Chapter 724 - 68: The Yuqing Operation

"The petals contain the true meaning of the ’Returning Ruins’ as they flow; even an ordinary Profound Immortal hit by them would likely be seriously injured."

Beside her, a stern-faced Daoist nun, from the Taiyi Dharma Lineage, known as "Yu Heng Zhenren," looked increasingly displeased.

The old grudge between the Taiyi Dharma Lineage and Shen Fei made her particularly sensitive to the appearance of the Saintess. She couldn’t understand why these Dao Lineages regarded Shen Fei’s Companion Spirit so highly.

"And look at her foundation!"

Another elder, also a True Immortal from the Guangcheng Dao Lineage, pointed to the Dao Rhyme around the Saintess in the Heaven-Peeping Mirror, which seemed faint yet incredibly solid. "Profound like an abyss, clear like jade, vaguely merging with the Void Law... This is definitely not the result of quick advancement. It must be a True Inheritance Seed painstakingly cultivated by the Lix Mountain Dao Lineage!"

The group fell silent, the atmosphere heavy.

In the Heaven-Peeping Mirror, the Saintess had already finished her task and was about to leave.

She seemed to sense something, and her cool gaze glanced in the direction where they were hiding, seemingly unintentionally.

That gaze was calm as water, yet carried an indifference that pierced illusions and overlooked ants.

It made Master Xuanming and the others’ hearts tremble, and they instinctively restrained all their auras, as if targeted by an Ancient Fierce Beast.

"Did she discover us?" Yu Heng Zhenren’s voice contained a trace of subtle tension.

"She may not have pinpointed our exact location, but she certainly sensed the probing." Master Xuanming’s expression was somber. "This woman’s Spiritual Sense is terrifyingly sharp. It seems the remnants of Upper Pure One... no, the Lix Mountain Dao Lineage have produced an extraordinary figure this time."

Central Haotian.

Deep within the Guangcheng Dao Lineage, in a council hall suspended above a sea of clouds.

Waves of Dao fragrance rose, yet couldn’t disperse the heavy and murderous atmosphere within the hall.

A giant water mirror floated in the center.

It repeatedly played the image footage brought back by Master Xuanming and others, especially the terrifying scene of "One Thought, a Flower Blooms, All Laws Return to Ruins."

In the hall sat a dozen or so figures with profound auras, all core high-level members of the Yuqing Dao Lineage, at the very least at the True Immortal Peak, and several with Profound Immortal standing guard.

"Fellow brothers, what do you think of this woman?"

A Profound Immortal with an ancient-looking face and an aura as solid as a mountain slowly spoke from the main seat.

He was one of the elders in charge of the Guangcheng Dao Lineage in this generation, known as "Daoist Master Yuling."

"She is not to be underestimated!" a Profound Immortal from the Great Mage Lingbao lineage said in a deep voice. "The Path of Nine Emperors is incredibly profound, and with the Nine Directions Cave Heaven already converged, there’s potential for both Profound and Golden Immortal.

What’s even more troublesome is that she has already formally registered on the ’Lix Mountain True Immortal Stele.’ This means the Lix Mountain Dao Lineage has openly acknowledged her status."

A Profound Immortal from the Taiyi Dharma Lineage, known as "Chonghe," spoke with strong hostility and a trace of hard-to-detect anxiety, "The Upper Pure One lineage has long been fractured.

Back then, Golden Spirit and Wudang defied the heavens, and their Dao Lineage should have been severed.

Now, out of nowhere, comes a True Inheritance trying to revive under the banner of Lix Mountain? Utterly delusional.

The one behind her is none other than Shen Fei of the Human Emperor Palace!

This individual has long held grudges against my Taiyi and acts capriciously. The emergence of this Lix Mountain remnant is undoubtedly linked to him.

In my view, this is nothing but Human Emperor Palace’s attempt to resurrect through a borrowed shell, aiming to seize control of our Yuqing Dao Lineage’s authority in the Dao Realm!"

Chonghe Xuan Immortal’s words immediately echoed with some of the more radical Taiyi and Guangcheng disciples. Shen Fei’s rise and the expansion of the Human Emperor Palace already made them uneasy.

Now, with an obvious close relationship with Shen Fei and bearing the pure core inheritance of the Upper Pure One, the Saintess heightened their sense of threat.

"Chonghe Junior Brother’s words may be extreme, but they are not without merit."

Another Guangcheng Xuanxian responded, his tone comparatively mild yet equally grave. "The Lix Mountain Dao Lineage has been silent for years, and suddenly turning Shen Fei’s Companion Spirit into a True Inheritance Seed.

Their intentions must be guarded against.

If Shen Fei is allowed to integrate the residues of Wudang and Golden Spirit’s forces, and, with the support of the Human Emperor Palace, given time, it could become a vital threat to our Yuqing Dao Lineage, shaking our foundational roots in the Dao Realm."

"So, fearing them, should we just let her grow unchecked? Have you forgotten the events of Divine Enthronement years past?"

The voice of Yu Heng Zhenren echoed through the Communication Jade Talisman within the hall, filled with urgency, "This woman is decisive in her actions on the Void Battlefield, her strength unfathomable.

We must leverage the complex environment of the Void Battlefield to quickly settle her; the Companion Spirit is not invincible!"

Yu Heng Zhenren’s suggestion was full of blatant provocation and killing intent, yet it garnered considerable support from the radicals.

The complex environment of the Void Battlefield was an ideal ground to probe or even eliminate threats.

Daoist Master Yuling remained silent for a moment, his gaze sweeping over everyone in the hall, and finally said slowly, "The revival of Lix Mountain indeed requires vigilance.

Continue monitoring the movements of the Saintess by Master Xuanming, Yu Heng, and others. Any action must be justified, avoid giving others grounds to accuse us."

As to how to ’handle with care’..." He looked at the Taiyi Dharma Lineage’s Chonghe Xuan Immortal, "Chonghe Junior Brother, with your rich experience, discreetly advise Yu Heng and team. Remember, the interests of our Yuqing Dao Lineage should always come first."

Chonghe Xuan Immortal’s eyes flashed with insight, nodding slightly, "Rest assured, Brother, I will handle it with measure."

This "measure" was fraught with deep meaning.

...

Human Emperor Palace, Fuxi City, Shen Fei’s quiet chamber.

Feng Yi’s figure quietly appeared as if merging with the space, handing a jade slip to Shen Fei.

"Yuqing over there has shown some movements. The Guangcheng and Taiyi lineages are paying unusual attention to your Lix Mountain Saintess.

Their personnel on the fringe of the Void Battlefield are frequently moving, seemingly probing. Taiyi’s Chonghe Xuan Immortal is secretly guiding them, their methods are unlikely to be gentle."

Shen Fei took the jade slip, his Divine Thought swept through the detailed information within, maintaining a calm expression, but his eyes turned cold.

The reaction of the Yuqing Dao Lineage was within his expectations, but the aggressiveness, especially the instigation by the Taiyi Dharma Lineage, left him chilling.

He pondered for a moment, then sent a Divine Thought across the endless Void, directly into the Saintess’ sea of consciousness while she was cleansing leftover Void Creatures in another Void area: "Saintess, the Yuqing Dao Lineage has already marked you. Guangcheng, Taiyi, and others have radicals who might seek trouble on the Void Battlefield.

Proceed with caution, and try to avoid areas where Yuqing Sect Members gather.

If confronted, prioritize self-defense, do not hesitate, strike with full intimidation, and do not hold back. But remember, do not initiate conflicts, avoid giving others pretexts."

The Saintess was refining the core of a Void Lord she had just killed, and upon receiving Shen Fei’s Divine Thought, a glimmer of cold light flashed in her cool eyes.

She looked in a certain direction, a cold smile on her lips: "Yuqing... Taiyi... Jumping clowns. If they dare extend their claws, I shall slash them decisively."

Her aura became more restrained, yet the contained destructive intent deepened, like a volcano on the verge of eruption.

In the shadow of a massive Star Remains, Yu Heng Zhenren received secret communication from the Taiyi Dharma Lineage, a fierce gleam in his eyes: "Probe? Hmph, it won’t be that easy.

This woman must be eliminated, or she will become a significant threat in the end.

Brother Xuanming, we need to find an ’absolutely safe’ opportunity... to make her disappear forever!"