Return to the Holy City

The Mountain Opening Ceremony of the Azure Cloud Sect was nothing short of spectacular.

Azure Cloud disciples beamed with glory, and the elders wore smiles as bright as the sun.

At last, they had reclaimed their honor!

Yet Bai Ye took no part in any of this.

He had left the Azure Cloud Sect on the eve of the ceremony, journeying to perilous lands and secret realms across Azure State.

He ventured into the Abyss of Buried Gods, the Sea of Stars, the Illusory Mist Forest, and other dangerous places.

Every time he arrived at a special location, a super check-in triggered, netting him treasures at the True God level!

For instance, the True God ninth-grade Azure Thunder Divine Canon, the True God ninth-grade divine artifact Star Shield, and more.

Half a year later, Bai Ye returned from his travels.

The resources he brought back were enough to sustain his cultivation and push him to break through to an even higher True God realm!

He quietly returned to Night Cloud Peak and resumed his secluded cultivation.

The peaceful days did not last long.

One day, the bell of the Azure Cloud Sect's Main Peak suddenly rang—six times in quick succession, urgent and heavy.

Bai Ye, who was in seclusion, received a summons to the Ancestral Hall for a meeting.

Now, the cultivation he displayed to the outside world was still Late Profound Comprehension, but thanks to his years of "seniority" and low-key demeanor, his standing within the sect had long since changed.

In the Ancestral Hall, his seat had moved from the last row to the front.

The new Sect Master of the Azure Cloud Sect was a middle-aged, refined man named Su Wenxuan.

He was a Nascent Soul powerhouse who had recently broken through, gentle in temperament yet steady.

Seeing everyone had arrived, he spoke slowly: "I have gathered you all today to announce an important matter. I'll let the Grand Elder explain in detail."

The Grand Elder stood up, his usual warmth replaced by gravity: "Half an hour ago, an urgent transmission arrived from the Wasteland Heaven Divine Sect. The Abyssal Invasion will reopen within a year!"

"What?!"

The Ancestral Hall erupted into chaos. Elders cried out in shock, disbelief plastered across their faces.

"How is that possible? It's only been a little over a hundred years since the last Abyssal Invasion!" A Late Profound Comprehension elder shot to his feet, his voice trembling. "By all logic, the Abyssal Invasion comes once every five hundred years. How could it be this early?"

"Grand Elder, is the news reliable?" Another elder pressed, anxiety burning in his eyes. "Last time, we sent two Nascent Soul Old Ancestors to reinforce the Demon Extermination Holy City, and both fell. Our sect was nearly wiped out! This time..."

"The news is absolutely certain. It came from the Wasteland Heaven Divine Sect via a secret transmission jade, along with energy fluctuation records from the Abyssal rift." The Grand Elder raised a hand to calm the crowd. "They demand that all major powers follow the old precedent and send strong cultivators to reinforce the Demon Extermination Holy City, to jointly resist the Abyssal Demons."

"I oppose this!" A white-haired elder slammed the table, fury burning in his eyes. "Last time, what price did our Azure Cloud Sect pay? Two Nascent Soul Old Ancestors died in battle, twenty-one Primordial Core Realm disciples fell! And when our sect faced annihilation, where was the Wasteland Heaven Divine Sect? Where were the other powers? No one lent a hand! This time, no matter what, we're not going!"

"That's right!" Other elders chimed in. "We've done our utmost. There's no need to throw our lives away for others!"

"If the Demon Extermination Holy City falls, that's the Wasteland Heaven Divine Sect's problem. What does it have to do with our Azure Cloud Sect?"

Watching the indignant elders, the Grand Elder sighed and said slowly, "I understand how you all feel."

"The sacrifices last time pained us all deeply. But don't forget—the Demon Extermination Holy City is the first line of defense against the Abyssal Demons in the Wild Domain, and also the last!"

"Once the Holy City falls, the Abyssal Demons will flood into the Wild Domain. Azure State won't be spared either. Even if our Azure Cloud Sect hides within the Mountain Gate, I fear we won't escape disaster!"

These words were like a bucket of cold water, dousing most of the elders' anger.

The Ancestral Hall grew much quieter. The elders exchanged glances, their faces twisted with conflict and resentment.

They knew the Grand Elder was right.

When the nest overturns, no egg remains intact. But the cold indifference of last time still stung too deeply to let go.

Su Wenxuan looked at the crowd and spoke slowly: "The Grand Elder is absolutely right. However, for this reinforcement, we don't have to go all out like last time."

"My suggestion is to send two Nascent Soul Old Ancestors and five Profound Comprehension elders."

"This way, we can help hold the Demon Extermination Holy City's defenses to the greatest extent, without leaving our sect vulnerable."

The elders fell silent for a moment, then nodded one by one.

Though resentment still lingered in their hearts, no one wanted to see the Abyssal Demons sweep through the Wild Domain, bringing devastation to all living things.

An hour later.

The Ancestral Hall finalized the reinforcement list.

Two Nascent Soul Old Ancestors would lead the team: the Second Elder and Sect Master Su Wenxuan.

The Grand Elder, as the Sea Anchor, would stay behind to guard the sect.

Five Profound Comprehension elders would accompany them, including Bai Ye.

And twelve Primordial Core Realm cultivators.

Three days from now, we set out for the Demon Extermination Holy City.

Bai Ye sat in his seat, never once opening his mouth.

He watched the debate before him in silence.

He made a brief deduction and sensed that this Abyssal Invasion was likely no small matter.

But with his current cultivation at the True God Third Layer, he wasn't too worried.

"The Demon Extermination Holy City, is it... Very well, I'll go and take a look."

Three days later.

Azure Cloud Sect.

The Main Peak's plaza was already packed with disciples seeing them off.

Morning light pierced through the clouds, spilling onto a pure white flying vessel.

This was the Azure Cloud Sect's only Heaven-grade flying vessel, the "Azure Cloud."

The vessel was roughly a hundred zhang long, its hull carved from thousand-year Cloud Patterned Jade Marrow, its surface covered in flowing cyan runes.

A faint aura of spiritual light lingered between the runes, and with a gentle ripple, they could draw in the surrounding heaven and earth's spiritual energy, lifting the vessel to hover midair without any sign of falling.

At the vessel's prow was carved a spreading-winged azure luan, its eyes inlaid with Top-grade Spirit Stones, gleaming with a warm luster in the morning light, fully displaying the majesty of a Heaven-grade flying vessel.

"Sect Leader, Second Elder, on your journey to the Demon Extermination Holy City, take care!"

"Rest assured, we will guard the sect well!"

The disciples stood below the plaza, gazing up at the figures on the vessel, their voices filled with reluctance and respect.

Sect Leader Su Wenxuan stood at the prow in a dark Daoist robe, nodding slightly to the disciples below, his eyes carrying reassurance: "Cultivate peacefully. When we return, it will be a time of even greater prosperity for the sect."

Second Elder followed close behind, clad in a cyan elder's robe, his temples slightly gray. His gaze swept over Bai Ye and the other accompanying cultivators, his tone solemn: "This trip to the Holy City is fraught with danger. Remember, above all, preserve your lives."

Bai Ye stood among the cultivators in a simple gray-blue robe, his aura restrained, appearing ordinary—yet Second Elder cast him an extra glance.

Over the past century, Bai Ye's "cultivation" had steadily risen from Primordial Core Fourth Layer to Late Profound Comprehension, a pace of progress that was already top-tier. But his temperament was too low-key; he never fought or contended for anything.

Once everyone had boarded, the runes at the vessel's stern flared to life, and a cyan spiritual light shot into the sky.

Whoosh—!

The vessel transformed into a streak of light, tearing through the sky as it sped toward Dao State.

The disciples below watched the direction where the vessel had vanished, unwilling to leave for a long time.

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