Solely Deciding Heavenly Secrets, Establishing One's Own Lineage

The Heavenly Blood Ancient Clan, Forbidden Land Cliff.

Yun Yifan quietly refined the wisps of purple qi that dispersed as the sun rose, only stopping his practice when the sun was high in the sky and the purple qi had turned into crimson flames.

His entire body seemed cast from red-hot steel, and his tall, imposing physique exuded an unparalleled aura of dominance.

"Imperial Lord, everything has been prepared. Forty people from the three ancient lands and the Yunyi Holy Land have assembled and await your command."

Wu Xu Hong carried a palpable aura of bloody malevolence.

The Yinshang Cave Heaven had already been subjected to his bloody purge, eliminating all potential threats that could leak secrets.

"Mm, tell them to wait. This time, if we strike, we will crush everything in our path, leaving no survivors. Afterward, you will unleash the Soul Refining Banner for an ultimate transformation."

Yun Yifan's expression was calm.

"Imperial Lord, earlier, when my subordinate was contacting the Yunyi Holy Land, their... their attitude was somewhat... unfriendly."

Wu Xu Hong had initially wanted to conceal this, but the pressure from the Imperial Lord at this moment was immense.

If he embarrassed himself, it would also be an embarrassment to the Heavenly Blood Ancient Clan.

"The Holy Lord of the Yunyi Holy Land? Yun Yanzhe?"

Yun Yifan's expression darkened slightly as he asked.

"Imperial Lord, that's him."

Yun Yifan nodded and said, "Good. Later, you will accompany me to see him."

"Yes, Imperial Lord."

Wu Xu Hong immediately bowed respectfully.

Luoxia Barren Mountains, Silent Ancient Temple.

"Senior Brother, what's the situation?"

Wang Wenyuan gazed at the surrounding environment, lowering his voice as he inquired.

"The issues here are minor. Earlier, during the alliance, Wu Xu Hong was humiliated by Yun Yanzhe. This is a perfect opportunity to see what level 'his' strength has reached."

Zheng Tianyin then looked at Wang Wenyuan, "Given 'his' personality, there are bound to be many hidden cards. Even if we have ten-tenths certainty, we shouldn't act rashly until the critical moment. This is a golden opportunity, we must seize it!"

Upon hearing this, Wang Wenyuan's face revealed a sinister, sinister smile. "I never imagined that it would be in such a place that we would encounter a Soul of Heavenly Secrets containing mutated factors! This is precisely what we need for our 'Celestial Pivot Secret Art' to evolve into 'Celestial Pivot Spirit Art,' or even 'Sacred Art'!"

"Be discreet. Although our Celestial Pivot Secret Art can shield divination and interfere with array surveillance, caution is always wise! Also, don't be fooled by 'his' apparent respect and regard for us. In reality, this person is narrow-minded, self-righteous, and ruthless. He even harbors hatred for Hua Yunxiao, who raised and trained him, let alone us? I fear that once we are no longer useful, he will kill us on the spot to preserve his secrets!" Zheng Tianyin warned with a grave expression.

Wang Wenyuan suppressed his smile and said contemptuously, "Senior Brother, don't worry, Wenyuan understands. As for this person, hmph, he is extremely arrogant, thinking he's using us as pawns, but he doesn't realize it's the other way around! When he's no longer useful, we'll join forces and use the Celestial Pivot Secret Art to crush him alive!"

As he spoke, he reached out and brushed the void. "Senior Brother, please watch the show."

With Wang Wenyuan's gesture, silver runes suddenly appeared in the void. These runes rapidly combined to form a square mirror, half a meter high and half a meter wide. The mirror showed a mountainous region filled with surging purple qi and ethereal clouds.

Forty cultivators were divided into four groups, sitting cross-legged on the grass in the mountains. Just then, two streaks of rainbow light flew across the sky. The rainbow light transformed, becoming Wu Xu Hong and Yun Yifan.

Upon Yun Yifan's arrival, over thirty of the forty cultivators immediately stood up and bowed respectfully. However, in one of the groups, three cultivators stood up somewhat casually, offering a lazy bow. Another cultivator, dressed in a blue robe, sat quietly as if still in meditation, seemingly unaware. It wasn't until Wu Xu Hong and Yun Yifan's intense gazes fell upon him that he seemed to realize.

"Oh, isn't this Imperial Lord Yun? Why, are you in such a hurry to make your move?"

The person chuckled contemptuously and then stood up unsteadily.

"Regarding this joint operation, this Holy Lord has considered it and feels the benefits we're receiving are still too few. Your side, Imperial Lord Yun, doesn't intend to contribute much effort, yet you want the lion's share. That's a fine idea, but it's simply not fitting."

As he spoke, some of the cultivators standing casually beside him chuckled with schadenfreude, while others let out strange laughter.

"Heh, I heard that a giant monument descended upon the Blazing Wasteland and taught Imperial Lord Yun a lesson. Imperial Lord Yun suffered heavy losses! It seems your two Heavenly Secrets Masters are not as all-powerful as rumored."

Another middle-aged man in a white robe chimed in with a taunt.

"So, is this the intention of you, Yun Yanzhe and Yun Yanfeng, or the Yunyi Holy Land?"

Yun Yifan's expression was calm, his eyes cold.

"Does it make any difference?"

"That's not happening," Yun Yanzhe said dismissively.

"Yes, if you mean it, then you don't have to participate in this operation. If it's the Yunyi Holy Land, then the Yunyi Holy Land also has no reason to exist."

Yun Yifan said word by word.

"Ha—, Imperial Lord Yun, to say such things, are you worthy?! You are seriously injured this time, your strength is less than one-tenth of what it was! And coincidentally, I, Yun Yanzhe, have been favored by heaven and encountered a fortuitous encounter, and my strength has advanced further."

As Yun Yanzhe spoke, he stared down at Yun Yifan with a condescending, icy gaze.

Beside Yun Yifan, Wu Xu Hong had already tensed his nerves, ready to strike at any moment.

Instead, Yun Yifan's expression remained unchanged: "Favored by heaven? Encountered a fortuitous encounter? Utterly foolish! You've been used as a scapegoat to probe this Emperor's foundation, and you don't even know it! A mere clown!"

Yun Yifan's indifferent words, however, only drew Yun Yanzhe's further disdain: "Putting on an act, thinking too highly of yourself! This expedition, the resources of the Wanli Holy Land and the Hua Clan, my Yunyi Holy Land will take sixty percent. The remaining forty percent, the three ancient clans, oh no, the four ancient clans, one percent each!

How about it, quite reasonable, right?"

As Yun Yanzhe spoke, he clasped his hands behind his back and arrogantly walked in front of Yun Yifan: "Back then, you were just a dog by Hua Yunxiao's side! You should be satisfied with your current achievements! In the past, our strengths were comparable, and our cooperation was relatively pleasant. You took some advantage of our Yunyi Holy Land, but this Holy Lord, being magnanimous, will not hold it against you.

As for the future, rest assured and serve this Holy Lord loyally as my subordinate, and this Holy Lord will absolutely not treat you unfairly!"

With that, Yun Yanzhe even patted Yun Yifan's shoulder.

"Are you done?"

Yun Yifan's emotions remained unchanged, and he instead asked calmly, "Are you finished?"

"What? Is Imperial Lord Yun angry? Do you want to make a move? Coincidentally, this Holy Lord also wants to know how hard your bones are under your current strength, which is less than one-tenth of what it was."

The contempt in Yun Yanzhe's eyes did not lessen in the slightest.

"Then, I'll let you have a taste, so you can be on your way sooner and become an offering to my Soul Refining Banner."

As Yun Yifan spoke, a blood-red light flashed in his pupils.

At that moment, the silver mirror in front of Wang Wenyuan and Zheng Tianyin was suddenly covered in a splash of blood.

It was as if a basin of blood had been violently thrown onto the mirror!

The next moment, the silver mirror returned to normal, but Yun Yanzhe, who was in front of Yun Yifan, and Yun Yanfeng, who was six meters away from Yun Yanzhe, had lost their heads.

Blood gushed out like a fountain.

Their heads were burning with purplish-red flames, emitting incredibly piercing screams.

Their souls were sealed within their Nascent Souls, struggling frantically at their brows, but they were continuously being incinerated by the invisible purplish-red flames, suffering unspeakably.

On the scene, the remaining members of the three ancient clans and the remaining powerhouses of the Yunyi Holy Land, who had been restless, all trembled and lowered their heads in terror.

"He's suspicious!"

Zheng Tianyin wiped away the silver mirror with a palm, his face extremely grim.

"It wouldn't be normal if he wasn't suspicious. However, this is also a warning to us. This kind of puppet technique has some similarities with the puppet death warriors we refined earlier. If he's paying attention, it's normal for him to detect a clue."

Wang Wenyuan hesitated slightly, his expression also very solemn.

"The methods we used to influence Yun Yanzhe and the puppet death warriors are almost identical... Forget it, let's leave this person for now and wait for a better opportunity. After all, that Heavenly Secrets youth has not yet been suppressed."

Zheng Tianyin deduced slightly, frowned, and looked dejected.

Yunxiu Peak, Wanli Holy Land.

Su Li turned his head and swept a cold glance at Yun Qingxuan. Disappointment was evident in his eyes.

Yun Qingxuan's finger was about to poke his brow.

But this glance made Yun Qingxuan's hand freeze.

Su Li raised his hand and slapped Yun Qingxuan across the face.

Yun Qingxuan did not dodge this slap.

And Su Li's palm, of course, missed.

This was a warning.

A warning to Yun Qingxuan!

"Master Su, what's wrong?"

Hua Yunxiao and the others had sensed Su Li's unusual behavior, but it was Hua Ziyan who asked first.

"It's nothing, I felt a small bug trying to fly over and bite me. Unfortunately, I couldn't swat it dead with one palm."

As Su Li said this, Yun Qingxuan's pupils involuntarily contracted.

At that moment, her gaze towards Su Li was filled with deep apprehension.

Su Li smiled at her, withdrew his gaze, and looked at Zhuge Wuwei, who had just arrived.

At this moment, Zhuge Wuwei, who had just landed, also naturally heard this sentence. His heart couldn't help but tighten—was this youth warning him, or...?

Not only Zhuge Wuwei, but even Hua Yunxiao felt an inexplicable jolt in his heart.

"Are there any small bugs?"

Hua Ziyan didn't think too much about it. She carefully sensed her surroundings but found nothing.

"Perhaps Master Su drove them away. In the morning, there are indeed more small insects and flies," Yun Qingxuan added understandingly.

Hua Ziyan nodded, then bowed respectfully to Zhuge Wuwei. "Mystic Master Zhuge."

"Mmm, A Li, it's been a long time. You look well these days."

Zhuge Wuwei first exchanged pleasantries with Hua Yunxiao, then looked at Hua Ziyan with a pleased expression.

Hua Ziyan curtsied slightly. "All of this is thanks to Mystic Master Zhuge's help over the years, and Master Su's guidance. Otherwise, Ziyan might not be able to see Mystic Master Zhuge today."

Zhuge Wuwei nodded slightly. "This is destiny, but also your fortune and karma."

As Zhuge Wuwei spoke, his gaze fell upon Su Li. Seeing him, he first frowned, a flicker of surprise and uncertainty flashing in his eyes—a "living dead" destiny?

Then, he suppressed his shock, his brow quickly smoothing out. He said with great admiration, "Young friend Su, you truly are a hero among youths. At just eighteen, you can already decipher Heavenly Secrets and establish your own school. Truly remarkable. I remember when I was your age, I was still playing with mud."

Zhuge Wuwei's words completely stunned Hua Yunxiao.

Decipher Heavenly Secrets, establish his own school?

That was an incredibly high evaluation!

Su Li chuckled. "So, Senior Zhuge had such a unique hobby in his youth, still playing with mud at eighteen."

Zhuge Wuwei: ???

Zhuge Wuwei's smile froze.

This young man...

He truly lives up to the villagers of Lihe Village calling him 'Blockhead.' He can't even understand my self-deprecating remark?

From what Hua Yunxiao said earlier, he didn't seem like such an ignorant person?

Or is he joking with me?

Isn't he afraid I'll slap him to death?

Zhuge Wuwei's expression was quite something.

Hua Yunxiao was also dumbfounded.

Hua Ziyan, Fang Yueheng, and Zhuge Qingchen managed to hold back their laughter.

However, Mu Yuxi and Yun Qingxuan, who was secretly observing from afar, seemed lost in thought.

"Ahem, those were just trivial matters from my youth, not worth mentioning. Young friend Su, have you seen that the Wanli Holy Land is in danger this time?"

Zhuge Wuwei steered the conversation back to the main topic, while also secretly observing Su Li.

If necessary, he would intervene personally.

Su Li, as if by chance, glanced at Yun Qingxuan again.

Yun Qingxuan floated silently in the sky like a ghost.

Sensing Su Li's gaze, her heart couldn't help but tighten.

After a moment of hesitation, she quietly floated back to Su Li's side.

However, this time, her chaotic thoughts had completely subsided.

"Yes. And it's not a small danger, but a great one. The consequences of this great danger will also be very severe."

Su Li suppressed his emotions and said seriously.

"Oh? How severe?"

"Previously, I thought that if Senior Zhuge could come, there would be a turning point, but in reality, there has been no change."

"Oh? Have you deduced it again, young friend? Why is there no Heavenly Secrets aura present? As the Pavilion Master of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion, I am quite sensitive to such changes in Heavenly Secrets."

"These can be achieved through 'gazing at qi.' In the unseen realm, everything has its destiny."

"Gazing at qi? Destiny? This is... May I ask, senior, who was your master?"

"Master... Alas, I wish I could say, but unfortunately, my master's words carry the weight of law, and I cannot speak his name. However, if I cannot resolve this calamity with all my might and fail to complete my master's assessment, then I will have to seek my master's intervention."

Su Li continued, "The severity of this calamity is beyond imagination. And its key lies in the resurrection of the Demonic Soul.

The key to the Demonic Soul's resurrection lies in the annihilation of the Wanli Holy Land.

Once the Demonic Soul resurrects, countless Demonic Souls will follow. By then, Heavenly Secrets will be severed, destiny will wither, and Dao laws will vanish, thus plunging the entire world into an era of Dharma's End."

Su Li paused, speaking a load of nonsense.

Anyway, whether it's true or false, real or illusory, it depends on whether they believe it.

They want to kill me?

I'll start with a world-ending prophecy and drag the whole world down with me.

"Hmm? Heavenly Secrets severed? Destiny withered? Dao laws vanished?"

Zhuge Wuwei was also taken aback.

This statement is a bit frightening!

Is this young man just talking nonsense!

Moreover, does this young man really have a master?

He must have sensed danger to himself and is trying to increase his importance, right?

Hmm, it's best not to act rashly for now. Let's probe him first.

While Zhuge Wuwei was contemplating, Yun Qingxuan was also deeply 'puzzled'.

She had no way of judging whether Su Li's words were true or false.

"Yes, in the Age of Dharma's End, the first to perish will be the lineage of Heavenly Secrets users who occupy the Heavenly Secrets; next will be the great ancient clans and sacred lands that gather fortune, and then all Cultivators.

Finally, it will be ordinary people.

Or rather, this is the end of the world for Cultivators, but a new era for ordinary people to rise through technology."

Su Li thought for a moment and said seriously.

Zhuge Wuwei fell into thought.

Of course, he couldn't just believe Su Li's one-sided account.

However, he had long deduced that a great calamity was descending upon the world. Although he didn't know the specifics of this calamity, the fact that a calamity was imminent was true!

Therefore, in this regard, what the other party said was accurate!

Especially since the other party had deduced the event of the Heavenly Town Soul Stele, while he had only deduced that 'the southwest region will surely face calamity', the difference was not small.

"Now that Senior Zhuge has arrived, my objective has been achieved. Therefore, I will reveal my hand."

Su Li pondered for a moment, as if making a major decision.