It has been several centuries since Han Xuanji founded the Xuantian Dao Palace, and the scenery in this region has become much more prosperous than it was a century ago.
Especially for the Xuanling Clan, their settlements have developed from the initial scattered villages into several large-scale cities, with layouts that secretly aligned with the rotation of the stars in the heavens.
Li Taiqing began to report on the situation of the Xuanling Clan.
Under Han Xuanji's instruction, he had bestowed many top-tier cultivation methods upon the geniuses of the Xuanling Clan and instilled in them a vast amount of loyalty to Han Xuanji.
Now that several centuries have passed, the Xuanling Clan's population has not only increased significantly, but more and more individuals have achieved success in their cultivation; wave after wave of Genius Cultivators have emerged, including many young Grand Unity Golden Immortal Cultivators.
If many Grand Unity Golden Immortals were to be born from the Xuanling Clan one day, it would also be a considerable asset.
"Master, for hundreds of years, the entire Xuanling Clan has been grateful for your grace of rebirth and protection, and the concept of loyalty has become deeply rooted in their hearts. Younger generation, from the time they begin their enlightenment, know that the Xuantian Dao Palace is their heaven and Master is the source of their Dao.
The clan Elders and the newly risen heroes all take pride in serving Master."
"And Junior Brother Lu Fan has now unified the ten major immortal domains of the Human Race, his fame shaking all directions. However, with the sudden expansion of territory, everything is waiting to be rebuilt, and there is a particular lack of reliable and capable hands. Although Junior Brother has recruited many talents, there is still a shortage of core, trustworthy people."
"This time, I intend to send a group of the Xuanling Clan to Junior Brother Lu's Myriad Manifestations Divine Dynasty."
Li Taiqing said respectfully.
"Mhm, you have managed it very well."
Han Xuanji's voice was peaceful, betraying no emotion, yet it made Li Taiqing's heart feel settled.
Li Taiqing said solemnly:
"I do not deserve such praise; it is all what this Disciple should do."
These Xuanling clansmen were all geniuses he had carefully selected; they were not only loyal but also extremely intelligent.
Although he was an upright person, he was not indecisive; if the Xuanling Clan had any ulterior motives, he would be the first to not let them off.
A hint of satisfaction flashed in Han Xuanji's eyes.
He had always been at ease with the way Li Taiqing handled things.
These Xuanling clansmen had significant potential, and it would be a waste to leave them be.
In fact, over these years, Li Taiqing, Xiao Bai, and Lin Potian had also selected several prodigies from the Xuanling Clan as their Disciples.
Of course, Xiao Bai had more of a playful mindset; in name, she was taking a Disciple, but in reality, she was looking for someone to keep her company.
Xiao Jin, on the other hand, focused on his cultivation, and his progress was rapid; occasionally, Han Xuanji would also give him private lectures on the Dao.
"There is one more thing to report to Master."
Li Taiqing paused and said:
"A group of strange beings has arrived from Beyond the Heavens, including some whose cultivation has reached the Primordial Chaos Golden Immortal Realm. These beings then seemed to enter the Demon Realm. Immediately after, I received intelligence that a group of powerful beings appeared on the Immortal-Demon Border. Fortunately, the Heavenly Court sent reinforcements; otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable."
"Oh?"
Han Xuanji did not show any shock or anger. A sharp light flashed in his eyes, instantly seeing through layers of mist and understanding the Karma involved.
"So that is how it is."
Han Xuanji's cultivation had increased greatly, and his Eyes of Destiny had become even more powerful.
Even though the Lord of Greed's actions were extremely concealed, they still did not escape his eyes.
"These reinforcements are not ordinary."
Han Xuanji spoke slowly, saying:
"The Origin of these 'Outer Realm Sky Devils' is not simple; behind them stands a powerful existence, the Chaos Evil Demon 'Lord of Greed'."
Li Taiqing's heart jolted, and he mentally repeated:
"Lord of Greed?"
He had never heard of this title before; it was his first time hearing it.
However, for Han Xuanji to call it a powerful existence meant that its strength must far exceed his imagination.
"That is an extremely ancient and notorious existence in Chaos, with a greedy and tyrannical nature, having plundered the Origins of countless worlds."
Han Xuanji said indifferently:
"The Demon Ancestor has quite the calculation."
His tone was calm, as if he were commenting on a game of chess that had nothing to do with him.
"Bringing external forces into the game, tempting them with profit, and driving a tiger to swallow a wolf."
"The Lord of Greed's Dao lies in 'Greed'; all resources, energy, and Origins in the world are what it desires. It has coveted the fat meat of the Immortal Realm for a long time, but simply did not dare to lay a finger on it easily. Now that the Demon Ancestor has taken the initiative to share, it seems this greedy Vicious Beast is tempted and willing to act as the vanguard."
Li Taiqing immediately understood the severity of the matter:
"Master, are you saying that the Demon Ancestor is using the interests of the Immortal Realm as bait to lure the Lord of Greed here, intending to use its strength to first consume the power of our Immortal Realm, or... to target you directly, Master?"
"Correct."
Han Xuanji nodded and said indifferently:
"The Lord of Greed is an ancient Limitless existence; if its true body arrives, it will certainly not be easy to deal with.
The Demon Ancestor's plan is threefold: first, to test my depth; second, to use its hand to throw the situation into Chaos and exhaust the Immortal Realm's Origin Qi; and third... regardless of whether the Lord of Greed or I win or lose, he can sit back and reap the benefits, perhaps even swallowing the Lord of Greed along with us when we are both injured."
These words made a chill run down Li Taiqing's spine.
He immediately bowed: "Master, this matter is of great importance! Should we immediately inform the Heavenly Emperor..."
Han Xuanji, however, raised his hand to stop him, a sharp light flashing in his eyes:
"There is no need to panic. It was expected that the Demon Ancestor could lure the Lord of Greed. Since he has made this move, we will simply face it."
It just so happened that he was still missing a Primordial Limitless Origin.
Furthermore, the other party might not necessarily come knocking on his door.
The Demon Ancestor's greatest opponent was still the Heavenly Emperor, with whom he had a direct conflict...
On the other side.
The Chaos Demon Abyss.
The Demon Ancestor was communicating with a phantom consciousness projected across the endless Chaos.
That phantom consciousness presented a constantly changing, distorted form, sometimes like a giant mouth devouring stars, and sometimes transforming into many terrifying figures; it was precisely the Lord of Greed.
"Demon Ancestor, this Immortal Realm barrier keeps me out. Do you have any way? It would be best not to alert those fellows."
The Lord of Greed's consciousness spoke first, its voice piercing and carrying an undisguised impatience.
In the Demon Ancestor's pitch-black, pupil-less eyes, the Lord of Greed's distorted consciousness form was reflected. His voice was low and steady:
"This barrier was set by the Immortal Ancestor and later reinforced by the Immortal Realm's Dao Ancestor, so it is naturally not that simple. Back then, I spent a great deal of effort to enter."
The Demon Ancestor was telling the truth; back then, it was difficult even for his true body to enter, and he had to resort to trickery by merging his Origin into the Immortal Realm's Heavenly Dao to get in.
"Hmph, then tell me what to do."
The Lord of Greed's consciousness fluctuated, showing a bit of impatience.
He paused slightly, his fingers formed of Devilish Qi sketching in the void, and a blurry but crucial map gradually appeared.
It was not a place within the Immortal Realm, but rather a location beyond the Thirty-Three Heavens. It was like an appendage to the Immortal Realm, yet independent of ordinary space-time Laws, with extremely subtle fusions with certain space-time nodes of Chaos.
"The Thirty-Three Heavens of the Immortal Realm."
The Demon Ancestor uttered these four words and said calmly:
"The Immortal Realm is also a Chaos world, so it naturally cannot escape Chaos. These Thirty-Three Heavens happen to have an entrance leading to Chaos, which is also the weakest point."