Translator: AnubisTL
Upon learning that the Western Heaven Pavilion had once collected Gold Fire Marks, the Lingyun Sect's leadership convened a secret meeting.
"Attack the Western Heaven Pavilion? I know a bit about them. Their pavilion master, Yang Xiong, broke through to the late-stage Nascent Soul realm many years ago. His current cultivation might be even more unfathomable."
The speaker was Qiu Zhen, who had recently joined the sect. He was unaware that Yang Xiong had already been killed by Li Qing.
He couldn't endorse this highly risky proposal.
Launching an immortal dao war across a great domain was no trivial matter. The variables involved were far too numerous.
The mere logistics of moving an army would consume vast resources, and unexpected incidents could occur along the way.
Moreover, the Western Heaven Pavilion openly possessed three powerful Nascent Soul cultivators: the late-stage Nascent Soul pavilion master and two Nascent Soul pavilion elders, none of whom were ordinary figures.
If Li Qing were still alive, Qiu Zhen would have joined the battle without hesitation. But as things stood, initiating an immortal dao war against the Western Heaven Pavilion in the Cloud Marsh Domain would be tantamount to suicide.
"Then what do we do? You've already calculated the Gold Fire Mark's properties. It shields itself from heaven's will, making it impossible to divine its whereabouts!"
"Are we just going to abandon Li Qing?" Wu Chong asked, his voice burning with urgency. He wished he could mobilize the entire sect immediately and march straight to the Cloud Marsh Domain to seize the Gold Fire Mark from the Western Heaven Pavilion.
The two Gold Fire Marks they had obtained from Zhang Mo earlier had confirmed that these artifacts were crucial for Li Qing's revival. Wu Chong refused to stand idly by.
"Senior Brother Wu, I don't think Ancestor Qiu Zhen meant it that way," Xu Xia quickly interjected, trying to defuse the tense atmosphere. He feared the meeting was spiraling toward a dangerous confrontation. "Declaring war on the Western Heaven Pavilion should only be our last resort. The purpose of this gathering is to explore peaceful means of acquiring the Gold Fire Mark from them."
Qiu Zhen, unperturbed by Wu Chong's outburst, spoke calmly: "Why not propose a straightforward trade to the Western Heaven Pavilion? They stopped collecting Gold Fire Marks long ago. Perhaps they've lost interest in them altogether."
These artifacts, which concealed heaven's will, were beyond the comprehension of ordinary people.
"I'm afraid that explicitly requesting a trade for the Gold Fire Mark will raise their suspicions," Wu Chong sighed.
When a massive cultivation sect suddenly proposes a trade, even a fool could sense something amiss.
Such a move might raise suspicions and jeopardize the deal.
"Regardless, we can't simply declare war on a thriving cultivation sect without taking any action," True Lord Fu Xuan said after careful consideration. "After all, the Lingyun Sect isn't the kind of domineering sect that would resort to such measures."
His words were met with silence in the vast Sect Leader's Hall.
Finally, Sect Leader Xu Xia spoke up. "In my opinion, we should send someone to the Cloud Marsh Domain. Publicly, they'll negotiate for the Gold Fire Marks, but secretly, they'll investigate the Western Heaven Pavilion's true strength."
"If we can acquire their collected Gold Fire Marks through trade, that would be ideal. If the Western Heaven Pavilion refuses, we can reconsider our options."
This cautious plan won unanimous approval.
Even if war became inevitable, it was crucial to know one's enemy and gather as much intelligence as possible about the Western Heaven Pavilion.
But who should be sent to the Cloud Marsh Domain?
Wu Chong volunteered immediately, but his offer was swiftly rejected by everyone.
"Senior Brother Wu, you're too emotionally compromised right now," Chu Lingyi said firmly. "Your concern is clouding your judgment. You're not fit to negotiate with the Western Heaven Pavilion in the Cloud Marsh Domain."
Xu Xia added, "That's right. Moreover, the Western Heaven Pavilion is an immortal dao faction led by a Nascent Soul cultivator. It would be best to send a Nascent Soul ancestor for this mission."
At this, everyone's gaze turned to Qiu Zhen and Su Xin, the only two Nascent Soul cultivators currently in the Lingyun Sect.
Seeing this, Su Xin prepared to nod in agreement.
But Qiu Zhen shook his head. "The Western Heaven Pavilion is no righteous path sect. Their cultivation manual follows the principle of 'harvesting yin to replenish yang.'"
This revelation caused the crowd's expressions to shift again. If that were the case, sending Ancestor Su Xin would truly be like throwing a lamb to the wolves.
"Then let me go."
Outside the Sect Leader's Hall, a handsome, refined young man strolled forward. His hair was a pale violet, and his bearing was as graceful as jade.
The crowd stared in astonishment, unable to immediately recognize this newcomer.
But soon, the violet-haired youth ceased concealing his aura, allowing a trace to leak out.
A wisp of malevolent demon aura escaped, and a pair of tiger ears suddenly sprouted from the young man's head.
"Heavenly Tiger Ancestor!" Xu Xia exclaimed, finally identifying the youth's true identity.
Indeed, this young man was none other than Fan Tong, who had achieved partial transformation many years ago.
Immediately afterward, except for Su Xin and Qiu Zhen, all the core formation realm supreme elders respectfully greeted, "Greetings, Heavenly Tiger Ancestor!"
"Heavenly Tiger Ancestor, weren't you in deep slumber? Why have you awakened now?" Li Yuhuan murmured nervously, fidgeting with her fingers. When she had first joined Li Qing's lineage, she had often mischievously ridden on Fan Tong's back.
This marked Fan Tong's first time facing the sect members in his human form. He typically remained in deep slumber within the sect, rarely stirring.
Fan Tong responded with a slightly disgruntled tone, "My elder brother has been reduced to this state, yet none of you bothered to inform me? If I hadn't sensed his weakening spiritual signature, I wouldn't even know about this."
His words brought awkward silence, and the elders lowered their heads, daring not to argue.
As a demon beast, Fan Tong's deep slumber was considered a form of cultivation. Who would dare disturb him? Moreover, given Li Qing's predicament, they doubted awakening Fan Tong would make any difference.
Ultimately, the elders approved Fan Tong's decision to travel to the Cloud Marsh Domain.
A transformed demon king, possessing both formidable strength and status, had the right to negotiate on equal terms with the Western Heaven Pavilion.
Moreover, Fan Tong's status as a demon king would prevent the Lingyun Sect from being exposed. The Western Heaven Pavilion might even mistakenly believe he came from the demon realm.
Thus, after everyone offered their suggestions, Fan Tong departed from the sect alone, heading toward the Cloud Marsh Domain.
On Azure Cloud Peak, inside Li Qing's cave abode, Su Xin arrived as usual to care for him. She refined the five elements spirit pearls and activated the Water Spirit Pearl to meticulously cleanse Li Qing's fleshly body again and again.
After completing this, Su Xin suddenly noticed that the eighteen Gold Fire Marks embedded in the Black Furnace's inner wall were shining even brighter. Their hazy glow intertwined with Li Qing's fleshly body.
Though he remained unconscious, she could clearly sense that Li Qing's life essence had grown stronger.
"The chaotic life essence within his body seems to have become more orderly. Is this the work of the Gold Fire Marks?"
"It seems we absolutely must obtain the Gold Fire Marks possessed by the Western Heaven Pavilion," Su Xin murmured softly, then gently stroked Li Qing's face.
Li Qing's condition was indeed dire. His body was saturated with chaotic life essence, all originating from the countless living beings devoured by Old Daoist Xu Xuan.
After the self-detonation, the vast amount of life essence that Old Daoist Xu Huan had devoured was released.
In that critical moment, the Gold Fire Marks embedded in the inner wall of the Black Furnace channeled all this life essence into Li Qing's body, preserving his last shred of vitality.
However, Li Qing remained unconscious due to the chaotic nature of this life essence.
This was the life essence of countless living beings. Though most came from mere mortals, each contained a faint trace of will.
These weak wills, accumulating like grains of sand into a vast ocean, ultimately suppressed Li Qing's own consciousness.
Li Qing's fleshly body had become a chaotic mess.
In addition to the wills within the life essence, a massive quantity of Glazed Fiend Crystals had also fused into his body.
Even Su Xin, who wielded the Water Spirit Pearl, couldn't completely purify him.
The only good news was that Li Qing's own life force was slowly strengthening, though at an agonizingly slow pace. At least it was keeping him alive.
(End of the Chapter)
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