"Rise, then..." This elder was none other than Xuanyuan Jue of old, the very man who had willingly become the servant of the Five Great Immortal Sages for the sake of the Xuanyuan bloodline.

Though Xuanyuan Jing now held a lofty position in the Heavenly Realm, he remained deeply respectful of this ancestor. Upon hearing Xuanyuan Jue’s words, he rose from the ground.

“I wonder, Ancestor, why you summoned Jing'er?” Xuanyuan Jing asked cautiously.

“Do you know what this is?” Xuanyuan Jue lifted one hand, and four massive banners—azure, crimson, white, and yellow—appeared in his grasp. An overwhelming wave of magical power erupted from them, forcing Xuanyuan Jing to stagger backward repeatedly.

The moment he felt that immense magical fluctuation, Xuanyuan Jing’s expression warped dramatically. Having spent so many years in the Heavenly Realm, he was well aware of the ancient legends. There were only five such banners in all the Three Realms capable of emitting such potent magic.

They were the Azure Lotus Treasure Banner of Amitābha Buddha, the Plain Colored Cloud Banner of the Queen Mother, the Earth Light Flame Banner of the Grand Pure One (Taishang Laojun), the Mysterious Water Control Banner of the Netherworld Cult Master, and the Apricot Yellow Banner of the Celestial Venerable of Primordial Beginning (Yuanshi Tianzun).

These Five Banners possessed terrifying defensive capabilities, making them supreme protective treasures. Legend held that gathering all five and setting up the Five Elements Grand Array could reshape heaven and earth, capable of withstanding a full-force strike from a Cult Master-level figure.

Now, four of them were present here. With the exception of the Mysterious Water Control Banner, having four here—how could this not astonish him?

When had his ancestor accumulated so many powerful magical artifacts?

“The Five Directions Divine Banners. Currently, we only lack the northern Mysterious Water Control Banner. This time, the Five Immortal Sages are mobilizing the Yuan Decree to seize this opportunity to retrieve the Mysterious Water Control Banner and complete the set. Do you understand?” Xuanyuan Jue stated plainly.

“Hmm?” Xuanyuan Jing nodded, though doubt still lingered in his eyes. The Five Directions Divine Banners were defensive treasures; even one was extraordinary, let alone all five. What great event would require gathering them? Even retrieving the Mysterious Water Control Banner shouldn't necessitate issuing the Yuan Decree, should it? Was something truly cataclysmic about to occur?

“Take this for protection,” Xuanyuan Jue did not bother to answer the confusion in Xuanyuan Jing’s eyes. Even he was merely following orders. As he spoke, he handed over the Apricot Yellow Banner.

Xuanyuan Jing said nothing more, accepting the Apricot Yellow Banner and tucking it into his robes. Now, with the strongest offensive power of Xuanyuan Jing coupled with the defensive might of the Apricot Yellow Banner, plus his inherent strength, unless a Yu-level master intervened, he was undoubtedly the strongest existence in the Heavenly Realm.

However, he also understood that such a massive undertaking by the higher powers to retrieve just that one Mysterious Water Control Banner meant the task would not be as simple as imagined. He could not afford the slightest carelessness.

“Take this as well. Do not use it unless absolutely necessary,” Xuanyuan Jue said, pulling out another item: a mirror, half black and half white, resembling a Taiji diagram, which he handed to Xuanyuan Jing.

If the Apricot Yellow Banner alone was shocking, when Xuanyuan Jing took this artifact that was neither truly a mirror nor purely a diagram, his hands began to tremble uncontrollably. This… this… this was the legendary Taiji Diagram, the Taiji Diagram that encompassed all things? Back then, the Grand Pure One relied on this object to dominate the Primordial Era; even the Four Immortal Slaying Swords struggled to harm him?

How could such an object be bestowed upon him? Was this mission truly so perilous?

“Don't be overly astonished. This is just to guard against the unexpected. With these three supreme treasures, even if you fail to seize the Mysterious Water Control Banner, they are enough to ensure your safety. Go now!” Seeing Xuanyuan Jing’s astonished expression, Xuanyuan Jue stated calmly.

Xuanyuan Jing suppressed the shock churning within him and dared not speak further. He bowed deeply and respectfully to Xuanyuan Jue before turning and departing the Sacred Mountain.

Once his figure had completely vanished, five shadowy silhouettes materialized behind Xuanyuan Jue. Xuanyuan Jue, who had been seated on a cushion moments before, immediately stood up and respectfully bowed to the five figures, even presenting the remaining great banners with both hands.

The Daoist Xuanxu waved a hand, collecting the Plain Colored Cloud Banner and the Azure Lotus Treasure Banner, but deliberately left the Earth Light Flame Banner in Xuanyuan Jue’s hand.

Seeing that the Five Great Immortal Sages had not reclaimed the Earth Light Flame Banner, Xuanyuan Jue looked up in confusion. He could not fathom what the Five Great Immortal Sages intended to do.

“Go. It will be difficult for him to retrieve the Mysterious Water Control Banner alone. Go assist him, and perhaps that lingering obsession in your heart will also be resolved,” the Daoist Xuanxu stated gently.

Xuanyuan Jue’s expression shifted. After so many years of ascetic cultivation on this Sacred Mountain, he believed he had seen through many matters. If he still harbored one single obsession, it was the conflict with Dugu Ba-chen. Now, Xuanyuan Jing was sent to retrieve the Mysterious Water Control Banner, yet Dugu Ba-chen was being dragged into it. Could the Mysterious Water Control Banner be connected to him?

“Yes…” Although his heart was filled with apprehension and confusion, the mere thought of Dugu Ba-chen made Xuanyuan Jue obediently agree. After bowing to the Five Great Immortal Sages, his entire body transformed into a beam of sword light and vanished without a trace.

Watching the directions where Xuanyuan Jing and Xuanyuan Jue had disappeared, the faces of the Five Great Immortal Sages showed little emotion, as if all this was just the most ordinary occurrence.

“Let us only hope he can find the Mysterious Water Control Banner before the calamity arrives, otherwise, none of us will escape great disaster!” After a long silence, the Daoist Xuanxu, positioned at the center, suddenly murmured these words. A flicker of helplessness crossed the placid faces of the others.

They were the supreme directors of the Immortal Realm, the hidden manipulators of the Heavenly Alliance. They appeared to command everything, but who could truly understand that they were merely pawns beneath the Heavenly Dao? Under the Heavenly Dao, they were as insignificant as any other ants; the only difference was that they might perceive things others could not.

A period of silence settled between the five. Their bodies dissolved into five rays of light, vanishing from the perfectly flat expanse of the plaza…

Time flowed on…

Earth Alliance, Savage City, outskirts, Blood Demon Legion encampment. Ye Jingyu sat in his tent, instructing Xue Ling on various Great Daos, when he heard the sound of footsteps approaching. Immediately after, he saw the figure of Ni Bo slip in from outside, followed by a man whose face was pale, draped in a black long robe, and bearing a look of profound exhaustion…