Tu Muhun was unfazed as he said, “If verbal jabs can work everything out, what's the use of having a cultivation base? Since your Origin Sect insists on sheltering Lin Xun, we don't mind waiting here for a while.”

Having said that, he sat cross-legged on a seaside rock and closed his eyes. The other experts of his party followed suit, casually sitting down with a calm demeanor.

In the Absolute Sunder Sword Palace, Xuan Feiling frowned as he talked to Lin Xun, “The Shaman Sect has only sent twenty-four peak Transcendence experts and thirty-six advanced Transcendence experts, so it seems, but they dare to clamor at our door like that. I'm afraid they've prepared something else.”

Lin Xun wondered, “They can't really be waiting for Eternal reinforcements?”

Xuan Feiling mused. “That might be a possibility, but don't worry, Eternal figures will be subjected to the heavenly law and suffer backlash here. If it were any other time, that kind of damage wouldn't be a big deal to them, but don't forget that the epochal calamity is imminent. Getting injured at a time like this will pose a great risk to any Eternal character.”

Lin Xun contemplated, “In that case, they are able to use the power of the Eternal Stage, but they will definitely not use it readily, right?”

Xuan Feiling laughed, “That's natural, just like the case with our sect. If we really encountered a matter of life and death, do you think that Pavilion Master Taixuan, who is trapped on his own accord in the Wuxuan Forbidden Land, would sit back and do nothing?”

Lin Xun nodded, indicating that he understood.

Xuan Feiling said, “The core purpose of their action is simple: to take advantage of our situation to take your life and the Divine Rank law power in your possession. They themselves are well aware that without having an Eternal expert in the flesh, it's almost impossible to raze our sect.”

After a pause, Xuan Feiling added, “It’s the same for the Zen Sect.”

Lin Xun exhaled a long breath and guaranteed, “I will definitely defend this place and make sure they stop here.”

Xuan Feiling patted his shoulder. “Don't put too much pressure on yourself. Remember that the whole sect will accompany you every step of the way.”

Xuan Feiling left shortly after. Lin Xun’s thoughts went to Third Senior Sister’s group in the Spirit Sect. If they learned of the situation here and went out to come to his aid, there would likely be unexpected variables, and that was what he was most worried about.

On the surface, the Shaman Sect and the Zen Sect were joining forces to deal with the Origin Sect, but what if this was just a front, and they were actually using him to lure out his senior brothers and sisters? By capturing them, the enemy would have leverage against him!

By the same token, if the same thing were to happen to the Spirit Sect and Lin Xun went to their rescue, many variables would probably arise as a result.

I just hope that Third Senior Sister and the others remain calm and stay out of this...

Lin Xun muttered in his heart.

......

Day after day went by.

On the shore of Thousand Star Sea, Tu Muhun and a bunch of other Shaman Sect experts had been waiting quietly. There wasn't a more direct threat than stationing an army right outside the enemy's base!

Word of the situation at Thousand Star Sea quickly spread throughout the world, making it known that the Shaman Sect force was ready for the right time and that a big battle would break out at any moment!

This news also speedily reached the Spirit Sect.

“We and the Origin Sect have always been on good terms. How can we be indifferent when something like this happens?” Spirit Venerable Qing Yun was astonished.

He didn't expect that Ruo Su, after learning about the concert operation of the Shaman and the Zen Sect, would find him and express her hope that the Spirit Sect wouldn't make any moves to help the Origin Sect.

“This is most likely a trap,” explained Ruo Su. “Or rather, the true purpose of the Shaman Sect and Zen Sect this time is not to start a war with the Origin Sect, but instead to get me and my brothers and sisters of Fangchun Mountain. Only by capturing us will they be able to threaten my little junior brother into doing their bidding.”

Qing Yun's eyes glinted. “But aren't you worried that you may have got it wrong? In that case, both your little junior brother and the Origin Sect may be subjected to great hardship alone.”

Ruo Su smiled. “There's no point in worrying. I just know that as long as we make no slip-ups here, they won't be affected.”

After a brief pause, she continued, “Besides, if they really needed help, my little junior brother would have already sent us a message.”

After some silence, Qing Yun finally said, “I won't hide it from you, then. Not long ago, I received a message from Fang Daoping telling our Spirit Sect not to intervene. I found it a bit strange at the time, but now it seems that whether it's the Origin Sect or your junior brother, they have already been prepared.”

Ruo Su's eyes lit up. “So to speak, our sect has also been informed in advance?”

Qing Yun nodded. “When You Beihai undergoes his tribulation, we will send a portion of our elders there to observe. So, don't you and the other Fangchun Mountain disciples go and leave on your own.”

Ruo Su agreed after a brief thought.

......

There was only half a month left until You Beihai’s Eternal tribulation. On the shore of Thousand Star Sea, Tu Muhun and the others of the Shaman Sect sensed a spatial fluctuation. Immediately following, a group of majestic figures clad in monk's robes and straw sandals appeared in the air. Each of them looked dignified and solemn.

It was clearly a group of big names from the Zen Sect. Their leader had snow-white beard and a thin figure, which was draped in a patched-up robe. His sunken cheeks were full of wrinkles, and his chapped skin was bronze colored.

Buddha Venerable Jikong! Known as the number one buddha of the Zen Sect, he had certified his dao hundreds of thousands of years ago, making him a living fossil from antiquity.

Behind Jikong was a group of Zen Sect's powerhouses whose number was around that of the Shaman Sect’s group present.

“Didn't get them?” Tu Muhun asked in a hoarse voice.

Jikong shook his head. “The Spirit Sect never made a move. It was a long, futile wait, so I had to abort.”

Tu Muhun frowned. “So, there's no possibility to capture those Fangchun Mountain disciples in the Spirit Sect and use them against Lin Xun...”

“Underhanded schemes are inherently a narrow road.” Jikong's withered, somber face was nothing but calm. “Now that it's proved unhelpful, time to switch to the more upright measures.”

Tu Muhun snorted. “The trickery was proposed by your Zen Sect. You're slapping your own face.”

“Spacious or narrow, roads are roads,” commented an unperturbed Jikong, who then gazed at the distant Thousand Star Sea. “Since our courts are joining hands, the Origin Sect must be ready to fight with all their might. How much chance of victory do you think we have with the force at our command, Brother Tu?”

“We do our best and leave the rest to fate,” Tu Muhun flatly said. “As long as their Eternal characters stay still, no one can protect Lin Xun this time!”

Jikong calmly said, “The Master of Fangchun Mountain spent ages planning for this unprecedented lotus. If such an Eternal Supreme being is allowed to certify eternity, he is destined to cause great chaos, and the ones to bear the brunt of it will be our two ancestral courts.”

The Shaman Sect and the Zen Sect both viewed Fangchun Mountain as their archenemy, and this was by no means without a reason.

Tu Muhun said, “His current battle strength is already enough to be a fatal threat to us old timers. He's indeed a tough nut to crack...”

Back in the old days, who among them would pay attention to such a young cultivator? But now, someone like that had grown to be a calamity within their bosoms. No one had anticipated this.

After a short silence, Jikong said, “Every member of the Ten Clans Alliance had deployed the Will Dharma Forms of their Eternal figures to the Sixth Heaven Domain, but without exception, none of them could do anything to him... In your opinion, how should we seize and kill Lin Xun under these circumstances?”

Tu Muhun said expressionlessly, “No one else saw the battles in the Sixth Heaven Domain with their own eyes. Lin Xun possesses the invincible power in this stage, but be that as it may, it's impossible for him to destroy an Eternal Will Dharma Form. He must have been aided by a senior expert of the Origin Sect to achieve that feat.”

He paused briefly and continued, “But the situation here is different. We are right outside the Origin Sect, meaning the threat Lin Xun poses, on the contrary, is the smallest to us. The ones we should be wary of are those old things.”

Jikong asked, “What should be done if Pavilion Master Taixuan acts?”

Tu Muhun squinted, then he blandly said, “If he dares come out, there will be someone to deal with him.”

Jikong said, “Looks like you're well prepared, Brother Tu.”

“As if your Zen Sect isn’t,” Tu Muhun coldly grunted. “Without anything as backup, which of us can swallow this fat piece of meat that is the Origin Sect?!”

Jikong sank into a long silence, then suddenly sighed, “I'm afraid that the greatest benefit will fall into the hands of someone who’s outside this game.”

“Someone uninvolved?” Tu Muhun frowned. “What do you mean?”

Jikong said, “Just a hunch. It won’t necessarily be true.”

“You people of the Zen Sect really love acting all mysterious.” Tu Muhun revealed a hint of disdain. “I don't care about what's inside or outside the game, the only thing I firmly believe in is power. As long as one is strong enough, one can crush everything.”

Jikong smiled faintly and said nothing more.

......

Half a month later, Lin Xun, who was meditating at the top of Absolute Sunder Sword Palace, seemed to sense something and leapt to his feet. Almost simultaneously, a heavy and melodious bell sounded from within the Origin Sect, sending heaven and earth into utter silence.

Then, from a secret realm at the back of Origin Purity Mountain, a figure trod the air and came out, appearing under the sky dome as he looked up at it.

He wore a long, white robe. He looked like a youth whose skin was so fair it was almost crystalline, but the depths of his eyes surged with unfathomable dao light. A wooden sword was slung diagonally across his back. A red silk rope was tied to the hilt, dancing in the wind.

He stood casually like a god who was used to wandering freely between heaven and earth. There was an unrestrained and brilliant, proud air about him.

He was the Origin Clarity Pavilion Master, You Beihai!

As a relic who had dedicated countless years to secluded cultivation, as well as a legend on the dao of the sword, he, together with Taixuan, had been known forever as the ‘Origin Sect's Two Supremes.’

“Old You, you can be at ease as you eternalize your dao today!” Yan Ji appeared at the horizon and said nonchalantly, “Pay nothing else any attention.”

You Beihai gave a slight nod, and then, he extended his arm, drawing a stroke in the air with his finger. A shadow appeared in the depths of the originally clear sky. It proceeded to spread until it engulfed the entire day.

The world swiftly fell into darkness!

Boom!

At the same time, the law power covering the Origin World began to shake violently as if being faced with a great threat.