Chapter 499 - 480: Outer Sect Elder of the Five Thunders Sect

Chapter 499: Chapter 480: Outer Sect Elder of the Five Thunders Sect

The most sensational event in Nan Chu recently was undoubtedly the Joyful Sect’s sudden offensive against the Blood Sea Sect, for which they listed ten major crimes.

Topping the list was the accusation that the Joyful Sect’s previous Saintess had died suddenly at the hands of a Blood Sea Sect Nascent Soul Elder.

Furthermore, they found several aggrieved parties to block the Blood Sea Sect’s Mountain Gate every day, wailing and recounting their grievances.

They told stories of the Blood Sea Sect’s despicable methods—how they plundered treasures, flayed their victims and extracted their marrow, and slaughtered everyone down to the last person.

Such ancient history was commonplace in the Southern Domain. Which sect hadn’t committed similar acts? The list of their evil deeds was too long to write.

But now, to deal with the Blood Sea Sect, these old stories were being trotted out as a righteous-sounding pretext to seize the moral high ground.

Everyone had expected the Blood Sea Sect to take decisive action and capture all these protestors. But unexpectedly, only a single Nascent Soul Elder appeared. Upon seeing a Bodhisattva and a Divine General from the Joyful Sect on the scene, he retreated without so much as a word of greeting.

For the next several months, the Blood Sea Sect simply ignored everything—the constant wailing of the aggrieved parties and the Joyful Sect cultivators blockading one of the exits from the Mountain Gate.

This stunned all the cultivators in the Southern Domain, as it was completely out of character for the Blood Sea Sect.

They were known to seek revenge for the slightest grievance, and in recent years, with the rise of Blood God True Monarch’s power, they had become even more tyrannical and overbearing.

Even when facing the Great One Sect and the Joyful Sect, they never came out on the losing end.

Under these strange circumstances, rumors quickly began to spread that Blood God True Monarch was gravely injured—it wasn’t even certain if he had passed away or not.

Without this pillar of support, how could the Blood Sea Sect have the backbone to challenge the Joyful Sect?

The Joyful Sect had three great Bodhisattvas and two Divine Generals, all at the Nascent Soul Realm. However, since their cultivation was advanced through dual cultivation—the union of spirit and flesh—they were always a notch weaker than other cultivators at the same level.

Furthermore, since the Profound Lady never took action, the Joyful Sect held no advantage over the Blood Sea Sect and had always been forced to give ground.

Now that the tables had completely turned, it was no wonder all sorts of plausible-sounding rumors were flying about.

’Someone’s kicking them while they’re down, trying to carve out a piece of the Blood Sea Sect for themselves. Perfect. They can act as my vanguard...’

A streak of Escape Light descended. "Li Hansi’s" Core Formation Perfection cultivation stood out among the crowd of cultivators, and someone immediately yielded the best viewing spot to him, a place from which he could overlook the Blood Sea Sect’s Mountain Gate.

Bai Zichen had just returned from the Hundred Thousand Evil Mountains. Suspecting that Blood God True Monarch’s actions were orchestrated by the Divinity Transformation Level power, the Qingqiu Death Sea, he had changed his appearance and was now traveling under the identity of Li Hansi, a successor of the Fish Dragon Sect’s Profound Clarity Lineage.

After all, the entire Southern Domain was under the watchful eye of the Qingqiu Death Sea. If they were truly provoked, a Tier Five Demon Monarch could make a move, and even the Moral Sect wouldn’t be able to react in time.

Based on the strength he had previously revealed, the Qingqiu Death Sea would surely have complete confidence in Blood God True Monarch, so it was unlikely they had a simultaneous backup plan in place.

By changing his appearance in time, it was impossible for the Qingqiu Death Sea to track him.

’So, it’s best if I don’t have to make a move. As long as I can confirm Blood God True Monarch is dead, I’ll set off for the Central Domain immediately.’

In Bai Zichen’s opinion, since the Joyful Sect dared to launch an offensive against the Blood Sea Sect, they must have some grasp of the True Monarch of Blood Sea’s condition.

Only a sect of comparable strength could possibly force the Blood Sea Sect to reveal all its hidden cards.

Otherwise, he alone, facing the Blood Sea Sect’s Tier Four Grand Array, could only look on with a helpless sigh.

The last time, with the Hundred Skills Sect’s Grand Array, he had seized the opportune moment to disguise himself as Xin Youhuang. By taking advantage of the Hundred Skills Sect cultivators’ low vigilance, he had tricked them into opening the Array and was able to enter.

Under normal circumstances, even a Tier Four Array without a Nascent Soul Cultivator presiding over it would be impossible for an ordinary True Monarch to breach if it were supported by a Spiritual Treasure.

What’s more, the Blood Sea Sect’s Grand Array was connected to that Blood Sea, making it one of the most powerful among all Tier Four Arrays.

"You look unfamiliar, Fellow Daoist. May I ask your name? I am Ma Chengguang, Sect Leader of the Six Jia Sect."

A Core Formation Cultivator with a high, full forehead, a ruddy complexion, and a long beard stepped forward, offering a Daoist salute as he initiated the conversation.

"Li Hansi, from the Central Domain."

Bai Zichen maintained Li Hansi’s cold persona, wasting no words.

"Ah, an esteemed Daoist from the Central Domain. No wonder you have the air of an immortal, like a Banished Immortal... Did you also hear a great battle was about to erupt and come to take a look, Brother Li?"

Ma Chengguang paid no mind to "Li Hansi’s" coldness and continued his enthusiastic approach.

Of the thousand or so cultivators present, some belonged to vassal powers of the Joyful Sect or the Blood Sea Sect, while others were from neutral sects in Nan Chu. There were at least twenty to thirty Core Formation True Men among them.

But "Li Hansi" was the only one at the Perfect Core Formation Realm. ℯℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

"If you ask me, this fight isn’t going to happen. It’s been a stalemate for almost half a year with no new moves from either side. I reckon the True Monarchs at the top will just negotiate a settlement, with a few Ore Veins handed over as compensation at most."

Ma Chengguang shook his head, affecting the air of an expert.

"It’s better if they don’t fight. If a real war breaks out, countless sects will be dragged in. A sect like my Six Jia Sect, with no powerful backing, would be in a terrible position. Those ambitious fools want to profit from the chaos and expand their territory, but for us, just surviving with our sect intact would be a victory."

"When high-level cultivators lack virtue, the world suffers immensely," ’Li Hansi’ said. "All Central Domain Sects have a system of enfeoffment. For three generations, a sect cannot be attacked unless it commits a heinous crime that angers both heaven and men. Any subsequent disputes are settled through Combat between True Monarchs, rarely involving low-level cultivators."

’Li Hansi’s’ expression was cold as he held his head high, the very picture of aloof arrogance.

Ma Chengguang cursed inwardly. ’Just as I thought. A cultivator from the Central Domain. They’re all arrogant and detestable, looking down on the other Four Domains as if we’re all country bumpkins.’

On the surface, however, his expression remained unchanged as he continued to search for conversation topics, hoping to fish for information and determine whether the man was a Loose Cultivator from the Central Domain or from some Major Sect.

The Six Jia Sect appeared to be a neutral sect. A thousand years ago, its founding Ancestor, then a Loose Cultivator, had fortunately obtained a legacy while exploring some ancient ruins. He cultivated to the Core Formation Stage and established his line, creating one of the most unremarkable Core Formation Level Sects in all of Nan Chu.

But in reality, the founder was the biological son of the Blood Sea Sect’s Sect Leader at the time. He was simply unsuitable for practicing the Hundred Demons Blood Sea Technique, so they had devised this plan.

To give him a legitimate public identity, they had even spread rumors to attract hundreds of Loose Cultivators to explore the ruins, then arranged for the legacy to fall "naturally" into the hands of the Sect Leader’s son.

On the surface, the Six Jia Sect had no connection whatsoever to the Blood Sea Sect; it even appeared to lean slightly toward the Great One Sect.

In truth, every generation of Sect Leaders knew their origins. They were considered a Hidden Vein branch of the Blood Sea Sect.

Ma Chengguang’s bustling about outside the Blood Sea Sect’s Mountain Gate was also an attempt to ascertain exactly how many vassal forces the Joyful Sect had mobilized and whether they had brought in any outside help.

If a Sect Destruction Level war were truly to begin, without tens of thousands of cannon-fodder cultivators charging the front lines, they likely couldn’t even shake the outermost Forbidden restrictions of the Blood Sea Sect’s Grand Array.

The two were making idle small talk when Ma Chengguang realized he hadn’t managed to extract any useful intelligence. On the contrary, he had revealed quite a few details about the conflict between the Joyful Sect and the Blood Sea Sect.

Realizing this man was not easily fooled, he was just about to take his leave.

"Master Li, long time no see! What brings you to Nan Chu? Last we spoke, didn’t you say you were heading to the Northern Domain?"

Several travel-worn cultivators approached from the foot of the mountain. Their leader was an old man with white hair and a white beard. His hair was tied up in a topknot by a Daoist Crown, and on each of his temples was a Thunder Mark.

His Daoist Robe was wide and flowing, embroidered with the Five Thunders and Eight Trigrams on the chest and the Celestial Spirit Divine Thunder on the back.

This elder was also at the Perfect Core Formation Realm. Though he appeared to be of a great age, his spirit was vigorous and his eyes shone brightly.

Bai Zichen’s heart lurched. ’Damn it,’ he thought. ’I’ve run into an acquaintance of the real Li Hansi.’

The Celestial Illusion Bracelet’s disguise was flawless among cultivators below the Nascent Soul Realm, but his greatest fear was running into someone who knew the real man.

After just a few exchanges, differences in his mannerisms and way of speaking would surely arouse suspicion.

It wouldn’t be a disaster if his cover was blown; even if everyone here swarmed him at once, they couldn’t harm him in the slightest.

But Bai Zichen still wanted to use the "Li Hansi" identity to infiltrate the Fish Dragon Sect’s expedition to the Outer Sea and open the Immortal Cave Mansion.

That was the place where the Holy Beast Essence Blood and the legacy of the Qing Emperor Longevity Sword had been found. One could only imagine what other astonishing treasures remained inside.

"The Five Thunders Sect is here too?"

"I heard the Five Thunders Sect and the Blood Sea Sect have never gotten along. Are they planning to stick their oar in too? That old man is Lan Qingyun, an Outer Sect Elder of the Five Thunders Sect. His Great Sun Divine Thunder is masterful, having reached a state where his Thunder Skill possesses its own spirit and Yin and Yang Complement Each Other. If not for his advanced age, his chances of breaking through to the Nascent Soul Realm would rank in the top three of the entire Five Thunders Sect!"

"But they’re a Central Domain Sect! Even if they’re a Super Major Sect, how can they just interfere in the disputes of our Southern Domain? If this goes on, there’ll be no place left for us!"

Bai Zichen’s ears twitched slightly. Relying on his Divine Sense, which was comparable to that of a Late-Stage Nascent Soul Cultivator, he picked up all the whispered discussions being sent via Sound Transmission by the nearby cultivators.

Their self-satisfied Sound Transmission Encryption Techniques held no secrets from a Late-Stage Nascent Soul Cultivator.

"It has been a long time, Master Lan," ’Li Hansi’ said coolly, offering a salute. "The matter in the Northern Domain is settled, and I came to the Southern Domain to procure a few Spiritual Objects. When I heard a major event was unfolding here, I came to take a look."

"I never expected to meet an old friend so far from home. It must have been many years since we last saw each other..."

Lan Qingyun was about to continue when his expression suddenly changed. He looked toward a giant Cloud Platform Dharma Vehicle flying in from the distance and trailed off.

"I have urgent business to attend to. I’ll find you to catch up after this is over. There might be trouble ahead, so you should stay back."

With that, he led the Five Thunders Sect disciples to greet the Cloud Platform, from which flower petals were now scattering, accompanied by ethereal music.

’The real Li Hansi was doing quite well for himself in the Central Domain,’ Bai Zichen mused. ’To be able to converse on equal terms with an Outer Sect Elder from the Five Thunders Sect as a mere Loose Cultivator... If the Fish Dragon Sect hadn’t been destroyed, with his talent, he would have had a decent chance of reaching the Nascent Soul Realm.’

Bai Zichen was secretly relieved. Thankfully, the arrival of a Nascent Soul True Monarch from the Joyful Sect had cut the conversation short.

If they had kept talking, his ignorance of the past relationship between the real "Li Hansi" and Lan Qingyun would have certainly exposed him.

Ma Chengguang, meanwhile, shifted his feet and abandoned his plan to fish for information.

A cultivator familiar with an Outer Sect Elder from the Five Thunders Sect couldn’t have an insignificant background.

The key thing was the Cloud Platform. It signified the arrival of a Joyful Sect Bodhisattva. With another Nascent Soul True Monarch on the scene, something major was bound to happen.

The Cloud Platform Dharma Vehicle seemed to move slowly, but it arrived before them in an instant. Male and female disciples stood in two neat rows, attending on either side.

The curtain was drawn back, and a barefooted woman in white gauze descended. Her bearing was noble and pure, her beauty, absolutely stunning.

Following behind her were a Divine General over ten feet tall and a gorgeously dressed, exceptionally beautiful Female Cultivator.

The appearance of these three made all the cultivators present gasp.