Qingzhou, Celestial Yang Sect.

Inside the Sect Master’s Hall, the beams and pillars were carved with the pattern of a blazing sun burning the heavens.

Atop the central platform, a figure in a red-gold Daoist robe slowly opened his eyes, a trace of fatigue from seclusion flickering in his gaze, immediately replaced by a heavy gloom.

It was none other than the Supreme Elder of the Celestial Yang Sect, Baoxiang True Monarch of the Nascent Soul.

Beneath the platform, the Sect Leader Wan Feng True Master stood respectfully, having just reported the changes in the Longevity Ranking. He watched as his mentor furrowed his brows, the two graying eyebrows nearly knitted into a knot.

"Six years in Foundation Establishment, six years to Core Formation, and it’s a High Grade Golden Core, even obtaining the Suspended Treasure Order?"

Baoxiang True Monarch’s voice was low, yet it couldn’t conceal the harshness within:

"Such a prodigy, and you let him live till now? Why not kill him in his cradle!"

Wan Feng True Master’s heart tightened, quickly bowing his head to reply:

"May Master see clearly, how dare this disciple be negligent!"

"As soon as Zhang Ling was training outside after Foundation Establishment, making a name at the Qingzhou border by slaying a Demon Cultivator in the Mind Movement stage, this disciple secretly contacted a Lower Grade Golden Core old demon from Black Wind Valley, offering three ’Evil Transformation Pills’ as reward to ambush him on the way."

He paused, a hint of helplessness in his tone:

"But who could have expected that he would be able to confront a Golden Core with Foundation Establishment cultivation, and ultimately struck the old demon down."

"Later, he returned to the Pan Sword Sect for secluded cultivation, and the ’Nine Curved Sword Gang Array’ of Pan Sword Sect is incredibly mysterious. This disciple truly had no means!" 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

The Celestial Yang Sect and the Pan Sword Sect have been blood enemies in Qingzhou. When the Pan Sword Sect had a Nascent Soul True Monarch, the Celestial Yang Sect dared not even step out of the mountain gate.

Now, the Pan Sword Sect is left with only a Sect Leader at the Spirit Silent stage, and the Celestial Yang Sect, with Baoxiang True Monarch as its pillar, finally turned the tide, seizing most of the Pan Sword Sect’s Spirit Vein mine, forcing them to retreat to the county.

But Chen Sheng’s rise undeniably suspended a sharp sword over the head of the Celestial Yang Sect.

"Foolish!"

Baoxiang True Monarch suddenly slapped the handrail of the platform:

"Such innate talent cannot be dealt with by ordinary assassination! You should have informed me earlier! Even if it means triggering a sect war, utilizing the full power of the sect to set up a fatal formation, he must be eradicated beforehand!"

Wan Feng True Master’s heart grew even more aggrieved. Though he was the Sect Leader, he was only a Spiritual Silent cultivator, the true power of the sect being entirely in his Master’s hands.

When the Pan Sword Sect was declining, his Master dared not annihilate the sect, only nibbling away the benefits bit by bit.

Now, with Chen Sheng already a High Grade Golden Core, and having the backing of the Suspended Mountain, based on his Master’s usual "value life, take what’s good" nature, he should have been sending a generous gift to ease relations, not getting this furious?

"Then, in your esteemed opinion, what should we do?"

Wan Feng True Master bowed and asked, already prepared to hear instructions to "negotiate."

In his impression, after achieving Nascent Soul, the first thing his Master did was deplete a century’s worth of sect resources to set up the "Mountain Protection Array."

Aside from leaving the sect to slay several Golden Core and Spiritual Silent cultivators, he spent the rest of the time in seclusion, never venturing out, treasuring his life to the extreme.

"What to do?"

Baoxiang True Monarch slowly stood up, and suddenly a sharp murderous aura burst out from around him, causing the temperature in the hall to plummet:

"Naturally, I will personally take action, storm the Pan Sword Sect, and strike Zhang Ling down!"

"Master!"

Wan Feng True Master abruptly lifted his head, eyes full of shock, his voice even changing tone:

"You... you have always avoided leaving the mountain, let alone with the Suspended Treasure Order blessing Pan Sword Sect, if you kill Zhang Ling, it might attract backlash from Suspended Mountain!"

He truly couldn’t understand why his usually cautious Master had suddenly become so aggressive.

Baoxiang True Monarch glanced at him, a touch of fatigue in his voice, rubbing his brow:

"It’s because you later generations lack promise!"

"I have only a century of lifespan left, if I don’t take action while I still can, and eradicate this serious threat for you, after I pass away, the Celestial Yang Sect will eventually have its lineage severed by the Pan Sword Sect!"

"Moreover, the truth can’t be hidden forever. Should Zhang Ling discover you arranged for a Lower Grade Golden Core to kill him, what then?"

This jolted Wan Feng True Master’s heart, followed by a rush of complicated emotions, realizing his Master was doing it for his sake.

Baoxiang True Monarch’s killing intent intensified, his voice fierce:

"Why are you still standing there? Quickly gather all intelligence on Zhang Ling, including his swordsmanship style, secluded cultivation location, Pan Sword Sect’s array hub distribution! I want to deliver a fatal blow, leaving no chance for anyone to react!"

"Yes! I will handle it immediately!"

Wan Feng True Master dared not ask further, bowed, then swiftly exited the hall.

...

Meanwhile, deep within Suspended Mountain’s "Observatory Hall," candlelight flickered, casting reflections on the vast star chart within the hall.

Celestial Venerable Guantian sat cross-legged at the center of the star chart, holding a small bronze treasure mirror in his hand. The mirror’s surface shimmered with a faint purple glow, with Baoxiang True Monarch’s visage clearly reflected at the center.

Among Baoxiang True Monarch’s brow, a dense golden light lingered, intertwined like threads.

Celestial Venerable Guantian let out a slight sneer:

"This Baoxiang indeed is a complete coward, to provoke his killing intent expended so much of my fortune reserves."

His fingers pinched a seal, and the golden light on the bronze treasure mirror flickered slightly, the image of Baoxiang True Monarch raging in the hall shook correspondingly.

"If not for taking advantage of his dying lifespan obsession, and manipulating his Heart Spirit with an illusion of ’sect extermination crisis,’ this old fox would never dare leave the mountain."

He pointed his finger at the mirror’s surface, the light and shadows on the mirror shifted, the scene instantly switching to reveal the faces of three young cultivators.

They were none other than Li Yan from the Heaven-Burning Palace, Su Qingyao from the Bihui Pavilion, and Shen Qinghan from the Sword Wielding Sect, all top ten in the Longevity Ranking.

Unlike Baoxiang True Monarch’s dense red brow, these three only had a faint golden line around their brows, almost imperceptible if not carefully examined.

Celestial Venerable Guantian nodded lightly:

"These prodigies are indeed easier to manipulate, already having dissatisfaction with Zhang Ling’s ranking, and possess the spirit to compete."

"Just a slight manipulation in the Longevity Ranking, letting them ’inadvertently’ hear rumors of Zhang Ling ’using the Treasure Order to rise,’ will provoke them to test Zhang Ling’s core power."

He waved his hand, and several light points suddenly lit up on the star chart, connected by red lines, outlining a complex strategic map.

In the map, the words "Pan Sword Sect" were circled in the center, surrounded by labels like "Celestial Yang Sect," "Three Great Prodigies," "Demon Dao Secret Realm," and so forth, the crisscrossing red lines forming a clear trajectory.

Celestial Venerable Guantian muttered to himself:

"The stage is set, next comes defeat, sect extermination, fleeing, and becoming a demon!"

In his planned scenario, external forces would be used to annihilate the Pan Sword Sect.

Thereafter, Zhang Ling would gain demonic inheritance, rampaging after turning to demon, and eventually be slain by the Founder, thereby stabilizing a collapsing structure, harvesting a region’s fortune.

His fingertip rested on the light point labeled "Pan Sword Sect," a red light flashed, and the light point dimmed a notch:

"These Pan Sword Sect members have ties of cause and effect with the Founder, a thorough extinction in this war might please the Founder."