The News Brought Back by Ye Chen

“Eh? That’s not right. Why are there still four seals?”

Mo Tianxiao studied the long sword in his hand for a moment, then suddenly snapped back to reality.

This sword seemed to have developed a nascent intelligence, but faintly hidden within its blade were four seals, each of which was more exaggerated than the previous nine seals he had already unlocked combined. With his current strength, he couldn’t even budge those seals in the slightest.

Yue Liuli’s voice slowly rang out, “This sword is originally named the Nine Calamities Immortal Source Sword. It’s a decent weapon, but your strength is too weak. If it weren’t sealed, using it would backfire and harm you.”

There was one more thing Yue Liuli didn’t mention: if certain beings discovered this sword, Mo Tianxiao would not only fail to keep it, but it would also bring him a massive catastrophe.

“Nine Calamities Immortal Source Sword? Could this sword be an immortal treasure?”

Mo Tianxiao looked surprised. His master had actually given him an immortal treasure—how generous was that!

“Since the matter of this sword is settled, let’s continue with our own affairs now.”

With that, Yue Liuli snatched the Nine Calamities Immortal Source Sword from Mo Tianxiao’s hand, tossed it aside, and began to force him into... an outrageous act.

“How can a master act like this! This time, let the disciple take charge!”

Disciple defying master versus master defying disciple.

As the saying goes, families that share similar traits naturally stick together—there was truth to that.

Buzz buzz buzz buzz...

The Nine Calamities Immortal Source Sword shuddered violently in the corner. What was unfolding before it, a sword that had just awakened a sliver of intelligence, filled it with frantic urgency, as if it was desperately reminding Mo Tianxiao not to be swayed by this woman!

Yet, Mo Tianxiao, who had already cast morality aside, could not possibly perceive the sword’s warning.

[Successfully used unscrupulous methods to conquer the unique entity born from countless eras. Plunder of luck successful! Luck value +100,000.]

……

No one knows how many days passed. Su Muyao had transported the entire sky of the Jade Pond to the Demon Sect, while the exchange of postures between Mo Tianxiao and his master also came to an end.

Though he had been the passive party most of the time, through fierce resistance, Mo Tianxiao finally managed to stand his ground—and unexpectedly fulfilled the conquest conditions, gaining 100,000 luck points from his master.

Indeed, as the saying goes, there is only one path to a woman’s heart...

“Yue Liuli, let me take the lead next time. Your methods are too gentle—they can’t leave a deep impression on Tianxiao.”

Inside the palace, Yue Liuli once again fell into a self-debate.

“You? Are you sure what you’ll leave Tianxiao isn’t deep-rooted fear?”

“Are you doubting me? I am you! The thoughts in my heart are the deepest desires in yours. Don’t pretend to be like this—you can’t hide the fact that you’re a madwoman at your core.”

“So what? As long as Tianxiao is happy, I can stay like this forever.”

“Ha ha, ha ha ha ha ha! Don’t make me laugh. We’ll eventually merge into one, and you’ll revert to your true self sooner or later. You’ll be exposed. Don’t forget who the spirit inside that sword is. If Tianxiao ever learns your true nature, do you think he’ll still treat you the same?”

Yue Liuli paused, the wine gourd in her hand frozen. After a moment of silence, she said softly, “Who knows?”

“Hmph.”

A cold snort sounded from within, then fell silent.

“Sister Liuli, long time no see—did you miss me?”

Su Muyao, like a persistent sticker, had just arrived at the Demon Sect and rushed straight here, her gaze lively and radiant.

To this, Yue Liuli remained calm and aloof. Though Su Muyao was bothersome, she was at least useful and might help Tianxiao in the future. For that reason, she reluctantly regarded Su Muyao as a friend.

Days passed, and the major powers of the Xuanhuang Realm grew restless.

Aside from the complete alliance between the Demon Sect and the Jade Pool Heavenly Palace, other major forces also began to act. Small factions pledged allegiance to larger ones, and larger ones formed alliances among themselves.

Many rogue cultivators caught wind of the rumors and huddled together for warmth, creating a temporary rogue cultivator alliance whose strength rivaled even top-tier powers.

Nearly all cultivators in the Xuanhuang Realm entered a state of alert.

Of course, since ninety-nine percent of them had no idea what the so-called calamity truly was, some even looked forward to it.

After all, the calamity was tied to ascension in the Xuanhuang Realm, and ascension was something every cultivator here had once dreamed of.

Being fortunate enough to witness an ascension event was, for cultivators of the Xuanhuang Realm, no less than a huge motivator.

As the time drew near, Mo Tianxiao first inspected the Demon Sect’s protective array, then layered on several saint-level formations. Only after seeing that everything was prepared did he feel at ease.

“Senior Brother Mo!”

Just then, Li Yu arrived with Ye Chen, appearing behind Mo Tianxiao.

Turning around, Mo Tianxiao looked at the two with surprise. “Ye Chen? When did you get back?”

With sharp brows and bright eyes, his features well-defined and his expression resolute, Ye Chen looked at Mo Tianxiao and said with a cupped fist salute, “I’ve just returned, Senior Brother.”

Ye Chen had matured a great deal since the old days. He looked upright, more like a proper righteous cultivator now. The cultivation he revealed had clearly reached the Saint Realm, meaning his breakthrough in the Ten Thousand Mountains had succeeded.

“And Brother Sun? He didn’t come with you?”

“Senior Brother Sun was kept in the Ten Thousand Mountains to deal with the upcoming calamity there.”

Ye Chen spoke earnestly, “Senior Brother, Senior Feng asked me to tell you that this calamity is no small matter. The Xuanhuang Realm may face great disaster. If the Demon Sect is in danger, you can take it to the Ten Thousand Mountains and ally with the demon race.”

“Any specific news? The demon race has existed in the Xuanhuang Realm for so long—they must know more than we do.”

Mo Tianxiao inquired.

Ao Dalong had originally planned to seeking shelter with the Demon Sect, but Guixu the old man had detained him in the Chaotic Star Sea to help them weather the calamity.

Huang Xiaoyao, as the demon race’s princess and a sacred beast, clearly had to stay atop the Sky-Piercing Divine Tree without any mishap. All signs pointed to an impending storm.

“According to Senior Turtle, this so-called ascension will open a passage from the Xuanhuang Realm to other worlds. Cultivators who survive the ascension tribulation can head to a broader realm. Conversely, cultivators from other worlds can also take this chance to come to the Xuanhuang Realm.

The Xuanhuang Realm, as a major world with relatively complete Heavenly Dao laws, is rich in resources. To outsiders, it’s like a secret realm brimming with treasures, and to them, the native cultivators are no different from aborigines.

Every time a world like the Xuanhuang Realm produces ascension candidates, it opens the door to such a secret realm, allowing others to enter and plunder resources. This period usually lasts a hundred years.”

“The more ascendants there are, the larger the passage linking the Xuanhuang Realm to the outside becomes, and the more and stronger the invading cultivators will be.

That’s why thriving eras always bring greater calamities to the Xuanhuang Realm.”

Ye Chen paused, then continued, “But from what Senior Turtle implied, the danger isn’t just for the Xuanhuang Realm. The outside world might be even more perilous for the ascendants. Senior Turtle seemed to know something, but he didn’t tell me.”