Chapter 160 - 1 Golden Core_i
The East Saint’s residence.
Behind the majestic and towering mountain gate.
Mountains soared and dipped, with palaces scattered across the peaks.
Clouds collected, mixing with the rising mist of the mountains.
A perfect representation of a celestial landscape.
Yet lurking within, flash of malice and wicked aura, spoiled much of the celestial charm.
Occasionally, figures clad in red and black Daoist robes appeared between the peaks, moving swiftly from north to south.
At this time, a figure with an enduring aura and blurred features came out from between the mountains.
He slightly raised his head to see a chained, purple Spirit Beast in the mountains nearby.
The figure paused briefly before flying towards the deeper parts of the mountains.
After a few leaps, he stood before an old, derelict palace.
The palace doors were ajar, and there didn’t seem to be any sound coming from within.
But the figure was certain that there was someone inside. He respectfully flexed his body and made a salutation:
“Bai Yu humbly greets Elder Lu!”
The old palace remained silent. Still, Bai continued to hold his respectful posture.
After a short while, a faint voice echoed from the palace:
“1 have not yet been formally appointed. You should continue to call me the
Chief.”
“No, sir. You have entered the Golden Core stage. According to our Sect’s rules, whether or not one has been appointed, they are an elder.”
“Furthermore, the Sect Hierarch will personally conduct your appointment ceremony today.”
Bai Yu spoke with unchanging respect.
“Well, you may let it be. Is there anything else you wish to report? In that case, please come in and tell me.”
The figure in the palace spoke with careless words.
The dilapidated palace doors opened by themselves before Bai Yu, revealing a deep and mysterious darkness.
Bai Yu didn’t hesitate and immediately walked in.
The interior was just as empty as the exterior hinted. In the vast and empty hall, apart from a black-robed figure seated on a futon, there was nothing else.
However, the face of the figure in black robes was not blurred like Bai Yu’s. Instead, he was handsome, as well-mannered as a jade crown, and his lips were smeared with rouge, making him look like an elegant young man.
Reunited after three years, Bai Yu couldn’t help but feel a moment of envy upon seeing the familiar face of the once blurred figure.
He quickly suppressed such feelings and respectfully greeted:
“Bai Yu greets Elder Lu.”
This time, the black-robed cultivator, Lu Yuansheng, who sat on the futon, did not reject the title. He openly said:
“Speak. What matter requires attention?”
“Yes.”
Bai Yu bent over and then reported:
“The covert operative in Sen State informed us that the West Sea boundary has been frequently disturbed by the Outer Continent cultivators. In addition, the slaughter of the entire cultivation community in West Sea Country in a single night a few years ago seems to have angered the Great Jin Dynasty. Recently, ‘Longevity Sect’, one of the three significant sects of Jin, dispatched more than ten Immortal Masters of Nascent Souls. They executed a total of eight Nascent Soul Cultivators and more than seventy Golden Core Cultivators from Xituo Continent, Shengzhou, and Piluzhou. Countless Foundation Establishment Competitors and Qi refining cultivators were also killed.”
“This move demonstrated a powerful show of strength on the Three Continents. For a while, all problems troubling the west sea and boundary Outer Continent seemed to have vanished. But, our insider warns the situation does not seem to be getting any better. The counterattack from the Three Continents might be imminent following this heavy-handed approach by the Longevity Sect…”
Upon hearing this news, Lu Yuansheng’s handsome face showed a frown.
The Great Jin Dynasty was indeed the most powerful force in the western part of the Fenglin Continent.
In position, it’s to the west of Sen, Fu, and Chen. A country named ‘Li’ separates them.
Even though it seemed that Sen, Fu, Chen, and Li were independent countries, they were subtly under the Great Jin Dynasty’s influence and control.
The Tianmen Cult plunders everywhere, but they were also cautious to avoid any claims of a single country, which can cause discomfort.
If the Tianmen Cult showed any intention of annexing other sects in the Chen State, it might draw the Great Jin Dynasty’s attention.
Even if a random sect of the Great Jin Dynasty made a move, it could easily wipe out the Tianmen Cult.
The smaller countries like Sen, Fu, and Chen, and their smaller sects existence were mostly because they acted as buffer zones between the Great Jin Dynasty and countries like the Great Yan in the north, the Great Qi in the middle, and the Great Chu in the south from Lu Yuansheng’s perspective.
Once these great countries made their move, these small countries like Sen, Fu, and Chen would most likely be the first to suffer.
However, these were the matters for Sect Hierarch Ning Daohuan to worry about. He wasn’t particularly concerned.
His brows relaxed.
“Is there anything else?”
“Yes, from the outside of our residence, the Incense Fire Dao have been reviving quietly, showing unchecked aggression. In particular, three Foundation Establishment Competitors who have recently come to the fore-Zheng Yuanhua, Li Canghai, and Wen Sheng-each has a tier three spell or magic tool at hand. Many of our Sect’s cultivators have fallen victim to these three when going out, and those in our Sect are no longer daring to go out anymore.”
“The cultivators in our East Saint’s residence have shown great resentment about this.”
Upon hearing this, Lu Yuansheng immediately frowned:
“Hasn’t any of the Golden Core elders made a move?”
Bai Yu shook his head slightly and hesitantly said: “Perhaps, the elders are being cautious.”
Lu Yuansheng thought for a moment before understanding.
Seven years ago, an incident occurred when one of the Sect’s Golden Core elders was killed by the East Saint Sect in an ambush, lured with a top-grade tier three magic sword. This event apparently made the other elders cautious. After all, there haven’t been any losses on the East Saint Sect’s side. Suppose they were to go out and eliminate the Incense Fire Dao. In that case, they might get surrounded by the East Saint Sect Master immediately; and unless the Sect Hierarch made a timely intervention, they would likely fall on the spot.
From this perspective, the Golden Core elders naturally wouldn’t dare to go out at will.
And if the Golden Core doesn’t get dispatched, the three Incense Fire Dao members – Zheng Yuanhua and his cronies – will certainly run wild without restraints.
As long as they maintain a safe distance and don’t get killed by a Golden Core cultivator in one hit, they can choke the life out of the Tianmen Cult and halt the movement of its people..