471: The plot to break the void

There is a significant difference between player Sects and native Sects: the number of people.

This leads to player Sects often having a large surface area and numerous branch Sects.

At the same time, there is no clear concept of Rank or class among players; the distinction between inner and outer Sects, or Disciples and Elders, is not one of authority, but rather a division of labor.

Consequently, player Sects sometimes resemble Mortal towns rather than Sects, and they are cities with the most open social atmosphere.

Red Rain Pavilion was naturally no exception, and because more slots had recently been opened, the main Sect was somewhat overcrowded, with every pavilion densely packed with Cultivators.

Wen Xinghai simply scanned the area and secretly formulated an expansion plan, though he did not intervene directly.

He arrived at the assembly hall, where Scarlet General, Shao Kaitian, and others were already waiting, clearly having important matters to discuss.

“Congratulations on mastering your Divine Ability.”

The Vice Pavilion Master, Scarlet General, offered his congratulations first before quickly getting to the point:

“The major event recently is the Ascension Assembly. Although we don't know the recruitment numbers set by each Sect, the situation in the entire Eastern Region will clearly change after the assembly ends.”

Wen Xinghai nodded: “However, it doesn't have much to do with us. Once those Eastern Region Sects recruit people, they will certainly have them restart their cultivation. Cultivating all the way from a Mortal, who knows how long it will take to reach Golden Core Immortal Master, let alone Nascent Soul True Lord.”

Everyone knew the situation would change drastically after the Ascension Assembly, especially as the balance between various player factions would be broken; perhaps even the status of the Dingguo Xi Immortal Dynasty would plummet.

But this matter was still in its early stages and far off; it wouldn't be surprising for any number of variables to arise.

Therefore, Wen Xinghai and the others did not pay much attention to it.

“Besides that, another major matter is Duan Kong Cave...”

Scarlet General frowned: “Currently, the Chu Kingdom and Li Kingdom are under the control of us players. Although Great Jiang is the Dingguo Xi Immortal Dynasty, judging by the attitude of the state-stabilizing seal, it can also be considered player territory.”

“In other words, in our original beginner area of the Eastern Region East, only the Yue Kingdom where Duan Kong Cave is located has not yet been conquered.”

“After the battle at Heshui Prefecture ended, many factions contacted us asking if we should send troops to Duan Kong Cave and occupy the Yue Kingdom.”

Wen Xinghai only found this matter troublesome.

After the Heshui Prefecture incident, everyone was waiting for Wang Long and Moon Abyss to prepare for pulling the Grotto-Heaven, planning to make a fortune inside.

Even those who didn't want to participate in the Grotto-Heaven event were looking for places to enter secluded cultivation, not wanting to cause trouble.

However, with such a large player base, there are always various different ideas; it's understandable that some would want to expand into the Yue Kingdom.

“Duan Kong Cave has an Old Ancestor who is still in secluded cultivation, right?”

Wen Xinghai rubbed his temples, finding it tricky: “And unlike the Old Ancestor of He Shui Manor who relied on a golden body statue, this Old Ancestor of Duan Kong Cave took a Great Pill. His chances of a Breakthrough are not small.”

“If this Old Ancestor succeeds in his Breakthrough while we are attacking Duan Kong Cave, then things will get troublesome.”

The Old Ancestor of Duan Kong Cave not only consumed a Great Pill refined by a Golden Core Immortal Master but also entered seclusion very early, back when the Great Jiang Empress was still around and the state-stabilizing seal had not yet made its Breakthrough.

Now that so many years have passed and no news of his death has arrived, who knows how he is doing?

Scarlet General said seriously: “It is precisely for this reason that I feel it is necessary to deal with Duan Kong Cave.”

“The Old Ancestor of Duan Kong Cave is still in seclusion, which is a very large threat. We must seize this window of time before he breaks through and, just like we did with Heshui Prefecture, forcibly slay him. Only then can we resolve this potential hidden danger.”

Wen Xinghai thought for a moment and frowned again: “Duan Kong Cave is different from Heshui Prefecture; their Old Ancestor might not be in seclusion within Duan Kong Cave's territory.”

After players had been in the Xuanhuan World for a long time, they had learned some of the secrets of the various Sects in the beginner area.

Duan Kong Cave was a Sect that leaned towards being Evil Cultivators. To grasp the ethereal hope of a Breakthrough, the past Old Ancestors and Sect Masters would always seek out some wicked methods, such as refining Human Pills.

It was said that there were records of a Duan Kong Cave Old Ancestor refining a Sect Master into a Human Pill, which caused the various Immortal Masters within Duan Kong Cave to be suspicious of one another, lacking any atmosphere of unity.

This also meant that there was a high probability the Old Ancestor of Duan Kong Cave would not be in seclusion inside the Sect; instead, he would set up a diversion within the Sect and then hide somewhere unknown to quietly attempt his Breakthrough.

Although the reason was bizarre, it actually gave the Old Ancestor of Duan Kong Cave a massive deterrent effect, making outsiders afraid to target Duan Kong Cave for fear that the absent Old Ancestor might suddenly break through.

“This matter is also simple.”

Scarlet General pondered for a moment and said: “We will ask a Diviner to act, just as they calculated the coordinates of the Great Jiang Empress back then, to calculate the coordinates of the Duan Kong Cave Old Ancestor.”

Wen Xinghai thought about it and said:

“The one best at divination is Little Wang Flying Dagger. Back then, it was also him who helped calculate the Great Jiang Empress's location. If we contact him, he should be able to calculate the Duan Kong Cave Old Ancestor's position, but I'm afraid he won't be willing.”

Back then, Little Wang Flying Dagger suffered a backlash while calculating the Empress's seclusion location and died instantly, later giving up the Diviner profession for a time.

If they wanted him to calculate someone else's seclusion location again, he would likely be unwilling.

Scarlet General said: “Little Wang Flying Dagger is currently in Sacred Emperor Mountain. He found a secret room left by the Sacred Emperor, which contains many stone tablets that might hold a Legacy. However, he can't figure them out and is unwilling to leave, so he has been guarding the place. I think he wouldn't dare to divine anything randomly now, for fear that if he dies, he'll have to leave the secret room.”

Wen Xinghai was surprised: “Then what do you mean?”

Scarlet General replied: “We won't look for Little Wang Flying Dagger. We'll find other players or natives who practice the Dao of Divination. We'll find many of them; even if they can't calculate the exact location, a rough estimate would be good.”

“Under a heavy reward, there will always be someone who dares to try the calculation.”

“Furthermore, last time the Empress's location was calculated, it was likely with the help of Yan Xiao's Luck. This time, let's see if we can also contact Yan Xiao and see if he will help us.”

Wen Xinghai shook his head: “Yan Xiao has already left Sacred Emperor Mountain and even left the Eastern Region East. He is likely heading towards the Central Region, and no one knows where he is now.”

“I suppose we can only take it one step at a time and see if we can catch the Duan Kong Cave Old Ancestor.”

The group discussed further.

There was still controversy over exactly how to catch the Duan Kong Cave Old Ancestor, but there was no more disagreement over whether to target Duan Kong Cave.

As long as they could take down Duan Kong Cave and the Yue Kingdom, then the players' original beginner map—the Eastern Region East—would completely belong to the players.

In this way, even if the many Sects of the Eastern Region had any designs on the players, the players would have enough buffer space to deal with them.

After the discussion of this matter was finished, Wen Xinghai added: “Leave the specifics to the Immortal Foundation players below... I need to prepare for my next three Divine Abilities.”