Chapter 899 - 291: Seventy-Two Cangmin Realms_6

Upon hearing this, Shen Chongxu’s eyes suddenly emitted a sharp gleam!

Dongyun Pao’s face also showed a sudden realization.

"So... the Longevity Pavilion’s ancestor didn’t hesitate to personally take action this time, abducting cultivators from the Twelve Sects of Bei Lu Immortal Mountain and tens of thousands of cultivators from Fushan Country, in order to catalyze spiritual essence!?"

"But didn’t the Longevity Pavilion take that Celestial Weary Golden Radiance back then?"

"Does he intend to seize another spiritual essence this time?"

Dongyun Pao was quite puzzled and asked.

However, Shen Chongxu’s complexion was grave, and he did not answer.

He knew more about spiritual essence than Dongyun Pao and Ming Zhengchu.

He was well aware that now in Yangnao Land, only the last essence named "Earth Spirit Nether Soil" had not manifested yet.

If Ming Zhengchu’s speculation was true.

The Nascent Soul True Monarch from the Longevity Pavilion captured a large number of cultivators for a blood sacrifice to catalyze spiritual essence, meaning the Chess Player behind this cosmic strategy has lost patience and doesn’t want to wait another few decades.

"You should leave now and closely monitor developments on all sides."

After careful deliberation, Shen Chongxu decided to quickly inform the Shen Family far away in Yunshui City.

After sending the two away, he directly took out a Communication Stone to contact Shen Xiuyan in Yunshui City.

Yunshui City.

Receiving the message, Shen Xiuyan also sensed that something was amiss and promptly headed to the old residence.

In the backyard of the old residence, Shen Chongming was explaining the difficulties of the techniques of moving mountains and filling seas to Shen Yuan. Approaching, Shen Xiuyan bowed solemnly.

"Great-grandfather, Uncle."

The two stopped their discussion and looked at him.

"What happened?"

Noticing his unusual expression, Shen Chongming asked.

"Uncle has sent word from the Southern Border, Xiuyan thinks it is related to the Dao Source and spiritual essence."

Describing the matter of the Longevity Pavilion’s ancestor personally abducting millions of cultivators from the Southern Border, Shen Xiuyan said: "Uncle suspects these abducted cultivators are for blood sacrifice to catalyze spiritual essence."

Before them, the grandfather and grandson both recalled Elder Luo’s visit to Yunshui City a while ago.

Luo Tianxing mentioned that Xu Xiu was betrayed by a disciple who stole the most crucial treasure for creating the Dao Source Secret Realm.

Predicting significant changes to the situation ahead.

And a Nascent Soul True Monarch personally abducting over a million cultivators is most likely for blood sacrifice, forcibly catalyzing the last essence, Earth Spirit Nether Soil.

Once the Earth Spirit Nether Soil manifests, Yangnao Land will enter a Dao Collapse era.

"Great-grandfather, Uncle, what do you two think?"

Seeing Shen Yuan and Shen Chongming silent, Shen Xiuyan bowed slightly and asked again.

Shen Yuan stood with his hands behind his back, his complexion grave as he sighed: "It’s almost certainly as your uncle speculates."

"This means we’re running out of time."

Shen Chongming picked up the topic: "The blood sacrifice to catalyze spiritual essence requires ’Yin Yang Mutual Aid,’ Southern Border cultivators as Yin and Yangnao Land cultivators as Yang."

"If the speculation isn’t wrong, it won’t be long before a Nascent Soul True Monarch descends upon Yangnao Land to seize cultivators."

Saying this, his face showed a hint of concern.

Yangnao Land is not like the Southern Border, where the cultivation tradition remains unbroken, and there are many low tier cultivators.

Just looking at ’Yin Yang Mutual Aid,’ maintaining balance, the Nascent Soul True Monarch from Longevity Pavilion who abducted over a million low tier cultivators from the Southern Border would also need to abduct roughly the same number from Yangnao Land.

But Yangnao Land’s Spiritual Qi revival has only lasted two hundred years.

In these two hundred years, having endured countless battles and the plundering by major Southern Border forces, plus several large harvests afterward, the number of cultivators in Yangnao Land has sharply declined.

If they want to gather a million, they’ll likely include the various affiliated families under the Shen Family’s jurisdiction.

As the main Chess Player behind this cosmic strategy, Xu Xiu has a significant cause and effect with the Shen Family.

But Luo Tianxing said earlier.

Due to some cause and effect, Xu Xiu likely won’t let anyone touch the Shen Family’s direct lineage.

But he has no qualms over the cultivators from affiliated families.

Even these now established in Yangnao Land, like Luoxia Mountain, are likely on the plundering list.

"Grandfather, what should we do now?"

Shen Yuan pondered for a while and slowly said: "Don’t rush, the situation can still be mitigated."

"Chongming, go quickly to Danzhou and ask Elder Luo."

"He should know something about this."

"The old man is mad. We can’t stop him from blood sacrifice to catalyze spiritual essence."

"But if Elder Luo is in charge of capturing offerings in Yangnao Land, then our Shen Family and Luoxia Mountain might still have room to maneuver."

Shen Yuan’s idea was simple.

Compared to the Nascent Soul True Monarch from Longevity Pavilion in the Southern Border, the Shen Family has a deeper friendship with Luo Tianxing.

If Xu Xiu tasked Luo Tianxing with capturing offerings in Yangnao Land, then the affiliated families under the Shen Family’s jurisdiction might be saved.

But if it’s still that person from Longevity Pavilion, there might be no way to resolve the situation.

When faced with an invasion, even hiding the cultivators under their jurisdiction in Yunshui City wouldn’t save them if the other side couldn’t gather enough cultivators and decided to invade directly.

If the other side takes action, apart from the Shen Family’s direct lineage, all foreign cultivators in Yunshui City would be doomed.

Shen Chongming apprehensively bowed: "Grandson will go visit Elder Luo now."

With that said, his figure transformed into a flash of lightning and disappeared.

"Xiuyan, send people to visit the major affiliated families and bring the talents previously counted by the Clan Court to the city."

"Remember, only select those with the best talents, don’t gather too many people."

It’s always wise to be prepared for both possibilities.

If this matter truly reaches the least desirable outcome, they can’t prevent it, only minimize losses by preserving the talents from the affiliated families first.

Danzhou Barrier.

Upon arrival, Shen Chongming found Luo Tianxing standing with hands behind his back, gazing at the distant mountains, seemingly awaiting him.

"Elder."

Shen Chongming bowed in greeting.

Luo Tianxing turned smilingly, nodding: "I anticipated your arrival."

"So, did you receive the news?"

Shen Chongming hesitated for a breath: "Elder suggests... Great Prosperity True Monarch can’t wait anymore?"

Luo Tianxing sighed: "Things have reached a point of no return."

"Having lost that crucial treasure, the old man can only settle for refining the Dao Source and becoming a pseudo-transforming nature, then slowly plan other things."

"In the Southern Border, Elder Qi has already taken action."

Pausing, he looked at Shen Chongming: "You’ve come to ask me to preserve Shen Family’s cultivators, right?"

Shen Chongming nodded somewhat embarrassedly.

He could see that Luo Tianxing was reluctant to get involved in this matter.

Indeed, Xu Xiu probably hadn’t tasked him with gathering offerings in Yangnao Land.

But this matter concerns the Shen Family’s survival.

If any Nascent Soul True Monarch under Xu Xiu makes a move, the Shen Family’s two hundred years of efforts will be destroyed in an instant.

Even if they preserve the direct lineage’s lives, the foreign cultivators are taken, significantly weakening the Shen Family, and it would be uncertain how long it might take to recover.