165: I sit calmly on my fishing platform and watch the world go by.

Outside Qingming Hall, the Ghost Vine that Gu Changsheng had stimulated with his Wither-Bloom Magic Power hung its branches listlessly.

It wasn't that its life force had been severed, but rather that the winds of the Southern Border had been too tight and too harsh over these past few days.

A killing intent originating from the north crossed thousands of mountains and rivers, pressing down until the entire protective mountain array of the Corpse Yin Sect let out a faint, mournful wail.

Inside the hall, the aroma of tea curled in the air.

Gu Changsheng sat cross-legged on the cloud bed, holding a purple clay teapot as he poured boiling water into a cup.

The stream of water poured down, stirring the emerald tea soup into a tumble, much like the ups and downs of this chaotic world.

The hall doors opened on their own without any wind.

A purple-gold figure stepped inside with steady strides. Every step seemed to land on a unique rhythmic node, causing the Qi within the hall to slightly stagnate.

Immortal Master Sect Master Youquan.

This powerful figure who had governed the Corpse Yin Sect for centuries showed no panic at this moment. Only within his deep-set eye sockets were two clusters of dark ghost fire, appearing several degrees deeper than usual.

He didn't bother with pleasantries, walking straight to the opposite side of the table and sitting down cross-legged.

"The wind from the north has blown over."

Immortal Master Sect Master Youquan took the tea cup Gu Changsheng pushed toward him but didn't drink. He merely rubbed the scalding surface of the cup, his fingertips feeling the heat radiating through the porcelain.

"Shuyu Sect, the Wang Clan Immortal Family, Qingsong Daoist Academy, Solemn Gold Palace, Taiqing Sect."

He slowly spat out these five names, his tone as flat as if he were reciting the names of the dead.

"Five forces have joined hands, gathering four Purple Mansion experts, over a hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and over ten thousand in the Qi Refining stage. Half a day ago, they broke the first line of defense set by the Wan Sha Hall at 'Soul Severing Gorge'."

Immortal Master Sect Master Youquan looked up, his gaze piercing through the swirling steam to look directly at Gu Changsheng.

"Fellow Daoist Protracting Purity, I'm afraid this fire is going to burn through all the interconnected camps."

Gu Changsheng did not stop his movements, picking up his own tea cup and taking a light sip.

Bitterness exploded on the tip of his tongue, only to transform into a long-lasting, sweet aftertaste.

Deep within his Sea of Consciousness, the lines of crimson text had already analyzed the intelligence from the front lines in exhaustive detail.

【Intelligence 1: Although the Eastern Wasteland Alliance is powerful, they each have their own ulterior motives. The Shuyu Sect charges at the front while the Qingsong Daoist Academy stays behind to preserve its strength, and the Solemn Gold Palace is doing the bare minimum.】

【Intelligence 2: Blood Fiend Master, the Hall Master of the Wan Sha Hall, has already sacrificed three thousand disciples to awaken the sleeping remnant soul of the 'Blood River Old Ancestor'. He is using this as the array core to set up the 'Myriad Fiends Blood River Array'. This array grows stronger against powerful foes and specifically counters the Righteous Path's Noble Qi.】

Gu Changsheng set down his tea cup, his fingertips lightly tapping on the table.

Ttap, tap, tap.

The crisp sound echoed in the empty hall, easily drowning out the howling wind outside.

"The Wan Sha Hall will not fall."

Gu Changsheng's tone was indifferent, as if he were stating a predetermined fact.

Immortal Master Sect Master Youquan's eyebrows twitched slightly, and his movements paused.

"Oh? Fellow Daoist is so certain?"

As the leader of a sect, he naturally had his own intelligence channels, but all the news he received indicated that the Wan Sha Hall was retreating steadily and was on the verge of collapse.

If the Wan Sha Hall fell, the Corpse Yin Sect would be next, like teeth exposed to the cold when the lips are gone. This was the fundamental reason he had come today.

He was here to ask for a strategy, and also to test the waters.

To test how much weight this "Old Ancestor Protracting Purity" truly carried, and whether he was worth entrusting his life and fortune to.

Gu Changsheng didn't explain directly. Instead, he dipped his index finger into some tea and drew a line on the table.

"The Righteous Path moves south; what do they seek?"

"Resources, territory, and... that so-called reputation of eliminating demons and defending the Dao."

Gu Changsheng pressed heavily on a point on the line, cutting it off.

"The Wan Sha Hall cultivates Evil Qi and follows a fierce and violent path. Although I haven't met that old devil Blood Fiend Master, observing his actions, he is by no means someone who would just wait for death."

"The Righteous Path Alliance seems imposing, but in reality, they are a motley crew. They want to eat meat, but they're afraid of breaking their teeth."

At this point, a mocking curve appeared at the corner of Gu Changsheng's mouth.

With a wave of his hand, the water stains on the table evaporated instantly.

"Within a month, there will surely be a change on the front lines."

"The Wan Sha Hall will use a pyrrhic victory to show those hypocrites of the Eastern Wasteland exactly how hard this bone is to chew."

Immortal Master Sect Master Youquan fell silent.

He stared at the spot where the water mark had already dried, his mind rapidly deducing Gu Changsheng's words.

As a titan of the Demonic Path, he naturally understood the meaning of the word "ruthless."

But he hadn't expected that this seemingly tranquil and inactive Fellow Daoist before him would have such sharp insight into the situation, even possessing a heart-shaking coldness.

"Then in your opinion, how should my Corpse Yin Sect handle itself?"

Immortal Master Sect Master Youquan leaned forward slightly. This was the first time he had adopted a posture of seeking advice in front of Gu Changsheng.

Gu Changsheng refilled his tea. The hazy steam blurred his face, leaving only a profound and unfathomable silhouette.

"Wait."

A single word, heavy as a thousand catties.

"The Wan Sha Hall is holding the front; that is their fate. If we move now, a victory would only benefit others, and a defeat would mean eternal damnation."

"Within three years, the fires of war will not reach this Myriad Corpse Pit."

Gu Changsheng lifted his eyelids. Within his heterochromatic eyes—one black and one green—there was a calmness that viewed all living beings as chess pieces.

"We must not only wait, but wait with great fanfare."

"Send out the order. Announce to the outside world that I and you are in secluded meditation to comprehend a supreme Demonic Technique. Ignore any requests for help."

Immortal Master Sect Master Youquan's pupils contracted slightly.

This was to sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight, or even... prepare to take a large bite of the meat when both sides were injured.

What a calculation.

What composure.

"A brilliant insight, Fellow Daoist."

Immortal Master Sect Master Youquan picked up the cup of tea that had long since gone cold and drained it in one gulp.

The chill slid down his throat into his stomach, but it caused his originally restless heart to completely settle down.

He stood up and cupped his hands toward Gu Changsheng.

"Since Fellow Daoist has made such an assertion, then I shall accompany you to watch this great play."

With that, Immortal Master Sect Master Youquan turned and left.

His steps were still steady, but compared to when he entered, they were less heavy and more composed.

With such a cold, rational, and strategically flawless "Old Ancestor" presiding, this broken ship of the Corpse Yin Sect might truly be able to sail to the other shore in this storm... Half a month later.

A blood-red messenger Flying Sword tore through the gloom above the Corpse Yin Sect and plunged straight into the square in front of the Main Peak hall.

It was a blood-letter request for help from the Wan Sha Hall, as well as a front-line battle report.

Immortal Master Sect Master Youquan stood at the hall entrance. As his Divine Sense swept over the Jade Slip, a rare look of shock appeared on his normally calm face.

It was exactly as Gu Changsheng had predicted.

The Wan Sha Hall set an ambush at Soul Severing Gorge. Blood Fiend Master unleashed the hidden trump card, the 'Myriad Fiends Blood River Array', not hesitating to self-destruct three second-grade Spiritual Veins to completely swallow the Taiqing Sect's vanguard.

Over a dozen Foundation Establishment Cultivators were killed or injured, and even a Purple Mansion Elder of the Taiqing Sect was heavily wounded and forced to retreat a hundred miles.

The Eastern Wasteland Alliance's offensive was stalled, and they were forced to stop and recuperate.

The situation had reached a stalemate.

"Truly a Divine Being."

Immortal Master Sect Master Youquan crushed the Jade Slip in his hand and looked toward that Qingming Hall floating in the clouds, his eyes full of admiration and wariness.

Knowing the world's tripartite division before even leaving his thatched cottage.

This Old Ancestor Protracting Purity not only had unfathomable cultivation, but his calculations of the human heart and control over the situation made even an old hand like him feel a chill down his spine.

"Pass down my order!"

Immortal Master Sect Master Youquan flicked his sleeve, his voice echoing throughout the sect.

"From this day forward, the entire sect is sealed! Activate the 'Nine Nether Soul-Locking Array'! Without the hand-written orders of myself and Old Ancestor Protracting Purity, not even a fly is allowed in!"

...Inside Qingming Hall.

Gu Changsheng listened to the commotion outside, his expression not shifting in the slightest.

He never cared about the life or death of the Corpse Yin Sect.

This group of demonic cultivators spent their days killing for treasures and refining corpses; their deaths would not be a loss.

The reason he spent this effort talking was merely to buy himself time.

Although he had swallowed that taiyi green wood heart, the half-step fourth-grade medicinal power within it would take at least three years to fully digest.

During this period, he would not allow any variable to interrupt his cultivation.

"How long the Wan Sha Hall can last is not important."

"What matters is that they last until I completely control this body and this Divine Ability."

Gu Changsheng closed his eyes, the Wither-Bloom Magic Power circulating within him.

The left half of his body was withered like dry wood, while the right half was brimming with life.

With his breathing, these two diametrically opposite forces were slowly fusing, transforming into an even more obscure and terrifying power of the Origin.

Just then.

Within his Sea of Consciousness, the system panel that had been silent for half a day suddenly vibrated again.

It wasn't a standard intelligence refresh, but a special notification flashing with golden light.

【Opportunity Captured.】

【Target: Chen Mu (Outer Sect Disciple).】

【Location: Corpse Yin Sect Outer Sect · Soul-Severing Cliff.】

【Status: Currently suffering from bullying by fellow disciples, pushed to a dead end.】

【This child's fate is peculiar and can serve as bait for the 'Spirit Infant'.】