Nether Sect Sect Master Gao Hong furrowed his brows, understanding that this was a rare Opportunity, but it also came with immense risks. A single misstep could lead to the demise of the entire Nether Sect, so he had to act cautiously. After a moment of contemplation, he had made up his mind.
“If this operation succeeds, it will indeed be a rare Opportunity for our Nether Sect. Not only will we gain an Artifact Refining Great Master, but we can also use this to weaken the Xuantian Sword Sect’s strength, paving the way for our future expansion. However, as everyone has said, this operation carries immense risk, and a slight oversight could invite the Xuantian Sword Sect’s full retaliation.”
“Everyone, you all know what it means to provoke the Xuantian Sword Sect. This matter is extremely risky, and it is not advisable to act rashly for now. Let’s first ascertain the situation of Profound Heaven Dao Lord and Qing Hong Dao Jun before proceeding.” Gao Hong’s gaze swept across the Elders’ faces as he said in a deep voice.
As Gao Hong’s words fell, the hall immediately fell into silence, and the Elders lowered their heads in thought.
“The Sect Master is absolutely right.” An Elder slowly spoke, breaking the silence and agreeing, “Profound Heaven Dao Lord and Qing Hong Dao Jun of the Xuantian Sword Sect have unfathomable strength, and they also have seven Sword Masters and thirteen Sword Elders. Their Foundation is deep. If we act rashly, it will indeed be easy to fall into a passive position. It is better to send people to secretly investigate first, understand the current situation and movements of Profound Heaven Dao Lord and Qing Hong Dao Jun, and then make a decision.”
“The Sect Master is far-sighted, prudent, and cautious!” Another Elder echoed, “Know yourself and your enemy, and you will never be defeated. Only by understanding the situation of Profound Heaven Dao Lord and Qing Hong Dao Jun can we formulate a more comprehensive plan.”
… …
Soon, Gao Hong’s proposal received the approval of the Elders. Even those with different opinions chose to compromise after careful consideration.
“Since everyone has no objection, then proceed according to the plan.” Gao Hong stood up and said with a resolute gaze, “Elder Ge, Elder Chen, Elder Duan, the three of you will lead the Nether Dark Guards and accompany me to the Nine Nether Land to investigate the situation of the two Dao Lords of the Xuantian Sword Sect.”
“Yes, Sect Master!” Elder Ge, Elder Chen, and Elder Duan responded in unison, fully aware of the importance of this mission.
“Remember, you must be careful and cautious on this trip, and do not alert the enemy.” Gao Hong emphasized again, looking at the three and solemnly instructing, “The Nine Nether Land is full of dangers. We must not only guard against Xuantian and Qing Hong but also against the native forces in the Nine Nether Land.”
“Sect Master, rest assured, we will not fail your trust.” Elder Ge replied steadily, his eyes gleaming with determination. Elder Chen and Elder Duan also echoed in unison, stating that they would do their utmost to complete this mission.
The three then left the hall and quickly assembled the elite forces of the Nether Dark Guards, preparing to set off for the Nine Nether Land.
“Elder Bao, Elder Luan, you two are ordered to take the funds and participate in the Wanbao Pavilion’s Auction. Then, try to establish a good relationship with this Master Li. It would be best if you could persuade him to visit our Sect. Do not act against him unless absolutely necessary. Wait for the intelligence from Elder Ge and the others.”
“Yes, Sect Master!” Bao Yong and Luan Huilan responded in unison.
… …
The high-ranking members of the Nether Sect quickly took action, agitated by the upcoming Wanbao Pavilion Auction, the several Dao weapons, and even more so by Li Mu, who could refine Dao weapons.
This scene was almost simultaneously unfolding across the four domains of the Spirit Realm and numerous forces in the outer regions. Various Sects, noble families, and even mysterious organizations hidden in the shadows began to take action.
Forces with weaker strength dared not harbor any thoughts about the Xuantian Sword Sect’s Grand Elder. However, those forces that were slightly inferior to the Xuantian Sword Sect or harbored great ambitions almost all took advantage of the Xuantian Sword Sect’s two Dao Lords being trapped in the Nine Nether Land and developed a strong interest in Li Mu, the Artifact Refining Great Master who could refine Dao weapons.
… …
In the Central Continent Spirit Realm, the Taiyi Sect, which was inferior to the Xuantian Sword Sect, had always yearned to be on par with it or even surpass its status. Now, with the two Dao Lords of the Xuantian Sword Sect trapped in the Nine Nether Land, it was a once-in-a-thousand-years Opportunity for the Taiyi Sect.
Xu Wen, the Deputy Sect Master of the Taiyi Sect, after learning the news that Li Mu had refined several Dao weapons for the Wanbao Pavilion and sent them to the Auction, immediately summoned the Elders of the Sect to discuss countermeasures.
“Hu Yiming, you have been acquainted with that Elder Li the longest.” Xu Wen looked at Hu Yiming, who was sitting on the right, and asked in a deep voice, “Do you think we have a chance to win him over to the Taiyi Sect?”
Hu Yiming stroked his long beard, his brows tightly furrowed. After a moment of contemplation, he said, “Li Mu is quite sentimental and prefers to act alone. His cooperation with the Wanbao Pavilion is limited to refining Dao weapons. He has been in the Xuantian Sword Sect for over a hundred years and is highly valued. It would probably be difficult to make him change his allegiance.”
“What if we tempt him with great benefits?” Xu Wen asked unwillingly.
Hu Yiming pondered slightly, then continued to shake his head, “Every Dao weapon Li Mu refines is priceless, and the remuneration given by the Wanbao Pavilion is already astronomical. Moreover, as an Artifact Refining Great Master, he is renowned throughout the world and already lacks no wealth. If we try to tempt him with benefits, it will probably not be effective.”
Upon hearing this, Xu Wen’s brows furrowed even deeper. He knew Li Mu’s Artifact Refining ability. If he could gain his allegiance, the Taiyi Sect’s strength would surely increase greatly, and it might even surpass the Xuantian Sword Sect. However, Li Mu’s ability and background made him feel troublesome.
“Then… should we take other measures?” Xu Wen’s voice revealed a hint of ruthlessness.
Hu Yiming was startled and quickly advised, “Deputy Sect Master, think twice! Although Li Mu has a reclusive personality, his attainments in Artifact Refining are extremely high, and he also has the Xuantian Sword Sect and the Wanbao Pavilion backing him. If we act rashly and fail, it will surely provoke a strong backlash from the Xuantian Sword Sect. At that time, the Taiyi Sect will fall into a state of Eternal damnation!”
Xu Wen took a deep breath, knowing that Hu Yiming’s words were true. Although the Taiyi Sect was powerful, it did not have enough confidence to be an enemy of the Xuantian Sword Sect. However, how could he be willing to watch Li Mu, such an Artifact Refining Great Master, fall into the hands of the Xuantian Sword Sect and continuously strengthen the Xuantian Sword Sect’s Foundation and background?
“Then… what should we do?” Xu Wen’s voice was full of helplessness, “Not being able to invite him into the Taiyi Sect in the early years was truly a great missed Opportunity!”
Upon hearing this, Hu Yiming smiled bitterly. Indeed, he had already invited him to join the Sect ahead of time, but in the end, he was intercepted halfway by the Xuantian Sword Sect.
No one expected Li Mu’s growth to be so rapid. In less than two hundred years, his success rate in refining Dao weapons was so high, which truly exceeded Hu Yiming’s imagination.
“Perhaps… we can try to establish a deeper connection with him. We don’t have to force him to join the Taiyi Sect; we just need to be able to get his help when needed.” Hu Yiming suggested.
“No, if he stays in the Xuantian Sword Sect, the gap between us and the Xuantian Sword Sect will only grow wider.” Xu Wen flatly rejected Hu Yiming’s suggestion. His eyes gleamed with unwillingness and determination, “We need a more direct strategy to ensure that this Li Mu can be used by our Sect.”
Last time in the Southern Wilderness Spirit Domain, in the battle against the Eternal Demon God, several Sword Elders of the Xuantian Sword Sect, each with a Dao weapon, coordinated to unleash a sword formation that even killed an Eternal Demon God at the Dao Lord Realm. Not to mention, Li Mu is not only skilled in Artifact Refining but also excels in array formations. The combination of array and Artifact Refining displays great power in his hands.
If he is allowed to continue staying in the Xuantian Sword Sect, the Taiyi Sect will never be able to contend with it. A hint of ruthlessness flashed in Xu Wen’s eyes. He understood that he must use all means to obtain this person, or even destroy him if necessary, but he could not let him continue to strengthen the Xuantian Sword Sect’s Foundation.
“Perhaps we can start with this person’s weakness.” Xu Wen slowly spoke, his voice full of determination, “Since he values sentiment, then start with his relatives, friends, or Disciples to find his soft spot.”
“Sect Master, won’t doing this be too risky? If the Xuantian Sword Sect finds out, we…!”
“That’s right! Even if the two Dao Lords, Xuantian and Qing Hong, cannot return in a short time, the several Sword Masters of the Xuantian Sword Sect are not to be trifled with!”
… …
Upon hearing this, the Elders were all startled, and voices of opposition rose one after another. They looked at each other, their faces filled with shock, clearly fearing the Xuantian Sword Sect’s majestic sword might.
“I know what you are worried about, but with the two Dao Lords of the Xuantian Sword Sect trapped in the Nine Nether Land, other forces will definitely take advantage of this. This is a once-in-a-thousand-years Opportunity. If we miss this chance, we will forever be suppressed by the Xuantian Sword Sect.” Xu Wen’s voice was firm and powerful. He continued, “Our Taiyi Sect is not without the strength to fight; we just lack an Opportunity. Now, the Opportunity is before us. As long as we can successfully win over this person and use his Artifact Refining and array formation skills for our own, it won’t take too long before we can also contend with the Xuantian Sword Sect.”
Xu Wen looked around, his gaze like a torch, staring at the Elders and saying in a deep voice, “Risks and Opportunities coexist. If we hesitate, the Taiyi Sect will never rise.”
“Sect Master, do you know the details of the situation with the two Dao Lords of the Xuantian Sword Sect?” Hu Yiming looked at Xu Wen, with a hint of doubt in his eyes, and asked with concern.
Xu Wen nodded slightly, a solemn expression on his face, and explained, “The Nine Nether Land is a forgotten Forbidden Land, filled with mystery and danger since ancient times. The Nine Nether Land is located in the deepest void between heaven and earth, surrounded by endless darkness and Chaos. Only a very few Cultivators can glimpse a corner of it. Legend has it that the Nine Nether Land is a necessary Secret Realm to the Upper Realm, the path where the Dao principles originate.”
“The space there is extremely distorted, and the flow of time is also vastly different from the outside world. There may even be portals to other worlds. In the Nine Nether Land, strange creatures often appear. They are either formed by the condensation of Chaos Qi or Transmigrated from other worlds. Their strength is powerful and unpredictable.”
“The two Dao Lords of the Xuantian Sword Sect, who entered the Nine Nether Land this time, should have gone to find the Dao root object for Breakthrough to the next Realm, but unexpectedly encountered powerful creatures in the Nine Nether Land and were trapped there.”
“The creatures in the Nine Nether Land possess unimaginable power. They can control Chaos Qi and cast various bizarre and unpredictable Spells. Although the two Dao Lords are powerful, they are greatly restricted in the Nine Nether Land and cannot unleash their full strength.”
“What’s even more terrifying is that there is also a strange power called ‘Nether Breath’ in the Nine Nether Land. This power can erode a Cultivator’s Soul, making them gradually become insane and bloodthirsty. The longer one stays in the Nine Nether Land, the more severe the erosion by ‘Nether Breath’ becomes.”
“Therefore, we must seize this Opportunity and act quickly. Once the two Dao Lords escape from the Nine Nether Land, the Xuantian Sword Sect’s strength will greatly increase, and our Taiyi Sect will never have a chance to rise again.”
As Xu Wen’s words fell, the entire hall fell into a brief silence. The Elders’ faces were solemn, clearly shocked by the mystery and danger of the Nine Nether Land. They knew that this was a major decision concerning the future fate of the Taiyi Sect, and they had to consider it carefully.
Hu Yiming took a deep breath and slowly spoke, “Sect Master, this Opportunity must not be missed, but besides the two Dao Lords, the remaining Sword Masters and Sword Elders of the Xuantian Sword Sect are not to be trifled with!”
Upon hearing this, a hint of fierceness flashed in Xu Wen’s eyes. He couldn’t help but think of his old rivals, Sword Master Feng and Sword Master Chen, not to mention that the Xuantian Sword Sect also possessed a set of sword formations that could counter Dao Lords.
Xu Wen nodded slightly, understanding the Elders’ concerns. He said in a deep voice, “Elder Hu is absolutely right. The Xuantian Sword Sect has a deep Foundation, and it cannot be easily shaken by the strength of our single Sect. But precisely because of this, we need to unite with other forces to jointly deal with this situation.”
“Unite with other forces, Sect Master, who are you referring to?” Hu Yiming was stunned and asked with concern.
“Several Sects in the Northern Region, such as the Heavenly Frost Sword Sect, the Purple Cloud Immortal Sect, and the Thousand Immortals Alliance. Although these Sects do not have as long a history as the Xuantian Sword Sect and the Taiyi Sect, their strength should not be underestimated, and they all harbor dissatisfaction and apprehension towards the Xuantian Sword Sect. The Xuantian Sword Sect has operated in the Northern Region for a thousand years, causing considerable pressure on these Sects.”
“If we can unite these Sects to jointly contend against the Xuantian Sword Sect, they will surely cooperate, and our chances of winning will greatly increase.” Xu Wen looked at Hu Yiming and said firmly.
A hint of realization flashed in Hu Yiming’s eyes. Although the Sects in the Northern Region were not as powerful as the Xuantian Sword Sect and the Taiyi Sect, their strength should not be ignored. Moreover, there had long been accumulated grievances between them and the Xuantian Sword Sect.
“Sect Master, your plan is indeed brilliant. But how to persuade these Sects to form an alliance with us will probably require some effort.” An old man with silver hair expressed his concern.
“Elder Weng, I already have a plan for this.” Xu Wen smiled slightly at the old man and continued to explain, “This Wanbao Pavilion Auction will definitely attract these forces as well. At that time, when several Dao weapons appear, how can these forces not be tempted? When they start fighting over them, I will personally come forward to contact the high-ranking officials of each Sect, show them the sincerity of our Taiyi Sect, and our firm stance against the Xuantian Sword Sect. We will definitely be able to unite them…”
“Sect Master, your proposal is excellent.” Hu Yiming nodded in agreement and asked with concern, “But how can we ensure that these Sects will truly and sincerely ally with us, rather than just cooperating temporarily and then turning against us later?”
Xu Wen smiled slightly, his eyes gleaming with wisdom, and began to explain in detail, “Elder Hu asked well…”
The Elders listened and nodded repeatedly, all expressing their agreement with Xu Wen’s plan. (End of this chapter)
