The Sect Master of Lingyun Sect, Wen Xu, looked upon the scene with palpable confusion etched across his features, his gaze fixed upon the Cloud Realm.

The outermost layer of that Cloud Realm now resembled a sealed iron shell, through which not the slightest sensation could penetrate. He distinctly knew the world lay at that precise location, yet it remained utterly undetectable. This was often the case with ordinary Great Worlds. But within the Cloud Realm, the inability of spiritual sense to pierce through was decidedly abnormal. The spatial-temporal barrier, which should be porous everywhere, how could it possibly obstruct his divine sense— Not only was he unable to see the situation over there, but all connection to the summit of Shenxiao Mountain was severed as well. It seemed a cultivator had intervened, isolating that region of the realm. He couldn't help but glance toward the elder beside him with suspicion.

Long Ying, seeing this, let out an irritated snort: "It wasn't me! I, Long Ying, do not possess such capabilities—"

Wen Xu shook his head slightly, knowing it couldn't be Long Ying. Sealing an entire realm was clearly the technique of a Supremacy-level cultivator. He merely suspected that the person wielding such [power term omitted for purity] might be connected to Long Ying. Looking now, while Long Ying had clearly anticipated something, his eyes held a hint of pleasant surprise and admiration. They might be connected, but this act was certainly not at Long Ying's behest.

The black curtain enveloping the realm arrived swiftly and departed just as quickly. In an instant, the Cloud Realm returned to normal. The moment it did, Wen Xu peered into the Cloud Realm once more. Then, his eyes filled entirely with bitterness. On the summit of Shangxiao Mountain, the Daoist Shenxiao was gone. Zong Shou stood perfectly well where he was, clutching a blood-soaked halberd. Even among his four thousand two hundred Blood Cavalry, not a single soul had perished. Though they could hardly be called unscathed, all injuries had been distributed among the four thousand, allowing them to barely maintain combat effectiveness. This battle, in the end, had still been lost! The defeat was absolute and crushing! A complete rout!

Sighing deeply, Wen Xu was already beginning to contemplate how to handle the aftermath and secure the foundation of the Lingyun Sect. Retreating from the East Lin Cloud Land was inevitable. Given the current strength of the Lingyun Sect, they could no longer protect those spirit veins and the Pill Spirit Mountains. However, it wouldn't hurt to negotiate with that Qian Tian Demon King again, to see if reconciliation was possible. That's simply how matters of this world unfolded. When something can no longer be suppressed, cooperation is the best course. Fortunately, the groundwork laid ten thousand years ago, according to that person's wishes, had ultimately left a sliver of hope for their Lingyun Sect.

"The Way of Fortune, is it?"

Wen Xu’s mouth felt sour; he mused that it was exactly as that person had predicted— The one capable of breaking this 'Fortune' Celestial Talisman would either be long dead and unable to appear, or possess unparalleled natural talent. This person could elevate the Lingyun Sect to great prosperity and glory, or personally cast them down into the dust! He had always believed that person was joking and paid it no mind. Back then, they were both merely peak Immortal Realm cultivators; how could they speak of ten thousand years hence? Even a Supremacy could not be omniscient or omnipotent. It turned out that he had glimpsed a thread of heavenly secrets ten millennia ago—and known of Zong Shou— This wager, he had ultimately lost.

He felt a touch of strangeness: what exactly had transpired just now? Who was Shenxiao killed by? Were it the Venerables who protected the realm? Or the Supremacy who had just acted? Or did Zong Shou slay him personally? If it was Zong Shou, what means did he employ?

Hm? The situation within this realm seemed somewhat amiss—

Wen Xu’s expression hardened. In that fleeting moment, he had suddenly experienced a sympathetic resonance, sensing subtle changes occurring within the Cloud Realm. Without hesitation, he extended his spiritual consciousness, investigating carefully. Then, after a brief pause, Wen Xu sucked in a sharp breath.

Long Ying, beside him, reacted noticeably faster, his eyes revealing a look of as expected: "It's Han Yue, fallen! A pity for her two thousand years of cultivation to reach the Saint Realm—"

Wen Xu’s lips twitched; why did this sentence sound like schadenfreude rather than any sign of grief? He knew of this woman, Han Yue, having met her a few times before. She had ascended to Sainthood ten thousand years ago, and subsequently, believing her cultivation could advance no further, she decisively abandoned further rigorous practice to safeguard this realm. She had usually shown some care toward Lingyun. However, this woman was a piece on another person's chessboard. Reflecting on the past, Wen Xu understood that today was likely a trap. Not only were the Qian Tian Demon King and Long Ying plotting against his Lingyun Sect, but someone else had dug a massive pit, waiting for Han Yue to leap into it—

"Dao of All Beings, Yuan Jing—"

In a moment, he knew the perpetrator, and Wen Xu’s expression became profoundly gloomy. What was the use of calculating it now? Was this because of the Seven Spirit Sect? Or did Zong Shou inherently have ties with the Dao of All Beings?

Suddenly, his brow arched again as he sensed an aura only slightly inferior to his own rapidly approaching. —That was Ao Kun! Even without murderous intent, it wasn't guaranteed he wouldn't be interested in fighting him right here! This location could no longer be lingered in—

After a brief deliberation, Wen Xu resolved to leave. He turned to Long Ying: "I, Wen Xu, have lost today! Daoist Long Ying, if you do not wish to detain this humble one, then permit Wen Xu to take his leave—"

Long Ying narrowed his eyes slightly, then gave a cold snort. Things had reached this point; having achieved complete victory, he indeed had no desire to fight further. Because fighting would only allow him to keep one of these three—and it might not be Wen Xu. Those decades of lifespan needed to be preserved for his disciple, to care for him for as long as possible. He sighed inwardly: if only he were a Supremacy, today's trouble would be so much less! Alas, although the mental knot was gone, that final thread remained elusive, preventing any breakthrough.

Wen Xu saw the expression on Long Ying’s face and knew that as long as Ao Kun hadn't arrived, Long Ying would not impede him. However, Wen Xu couldn't genuinely smile either: "Since that is the case, Wen Xu will depart first. Any offenses committed today will certainly be addressed in the future!" As for what that address entailed—whether it was an apology leading to peace talks or a continuation of settling old scores—that would depend on future circumstances.

As his voice faded, Wen Xu stepped through the fractured void and departed. The two other auras swiftly vanished without a trace. Only Long Ying remained, offering a self-mocking sneer: "What a cunning brat, not even revealing a single flaw in his fundamental disposition!"

"If he weren't cunning, how could the Lingyun Sect leap from being a newly advanced sect to one of the Ten Great Sacred Lands?" The speaker was Ao Kun himself, stepping out of the void with hands behind his back, his face etched with surprise: "I recall that when this person was before me, he was merely a junior, not even outstanding among his peers. Yet, unexpectedly, after ten thousand years, he has achieved such standing. Just hearing an account of his deeds inspires my admiration—"

Long Ying offered him no pleasantries: "You arrived far too late!"

"I had to be late!"

Ao Kun chuckled lightly, raising a hand to summon twelve spiritual light jade slips, which appeared before him. "I was pursuing these items! Letting Shenxiao go and allowing Yuan Jing to kill Han Yue, I also needed to claim some benefit. Now I finally have a decent set of protective treasures—"

The old man Long Ying’s expression grew even uglier. Ao Kun seemed not to notice, continuing: "Since a fight won't break out anyway, are you truly going to waste those decades of your life here?"

Long Ying suddenly erupted in fury. Unwilling to argue with his old friend, he prepared to leave.

At this moment, Ao Kun smiled again and spoke: "Oh, yes! I forgot one thing. Your disciple asked me to pass on a message. He said he's recently gained some insight regarding the true unification of the Nine-Nine Dragon Shadow Sword. He asked you to wait before leaving after this battle, to meet him once. Perhaps it can offer the Master some enlightenment—"

Long Ying heard this and let out a disbelieving laugh: "What arrogance! Matters that I, a Saint Realm expert, have failed to grasp over ten thousand years—he thinks he can resolve them? Talking big, aiming too high!" Then, recalling what Ao Kun had said about Zong Shou's recently condensed Dharmic Manifestation Nascent Soul, his expression turned slightly solemn: "His boundless darkness and immeasurable light are quite excellent. I wonder where the fellow managed to visualize them from. In the future, I must find a way to refine them further. However, if this Dharmic Manifestation leads to enlightenment regarding the Nine-Nine Dragon Shadow Sword, it probably won't be of much benefit!"

Ao Kun murmured an 'Oh,' fondling the jade slips in his hands, speaking casually: "Zong Shou said as much, just as Senior Brother expected. But he also mentioned one more thing. Recently, he had the fortune to witness the Core of Primordial Chaos—"

"Primordial Chaos?"

Long Ying started, and after a long pause, reacted: "He saw the Primordial Chaos? Then how is he still alive?" He immediately realized his phrasing sounded strange, and hastily coughed lightly: "Even someone like me couldn't survive within the living essence of Primordial Chaos, so how could he manage it? Even if he glimpsed it, at his current realm, it would be impossible for him to remember it! Let alone attain enlightenment!" His words were full of doubt. Long Ying then recalled that when he observed Zong Shou just now, his lifespan seemed severely depleted, now less than a hundred years. He had initially assumed the brat had used some secret technique, sacrificing lifespan to rapidly increase his power. He had seen that the fellow’s foundation remained solid; at most, a few years more would see him reach the peak of the Ninth Order. Even that Heavenly Barrier might not hinder him, which is why he had restrained himself from reprimanding him. Now, hearing Ao Kun's words, the situation didn't seem to be what he imagined. Burning lifespan to increase wisdom—he knew there were few people in the world skilled in that method. After a slight process of elimination, Long Ying arrived at a possibility, and an exclamation of disbelief echoed through the void.

"The Core of Primordial Chaos! That's it! If it’s that object, even at his realm, he could observe it. But Ao Kun, are you joking with me? He found the World Viewing Instrument? That divine treasure of the Mohist School that has been lost for ages?"

"Do I, Ao Kun, look like someone who jokes about such things?"

Ao Kun finally tucked away the twelve jade slips like precious artifacts, his face now full of mockery: "So, Long Ying, you aren't planning to leave after all!"

Long Ying ground his teeth so hard he nearly shattered them: "Why didn't you say so earlier?"

"I forgot!" Ao Kun said with a grin, perfectly unconcerned. "Oh, right! Zong Shou also said that while he didn't remember much else, and didn't have any truly profound insights, he did record the very beginning segment—"

He spoke while watching Long Ying, a hint of gratification in his eyes. He saw that the aging look plaguing his old friend had largely receded. He might not be bursting with fighting spirit, but he now possessed a measure of renewed vigor and hope.

"Recording it is enough! He can try to comprehend it after reaching the Immortal Realm!"

Long Ying finished with a cold snort, then cast a sidelong glance at Ao Kun. For some inexplicable reason, he suddenly felt an overwhelming urge to kick the man to death. (To be continued…)