Everyone fell silent after hearing those words.
They all knew perfectly well what a hundred-thousand-year soul beast embryo represented.A treasure so precious it could not be measured by money — there was no way they could let it go.
But the question was — who should use it?
"I think the Sect Master's right," one man said. "This kind of treasure is fated for our Clear Sky Sect!"
"Exactly! A foolish soul beast that managed to re-cultivate into human form and still got caught — that's a once-in-a-millennium encounter!"
Yu Tao, standing on the left side of the table, saw Elder Jin raise an eyebrow at him and immediately understood, chiming in:
"Right! Such a thing should never have fallen into outsiders' hands. It's our sect's fault for letting that happen!"
"To seal a soul beast that's about to transform into a human inside a soul tool — how cruel! What kind of karma must that create? Let our sect bear that burden for the world!"
"Yes, yes! Well said!"
"Agreed!"
"Actually, that makes no sense— cough, cough— no, I mean, it makes perfect sense!"
The elders all began voicing their support once someone broke the ice.
The truth was simple: the embryo must be seized — politics and scheming could come later.
Once the embryo was in their hands, whatever chaos befell the continent afterward would have nothing to do with them.
"Sect Master, we should also consider the enemy's strength."
"Mingde Hall is one of the three great powers of the continent, just like us. And it's located in the Sun–Moon Empire's capital, Mingdu. If we're going to take action, we must be prepared."
Elder Jin's calm words silenced the room. Everyone turned to listen — his authority was second only to Poison Undying himself.
In the sect, Jin Peng was a man of immense prestige — second to none but the Sect Master.
"A bunch of soul masters who only know how to use soul tools — nothing to fear! When the Sect Master gives the order, I'll lead the charge myself and crush them in one blow!"
Dragon Arm Douluo said this proudly, though a faint, fleeting shadow crossed his eyes.
Within the Clear Sky Sect, under the long-standing influence of Poison Undying and his predecessors — not to mention the innate strength of their Martial Souls — most members looked down on soul tools and their users.
To them, relying on tools was a betrayal of true cultivation.
"Sect Master," Jin Peng said solemnly, "we shouldn't rush this. Let's come up with a sound plan first. At the very least, we need to know where exactly Mingde Hall is keeping that embryo."
"From what I've learned, their core facility lies deep underground."
"Indeed," Poison Undying nodded. "Elder Jin is right — this isn't child's play. Speak freely if you have ideas."
He looked expectantly down the row of elders seated on his left.
"Sect Master, you know me — I've got strength, but brains aren't my strong point."
"Sect Master, I just run fast. Thinking isn't what I'm best at."
"Sect Master, you know I'm all right-handed — I mean, my right hand's strong…"
"..."
The elders he glanced at gave awkward laughs and waved their hands dismissively.
The seating arrangement said it all — those on the left, like Yu Tao, were action-oriented types: strong execution, but little thinking.
Open eyes meant fight; closed eyes meant sleep.
On the right sat the thinkers — the planners, like Elder Jin. Together, the two halves formed a complete Clear Sky Sect.
Whenever major decisions arose, Poison Undying would always start on the left, move right, gather everyone's opinions, and then make the final call himself.
"Hey, Second Brother, I've got an idea!"
Yu Tao slipped over from the left to the right side and whispered to Lang Ya.
"Hm? You have an idea?" Lang Ya frowned — his foolish brother, with an idea?
"We can dig a tunnel!"
Elder Jin had said Mingde Hall's core was underground, right? So why not dig from below?
"If we tunnel up from under them, no one would ever expect it!"
Lang Ya blinked, then slowly nodded, impressed."Now that… is actually not a bad idea."
Even Elder Jin turned his head, surprised.
That had been his line! His own plan involved almost the same concept — though his version was more detailed and thought out, the core idea matched Yu Tao's perfectly.
"Yu Tao," Elder Jin asked curiously, "how'd you come up with that?"
"Hehe, Elder Jin, remember when the Sect Master and I went to the Star Luo Empire to retrieve Jiang Jue? We used this very method! And besides, isn't tunneling practically our sect's traditional craft by now?"
Yu Tao's face reddened as all the elders turned to look at him, scratching his head shyly.
Lang Ya twitched his lips — what are you blushing for?
Still, he had to admit: ever since bringing Jiang Jue back to the sect, his dimwitted brother had grown sharper — sometimes even striking straight to the point.
"Sect Master," Elder Jin said, "my thoughts are basically the same as Yu Tao's.
We dig a tunnel — but from below Mingde Hall's underground core. That way it's hidden, hard to detect, and lets us strike by surprise."
"Once we seize the embryo, we can retreat through the same passage. We won't have to worry about the Sun–Moon Empire's surface forces. And when we're done, we collapse the tunnel behind us — clean and safe escape."
After speaking, Elder Jin calmly lifted his cup of tea and took a slow sip.
He knew Poison Undying would approve — they'd already discussed this plan before the meeting and set the broad outlines together.
"What do you all think?"
Poison Undying's eyes gleamed as he swept his gaze across the hall.
"Elder Jin speaks the truth — I agree."
"Sounds workable."
"Me too!"
Nods spread through the room.
"Good. Starting today, Elder Jin will lead a team of elders and disciples to the Sun–Moon Empire to scout the area.
Find a suitable location and start digging. We must complete a tunnel to Mingde Hall's underground core within two and a half years. Time waits for no one."
Poison Undying rose, his voice firm and commanding.
The longer they delayed, the worse it would be — no one knew when Mingde Hall might decide to use that hundred-thousand-year embryo.
Still, he could make an educated guess: not for at least four years. Jing Hongchen would undoubtedly reserve the embryo for his grandson, Xiao Hongchen — but the boy's cultivation was still far from ready.
"Yes, Sect Master!"
The gathered elders and disciples stood in unison, their voices loud and united.
Whoever the embryo was meant for didn't matter — first, it had to come into their hands.
"You may all return and make preparations," Poison Undying said with a nod.
Moments later, the vast hall emptied, leaving only Poison Undying and Jin Peng behind.
Cough, cough…
Poison Undying looked at Jin Peng, coughing a few times.
"Sect Master, if you've got something to say, just say it. No need to cough at me."
"Old Jin, I've got one good piece of news — and one bad one. Which do you want first?"
Poison Undying clasped his hands behind his back, wearing a mysterious smile.
"You're too old for this kind of suspense," Jin Peng said dryly, sipping his tea. "Fine, start with the good news."
Poison Undying thought for a moment.
"The good news is — during his latest spirit ring acquisition, Jiang Jue's Martial Soul mutated. It's become even stronger."
"Oh? Now that is good news!" Jin Peng's eyes lit up. "But his first Martial Soul was already terrifying — how much stronger can it get? Don't tell me it evolved into the Ultimate Light or something?"
Poison Undying's expression stiffened.
Ultimate Light?More like — not even Light anymore.
"You'll see. Now for the bad news."
Jin Peng raised an eyebrow and took another sip. "All right, what's this mysterious bad news then?"
"The bad news is…" Poison Undying hesitated, then sighed."Jiang Jue's Martial Soul mutated — into an Evil Martial Soul."
"What?!"
Jin Peng choked violently, spraying tea everywhere. His eyes bulged like copper bells.
(End of chapter)