The contaminated Qianyuan Sacred Stone
"Am I dreaming?"
Yun Tianci gaped, shaking his head hard.
The scene before him had already exceeded his understanding.
He was a mighty Spirit Transformation Realm expert!
Outside the Four Sacred Domains, he counted among the strongest combatants!
Yet this young man and this... kitty seemed to have suddenly appeared out of thin air!
How could Yun Tianci not be shocked?
"Hey? Why did you bring me out? And why did you make me look like this?"
Xiaobai grumbled petulantly to Lin Yu through her immortal sense, her voice full of displeasure.
"You'll have a chance to be useful in a moment."
Smiling, Lin Yu casually ruffled the snow-white fur on Xiaobai's head.
"Hmph, who knows what wicked scheme you're cooking up, you scoundrel..."
Xiaobai's face was full of indignation.
In her heart, however, she was actually full of anticipation.
Although Xiaobai appeared gluttonous, playful, and thoroughly spoiled on the surface.
Deep down, she had principles of her own.
Having eaten so much of Lin Yu's food, she naturally wanted to give him something in return.
In their previous life, after Lin Yu rescued Xiaobai.
She had always guarded his side, accompanying him through life and death.
Lin Yu understood Xiaobai's somewhat stubborn nature very well.
He knew that, having accepted his kindness, Xiaobai would inevitably think about how to repay him.
This was a good opportunity.
"Sect Master Yun, it's been a while."
Lin Yu smiled faintly.
But in Yun Tianci's eyes, that smile was terrifying!
"We... I don't believe we've met."
Yun Tianci probed cautiously.
Despite his Spirit Transformation Realm cultivation, he could not discern the slightest detail of the young man's true capabilities!
"No matter." Lin Yu chuckled and shook his head. "Let's get down to business."
"What are you referring to, Senior?"
Doubt and alarm still lingered on Yun Tianci's face.
But sensing that Lin Yu seemed to harbor no hostility, he cupped his hands in salute.
"You must have sensed that Yuwen Tianmo left something in your Qianyuan Sect when he departed just now."
"He didn't tamper with your body, though."
"Senior, this..."
Upon hearing Lin Yu's words, Yun Tianci's expression changed drastically!
When Yuwen Tianmo left just now.
Yun Tianci had indeed felt a powerful sense of unease arise within him!
Although he had yet to discover any clues.
He was certain that Yuwen Tianmo was plotting something!
Otherwise, given Yuwen Tianmo's temperament, he could not possibly have visited the Qianyuan Sect for nothing!
"Please enlighten me, Senior!"
Yun Tianci's expression abruptly turned solemn, and he bowed slightly, cupping his hands respectfully toward Lin Yu.
At this moment, perhaps the very survival of his Qianyuan Sect was at stake!
Besides, over the past few minutes, Yun Tianci had become fairly certain that this seemingly youthful boy before him was probably far stronger than he was!
He might even have surpassed the Spirit Transformation Realm...
At this thought, Yun Tianci's heart shook tremendously.
He himself had endured a thousand hardships before finally cultivating to the spirit transformation realm eighth stage!
Yet the path from the spirit transformation realm eighth stage to the ninth stage was like an impassable heavenly chasm to him!
Although the spirit transformation realm eighth stage and spirit transformation realm ninth stage were different stages within the same major realm, their strength was as far apart as heaven and earth!
At the spirit transformation realm eighth stage, one had yet to touch even the first threshold of transformation from mortal to immortal.
But the spirit transformation realm ninth stage meant one was already qualified to attempt a breakthrough to the Integrated Body Realm!
Above the Spirit Transformation Realm lay Body Integration, Mahayana, and Tribulation Transcendence!
Each realm was a firm step toward the Immortal Realm!
Unfortunately, Yun Tianci's cultivation had stagnated at the spirit transformation realm eighth stage for many years.
And now, Lin Yu gave him the impression of being at least a Body Integration Realm expert!
The little beast resembling a kitty in Lin Yu's arms was clearly no ordinary creature either!
Fortunately, what gave Yun Tianci some comfort was that he sensed no hostility whatsoever from Lin Yu.
Now Yun Tianci stood bowed with his hands respectfully cupped, awaiting Lin Yu's answer.
"No need for such formalities."
Lin Yu waved a hand. "Their real target is your Qianyuan Sect's Qianyuan Sacred Stone."
At the words "Qianyuan Sacred Stone," Yun Tianci could not help shuddering violently, his expression wavering with alarm and doubt as shock overwhelmed him!
He had never imagined that the Heavenly Demon Sect's target this time would actually be the Qianyuan Sacred Stone!
The Qianyuan Sacred Stone was the Qianyuan Sect's sect-guarding treasure!
Within the Qianyuan Sect, all the spiritual power of heaven and earth that its disciples absorbed and refined was produced through purification by this Qianyuan Sacred Stone!
Spiritual power purified by the Qianyuan Sacred Stone had a greater affinity for cultivators and was easier for them to absorb and refine!
This was also the unfailing treasure behind the Qianyuan Sect's enduring prosperity over thousands of years!
Yet it was precisely this characteristic of the Qianyuan Sacred Stone that meant, once a foreign substance invaded it, every disciple of the Qianyuan Sect would be affected!
If someone successfully tampered with the Qianyuan Sacred Stone, the consequences would be unimaginable!
"Let's go. We'll accompany you."
Lin Yu said calmly, "Pour your mental power into it and examine it carefully, and you'll discover the clues within."
"Thank you for the warning, Senior!"
Yun Tianci expressed his thanks earnestly, then hurried toward the Qianyuan Sacred Stone.
The sect's future was at stake; he could hardly avoid being anxious!
Ten minutes later.
Yun Tianci withdrew his mental power from the Qianyuan Sacred Stone, his brows tightly knitted as he remained silent.
"Contamination?"
After hesitating for a long time, Yun Tianci finally offered an answer, his expression full of uncertainty and alarm.
A faint trace of dark presence seemed to have been mixed into the Qianyuan Sacred Stone!
Even when Yun Tianci probed with all his strength, he could only vaguely sense it!
Such methods were truly vicious!
"That's right, contamination." Lin Yu nodded.
"Moreover, you should be very familiar with the source of this contamination."
"Very familiar?" Yun Tianci froze at those words. Although this dark presence bore some resemblance to the Heavenly Demon Sect's Demonic Qi, they clearly did not share the same source.
But with Lin Yu's remark, Yun Tianci also felt that there did indeed seem to be something familiar about that dark presence...
"The Dark Nether Divine Hall?"
Suddenly, Yun Tianci cried out in alarm, for he abruptly remembered that the dark presence within the Qianyuan Sacred Stone seemed extremely similar to the presence of the Dark Nether Divine Hall's hall master!
"The Heavenly Demon Manor has actually joined forces with the Dark Nether Divine Hall?"
Yun Tianci's face was filled with disbelief. After all, the Dark Nether Divine Hall was the second-largest power in the Great Yan Empire Eastern Region, and its hall master's strength had already reached the spirit transformation realm ninth stage, surpassing even Yun Tianci!
If the Heavenly Demon Manor and the Dark Nether Divine Hall joined forces against their Qianyuan Sect, the Qianyuan Sect's situation would become extremely dangerous!
"They haven't joined forces."
Lin Yu shook his head with a faint smile. "The Heavenly Demon Manor was nurtured by the Dark Nether Divine Hall from the very beginning."
"What? How is that possible?"
Yun Tianci exclaimed, his face paling in shock. As far as he knew, the Heavenly Demon Manor and the Dark Nether Divine Hall should have had no connection whatsoever!
Today, Lin Yu had overturned his understanding time and time again!