Breaking the News, Speaking from the Heart
"That's exactly where it is." Wang Heng nodded. "The Chaos Abyss connects to the rift of the Dao Realm Origin, and it's perfectly reasonable for the Dao Fruit to be conceived there."
However, that place is extremely dangerous, with numerous High Antiquity restrictions and Sha Qi that corrodes the soul. Large-scale armies simply cannot be deployed. If one truly wants to seize the fruit, ultimately, it will depend on high-level combat power in close combat.
Li Yunjing nodded slightly. "What's the situation on the demonic path?"
"The situation is not optimistic." Wang Heng's expression darkened. "News has come from Northern Spirit Province that all thirty-six Devil Dao Sect have emerged and are gathering in the Myriad Devil Abyss, with a force of no less than several hundred thousand. What's even more troublesome is that the High Antiquity Demon Yan Tianjin has awakened."
"Demon Yan Tianjin?" Li Yunjing was startled.
That was a demonic giant from ten thousand years ago, the demonic leader of the great war between good and evil, whose cultivation was extraordinary. It is said that he was only able to be sealed and suppressed by two Loose Immortal immortals working together.
Now that he has broken free of his seal, he is absolutely a huge problem for the righteous path.
"Not bad." Wang Heng said in a deep voice, "Yan Tianjin is personally in charge, and the demonic army is currently heading towards the Chaos Abyss. The vanguard has already passed the Falling Wind Gorge. At this speed, it will reach the outer perimeter of the Chaos Abyss in at most half a month."
Their objective was clear: to seize outlying strongholds on the outskirts of the Chaos Abyss, establish defenses and formations, and then strike once their Dao Fruit matured.
Li Yunjing remained silent for a moment, then slowly said, "So, we don't have much time left. When does the Immortal Alliance plan to send troops?"
Wang Heng shook his head. "Sending troops is certain, but not now. Today's meeting is not focused on sending troops. As for the specifics, I cannot say more now; the alliance leader will announce it later."
He glanced at Li Yunjing and instructed him, "During the meeting in the hall later, speak less and listen more. The waters are deep, so don't take sides easily. I will try my best to look after you, but you must also be careful."
These words were heartfelt concern.
Li Yunjing felt a warmth in his heart and bowed, saying, "Senior Xie guidance, senior. I understand."
Just then, another set of footsteps came from outside the hall.
Lu Wangchuan, the Grand Elder of the Heavenly Evolution Sect, walked in slowly. He was dressed in a Bagua Daoist robe, with a refined and scholarly face and three long strands of beard, giving him an air of Dao Bone.
He had an excellent reputation in the righteous path, was proficient in divination, and was highly respected. Even the leader of the Immortal Alliance had to give him some face.
Lu Wangchuan's gaze swept across the hall, meeting Wang Heng's eyes. He nodded slightly in acknowledgment, his gaze lingering on Li Yunjing for a moment before casually looking away and walking to his seat.
Li Yunjing returned the greeting, but a strange feeling inexplicably passed through his heart.
This Elder Lu Wangchuan exuded a righteous and peaceful aura, with a profound Daoist charm; he looked every bit the righteous master.
But that one glance, seemingly indifferent, felt as if it had seen right through him, making him very uncomfortable.
"Elder Lu Wangchuan is skilled in divination and possesses profound spiritual insight; it's normal for you to feel uncomfortable," Wang Heng said calmly. "This man is very cunning; it's best to avoid him."
Li Yunjing nodded slightly, suppressing this strange feeling in his heart.
Before long, everyone in the hall had arrived.
Seven of the eight Elder Zhang' chairs at the head of the hall were occupied, leaving only the seat of the alliance leader vacant. Everyone returned to their seats, and the hall gradually quieted down, with only the soft sound of breathing remaining.
Everyone was waiting for the arrival of Zhang Jianchen, the leader of the Immortal Alliance.
suddenly,
Buzz!
The nine celestial lamps on the roof lit up simultaneously, their soft white light filling the hall.
A figure in white appeared without warning in the main seat, as if he had always been there.
The newcomer had a handsome face and looked to be no more than thirty years old, yet his brows carried the dignity that comes with age.
He was dressed in a plain white Daoist robe, and not a trace of Spiritual Qi leaked out of his body. Yet, sitting there, he seemed to be the center of the world, and the Daoist aura of the entire hall subtly flowed around him.
It was none other than Zhang Jianchen, the leader of the Immortal Alliance.
"Greetings, Alliance Leader!"
Hundreds of people inside the hall rose at the same time, bowed, and their voices reverberated throughout the hall.
Zhang Jianchen slightly raised his hand, his voice calm yet clear, carrying to every corner. "Please, everyone, there's no need for such formalities; please be seated."
Everyone took their seats, and the huge council hall was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Li Yunjing sat in his seat, secretly alarmed.
It's been a long time since we last met, and Zhang Jianchen's cultivation has improved considerably. It seems he's not far from becoming Loose Immortal. Is the Immortal Alliance's third Loose Immortal about to appear?
Zhang Jianchen's gaze slowly swept across the entire room, his expression calm, and he got straight to the point:
"I'm sure you all know why I've summoned you all here today. Strange phenomena have appeared in the heavens, Spiritual Qi Tide surged, and treasures have appeared frequently—all signs that the Primordial Dao Fruit has descended upon the world. Every ten thousand years, the cycle of destiny between the righteous path and the demonic path is about to begin again."
As the words fell, the atmosphere in the hall grew even more somber.
Everyone knows that the Dao Fruit is important, but when the Alliance Leader himself says the words "battle for destiny," the weight is completely different.
In that battle 100,000 years ago, the righteous path won a pyrrhic victory, while the demonic path lay dormant for 10,000 years. Subsequently, the righteous and demonic paths clashed in several more battles, with the righteous path repeatedly winning thanks to the Primordial Dao Fruit.
But now that the cycle has begun again, no one can say for sure which side will emerge victorious this time.
If the demonic path hadn't obtained the Primordial Dao Fruit, the fate that had befallen the righteous path might have beenfallen instead.
Zhang Jianchen tapped his fingers lightly on the table and continued, "The first thing is the location. After many days of deduction by our alliance and the elders, and with confirmation from two Loose Immortal ancestors, the place where the Primordial Dao Fruit is conceived is deep within the Chaos Abyss. The Dao Fruit will take some time to mature, at least three months, and at most half a year."
A murmur of discussion arose from below.
"It's the Chaos Abyss... That place is no easy place to get into."
"Yes, the High Antiquity Sha Qi is so heavy, and there are spatial rifts; a large-scale army is simply useless."
"Six months isn't too tight; there's enough time to set up defenses."
"..."
Zhang Jianchen did not stop the discussion. After the noise subsided, he continued, "The second thing is about the demonic path. Yan Tianjin has broken free of his seal, and Thirty-Six Devil Sects have risen up. Their army is advancing towards the Chaos Abyss, and the vanguard has already Falling Wind Gorge."
The demonic path is powerful and ambitious; this time, they have come out in full force, determined to seize the Dao Fruit.
The hall fell silent instantly.
The name Yan Tianjin weighed heavily on everyone's hearts like a boulder.
He was a figure who nearly destroyed the righteous path during the last great war between good and evil ten thousand years ago.
If it weren't for the emergence of capable individuals on the righteous path thanks to the Primordial Dao Fruit, Yan Tianjin could have truly defied fate.
Now that he's back with a vengeance, who wouldn't be wary?
Purple Yang Sect leader of Zhou Ziyang Sect, spoke in a deep voice, "Alliance Leader, since the Demonic Path has made its move, we cannot delay. In my opinion, we should quickly assemble our army and head to the Chaos Abyss to seize advantageous terrain on the outskirts and set up defensive lines before the Demonic Path does. Otherwise, once the Demonic Path has established a foothold, it will be difficult to break through."
"Sect Leader Zhou is absolutely right," the Heavenly Sword Sect Master echoed. "The first to strike gains the upper hand, the last to strike suffers the consequences. We must take down the fortresses on the outer edge of the Chaos Abyss first."
Many people nodded in agreement, agreeing with the idea of striking first.
Zhang Jianchen remained unmoved and waved his hand, saying, "Seizing the Chaos Abyss is inevitable, but there's no need to rush. The demonic path has traveled a long distance from Northern Spirit Province to the Chaos Abyss, a much longer journey than ours. We can arrive in ten days from Heaven-Soaring City, which is more than enough time."
Everyone was taken aback upon hearing this.
Since there is plenty of time, why rush to convene a general meeting?
Li Yunjing sat in his seat, his eyebrows slightly raised.
He recalled Wang Heng's words earlier: the focus of today's meeting was not on sending troops; it seemed the real main event was yet to come.