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Southwest Province, Yunxiao Sect sect.
Among the peaks originally surrounded by clouds and mist, there was devastation as far as the eye could see.
Various magical instruments and bodies were scattered on the ground, with bloodstains everywhere.
Among the swirling clouds, several rainbows appeared one after another in the sky.
Boom!
A piece of the mountain collapsed, and rocks tumbled down with a loud rumble.
Martial Saint stomped on the chest of a bleeding Daoist in white robes, causing it to collapse.
The bleeding Daoist’s face turned pale, body dried up like dead wood, leaving only a vague human form and tattered robes.
Hiss!
With a flash of light, an icy sword swiftly cut across Martial Saint’s chest, tearing through skin and flesh.
Martial Saint, unfazed, casually crushed the ice sword with his hand, allowing his wounds to heal quickly.
"Fight with war, repay blood with blood," he said indifferently.
The leader of Yunxiao Sect broke through the clouds and appeared, his expression turning serious after seeing the scene.
"Why aren’t you dead yet, what kind of creature are you?"
The leader’s special dharma body is not much weaker than his real self.
Although his dharma body is on the verge of collapse, with only a few days left, with the help of the Mountain Protection Formation, he still has comparable strength to his real self.
However, after days of intense battles, he felt increasingly desolate.
During this time, Yunxiao Sect closed itself off, becoming Martial Saint’s source of supplies instead.
After days of fighting, Martial Saint fought and moved on, sustaining himself through battles.
Martial Saint was still alive and well, while many survivors in the sect had died at Martial Saint’s hands.
Despite the opponent’s accumulating injuries, Yunxiao Sect Leader’s time was running out, with just the last two or three days left, he could not afford to delay.
"Master, give up."
Suddenly, a familiar voice was heard.
The Yunxiao Sect Leader frowned and saw a figure quietly appearing in the distance behind Martial Saint, it was the Yunxiao Sect’s Taoist Child Yu Shan.
Yu Shan had already reached the Nascent Soul Stage, becoming one of the only two Nascent Soul cultivators in the sect.
However, at this moment, he looked tired with a pale face, lacking the aura of a Nascent Soul cultivator.
"Master, why struggle? We all know how you are feeling…"
"Yu Shan, you’re still alive?" The Yunxiao Sect Leader’s emotions fluctuated from happiness to anger.
The Yunxiao Sect was in danger of collapsing, but compared to Elder Yun Hu, the newly emerged Nascent Soul cultivator, Taoist Child Yu Shan, had a brighter future.
However, the fact that Taoist Child Yu Shan was still alive might not be good news.
After all, the hall where the Life Jade Slip is kept is managed by Taoist Child Yu Shan, the future leader of the sect.
Nowadays, almost half of the Life Jade Slips in the hall are shattered, and Yunxiao Sect Leader is completely unaware of it, this matter is definitely related to Taoist Child Yu Shan.
"The esteemed Taoist Child, the future sect leader, has surrendered?" Yunxiao Taoist Lord felt a touch of sadness in his heart.
After a while, he suddenly let out a sigh.
His main body had already died a month ago.
The remaining dharma body now is intricately linked to the rebirth of Jingwei, with the dharma body being the vessel of the lingering attachment of the main body.
"So be it."
"Since that’s the case, let’s sit down and talk things over."
"What do you think, Martial Saint?"
The leader of Yunxiao Sect slowly spoke.
He stopped moving, not fighting with Martial Saint at the end of his life, but stopped there.
Initially, he personally visited Peach Blossom Villa to talk with his mortal enemy Qiao Pianxin who killed his true self.
Now, he also tried to talk with Martial Saint who invaded Yunxiao Sect and massacred.
"Talk? What’s the point of talking now?" Martial Saint said coldly.
"Why not talk?" Yunxiao Sect Leader said slowly.
"Do you know why Qiao Pianxin suddenly left Southwest Province and why Peach Blossom Villa moved?"
It was him who revealed Qiao Mu’s identity as South King.
It was still him who told about a legendary sword in Southeast Province Sword Tomb that can speak.
He even helped refine the Peach Blossom Villa artifact, allowing Qiao Mu and others to travel through several states in just a few days.
After this operation, although the Yunxiao Sect did not deploy any troops, the achievements of the Qiao family members in Nan Province and Southeast Province really contributed to the Yunxiao Sect Leader.
At this moment, even Martial Saint fell silent, feeling somewhat intrigued.
The Yunxiao Sect Leader continued:
"Your martial arts are indeed impressive, but no matter how high your martial arts skills are, without sufficient accumulation, you know very little about the Nine Immortal Gates."
"As for the Nine Heavenly Immortal Gates, and even the once Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, you are completely clueless."
"But I am different."
"Our Yunxiao Sect has been inherited since ancient times, and has always been a major rival to the other Immortal Gates. In terms of my understanding of other Immortal Gates, you are far behind."
After that meeting, the Qiao family members left Southeast Province.
Although the Yunxiao Sect Leader couldn’t do anything tricky on the paper boat due to the oath of the heavens, he sent deacons from his sect to secretly enter the Nan Province, Southeast Province, and other places.
While he may not know everything happening in the Nan Province, he was aware of Qiao Pianxin destroying mountains and temples, Qiao Shuangxin killing Xuantian Sect Elder Jiuyang, and other Nascent Soul Elders.
He underestimated the Qiao family members, but at the same time, his thoughts started to become more active…
If he puts more effort into helping Martial Saint or supporting the Qiao family members.
Is it possible to bring down the rest of the Immortal Gate as well?
If the other Immortal Gates could lose a Soul Changing Taoist Lord, then the difficulties of the Yunxiao Sect would significantly decrease.
After all, when facing a pack of wolves, one doesn’t necessarily need to run faster than the wolves.
If he could trip up a fellow traveler, causing them to fall and become a new target for the wolves, it might work as well…
"By now, I’m sure you already know," said the Yunxiao Sect Leader.
"My true form died under the Human Emperor Sword wielded by Qiao Pianxin over a month ago."
"Now, I only exist as a dharma body that carries the determination of the ‘Yunxiao Sect Leader’."
"Martial Saint." The Yunxiao Sect Leader smiled slightly and suddenly said:
"Do you want to devour the Soul Changing Taoist Lord from another Immortal Gate?"
Martial Saint glanced up at him, showing no expression on his face.
"Different inhuman thoughts, are you now plotting against other Immortal Gates?"
"When did you start to believe the world of cultivation is set in stone?" the Yunxiao Sect Leader asked.
"Even the Jiu Province where mortals reside, once had numerous countries and endless wars," the Yunxiao Sect Leader explained.
Martial Saint stayed silent for a moment, then said, "Tell me more."
"I surrender myself to you. You can do whatever you want, even swallow my dharma body," said the Yunxiao Sect Leader calmly, as if it was a normal thing.
"Besides that, I can guide you on a path to challenge the other Immortal Gates, just like I guided the Qiao family member before, and reveal information about the other Immortal Gates," he continued.
Martial Saint asked, "What are your conditions?"
"Let my unworthy disciple and the surviving disciples of Yunxiao Sect live," said the Yunxiao Sect Leader, glancing at the Taoist Child Yu Shan next to him.
"Even if we make a deal, I know you will not show mercy," he added slowly.
Martial Saint remained silent, which was taken as agreement.
To Martial Saint, promises, commitments, vows, or favors did not hold any power to restrain him.
Hoping that Martial Saint would show mercy was too naive.
"In that case, on my behalf, please kill a few high-level members of the other Immortal Gates, especially Soul Changing Taoist Lord," he requested.
The leader of Yunxiao Sect reached out his hand, and a blank scroll unfolded in the air from his sleeve.
Suddenly, a chaotic mist surrounded everything, leaving only a vast white space where only the Yunxiao Sect Leader and Martial Saint stood facing each other.
Taoist Child Yu Shan next to him, and even the mist-shrouded peaks around the sect, all disappeared from view at that moment.
"This is the remaining heritage of my Yunxiao Sect, the precious treasure to guard the sect, the Eternal Cloud Map."
Martial Saint looked up suddenly.
Within the originally white and chaotic scroll, there appeared a scene of a giant turtle carrying the peaks of Yunxiao Sect, with a surprised Taoist Child Yu Shan standing on one of the mountains, looking lifelike.
At the same time.
The Yunxiao Sect Leader’s strength visibly weakened rapidly, evidently struggling to activate the damaged scroll, a significant drain for him.
"Looks like you’re serious." Martial Saint stretched his muscles, making cracking sounds throughout his body:
"Giving up hope of life, yet still plotting against other Immortal Gates? It is very much in line with my impression of inhumanity."
The leader of the Yunxiao Sect shook his head and said, "I have said before that my true self has long been dead, now only remnants of obsession remain. Otherwise, perhaps I would not be so open."
He casually pointed a finger.
The Eternal Cloud Map instantly broke through the sky, transforming into a rainbow light disappearing into the distance.
Yet the surrounding chaotic mist lingered for a long time.
"Martial Saint, although I do not understand mortal martial arts, I can see that your martial path is the extreme of deviant insanity." The leader of the Yunxiao Sect said lightly.
"Everything has a price. Advancing in martial arts so rapidly is no common thing. So, what is the price?" 𝒏𝙤𝙫𝒑𝙪𝙗.𝙘𝒐𝙢
"The mortals and cultivators who died by your hand, that is the price. But it is not your own price. Until when will you continue to advance recklessly?"
"Why speak such nonsense? If you want to leave behind last words and scheme at the end, then spare us the meaningless talk." Martial Saint responded coldly.
The leader of Yunxiao Sect didn’t get angry, but just smiled and started talking to Martial Saint.
"In today’s world, the Nine Immortal Gates each control a region, dividing power among themselves."
"Both Yunxiao Sect and Xuantian Sect have suffered losses recently, with little resources for rebuilding. Especially my Yunxiao Sect, we have depleted our reserves during the chaos of Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, even our most precious treasures are damaged and hard to use."
"The Southeast Province Soul Predicting Path specializes in divination and foresaw the decline of spiritual energy before the great changes in the world. They took advantage during the chaos of Nine Heavens and Ten Earths, suffering less loss among their cultivators."
"Dealing with Soul Predicting Path is tricky, they are a bit eccentric. Their current leader even claims to have glimpsed a future where this realm will face a ‘great calamity’…"
Hearing this, the leader of Yunxiao Sect shook his head.
"They belong to the Rabbit sign, they are quick to run when trouble comes. I advise you not to rush into action."
"As for Dong Province Long Life Gate, they have a good relationship with Soul Predicting Path and even the sect leader believes in the ‘great calamity’ ahead. The esteemed Soul Changing Taoist Lord of Long Life Gate even allows their cultivators to study mortal martial arts…"
"In the northwest, Tongtian Sword Sect holds dominion over the source of Sky Piercing River; Qingxuan Road is in Bei Province, and Liangyi Sect is in the northeast…"
"The Nine Heavenly Immortal Gates have their strengths and different skills. Among them, the Zhong Province Great Dao Sect and the Bei Province Qingxuan Road are the most powerful with many high-level cultivators. If you confront them head-on, you will surely be defeated."
"The Western Province Blood Lotus Sect is the best place for you, Martial Saint, to show your skills." Yunxiao Sect Leader looked at Martial Saint with a meaningful gaze.
"The Blood Lotus Sect is considered unique among the Nine Immortal Gates."
"Although they are considered equal to us, they have always been seen as evil by us. But with you…" Yunxiao Sect Leader smiled mysteriously.
"They have some similarities with you."
"Oh?" Martial Saint raised an eyebrow.
"The Blood Lotus Sect and our Yunxiao Sect have been enemies for many years. They have unique cultivation techniques, the weaknesses of their Mountain Protection Formation…"
Yunxiao Sect Leader explained in detail about the Blood Lotus Sect’s background.
He shared everything about the number of cultivators, the Blood Lotus Sect’s skills, their location, and even their secrets.
Blood Lotus Sect was not the weakest sect, but their cultivators tended to be more extreme in their actions, disregarding any semblance of dignity." Yunxiao Sect Leader said:
"Now it seems that these Blood Lotus Sect cultivators are acting so recklessly, perhaps because their situation is similar to ours in Yunxiao Sect, actually their foundation has long been depleted, in a state of instability, so they are just putting on a show."
"And this is why I suggest you start by dealing with Blood Lotus Sect first."
"Their sect’s foundation is likely depleted just like ours in Yunxiao Sect."
Martial Saint frowned slightly.
This Yunxiao Sect Leader always talks about the foundation, giving off an air of "my ancestors were really something".
Initially thought of as boasting about his heritage and raising his status, now it seems there may be some mystery behind it, not just a simple show-off.
"You have mentioned the so-called Immortal Gate’s foundation many times, what is it really?" he asked directly.
"The foundation, naturally, refers to the remnants left from the prosperous era of spiritual energy before the great changes in the world." Yunxiao Sect Leader explained lightly:
"In this world, there are a total of nineteen True Immortals who have ascended. Why are they collectively known as the ‘Nine Heavens and Ten Earths’ and have been opposing each other since ancient times?"
"As for the Nine Heavenly Immortal Gates, no, the greatest essence of the ‘Nine Heavens and Ten Earths’ lies within this title."
