At first, there were still some obstinate cultivators who refused to heed the warnings of the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals.
Continuing to act as they pleased, relying on the concealment arts they cultivated, they attempted to sneak into Jiushan Province under cover of secrecy.
However, the Soul Formation cultivators ordered to hold the line this time had truly come prepared.
Joining forces, they laid down a grand formation that enveloped the entire territory of Jiushan Province.
The function of this formation did not lie in slaughter, but rather in automatically marking any Five Elders Association cultivator within its range.
By whatever mechanism it operated, the moment a cultivator from the Five Elders Association stepped inside, a pillar of light shooting into the sky would lock onto them.
No matter how thoroughly they concealed their tracks, they stood out as clearly as a candle burning in the dark.
With this, the Soul Formation cultivators did not even need to lift a finger.
The rats that crept into Jiushan Province were torn to shreds by swarms of Alliance cultivators rushing in upon them.
A grand formation capable of distinguishing the identities of opposing cultivators had never appeared before.
It had not even made an appearance during the earlier war in Tianling Province.
Displaying its prowess for the very first time, its results were extraordinary.
The Five Elders Association seemed unable to find a countermeasure for the moment, nor were they prepared to resume all-out war.
Thus, they temporarily lowered their banners and muffled their drums, refraining from more radical measures.
However, they did not appear to have completely abandoned their intentions of exploring the Chaoyuan Sect.
They massed their forces along the border of Jiushan Province, maintaining a posture ready to invade at any moment.
On the front lines, both sides had their swords drawn and bows bent; a major war hung on the verge of erupting.
Meanwhile, in the safe rear of the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals, the motives behind the Five Elders Association's actions became a subject of heated debate among cultivators.
Logically speaking, both sides had only recently concluded a major war that had claimed countless lives.
This period should rightfully have been a time of peace for rest and recuperation.
Yet the Five Elders Association was acting completely out of character, constantly provoking conflict.
What was their purpose?
Furthermore, the previous war had been fought over the rare and precious Five Elements Great Grotto-Heaven.
Why were they deploying their armies to face each other this time?
After much discussion and analysis, the general consensus narrowed it down to only two possibilities.
First, there was truly some supreme treasure within the Chaoyuan Sect ruins, and the Five Elders Association was willing to go to war with the Alliance just to seize it.
The second possibility was that Jiushan Province was merely a smokescreen deliberately laid out by the Five Elders Association.
Taking advantage of the ruins' emergence, they were making a massive commotion to draw the Alliance's attention, while their real objective lay elsewhere.
Regardless of their motive, one thing was certain: the Five Elders Association harbored ill intent.
To the vast majority of Qi Condensation and Foundation Establishment cultivators, war seemed rather distant.
After all, even in a conflict of the scale of the previous Tianling Province war, they had not been sent to the battlefield.
Yet after the war, the benefits brought by discounted cultivation techniques were tangible and real.
Consequently, most kept a close eye on further developments with a mindset half anxious and half expectant.
"Chaoyuan Sect..."
In the Congyun Sea, the situation had not yet escalated to the point where array repairers were called upon to go on patrol.
Li Fan remained inside the Heavenly Profound Mirror, gathering and examining information on the latest events.
"According to cultivators who have successfully explored the Chaoyuan Sect ruins and returned safely, it appears to be nothing more than an ordinary sect ruin. Aside from its massive scale, there doesn't seem to be anything special about it.
"The only anomaly is that the inside of the ruins is completely intact and orderly, bearing none of the signs one would expect from a ruin that has stood for a thousand years.
"There are no traces left from battles, nor any remains of fallen cultivators.
"Even the vast majority of restrictions within the sect ruins remain in an untriggered state.
"It's as if in a single instant, all the cultivators of the Chaoyuan Sect vanished, while the sect itself traversed a thousand years of time to descend directly into the present.
"Word has it that the Soul Formation cultivators from the Alliance went inside to investigate as well, but unfortunately, they didn't seem to discover anything of significance.
"Hmm, interesting..."
Li Fan's eyes flickered slightly.
Anyone with discerning eyes could tell that there was something bizarre about this Chaoyuan Sect.
Yet if even Soul Formation cultivators could not discern the truth, it had to be fraught with extraordinary peril.
"Hopefully, before I use True Reversion in this life, some conclusion will emerge. That way, I can seize the upper hand in the next life."
Just as Li Fan was waiting for further developments, his clone received an urgent transmission from Jiao Xiuyuan.
It turned out that he could wait no longer and was finally going to hold the first auction for the Small Medicine King Cauldrons.
"I've laid the groundwork for so long, and spent all the money that needed spending. Now that fighting looks set to break out again, I really can't wait any longer!" Jiao Xiuyuan complained.
"Even if cultivators might not be all that well-off holding it now, it's still better than dragging it out for several more years unable to recoup my capital.
"I invested far too much into the initial promotion of the Small Medicine King Cauldrons. If I delay any further, my cash flow will be completely tied up."
Whether his cash flow was truly in trouble might not be the truth, but Li Fan agreed with his decision.
If he did not offload the Small Medicine King Cauldrons soon, once the True Medicine King Cauldron emerged, these small cauldrons would cease to be priceless merchandise and instead become colossal trouble.
At that point, perhaps even Jiao Xiuyuan would be unable to extricate himself unscathed.
"I've set the location for the first auction in Tianhua Province. It's also located in the heartland of the Alliance, bordering eight provinces including Tianyu Province, and the cultivators there are generally wealthier than those in other provinces.
"Would you like to come observe, Fellow Daoist?"
Jiao Xiuyuan still attached considerable importance to the mastermind behind the business plan. Thus, he extended an invitation to Li Fan.
Li Fan smiled and declined, "For such a grand occasion, a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator like me won't go join the bustle.
"Allow me to wish you immediate success in advance, making a resounding name for the Small Medicine King Cauldrons."
Though Jiao Xiuyuan felt a bit of regret, he could not force the issue.
"By the way, what does Daoist Jiao make of the Five Elders Association's unusual movements lately?" Li Fan asked suddenly.
"The Five Elders Association?" Jiao Xiuyuan was startled at first, then cocked his head and froze for a moment, seemingly receiving some information.
A moment later, he replied, "In my personal judgment, the Five Elders Association is using this opportunity to test the waters."
"Test the waters? What do you mean by that?" Li Fan's interest was piqued, and he pressed further.
Jiao Xiuyuan lowered his voice. "Let's keep this strictly between ourselves in private. Fellow Daoist, you must not spread word of this.
"I have a special source. A certain Dao Integration Immortal Venerable in the Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals intends to defy the principles of heaven and earth to attain the fruit of Longevity.
"This Immortal Venerable is on good terms with other Dao Integration powerhouses in the Alliance and reportedly enlisted quite a few helpers, departing for parts unknown.
"My guess is that the Five Elders Association caught wind of this from somewhere and wants to apply some pressure to test whether the intelligence is true.
"The disturbance in Jiushan Province is merely an appetizer. If I'm not mistaken, the real storm is yet to come."
When Li Fan first heard Jiao Xiuyuan's words, he had thought the Dao Integration powerhouse he referred to was Immortal Venerable Blue Feather of Daoyuan Province.
However, the subsequent description clearly did not match Blue Feather.
*Another one seeking to ascend to the Longevity realm?* Li Fan's heart stirred slightly.
Yet doubts arose in his mind right along with it.
"This Immortal Venerable is attempting a breakthrough, yet invites friends to lend assistance? Are they not afraid of..." Li Fan did not finish his sentence, but his meaning was already abundantly clear.
Chapter 261