[Four Imperials Heaven]
The summit of Ten Thousand Caves Mountain's main peak was flattened by some great Divine Ability power, forming a vast platform.
In the center of the platform, there is a huge, naturally formed cave. The stone walls at the entrance are as smooth as a mirror, with three ancient Daoist inscriptions on them: "Vaulted Heaven Cave".
This is the site of the four peace talks.
At this moment, the scene Vaulted Heaven Cave is extraordinary.
The cave is extremely spacious inside, with a high dome and naturally formed stalactites hanging down, emitting a faint glow that illuminates all around.
In the center of the cave, four jade thrones, each with its own unique shape and style, face the four directions respectively.
The four attendees stood solemnly according to their respective positions.
The Azure Sect sword cultivators stood with their swords drawn, each like a sharp blade unsheathed, their Sword Qi restrained yet ready to be unleashed; the Yellow Springs Netherworld remained hidden in the shadows, shrouded in ghostly energy, silent and still; the Phoenix Helm True Person stood proudly, his feathered robes fluttering, his body surrounded by flickering flames.
The members of the Holy Sect, on the other hand, exuded a relatively balanced and peaceful aura, with spiritual light flowing across their Daoist robes.
All eyes were focused on the four jade thrones.
Because those who are about to take their seats there are four giants who will be able to determine the landscape of the Northwest for the next few hundred years.
The current leaders of the four sects are all Great True Person!
Before the Eastern Jade Throne, the acting leader of the Azure Sect, the True Person Sansi, stood silently.
He looked like an ordinary middle-aged scholar, with a simple and even gentle face, wearing a simple blue cloth robe, and there was no trace of the sharp edge of a sword cultivator about him.
Before the Southern Jade Throne, the Acting Head of the Phoenix Helm Rudder— Lady Jiuli— had already taken her seat.
She wore a magnificent seven-colored feathered robe and a phoenix crown. Her beauty was unparalleled, and her elegance and nobility carried an innate sense of majesty and distance.
Between the opening and closing of his eyes, a flicker of firelight seemed to flow, and the air within his gaze felt slightly scorching.
Before the Western Jade Throne, the figure of the Acting Master of the Yellow Springs Netherworld -True Person Zַhuanlun, slowly solidified. An elderly man with a slender face, dressed in a black Confucian robe, held a seemingly ordinary dark yellow bamboo scroll in his hand.
Before the jade throne in the north, naturally stood the acting head of the Wuji Sacred Sect — the True Person Southern Dipper.
The four Great True Person did not deliberately exude their aura of power.
But as their gazes swept across the entire area, an invisible aura was already clashing fiercely within the Vaulted Heaven Cave!
Four completely different, yet equally terrifying Dao intents that had reached the peak of Foundation Establishment, clashed silently in the void, causing the entire space Vaulted Heaven Cave to tremble slightly and emit an unbearable hum.
Those Foundation Establishment True Person from various sects who stood solemnly to the side all felt their minds tense, and their Law Power power became somewhat sluggish.
This is the beginning of a game of strategy that, though devoid of swords and spears, is far more dangerous than any actual battle.
A moment later, True Person Southern Dipper broke the silence. His gaze swept over the other three, and his voice, calm yet clear, echoed throughout the cave, "Fellow Daoists, now that everyone is here, let's begin."
"I'm sure many of you fellow Daoists have noticed, to varying degrees, the growing turmoil emanating from the south in recent years, and it's showing signs of spreading northward."
His gaze swept over the True Person Sansi, the Lady Jiuli, and the True Person Zַhuanlun.
"This is the catalyst that brought us four people together here today to discuss the bigger picture."
Upon hearing this, the Foundation Establishment True Person from various sects standing below, no matter how composed they were on ordinary days, couldn't help but prick up their ears and concentrate intently.
Prior to this, the specific cause of the turmoil in the south was a top secret of the sect.
Only the True Lord and the Great True Person know the details.
These ordinary True Person only knew that there was chaos, but they didn't know why.
True Person Southern Dipper continued, "The root of this matter lies in the fact that thirty-five years ago, the Li Dynasty of the Southern Region accidentally discovered and—successfully brought back—something from the endless outer realms."
He paused slightly, as if considering his words, and gave everyone time to digest this astonishing information, before clearly stating, word by word, "This thing is called—[The Four Imperials Heaven]."
[The Four Imperials Heaven]?!
When Qi Yun heard the name, he initially felt it sounded somewhat familiar.
Immediately, a description from an ancient text of the Holy Sect flashed through his mind like lightning!
His expression instantly turned strange, even carrying a sense of unbelievable absurdity.
"That emperor of the Southern Dynasty—is he out of his mind? Does he think he can just bring this thing back like that?!"
The so-called [Four Imperials Heaven] are essentially similar to the [Remnant Realm] within a sect, which are formed from Foundation Establishment True Person Domain Heaven. They are all independent small worlds and secret realms.
However, their root causes are worlds apart!
[The Remnant Realm] is the remnant of the Domain Heaven that Foundation Establishment True Person could not fully entrust to after their death and the dissipation of their Dao.
The original owner of the [Four Imperials Heaven] was the True Lord!
What kind of being is the True Lord?
The Golden Palm Fruit, its true spirit is undimmed!
Even if one's lifespan is exhausted, one can still retain one's true self and wisdom, Liberation by Violence, swiftly return to one's peak!
Only after going through several cycles of reincarnation and having its Golden Nature completely extinguished will it truly return to Ruins of Return.
Before the True Lord completely transforms into the Dao, the Four Imperials Heaven he left behind will break free from their shackles and fly into the vast outer realms. After countless ages, they will either condense into a unique star or gradually disintegrate and return to the void of heaven and earth.
Before this, an unclaimed Four Imperials Heaven was equivalent to a True Lord had lost his self-awareness.
It contains the primordial power accumulated from the lifelong cultivation of a True Lord!
If one is not careful, and the unbalanced energy within is triggered, the consequences will be far more serious than a landslide or earthquake.
That was a terrifying catastrophe capable of instantly wiping out millions of miles of land and affecting countless others.
That Li dynasty actually—dragged this thing back?!
What are they trying to do?
They think the south is too peaceful and want to launch a "world nuclear war," so we can all go down together and be wiped out?!
Qi Yun felt a chill run from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head, and his lips twitched involuntarily.
He finally understood why even the True Lord attached such importance to this matter, and even tacitly allowed the four sects to temporarily put aside their grievances and negotiate peace first.
This is no longer an ordinary power struggle, but a huge crisis concerning the survival of the entire Northwest region!
Not only Qi Yun, but all the other Foundation Establishment True Person present were momentarily stunned, but after quickly understanding the key point, their expressions all changed!
This isn't just playing with fire, this is fucking playing with death.
Vaulted Heaven Cave, there was a deathly silence.
Only the heavy voice of the True Person Southern Dipper echoed, "The actions of the Li dynasty are no different from a child wielding a giant hammer, inviting fire upon himself."
The current turmoil in the Southern Region is all due to the [Four Imperials Heaven]. Their internal instability and the leakage of their aura have attracted the covetousness of various forces, leading to frequent wars.
If this calamity is not contained and allowed to spread northward, my northwest region will likely find it difficult to remain unscathed.
"The reason I have invited you all here today is to discuss how the Four Northwestern Sects should respond."
A massive shadow, accompanied by the three words "Four Imperials Heaven," loomed over the hearts of every True Person like a dark cloud.
After a brief silence, it was the first to break it that was True Person Sansi of the Azure Sect. His voice was calm and even. "The Li dynasty has a way of bringing about its own demise."
The eight characters are simple, yet they exude a chilling aura.
However, disaster has already arrived at our doorstep; it's better to guide than to block.
Since we know it is the [Four Imperials Heaven] and not an ordinary secret realm, we cannot use ordinary theories.
First, it is necessary to immediately send people south to ascertain the current situation: is it trending towards stability, or is it on the verge of collapse?
Secondly, it is necessary to clarify the current power structure in the Southern Region: who covets power, who is stirring up trouble, and who can be used by us?
Knowing yourself and your enemy is the key to making the right strategy.
His proposal was clear and pragmatic, full of the direct style of sword cultivators in solving problems—first identify the target, then decide how to strike.
Upon hearing this, Phoenix Helm Lady Jiuli parted her lips slightly, her voice clear yet carrying an undeniable authority. "Fellow Daoist Sansi's words are reasonable."
However, while ascertaining the situation is important, we need to clarify one point even more.
If the [Four Imperials Heaven] truly lose control, what would be the extent of their explosive power?
Of my Four Northwestern Sects territories, which one bears the brunt of the attack? Or perhaps—"
Her phoenix eyes flickered, sweeping over the crowd, her tone sharp. "If given the chance, could we turn this crisis into an opportunity?"
After all, that was the natal Domain Heaven left behind by a True Lord.
The profound truths it contains, and even its own structure, may hold immeasurable value for our understanding of the Golden Nature.
Her words not only pointed out the worst possible consequences, but also made no attempt to conceal her covetousness of the "Four Imperials Heaven '" intrinsic value.
The Wheel -True Person Zַhuanlun of the Yellow Springs Netherworld slowly raised his eyes, his voice hoarse and slow. "Life and death are intertwined."
The Southern Region is in chaos, with countless lives lost and vengeful spirits filling the land. Even this provides sustenance for my Yellow Springs Netherworld.
However, if the [Four Imperials Heaven] were to explode, all things Ruins of Return. This would be a calamity that severs the very foundation of existence, far surpassing any ordinary war or chaos.
The dark yellow bamboo scroll in his hand moved on its own without wind, making a faint rustling sound, "The most urgent task is not to fight for profit, but to set up obstacles."
They need to join forces to set up a large isolation array at the border of the Southern Region to slow the spread of the disaster and buy time.
At the same time, it may be possible to guide the "war in the Southern Region, causing them to wear each other down and delaying their stimulation of the [Four Imperials Heaven]".
It's not too late to deal with them after they've both suffered heavy losses.
The Wheel -True Person Zַhuanlun's strategy was more insidious and far-reaching, willing to use the entire Southern Region as a chessboard, employing a strategy of using one enemy to devour another.
The strategy of watching the fire from across the river.
Finally, everyone's gaze returned to True Person Southern Dipper. He gently stroked the emerald green bamboo staff in his hand, pondered for a moment, and then spoke, "The opinions of the three fellow Daoists are all reasonable."
Investigation, defense, and even seizing fortuitous opportunity are all equally important and should not be neglected.
However, in my opinion, the most important thing is to establish a framework for the Four Northwestern Sects to advance and retreat together.
He swept his gaze over the three Great True Person, his tone grave. "The matter of the [Four Imperials Heaven] is beyond the capacity of any single sect or faction to handle."
"Therefore," the old man proposed, raising his voice with determination, "that Four Sects Joint Inspection Delegation True Person Southern Dipper immediately established, with each sect sending its elite forces to jointly head south, investigate the situation, and monitor the borders."
At the same time, the four sects joined forces to begin constructing the Northern Defense Barrier "Great Array" at a crucial juncture. As for the [Four Imperials Heaven] themselves—
He paused, then looked at Lady Jiuli: "Fortuitous opportunity are certainly tempting, but they must be based on the premise that one has the ability to control them."
At present, stabilizing the situation is the top priority.
We'll discuss other matters once the situation becomes clearer.
During this period, neither party may make private contact with the Southern Region forces, lest they invite trouble and disrupt the overall situation.
"Good!"
"Good!"
True Person Sansi and Lady Jiuli nodded in agreement.
The Wheel -True Person Lunzhuan remained silent, instead turning his gaze to the True Person Southern Dipper.
"Brother Southern Dipper, what you say makes sense."
I have no objection to the four parties joining forces.
Otherwise, in case of an emergency...
"Should I listen to you, or to me?"
The atmosphere in the room froze instantly when True Person Lunzhuan uttered these words.
The assembled True Person held their breath, pondering to themselves.
As expected, it came.