Chapter 279 : The Six Sects’ Countermeasures

“Plum… ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Manor!”

The ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍moment Lu Shi saw the newcomer, he could no longer suppress the killing intent in his heart. Even his voice carried a trace of gritted hatred.

“Why ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍are you people from the Shang Court here? Who called you over!”

Medicine ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍King had, without anyone noticing, already moved behind Xu Sheng as he spoke in a deep voice.

Ten ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Spirits Patriarch also unconsciously retreated several steps. “Old Woman Kong, you even called someone from the Shang Court?!”

Xu ‍​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Sheng did not speak. His right thumb was already rubbing against the hilt of the sword at his waist.

“I didn’t call him. Which one of you did?”

After Kong Xifeng finished speaking, she swept her gaze around the group. In the end, her eyes landed on Joy Lady, who had remained silent the entire time, and she asked in a deep voice, “You called him?”

“Heh.”

Plum Manor took a step forward and said with a smile, “Actually, I learned long ago that the Abyssal Continent intended to attack the Cangluo Continent. Not long ago, I happened to encounter Fellow Daoist Joy, so we discussed this matter together.”

“That’s why we came here together this time.”

Medicine King looked at Plum Manor and sneered. “Wasn’t it your Shang Court that invited the wolf into the house in the first place?”

The smile on Plum Manor’s face did not fade. Instead, he looked at Medicine King and smiled. “There’s no need to keep saying such pointless things. Besides, regarding the Abyssal Continent… I informed you people in advance. Don’t tell me not a single one of your Six Immortal Sects received the news?”

“You told someone?”

Ten Spirits Patriarch frowned and asked, “Who did you tell?”

After saying this, he exchanged glances with the others. All of them looked puzzled.

Only Kong Xifeng instinctively muttered inwardly… Could Hua Yaoyue have learned the news from the Shang Court?

The smile on Plum Manor’s face gradually faded, and his gaze fell upon Medicine King as he said quite seriously, “I had someone deliver a message to Danyang Zi. Did he not tell Fellow Daoist Medicine?”

“You…”

Before Medicine King could speak again, Plum Manor interrupted him. “I, Plum Manor, swear upon my Life-Bound Great Dao that I truly informed Danyang Zi of this matter. If this is false, then may my Great Dao never advance another step!”

The moment he finished speaking, muffled thunder rolled across the sky.

Once someone swore a Dao Oath, there was nothing left to question.

Plum Manor had definitely informed Danyang Zi, yet Danyang Zi had not told Medicine King, the Patriarch of Medicine King Valley… What did that mean?

The implication was self-evident.

The gazes of Kong Xifeng and the others all landed on Medicine King. Even Xu Sheng turned his head to look at this Nascent Soul Patriarch of Medicine King Valley.

Joy Lady exclaimed dramatically, “Brother Medicine, don’t tell me your entire sect has defected to the Demonic Path of Western Shang?”

“Defect my ass!”

Medicine King stared eastward through gritted teeth. At this moment, there was only one thought in his mind—to return, capture that bastard Danyang Zi, extract his soul and refine his spirit, and see exactly what kind of creature he truly was!

He actually dared defect to Western Shang!

Plum Manor, who had just finished making his oath, simply watched him, the amusement in his eyes difficult to conceal.

Had Danyang Zi defected to Western Shang?

Who knew? After all, the original Danyang Zi had already been dead for who knew how many years. The Danyang Zi currently alive was called Old Ghost Ximen.

Old Ghost Ximen of the Shang Court.

Had Old Ghost Ximen defected to Western Shang?

He definitely had. After all, Plum Manor had gathered them long ago and ordered Old Ghost Ximen, who was using Danyang Zi’s identity, to inform the Six Immortal Sects of Eastern Shang about this matter.

Yet he had not informed them. What did that mean?

The answer was self-evident.

So, how should a traitor be dealt with?

Naturally, eradicating him root and branch was the most appropriate method. Plum Manor could not even be bothered to personally take action.

Something like this should naturally be left to the traitor’s own Patriarch to handle.

“Since matters have already reached this point, Brother Medicine should wait until returning before dealing with it. For now, we still need to discuss how to respond to the Abyssal Continent.”

Ten Spirits Patriarch sighed and consoled him.

Joy Lady floated slightly forward and said, “Plum Manor Lord said there was another matter he wanted to tell us. Why don’t we hear him out first?”

“Speak.”

Ten Spirits Patriarch said to Plum Manor.

The latter nodded slightly. “Although I don’t know how Fellow Daoist Kong learned this news, I do know that Fellow Daoist Kong recently killed one of our Shang Court’s people. However, that person was also a traitor who had defected to Western Shang.”

“Killing him was naturally the right thing to do. The problem is that Fellow Daoist Kong killed him, and Western Shang learned of it. As a result, that Crazy Woman now knows the matter has been exposed. She won’t wait any longer. I estimate that by now, she has already begun mobilizing troops and preparing to launch a full-scale offensive.”

“Whether Shang Mountain can survive this time is itself an unknown.”

“Fortunately, the Water Dragon Sect also dealt with the Sea-Crossing Old Devil. That at least bought us a little more time.”

Kong Xifeng nodded and said, “Situ Feng awakened the Sea-Crossing Old Devil and had him go contact the people of the Abyssal Continent. If our Water Dragon Sect hadn’t dealt with the Sea-Crossing Old Devil, the people from the Abyssal Continent probably would have already invaded before long.”

“What? There was even something like that…”

Even Lu Shi was somewhat surprised upon hearing this.

“Mm. Your sects still owe our Water Dragon Sect some compensation for this matter.”

The moment Kong Xifeng finished speaking, Medicine King replied, “No, Old Woman Kong. The Six Immortal Sects share the same fate. What do you mean by saying that?”

“What do I mean?”

Kong Xifeng looked at him and sneered. “At the very least, our Water Dragon Sect bought several years for all of Eastern Shang, giving everyone some breathing room.”

“And what about your Medicine King Valley? A bunch of useless trash. Even your Sect Master defected to the Demonic Path.”

“And now you still have the nerve to stand here and say something like that. This old lady truly suspects that your entire Medicine King Valley has defected to the Demonic Path!”

“You!”

Medicine King stepped forward, so furious that he nearly lost his mind.

Unfortunately, he was the one in the wrong in the first place.

No matter how he tried to argue, he remained at a disadvantage.

“Enough. The Water Dragon Sect made a major contribution in this matter. We should indeed provide some compensation, but we can discuss that afterward.”

Lu Shi stepped in to smooth things over.

But once those words were spoken, everyone present fell silent.

Resolve it?

How could they resolve this?

Before absolute strength, every method was pale and powerless. Eastern Shang already could not handle Western Shang alone, much less with the stronger Abyssal Continent added on top of it.

So this matter was fundamentally… unsolvable.

“Does anyone have any ideas?”

Lu Shi asked in a deep voice.

Everyone exchanged glances. In the end, Ten Spirits Patriarch spoke. “Eastern Shang definitely cannot be defended.”

The moment he finished speaking, Kong Xifeng and Medicine King glared at him angrily.

“Don’t be impatient. At least let me finish first.”

Ten Spirits Patriarch spoke before they could interrupt. “No matter how unwilling you are to admit it, that is the reality. In the end, you’ll have to accept it whether you want to or not. Once both sides join forces, Eastern Shang will only have one fate—destruction.”

“Then what do you suggest?”

Lu Shi looked at him and asked.

“Simple. The choices are actually right in front of us. It only depends on whether you’re willing to choose them.”

Ten Spirits Patriarch brought his palms together.

After attracting everyone’s attention, he said, “First, naturally, is surrender. Join the Demonic Path. There’s no need for you to say anything else. If we can’t win, then surrender.”

“Or fight to the death without retreating!”

Lu Shi said in a low voice.

“Fighting to the death without retreating is something you say when both sides are evenly matched. If one side is overwhelmingly stronger, that’s called throwing your life away.”

Ten Spirits Patriarch ruthlessly exposed the truth.

“But what Brother Lu said is indeed another path. As for the remaining option, that would be fleeing for our lives.”

“If we flee, there are two different choices. One is for us Nascent Soul Cultivators to flee on our own. There’s nothing to say about that. As long as we truly want to escape, no one can keep us here. Those Demonic Cultivators probably wouldn’t bother chasing us either. At worst, we flee to another continent and continue establishing sects and calling ourselves Patriarchs.”

“The second path is to take our sects with us and relocate the entire sect.”

After Ten Spirits Patriarch finished speaking, the others did not immediately respond.

Even the most aggressive Kong Xifeng remained silent at this moment.

Only Plum Manor watched their reactions with great interest, or rather, watched their choices.

After a long while,

Joy Lady spoke first. “The Patriarchs passed the sect down into our hands. If we abandon the sect and only care about fleeing for our own lives… to be honest, I, Joy Lady, cannot do such a thing.”

“In that case, if we relocate the entire sect, where can we go?”

Medicine King frowned. “There’s naturally no need to mention the Abyssal Continent. Firstly, we can’t cross the Fallen Immortal Ravine. Secondly, even if we went there, we would only be sending ourselves to our deaths.”

“You all know the situation to the west and north. If we want to go anywhere, we can only head south to the Desolate Ancient Continent.”

“But the Desolate Ancient Continent is occupied by the Taiyi Immortal Sect. Their control over it is also completely airtight. We simply cannot enter.”

After speaking, Joy Lady shook her head with certainty.

“Even if we voluntarily offered to merge into them and become a subordinate sect, they still wouldn’t accept us.”

“Then fight to the death.”

Xu Sheng finally spoke, and the moment he did, killing intent filled his words.

Unfortunately, even after he said this, no one present was willing to respond.

After all, just as Ten Spirits Patriarch had said, only evenly matched sides were qualified to fight to the death. With such an enormous disparity, that would simply be suicide.

After finally cultivating to the Nascent Soul Stage, none of them wanted to throw their lives away.

Ten Spirits Patriarch said, “I think we can still try. We can send one Nascent Soul Cultivator from our side to speak with the Taiyi Immortal Sect. What do you think?”

“Who goes? What if, while that person is away, the Demonic Path breaks through Shang Mountain and the people from the Abyssal Continent arrive as well?”

Lu Shi immediately replied.

“But if we send a Golden Core Cultivator, they probably won’t even bother meeting them.”

After saying this, Ten Spirits Patriarch himself shook his head first. “Then I don’t know what else to do either.”

Thus, everyone fell silent again.

Seeing that no one was speaking, Joy Lady looked toward Plum Manor, who had been watching the show from the side the entire time.

“Since Plum Manor Lord came here with us this time, why not share your thoughts? Perhaps you can give us some advice?”

The moment she said this, everyone present looked toward Plum Manor.

Although they did not like people from the Shang Court,

the logic remained sound.

As long as there was a suitable idea at this point, they were willing to listen.

Especially when it came from an old monster with deep cultivation like Plum Manor.

Seeing everyone looking toward him, a smile appeared on Plum Manor’s face.

“I don’t have any advice or methods. I simply think that all of you… are nothing but hypocrites.”

“You!”

Ten Spirits Patriarch’s expression darkened. “Plum Manor Lord may be powerful, but all of us are here. We may not necessarily be unable to take you down!”

“If you have something to say, spit it out. If you’re only here to mock us, then get lost sooner rather than later!”

Lu Shi’s words were no kinder.

Sword Aura surged around Xu Sheng, making it seem as though he would attack at the slightest disagreement.

Plum Manor remained completely unperturbed. The aura unique to a Late Nascent Soul Cultivator spread from his body, immediately bringing a trace of pressure upon the others.

Especially Ten Spirits Patriarch, who had just spoken harshly. A trace of panic appeared on his face.

“You actually… broke through!”

After all, among the people here, the strongest was only at Mid Nascent Soul.

Late Nascent Soul… on Eastern Shang’s side, only the absent One Sword Master had reached that level.

“I merely broke through a minor realm. There’s nothing worth making such a fuss over.”

After Plum Manor finished speaking, he withdrew his aura, placed his hands behind his back, and paced several steps before them. “Do I have the qualifications to speak now?”

“……”

“No objections, right? If not, I’ll continue.”

A faint smile hung on Plum Manor’s face. “All of you simply want to flee and survive, but you don’t want to directly abandon the people of your sects, so you plan to remain and let them fight desperately. Once they’ve finished fighting,”

“once they’ve fought until the sect is destroyed, then you’ll be able to leave with a clear conscience. Even if you recall it in the future, you won’t fear developing Heart Demons, because you didn’t abandon the sect… right?”

“Isn’t that the very definition of hypocrisy?”

After Plum Manor finished speaking, he sneered and shook his head.

If he had merely mocked them indirectly, they might have felt embarrassed.

But since he had exposed everything so directly, they instead no longer felt ashamed.

For example, Medicine King, the Patriarch of Medicine King Valley, simply spread his hands. “Do you really think this old man doesn’t want to save them? This old man wants to as well, but this old man isn’t strong enough.”

“Besides, cultivation is fundamentally one’s own affair. If their own strength is inferior and they die, can they really blame this old man for not saving them?”

The others did not speak, but judging from their reactions, they quite agreed with these words… Xu Sheng excluded.

The Sword Aura around him had already reached the point of stinging the skin. He was accumulating his Sword Aura.

He wanted to attack.

Joy Lady first sent him a Divine Sense Voice Transmission, then stepped forward and said:

“Plum Manor Lord should say fewer sarcastic remarks. If we truly run away, it won’t be good for you either.”

“Fine.”

Only then did Plum Manor put away the mockery on his face and instead say, “Actually, it isn’t that there’s no way to break this situation.”

“What?”

Kong Xifeng asked.

“Simple. The Demonic Path of Western Shang knows how to call for reinforcements. Don’t you?”

“They can bring Nascent Soul Cultivators from the Abyssal Continent. You can simply go to the Taiyi Immortal Sect and invite a Transformation-Divine Cultivator over. I can guarantee that the people of Western Shang will become completely obedient.”

Medicine King sneered and was just about to speak when Plum Manor interrupted him first. “You definitely want to say that you can’t invite a Transformation-Divine Cultivator, right? If you can’t invite one, then invite several Late Nascent Soul Cultivators instead. Wouldn’t that still be enough to settle everything in one stroke?”

“With the accumulation your sects have built up over several thousand years, even if you have to cut off one arm, you should still be able to invite a Late Nascent Soul Cultivator, right?”

“If you still can’t bear to do even that, then you truly can only bring destruction upon yourselves.”

The moment these words were spoken, the Sword Aura around Xu Sheng dispersed. He instead said, “The Patriarch’s intention is also this. Invite the Taiyi Immortal Sect.”

“There isn’t enough time.”

Lu Shi pondered aloud. “We don’t have a Teleportation Formation that crosses continents. By the time we make a long journey to the Desolate Ancient Continent, even if we can invite a Late Nascent Soul Cultivator, everything will already be long over by the time we return.”

“Brother Lu is right.”

Ten Spirits Patriarch agreed.

“So this path still won’t work, unless we can turn the people from the nearby Abyssal Continent… against Western Shang.”

Kong Xifeng voiced her idea.

“Forget about turning them.” Plum Manor said, “The Shang Court’s treasury fell into the hands of that Crazy Woman. No matter how good the things you offer are, can they surpass what the Shang Court possesses?”

“This won’t work, that won’t work. Then what exactly are we supposed to do?!”

Medicine King had always been impatient.

“Heh.”

“Simple. Just find someone closer.”

The moment Plum Manor finished speaking, Kong Xifeng understood. “You mean find you, right?”

“And what would finding you accomplish? Western Shang has two Late Nascent Soul Cultivators if that Holy Mother is included. Eastern Shang would also only have two even with you included. The people from the Abyssal Continent would still remain an unpredictable variable.”

“No, no, no. I already counted myself in.”

Plum Manor denied it.

“Then who else can we find? Don’t tell me there’s still some hidden Late Nascent Soul Cultivator on the Cangluo Continent?”

Lu Shi frowned.

Everyone looked over. Even Xu Sheng’s eyes contained a trace of curiosity.

Only then did Plum Manor say, “There isn’t one on the Cangluo Continent, but there is one outside the Cangluo Continent.”

“Who?”

“Have all of you forgotten that one who is exceptionally skilled in the Dao of Clones… Real Person Tongling?”

“What? He still isn’t dead? He’s still alive?!”

Medicine King exclaimed in astonishment.

……

“The Star-Absorbing Great Art is good, but there just aren’t any suitable people for me to kill.”

While cultivating, Ji Yuan recalled the other Nascent Soul Technique in his mind.

The feeling of having a treasure mountain right before him yet being unable to obtain anything from it made Ji Yuan extremely uncomfortable. After thinking it over repeatedly without finding another method, he left the 【Scripture Repository】 and entered the underground 【Spirit Vein】.

The 《Sword Manual》 needed to be comprehended, and similarly, his Magic Power cultivation also needed to increase.

The moment he arrived there, Ji Yuan’s originally somewhat gloomy mood became lively again.

There was no other reason. Lying inside this 【Spirit Vein】 to cultivate felt just like lying atop a pile of money in his previous life.

After arriving, Ji Yuan first consumed three drops of Ice Soul Cold Dew in one go, then began freely absorbing Spirit Stones.

With one hundred Middle-Grade Spirit Stones produced every day, there was more than enough for him to squander.

About two days later, during another pause in his cultivation, an idea suddenly appeared in Ji Yuan’s mind out of nowhere.

Cultivating a Demonic Technique required killing people.

Then what if I kill Demonic Cultivators to cultivate a Demonic Technique?

Wouldn’t that mean I’m cultivating a Demonic Technique as though it were a Righteous Path technique for the sake of the Righteous Path?

Besides, when killing people, I can completely act under Qiu Qianhai’s name… After all, he has been dead for so many years. If his spirit knows of this in the afterlife and learns that I’m helping him spread his fame far and wide, he should be happy.

The idea was workable, but if Ji Yuan wanted to kill that many Demonic Cultivators right now, he could only go to Shang Mountain.

Ji Yuan did not intend to go, so he could only wait until the Demonic Cultivators broke through Shang Mountain and entered Eastern Shang.

Several more days passed like this.

On this day, while Ji Yuan was cultivating, he suddenly received a message.

The message came from Li Changhe.

He said he had returned to the sect and was currently right outside Forgotten Worry Island.

After receiving the message, Ji Yuan naturally hurried out from the underground 【Spirit Vein】 and then invited Brother Li into the house.

Li Changhe had clearly just returned from Shang Mountain. He still carried the dusty aura of a long journey. The first thing he said upon seeing Ji Yuan was:

“The Demonic Path of Western Shang is gathering on a massive scale. I’m afraid Eastern Shang won’t be able to hold!”

——