[Ning Ji had already determined from his conversations with you that you were not a loyal supporter of the Dao Sect. That was why he had told you these things in advance, hoping to win you over—to make you choose Emperor Donghua in any future struggle over allegiances, and even influence the stance of all Qingming Hetong Heaven...]
[Of course, you were not someone who believed everything others said, so you did not wholly trust Ning Ji's words. But if things truly were as Ning Ji claimed, if the Dao Sect had already begun to give up—or simply did not wish to spend too many resources searching for Taiqing Immortal Emperor's whereabouts—then the matter was indeed quite serious.
For if that was truly the case, then from this brief piece of information alone, you could infer that the actions of many within the Dao Sect had thoroughly enraged Emperor Donghua. Matters had even reached the point where he was preparing for the two sides to become enemies and face one another in battle, no longer considering the possibility that the witch and demon paths might reap the gains while they fought.
Yet Emperor Donghua himself had not told you this. Though Ning Ji, as an Immortal Emperor's disciple, had a certain degree of credibility, words passed from person to person could always be embellished. Moreover, Ning Ji himself had some minor grudges with part of the Three Pure Heavens, making embellishment all the more likely.]
[But no matter what, you would prepare for the worst. That way, should circumstances truly change and the Immortal Path reach the point where sides had to be chosen and two factions turned upon each other, you would not be caught off guard...]
[Meanwhile, Ling Wanren had gone alone to the Three Pure Heavens in