Chapter 550 - 481: Observing the Changes, Please Enter the Urn

Chapter 550: Chapter 481: Observing the Changes, Please Enter the Urn

The greater the undertaking, the more crucial internal unity is. Attempting a grand venture while plagued by mutual hatred, rampant factionalism, and a split in command is a surefire recipe for disaster.

Therefore.

The Jade Void Sword Sect and the Star Casting Hall thus temporarily held back.

Of course, this didn’t mean they had given up... They had completely sealed off Volcano State, allowing no one to enter or exit. It seemed they were waiting for something.

The atmosphere in Volcano State was heavy with oppression, a turbulent undercurrent surging beneath the surface!

...

The grotto estate was clean and simple, elegant and tranquil.

While a storm was brewing in Volcano State, with undercurrents surging, Su Ye—the culprit behind it all—was rather at ease, enjoying the cherry blossoms and sipping tea in his grotto estate, looking utterly content.

Two pretty female cultivators of outstanding beauty, dressed as courtesans, were brewing tea for Su Ye with their delicate hands.

"Yehai, is this Nine Pure Immortal Light Tea to your liking?"

asked a middle-aged man in a yellow robe with a handlebar mustache, his face a mask of eagerness and his demeanor that of a sycophant.

This Nine Pure Immortal Light Tea swirled with a pure aura and shimmered with nine-colored spiritual light. Its appearance was superb, and its effects were even more outstanding. A single mouthful of the Spirit Tea could enhance the cultivation of even a Golden Core cultivator.

"It’s alright..."

Su Ye took a sip, but he seemed uninterested and answered dismissively.

He nonchalantly picked up his cup.

The yellow-robed lackey took the hint, quickly rising to his feet and excusing himself for the disturbance before departing.

"You two may leave as well."

Su Ye glanced at the two beautiful female cultivators and dismissed them with a wave of his hand.

"Yes, Master!"

The two female cultivators curtsied, cleared the tea table, and promptly left.

These two female cultivators were a gift from one of the recent visitors.

They were exceptionally beautiful with slender figures, their Primordial Yin was intact, they had received special training, were proficient in the methods of Dual Cultivation, and had reached Foundation Establishment Perfection. They were considered premium cauldrons.

And this was just one of the many gifts prepared by the numerous visitors during this period.

’This grotto estate of mine has been quite lively recently...’

’Countless visitors, an endless stream of lavish gifts...’

’Heh... how very interesting...’

Su Ye chuckled, his tone peculiar, as if tinged with ridicule.

Such lavish gifts always come with strings attached.

The reason Su Ye had received so many gifts that his hands had gone soft was, at its root, very simple.

During the two ruin explorations, the True Treasure Pavilion had lost quite a few Golden Core cultivators.

For the True Treasure Pavilion as a whole, the losses were acceptable. But for certain factions and families, losing their Golden Core patron was a catastrophic disaster!

Even if the sect maintained their interests for a short time out of consideration for past relationships, such things wouldn’t last.

But the favor of a great man is severed after five generations.

They could protect their interests now, but what about ten or twenty years from now?

Decades later, when new Golden Core cultivators ascended and expanded their own factions, those without a Golden Core backer would be the easiest targets!

Of course, the Righteous Sects weren’t as bloodthirsty as the demonic ones; they were particular about appearances.

As long as they were sensible enough to voluntarily give up most of their interests and power, they wouldn’t have to worry about their entire families being slaughtered.

However.

For those who had tasted power, losing it could be more painful than losing their lives.

Therefore, to hold on to their positions, they desperately needed to find a new patron after their own Golden Core ancestors had fallen!

And Su Ye, deeply favored by Li Jinhua and practically designated as a True Heir of the True Treasure Pavilion, was, in their eyes, a person of sufficient stature!

’I wonder what expressions they’d have if they knew I was the one who personally killed their Golden Core ancestors?’

Su Ye thought with a wicked sense of humor, letting out a soft chuckle.

Immediately after,

he took a light sip of the Nine Pure Immortal Light Tea.

This Spirit Tea was truly outstanding; both its taste and its effects were superb.

In any case, it certainly didn’t deserve a dismissive evaluation like ’it’s alright.’

The only reason for his assessment was that Su Ye was preoccupied with worries, his subjective mood affecting his objective perception.

As he drank the tea, what he was truly thinking about was the current situation.

His plan had succeeded. He had eliminated Jiang Wenyuan and framed Qinghua. Her identity as a remnant of the Blood Moon Demon Palace had, as hoped, drawn a great deal of attention her way.

He had successfully drawn their fire!

But...

It could only be considered ’alright.’

’Volcano State has been sealed off. Based on my probing during this time, there are at least several Nascent Soul cultivators maintaining the lockdown from outside the state at all times...’

’Therefore, it’s impossible for me to leave this place.’

’Furthermore, I still can’t crack the Jade Void Sword Sect’s detection methods... which means I’m still at a very high risk of being exposed.’

Su Ye’s brow furrowed slightly.

He sank into deep thought, his index finger tapping a steady rhythm on the tea table.

Moreover, there was another matter that made him feel uneasy, like a fishbone stuck in his throat.

’The purpose of sealing Volcano State, it’s a no-brainer, is definitely not to trap Qinghua until she dies... A Golden Core cultivator is already beyond human; they can sustain themselves just by refining Spiritual Qi.’

’Besides, with how wealthy Qinghua is, she must have ample supplies. If it became a war of attrition, maybe... she could really hold out until she dies of old age?’

Therefore.

The true purpose of the current lockdown by the Jade Void Sword Sect and the Star Casting Hall was...

’To wait for the defenses of the Volcano Grotto Heaven to gradually crumble, allowing the Nascent Soul True Monarchs to set foot in Volcano State... At that time, they’ll use absolute power to suppress everything with the force of a thunderbolt!’

Su Ye saw their plan with perfect clarity.

In a flash of insight, he had more or less figured out the intentions of the leaders of the Jade Void Sword Sect and the Star Casting Hall.

However, even so, there was nothing he could do about it.

After all, this was an open conspiracy.

It was a straightforward application of overwhelming force, leaving no room for clever tricks.

’So, all I can do now is wait. Wait for the battle over the Grotto Heaven to begin, for the Nascent Soul True Monarchs to make their move and invade the Volcano Grotto Heaven...’

’At that point, the Nascent Soul True Monarchs will be preoccupied with the fight, with no attention to spare. That will be my chance to break out amidst the chaos and leave Volcano State...’

Su Ye rested his chin on his hand, his eyes shimmering.

In his estimation, the chance of this happening was quite high!

After all.

He didn’t think the Nascent Soul True Monarchs could take the Volcano Grotto Heaven so easily.

’As a divine kingdom that has existed for a very long time, it must have some hidden reserves. Besides, Qinghua is in there too.’

’A remnant of the demon palace and the Volcano Grotto Heaven, with both sides joining forces to resist the enemy... surely they won’t be insta-killed?’

Even a wrecked ship is worth its weight in nails.

Even though the Dream-Keepers’ performance had been rather pathetic, Su Ye had no doubt about the power they could unleash when facing a life-or-death situation!

’What’s more, I’ve refined two Dao Sources. That should have also boosted the Dream-Keepers’ strength...’

’Even though I don’t know the exact details, judging by the Dream-Keepers’ desperation to refine the Dao Sources and their extremely high tolerance for my actions...’

’...the refinement of these two Dao Sources might have... a very important impact and significance for the Volcano Grotto Heaven?’

Su Ye pondered and settled on his strategy.

’Observe the changes and wait for the opportune moment!’

...

「Meanwhile.」

「Volcano Grotto Heaven.」

Upon a barren and scorching hill of black and red rock.

Qinghua stood with her hands behind her back. Her face was still breathtakingly beautiful, but the seductive charm in her eyes was gone, replaced by an undisguised, cold arrogance and indifference.

As a Nascent Soul Split Soul, this was her true nature.

Any other emotions were nothing more than a disguise or a matter of social etiquette.

At this moment, Chiyou was bowing and reporting to her.

"Holy Maiden, this subordinate is ashamed. I barely escaped with my life. As for the Candle Python Cave... it has been completely destroyed."

It was very clear that this master of the Candle Python Cave, a great cultivator at Golden Core Perfection, had long been a pawn secretly placed by the Blood Moon Demon Palace.

In other words, the very existence of the Candle Python Cave was a front created by the remnants of the demon palace to operate in the open.

As for this front being absorbed by the Star Casting Hall, that was merely a coincidence that they had taken advantage of.

"It matters not... I also bear some responsibility for this incident. I was careless and exposed myself."

Qinghua shook her head.

This was not the time for assigning blame.

She encouraged Chiyou:

"Besides... the current situation might just be an opportunity!"

"Those rebels from the Nine Sects want to strangle us, but they have no idea... I’m also planning to lure them into my own trap!"

Qinghua said coldly.

Chiyou was taken aback. "Holy Maiden, could you mean..."

"Yes. My main body has already reached the Day Flame Sea Region..."

Qinghua’s starry eyes glittered!