Inside the main hall of the Five Elements Sect, only a few people close to Lin Ming were present. At this moment, after hearing Xiao Yi Xian mention that the Ancient Clan's Coming of Age Ceremony was only two and a half months away, Lin Ming, who was planning ahead, unconsciously tapped the armrest of the jade throne with his fingers, his eyes flashing with a calculating light.
As someone who possesses the Original Work Memory, Lin Ming is very clear that the opening of the Heaven Tomb will follow immediately after the Gu Clan Coming-of-Age Ceremony.
The Heaven Tomb is a mysterious space created by the ancient Dou Di, containing immense opportunities, but it is only open to the younger generation of the Ancient Eight Clans. Therefore, Lin Ming, who is not a member of any of the Eight Clans, has no designs on the Heaven Tomb itself.
The real purpose of his special task of having Xiao Yi Xian investigate the timing of the Gu Clan Coming-of-Age Ceremony was not the ceremony itself, but rather to seize the opportunity presented by the opening of the Heaven Tomb Coming of Age Ceremony the Ancient Clan Hun Clan's coming-of-age Hun Clan, which would attract the attention of the other races of the Ancient Eight Clans, to launch a shocking conspiracy— Extermination War!
Just as the Heaven Tomb opens and the attention of almost all the Ancient Races is drawn to it, the Hun Clan will strike with overwhelming force against the Ling Clan, which is the weakest of the Ancient Eight Clans except for the Xiao Clan!
This was the first time the Hun Clan had openly attacked a fellow member of the Ancient Eight Clans. Therefore, to ensure absolute success and to leave no solid evidence or handle, Lin Ming Soul Measurement Clan would inevitably use the vast majority of its top combat power to launch a lightning-fast and devastating attack with overwhelming force.
So, what does this mean?
This means that during that critical period, the Hun Clan's outer forces, and also its main tool for collecting souls— the Soul Hall —will see its defensive capabilities drop to an unprecedented low!
With the Hun Clan's top experts being drawn away to participate in the War to Exterminate the Ling Clan, the number and quality of the experts stationed in various Branch Hall, especially those in important Branch Hall and the three main halls— the Heaven Hall, the Earth Hall, and the Human Hall —will be greatly reduced.
This is a golden opportunity for revenge and plunder!
At this juncture, launching an attack on these important Branch Hall of the Soul Hall, and even attempting to eliminate one or two of its three main halls, would not only avenge the blood feud within the sect but also severely damage the Soul Hall's power.
More importantly, these Branch Hall of the Soul Hall capture souls year-round, extracting the purest Soul Origin from them!
This Soul Origin has an extraordinary effect on enhancing Soul Power, making it a treasure coveted by countless Alchemists and Soul Cultivation.
The Soul Origin stored in the three main halls is a collection gathered from numerous Branch Hall below, and its quantity and quality are enough to drive any power crazy!
Therefore, the attack on the Soul Hall to seek revenge must wait for another two months! We must wait until the main force of the Hun Clan is tied down by the matter of the Ling Clan, leaving the Soul Hall vulnerable, before delivering a fatal blow!
In the next two months, Lin Ming must make the most thorough preparations for this final battle of plunder. The core of these preparations is to unify the Ancient Void Dragon Clan!
Because all his plans were based on one premise: that is, he must be able to mobilize enough power to attack the core Branch Hall and main halls of the Soul Hall that were guarded by Half Sage or even Dou Sheng.
However, with his current cultivation level at the peak of the Eight-Star Dou Venerate, even if his combat power far surpasses that of others of the same level, plotting against those places would be tantamount to throwing an egg against a rock and courting death.
However, once the Ancient Void Dragon Clan is unified, the situation will be completely different!
The Ancient Void Dragon is the supreme being of the Magical Beast World, with unfathomable strength. Of the Four Great Dragon Islands that split into the four cardinal directions, the Three Great Dragon Kings who betrayed the dragons were all terrifying beings at the Late Stage Three-Star Dou Saint!
They also have one or two Dou Sheng Elders with one or two stars of cultivation, as well as several capable Half Sage level subordinates.
In addition, East Dragon Island, the only island loyal to the Dragon Emperor, also has two Dou Sheng Elders of the first and second stars, as well as Half Sage powerhouse like Zhu Li.
Based on this rough calculation, once the Ancient Void Dragon Clan is unified, there will be no fewer than ten Dou Sheng Experts at their disposal! And at least five or six Half Sage experts as well!
Including the number of Half Sage, that's a terrifying number approaching 20. This is a terrifying force capable of shaking any top power in the Middle Continent! Only by mastering such a force can Lin Ming have absolute confidence to carry out his revenge and plunder plan against the Soul Hall!
The key to unifying the Ancient Void Dragon Clan lies in the Dragon Emperor's Inverse Scale in his possession! This is a token personally bestowed upon him by Zi Yan's father, the previous Dragon Emperor Zhu Kun. It contains the supreme majesty of the Dragon Emperor and possesses an innate bloodline suppression power over all Ancient Void Dragon. With this item, he has the qualifications and ability to intervene in the internal affairs of the Ancient Dragon Clan and assist Zi Yan in completing the great cause of unification.
Therefore, after confirming the specific time of the Gu Clan Coming-of-Age Ceremony, Lin Ming knew that time was running out. He could not afford to delay any longer and had to go to East Dragon Island immediately to initiate the process of unifying the Ancient Dragon Clan.
Time waits for no one, and the decision must be made immediately! At this moment, Lin Ming raised his head, his sharp gaze fixed on Zhu Li beside him, and said in a deep voice, "Elder Zhu Li, I promised my uncle that I would help Zi Yan unify Ancient Dragon Island. This matter is of great importance, and the opportunity is fleeting. We should not delay any longer; let's set off for East Dragon Island now, shall we?"
Upon hearing this, Elder Zhu Li's face immediately lit up with barely suppressed excitement and joy.
East Dragon Island is the only one of the Four Great Dragon Islands that has always remained loyal to the Dragon Emperor. Their lifelong wish and mission is to welcome the Dragon Emperor's return, unify the Four Great Dragon Islands, and restore the former glory of the Ancient Void Dragon Clan.
Although Lin Ming is not the Dragon Emperor, he is the person Zi Yan is closest to and trusts the most. He has also received the personal approval of the old Dragon Emperor Zhu Kun, who bestowed upon him the Reverse Scale, a symbol of the Dragon Emperor's authority!
With the Reverse Scale in hand, Lin Ming could, to some extent, represent the Dragon Emperor's will and suppress the rebellious Dragon King and their subordinates before Zi Yan emerged from seclusion.
So how could Zhu Li not be excited when he heard Lin Ming propose to immediately begin the unification cause? He nodded emphatically almost without hesitation, his voice trembling slightly with excitement:
"Very well! Very well! Since Mr. Lin Ming has such a kind intention, on behalf of everyone on East Dragon Island, I am deeply grateful! Let's set off now! I can't wait to see the Three Great Dragon Kings tremble in fear and submit to the Dragon Emperor's Inverse Scale!"
He seemed to already see the magnificent scene of the Ancient Void Dragon Clan being reunited.
Lin Ming nodded in satisfaction. Then, he turned to Qing Lin, who was standing quietly to the side, and called out gently, "Qing Lin."
"Brother Lin Ming." Qing Lin responded immediately, raising her emerald green eyes to look at him, her eyes filled with complete trust and reliance.
"You'll be coming with us to East Dragon Island this time," Lin Ming said, his gaze fixed on Qing Lin's back, as if he could see through her clothes to the ancient presence hidden within her.
"The souls of the Nine-Headed Ancient Heavenly Snake residing on your back have dragged on for so long. Since we're going to Ancient Dragon Island this time, where the Dragon Qi is vast and boundless, it's the best place to resolve this hidden danger."
He explained in detail, "The Ancient Heavenly Serpent's soul is exceptionally ferocious, constantly attempting to take control and erode your mind. By using the pure Dragon Qi accumulated over ten thousand years within Ancient Dragon Island, especially in the Dragon Tomb, its ferocity can be greatly weakened."
"At that time, Qing Lin, you can use the methods of the Beast Taming Sect to completely refine it, erase its independent consciousness, and make it a summoned creature completely under your control. Once successful, not only will the hidden dangers be eliminated, but your strength will also increase dramatically. With the Soul Power of this Nine-Headed Ancient Heavenly Snake, you should be able to rival or even defeat High-Grade Dou Venerate!"
Qing Lin listened to Lin Ming's arrangements, a flicker of instinctive fear for the Ancient Heavenly Serpent's soul flashing in her eyes at first, but it was quickly replaced by a resolute expression. She nodded vigorously. "Yes! I'll do whatever Brother Lin Ming says! After I successfully refine him, I'll settle accounts with the people from the Soul Hall!"
"Xiong Zhan, you should come with us too!" Lin Ming called out to Qing Lin, and then invited Xiong Zhan to join them.
As Ancient Dragon Bear, he naturally possessed the Ancient Dragon Bloodline. Furthermore, he had contributed medicinal herbs to the Yao Realm and had since served alongside Lin Ming and his group with great merit. Now, he had even been injured while protecting the sect. Therefore, Lin Ming would certainly not forget him when there were benefits to be had.
"Can... can I go too?" Xiong Zhan stammered at this.
That's Dragon Island, the gathering place of the Ancient Void Dragon Clan! It's a place he, Ancient Dragon Bear with only a trace of ancient Ancient Dragon Bloodline, has always dreamed of going there, but now that it seems he can actually go, he can hardly believe it.
Since it was Lin Ming's arrangement, Elder Zhu Li naturally had no reason to object. One or two more or less people on East Dragon Island would not make a difference, especially since these two were close to Lin Ming. He stroked his beard and nodded slightly, indicating his agreement.
Thus, the itinerary was set. Having just returned to the sect and barely had time to catch his breath, Lin Ming could only offer an awkward smile under the complex gazes of Xiao Yi Xian and Elder Yao, who held obvious worry and a hint of helpless resentment.
As the Sect Master, he was indeed somewhat of a "hands-off manager," leaving almost all the sect's affairs, big and small, to Elder Yao and Xiao Yi Xian. In particular, the sect's reconstruction, reassurance, and consolidation of forces were incredibly complex and demanding.
Xiao Yi Xian stepped forward and gently straightened his not-so-disheveled clothes. Her voice was soft yet carried an undeniable concern. "As for the sect's affairs, Elder Yao and I are here, so you don't need to worry too much. Just be careful in everything you do. The Soul Hall is treacherous and cunning, and the Ancient Dragon Clan is also in turmoil... We're waiting for your safe return."
Elder Yao also spoke in a deep voice, "Young man, don't be reckless. It would be best if the Ancient Dragon Clan's matter could be accomplished, but if it cannot, preserving your own safety is paramount. The sect cannot afford to lose its Sect Master again."
Feeling the deep concern in their words, Lin Ming's heart warmed, and he nodded emphatically. "Don't worry, I know what I'm doing. The sect will still need your help."
Without dwelling on personal feelings, Lin Ming turned around, his gaze sweeping over Qing Lin, Xiong Zhan, Zhu Li, and Hei Qing, who remained silent but had already stood up.
"Let's go!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Ming took the lead and walked out of the hall. Qing Lin and Xiong Zhan followed closely behind, and Zhu Li and Hei Qing also followed immediately. The four figures quickly disappeared at the entrance of the hall, turning into four streams of light that soared into the sky, tearing through the clouds, and sped towards East Dragon Island in the distant void.
Inside the main hall, only Xiao Yi Xian and Elder Yao remained, gazing silently in the direction they had departed.