372: It came at the wrong time.

"Oh, right!"

A flash of spiritual light flickered in Fang Yusheng's eyes, as if she had suddenly recalled something important. She immediately cautioned, "When you travel in the future, if you encounter anyone from the Dao Seeking Sect, remember to try your best not to make enemies of them."

Hearing this, the woman in palace attire frowned slightly, her Face full of surprise. "Martial Aunt actually regards the Dao Seeking Sect so highly? Could it be that they are even more powerful than our Medicine Hut?"

Fang Yusheng shook her head gently. "In terms of our Sect's foundation, they naturally cannot compare. But if we are talking about first-rate forces like the Ten Thousand Formations Sect, the Dao Seeking Sect will certainly not be inferior in the slightest."

Meanwhile.

Various Sects and forces were arriving one after another, their figures appearing in an endless stream as they all converged toward the Zhen Tian Mountain Range.

Amidst the mountain mists, the discussions of Cultivators rose and fell. Most of what they talked about was still that Secret Realm in the Heaven Rank Continent, though a few forces couldn't resist inquiring about news regarding the Dao Seeking Sect, curious about the true strength of this rising power.

At the peak of the Zhen Tian Mountain Range, an ancient platform stood majestic, shrouded in swirling mist.

Suddenly, a vast and matchless pressure descended directly from the Nine Heavens, like an invisible giant hand enveloping the surroundings. All the Cultivators present felt a chill in their hearts, their entire attention instantly drawn by this Aura.

The next moment!

Centering on the ancient platform, an invisible field suddenly expanded. Ripples of golden Spiritual Qi spread out layer by layer, profound and exquisite, faintly isolating the ancient platform from the outside world.

Dongfang Li said softly, "Great Love Immortal Venerable has arrived. The meeting should be starting now."

As soon as she finished speaking, everyone saw a black-robed figure manifest from the Void Realm, slowly descending above the ancient platform. No one could detect how he had appeared; it was as if that figure had been standing there quietly from the very beginning, merging into one with Heaven and Earth.

Immediately after, Great Love Immortal Venerable raised his hand and gave a light wave. Those golden ripples of Spiritual Qi spread out in all directions like a tide, and wherever they passed, the Void Realm seemed to be smoothed over.

Yu Qingyan's eyes were full of curiosity as she asked softly, "Revered Master, what is Great Love Immortal Venerable doing?"

"Setting up a concealment Formation and defining the meeting's Realm to obscure the heavenly secrets for this gathering, lest anyone uses this opportunity to pry."

Dongfang Li responded calmly, her gaze sweeping across the mist-shrouded camps. "I wonder if the Cultivators from the Dao Seeking Sect have actually arrived. Alright, it's time for us to take our seats as well."

Before her voice had even faded, two figures turned into streaks of light, suddenly shooting into the ancient platform and landing steadily behind a table.

Following closely behind, the forces of the Myriad Dao Sect, the Demon Abyss Pavilion, and the Qingxiao Sword Sect arrived one after another. Atop the flying boats, spiritual light erupted like daylight. In an instant, they each found their positions and took their seats in the camps surrounding the ancient platform, their Aura awe-inspiring.

The Cultivators of the Yuling Valley huddled in a corner, discussing in lowered voices: "Sect Master, we have already sent people to investigate three times. We've scouted all the camps, but we still haven't found any trace of a force suspected to be the Dao Seeking Sect."

The Grand Elder's gaze was heavy as he scanned the camps in all directions. With a serious expression, he said, "Could it be that they truly do not dare to attend this meeting? They likely received word in advance, knowing they have already offended our Yuling Valley, and thus fled the meeting out of cowardice?"

The Sect Master of the Yuling Valley sat behind the table, his fingertips lightly tapping the edge of the desk, his expression shifting between light and dark. Hearing this, he slowly raised his hand to stop everyone's discussion and said in a deep voice:

"Enough."

"Since the Dao Seeking Sect dares to avoid coming, they naturally harbor a guilty conscience. There will be plenty of opportunities to settle this account in the future. Today, the meeting is the priority. Once the matter of the Heavenly Tribulation Continent's Secret Realm is concluded, we will settle these scores properly."

The Cultivators beside him nodded in agreement upon hearing this, turning their gazes toward the center of the ancient platform, waiting for Great Love Immortal Venerable to speak.

In this moment of absolute silence, a clear glow like moonlight spilled down from the southwestern sky, piercing through the swirling mist and instantly illuminating the entire peak of the Zhen Tian Mountain Range.

A white-haired woman was seen arriving atop a Talisman. Her three thousand silver strands of hair cascaded down to her waist like a waterfall from the Nine Heavens, instantly drawing everyone's attention.

"It's Mystic Talisman Heavenly Venerable!" Among the crowd, someone was the first to cry out in a low voice, their tone filled with uncontrollable excitement.

After all, this woman was the current world's number one in the path of Talismans. Her Talisman techniques were heaven-reaching, capable of channeling the power of Heaven and Earth, and she could even evolve the universe through Talismans.

Mystic Talisman Heavenly Venerable remained indifferent to the surrounding discussions and gazes, her expression as calm as ever. Like an Immortal walking upon the moon, she slowly landed behind a table on one side of the ancient platform, facing Great Love Immortal Venerable from a distance.

At this moment, Great Love Immortal Venerable slowly raised his hand and gave a light wave toward the Void Realm. The golden Spiritual Qi ripples that had originally expanded around the ancient platform suddenly retracted, flowing back like a tide and instantly transforming into a semi-transparent light screen that enveloped the entire ancient platform area.

This light screen was crystal clear, completely isolating the ancient platform from the outside world. It could both obscure the contents of the meeting to prevent prying eyes and withstand external impacts to protect the safety of the proceedings.

The moment the light screen formed, Great Love Immortal Venerable slowly spoke, his voice clear as a bell, penetrating the screen and spreading to every corner, falling clearly into the ears of every Cultivator:

"The meeting begins."

Four simple words, yet they carried an unquestionable authority that caused the originally restless crowd to instantly fall silent. All the Cultivators sat up straight, waiting for the subsequent words.

After all, no one dared to not give an Immortal Venerable Face.

Otherwise, that would truly be like an old man eating arsenic—tired of living.

Of course, if one was also an Immortal Venerable, then it didn't matter. Among them, the Sword Venerable's conduct was the most solitary.

Great Love Immortal Venerable's gaze slowly swept across everyone present, his eyes calm and without ripples. He slowly added:

"I presume you all know of the Yao Race's plot for the Rain God Continent some time ago. At that time, myself, Mystic Talisman Heavenly Venerable, and the Mad Venerable intercepted three Yao Venerables in the Outer Heavens. This meeting was originally supposed to be co-hosted by myself, Mystic Talisman Heavenly Venerable, and the Mad Venerable.

"However, the Mad Venerable was not lightly injured during the previous fierce battle to intercept the Yao Race at the border of the Heavenly Tribulation Continent. He is currently in closed-door cultivation to heal his injuries. Therefore, this meeting will be hosted only by myself and Mystic Talisman Heavenly Venerable."

As the words fell, the Cultivators throughout the field all showed solemn expressions and began to discuss in low voices.

"No wonder there's no sign of the Mad Venerable. It turns out he was injured during the clash in the Outer Heavens."

"It seems the Yao Race's invasion this time is even more perilous than we imagined."

"With Great Love Immortal Venerable and Mystic Talisman Heavenly Venerable hosting the meeting, I'm sure a counter-strategy can be decided. We just need to follow the arrangements."

The sounds of discussion gradually died down, and everyone's gaze once again converged on the center of the ancient platform, waiting for the two top powerhouses to announce the core content of this meeting. However, at this very moment, a sudden change occurred in the world!

Yet, in the midst of this extreme silence—

Buzz—!

A low and distant hum suddenly pierced through their Divine Souls, as if coming from the ancient primordial era, causing the Cultivators' spiritual power to resonate involuntarily.

Immediately after, the sky suddenly darkened. The originally clear horizon was rapidly obscured by thick clouds. Before everyone could react, thousands of streaks of seven-colored radiance suddenly poured down from behind the clouds, like a Milky Way waterfall hanging upside down from the Nine Heavens, grandly enveloping the sky above the ancient platform, illuminating this piece of the world with brilliant colors and dazzling splendor.

"What's going on?!"

"What a strong Aura! Who is stirring the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi?"

The Cultivators cried out in alarm, their Faces filled with shock and bewilderment as they instinctively looked up at the sky enveloped by the seven-colored radiance.

The next moment!

A massive white phantom slowly emerged from the points of light. That phantom's body resembled a deer, yet it possessed snow-white mane and a pair of curved jade horns on its head. Swirling cloud-like radiance was wrapped around the horns, and its four hooves trod on mid-air, leaving behind golden lotus imprints with every step.

The most peculiar thing was its forehead, which actually had a pair of vertical eyes, within which a galaxy seemed to be rotating.

This phantom suspended in the air like a Divine Being descending. An auspicious Aura and the radiance intertwined into a magnificent light screen, enveloping the entire Zhen Tian Mountain Range.

Deep within the radiance, Chen Xuan, dressed in white, sat upon the true body of the Bai Ze alongside the pretty Qi Yue in her light purple dress, looking down from above.

"It seems we've arrived at a bit of an inopportune time."