"The right idea, but the wrong execution," Li Fan commented on the Supreme Being Sect Master's decision. The Dao Starry Sky he had woven within the disc far surpassed the comprehension of ordinary cultivators, even exceeding the limits of their imagination. To ants on the ground, the difference between the first and thirty-third heaven was imperceptible. The old Daoist thought he had missed a mere ascension technique, not realizing it was a path to Transcendence.
"He's still clinging to his pride. Perhaps on his deathbed, he'll regret his arrogance." Li Fan shook his head. For him, forging his own path and learning from others weren't mutually exclusive. He could learn the Interplay of Truth and Illusion from True Return, comprehend countless techniques from the Mountain and Sea, and study the Dao of Longevity from the Hill Watcher, all while walking his own path.
Even the Sect Masters of the Ten Sects were mere ants in the vast river of time, not worth his attention. His focus was on the grand play he was orchestrating.
With a subtle nudge, the scales of victory began to tip towards Taiyuan.
The "malfunction" of the Taiyuan Rebirth Furnace seemed to have been resolved. Its efficiency even improved. Though the reason for this was unknown, the Taiyuan cultivators seized the opportunity, launching a fierce counteroffensive.
The Xuanhuang cultivators felt the increased pressure. Previously, Taiyuan's attacks lasted only a few days before they retreated. Now, their assault was relentless, wave after wave of seemingly inexhaustible enemies. The disturbing sight of multiple, fragmented bodies of the same cultivator appearing on the same battlefield shook even the most seasoned veterans.
Despite swift reinforcements, the Xuanhuang forces were pushed back, losing ground they had gained at great cost. The survivors were cornered.
After days of relentless fighting, the Taiyuan forces seemed to have reached their limit. A rare lull settled over the battlefield, and the exhausted Xuanhuang cultivators seized the opportunity to recover. Yet, despite the dire situation, despair was absent. They were filled with a resolute determination to fight to the death.
At the center of the Xuanhuang encampment, Qu Yi Xing, Sect Master of the First Beginning Sect, sat cross-legged, his expression grim. Above him, the five elements swirled around yin and yang, forming a rapidly rotating taiji symbol. Mysterious waves emanated from it, influencing the minds of the surrounding cultivators.
"Your method is effective, Brother Yi Xing, but not sustainable," Situ Yao said gravely. "They can only endure this for another month. Otherwise, they'll become mindless killing machines."
"A month… I doubt we have that long. We need to make a decision," Fang Dingge, the Great Dao Sect Master, said. "I've consulted the Stone Mother. She predicts a fifty-six percent chance of success. We have the advantage. We should strike."
To him, fifty-six percent was a near certainty. No one responded.
"Of course, if anyone can sever the golden chain without endangering the Xuanhuang World, we can disregard my plan." He looked at them sharply.
"We can't guarantee the Xuanhuang World's safety. But perhaps we can ensure the Ten Sects' survival," a crinkled yellow paper figure said, its distorted features resembling both a smile and a grimace.
Anger flashed across Fang Dingge's face. "Yi Jue! Stop peddling your Calamity Crossing Sect's plan. You haven't contributed a single soldier to this war, and now you're trying to undermine our morale? One more word, and my Dao Burning Furnace will silence you!"
Yi Jue, unfazed, chuckled. "Sect Master Fang, you misunderstand. One must plan for victory and defeat. Your gambling habits… you might win countless times, but a single loss means death. Can anyone truly win forever?"
"Actions speak louder than words!" Fang Dingge retorted. "Besides, do you have a better plan? Should we all become… grotesque paper figures like you?"
"Neither human nor ghost… isn't that what an immortal is? Since you're unwilling, I won't force you. But don't expect any help from the Calamity Crossing Sect. Farewell." Yi Jue's smile was enigmatic. The paper figure's expression froze, then it fluttered to the ground, becoming an ordinary piece of paper.
Silence fell upon the remaining Sect Masters.
"The Calamity Crossing Sect, under that madman's influence, is doomed. Perhaps we should…" A dangerous glint flashed in Fang Dingge's eyes.
Situ Yao chuckled nervously. "The Ten Sects are allies. We've faced far greater dangers together. Let's not ruin our bond over this."
"These are different times," Fang Dingge argued. "How much power remains in your artifacts? Without immortal spiritual qi, they're useless. We've relied on them for too long. What will we do when they're gone?"
The debate continued.
Finally, a female cultivator, her figure concealed by black gauze, her voice like scraping metal, interrupted them.
"Let's hedge our bets. We have another captured artifact." Xia Hou Yan, Master of the Undying Prison, looked at them, her gaze sharp.
The Sect Masters instinctively averted their eyes.
"That artifact is too dangerous. We shouldn't use it lightly," Fang Dingge said after a moment of hesitation.
Xia Hou Yan scoffed. "The leaders of the Ten Sects, supposed heroes, reduced to cowardly, indecisive rats." Though her words were insulting, they included herself, silencing the others.
"But I don't blame you. The more power you have, the more burdens you carry: your sect, the world, all living beings… It's not as carefree as when we were young, roaming the world freely." Her voice was calm, her words evoking a nostalgic silence.
"Consider this," she continued. "The Two-Part Immortal Seed, though strange, can create a perfect copy of each of us, without any loss. Another choice, another path, another chance at survival."
"It's not that dire yet," Jiang Yi Xing and others disagreed. "The Two-Part Immortal Seed has significant side effects. The last time we used it, it took us centuries to recover. Lu Chengheng and Yi Jue of the Calamity Crossing Sect… they were never the same."
"But we won, didn't we? And those three cultivation worlds are gone. If we endured it once, we can endure it again," Xia Hou Yan insisted.
Sensing their skeptical gazes, she realized her eagerness had betrayed her. She snorted and fell silent.
After a long pause, Situ Yao drained his gourd and said impatiently, "I believe Sect Master Dingge's plan is sound. I witnessed the Stone Mother's divination. It has a good chance of ending this war."
"If you're unwilling, I'll do it. It's just death. I've never feared it!"
"Good!" Fang Dingge was relieved to have an ally.
As the consensus shifted, the others reconsidered.
Then, a hesitant voice spoke from the corner. "Master agrees with Sect Master Fang's plan. But the Supreme Being Sect will only contribute three disciples." It was Jiang Yingyue. The fearsome warrior who dominated the battlefield was now a timid child before the Sect Masters. She had only spoken after receiving a message from her master.
They were already displeased by the old Daoist's absence. Now, learning he would only contribute three disciples to such a crucial mission, their expressions darkened. But when Jiang Yingyue revealed the three names, written in starlight, they fell silent. These three were among the Supreme Being Sect's most powerful cultivators, each a match for any of the Sect Masters present.
After further discussion, they finally reached an agreement and began planning the details.
"The reason we haven't won is because of the Taiyuan Rebirth Furnace," Fang Dingge reiterated. "The Taiyuan cultivators are inferior to us in both number and strength. But they're inexhaustible. Even if a dozen of us Dao Integration cultivators traded our lives for one of theirs, they'd be back in a few days, completely healed." His voice was filled with resentment.
"The key is to destroy the furnace. We haven't acted because we didn't know its location. Our attempts to locate it failed. But now…" A glint flashed in his eyes. "Perhaps sensing the Xuanhuang World's impending doom, the Grand Celestial Venerable has finally deigned to offer guidance."
He projected an image of the Taiyuan World, flashing lights indicating the furnace's location.
"According to the Grand Celestial Venerable, the Rebirth Furnace is an ancient immortal formation. Destroying its key nodes will temporarily disable its revival function. Long enough for us to conquer this world!"
"The corresponding location is…" Jiang Yingyue stared at the image, her expression suddenly distant.
"Deep within Taiyuan, at the former site of the Tianyu Dao Palace, once the largest sect in the world," Fang Dingge confirmed.
"The entire Taiyuan World is protected by an immortal formation. Infiltrating it and destroying the furnace will be extremely dangerous… but we have a higher chance of success!"
"Since the war began, every Taiyuan cultivator who has appeared on the battlefield has been analyzed by the Stone Mother. We've even accounted for a thirty-three percent margin of error. Even so, our chances of success are fifty-six percent."
Hundreds of lights appeared on the image of Taiyuan, each representing a cultivator above peak Deity Transformation, a potential threat to their plan. Focusing on a light revealed the cultivator's profile: their appearance, strength, and even the techniques they had used in battle.
"Their infinite revivals are their greatest strength, but also their greatest weakness. They know nothing about us, but we know everything about them."
The Sect Masters were captivated, even those who had opposed the plan.
Nearby, Li Fan, observing their secret meeting through Jiang Yingyue's eyes, shook his head.
"Even without my intervention, their plan is doomed. They won't be able to breach the Taiyuan formation with such limited forces." He saw the fatal flaw in their plan.
The protective formation powered by the Nine Star Crimson Pearl wasn't just a resurrection machine. While the Observer and Repairer might not know how to activate its full potential, they could temporarily enhance the power of the recreated cultivators at the cost of their lifespans. This would be enough to disrupt the Ten Sects' plan, perhaps even leading to their demise.
"Just like the Ten Sects' failed attempt to assassinate the Legacy Transmission. It seems they're about to lose this gamble as well."
(End of Chapter)