Chapter 461 - 456: A Monstrous Lie

Every swing of the sword, every effort to regulate the world’s Yin and Yang, could not be done in secret.

Instead, it required the full mobilization of the Nine Countries for a grand ceremony of sacrifice to Heaven and Earth.

By now, the sword was being swung as frequently as once every twenty years.

For Cultivators, twenty years passed in the blink of an eye, and performing the ritual so frequently was naturally exhausting.

But for most Mortals, a lifetime might only span two or three such twenty-year intervals, so they never grew weary of it.

On the contrary, they found it deeply ceremonial and were utterly devout.

Thus, in recent years, the Power of Human Dao that Master Hui Feng could command had actually been growing stronger.

Unfortunately, her own power was limited. Even if she could command a greater Power of Human Dao, it wouldn’t be enough to reverse the fact that Momenan’s Spiritual Qi was on the verge of vanishing completely.

The various nations had already begun to mobilize several months prior.

After Du Youqian left Momenan, the position of Celestial Master of the Nine Countries ceased to exist.

The position of Celestial Master was split nine ways, with each country having its own Celestial Master, a role filled by a Cultivator from the Profound Sects Orthodox Camp.

As for the Demon Sect, after Du Youqian’s departure, they opposed the regulation of the world’s Yin and Yang. It was a good thing they didn’t actively sabotage the efforts; their participation was out of the question.

"Elder Wu Ai, since your mind is made up, we should prepare to depart. But before we leave, do you need to put your affairs in order?"

Master Wu Ai smiled. "Are you worried I won’t make it back?"

Master Hui Feng looked at her grimly. "I’m not worried you won’t come back—I’m certain you won’t. As the Supreme Elder of the Taihe Sect and the leader of the Profound Sects Orthodox, you must make arrangements for what happens after you’re gone."

Master Wu Ai considered this for a moment, then gently shook her head. "No. If I were to arrange my affairs, the Sect, and indeed the entire Profound Sects Orthodox, would be thrown into turmoil. The Demon Sect would surely react."

Master Hui Feng grew anxious. "But if you don’t return, won’t those Demon Children react anyway? And without your instructions, I fear the Taihe Sect and the whole Profound Sects Orthodox will descend into chaos."

Master Wu Ai smiled. "No. The number of Core Formation Cultivators in the world is dwindling. If I may be so bold, I am the pillar of stability for the Profound Sects Orthodox. If I were to fall, I fear the world would immediately plunge into chaos. But as long as no one witnesses my death firsthand, none of that will happen. When the time comes, you can announce to the world that my beloved, who explored the farthest corners of the world, has returned after ascending to the Nascent Soul Realm at the edge of the heavens. Tell them he found a passage to the outside world and has come back to take me with him to heal. And that we will return in the near future. Tell the entire world this story."

Master Hui Feng gave a bitter smile. "Spin such a colossal lie?"

"No, it’s not entirely a lie. He will definitely return." Master Wu Ai winked, her clear eyes filled with a mischievous spirit that was as charming and innocent as a young girl’s.

Caught up in Master Wu Ai’s mood, Master Hui Feng murmured, "Yes, he will definitely return."

~~~~~~~~~

When Du Youqian entered the territory of the Yue Kingdom and saw the entire nation preparing for the ceremony to sacrifice to Heaven and Earth, he knew his timing was impeccable. He had arrived just in time for the regulation of the world’s Yin and Yang.

’The one who wields the Celestial Dao Sword should still be Wu Ai, right? I wonder if she’s holding up. Back then, her Cultivation was insufficient, and her comprehension of the Celestial Dao Sword was lacking. Crucially, she didn’t achieve Core Formation through the Celestial Dao Sword, which was a fundamental weakness. Because of that, every swing of the sword comes at a heavy price, burning her Essence Blood and lifespan.’

’I wonder how much of her lifespan is left? With Jie Yu gone, there’s no one left in Momenan who knows how to lay an Array to preserve a soul.’

Du Youqian felt a faint sense of unease.

For a Nascent Soul Cultivator, two hundred years might be nothing more than the time it takes for a few sessions of secluded cultivation.

But for the Momenan World, which had undergone the drastic change of declining Spiritual Qi, who knew how much turmoil it had endured.

How many champions had risen, and how many heroes had fallen.

Du Youqian had long made it a habit: when in doubt, cast a Divination.

The only art he had mastered to Tier Four was Divination; his skill in Arrays was a step behind.

With Tier Four Divination Art, augmented by his Great Divine Abilities, "Knowing the Celestial Mandate," divining the fates of Tier Three individuals and events was effortless. He had no need for the usual rituals of fasting, bathing, and burning incense.

When he saw the results of the Divination, Du Youqian’s brows furrowed deeply.

’This is bad!’

The omens pointed to Master Wu Ai facing certain death!

’But on second thought,’ he mused, ’let her die.’

’As long as I arrive in time to save her soul and bring her to the Human World for reincarnation, her misfortune will turn to fortune. It will be a whole new beginning.’

With that thought, Du Youqian’s worries eased slightly.

’Still, Wu Ai should be the most powerful fighter in the Momenan World. Who could possibly threaten her life?’

Du Youqian cast another Divination.

The answer he received was entirely unsurprising.

The Demon Sect.

’Of course. When I heard that Jie Yu had teleported out and gone to the Taihe Sect’s main gate in the Human World, I felt something was off. Now it seems likely that the Demon Sect was stirring up trouble in Momenan, pushing the Taihe Sect there to its breaking point. Sending Jie Yu back to the Human World for reinforcements is the only explanation that makes sense. But clearly, the Taihe Sect in the Human World wants nothing to do with its Momenan branch and hasn’t intervened!’

’What is the deal with Momenan? Why do all the Great Powers have a tacit agreement not to interfere? They don’t even intervene as Momenan gradually becomes a Land of the Dead Spirit. Ge Sheng was vague about it before, probably because his status was too low to be privy to the truth. I have a feeling there’s something major at play here. I’ll only have a chance of uncovering a few clues once I reach the Divinity Transformation Realm!’

There was no use overthinking things without more information.

Thinking with clues was called deduction.

Insisting on thinking without them was just fucking guesswork.

Du Youqian immediately put away his ordinary Flying Boat Treasure. He took out the much faster, but incredibly consumptive, Thousand-Mile Shuttle and, sparing no expense with his Spiritual Diamonds, sped toward the Central Plains.

~~~~~~~~~~

"It’s about to start."

Master Bai Zhan glanced out the tavern window. The roar of the crowd outside was growing louder, a clamor that was noisy yet not disorderly.

Accomplished Cultivators like them, even if they weren’t normally familiar with the Power of Human Dao, could clearly sense it gathering now, almost boiling over. If someone could truly command that terrifying magnitude of power, they could kill ten men like him with a single sword strike.

’A pity,’ Master Bai Zhan thought with a faint, knowing smile. ’The Holy Blood Sect Elder from back in the day, Qingxu Tongxuan Guanmiao True Monarch, might have been able to do it. But that little lass Hui Feng doesn’t have the skill.’

"Fellow Daoist Bai Zhan, let’s get this straight," said Huang Bo Master, a cynical smile on his lips, though his hollow eyes were a mask of indifference. "The three of us will share all of Master Wu Ai’s Essence Blood. You will have all of Master Hui Feng’s for yourself. We’re clear on that, right?"

"Of course. We had an agreement, and I won’t go back on my word," Master Bai Zhan chuckled. He looked amiable, but no one would ever mistake him for being kind. "Even if I am getting the short end of the stick. After all, three Master Hui Fengs aren’t worth one Master Wu Ai. But no matter, I do so love making friends. Besides, this Secret Technique—the one that lets you absorb the Essence Blood of powerful Cultivators to extend your life, even breaking the limits of your Celestial Lifespan—was created by your Holy Blood Sect. It’s only right that you enjoy the lion’s share. Once we absorb their Essence Blood, we’ll have no rivals left in this world. Then we can intentionally lower our Cultivation back to the Core Formation Early Stage and live for at least another five hundred years. For the next five centuries, who in this world will be able to stand against us?"

From his Dao name alone, it was clear this man was no pacifist.

"Yes," Huang Bo Master continued, his cold smile never reaching his eyes. "I’m glad you see it that way. For the next five hundred years, this world is ours. As for what comes after... who cares if the world drowns in a deluge? Since we are all fated to be trapped here, unable to advance our Cultivation or pursue the Great Dao, we should spend our remaining days acting as we please, with no taboos! Anyone who stands in our way—if it’s a god, we kill the god; if it’s a buddha, we kill the buddha!"

Master Bai Zhan nodded again and again.

Suddenly, his gaze sharpened. "Did you feel that?"

The Blood Sacrifice True Master standing beside Huang Bo Master snorted. "Of course I felt it. That must be Master Hui Feng wielding the Human Dao Sword! We’ll wait a moment longer. Once Master Wu Ai also begins to swing her sword, they will be at their most vulnerable. That is when we will strike together, and we must be merciless!"

"Of course. They are both experts at Magical Combat. Showing mercy to people like them is the same as offering them your own neck to cut."

After sitting in silence for a moment, Huang Bo Master abruptly stood. "Now!"

The four of them shot out of the tavern. Following them were the last few remaining Core Formation Masters of the Demon Sect Camp, whose strength and Cultivation were all inferior to their own.

Master Bai Zhan took the lead, with the other three Demon Sect masters not far behind. They covered the distance of several miles in a flash.

They flew past the city gates and arrived in the Capital Suburbs of the Dai Kingdom, the nexus point for every past ritual to regulate the world’s Yin and Yang and harmonize the qi of the earth.

Just as they expected, Master Wu Ai and Master Hui Feng were there. Both had just swung their swords, and their auras were faint and depleted.

To prevent any interference with their auras, there were no other Core Formation Cultivators from the Profound Sects Orthodox camp nearby.

"Master Wu Ai! Master Hui Feng! You are both true heroines. It’s a pity our Daos diverge and we cannot walk the same path. Today, we shall send you on to your next lives!" Master Bai Zhan bellowed as his Flying Sword shot forth.

Master Wu Ai’s beautiful eyes swept over him, and a sly, girlish smile spread across her face.