Don't Take the Pills You've Concocted

The Sect Master of Cloud Dream Pavilion had a brief chat with Cui Hao. After leaving behind a promise that Cloud Dream Pavilion would fully support them concerning the Great Tribulation, he departed with the group of elders.

He neither asked about the news contained in the jade token in Bai Xuanling's hand, nor did he inquire about Cui Hao's subsequent arrangements.

Zheng Zhaoling, a core disciple, was actually a carefully selected buffer for Cloud Dream Pavilion.

First, assigning a core disciple showed Cloud Dream Pavilion's dedication to the matter. Second, she could coordinate affairs. Moreover, a core disciple would absolutely prioritize her own sect, eliminating any worry of her being swayed by bribes.

After all, in the future, these Eighteen Immortal Sects would be run by the core disciples; such a vested interest was already unparalleled.

If future disagreements led to conflict, it at least wouldn't be a direct clash between Bai Xuanling and the entire Cloud Dream Pavilion. Naturally, Cloud Dream Pavilion had no intention of making their core disciple a scapegoat either.

Such an arrangement merely provided both sides an opportunity for a buffer.

Therefore, many times, Chu Xingchen also liaised with Xu Jin and Daoist Yuyang.

As for Bai Xuanling's explanation regarding the opportunity to become an immortal—that only after the Great Tribulation passed and the Heavenly Dao returned to normal would the many Tribulation Transcendence cultivators have a chance at immortality.

The Sect Master of Cloud Dream Pavilion didn't actually care much about the empty promise Bai Xuanling was painting.

Although this painted pie was indeed incredibly tempting for high-level cultivators, especially given the premise that Chu Xingchen had genuinely assisted Bai Xuanling in becoming a True Immortal.

But no matter how tempting the pie, it was still just a drawing.

They were all thousand-year-old foxes; everyone understood that a painted pie could not satisfy hunger.

The Sect Master of Cloud Dream Pavilion was merely using this matter to express his stance: Cloud Dream Pavilion was not entirely indifferent to the Great Tribulation, as they too had Tribulation Transcendence cultivators who needed to ascend to immortality.

At the very least, for the high-level cultivators of Cloud Dream Pavilion, quelling the Great Tribulation in exchange for the opportunity to become immortal was an extremely fair trade.

Before the Great Tribulation was quelled, Cloud Dream Pavilion had its own motivation driving them to see this matter through, rather than acting unwillingly under Bai Xuanling's coercion.

This was a subtle laying of cards on the table, representing Cloud Dream Pavilion's true attitude.

After all, for such a major event, it was impossible for Cloud Dream Pavilion to make an absolute commitment.

If a word remains unspoken, no one has to take responsibility for it.

But once words leave the mouth, one becomes a slave to them.

After all, tactfulness was the way of the world.

Clearly, Cui Hao understood this underlying message.

Therefore, Cui Hao should understand the boundaries involved, and he should also realize that Zheng Zhaoling had been deliberately arranged to be nearby from the very beginning.

Firstly, to familiarize themselves with each other, and secondly, as an early preparation for this very moment.

When a great sect handled matters, they looked far ahead while also acting on the immediate, doing everything that should and could be prepared in advance.

After waiting for the Sect Master of Cloud Dream Pavilion to leave with the group of elders.

Only Zheng Zhaoling and Cui Hao, holding the jade token, remained in the small courtyard.

Zheng Zhaoling glanced at the jade token in his hand and tactfully asked,

Do I need to excuse myself for a moment?

No need, Cui Hao said, tightening his grip on the jade token. I will look at the contents first. If it's something I can show you, I will. If not, just follow my arrangements.

Zheng Zhaoling nodded gently, then picked up some melon seeds and started cracking them again.

After cracking seeds for a moment, Zheng Zhaoling heard Cui Hao take a sharp breath. His entire complexion changed, and the shock in his expression was glaringly obvious.

Zheng Zhaoling joked, What, has the sky fallen and you need to patch it?

Pretty much. Cui Hao directly stored the jade token into his spatial ring without letting Zheng Zhaoling see it. He immediately stood up and said, I can't believe Senior Bai could hand over such an urgent, eyebrow-singeing matter to me with such a calm expression.

Cui Hao's tone was somewhat numb as he said, I thought it wasn't anything that important.

Seeing that Cui Hao's expression was serious, Zheng Zhaoling immediately pressed,

What's the situation?

In the direction of the Northern Luzhou, the Demon Race has already begun moving spirit veins in preparation to activate a grand formation. It is estimated that a Heavenly Demon is overseeing it, Cui Hao stated concisely. Go chase after your Sect Master right now. Tell him to mobilize as many Tribulation Transcendence cultivators as he possibly can.

The mobilization status of the other Eighteen Immortal Sects in Northern Luzhou is unknown; it seems they are still assessing the situation. However, they have already prepared the spatial transfer permissions for us.

We can directly utilize the teleportation grand formations of any sect in Northern Luzhou to transport ourselves.

Cui Hao hastily wrote down a note and handed it to Zheng Zhaoling:

This is the gathering point. Have your Sect Master make arrangements first and briefly explain the situation. Then come find me immediately. I need to take you with me to coordinate with the other immortal sects.

A cunning rabbit has three burrows; what they let us discover might not be the most important one.

In short, this matter is incredibly important—so important that I feel like Senior Bai might just be making things difficult for me.

Fellow Daoist Zheng, this time we really are going to join hands to save the world from collapse!

Watching Cui Hao speak without pausing for breath, Zheng Zhaoling's expression remained unchanged. She slightly lowered her head to glance at the note in her hand and read the address written on it.

Obviously, Cui Hao didn't realize just how absurd and impossible it was to actually mobilize many Tribulation Transcendence cultivators for reinforcement as he had suggested.

The final foundation of a sect could not be mobilized just by calling out a name. The certainty and urgency of the matter required internal assessment.

Without a certain amount of time, one probably wouldn't even be able to see the face of a Tribulation Transcendence cultivator.

However...

Zheng Zhaoling nodded without hesitation. Alright, leave it to me.

Yes, I'm counting on you. Cui Hao nodded gratefully.

Eastern Divine Continent, Yuliu River.

The upper half of the protective dharma robe on Chu Xingchen's body was half destroyed. A wound on his left arm, cleaved by a burst of origin power, had yet to heal, and his complexion was rather pale.

Besides him, several other Tribulation Transcendence cultivators also looked somewhat wretched.

A Heavenly Demon wielding authority and fused with many bizarre powers, and on top of that, fighting desperately with its life on the line.

Good news: no Tribulation Transcendence cultivators were taken down by Xu Linglong.

Bad news: not a single Tribulation Transcendence cultivator walked away with only minor injuries.

One Tribulation Transcendence cultivator even narrowly avoided perishing together with Xu Linglong.

And this was under the circumstances of outnumbering the enemy and launching a siege.

By the later stages of the fight, Chu Xingchen suspected that Xu Linglong had long lost consciousness, and her body was merely being driven by pure instinct. Or perhaps her own consciousness had long been eroded by the authority, leaving behind only combat instincts and an authority she could use madly.

Especially the exaggerated power of faith releasing wildly, as if a domain had been expanded.

Chu Xingchen gasped for breath, his figure staggering slightly as he stood still.

Many of the surrounding Tribulation Transcendence cultivators were likely in the same condition.

Thank you for your trouble, seniors and fellow Daoists, Chu Xingchen exhaled. Everyone's injuries are not light, and we all need to rest and recuperate properly...

Before Chu Xingchen could finish his sentence.

A Tribulation Transcendence cultivator from the Heavenly Derivation Sect looked at Chu Xingchen, suddenly remembered something, and directly interrupted,

Recuperating is fine, but don't bring out the pills you refined for everyone to eat.

Even if the medicinal efficacy is excellent, it's still a no.