided by the Church.

Of course, these self-serving Westerners would never be so kind as to facilitate Eastern cultivators without reason. The current situation is the result of agreements secretly reached between both sides, and the Huaxia Cultivation World even paid a price for it.

"However, the matter of the Nine Tripods of Kyushu is too grave; otherwise, we would never have made such a decision!"

Back in the Kunlun Immortal Realm, many had opposed such a decision, but the moment the current predicament was brought up, everyone had to admit that if they didn't find a solution soon, within three hundred years, there would be no cultivators left in the mundane world, and all cultivators would be forced to cram into the narrow Kunlun Immortal Realm to barely survive.

"Martial Ancestor Uncle, the Nine Tripods of Kyushu... could that mean nine divine cauldrons?"

The middle-aged Daoist had heard the term 'Nine Tripods of Kyushu' countless times recently. In truth, he knew this item was a treasure passed down from ancient Huaxia, but he couldn't be sure if it meant nine bronze cauldrons, each symbolizing a province, or if it was a single bronze cauldron representing the entirety of the Nine Provinces.

The old Daoist looked at the middle-aged Daoist, sighed deeply, and explained, "Although the Nine Tripods of Kyushu has the character 'Nine' in its name, there is actually only one, and it is the one in Ye Wen's hand!"

When he probed with his Divine Sense just now, although he was quickly discovered and repelled by Ye Wen, he did indeed spot the Nine Tripods of Kyushu that Ye Wen held, confirming that the rumor was true.

Even though the rumor originated from the rather disreputable Qiu Yuanlong, the Blood-Drenched Ancestor, they had no choice but to react now. Even knowing that Qiu Yuanlong had malicious intentions, they still had to proceed.

Naturally, they knew that after this event, they would all bear a stain, and Qiu Yuanlong could openly mock them, these old fellows, as pretentious hypocrites.

"But... this matter not only concerns the survival of our Huaxia Cultivation World, but more importantly, it concerns whether the descendants of Huaxia can maintain their footing in the world!"

This world hosted various powerful entities, the Church being one of them. The Church represented the interests of Europe, or rather, the white race. If other races did not have equally formidable powers backing them, this world would have become the dominion of white people.

If the Cultivation World perishes, then Huaxia must perish!

"I recall the legend says the Nine Tripods of Kyushu is a treasure that suppresses destiny/fortune. I wonder what use we gain if we acquire that thing?"

The old Daoist pondered for a moment, then glanced at the two younger Daoists and remained silent. The middle-aged Daoist immediately waved his hand, signaling the two younger men to go rest.

He was actually quite puzzled as to why the Martial Ancestor Uncle was hiding things even from his own kin, but then the old Daoist spoke words that nearly shocked him into losing his footing: "This matter is too significant. It would not be a fortune for those two juniors to know of it! Do not speak of what you have heard today to anyone else, remember this!"

"Yes!"

The old Daoist paused, organizing his thoughts before continuing, "The Nine Tripods of Kyushu are said to be treasures that suppress destiny, but in truth, the Nine Tripods of Kyushu have many unknown wondrous uses, knowledge only accessible to the decrepit old members of various sects!"

This statement actually included himself in the self-deprecating remark, but he didn't care. At his level of cultivation, such titles could no longer affect him, especially since what he said was fact—he truly was an old fossil.

"The Nine Tripods of Kyushu can condense the vital energy of heaven and earth, temper the vital energy of heaven and earth, and purify the vital energy of heaven and earth. The Nine Tripods of Kyushu contain terrifying spiritual energy, and since their inception, they have not manifested in the world for thousands of years. The spiritual energy contained within..."

The middle-aged Daoist gasped, finally understanding why the entire Cultivation World reacted so strongly the moment the location of the Nine Tripods of Kyushu was rumored.

What does cultivation require?

Spiritual energy!

What is the scarcest commodity in the current environment?

Spiritual energy!

And what does the Nine Tripods of Kyushu represent?

Spiritual energy! Spiritual energy! Spiritual energy!!!

No other reason is needed. This single factor makes the Nine Tripods of Kyushu the supreme treasure yearned for by all cultivators. Anyone who could have such a treasure to aid their practice would never again have to worry about finding a grotto-heaven blessed with abundant spiritual energy; they could simply cultivate slowly while holding the cauldron.

The old Daoist saw the middle-aged Daoist’s expression clearly, which annoyed the old man slightly. He let out a soft hmph, which snapped the younger man back to attention.

"Disciple was indiscreet!"

Seeing his immediate self-reproach, the old Daoist nodded. "Now do you understand why this matter cannot be known to the younger generation?"

Hearing this, the middle-aged Daoist broke into a cold sweat. Only then did he realize why those youths were kept in the dark: young people absolutely could not resist such temptation. If word got out, the Cultivation World would immediately descend into chaos, with all cultivators warring over a single Nine Tripods of Kyushu.

He considered his own two hundred years of dedicated practice; his Dao heart was considered firm. Yet, when faced with such a temptation, he nearly lost control. If the Martial Ancestor Uncle hadn't been present, he might already be contemplating how to claim this treasure for himself.

"Disciple accepts the instruction!"

The old Daoist sighed heavily. "Actually, this isn't the most important part. The Nine Tripods of Kyushu is an ancient supreme treasure; its wondrous uses cannot be so few! Legend says that besides suppressing destiny and refining boundless spiritual energy, the Nine Tripods of Kyushu can also evolve heaven and earth—but this last part is conveyed in only a few words, and no one knows precisely what it means. However, an artifact capable of evolving heaven and earth is no ordinary thing. If one could grasp its profound mysteries, even ascending to immortality in broad daylight might not be impossible. A pity..."

"A pity?" The middle-aged Daoist was slightly confused at this point. What was his Martial Ancestor Uncle regretting? Logically speaking, with so many seniors taking action, the Nine Tripods of Kyushu should not escape them. He didn't believe Ye Wen could hold onto the Nine Tripods of Kyushu against so many seniors.

In that case, the Nine Tripods of Kyushu would eventually become the shared property of the Cultivation World, and they could slowly decipher its mysteries. He couldn't understand what there was to regret.

The old Daoist shook his head and sighed, uttering a shocking truth: "Although the Nine Tripods of Kyushu is extraordinary, to change the current harsh environment, there is only one way!"

"What way?"

The old Daoist took a long breath. "To blow up the Nine Tripods of Kyushu!"

Upon hearing this, the middle-aged Daoist was dumbfounded. He never expected such a method—to destroy such an ancient supreme treasure?

The old Daoist sighed again. "Do you know why this matter became intertwined with the God-Beating Whip this time?"

"Could it be..." The middle-aged Daoist pondered and immediately understood. To blow up the Nine Tripods of Kyushu, ordinary magical artifacts would certainly not suffice. Although the Nine Tripods of Kyushu wasn't intended for conflict, it was an ancient object; an ordinary flying sword probably couldn't even chip a single strand of its hair. Therefore, a relatively potent magical artifact was needed to accomplish this.

The God-Beating Whip, though only capable of striking those listed on the Investiture of the Gods, or sending others to be listed, was itself an artifact passed down from antiquity. In terms of quality, it was no less than the Nine Tripods of Kyushu. Moreover, the God-Beating Whip was, after all, a weapon-type artifact inherently designed for combat. Using it to blast the Nine Tripods of Kyushu should achieve the desired effect.

"That God-Beating Whip has been stolen for decades. Do you really think the Kunlun Sect couldn't trace its whereabouts?" The old Daoist sneered, "That story was just to fool those unaware of the truth. Which of us old fogeys doesn't know that the Kunlun Sect did this deliberately?"

It turned out the whereabouts of the God-Beating Whip had always been under the control of the Kunlun Sect. The reason they hadn't retrieved it was simply to observe what kind of outcome the person using it could stir up. If they truly managed to research the subtle uses of the God-Beating Whip, they could reap the benefits later.

The Kunlun Sect wasn't worried about lacking the strength to achieve this alone, because if the profound uses of the God-Beating Whip were truly deciphered, this matter would cease to be their concern alone. The Kunlun Sect merely needed to release a message, and the entire Huaxia Cultivation World would mobilize—under such circumstances, they were confident they could seize anything they desired! Besides, the item was theirs to begin with, giving them righteous cause.

If it weren't for the emergence of the Nine Tripods of Kyushu and the plan conceived after collective deliberation—requiring a comparatively mighty ancient artifact to complete their intended goal—the God-Beating Whip might still be wandering outside until some conclusion was reached before they even remembered to retrieve it!

As for blowing up the Nine Tripods of Kyushu, it certainly wouldn't be as simple as just destroying it. A great deal of preparatory work would be required beforehand to ensure that when the Nine Tripods of Kyushu exploded, the spiritual energy contained within would not be destroyed along with it, but scattered as they hoped.

More importantly, they hoped that at the very instant of the explosion, the Nine Tripods of Kyushu would unleash its maximum potential, using the shockwave of the blast to re-temper the world's vital energy. This would cause the almost depleted structure of heaven and earth's vital energy to change, and even if it couldn't return to the energy-rich environment of a few thousand years ago, it could at least revert to the state of a thousand years ago.

In that case, some depleted spiritual veins might be revitalized under the washing of this intense spiritual energy storm. If the spiritual veins could recover their vitality, they could slowly change the Earth's environment, returning it to a more balanced state—even the experts of the Cultivation World were prepared to mobilize every available force, requiring the mundane population to cooperate, for instance, by increasing plant cultivation and reducing ecologically destructive actions.

In summary, everything transpiring in Europe this time was aimed at the Nine Tripods of Kyushu in Ye Wen's possession. It could be said that for the sake of the survival of the Cultivation World and the people of Huaxia, a group of high-level cultivators were disregarding their reputation and uniting to bully a junior, Ye Wen, who had seemingly appeared out of nowhere.

And Ye Wen, the object of concern for so many venerable seniors, was now contemplating the unremarkable bronze cauldron to himself.

"It seems all these recent changes center around this cauldron. I wonder what is so special about it?"

Ye Wen had studied it more than once, but each time he ended up with nothing, unable to glean any useful information. Over time, he had grown lazy about continuing, but now that such a major stir was being made for his sake, he couldn't afford to ignore this plain little cauldron.

While puzzling over it, he saw the small cauldron suddenly emit a flash of light. As the light flowed and circulated, scenes of mountains and rivers materialized out of thin air. Ye Wen was startled, unsure what he had stumbled upon to trigger such an anomaly.

However, this scenery, beautiful as a painting, made Ye Wen temporarily forget the question and focus on appreciating it. He saw mountains, great rivers, lakes, and oceans unfolding before him. Subsequently, various exotic birds and strange beasts appeared, greatly delighting Ye Wen. As he watched, the scenery in the projection became increasingly familiar. After about half an hour, a mountain suddenly appeared on the screen, one Ye Wen knew intimately.

"This is... Shushan?"

No matter how he looked at it, this mountain was the Shushan he had lived on for nearly ten years, yet the characters 'Shushan' that he had inscribed by hand were nowhere to be seen.

As he stared in astonishment, the scene abruptly shifted, moving to the foot of the mountain. There, a rather slovenly old man was teaching two children martial arts in a dilapidated courtyard. The boy looked impatient, while the little girl, only about ten years old, appeared very diligent.

"What... what exactly is going on?"