Chapter 387 - 301: Tier Four Spirit Plant (2)

Chapter 387: Chapter 301: Tier Four Spirit Plant (2)

After muttering to himself, Yu Changsheng spent a while longer tidying things up before taking his leave with the Solidification Pill and heading for Zhang Tianwen’s residence.

"Changsheng, you... How am I supposed to thank you?"

Zhang Tianwen gazed at the elixir in his hand, his expression full of emotion. He looked at Yu Changsheng with a complex mix of feelings and spoke softly.

"What’s there to thank me for? There’s no need for such formalities between us. The best thing would be for you to recover your Spirit Platform quickly, Senior Brother Zhang."

Yu Changsheng chuckled and patted Zhang Tianwen’s shoulder. When Zhang Tianwen tried to hand him a Storage Pouch, Yu Changsheng pushed it back and said firmly,

"Alright, now that you have the Solidification Pill, you should take it as soon as possible. I won’t disturb you any longer. I’ll head back now. I hope to see you back in top form next time we meet."

With that said, Yu Changsheng cupped his hands in salute to Zhang Tianwen and returned to his cave residence. As for what would ultimately become of Zhang Tianwen, Yu Changsheng could only silently wish him the best.

"Sigh." Watching Yu Changsheng’s back gradually disappear from view, Zhang Tianwen heaved a long sigh. He then looked down at the elixir in his hand, shook his head as if to clear his thoughts, and his spirits began to rise.

’This is my last chance. If it doesn’t work, then I’ll have no choice but to try and form a Golden Core in this state...’

For a full week, tranquility returned to the Wanxiang Sect. Everything was back to normal.

Ultimately, only a few people knew what had happened with Yu Changsheng and the others at Huishui Mountain, so it didn’t cause much of a stir. Yu Changsheng’s own life, for a welcome change, returned to its peaceful routine: raising his chickens, feeding his beasts, and focusing on his cultivation...

However, within the Wanxiang Sect, operations against the Dark Stream never ceased. After extensive planning, Zheng Tianheng personally took charge. He ordered a thorough investigation of all Dark Stream strongholds within a ten-thousand-li radius of the Wanxiang Sect and launched a campaign to annihilate the organization.

The sect’s reasoning was sound, and its stance was firm. Moreover, the campaign had the public endorsement of the reclusive Purple Mansion ancestor from Sword Control Peak, whose backing served as a powerful deterrent.

Thus, the entire sect was shaken. Mission after mission was issued, and cultivator after cultivator was dispatched. Spies scattered throughout the Wanxiang Sect’s territory continuously sent back news about the Dark Stream.

All of this shocked the other sects of the Three Gates and Six Sects, as well as the various lesser powers. Some immediately followed suit and offered their support, but most chose to wait and see.

To the Wanxiang Sect’s surprise, the Purple Rainbow Sect—one of the Three Gates—also declared its position. They announced they would thoroughly investigate Dark Stream forces within their territory and purge any they found. They even issued a command to cooperate with the Wanxiang Sect’s operations and join forces if necessary.

This development made it impossible for the powers that had remained silent to stay on the sidelines. A flurry of discussion and speculation erupted among them.

"The Purple Rainbow Sect is clearly taking the Wanxiang Sect’s side! Everyone knows the Profound Yin Sect’s shadow looms behind the Dark Stream. First, the Wanxiang Sect launched its annihilation campaign, and now the Purple Rainbow Sect has publicly declared its support..."

"With this, even if the Profound Yin Sect is furious, they probably won’t dare to make a hostile move right away. They’ll have to think this through very carefully."

"But since when has the Purple Rainbow Sect been on such good terms with the Wanxiang Sect? Or is this just a coincidence?"

The upper echelons of the smaller and mid-sized powers among the Three Gates and Six Sects also discussed the matter amongst themselves, reading a great deal into this turn of events.

"Then again, it makes sense. The Dark Stream has been acting more and more unscrupulously over the years. All the major powers have long despised them, but they were intimidated by the combined strength of the Profound Yin Sect and the Dark Stream. They were furious but dared not voice it."

"Now that the Wanxiang Sect has taken the lead, the other powers have someone to rally behind. With the Purple Rainbow Sect also taking a stand, this all seems to be a natural progression..."

"After all, an unpredictable organization like that is a cancer. It also serves as the eyes and ears of the Profound Yin Sect. No one wants an organization like that stirring up trouble within their own sphere of influence."

As this line of reasoning took hold, and following the Purple Rainbow Sect’s lead, a number of smaller and mid-sized powers began to take action, launching their own campaigns to exterminate the Dark Stream.

Two more sects from the Three Gates and Six Sects also came forward, echoing the Wanxiang Sect’s stance. They used the opportunity to thoroughly purge the Dark Stream’s spies from within their own territories. Only those powers with close ties to the Profound Yin Sect continued to watch from the sidelines.

Even so, as Dark Stream strongholds were dismantled one by one and their cultivators were hunted down by the various sects, more and more of their activities were brought to light. Soon, the entire Martial Continent was seething with rage.

"What? The Dark Stream’s cultivators aren’t just blinded by greed? They use cruel methods and secretly practice evil cultivation techniques?!"

"How dare they?! Using the blood of an entire city of mortals to cultivate their so-called Dark Stream Sacred Art, just to achieve an unnatural cultivation speed?! Their wickedness is monstrous, absolutely appalling!"

...

"Condensing a Blood Soul Golden Core from the souls of over ten thousand mortals?! No wonder the Dark Stream has so many Golden Core Experts! I initially thought they were just forcing their way through with a mountain of resources and elixirs. I never imagined they were cultivating using such an abominable, heaven-defying method!"

"They deserve to die! If this cancer isn’t excised, how can there ever be peace in the Martial Continent? How can the hundreds of millions of mortals live without fear!?"

"Fifty years ago, the Han Shui Sect was annihilated overnight. Not a single living soul within the sect survived. The earth was stained with blood, a monstrous bloody light filled the sky, and the lingering resentment was horrifying. So it was the Dark Stream who did it, all to help their Sect Master break through to the Purple Mansion realm?!"

...

As the various sects continued their siege against the Dark Stream, reports like these were constantly being revealed. A state of extreme tension swept across the Martial Continent; the Dark Stream’s reputation instantly plummeted, and they became public enemy number one, hunted wherever they were found. At that moment, the collective fury of the Martial Continent toward the Dark Stream finally exploded.

This outcome was something the Wanxiang Sect hadn’t anticipated at the start. They could only sigh in the end; the things the Dark Stream had done over the years were truly unforgivable, and they had brought this doom upon themselves.

Yet even so, a good number of powers remained silent, continuing to watch from the sidelines. They did not act rashly or join the campaign to hunt down and purge the Dark Stream.

Most people, however, turned their eyes to the Profound Yin Sect, waiting to see what its stance would be. But the Profound Yin Sect remained strangely silent, offering no response and letting the storm rage on.

As for Yu Changsheng, he received the news immediately. He closely monitored the campaign’s progress and even participated in it personally.

Staring at the glowing Communication Jade Tube in his hand, Yu Changsheng’s eyes flickered. He let out a deep breath and muttered to himself.

’I never thought the Dark Stream had such a dark side. They’ve really brought this on themselves. Interesting.’

’Back when I fought Yan Ta, I could feel there was something wrong—something cruel—about his cultivation technique. I thought it was just an isolated case, but now it seems they’ve been in collusion all along.’

’So it’s true, the Profound Yin Sect and the Dark Stream are connected. For the Dark Stream to dare to commit such shocking acts across the Martial Continent for so many years without anyone noticing... it would be impossible without the Profound Yin Sect providing cover...’

Yu Changsheng fell into deep thought. As he considered this, a cold glint flashed in his eyes, and a faint hint of killing intent flared to life.

’To commit such wicked, unconscionable acts so brazenly... The Dark Stream has sealed its own fate; it deserves to die ten thousand deaths! Fine. Let’s just see how the Dark Stream manages to survive now that it has incurred the wrath of the masses.’

’I wonder how the Profound Yin Sect will react to this situation. Will they interfere from the shadows, or will they just abandon the Dark Stream? Even though the Dark Stream’s name is now infamous, it’s still a valuable piece...’

’Abandoning them now would be like cutting off a piece of their own flesh. I imagine that would be particularly painful for the Profound Yin Sect, wouldn’t it?’