Immortal Decree, Immortal Lord Qingxu
Groups of Rogue Cultivator headed towards the depths of the Great Wilderness, hoping to try their luck. Even absorbing a breath of Immortal Spirit Qi would be an incredible fortuitous opportunity.
Small and medium-sized sects flocked to the scene, hoping to get a share of the pie. If they could seize a branch of the Immortal Vein, it would be enough to make their sect prosper for hundreds of years.
The top sects of the five continents could no longer sit idly by.
Central Divine Province, Immortal Alliance Headquarters.
The atmosphere inside the council hall was somber.
Zhang Jianchen sat in the main seat, his brows furrowed.
Below, the elders and leaders of the affiliated sects gathered together, arguing endlessly.
"The emergence of the Immortal Vein is a blessing for the Dao Realm. As the most powerful force in the Dao Realm, our Immortal Alliance should go to take charge, protect the Immortal Vein, and prevent anyone from sabotaging it," an elder said in a deep voice.
"Preside over the overall situation? That's a nice way of putting it." Another elder sneered, "The Ancestral Vein True Spirit have all appeared, do you think it's our turn to preside over the overall situation? Didn't you see that the Luozhen Sect has already occupied Luozhen Province and encircled the Immortal Vein?"
"The Luozhen Sect? They dare to monopolize the Immortal Vein?! The Immortal Vein belongs to the entire Dao Realm, so why should the Luozhen Sect have the final say?"
"Exactly! Li Yunjing is just lucky to have gotten involved with the Ancestral Vein True Spirit. If we're talking about true foundation, what is the Luozhen Sect?"
"That's not how it works. Fellow Daoist Li is also an elder of our Immortal Alliance. The Luozhen Sect Immortal Vein, so our Immortal Alliance may well get a share."
The crowd chimed in with their opinions, some expressing jealousy, others resentment, and still others apprehension.
However, some people also support the Luozhen Sect.
Zhang Jianchen tapped on the table, and the hall fell silent.
"Luozhen Sect the assistance of their Ancestral Vein True Spirit and the Major Merit made during the Dao Realm's ascension, it might not be a bad thing for the Immortal Vein to fall into their hands," Zhang Jianchen said slowly. "However, the problem is that the Immortal Vein is too tempting, and various forces are eyeing it. If it's not handled properly, it will inevitably lead to chaos."
"What does the alliance leader mean?"
"Send people to Luozhen Province, firstly to offer congratulations, and secondly to investigate the specific situation of the Immortal Vein," Zhang Jianchen said in a deep voice. "Furthermore, issue orders to restrain disciples of all sects from going to Luozhen Province to cause trouble without authorization. We'll discuss everything after we've thoroughly investigated."
"Yes."
Although the crowd was unwilling, they dared not disobey Zhang Jianchen's orders.
Within the Immortal Alliance, only Zhang Jianchen could keep these unruly sect leaders in check.
However, while the Immortal Alliance can restrain its own forces, it cannot restrain everyone.
Just as various forces were observing and testing the waters, a bombshell announcement exploded across the Five Provinces like a thunderclap.
The Daozhen Sect has emerged.
Daozhen Sect, located in the heart of Flying Immortal Prefecture, has a history of nearly ten thousand years and is one of the oldest sects in the Five Provinces.
Unlike other sects, Daozhen Sect has a powerful backer in the upper realm, Immortal Lord Qingxu of the Mystic Yellow Immortal Realm.
Tens of thousands of years ago, before the Immortal Lord Qingxu ascended to heaven, he founded the Daozhen Sect in Tianyuan.
After ascending to immortality, he would often issue divine decrees, bestowing celestial treasures and supporting the Daozhen Sect.
With a Immortal Lord as their backer, the Daozhen Sect has always been domineering and unruly in the Five Provinces, and no one dares to provoke them.
Even Zhang Jianchen of the Immortal Alliance had to show deference to the Daozhen Sect Leader.
On this day, Yin Zhongqiu, the head of the Daozhen Sect, personally led twelve elders and hundreds of Core Disciple to the edge of the Great Wilderness.
Yin Zhongqiu was dressed in a moon-white Daoist robe, with a handsome face and a whisk in his hand, looking every bit the Dao Bone.
He stood atop a cloud, gazing at the milky-white celestial light deep within the Great Wilderness, a flicker of greed in his eyes quickly replaced by arrogance.
"Sect Leader, the people from the Luozhen Sect have already occupied Luozhen Province and encircled the Immortal Vein. Should we attack them directly?" an elder asked, bowing.
"No need." Yin Zhongqiu smiled faintly, his tone full of confidence. "It's just a Immortal Vein, a birthday gift pre-ordered by the Immortal Lord. Why bother with any action? Just show the Immortal Lord's decree, and they will obediently hand it over."
"What the sect leader says is true," the elder said with a fawning smile. "With the decree of Immortal Lord Qingxu in hand, who in the entire Dao Realm would dare to disrespect us? Even if the Luozhen Sect has the assistance of its Ancestral Vein True Spirit, it wouldn't dare to offend Immortal Lord from the Upper Realm, would it?"
Yin Zhongqiu nodded proudly.
He waved his hand and said loudly, "Let's go to Luozhen Province. I will proclaim the Immortal Lord's decree in front of all the cultivators in the world, so that everyone knows that this Immortal Vein belongs to Immortal Lord Qingxu."
As soon as they finished speaking, the Daozhen Sect members transformed into streaks of light and flew towards Luozhen Province.
Other cultivators encountered along the way gave way upon seeing the Daozhen Sect's banner, daring not to obstruct them.
Soon, news of the Daozhen Sect's arrival at the Luozhen Province spread throughout the surrounding areas.
Immediately afterwards, an even more explosive piece of news spread:
Yin Zhongqiu, the head of the Daozhen Sect, holding a decree from the Immortal Lord Qingxu of the Upper Realm, declared that the first Immortal Vein in the Dao Realm was a birthday gift for the Immortal Lord Qingxu.
Soon, a celestial messenger will descend to the mortal realm to guide the Immortal Vein to the Mystic Yellow Immortal Realm.
Anyone who dares to meddle with the Immortal Vein is an enemy of Immortal Lord Qingxu and will surely be punished by the immortals, with their entire family wiped out!
The news caused a stir.
"Immortal Lord Qingxu?! Immortal Lord from the Mystic Yellow Immortal Realm?!"
"My God! The Immortal Vein is actually a birthday gift for Immortal Lord?"
"No wonder the Daozhen Sect is so arrogant; they're acting on the orders of the Immortal Lord!"
"It's over, it's over, we're out of luck now. Offending Immortal Lord is a crime; ten lives wouldn't be enough to kill us."
"..."
The various forces that had been poised to make a move immediately fell silent.
The might of the Immortal Lord is like an insurmountable chasm.
Those were true immortals, high above, wielding power over the Immortal Realm realm.
A single divine punishment is enough to wipe out an entire sect.
Let alone these cultivators from the lower realms, even Zhang Jianchen of the Immortal Alliance wouldn't dare to openly defy the Immortal Lord's decree.
Many sects that had already reached the edge of the Great Wilderness chose to retreat without hesitation.
"Get out of here! You dare to steal Immortal Lord's things? You've got a death wish!"
"What a waste of a Immortal Vein, it has to be sent to the Upper Realm."
"What's there to regret? It's its good fortune that Immortal Lord has taken a liking to it. We mortals are simply unworthy of possessing Immortal Vein."
Some people harbored resentment but dared not show it, and could only watch from afar, wanting to see how the Luozhen Sect would respond.
Will they obediently hand over the Immortal Vein, or dare to defy the Immortal Lord's decree?
The news quickly reached the construction site in the Luozhen Province.
"Sect Leader! Something terrible has happened!"
Mo Xuan hurriedly entered the makeshift meeting tent, his face grave.
Li Yunjing was standing in front of the map, checking the progress of the main city's construction.
Without even looking up, he asked, "What's the matter that you're in such a panic?"
"Daozhen Sect! The people from the Daozhen Sect have arrived!" Mo Xuan said in a deep voice. "Yin Zhongqiu, the sect leader of the Daozhen Sect, is leading a large number of troops and is located a hundred miles away from Luozhen Province."
They even produced a decree from the Immortal Lord Qingxu of the Upper Realm, claiming that this Immortal Vein was a birthday gift from the Immortal Lord Qingxu and demanding that we hand Immortal Vein over immediately, or face divine punishment!
"Daozhen Sect."
Li Yunjing's hand gripping the charcoal pencil tightened suddenly.
These three words stirred up some memories for Li Yunjing.
The air inside the tent seemed to suddenly turn cold.
Mo Xuan felt a chill run down his spine when he saw Li Yunjing's suddenly cold expression.
He knew that his senior brother was truly enraged.
The feud between the Luozhen Sect and Daozhen Sect has been brewing for quite some time.
Thousands of years ago, the Luozhen Sect and the Daozhen Sect were both located in Black Mountain, so it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say they were neighbors.
At that time, the two sects were roughly equal in strength, both having Spirit Transformation cultivators in charge, but that was all they were capable of.