"It's fine, I have a sense of measure. This is also a good opportunity to investigate the origins of the Black Lotus Cult. If it is indeed connected to the Dark Clans, we can prepare ahead of time.
If it has nothing to do with the Dark Clans, then it means there might be other forces in the current Vast Expanse that are involved...
With the Sacred Ancestor and you temporarily keeping watch over Ethereal Sacred City, that senior will likely not stand idly by either. During this time, I can go with peace of mind.
It is a perfect chance to trace the source and pull out this Black Lotus Cult by the roots, so as not to disrupt our grand plan for the Ethereal Sacred Domain."
The graceful woman gently shook her head, her tone becoming exceptionally firm towards the end.
This time, the Ethereal Sacred Domain had chosen to step out into the world, and even the former Sacred Ancestor had appeared, deciding to establish the Immortal Dao Alliance. Although the times were turbulent, the road ahead unclear, and this was somewhat forced by circumstances,
it was more so because a power like the Ethereal Sacred Domain had to take a side and make a decision. If it went with the flow, it would inevitably be shattered to pieces in the future.
For instance, the Posuo Sacred Domain, which was once a transcendent region just like the Ethereal Sacred Domain, is now being encroached upon and annexed by the Alliance of Righteous Unity.
The old woman sighed upon hearing this. Knowing she could not dissuade her, she shook her head and said, "Then, Sect Master, please be careful and not careless. I have also looked into the doctrine of the Black Lotus Cult. For those with weak willpower and unstable Dao Hearts, it is indeed very easy for problems to arise. Although your strength is formidable, Sect Master, I suspect that behind the Black Lotus Cult, there is something very significant involved...
From the investigations during this period, the timing of the Black Lotus Cult's emergence is a bit too coincidental. It was even around the time we decided to establish the Immortal Dao Alliance.
Moreover, I have an even more terrifying conjecture."
Upon hearing this, the graceful woman's clear eyes focused, and she looked at the old woman, asking, "What conjecture?"
"Does the Sect Master know about that major event that caused Prime-Origin Civilization to completely fall into the hands of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance?" the old woman asked gravely.
The graceful woman nodded. This matter had caused a huge stir throughout the entire Vast Expanse.
As the Sect Master of the Ethereal Sacred Sect, she naturally knew about it as well.
"The signing of that Xiyuan Covenant was the main reason Prime-Origin Civilization fell into the hands of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance..."
She mused, "Elder, do you mean that this time, the establishment of the Immortal Dao Alliance will lead to the same outcome as what happened to Prime-Origin Civilization?"
The old woman shook her head and said, "Sect Master misunderstands me. I am referring to the enormous black lotus that appeared during the Xiyuan Covenant..."
"That enormous black lotus?"
The graceful woman trembled all over, disbelief flashing in her bright eyes, and her jade-like face became a picture of uncertainty.
The old woman continued gravely, "That time on the Mountain of Myriad Wonders, the Alliance Leader of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance personally took action, suppressing all the experts of Prime-Origin Civilization. Even someone as powerful as the former Sage Ling Yuling was severely injured and captured. And that was the only time the Alliance Leader of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance truly took action in front of the world. The experts of various clans didn't even see how he acted; afterward, they were shrouded and subdued by a terrifying black lotus..."
The graceful woman's heart quivered.
She murmured, "Elder, your conjecture is that the Black Lotus Cult might be connected to the Heaven-Slaying Alliance?"
The old woman, with an extremely grave expression, said, "Even if there is no direct connection, there is definitely an origin. Sect Master, you should know that in the mortal world, doctrines and faiths do not arise without cause or root. Yet the Lord of the Black Lotus behind the Black Lotus Cult seems to have suddenly appeared out of nowhere.
If there is no direct source behind this, I absolutely will not believe it."
The graceful woman nodded in agreement, her mood also becoming exceptionally heavy.
If that were truly the case, the origin of the Black Lotus Cult could be explained.
But to conclude that he has a connection to the Black Lotus Cult merely based on a single image that appeared when the Alliance Leader of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance once took action is also a bit far-fetched.
The old woman, as if knowing what the graceful woman was thinking, slightly shook her head and said, "The Alliance Leader of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance is undoubtedly the most mysterious existence in all the worlds of the current Vast Expanse, bar none. No one knows his origins or background. Even after the Sacred Ancestor emerged and tried to deduce and discern them, he gained nothing and even suffered a backlash.
And when the Alliance Leader of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance dealt with a power like the Immortal Chu Dynasty, he did not do as he did at the Mountain of Myriad Wonders. So it is difficult to judge his origins from these incidents. Since then, almost no one in the worlds has seen him take action again.
However, some time ago, on the side of the Divine Dao Civilization, an Ancestral God suddenly perished, and a vast Divine Realm collapsed and disintegrated. Not long after, an extremely ancient Ancestral God even fell into darkness..."
The graceful woman's beautiful eyes revealed shock and astonishment. She mused, "Elder, are you saying that the death of the Ancestral God on the Divine Dao Civilization's side was actually the work of the Alliance Leader of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance?"
The old woman nodded and said, "Aside from him, there is probably no one else in the current Vast Expanse with such audacity. Those ultimate ancient figures, including the Sacred Ancestor, would not dare to act so blatantly. They all hide and avoid as much as they can."
The further one advances in cultivation, the more one can feel that kind of constant gaze and spying from the heavens and earth.
These heavens and earth are truly capable of devouring people.
Yet in this epoch, a figure like the Alliance Leader of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance appeared—completely fearless, utterly unconcerned, stirring the entire Vast Expanse into muddy waters.
As a result, those who had been hiding well were forced to step into the world.
And the Sacred Ancestor of the Ethereal Sacred Domain is one of them.
"I say all this only to make you understand, Sect Master, that if the Black Lotus Cult is truly connected to the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, or even to that Alliance Leader of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, then by taking such a risk, I fear you might meet with disaster, ending up like that former Sage Ling Yuling, becoming a pawn of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance..." The old woman's tone was grave, unable to hide her worry.
The graceful woman before her was called the Sect Master of the Ethereal Sacred Sect, but in truth, she was like a child they elders had raised and taught with their own hands.
To her, the Ethereal Sacred Sect was her home, otherwise why would she risk her life like this?
The graceful woman remained silent for a long moment, then smiled charmingly and said, "Elders, you worry too much. You know my talent well. When the time comes, at worst I'll separate my main body and secondary body, preserve one life, and cultivate anew in the future. I have a sense of measure...
Moreover, this is only your conjecture, without solid evidence. If the Heaven-Slaying Alliance really is connected to that Black Lotus Cult, then it would also mean that the Dark Clans and the Heaven-Slaying Alliance have inextricable ties.
That consequence is too terrifying, unimaginable..."
The old woman, having said so much, knew that no further persuasion would be of use. She nodded and said, "In that case, I won't say anything more. Hanying, you must not be careless."
A dazed expression appeared in the graceful woman's eyes. The name Hanying... how many epochs had it been since she last heard it?
Since becoming the Sect Master of the Ethereal Sacred Sect, she had nearly forgotten her original name.
"I am no longer the little girl who needed your protection back then..." She smiled gracefully, and with a step, her figure quickly vanished from Ethereal Peak.
As she disappeared into the distance, her graceful and tall figure also changed, enveloped by a hazy, clear light, as if surrounded by various mysterious radiances and divine glows.
Vaguely, one could see her figure shrink a size. Beneath the slightly oversized navy cape was wrapped a bright, beautiful girl of sixteen, as radiant as the blazing sun. Only her pair of clear autumn-water eyes carried a calmness and steadiness that belied her age.
Not long after Li Hanying left Ethereal Peak, the old woman leaning on her cane let out a long sigh and seemed about to leave as well.
But at that instant, as if sensing something, an astonished expression appeared on her aged face. She then bowed respectfully towards the void behind her, saying, "Greetings, Sacred Ancestor."
Ripples spread out there, as if the void itself had frozen. The entire heaven and earth, time and space, seemed to be stripped away by some mighty force.
The chaotic and hazy spacetime passages around Ethereal Peak fell into absolute silence.
A gentle and refined middle-aged man revealed himself. He had a handsome face, white sideburns, deep eyes, and wore a brocade robe with cloud patterns. A red piece of jade hung at his waist. His aura was ethereal.
He looked as if he had stepped out of a scholarly family, carrying a literary air.
It was hard to imagine that the Sacred Ancestor of the Ethereal Sacred Domain could be such a middle-aged man. Of course, it was difficult to judge his age from his face.
The old woman before him was an Ancestral Dao Realm existence who had survived seven Heavenly Decline Tribulations, yet if the Sacred Ancestor had not revealed his aura, she would never have sensed his arrival.
Over the long, protracted ages, the Sacred Ancestor of the Ethereal Sacred Domain had long reached who knew what level.
"Elder Li, there is no need for such formality."
The Ethereal Sacred Ancestor nodded slightly, his voice gentle, "Li Hanying has profound fortune and a long destiny. She was personally sent here by Senior Sage Xi, and under the obscure protection of great luck, this trip will naturally not pose much danger.
Besides, she has two bodies as one and three souls born together. Currently, in the Ethereal Sacred Domain, apart from her, there is no other suitable candidate to investigate the origins of the Black Lotus Cult."
Hearing this, the old woman felt slightly more at ease.
Li Hanying could be said to be the most astonishingly talented person since the Ethereal Sacred Domain's existence, with no one comparable to her.
Whether in cultivation speed or aptitude, she could only be described as unprecedented and unparalleled.
She had even broken the record for the speed of breaking through to the Dao Realms in the Ethereal Sacred Domain.
Currently, Li Hanying's cultivation and strength had become unfathomable, even to her, an existence who had survived seven Heavenly Decline Tribulations.
"Sacred Ancestor, does even Senior Sage Xi not know the true origin of the Black Lotus Cult?" the old woman couldn't help asking.
The Ethereal Sacred Domain's founding of the Immortal Dao Alliance, aside from the Sacred Ancestor's revival, had an even more important reason: the support of that senior behind the scenes.
One of the Five Leaders who once sealed the Lord of Heaven's Proxy, the West Sage, Sage Xi.
It could be said that among those Five Leaders of the past, the West Sage was the most mysterious. Even some of the other leaders had never seen her true face from beginning to end.
From the end of the Black Calamity Era until now, of the former Five Leaders, those who have passed away have passed away, those who met with calamity have met with calamity; their fates are unknown.
The Radiant Ancestral Court established by Zhong Jun (Central Lord) collapsed and fell countless epochs ago, and Zhong Jun was the most miserable and swift to die among the Five Leaders.
Nan Zun appeared briefly after the Black Calamity Catastrophe era ended, and from then on vanished from the world. All traces of karma were erased, as if forcibly wiped away by someone.
Apart from some ancient texts sealed and suppressed in the past, where some records and descriptions of her can still be found, it is likely that the world no longer knows there was once such a leader who sealed the Lord of Heaven's Proxy.
Many speculate that her circumstances were probably similar to those of Zhong Jun.
As for the Pan Clan that Dong Huang (Eastern Emperor) belonged to, it suffered calamity, slaughtered by the Remnants of the Black Calamity. Almost all clansmen perished, and they could only drift through chaotic spacetime. In the worlds of the current Vast Expanse, it is unknown if any of his bloodline descendants still exist...
As for Bei Di (Northern Emperor) , some say he was the only leader to die in that final great war of the Black Calamity Catastrophe.
Others say he was actually a dogged emperor, one who fled and hid early on after the Black Calamity Era ended, changing his appearance so that no one knows where he hides.
As for the truth, it is unknown.
Among the Five Leaders, the West Sage could be said to be the most fantastical and mythical one, for she has been active in the worlds of the Vast Expanse for ages. Every few epochs, traces of her can be seen. She even personally established a force like Xiyuan Sacred Hall, and Prime-Origin Civilization exists because of her.
Such a high-profile former leader, over so many years, has unexpectedly never encountered any danger. She seems able to seek good fortune and avoid disaster, evading all calamities. No matter what catastrophes befall the world, she can avoid them.
However, some also say that the West Sage is the most unfathomably powerful among the Five Leaders, traversing the worlds of the Vast Expanse unhindered, unstoppable by anyone.
There are many such claims, but none can conceal the mysterious brilliance surrounding her.
"I also do not know whether Senior Sage Xi understands the true origin of the Black Lotus Cult."
"How she thinks, I do not know either. But since she chooses to act in this way, there must be her reasons," the Ethereal Sacred Ancestor said, shaking his head slightly.
Even an ancient figure like him sincerely addressed Sage Xi as Senior, showing his great esteem and respect.
It was just that he was slightly surprised in his heart.
Logically, for such a major event as the establishment of the Immortal Dao Alliance, since Senior Sage Xi was pushing things along behind the scenes, she should have shown herself.
Yet whether it was sending letters and tokens, or informing of future actions and decisions, she had her female disciple handle it on her behalf.
She herself seemed unwilling to appear in person.
Even the Ethereal Sacred Ancestor had never seen her true face.
His only impression was that in the ancient times before he became the Ethereal Sacred Ancestor, Senior Sage Xi had once appeared, bringing a hazy light like spacetime, found him, and told him to establish the Ethereal Sacred Domain in the future.
As a mere ordinary cultivator at the time, how could he understand such a thing? Let alone establishing the Ethereal Sacred Domain, surviving in this cruel cultivation world was already difficult enough.
Yet at that time, Senior Sage Xi merely casually left him a brocade pouch and told him to cultivate according to the techniques and guidance within...
Perhaps all the cultivators and living beings in the current Ethereal Sacred Domain do not know that their Sacred Ancestor once had such an extraordinary encounter that could be described as the height of casualness.
Even having grown to his present level, the Ethereal Sacred Ancestor still held reverence and gratitude for Senior Sage Xi, who had essentially guided him on his path.