Translator: CinderTL
"Fellow Daoist Hao Kong, my cultivation is shallow, and the Asura Sect has only been established for a few decades, lacking sufficient foundation. I hope you'll understand. Neither I nor the Asura Sect can afford to intervene in the conflict between your sect and the Profound Yin Sect."
As Song Wen spoke, a faint smile played on his lips, seemingly unconcerned that the Profound Yin Sect might invade the Asura Sect.
Hao Kong said, "Daoist Yin Shuo, I know you're harboring the vain hope that the Profound Yin Sect won't attack the Asura Sect, and you want to remain aloof. However, things may not unfold as you wish."
Song Wen raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Do you really think the Profound Yin Sect could unify the entire Immortal Cultivation World?"
Hao Kong replied, "Whether the Profound Yin Sect can unify the entire Immortal Cultivation World, I can't say. But I believe they definitely harbor the ambition to dominate the entire demonic path. And your Asura Sect is one of the demonic path's forces."
Song Wen shook his head slightly, clearly unconvinced by Hao Kong's words.
"The Gold-Eating Ant Queen, Fu, indirectly controls the Profound Yin Sect by manipulating the Gui Ni. If the Profound Yin Sect were content to remain confined to a corner, hiding within the Tuocang Mountains' foothills, the major righteous sects might tolerate it. But once Fu reveals her intention to conquer the entire Tianyuan Continent, it would become a struggle for survival between the human and demon races. The major righteous sects would undoubtedly intervene. The Four Great Righteous Sects alone boast three Peak Nascent Soul cultivators. The Gold-Eating Ants and the Gui Ni would be no match for them."
Hao Kong said, "Fellow Daoist, you mustn't forget that most of our sect's territory lies within the boundaries of the Tianyuan Continent, not in the foothills of the Tuocang Mountains. Now that Gui Ni has declared his intention for our sect to submit, it's clear the Profound Yin Sect aims to seize control of the Tianyuan Continent. Furthermore..."
Hao Kong paused, carefully considering his words before continuing.
"According to information leaked from within the Profound Yin Sect, there's a high probability that Gui Ni has turned the tables, subduing the Ant Queen. The entire Gold-Eating Ant Clan now falls under his control. Therefore, the so-called struggle for survival between the human and demon races is fundamentally irrelevant. This is ultimately just a conflict among us humans."
Song Wen frowned, disbelief flashing in his eyes.
"How could that be possible?"
During their confrontation with the Ant Queen in the Divine Blood Hall's ant nest, she had displayed formidable Spirit Sense mastery. She had planted a unique spiritual sense imprisonment within Gui Ni's sea of consciousness. How could he have easily broken free, let alone turned the tables on her?
Hao Kong replied, "I don't know how Gui Ni accomplished it. But what's certain is that it all happened twelve years ago."
"Twelve years ago!"
A flash of insight suddenly struck Song Wen's mind.
Twelve years ago was precisely when Gui Ni had stolen the Rainbow Skirt Grass from the Silver Wolf Clan.
Could it be?
Was this related to the Rainbow Skirt Grass?
"Furthermore," Hao Kong continued, "someone in the Profound Yin Sect saw Xue Mei. She used some method to nullify the 'Soul Lock Curse' Senior Brother Tai He had planted in her Sea of Consciousness. Gui Ni must have received Xue Mei's assistance."
Back then, Song Wen, disguised as 'Cui Huo,' had asked Hao Kong to deliver a message to 'Yan Yiwen.' Now, Hao Kong realized it wasn't hard to guess that Song Wen and Xue Mei were old acquaintances. That was why he had specifically mentioned her.
Song Wen's frown deepened as he listened.
Hao Kong's words had completely caught him off guard.
If true, the Profound Yin Sect truly posed a grave threat to Song Wen.
First, he had twice tricked Gui Ni, who now harbored a deep-seated hatred for him.
Second, Xue Mei had betrayed him before. To prevent future trouble, she would undoubtedly want to eliminate him.
Song Wen's expression grew slightly more serious as he spoke solemnly.
"Fellow Daoist Hao Kong, I'm not trying to evade responsibility. But the truth is, even if our two sects joined forces, we would still be no match for the Profound Yin Sect. To resist them, we must seek assistance from the Four Great Righteous Sects."
Hao Kong said, "Another purpose of my visit is to ask you, Fellow Daoist, to go to the Four Great Righteous Sects and persuade them to join us in resisting the Profound Yin Sect."
Song Wen asked, "Why don't you go yourself, Fellow Daoist?"
Hao Kong replied, "As everyone knows, your sect has always maintained harmonious relations with the Four Great Righteous Sects. Moreover, you share a close bond with Immortal Maiden Lan Chen of the He Huan Sect. In contrast, my sect has long been at odds with the righteous factions. Therefore, your intervention would significantly increase the chances of success. If I were to go myself, old grievances might lead to misunderstandings, which would be counterproductive."
Song Wen said, "Gui Ni and the Ant Queen are both at the Fourth-Tier Peak level, and they command four Fourth-Tier Ant Kings and two Nascent Soul cultivators. Even Peak Nascent Soul cultivators like Lan Chen, Mo Yexue, and Yang Yu could face mortal danger if they're not careful. They won't easily get involved just out of courtesy. Unless... the Profound Yin Sect threatens their interests. Or, perhaps, the Profound Yin Sect possesses something they desire."
Hao Kong's eyes lit up. "What do you mean, Fellow Daoist?"
Song Wen pondered for a moment before speaking slowly.
"Spread rumors that Gui Ni learned the secret of 'Divine Transformation' from Xue Mei."
Hao Kong said, "The Four Great Righteous Sects won't be easily fooled. Besides, the rumor would be exposed as soon as they confront each other."
"Human hearts are fickle, and rumors aren't easily dispelled," Song Wen's gaze turned cold, a hint of killing intent flashing in his eyes. "Furthermore, we must spread two more claims. First, Xue Mei was originally the Cave Master of Blood Cloud Cave, a subordinate of the Divine Blood Gate, and possessed many of the gate's secrets. Second, the Blood of Fallen Immortal is hidden within the Four Great Righteous Sects, and Gui Ni seeks to unify the entire Immortal Cultivation World to find it."
Upon hearing this, Hao Kong immediately confirmed something.
Yin Shuo and Xue Mei had indeed known each other for a long time, and there was clearly a deep-seated grudge between them.
"The Blood of Fallen Immortal?" Hao Kong asked, feigning confusion.
Song Wen then realized that Hao Kong had never entered the Divine Blood Hall and knew nothing of what had transpired there. He was unaware that the Blood of Fallen Immortal was related to Divine Transformation.
This further convinced Song Wen that Hao Kong was still ignorant of the fact that Xi Ling and Tai He's deaths were connected to him.
"Legend says the Blood of Fallen Immortal can help Peak Nascent Soul cultivators break through their cultivation bottleneck and advance to the Divine Transformation Realm," Song Wen explained.
"Is that true?" Hao Kong's face showed surprise, mixed with barely concealed excitement.
Song Wen nodded slightly.
After a long moment of contemplation, Hao Kong spoke.
"Very well! We shall proceed as Fellow Daoist suggests. I hope this plan will resolve the conflicts between our two sects."
The two men discussed some final details before Hao Kong took his leave.
Song Wen then went to Tiancang Mountain and had Yu Wen instruct her people to spread the rumors, claiming that he and Hao Kong had reached an agreement.
The news of Song Wen's Divine Transformation spread like wildfire, despite the Nine Palaces Sect and the Asura Sect's attempts to keep it quiet.
One day, Lan Chen and Mo Yexue suddenly arrived at the Asura Sect together.
Receiving a message from Yu Wen, Song Wen rushed to Tiancang Mountain. Though he already suspected the reason for their visit, he feigned ignorance.
"Fellow Daoists, your presence honors our humble sect. May I ask the purpose of your visit?"
(End of the Chapter)
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