The Three-Legged Golden Toad

With the core terms of the four peace talks being finalized one after another.

This grand event, which will determine the future landscape of Northwest China, has also begun to move onto a track of substantial progress.

The two primary agendas were quickly established.

Firstly, each of the four sects will dispatch two Foundation Establishment True Person to form an elite "Four Sects Joint Mission" to immediately head south and conduct an in-depth investigation into the true nature and movements of the "Four Imperials Heaven".

This group was led by True Person Qianxin of the Holy Sect.

Secondly, they pooled the resources of the four sects to begin constructing the [Northern Defense Grand Formation], which spans the northwestern border.

The heavy responsibility of overseeing this massive project undoubtedly fell on the shoulders of Qi Yun, the Holy Sect True Person who had already proven his abilities.

With the two resolutions finalized, the four Great True Person did not linger any longer. Each of their sects still had many matters that required their attention and decision-making, and they prepared to depart for their sects the following day.

The moonlight, like water, poured down on the rugged, scarred yet vibrant landscape of Ten Thousand Caves Mountain.

On the night before his departure, True Person Southern Dipper reappeared outside the cave where Qi Yun was temporarily residing.

Qi Yun seemed to sense something and went out of the cave to greet him. He saw the True Person Southern Dipper standing in the moonlight, holding a bamboo staff, his aura blending into the surrounding rocks.

He didn't say much, but simply took out an item from his palm and handed it to Qi Yun.

"This is the [Four Extremes Great Expansion Token], crafted by the four of us together, imprinted with the unique aura and will of our four sects," said True Person Southern Dipper in a calm voice.

"You are in charge of constructing the [Northern Defense Grand Formation]. During this period, any resources, manpower, or personnel required for the Formation Deployment's deployment, regardless of their sect, may be mobilized in advance with this order, and a report shall be submitted afterward."

As for how to use it—I probably don't need to elaborate further, do I?

Qi Yun's gaze fell on the token in True Person Southern Dipper's palm.

The token was about the size of a palm, and was neither gold nor jade.

Four slightly raised edges naturally emerge from the edge, each displaying a faint glow of blue, red, black, and yellow, subtly corresponding to the Daoist aura of the Azure Sect, Phoenix Helm, Yellow Springs Netherworld, and Wuji Sacred Sect.

Good heavens, isn't this just a three-legged golden toad? Qi Yun an eyebrow and reached out to take the [Four Extremes Great Expansion Token], which was cool to the touch but felt heavier than a mountain.

The moment he held the token, he felt four distinct yet equally vast wills achieving a delicate balance and empowerment within it.

A knowing smile appeared on his face, and he nodded to True Person Southern Dipper, saying, "I understand, I understand, Master Uncle, don't worry."

True Person Southern Dipper gave him a deep look, said nothing more, and his figure vanished quietly as if merging into the moonlight.

Holding the token in his hand, which contained immense power, Qi Yun's smile gradually faded, and a glint of shrewdness flashed in his eyes.

Constructing the [Northern Defense Grand Formation] was undoubtedly a time-consuming and extremely costly undertaking.

The host bears an immense responsibility and faces enormous pressure.

It was clearly a heavy responsibility, so why did the Yellow Springs Netherworld try to seize it in the first place?

The reason is simple: the greater the responsibility, the greater the power!

This [Northern Defense Grand Formation] concerns the entire cultivation world of the Northwest and is a top priority jointly promoted by the four sects.

The person in charge of Formation Deployment thus, to some extent, gained the endorsement and support of all four sects in this matter.

Behind them stands the will of the entire Northwest cultivation world!

With such overwhelming support, as long as the [Northern Defense Grand Formation] can be successfully set up...

And ensure that its power meets the standards.

In this process, it is as natural and simple for the host to use their power to seek some "legitimate" benefits for themselves.

The power to allocate vast resources means that even a tiny bit of wealth that an ordinary True Person might not be able to accumulate in hundreds of years.

The temporary assignment of four people meant that one could build connections and even place trusted confidants in positions of authority.

As long as what is ultimately handed over is a qualified and powerful [Northern Defense Grand Formation].

No one will even bother to investigate how much resource you actually "reasonably" used during the process.

Because this in itself is the reward one deserves for undertaking such a great responsibility!

The reason why True Person Southern Dipper specially sent this [Four Extremes Great Expansion Token], which symbolizes the joint authorization of the four sects, was that it would allow Qi Yun to exercise this enormous power more "justifiably" and more smoothly.

As long as he doesn't go too far and doesn't affect the foundation of the great formation.

Therefore, seizing this opportunity to acquire a massive amount of cultivation resources is almost a certainty.

This seemingly cold token, in Qi Yun's hands, was like a key to a vast treasure trove.

"Such immense power is truly a bit of a hot potato—" Qi Yun weighed the token in his hand, a meaningful smile returning to the corners of his mouth.

However, there is still a lot of room for maneuver in practice.

Holding the [Four Extremes Great Expansion Token], Qi Yun did not immediately begin to mobilize resources in a grand manner.

Haste makes waste, especially in the heart of this vortex where four interests intertwine and countless eyes are watching.

He first brought the token containing the will of the four sects and came once again to the vast illusory image of the "Nine Heavens Suppressing Mountains and Subduing Demons Heavenly Enclosure Diagram".

Using his Divine Sense to communicate with the token, he slowly pressed it toward the core of the array's illusory image.

Buzz--!

The moment the token made contact with the array diagram, the entire illusory array diagram trembled violently, becoming more solid and clear, and even faintly began to connect with the real earth vein energy of Ten Thousand Caves Mountain.

At the same time, a massive and complex flow of information surged into Qi Yun's Sea of Consciousness along with the token.

Those were four preliminary lists of resources that could be used for Formation Deployment, a list of available personnel, and detailed leyline survey maps.

The amount of information is vast; if an ordinary True Person were to process it, it would probably take months just to sort through it.

But Qi Yun only needed to think for a moment, and the [Great Luo Heaven] naturally activated, categorizing and refining the massive amount of information, and in an instant, he had a complete understanding of it.

"I see—" A look of understanding flashed in Qi Yun's eyes, along with a hint of coldness.

The resource list appears to be diverse and abundant.

However, the quantity of top-grade spiritual materials and special precious mines that are truly suitable for the core nodes of the "Nine Heavens Suppressing Mountains and Subduing Demons Heavenly Wall Map" is strictly controlled.

The allocation plan also appears ambiguous, clearly the result of mutual restraint after the parties have engaged in a game of strategy.

The roster of personnel included quite a few array cultivators, strongmen, and menial workers sent by the four sects.

But which of them are actually capable of getting things done, and which are just there to slack off or even cause trouble?

It won't be written on the list.

"Are you trying to intimidate me? Or do you want to see me make a fool of myself?"

Qi Yun's lips curled into a slight smile.

"Very well, this is a good opportunity to establish our authority."

He did not summon anyone immediately, but instead, his figure flickered and transformed into an inconspicuous streak of Flowing Light.

He wanted to see for himself what the key geological nodes marked on the survey map were actually like.

Several days later, on the northern slope of Ten Thousand Caves Mountain, at the edge of a huge rift valley called "Sunken Abyss Ravine".

This place is an important "earth vein anchor point" in the "Nine Heavens Suppressing Mountains and Subduing Demons Heavenly Wall Map".

One hundred and thirty-nine "Mountain-Subduing Foundation Pile" need to be driven here to draw upon the earth's energy within a radius of ten thousand miles to stabilize the foundation of the great formation.

According to the plan, the Yellow Springs Netherworld is responsible for providing and transporting the [Nine Pillars Sunken Gold Stone] needed here.

This stone is extremely heavy and will never decay, making it a core material for Foundation Establishment piles.

However, when Qi Yun arrived, concealed, he was met with a scene of utter chaos.

Dozens of strongmen and servants from different sects were scattered throughout the rift valley.

They gathered in small groups, some sitting, some lying down, seemingly doing nothing.

Only a handful of people were listlessly cleaning the area, urged on by a minor deacon.

In the center of the rift valley, at the location where the foundation piles were to be driven, only a few scattered pieces of [Nine Pillars Sunken Gold Stone] of varying quality were randomly piled up.

The quantity and quality were far from what was indicated on the list.

Let alone 139, even 9 wouldn't be enough.

The junior sect leader was sweating profusely, arguing with a cultivator dressed in the Yellow Springs Netherworld: "Fellow Xun Chen, the construction period is urgent. If the [Nine Pillars Sunken Gold Stone] here is not in place soon, the first Mountain-Subduing Foundation Pile cannot be driven, and all subsequent procedures will be delayed!"

I can't take that responsibility.

Could you please send another message to urge them to hurry up?

The Yellow Springs Netherworld cultivator known as Xun Chen leisurely toyed with a bone bead in his hand, not even bothering to lift his eyelids. "What's the rush? [Nine Pillars Sunken Gold Stone] is not easy to mine, and transporting it is even more time-consuming."

My Yellow Springs Netherworld has done its best to allocate resources, but the journey is long and there are occasional delays, which is understandable.

"You minor sect cultivators, do you not even have this much patience?"

His tone was almost undisguised in its perfunctory manner and schadenfreude.

Most of the cultivators from other sects around also stood by with their arms crossed, their eyes filled with a sense of anticipation for a good show.

Anyone can see that this is the Yellow Springs Netherworld deliberately making things difficult for them.

However, the Yellow Springs Netherworld is a major sect, and they dare not offend it.

The junior steward was so angry his face turned red, but there was nothing he could do.

The other party is a high-ranking cultivator with a noble status, and insists that the resources are difficult to transport, making it difficult to find any fault with them in the short term.

Just as the stalemate was at its peak, a calm voice suddenly rang out. "This fellow Daoist is right; resource transportation is indeed not easy."

The crowd looked in the direction of the sound and saw a young Daoist priest dressed in a dark blue robe who had appeared at the edge of the rift valley at some point. He stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze sweeping calmly over the scene.

"You are----" Xun Chen glanced at Qi Yun, his eyes narrowing slightly, feeling that Qi Yun looked vaguely familiar.

"I am Qi Yun, a third-generation disciple of the Wuji Sacred Sect, and I have been ordered to oversee the construction of the [Northern Defense Grand Formation]."

With a gentle smile, Qi Yun released the aura he had been holding back.

boom--

The terrifying aura of the True Person Realm swept out, and all the cultivators, warriors, and servants in the arena were struck dumb, hastily kneeling on the ground and shouting loudly, "We pay our respects to the True Person!"

With a single step, Qi Yun appeared beside Xun Chen, who was kneeling on the ground trembling like a leaf. He gently helped him up and said softly, "I wonder if Fellow Xun Chen could explain to me that in ten days, it will be the day to drive the Mountain-Subduing Foundation Pile?"

Why haven't these [Nine Pillars Sunken Gold Stone] been delivered yet?

Um?

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