95: Chapter 95: The Dispute Over the Details – Undercurrents Run Deep

The Alliance meeting at Chaotian Palace, under the direction of Emperor Yan, entered a more tedious and intense phase of discussing the fine details.

The establishment of the "Anti-Calamity Detailed Rules Drafting Council," led by Elders of the Five Directions Council with Soul Transformation True Monarchs nominated by each region, seemed fair, but it was actually a smokeless power struggle. Each seat represented the interests and influence of the forces behind it. The five major forces of the Central Plains naturally held an absolute advantage. The Western Desert, Southern Region, Eastern Wasteland, and Northern Plains had to coordinate internally to compete for limited seats.

Regarding the Southern Region, with the full support of True Monarch Daoxuan, True Monarch Xiaoyun, and others, coupled with Lin Wan's current prestige, they successfully secured two seats—Lin Wan himself and True Monarch Daoxuan. Although True Monarch Daoxuan was only at the Peak of the Nascent Soul, as the Sect Head of the founding Sect of the Southern Region Anti-Calamity Alliance, his credentials were sufficient. Moreover, he was steady and skilled at coordination, enough to represent the interests of most forces in the Southern Region.

The Eastern Wasteland, under the strong leadership of the Flame Emperor, occupied two seats—the Flame Emperor himself and his staunch supporter, the Palace Master of "Lihuo Palace," another major force in the Eastern Wasteland. The Northern Plains' "Yin Sha Alliance" was weak and internally divided, barely managing to nominate a relatively neutral Soul Transformation Cultivator. In the Western Desert, Master Liaoyin, with his high prestige, occupied one seat.

The five major forces of the Central Plains each occupied one seat, plus three seats allocated to other top-tier forces in the Central Plains. Ultimately, the "Detailed Rules Drafting Council" consisted of five Void Refining giants (nominal) and eighteen Soul Transformation True Monarchs.

The pilot formation of the "Demon-Slaying Special Task Force" was also put on the agenda. It was tentatively agreed that the task force would consist of thirty members, with no fewer than five Soul Transformation Cultivators, while the rest must be at the Late or Peak stage of the Nascent Soul, and they must pass strict assessments of loyalty, Heart-Nature, and combat power. Lin Wan would act as the captain, reporting directly to the "Five Directions Council," and possessing "emergency disposal rights" in situations where the target was confirmed to be high-threat "the end" related, though a detailed report must be submitted afterwards for review by the Council. The Alliance would provide priority support in terms of resources and intelligence.

This proposal once again attracted many gazes. A thirty-man elite squad, with at least five Soul Transformation Cultivators, directly under Lin Wan, and possessing "emergency disposal rights"—this was almost equivalent to placing a sharp, unsheathed blade in Lin Wan's hand. Although there was the constraint of a post-event review, in an emergency, how much this blade could achieve depended entirely on the judgment and determination of the wielder.

The Flame Emperor and others naturally opposed it strongly, attempting to add restrictive clauses, and even proposing that "Demon-Slaying Squad" operations require authorization from at least two "Five Directions Council Elders" to be executed. But this was rejected by Emperor Yan on the grounds that "the opportunity for battle changes in an instant and must not be overly constrained," only agreeing to add a clause that "if the operation involves Cultivators above the Soul Transformation Stage, or the core interests of top-tier Sects, it must be reported to at least one Council Elder in advance."

This regulation seemed to limit the power of the "Demon-Slaying Squad," but in reality, it left room for maneuvering. After all, "reporting" did not equal "approval."

After much verbal sparring and bargaining, until night fell, many key frameworks and principles were barely agreed upon. The specific implementation details, personnel selection standards, resource allocation plans, and so on, would need to be further discussed after the "Detailed Rules Drafting Council" was established.

The Alliance meeting temporarily came to an end, and representatives from all sides left Chaotian Palace with different moods, returning to their respective residences.

"Junior Brother Lin, you really poked a hole in the sky today." On the way back to the Inspection Hall, Han Lingtian couldn't help but sigh, his eyes full of admiration and a hint of worry, "Those old guys, especially the Flame Emperor, are probably going to hate you to death. What you proposed is essentially carving meat from their hearts."

"Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures." Lin Wan's expression was calm, "If one worries about this and that, by the time 'the end' is at the gates, it will be too late. Being able to set the tone today is already not easy. The subsequent drafting of details will be the real hard battle. Senior Brother Daoxuan, Fellow Daoist Xiaoyun, I will have to trouble you both. Please ensure you fight for favorable terms for the Southern Region and the overall situation of the Anti-Calamity Alliance within the Council."

"Rest assured, Junior Brother Lin. Although this old Daoist's cultivation is insufficient, these old bones are still of some use." True Monarch Daoxuan said solemnly.

"My Xuantian Sword Sect will definitely advance and retreat with the Qingyun Sect and Alliance Leader Lin!" True Monarch Xiaoyun also said in a deep voice.

"Thank you." Lin Wan nodded. He knew that the subsequent struggle would shift from the open Alliance meeting to the more complex and secretive "Detailed Rules Drafting Council." That was the core battlefield where various forces would wrestle, compromise, and trade.

Returning to the Inspection Hall, Lin Wan dismissed his attendants and went to the quiet room alone. He needed time to organize his thoughts and accumulate strength for the upcoming struggle.

The Chaos Return-to-Ruins Dao Fruit in his brow slowly rotated, and the emerald brilliance within, symbolizing "Life" and "Reincarnation," coexisted harmoniously with the Dao rhymes of Chaos, Five Elements, Return-to-Ruins, and the end, flowing slowly. He could feel that his cultivation, after experiencing the cycle of life and death and the transformation of his Dao Fruit, had been completely stabilized at the Middle Stage of the Soul Transformation, and his Foundation was extremely solid; the Late Stage did not seem out of reach. More importantly, his perception and application of the power of "Reincarnation" were deepening every moment.

"That 'Source Seed of Life'... where did it come from? That voice... who is it?" This question lingered in Lin Wan's mind. He could feel that the phantom of the "seed" was not a simple gift of energy, but more like a... Legacy? Or perhaps, some kind of mark that had existed deep in his Bloodline and Divine Soul... activated at a moment of life and death?

"Mother..." He whispered this word, and complex emotions welled up in his heart. He had lost both parents since he was young and was raised by the Qingyun Sect. Memories of his parents had long since blurred. Could it be that his background was related to this "Source Seed of Life," to "Reincarnation," or even to that mysterious existence called "Him" by the Apostles of "the end"?

There were too few clues to investigate further. Lin Wan suppressed the distracting thoughts in his heart and began to deduce the reactions of various forces at today's Alliance meeting, especially the Flame Emperor.

"Flame Emperor... Skyfire Sect... Burning Flame Valley..." Cold light flashed in Lin Wan's eyes. The Flame Emperor's performance at the Alliance meeting today seemed angry and tough, but actually, it was somewhat like a paper tiger, even faintly carrying a trace of... guilt and urgency. Especially when he mentioned "insiders" and his gaze swept over him, the subtle, almost imperceptible fluctuation of his Qi did not escape Lin Wan's now keen perception.

"It seems that the matter of Burning Flame Valley is likely much more complicated than he said. It's even possible that he himself cannot distance himself from it." Lin Wan had a judgment in his heart, "After the 'Demon-Slaying Squad' is established, the first thing to investigate will be the Skyfire Sect!"

However, the Skyfire Sect was, after all, an overlord, and the Flame Emperor was at the Late Stage of the Soul Transformation and one of the "Five Directions Council Elders." Without concrete evidence, he could not touch him. Moreover, alerting the enemy might cause him to jump over the wall like a dog or destroy the evidence completely.

"I need to think of a way to find out the truth without causing too much turmoil, preferably... luring the snake out of its hole and letting him reveal his own fox tail." Lin Wan pondered. He was now the "Head of Inspection Envoys" and temporarily led the "Demon-Slaying Squad," so he had considerable power, but also many Restrictions. Especially now that the "detailed rules" had not been fully introduced and the "Demon-Slaying Squad" had not been formally established, many things should not be done with great fanfare.

"Perhaps, I can start with the miners rescued from Burning Flame Valley, the Disciples within the Skyfire Sect who are dissatisfied with the Flame Emperor's rule, or... other Eastern Wasteland forces that have conflicts of interest with the Skyfire Sect?" Lin Wan pondered. Elder Zhou and others were still dealing with the aftermath of Burning Flame Valley and Ten Thousand Ghost Cave; perhaps they could find some clues there.

In addition, there must be people within the Alliance who were dissatisfied with the Flame Emperor or had a clear understanding of the threat of "the end" and were willing to support him. For example, Master Liaoyin of the Western Desert and Sword Master Jian Wuming of the Wuji Sword Sect in the Central Plains seemed to appreciate him quite a bit. Fairy Yaoxi of the Yaochi Immortal Palace also had a relatively friendly attitude. Great Elder Danchenzi of the Taishang Alchemy Sect seemed very interested in his ability to refine the power of "the end." Elder Xingshu of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion was unfathomable but seemed to be observing and deducing him as well.

These were all objects that could be won over and cooperated with. Opposing "the end" and cleaning up insiders could not be achieved by one person's power; one must unite all forces that could be united.

Just as Lin Wan was lost in thought, a light knocking sound came from outside the quiet room, along with Elder Zhou's respectful voice:

"Inspection Envoy, this subordinate has an important matter to report."

"Come in."

Elder Zhou pushed the door and entered with a hint of solemnity on his face, holding an encrypted transmission jade talisman in his hand.

"Inspection Envoy, we just received a secret report from a hidden line planted in the Eastern Wasteland; there are... unusual movements."

"Oh?" Lin Wan took the jade talisman, and his Divine Thought probed in. A moment later, his brows furrowed slightly.

The information in the jade talisman showed that shortly after the Alliance meeting ended and representatives from all sides returned to their residences, the Flame Emperor did not immediately return to the Skyfire Sect's residence in the Eastern Wasteland but secretly met with several people. Among them were Old Ancestor Guyou of the Northern Plains' "Yin Sha Alliance," a Grand Elder of the "Shen Gong Sect," which was on good terms with the Skyfire Sect and famous for Artifact Refining in the Central Plains, and also... two strangers with mysterious identities, obscure auras, and who did not seem to be native Cultivators of the Tiannan Continent!

The location of the secret meeting was set in a very secluded private manor belonging to the "Shen Gong Sect" in Tiandu City. Extremely strong isolation Restrictions were set up around the secret meeting, and the hidden line could not detect the specific content of the conversation. But it was certain that the secret meeting lasted for nearly an hour, and when all parties left, their expressions were all a bit hurried, and the Flame Emperor and those two mysterious people seemed to have reached some kind of "agreement."

"Old Ancestor Guyou... Shen Gong Sect... and two outsiders of unknown origin..." Lin Wan tapped his fingertips on the table, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes. The Flame Emperor had just suffered a setback at the Alliance meeting and turned around to secretly meet these people, including non-native Cultivators; this was absolutely not normal! Especially those two mysterious people, combined with the suspicion that the Flame Emperor might be involved with "the end," their identities were ready to be revealed!

"I'm afraid they are people from 'the end' side, or rather, 'collaborators' developed by them in other realms?" Lin Wan's alarm bells rang in his heart. What was the Flame Emperor trying to do? Colluding with external forces, perhaps even being pawns of "the end," trying to cause destruction within the Alliance? Or was it that he sensed danger and wanted to transfer in advance, or... launch some kind of countermeasure?

"Have the aura characteristics of those two mysterious people been recorded?" Lin Wan asked.

"The hidden line's cultivation is limited, and they only vaguely felt that the two people's auras were extremely cold and obscure, as if they could blend into the shadows, and they carried a kind of... extremely uncomfortable feeling of dead silence that seemed to be able to corrode vitality. It is definitely not comparable to ordinary Demonic Path or Ghost Dao Cultivators." Elder Zhou said in a deep voice.

"A sense of dead silence... corroding vitality..." Cold light in Lin Wan's eyes grew stronger. This description was so similar to the characteristics of the erosion of "the end"!

"It seems that our Elder Flame Emperor really can't sit still anymore." Lin Wan sneered, "Continue to monitor closely, especially the Flame Emperor, as well as every move of the Skyfire Sect, Shen Gong Sect, and Old Ancestor Guyou. In addition, notify our people in the 'Detailed Rules Drafting Council' that they need to be extra careful at tomorrow's meeting; the Flame Emperor might make a move. Also, in my name, secretly arrange to meet Master Liaoyin, Senior Sword Master Jian Wuming, and Fairy Yaoxi; the time is set for tomorrow night. The location... you arrange it, and ensure it is kept secret."

"Yes! This subordinate will go and handle it immediately!" Elder Zhou felt a chill in his heart, knowing the seriousness of the situation, and hurriedly agreed and left in a hurry.

In the quiet room, peace was restored once again.

Lin Wan walked to the window and looked at the brilliant but cold night of Tiandu City outside the window, the Chaos and emerald brilliance intertwined in his eyes, as deep as an abyss.

"The mountain rain is coming and the wind is filling the building..."

"Flame Emperor, since you have chosen this path, don't blame me... for being ruthless under my sword."

"Let this storm begin with you..."