Former Residence of the Great Emperor, Undercurrents Surging!

Yan Changkong walked in the lead, treading with extreme caution.

Behind him followed hundreds of people, all chosen by various major powers to enter the Xuanqing Sect and experience the Great Emperor's path of cultivation up close.

No one dared to cast spells or fly through the air.

They ascended the mountain on foot.

Before long, they passed through an ancient gatehouse, where the Great Elder stood with a group of disciples lined up on either side.

"We welcome all you great experts to our sect to provide your guidance!"

Yan Changkong let out a breath, secretly thinking that this old fellow had finally done something decent for once.

The living quarters of the outer sect disciples were not far from the mountain gate.

Soon, the group arrived in a small valley where simple wooden huts were scattered about.

The scenery in the valley was average, but it had the advantage of being quiet.

Near the river, one wooden hut was cordoned off, with a stone tablet erected in front of the door.

The words "Former Residence of the Great Emperor" on the tablet were extremely eye-catching.

It immediately drew the side-glances of the crowd.

Yan Changkong turned his head and introduced with a chuckle, "Everyone, please look. This wooden hut is the Former Residence of the Great Emperor."

"Back in the day, the Great Emperor lived in this very humble wooden hut."

As he spoke, he said with great emotion, "Standing here, I feel as if I can still sense that spirit of self-improvement and unyielding perseverance!"

Liu Piaopiao raised an eyebrow but said nothing, thinking to herself that thousands of years had passed, so there wasn't a damn bit of spirit left.

However, in an occasion like this, one certainly could not contradict him.

Next, the people from the various major powers acted as if they were on an excursion, taking turns walking into the Former Residence of the Great Emperor.

They observed the traces of the Great Emperor's life at close range.

Then, led by Yan Changkong, the group visited the Great Emperor Bathing Pool, the Great Emperor Latrine, the stone where the Great Emperor meditated...

They even personally touched the ancient tree the Great Emperor had once climbed.

Yan Changkong was also very generous in bringing out the cultivation techniques and spells the Great Emperor had once practiced for everyone to observe.

They weren't worth anything anyway.

To those present, these techniques and spells were naturally not worth mentioning.

If they were found elsewhere, they wouldn't even glance at them.

But today, they studied them with extraordinary seriousness, until they had memorized every single technique.

Since these were techniques practiced by the Great Emperor, they had to have some extraordinary qualities, right?

This continued until evening.

Liu Piaopiao glanced at the sky, seeing it was getting late, and cupped her hands toward Yan Changkong.

"The hour is late, let us head down the mountain now!"

"Thank you for the trouble today, and thank you again, Sect Master Yan, for your warm hospitality. Experiencing the Great Emperor's path of cultivation up close has benefited us greatly!"

Many of the others, though they didn't agree with that statement, also repeatedly cupped their hands and thanked him on the surface.

Jiang Youlong let out a soft huff, turned around, and left down the mountain.

Before long, the disciples from those holy lands, Ancient Clans, and immortal dynasties dispersed.

The Xuanqing Sect became quiet once again.

"Finally, we've sent those scourges away!"

Great Elder Chen Xiu let out a heavy sigh of relief and lamented, "Has this hurdle finally passed?"

Yan Changkong, however, shook his head with an ashen face and said, "How could it be that simple? Just wait, tonight will be the most lively time."

The Great Elder's tone was grave: "Does the Sect Master mean that since they didn't make a move today, they will strike tonight?"

"Exactly!"

Yan Changkong's face was gloomy, his eyes flickering with light. A moment later, he ordered in a deep voice:

"Seal the sect tonight!"

"All disciples, including you, are to be confined. No matter what you see or hear, you are not allowed to step outside!"

Chen Xiu's expression was solemn: "Sect Master, then you..."

Yan Changkong took a deep breath: "This is a calamity for our sect, but also an opportunity for us to rise!"

"As the Sect Master, I must shoulder this responsibility!"

As he spoke, he looked deeply at Chen Xiu: "If I am dead by tomorrow, you shall act as the interim Sect Master, then dismiss the disciples and dissolve the sect."

"Do not let everyone sacrifice themselves in vain."

Chen Xiu's expression was moved, and he opened his mouth, but he was interrupted.

"Say no more!"

Yan Changkong's tone was resolute: "Go and pass the order. I shall remain in seclusion in the Quiet Reflection Hall tonight, awaiting their arrival!"

With that said!

Yan Changkong's figure flickered, and he soared into the air, arriving atop a pavilion a thousand feet tall.

He stepped into the pavilion and shut all the windows and doors!

Then, he sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, waiting in silence.

"Dong!"

"Dong—dong dong—"

A moment later, a rhythmic, peculiar bell toll echoed through the sect; it was the signal for the sect's Great Prohibition.

Time ticked away bit by bit...

Night fell.

A crescent moon hung in the firmament.

A hundred miles away from the Xuanqing Sect, a massive tower ship hovered in the air, its banners fluttering.

Jiang Youlong looked up at the night sky, a curve forming on his lips: "The show is about to begin!"

"It's been a long time since I've felt this blood-boiling excitement!"

A delicate laugh came from beside him, and a woman dressed in a long red dress stepped forward, chiding:

"People are going to die for this!"

At this moment, a burly man added in a deep voice: "Hua Hongyi, isn't this exactly the kind of scene you enjoy?"

"How hateful, I don't like killing people, I just like... the corpses."

Jiang Youlong withdrew his gaze and let out a cold snort: "That old codger Yan Changkong didn't say a single truthful word today! We've all been playing along with his act all day!"

"There must be plenty of people who want to capture him and perform a soul-search now, right?"

"Hehe, I love playing with soul-searching too!"

A patch of colorful clouds drifted by.

Within the clouds, there were actual palaces and pavilions, resembling an immortal palace.

The group from the Jade Pool Holy Land was currently inside the palace, reviewing the data on the Great Emperor from today.

Liu Piaopiao stood outside the hall, lost in thought as the night breeze ruffled her skirt.

"Peak Master Liu!"

An elderly man with high cheekbones walked over, hesitating for a moment before saying: "Are we really going to make a move tonight?"

Liu Piaopiao regained her composure and nodded gently: "The Holy Venerable issued the decree herself!"

The old man's body stiffened: "I understand!"

In another part of the night sky.

Giant fireballs hung in the heavens, resembling suns.

They illuminated this patch of the world as if it were broad daylight!

These were actually flying exotic beasts, the Black Birds, their bodies wreathed in Black Bird True Fire, looking incredibly terrifying.

On the back of the lead Black Bird, a middle-aged man dressed in a tight-fitting outfit adorned with Black Bird patterns stood proudly.

This man was none other than Zhao Shanhe, commander of the Black Bird Guard of the Liyue Immortal Dynasty.

Zhao Shanhe's eyes were as sharp as blades as he scanned the area, then slowly raised the jade slip in his hand:

"Her Majesty has decreed: defend the Xuanqing Sect to the death tonight!"

"There must be no mistakes!"

The other Black Bird Guards wore expressions of astonishment, then quickly replied in deep voices:

"By your command!"

It was no wonder they were surprised!

Even the commander, Zhao Shanhe, found it somewhat inconceivable and could not understand it.

The Liyue Immortal Dynasty and the Xuanqing Sect had never had any friendship.

Why would the Empress order them to protect the Xuanqing Sect?

Before seeing the secret order...

Zhao Shanhe had even assumed the Empress would order them to capture Yan Changkong and bring him back.

The night gradually deepened.

Yan Changkong sat cross-legged in the Quiet Reflection Hall, all doors and windows firmly shut.

Yet, at this moment, gusts of eerie wind suddenly blew through the hall, the temperature plummeted instantly, and frost began to form on the floor...

Yan Changkong felt something in his heart: "It's here!"

Clatter—

Suddenly, the windows around the great hall were thrown open, and a gust of wild wind poured in.

He opened his eyes and looked out toward the windows.

He saw dark clouds churning in the sky, with a gargantuan entity faintly rolling within them.

On the other side, snowflakes drifted down.

Yan Changkong shifted his gaze; in the sky on the other side, flames soared into the heavens, dozens of fireballs appearing like scorching suns.

At the same time, countless powerful auras were gathering frantically.

The daytime had merely been a small test.

The true storm was only arriving now.

Yan Changkong took a deep breath; his slightly plump body trembled, yet he remained as steady as a mountain.

He closed his eyes once more, swallowed the remaining Calm Spirit Pill in one gulp, and said in a low voice:

"This time, I, Yan Changkong, am going all in!"

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