Chapter 703: Coral Palace

Just then, a figure walked out of the Grand Array.

It was Daoist Yun Yan!

He was incredibly old now, his face covered in dark and light spots, and he exuded an aura of twilight.

He looked as if he had one foot in the grave.

“You know, the first time we met was over two hundred years ago. Back then, Changchun Valley was at the height of its power. With two Nascent Soul cultivators in one Sect, its might shook the Southern Barbarian region. Fellow Daoist Lü, you were only at Core Formation cultivation, a mere nobody. Who would have thought that after all this time, Changchun Valley would be no more, while you have grown to become the renowned number one person below Divinity Transformation!” Yun Yan said, his tone complex.

Then, he took out an object. It was, unmistakably, a Spirit Tree Fragment.

“Fellow Daoist Lü, why don’t we make a deal?”

“Speak,” Lü Zhong said calmly.

“Fellow Daoist Lü, you saw it for yourself just now. Huayi Temple is currently in a transitional crisis. The ‘Seven Sons’ are all useless, and their hopes of reaching Nascent Soul Formation are slimmer than the last. Given the circumstances, I’m afraid that not long after I pass away, the Sect will be reduced to a mere Golden Core Sect.” Yun Yan sighed incessantly as he spoke.

The decline of the Daoist Sects was a foregone conclusion.

It was all because Qingxu Temple’s Daoist Lineage had been completely wiped out by Ghost Cultivators during the great chaos in Central Earth.

In contrast, Lü Zhong, who had successfully repelled Cangmingzi, was already seen in Central Earth as the “second coming of the Ten Thousand Transformations Divine Monarch.” Almost no one believed he would fail at Divinity Transformation.

One was a setting sun, the other a rising sun.

That was why Yun Yan had taken the initiative to appear, determined to use the Spirit Tree Fragment to erase the enmity between their two Sects. He hoped to prevent a day when Huayi Temple might face utter annihilation.

Lü Zhong didn’t hesitate much upon hearing Yun Yan’s offer.

He took it without another thought.

“The old grudge is settled, but if another conflict arises in the future, don’t expect me to show any mercy!”

Leaving those words behind, Lü Zhong transformed into a streak of rainbow light and departed.

Yun Yan naturally understood the meaning behind Lü Zhong’s words.

As the head of the Daoist Sects in the Southern Barbarian region and a puppet of the Immortal Sects, Huayi Temple couldn’t easily extricate itself. If they didn’t find a way to change their situation, even with today’s grudge resolved, they would inevitably be forced to act as pawns for the Immortal Sects on the Gui Miao Sect’s orders.

When that time came, Huayi Temple would still be doomed to perish.

…

An ancient hour later, Lü Zhong arrived at the True Spirit Hall.

Shuini was already waiting in the hall. When she saw Lü Zhong enter, she rolled her eyes in annoyance, then secretly and carefully looked him over, as if afraid he might have lost a single hair.

This two-faced act of hers made Lü Zhong laugh.

“What are you laughing at!” Shuini feigned anger.

Then, she murmured:

“Honestly, when I first heard the news, I couldn’t believe it. As a cultivator from Central Earth, I basically grew up hearing about the legendary might of Central Earth’s Divinity Transformation cultivators. If I had to face one, I’d probably lose all my courage. I can’t even imagine not only mustering the will to fight back but also managing to repel Cangmingzi!”

Shuini wasn’t exaggerating; she truly couldn’t have done it.

If it had been her that day, even with the same abilities as Lü Zhong, the shadow in her heart would have prevented her from mustering the courage to strike. This was because, over hundreds of thousands of years, the idea that Divinity Transformation cultivators were invincible had been deeply ingrained in the hearts of everyone from Central Earth.

“That’s why I have such high hopes for you!” Shuini said, revealing her thoughts.

In her eyes, Lü Zhong was never a second Ten Thousand Transformations Divine Monarch; his achievements were destined to far surpass that man’s. Perhaps after reaching Divinity Transformation, he truly could change this world—that is, completely destroy the old order of Central Earth and return the Qinghe Realm to its proper course.

“You really think that highly of me!” Lü Zhong laughed.

“Enough about that. You must have seen on your way here—a large number of cultivators have gathered in the square. Those are all elite disciples I’ve worked so hard to train. Is there any way you can take them with you? I really don’t want the Immortal Spirit Sect to just waltz in and reap the benefits,” Shuini said, unwilling to accept it.

Hearing this, Lü Zhong explained the details of the Mountain and River Map.

“Looks like I was worried for nothing!” Shuini breathed a great sigh of relief.

Immediately after, her mind started working again. She issued several decrees in succession, preparing to completely empty out the True Spirit Sect. She wouldn’t even leave a single book in the Scripture Hall, lest outsiders benefit from all her hard work.

This “moving” process took a full half-month.

After transferring Shuini’s assets, Lü Zhong rushed to the Bihai Sect without stopping. He then collected most of the wealth from both the Bihai Sect and the Chengde Commerce Association into the Mountain and River Map.

Inside Bihai Hall, Lü Zhong looked at Hex Luo and confirmed one last time:

“Luo’Er, are you sure you won’t come with me?”

“A master’s command is difficult to defy. If Master commands it, I will certainly obey! However, if it’s possible, I ask that Master allow me to remain here. The Bihai Sect cannot simply be handed over to outsiders!” Hex Luo’s expression was calm, but a struggle was visible in the depths of his eyes, as if he had made a momentous decision.

“It seems your senior sister was right. Luo’Er, you’ve really grown up!” Lü Zhong sighed softly. He would never force his disciples to do anything, let alone use his authority as their master to command their obedience.

Since Hex Luo had made his decision, Lü Zhong would naturally respect it.

“This path won’t be easy. If you really can’t hold on, then…”

At this, Lü Zhong gave Hex Luo a name.

It was a contingency he had left behind.

Since he was leaving the Southern Barbarian region, he naturally had to make arrangements for the Western Realm. From now on, the Four Seas Commerce Association, controlled by his Incarnation, would continue to supply the Western Border Alliance with desperately needed goods.

Under these circumstances, a reduction in the supply of materials was inevitable, a fact that Flowing Sword was already aware of, but the supply would not be cut off completely.

If, besieged by a pack of wolves, Hex Luo were to unfortunately fail in the end…