The Leader of the Demonic Path
The Wuji Sacred Sect, the Upper Level of the Great Void Mirror Heaven.
This place is devoid of light and darkness, silent and still, with only a pool of dark, inky water lying quietly in the center of the cave.
The water's surface was as smooth as a mirror, reflecting nothing, as if connecting the boundary between existence and nothingness.
The Wudao Extreme Dharma True Lord sat cross-legged three feet above the pool, his black robe simple and his face as cold and hard as ten thousand years of iron.
His eyes were half-closed, and no trace of his presence was leaking out.
It was as if he had become one with this absolutely silent space, turning into a cold, lifeless rock.
"Counterattack on Central Land ----"
His deep voice echoed in the absolute silence, like a stone thrown into a deep pool, yet it did not create the slightest ripple.
The True Lord Wudao slowly opened a slit in his eye, and deep within those icy eyes, endless Daoist runes flowed and perished.
He raised his right hand, spread his five fingers, and naturally formed an ancient and mysterious hand seal with his fingertips.
This seal was created by him after comprehending the great Dao of "All Dharmas Return to Nothingness".
By tracing the river of cause and effect upstream, one can glimpse a fragment of the myriad possibilities of the future.
Although it cannot be as detailed as the True Lord who specializes in deduction, it excels in pointing directly to the essence and seeing the big picture.
The instant the hand gesture was formed, a ripple silently spread across the smooth, mirror-like surface of the pool.
Beneath the gentle ripples, countless tiny points of light, lines, and blurry images began to appear on the previously empty water surface.
That is the reflection of the Sea of Karma in this pool of water.
The lifeblood of the Four Northwestern Sects, the radiant light of the orthodox sects in the Central Land Plains, the deep blue river of the Overseas Dragon Clan, and even some hidden and obscure undercurrents deeper within...
They all manifest in some abstract yet essential form, intertwined, conflicting, devouring, and merging with each other.
The gaze of the True Lord Wudao fell upon the intersection of the causal lines representing the "Four Northwestern Sects" and the "Orthodox Path of the Central Land Plains".
That place should have been a chaotic scene of war raging and fates clashing.
However at this moment -
"Um?"
The cold, hard brows of the True Lord Wudao furrowed almost imperceptibly.
In the reflection of the pool, the area where cause and effect should have been clearly discernible was instead enveloped in a thick fog!
The fog was hazy and heavy, neither smoke nor mist, and ever-changing.
It arose from nothingness, spread rapidly, and completely enveloped, obscured, and distorted the causal lines representing the Northwest and the Central Land.
Deep within the mist, the shadows of dragons meandered, swords flashed, Buddhist seals flickered, and even more ancient and obscure totems shimmered—yet they were indistinct, as if veiled by a thousand layers of gauze.
The True Lord Wudao released a slight burst of Dao power from his fingertips, and a flash of light appeared in the hand seal.
The mist reflected in the pool rippled slightly.
That's all.
The fog was heavier than anyone could imagine. Even with his True Lord level power activating Secret Method, he could only cause it to fluctuate slightly, unable to dispel it even slightly, let alone glimpse the truth behind the fog.
"Someone has obscured the secrets of heaven and the law of cause and effect—"
The True Lord Wudao slowly withdrew his hand seal, his eyes gleaming.
This is not an ordinary disturbance of heavenly secrets, nor is it the work of a single True Lord.
The "texture" of this fog is heavy, as if it embodies the profound will of many.
The dragons, swords, Buddhas, and sorcerers that vaguely appeared amidst the changing forms—
"This was not done by one person alone."
The True Lord Wudao whispered, his voice echoing through the deathly silent cave.
The Three True Lord of the Northwest, the Overseas Dragon Clan, and perhaps even more deeply hidden beings----
Together they disrupted the Long River of Cause and Effect, obscuring the future trajectory of this "counterattack on the Central Land".
A thick fog blanketed the sky, so thick that even the True Lord could not see the road ahead.
What does this mean?
This means that the purpose of this counter-offensive is far more than simply "to conquer the Central Land Plains".
This means that there are deeper undercurrents surging beneath the surface.
This means—variability.
The True Lord Wudao remained silent, gazing at the lingering gray mist in the pool.
After a long while, the corners of his mouth slowly twitched, revealing a faint, yet chilling smile.
"Good."
He spoke softly, as if in appreciation.
"It seems that Xuanhuang is a stagnant pool—"
"It's going to get stirred up again."
As soon as he finished speaking, he raised his eyes, his gaze seemingly piercing through layers of mountains and endless void, landing in the direction of the Great Void Hall.
"Qi Yun."
A simple call, seemingly ordinary, yet imbued with the power of the True Lord, transcending the barriers of time and space.
The Great Void Hall, atop the cloud throne.
Qi Yun was closing his eyes and concentrating, his fingertips tapping lightly on the armrest, deducing the various chain reactions that might be triggered after the departure of the envoys from the three sects of the Northwest.
Hearing a call, he abruptly opened his eyes.
The space before them distorted slightly, and a figure in black robes slowly emerged from the void—a projection of the will of the True Lord Wudao.
"True Lord." Qi Yun stood up and bowed respectfully.
The projection of the True Lord Wudao stood with his hands behind his back, his gaze fixed on Qi Yun, his eyes revealing no emotion. "You already know what the Azure Sect, the Phoenix Helm, and the Yellow Springs Netherworld seek."
"Yes."
What do you think?
Qi Yun pondered for a moment, then raised his head and said, "The three sects want to use the power of the Dragon Clan to launch a counterattack against the Central Land. It seems that each sect is getting what it needs, but in reality, they each have their own ulterior motives."
The Azure Sect Sword Pavilion harbors a long-standing grudge and desires to usurp the throne; the Phoenix Helm has never ceased its ambitions for the Central Land imperial throne; Yellow Springs Netherworld —its schemes are likely even more profound.
As for the Dragon Clan, besides seeking revenge, they may have other plans.
The True Lord Wudao nodded slightly. "Your observation is correct. However, a great trend is about to rise, and those who follow it will prosper."
He paused, his voice calm yet resolute. "Receive my decree."
"The Wuji Sacred Sect agrees to join forces with the three sects to launch a counterattack against the Central Land."
Qi Yun's expression remained unchanged. "Disciple obeys."
"Furthermore—" True Lord Wudao paused, a cold glint flashing in his eyes, "Tell the three sects that in this counterattack, the Northwest must respect ancient precedents."
He looked at Qi Yun and said, slowly and deliberately, "Our Holy Sect is the leader of the demonic path."
"All arrangements and strategic decisions should be based primarily on the advice of the Holy Sect."
If the three sects harbor disloyal intentions, or outwardly comply while inwardly resisting—"
The True Lord Wudao's voice was flat, yet it caused the surrounding temperature to plummet. "Nothing to discuss."
A glint flashed in Qi Yun's eyes, and he bowed, replying, "This disciple understands. The position of leader of the demonic path concerns the eternal prestige of the Holy Sect and its post-war distribution; it cannot be lost."
The projection of the True Lord Wudao nodded slightly, as if about to dissipate, but then suddenly froze.
After a moment of silence, he spoke again, his voice still calm. "If this succeeds, the conquest of the Central Land will require a capable person to command the front lines."
His gaze fell on Qi Yun's face. "Let Black Mountain go along too."
Upon hearing this, the air in the hall seemed to freeze for a moment.
Qi Yun's expression remained unchanged, as if he had expected this all along. A gentle smile even appeared on his lips as he turned and cupped his hands in greeting, "I will obey your orders, True Lord."
"Martial Uncle Black Mountain is highly skilled and experienced. If he is stationed at the front line to coordinate the war, he will surely be able to stabilize the morale of our army and deter the villains."
The disciple will soon personally go to the Silent Devil Cave to True Lord's decree and request that his master uncle emerge from seclusion.
His attitude was respectful, his words were appropriate, and there was not a single fault with him.
The True Lord Wudao gave him a deep look, said nothing more, and the projection slowly faded away, disappearing into nothingness.
Silence returned to the Great Void Hall.
Before Qi Yun the independent cloud throne, he gazed at the churning sea of clouds outside the palace, and the gentle smile in his eyes gradually settled into a deep, unfathomable pool.
The North Sea Dragon Palace, the Azure Realm.
The supreme dragon might that filled heaven and earth and froze existence, the terrifying pressure that seemed to completely erase Youquan from the level of "existence," suddenly disappeared at the moment it reached a certain critical point.
It was as if it had never existed.
Darkness fades, color returns, and perception is reawakened.
Youquan suddenly opened his eyes and found himself still standing in the center of that azure Dao Realm, with nothingness beneath his feet and the Xuanbing Throne in front of him, where the North Sea Dragon Lord still sat upright.
It was as if everything that had just destroyed the world was just an illusion.
But that extreme terror of having one's soul almost crushed and one's existence almost erased was etched into the depths of Youquan's Divine Soul like a brand, cold and real.
"Ho--!"
He involuntarily took a deep, almost greedy breath, as if a drowning person had finally broken through the water and been reborn.
His chest heaved violently, and the Blood Sea around him churned and trembled uncontrollably, with nine thousand eight hundred Blood God Son shrieking and wailing within the Blood Sea.
Just a moment ago, they were almost completely erased from the "concept" by that supreme pressure.
Cold sweat silently trickled down his forehead.
It's not fear, but the instinctive tremor that life feels when facing a higher level of existence.
He slowly raised his head, his blood-red eyes flashing intensely with golden-red light, before forcibly suppressing all fluctuations and returning to a cold calm.
Looking at the Dragon King on the throne, Youquan spoke, her voice slightly hoarse: "Just now—"
Before he could finish speaking, the Dragon King's indifferent gaze swept over him.
Those eyes were as deep as an abyss, reflecting the passage of countless ages, yet they remained completely still, as if the earth-shattering changes just now were nothing more than a speck of dust to him.
What just happened?
The Dragon King spoke, his voice calm and undisturbed.
Youquan's bloodshot eyes narrowed slightly.
He saw a fleeting, undeniable glint in the depths of the Dragon King's eyes.
It was a warning, but more importantly, it was a way of silencing dissent.
Some things, even if you see them and experience them, you must pretend you didn't see them or experience them.
After all, the answer has already been given to you.
Moreover, some of them, even just mentioning their names or investigating their condition, are enough to bring about utter destruction.
Youquan remained silent for a moment.
Then, a slow smile crept onto his lips, and that familiar smile, tinged with wickedness and amusement, reappeared.
"Nothing."
He changed his tune so naturally, as if his earlier lapse in composure had never happened.
"Perhaps the Water Element Dao Realm here is too profound, and I was momentarily distracted. I apologize for this, Dragon Lord."
The Dragon King gave him a deep look, remaining noncommittal.
After a moment, he slowly sat up straight, his fingers tapping lightly on the armrest of the throne, producing a crisp sound like ice and jade colliding.
"You just now—"
He seemed to be recalling something, his tone casual. "What did you want to ask me?"
Youquan's mind raced.
The matter of the Ancestral Dragon has clearly become taboo and should not be mentioned again.
But Qi Yun far-sighted; he had brought him here not merely to ask a question and then accept a favor.
Sure enough, just as he was pondering how to turn the situation around, deep within his Purple Mansion, the mental imprint connected to Qi Yun's true form stirred slightly.
Qi Yun's voice, traversing the endless void, resounded directly in his mind, brief and clear.
A flash of bloodlust appeared in Youquan's eyes, and his smile widened.
He looked up at the Dragon Lord, his bloodshot eyes flashing with the shrewdness of a merchant, yet also with the unbridled arrogance unique to the demonic path. "Reporting to the Dragon Lord."
He cupped his hands in a gesture of respect, but his posture was not humble. "What I asked just now was merely to relay a message."
Now that the message has been conveyed, the answer is no longer important.
"However, I have another business deal to discuss with the Dragon Clan."
"Oh?" The North Sea Dragon Lord raised an eyebrow, seemingly showing some interest. "What kind of deal?"
Youquan grinned, revealing his gleaming white teeth. "I wonder if the Dragon Clan —would be interested in playing a big game next time?"