It was easy to imagine: "If it were merely twelve Exalted Ones, our Azure Heaven Realm could surely fend them off. Back when Master Xi Zi passed, besieged by all the Sects, the situation was only slightly less dire than it is now." The speaker was Ji Shu, who stated gravely, "I suspect Qing Xuan's arrangements do not end there!" Back then, the Dao Sect had already split off a Sword Sect; now, a Demon Gate had joined forces with them. However, the Azure Life Dao was no longer solely sustained by Xiu Guan holding up the ancestral hall.

Wei Xu, upon hearing this, also nodded: "Indeed, it is more than that. The alien races who invaded the Cloud Realm back then included several Exalted Saint Venerables whose primordial spirits Master Xi Zi scattered; they still cannot fully reform and revive. The descendants and clansmen of these individuals hold a deep-seated hatred for our Azure Life Dao. Ten millennia ago, their strength was not recovered, and they did not participate. After another ten thousand years, we cannot be sure Qing Xuan Dao Lord has no connection with them. Besides them, there is that person—" The expressions of those present grew heavy. The other Exalted Ones were negligible. Only that one person could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Xiu Guan. In fact, even the myriad restrictions within the Azure Heaven Realm might not be enough to stop this individual; they could be ignored by that person.

"Were we not supposed to wait sixteen years?" Lin Fanmeng spoke up, her heart trembling so much that for a moment she disregarded the disciples behind her. When she came to her senses, she realized that Chu Xue had quietly shifted her position to stand behind Zong Shou. She couldn't help grinding her teeth, shooting Zong Shou a fierce glare, which caused him to sigh in feigned innocence.

"Always anticipate the worst! I have already been schemed against once by Qing Xuan; I do not wish to lose a second time." Wei Xu shook his head: "At the time, we estimated the Cloud Realm would require at least fifty years to reach the zenith of the spiritual tide, yet now only a few years have passed. We cannot be sure that person won't also bring about a change. If they encounter a fortunate opportunity and their injuries heal ahead of schedule, it would not be surprising." As his words faded, the atmosphere in the hall immediately turned even colder. Only Zong Shou felt nothing, never knowing who this 'that person' Wei Xu mentioned actually was. He considered asking someone, but saw Gu Xun sitting beside him shaking his head: "You must not ask, nor can it be spoken of. This person possesses the Divine Ability of Six Ears. Once this person's name is mentioned, even if separated by thousands of worlds, he will know. He could even know what we have said before and after." Zong Shou was suddenly startled. What kind of existence was this? To possess such terrifying capability?

At this moment, everyone's gaze turned toward Xiu Guan. They saw the latter say calmly, "My injuries actually recovered seven hundred years ago. I kept it a secret, cultivating a profound secret method. If he comes, defeating him will not be difficult." The tension in the hall eased slightly. But they also knew that although Xiu Guan said this, when the real battle arrived, Xiu Guan would likely be unable to fully commit to fighting that person.

"Ten thousand years ago, it was Senior Brother Xiu Guan who single-handedly held the situation together. Ten thousand years later, it remains the same." Yuan Jing gave a desolate smile: "Though I am also an Exalted One, I cannot help you much!" Xi Zi had fallen, and Xiu Guan’s cultivation was overwhelmingly powerful in the current age; not like Zong Shou, but truly peerless in the Cloud Realm. Even looking across this entire domain, only three or five people could compare. Yet every battle required him to fight many with few, leaving him exhausted from coping. If one or two peers could have assisted him, the situation would have been vastly different. Xiu Guan could have displayed his full might.

"Dragon Shadow has already promised to be present for this battle. Ao Kun has also arrived in the Cloud Realm alongside Junior Brother Zong Shou. The former has supreme swordsmanship, and although the latter is still only a Saint, he commands the wary respect of all Saint Venerables—" Zong Shou suddenly interjected at this point: "Some time ago, my sworn brother's Dao Foundation was fully restored. He has agreed to attempt to help Ancestor Mistress Xuan Jing repair part of her Dao Foundation. However, the consumption of True Essence this entails is no small matter." As he finished speaking, everyone in the hall was stunned, followed by inexpressible joy. Yuan Jing also suddenly clenched her delicate fists, a sharp light flickering in her eyes, as if she was forcefully suppressing herself to avoid losing composure. It was not only her; Xiu Guan and Fan Meng also showed traces of a smile in their eyes. Wei Xu did not wait for Zong Shou to finish: "Regarding the drain on True Essence, our Azure Life Dao will absolutely not allow Brother Ao to suffer loss or grievance. We still possess fifty Heaven-Origin Life Creation Pills in our treasury, all of which can be offered. The thirteen Great Evolution Yuan Replenishing Pills refined by Master back then can also be used by him at will!" The former prolonged lifespan and benefited vitality; the latter was used to make up for depleted True Essence. The efficacy of pills refined by a Half-Step True Realm expert could be imagined.

Zong Shou smiled, thinking Wei Xu was somewhat considerate. However, he could not guarantee how much of Yuan Jing’s Dao Foundation Ao Kun could repair in these few short days. A foundation of an Exalted One was not so easily mended; it surely required hundreds of years. Wei Xu also understood the critical nature of the situation, yet he was still immensely excited: "I will try to postpone the Tribulation Day by another ten days—" He then hesitated, looking towards Venerable Lan Ruo opposite him. The Venerable understood immediately and nodded carelessly: "It is my duty; I will certainly use the Spiritual Connection Dream Technique to assist him!" To repair another person's Dao Foundation, one must have sufficient understanding of their path. Mere contemplation required considerable time. The Spiritual Connection Dream Technique was the most convenient path! And among those present, only Lan Ruo’s path was similar to Yuan Jing’s. This would allow Dragon Shadow, in a mere instant, to understand precisely what was lacking in Yuan Jing and how to proceed. This technique required the sacrifice of several centuries of lifespan, and the user would be extremely weak afterward, needing a millennium to recuperate. However, it was the quickest method. Comparing an Exalted One with nearly complete fighting strength against a peak Saint Realm expert left no room for complicated choices.

Zong Shou, however, curled his lip. Within the Azure Life Dao, there was another person who knew Yuan Jing in great detail. And this person could use the Spiritual Connection Dream Technique without the grave sacrifice that Lan Ruo faced. The Origin Life Essence Art allowed for recovery in the shortest time, even after temporary depletion, and could even draw upon life essence to a certain degree. Although that woman acting would incur losses herself, it was surely better than Senior Martial Aunt Lan Ruo destroying her own path. To impact the Exalted Realm, the next two thousand years were crucial for her; they could not be wasted on recuperating old injuries.

Wei Xu also felt deeply ashamed. After a long pause, he spoke again: "After discussing the Exalted Ones, let us speak of the Dao Soldiers. In this upcoming battle, the Dao Soldiers of the various sects in the Cloud Realm have not yet been able to expand. The number of Xuan and Huang tier Dao Soldiers is too small. Our Azure Life Dao has only twenty thousand cavalry; a single Heaven tier Dao Soldier Sword Formation could annihilate them in one strike—they are unusable in this battle, so let’s disregard them. In total, we have three hundred Origin Sea Easy Spirit Warriors and one thousand four hundred Azure Life Ultimate Dao Warriors. The Dao and Demon factions likely have an advantage over our Azure Life Dao, possibly totaling around four times our number. The Confucian School has no Dao Soldiers, but they might persuade the Emperor of Great Shang—"

Zong Shou couldn't help interrupting Wei Xu’s speech again: "When I was in the outer domain, I heard that a few years ago the Dao Sect secretly purchased one thousand Spirit Realm Cultivation Slaves. And that is only what I know of. Whether they purchased Immortal Realm Cultivation Slaves, or if they bought them in other locations, remains unknown." The room immediately fell silent. The faces of everyone present turned pale, as if they had just taken a heavy blow. If the first piece of news Zong Shou brought filled them with infinite delight, this second piece plunged everyone’s spirits to the very bottom. Wei Xu was also struck speechless. After a long time, he could only smile bitterly: "So, Dao Sect Qing Xuan had a plan long ago, anticipating this several years prior." Since it was foreseen, it was no wonder that Dong Zhongshu, Zhu Zi, and those two Demon Sovereigns returned so coincidentally.

After her shock subsided, Lin Yuan Jing looked down. She saw that the few Saint Realm experts seemed unharmed, but those dozens of Divine Realm sect members showed expressions of deep misery. She immediately glared fiercely at Zong Shou. She truly did not know what to say about this martial nephew of hers. Such news should have been shared privately; announcing it in public would only disrupt the morale of the army. Wei Xu speaking of 'that person' had already placed immense pressure on everyone. And now learning that the Dao Sect had purchased a thousand Spirit Realm slave cultivators years ago was like the final straw breaking the camel's back.

Yet, only Xiu Guan showed a slight smile on his face: "This news arrives in time, which is better than being caught completely off guard when the battle begins. However, has this matter been confirmed?" "I learned this from a member of the Asura race. This individual holds a relatively high status and seems trustworthy; the news should be accurate!" Xiu Guan’s eyes narrowed slightly. He did not press Zong Shou on the identity of 'that person,' but simply nodded: "When I entered the Ancestral Master Hall some days ago, I discovered one page missing from the Profound Bright Golden Register." Zong Shou’s heart clenched immediately. This matter truly could not be hidden, especially from this person before him. Then, everyone in the hall visibly started, countless threads of divine sense shooting towards the Ancestral Master Hall to probe remotely. Then, everyone’s expression turned ashen. The Ancestral Master Hall was guarded with profound severity; it was nearly impossible for outsiders to enter, let alone a mere Exalted One. Stealing something silently was even more out of the question. However, there were those in this domain who could accomplish it. But if it truly were an outsider, why would they not steal the Profound Fate Golden Register along with it? That item, which doubled one’s lifespan, was a supreme treasure coveted by countless individuals. The Dao and Confucian factions might truly have a struggle over faith with the Azure Life Dao, but the Demon Sects joining forces with the Dao Sect this time surely meant they were after this item. This person must be an inside agent, undoubtedly one of the few who could freely enter and exit the Ancestral Shrine. The only uncertainty was why this person took away Lin Xuan Shuang’s Profound Fate Golden Page.

Yuan Jing and Wei Xu, who were already Saint Realm experts, knew something of this. The former stated gravely: "It is Xuan Shuang! The page where she placed her divine sense was taken by someone several months ago." Xiu Guan’s gaze, however, remained fixed on Zong Shou the entire time. Zong Shou sighed inwardly, thinking he had to apologize to his Master. It wasn't that he didn't want to hide it, but the matter could no longer be kept secret. After a brief contemplation, Zong Shou spoke with great straightforwardness: "It was this disciple who took Master’s golden page." Seeing the faces of the others grow even gloomier, Zong Shou quickly explained: "A few days ago, this disciple needed to invite a peak Saint Realm ally, and after searching everywhere in vain, I considered whether I could reassemble Master's primordial spirit myself, resulting in—" Before he finished speaking, Xiu Guan burst into loud laughter. To revive Xuan Shuang, and yet she hadn't died in the Exalted Realm calamity, the outcome was foreseeable! (To be continued)