124: Taihe Zhenjun

Since the Tianshu Sect followed the Taihe Sect into the fray, the situation in the entire Xuan Yin Continent became increasingly restless.

Shortly after, the Yingu Cult simply stepped in to support the Xuan Yin Palace, with Du Yuan Mountain following close behind.

On the Taihe Sect's side, the Fengming Sword Sect also joined in to help.

In just a few short months, as more and more forces joined the fray, the front-line battlefield actually began to quiet down.

The deathly silence was terrifying.

Aside from the daily minor skirmishes involving tens of thousands of Cultivators, no one dared to truly be the first to start an all-out war.

Even Xuan Yin Palace did not dare to initiate it!

After all, over a million Cultivators had already gathered at the front line, including nearly two hundred Xuantai True Persons!

If they were to start fighting recklessly... the rivers and mountains for tens of thousands of miles around would be completely destroyed!

Moreover, once they were blinded by bloodlust, it wouldn't be easy to stop, and perhaps the Xuan Yin Continent Cultivation World would suffer an extremely severe decline.

There was only day after day of confrontation, with more and more Cultivators, Resources, and Puppets gathering.

The silence before the storm weighed on everyone's hearts... September 7th, Year 25 of the lunar calendar.

Taihe Mountain Range.

The majestic Taihe Mountain stood over ten thousand zhang high, the sea of clouds churning like a boiling ocean, and the high-altitude astral winds howled day and night.

In the eyes of ordinary Disciples, the mountain peak had long since disappeared above the clouds, but even Inner Sect Disciples below the Profound Fetus realm did not know that at a higher altitude, obscured by the clouds, there was another sight.

A thousand miles high in the sky, a place hidden by a Formation.

An inverted lonely peak hung silently in the air, as if plucked from the earth by an invisible giant hand and turned toward the sky.

The platform of this inverted peak was only a thousand zhang in diameter, the summit as smooth as a mirror, while the downward-extending mountain body retained jagged rocks and verdant vegetation.

Water poured from the edge of the inverted mountain, but instead of falling into the sea of clouds below, it traced a silver arc in the Void Realm and flowed back into the deep pool at the edge of the summit, completing a cycle that defied common sense.

Formation runes could be faintly seen flowing incessantly among the rocks, completely masking the aura of the entire mountain peak. Even if a Cultivator flew past, they would only see an ordinary cloud shadow.

This was one of True Monarch Taihe's Lifebound Treasures, the true tai he precious mountain—a Tier 4 supreme-grade Magic Treasure (Pseudo-Spirit Treasure)!

Atop the inverted peak stood the Taihe Treasure Hall.

This was the actual place where True Monarch Taihe would Cultivate.

The palace was built entirely of lustrous white jade, its eaves soaring like a Phoenix spreading its wings, with the orbits of the sun, moon, and stars carved into the layered eaves.

Whenever sunlight filtered through gaps in the clouds, the entire palace shimmered with a faint golden glow, like a fragment of an Upper Realm immortal palace lost in the mortal world.

In the plaza before the hall, nine hundred-zhang-tall towering jade pillars were arranged according to the Nine Palaces positions, each pillar entwined with a Five-clawed True Dragon, its mouth slightly open, exhaling thick clouds of spiritual essence.

In the center of the plaza was a pool of emerald water, its surface as calm as a mirror, yet reflecting the star-studded sky above the daylight.

In the pond grew dense Twin Lotus Flowers, their petals having a translucent glaze-like texture, each one being at least a Tier 3 Spirit Medicine.

The interior of the Taihe Treasure Hall was even more magnificent.

No beams or pillars were visible at the top of the hall, only a flowing Star Map.

Those stars were not fixed but moved slowly along some profound trajectory, each star emitting a soft light that illuminated the entire hall.

On the four walls were carvings of various legendary True Spirits: the True Dragon and Black Tortoise, the Qilin and Phoenix, the Divine Fire Vermilion Bird, and the Time Golden Cicada... Deep within the hall, atop twelve jade steps, was a throne carved from a single piece of Tier 4 Star Spirit Jade.

On the throne, True Monarch Taihe sat as steady as a mountain.

He looked only twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, with a handsome and otherworldly face. His plain white Daoist robe fluttered without wind, and cloud patterns faintly flowed between his sleeves.

His ink-black long hair cascaded down like a waterfall, the tips of his hair suspending themselves upon touching the jade steps.

His eyes were the most peculiar, a phenomenon he was born with.

His left pupil was pale gold, while his right pupil was deep purple. Upon careful observation, one could seemingly see the cycles of the sun and moon and the birth and death of stars.

At this moment, True Monarch Taihe lightly pressed the armrest of his throne and tapped his fingertip in the Void Realm, causing a water screen to unfold in the hall.

The water screen displayed a scene of the battlefield: among the mountains, countless Cultivators were fighting, the light of Magic Treasures interwoven like rain, and blood stained the earth.

"It has already been three years."

True Monarch Taihe spoke flatly, "Those willing to join have already joined; I see no need to wait any longer."

Seated to his side below him was an old man with a ruddy complexion and a dark brown Daoist robe, his silver hair meticulously combed and tied with a simple wooden hairpin.

He was the Sect Master of the Fengming Sword Sect, the Middle Stage Dharma Aspect True Lord, True Monarch Changkong.

A powerful Sword Cultivator!

True Monarch Changkong stroked his long beard and said slowly, "Indeed. No matter how much we lobby the rest, they still want to remain neutral."

True Monarch Taihe nodded and said softly, "The Tianshu Sect isn't much better. Let them be."

In fact, the Fengming Sword Sect was the first Dharma Aspect force he had recruited.

He just hadn't let them join the fray immediately.

In contrast, the Tianshu Sect was hesitant and indecisive.

If he hadn't paid a great price, he probably wouldn't have been able to invite them.

True Monarch Changkong nodded: "Xuan Yin Palace has True Monarchs Minggu, Xuepo, and Youquan stationed at the front line this time, and True Monarch Hungu of the Yingu Cult and True Monarch Tiandu of Du Yuan Mountain are also in the shadows. What do you plan to do, Fellow Daoist?"

The corners of True Monarch Taihe's mouth curled up slightly: "What to do? Naturally, I will join the fray directly."

He raised his hand and waved lightly; the water screen dissipated, turning into specks of spiritual light that scattered into the air of the hall.

"Striking first without warning violates the agreement. Your reputation, Fellow Daoist..."

"Reputation? Agreement?"

True Monarch Taihe slowly rose and walked down the jade steps, his footsteps echoing in the empty hall.

With every step, a ripple of golden light appeared on the jade beneath his feet.

"These things have always been shackles for the weak and tools for the strong. After confronting each other for so long, those six fellows from Xuan Yin Palace have finally agreed to separate!"

"Hehe..."

True Monarch Taihe looked out of the hall.

Through the open hall doors, he could see the churning sea of clouds below and the ten-thousand-zhang Taihe Mountain faintly visible beneath the clouds.

His purpose in using this war was never simply to plot for that bit of territory and Resources of Xuan Yin Palace, but for those six Dharma Aspect True Lords who had banded together.

To... establish his authority!

What better choice for establishing authority than destroying Xuan Yin Palace?

"Could there be some trickery in this?"

"Perhaps, but no matter how many schemes they have, in the end, they must still submit to strength!"

True Monarch Changkong nodded in agreement.

"The wind is rising."

He said softly.

The sea of clouds high in the sky began to churn violently, and the originally calm air currents became turbulent.

The waterfall pouring from the edge of the inverted mountain was scattered by the gale, turning into a mist that refracted a seven-colored rainbow in the sunlight.

Standing beside him, True Monarch Changkong looked at this celestial phenomenon and understood in his heart: a colossal storm sweeping through the Xuan Yin Continent was about to arrive.

And the center of the storm was the seemingly young figure before him.

"In three days, I will personally go to the front line. At that time, I ask you to act according to the plan, Fellow Daoist."

True Monarch Changkong bowed deeply: "I will not fail your trust."

Having said that, his figure gradually faded and eventually turned into specks of starlight, dissipating within the hall.

True Monarch Taihe stood alone before the hall doors, looking at the endless sea of clouds, and lightly raised his left hand.

In his palm, a miniature model of Taihe Mountain appeared. Every plant, tree, rock, and drop of water on the mountain was identical to the real inverted mountain peak.

"A hundred years of planning, all for this one move."

He whispered to himself, the gold and silver light in his eyes flowing incessantly. "After this battle, once my authority is established, I can begin preparing for Ascension."

The Taihe Mountain in his palm suddenly shone with brilliant light.

The entire inverted mountain peak vibrated along with it, slowly adjusting its direction and moving toward the border where the battlefield was located.

On the ground, Disciples of the Taihe Sect looked up at the sky, only to see light faintly flickering above the clouds, unaware that their Sect Master had already quietly departed.