The Demonic Path Withdraws, the Decisive Battle in Ten Years

The next day, the elders leading the various righteous immortal sects gathered on a cliff, with the elders leading the four sects seated at the very center. Their losses in this first battle had been so severe that they had no choice but to gather and discuss whether to fight on or retreat.

The elders looked at one another in silence. They all knew that if they kept fighting, victory was far from certain, while their losses would surely be disastrous and might even shake the foundations of their sects. Yet none of them dared to be the first to propose a retreat, and so the deadlock continued.

The abbot of the Heavenly Buddha Temple pressed his palms together and was the first to speak. "Amitabha. Everyone, my Heavenly Buddha Temple will abide by your decision."

The elders all felt a surge of disgust. This old bald donkey was far too good at putting on an act. The great elder shook his head in disdain. These bald donkeys might all look so sanctimonious, but if the Heavenly Buddha Temple hadn't pressed Bai Junhao so hard back then, why would he have betrayed the Eight Gods Pavilion?

Just as everyone was at a loss, a deacon suddenly stepped forward and shouted joyfully, "Elders, the demonic path has retreated! They've withdrawn their army!"

"They withdrew?" Several elders from the smaller sects cried out in surprise. The elders rose one after another and looked at the deacon, wanting to confirm whether the news was true.

The deacon drew a heavy breath. "It's true. At first, I didn't believe it when our disciples at the front sent word back, so I went to see for myself. The demonic path really has withdrawn."

"They really withdrew?" The elders looked at one another. Suddenly, their voice transmission jade talismans lit up. After checking them, they finally looked relieved. The message from their sects read: The demonic path has withdrawn. Lead the disciples back to your sects at once.

Although they didn't know what had happened, the demonic path's withdrawal was good news. The elders leading the three great immortal sects other than the Eight Gods Pavilion looked at the great elder differently, for the message they had received was this: The pavilion master of the Eight Gods Pavilion had personally taken action, challenging the demonic path's Holy Lord at the Sacred Altar and forcing the Holy Lord to order a retreat. The two sides had agreed to a decisive battle in ten years. Ten years from now, the decisive battle would begin!

After receiving the message, the elders who had been wearing long faces could hardly wait to return to their camps and gather their disciples. Before leaving, the elders leading the four great immortal sects all cast wary glances at the great elder, but he acted as though he hadn't seen them.

It was no wonder they were wary of the Eight Gods Pavilion. The demonic path's Holy Lord had broken through to the Nascent Soul Late Stage ten years ago. In the ten years since, he might well have broken through to the Nascent Soul Peak Stage, or even touched the threshold of Spirit Transformation. Yet no one had seen Song Qi take action in a long time, and no one knew just how strong he was.

Song Qi's lone assault on the Sacred Altar had reminded them that they had indeed overlooked the Eight Gods Pavilion's exceptionally gifted pavilion master over the years. When the leaders of the four great immortal sects learned of this, they immediately began to take the Eight Gods Pavilion even more seriously.

When the great elder returned to the Eight Gods Pavilion's camp, the elders and deacons had long since gathered the disciples. The great elder looked over the disciples, now nearly half as numerous as when they had arrived, and said in a grave voice, "We lost this battle. The righteous and demonic paths have reached an agreement to cease fighting for ten years."

"If you wish to avenge this defeat, these ten years will be your last chance. Once we return to the sect, the Eight Gods Pavilion's resources will be fully opened to you. In ten years, the righteous and demonic paths will face a great war. That will be the final battle."

"When the time comes, either the righteous path will perish, or the demonic path will be destroyed!"

The demonic path's holy land

The demonic path's twelve elders had gathered at the holy land. Bai Junhao sat there with the other elders, his face dark and his heart already full of rage. If the Holy Lord hadn't ordered him back, he would likely have swallowed up that little group from the righteous path by now. The other elders looked just as unwilling.

"Ahem, ahem."

Coughing came from afar as a figure shrouded from head to toe in black robes slowly approached. Bai Junhao and the other elders immediately rose to their feet.

"Welcome, Holy Lord."

The Holy Lord walked forward at an unhurried pace. Only after reaching the raised platform and sitting down did he wave for the elders to sit. Bai Junhao and the others had just taken their seats when a fit of violent coughing came from the platform. Bai Junhao frowned. Looks like this old man is badly hurt.

"Everyone, I have let you down this time." An aged yet authoritative voice came from beneath the black robes.

Though the demonic path elders were dissatisfied, they still had to show the Holy Lord due respect. His face was shrouded in darkness, making it impossible to see clearly. "Elder Bai, although this battle did not achieve its objective, your contributions were immense. You deserve a reward."

The Holy Lord swept his sleeve, sending a brocade box flying toward Bai Junhao. When Bai Junhao saw what was inside, all his grievances vanished without a trace, replaced by excitement. A Nascent Soul Breaking Pill lay quietly in the box.

The other elders were green with envy when they saw it. The Nascent Soul Breaking Pill could very well allow Bai Junhao to advance to Nascent Soul within ten years. The Holy Lord's heart ached as well. If not for the need to quell the elders' anger, he would never have brought the pill out. Even if he didn't use it himself, he could have given it to his disciple in the future, which would surely have been better than giving it to an outsider like Bai Junhao.

"Although this war did not achieve our objective, it dealt the righteous path a crippling blow. In ten years, our forces will be stronger. When that time comes, the righteous path will meet its end."

"Elders, wait patiently for ten years. Once the righteous path is destroyed, I will reward you according to your merits. You will all receive what you want."

"Thank you, Holy Lord!" the elders said in unison.