116: lesson

After a day of the news brewing, the Central Region, which was still preparing for the Heavenly Selection Grand Ceremony, suddenly boiled over.

It was as if someone had thrown a large stone into a lake, stirring up a thousand waves!

Whether it was the ancient halls of the various Holy Lands, the Sect Immortal Caves hidden deep in the mountains, or the Loose Cultivator communities traveling through towns, anyone who heard the news couldn't help but say: "Holy crap, is this for real?"

"Zixia Holy Land has been passed down for hundreds of years, and its Mountain-Protecting Array is profound and mysterious. Even if the older generation has withered in recent years, it's definitely not something an ordinary force can shake. Who has such capability?"

"Can I still go to Zixia Holy Land to pick up some scraps? After all, such a big piece of fat meat—even a small bite would be enough for me to break through to the Golden Core Realm."

"Idiot, would picking up scraps even be your turn? It was already divided up by the Disciples of Zixia Holy Land. This old man secretly went to Zixia Holy Land last night to take a look; it was truly covered in corpses, with blood energy soaring to the heavens. Two Golden Core Disciples of Zixia Holy Land were still fighting tooth and nail over an Earth-rank Divine Ability!"

"I don't know what kind of existence Zixia Holy Land provoked! It's said that two men attacked that day, breaking the Mountain-Protecting Array with a casual strike. The entire Sect shook, and dark clouds covered the sun. The Sect Master kindly went to reason with them, but that person suddenly attacked, blowing a breath that made the Sect Master explode!"

"Bullshit! I clearly heard that Zixia Holy Land called over a hundred Nascent Soul Stage Experts to surround those two, but in the end, they were all wiped out in one go."

No matter how exaggerated or mysterious the news was blown out of proportion, no one could deny that Zixia Holy Land, one of the Ten Great Sacred Lands, had indeed been wiped out by two mysterious experts... Heavenly Secret Pavilion!

Inside a magnificent pavilion built entirely of Xuanhuang Stone.

Several Elders gathered in the meeting hall, the spiritual tea on the table having long since gone cold. The man in the position of Pavilion Master had a face as lean as an ancient pine, with sword-like eyebrows slanting into his temples, wearing a set of cyan and white brocade clothes.

He looked around and said in a deep voice, "I presume you all have heard about Zixia Holy Land being wiped out. What are your thoughts?"

The Grand Elder, as sturdy as an iron tower with a face full of beard, said solemnly, "To be able to break the Mountain-Protecting Array and wipe out the experts within the Sect in just half a day... aside from our Heavenly Secret Pavilion, no other Holy Land has the strength to do so."

"Not only that, after wiping out the Sect, they didn't go on a killing spree, nor did they seize Magic Treasures and resources. Such behavior is clearly too strange."

Elder Fang summarized, "To have such capability, it must have come from those few Seniors in the Profound Realm."

Pavilion Master Fang Wuchang nodded slightly, "Indeed. According to the information I've gathered, it was done by people sent by Senior Qin Tianxing. I just don't know how Zixia Holy Land provoked them."

Hiss~

Upon hearing the Pavilion Master reveal the truth, some who did not yet know the terror of the Mysterious Realm Emissaries gasped.

Just by sending two people, they wiped out a Holy Land. What Realm were those two exactly?

How would they compare to the Pavilion Master?

Elder Fang's expression was grave upon hearing this. He remembered that Qin Tianxing and his group were tasting fine wine at Qionglu Hall yesterday, weren't they? How could they have come into conflict with Zixia Holy Land, which was thousands of miles away?

Moreover, the people of Zixia Holy Land weren't blind; how could they have offended them?

Could it be... His pupils constricted as he couldn't help but think of the white-clothed figure and Xiao Yun who had come to visit him yesterday.

Although Xiao Yun had been expelled from Zixia Holy Land, the Mysterious Realm Emissaries wouldn't care about those messy affairs. Could it be that Xiao Yun and the other person provoked the Mysterious Realm Emissaries, thereby implicating Zixia Holy Land?

The more Elder Fang thought about it, the more he felt this was the most likely possibility.

He felt a bit of pity for Fellow Daoist Chen. Had he known, he should have kept him for another day.

The Grand Elder said in a deep voice, "Pavilion Master, what should we do about this?"

Fang Wuchang said with a serious expression, "This is not something we can intervene in. You all must remember to warn the Disciples under you to keep their attitudes straight during this time and tone down the air of being the number one Sect in the Central Region."

"Yes, Pavilion Master!"

...Qiongdan City!

Inside a magnificent building.

"Pavilion Master, Pavilion Master! Your subordinate has an important matter to report." Before the person arrived, their voice had already entered the Sect Main Hall.

Daoist Lianxiao's sleeves fluttered, his face somewhat gloomy. The moment he heard this voice, a bad premonition rose in his heart.

Immediately after, a Disciple dressed in gray robes rushed in and knelt on the ground with a thud. "Pavilion Master, your subordinate has an important matter to report."

"Speak!"

"Just... just received news that Zixia... Zixia Holy Land was wiped out yesterday by two mysterious experts. The Mountain-Protecting Array was shattered, and all experts above the Nascent Soul stage were killed. The entire Sect has already scattered like ants."

Upon hearing this, Daoist Lianxiao's eyes lit up, and he breathed a sigh of relief. His previous gloomy expression was completely swept away!

So it wasn't his own Sect that had an accident!

A meaningful smile unconsciously curled at the corners of his mouth. "Oh? Tell me more, what happened!"

The Disciple nodded and began to quickly report the news he had gathered.

"With just two people, they broke Zixia Holy Land's Mountain-Protecting Array and slaughtered all the Nascent Soul experts. Those with such ability must be from the Profound Realm."

"With one less Zixia Holy Land, this year's Heavenly Selection Grand Ceremony has a few more chances of winning."

"As long as we can win the Heavenly Selection Grand Ceremony, we can ask the Mysterious Realm Emissary for a heavenly dust pill. Breaking through to the Soul Emergence Stage will be just around the corner." Thinking of this, Daoist Lianxiao's eyes couldn't help but burn with heat.

It was a pity his Aptitude was limited, and he couldn't go to the Profound Realm.

Such conduct was the Great Dao of immortal cultivation he pursued!

He stood up and paced a few steps, his gaze scanning outside the hall. He said with a serious expression, "Pass down my order: everyone is to keep a low profile during this time!"

"Herb gathering and Alchemy must follow the rules; no causing trouble outside. Especially emphasize this—if anyone is blind enough to provoke someone from the Profound Realm, let alone themselves, I will settle the score with their entire lineage as well!"

Two hundred years ago, a foolish woman offended a Mysterious Realm Emissary and suffered the destruction of her Sect. To think that today, there are still people who haven't learned their lesson!

The Disciple hurriedly responded, "Yes! Your subordinate will go and pass the order immediately. I won't dare to make any mistakes!"

...North of the Central Region!

Inside the main hall of Profound Moon Palace.

Sect Master Xiao Yue, with skin as white as the moon and silver hair reaching her waist, sat upright on the Sect Master's throne.

She looked calmly at the woman below. "Secluded Moon, Qi Yue has been in seclusion for many days. Is there still no sign of her coming out?"

Secluded Moon squeezed out some worry and replied, "Presumably, the Bottleneck of the Nascent Soul Sixth Layer is too great for Sister, which is why she has been delayed in coming out."

Sect Master Xiao Yue frowned slightly. "According to Qi Yue's Aptitude, it shouldn't be! If she doesn't come out soon, she'll miss this Heavenly Selection Grand Ceremony."

Secluded Moon lowered her eyes, her tone carrying a bit of gravity:

"Sect Master, the path of immortal cultivation is inherently an act against heaven, full of variables. Out of ten thousand, there may not be one complete success. Perhaps Sister has simply run into that one-in-ten-thousand obstruction."

Once the Heavenly Selection Grand Ceremony is over, it will be time to say goodbye to Sister and this world.

Sect Master Xiao Yue nodded slightly upon hearing this. "That's true! Some people have Bottlenecks at Foundation Establishment, some at Core Formation. Perhaps this stage is that one-in-ten-thousand for Qi Yue."

She then turned to Elder Yun Yao, who was standing by, and asked in a deep voice, "By the way, regarding the destruction of Zixia Holy Land, has any progress been made in the investigation?"

Yun Yao took a step forward and reported softly, "To the Sect Master, this matter should have been done by people from the Profound Realm. Only they could have such capability."

"It's just unknown how Zixia Holy Land provoked them."

Xiao Yue frowned slightly and sighed:

"The Profound Realm again."

"In the past, not a single Disciple who went to the Profound Realm has ever returned to this world. I wonder what kind of place it really is."