The moment the emissary from Dao Seeking Palace uttered those words, the brows of every Yin God present twitched, and an ominous premonition flashed through their hearts.
"The Dark Sun? What is going on?" Great Venerable Wujun demanded immediately.
Days ago, he had informed the Dao Seeking Palace headquarters of the Origin God Sharing Society's founding.
Yet now, an emissary from headquarters arrived only to tell him that the Dark Sun was descending.
The headquarters emissary was a Great Venerable himself. Like Great Venerable Wujun, he served as a palace master governing a domain. Because his domain lay close to the Fengtian Domain, he had been chosen to attend the celebration.
"This news was passed down to me by headquarters," the Great Venerable said with a rueful look. "The Four Generals of the Lei Family are on their way."
The Yin Gods present exchanged glances.
Those ordinary Yin God Venerables had never heard of the Dark Sun and had no idea what it was.
However, they understood one thing: the Dark Sun was dispatching supreme experts to cause trouble for Qi Yuan.
Matters were turning complicated.
"The Dark Sun is sending people to trouble me?" Qi Yuan looked faintly taken aback. "What sort of background does this Dark Sun have? Do they possess many cultivation arts?"
Last time, he had received a letter warning him that the Dark Sun was approaching.
The person who delivered the warning had even flouted the law right in front of him—a matter Qi Yuan still remembered clearly.
Today, he was finally hearing of the Dark Sun once again.
The emissary's gaze shifted repeatedly before he slowly said, "The Dark Sun... is an unspeakable power within the Canglan Realm."
At this moment, Old Man Qishang spoke up, his voice fraught with emotion. "Great Venerable Chiyan of the Demon Monster Domain died at the hands of the Four Generals of the Lei Family."
"What? Great Venerable Chiyan died at their hands?!"
"Could the Four Generals of the Lei Family be Mythological experts?!"
Shock and dread surfaced on the faces of every Yin God present.
After Taifeng, the Mythological expert, perished, the Land of Three Domains had looked to Great Venerable Chiyan as its leader.
Great Venerable Chiyan had suppressed the three domains for hundreds of thousands of years, and not a single Great Venerable dared to defy him.
Even Great Venerable Moli had bowed her head before Great Venerable Chiyan, intending to offer up the Mythological Secret Vault.
Great Venerable Chiyan was a powerhouse at the peak of the sixth step of Sky Treading.
Yet... one day, blood stained the rainbow sky, and Great Venerable Chiyan abruptly perished within the Void Realm.
The three domains were shaken.
All the Yin God Venerables shivered in fear, feeling as if calamity were at their door, completely ignorant of what had occurred.
The fall of Great Venerable Chiyan had remained an unsolved mystery throughout the Land of Three Domains.
Now, after a hundred thousand years, they finally learned the truth.
Great Venerable Chiyan had been slain by the Four Generals of the Lei Family?
This Dark Sun... was far too terrifying!
And now, the Dark Sun was dispatching those same four generals against the Blood-Robed Sword God!
It was unimaginable!
If even Great Venerable Chiyan had fallen to the Four Generals of the Lei Family, how could the Blood-Robed Sword God hope to withstand them?
"Could there be some misunderstanding? How could Senior Blood-Robed Sword God have offended the Dark Sun?" Great Venerable Wujun asked, bewildered.
Perhaps there was some hidden reason behind the Dark Sun hunting down Great Venerable Chiyan.
Yet plainly, the Blood-Robed Sword God did not even know what the Dark Sun was, so why would he have drawn their wrath?
"Even if the Dark Sun is formidable, they cannot simply execute a god without cause!" a Yin God Venerable spoke up.
"The Canglan Realm has its rules. In the cultivation world, everything must adhere to reason!" another Yin God Venerable chimed in, subtly speaking up on Qi Yuan's behalf.
After all, rules governed the cultivation world, and speaking out was a matter of self-preservation.
If a colossal power could slaughter a Great Venerable without giving any justification, wouldn't that mean they could wipe out lesser figures on a whim?
Even if they could not stop it, they had to speak up to preserve the order.
The other Yin Gods nodded along, clearly in agreement with this Venerable's sentiment.
In the Canglan Realm, even major factions cared about their reputation. Slaying someone required a legitimate pretext; who could just kill without cause?
Great Venerable Moli narrowed her eyes, maintaining a calm expression without uttering a word.
At that moment, Old Man Qishang spoke up out of nowhere. "According to my investigations, the Dark Sun... may be connected to the Great Tribulation."
His raspy voice echoed in everyone's ears.
Hearing this, the hearts of the Yin God Venerables leaped into their throats.
Those who had been preparing arguments on the Blood-Robed Sword God's behalf instantly lost their voices.
"The Great Tribulation..."
"It's actually the Great Tribulation..."
The Yin God Venerables looked stricken with grief and terror, as if mourning their own parents.
In the Canglan Realm, the greatest taboo—the one thing no Yin God Venerable could resist—was the Great Tribulation.
If the Dark Sun was tied to the Great Tribulation, the deduction was simple.
The Dark Sun was a claw of the Great Tribulation.
Had they been facing an orthodox major sect, these Yin God Venerables might have dared to speak up for the Blood-Robed Sword God.
Yet when facing the minions of the Great Tribulation... how could they dare?
Or rather, they did not dare make a sound.
All the Yin God Venerables fell silent. Anxiety crept onto several faces; they could hardly wait to sever all ties with the Blood-Robed Sword God and flee.
Qi Yuan's gaze turned profound. "The Dark Sun is a claw of the Great Tribulation?"
Old Man Qishang nodded.
"So when I exposed that cultivation arts were poisoned on the Divine Flower Society forum, the Dark Sun caught wind of it, had the Head Society Master mute my account, and then... sent people to assassinate me?"
In an instant, Qi Yuan connected all the dots.
His eyes lit up as he surveyed the gathered Yin God Venerables.
"Do you believe me now? The arts you cultivate really are poisoned!"
None of these Yin God Venerables had lived for fewer than ten thousand years; deep down, they understood that what the Blood-Robed Sword God said about poisoned arts was likely true.
Such a shocking claim would normally be dismissed out of hand.
Yet the Dark Sun, an entity entwined with the Great Tribulation, had sent assassins after him, and his account on the Divine Flower Society forum had been banned.
This proved that every word of it was true.
"It seems there really is an issue with our cultivation arts." Several Yin Gods stood dazed, examining their own techniques internally.
"Our arts actually carry flaws? The techniques we practiced for tens of thousands of years... were wrong all along?"
At this moment, the Yin Gods fully believed Qi Yuan, and a profound sense of absurdity washed over them.
Seeing this, Qi Yuan pressed on. "I established the Origin God Sharing Society precisely to confront the Great Tribulation.
"A portion of the arts I uploaded are completely poison-free and safe to practice.
"I am delighted that all of you came to support the Origin God Sharing Society.
"And now, those running dogs of the Great Tribulation, the Dark Sun's lackeys—the Four Generals of the Lei Family—are heading straight for us.
"We must unite as one and slay the claws of the Great Tribulation together!"
Qi Yuan spoke with impassioned righteousness.
Justice was on his side; the hearts of the people were with him.
The Yin Gods looked at each other in dismay.
They had originally assumed the Blood-Robed Sword God founded this faction merely to hoard cultivation arts.
Wasn't confronting the Great Tribulation just a hollow slogan?
When nations, powers, and sects were established, didn't they constantly trumpet slogans about justice, fairness, and purging demons?
They had thought the Origin God Sharing Society's talk of confronting the Great Tribulation was just such a slogan, and that the 'poisoned arts' claim was merely a gimmick.
Yet he was being entirely serious?
He truly intended to fight the Great Tribulation?
And the Great Tribulation was already sending assassins after him?
Confronted with Qi Yuan's invitation, every Yin God shrank back.
The first to speak was none other than Great Venerable Moli. "Sword God, there are urgent matters awaiting me at the Phoenix Palace. I must take my leave."
Seeing her lead the way, the other Yin Gods scrambled to make excuses.
"Senior, my granddaughter gave birth today. I must return and see the child."
"Senior..."
Nearly every Yin God present stepped forward to bid farewell.
Qi Yuan's expression did not waver.
Great Venerable Wujun, standing beside him, grew furious. He said in a deep voice, "The Great Tribulation is the enemy of all cultivators! Our very lives are held in its grasp!
"At a time like this, shouldn't we share a common hatred and sever the claws of the Great Tribulation together?!"
A Yin God Venerable stepped forward with a troubled expression. "Senior, it is not that we lack courage, but... the Four Generals of the Lei Family were able to slay even Great Venerable Chiyan. If we go, we would merely be throwing our lives away."
"With the Great Tribulation looming, we have not yet settled our affairs. We cannot... face the Great Tribulation just yet."
"Senior, our cultivation is modest..."
Written across their faces was a single desperate urge: to flee as quickly as possible.
Against the claws of the Great Tribulation, they did not dare resist.
Even Great Venerable Chiyan had fallen; how could they possibly contend?
Great Venerable Moli gently smoothed her hair. "Sword God, why make things difficult for these Venerables? They have their own difficulties."
Before Qi Yuan could reply, Great Venerable Wujun could not hold back. "The Great Tribulation is not the Blood-Robed Sword God's burden alone! It concerns the lives of every single one of us!"
The remaining Yin God Venerables lowered their heads, not daring to meet Wujun's gaze.
At that moment, Qi Yuan narrowed his eyes, a radiant smile spreading across his face. "Wujun, they are our guests. Whether they stay or go is their own freedom."
Qi Yuan considered himself Lawful Good.
What did Lawful mean? It meant adhering to rules.
Qi Yuan had always been very diligent about following his own rules.
As for Good, that went without saying—if he took a public bus, he would surely offer his seat to the elderly.
The Yin Gods sighed with relief upon hearing this.
Even so, they still did not dare make a move.
After all, who knew whether the Blood-Robed Sword God and Great Venerable Wujun were simply playing good cop, bad cop?
The Blood-Robed Sword God had a terrifying reputation. He killed Yin Gods, killed Purple Mansions, and had even traveled tens of thousands of miles with a contingent of Blood-Robed Alliance Purple Mansions just to personally execute a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator.
He had even spawned several famous legends.
For instance, one city's most renowned figure was a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Why was he so famous? Because a Yin God had crossed thousands of miles to personally slay him, making him the first and only person in that city's ten-thousand-year history to be executed by a Yin God.
These Yin God Venerables refused to believe Qi Yuan could be so benevolent.
There had to be a trap!
Just then, an elderly Yin God Venerable said tremulously, "Many thanks for Senior's magnanimity! This old man cannot assist Senior in confronting the Great Tribulation, but I am willing to offer up my own cultivation arts to the Origin God Sharing Society to aid Senior in your fight!"
As he spoke, he unhesitatingly uploaded his cultivation arts into a jade slip.
Then, he placed the jade slip onto the table.
"My eyesight is failing in my old age, so I will forgo practicing the arts within the society."
His meaning was plain: he was returning the jade slip to the Origin God Sharing Society and making a clean, righteous break from them.
Great Venerable Wujun was infuriated. Under normal circumstances, he would have struck the man down on the spot.
In his heart, he cursed every ancestor of these cowards eighteen generations back.
Qi Yuan's eyes, however, lit up. "Splendid, splendid!"
Seeing this, the other Yin God Venerables immediately followed suit.
"I, too, am willing to offer my cultivation arts to aid Senior!"
"Count me in as well!"
"This old man shall do the same!"
One after another, they uploaded their arts into the Origin God Sharing Society.
Compared to life and death, what did cultivation arts matter?
In just a short moment, Qi Yuan noticed twenty new arts added through his jade slip.
He glanced at one of the Yin God Venerables with an appreciative look. "You did very well—you uploaded three Heaven-grade arts."
The praised Yin God offered a humble smile.
The other Yin Gods felt a jolt run through their hearts.
Was the Blood-Robed Sword God warning them for only uploading a single Heaven-grade art?
Otherwise, why single that person out for praise?
There had to be deep meaning behind his words.
Having 'figured it out,' the Yin God Venerables chimed in hastily, "I have more arts that I wish to donate to the society!"
At once, they dumped their collection of techniques into the system without reservation.
They were terrified that offering too little would make them an example to be struck down with a single sword strike.
In the past, the Blood-Robed Sword God might have harbored some scruples.
Yet now, with the Dark Sun's assassins approaching, his only chance of survival was to flee.
Before fleeing, what was wrong with harvesting their arts?
Even though their hearts bled, they handed over their arts regardless.
In no time, the master jade slip in Qi Yuan's hands gained another massive haul.
This left Qi Yuan grinning from ear to ear.
*Is this what they call personal charisma?*
Qi Yuan felt his personal charm was truly blossoming.
Not only had he captivated Great Venerable Moli, but he had also charmed these Yin God Venerables into willingly surrendering their arts to him.
The Yin God Venerables hurried to upload their techniques.
At this moment, Qi Yuan looked toward Great Venerable Moli with an expectant gaze. "Even these casual acquaintances have supported my startup venture.
"Since you love me so dearly, won't you donate the Mythological Secret Vault to back my enterprise?"
Great Venerable Moli narrowed her eyes. "The Mythological Secret Vault is not mine alone to decide upon.
"On this occasion, I shall donate three Heaven-grade arts."
Great Venerable Moli also realized that offending the Blood-Robed Sword God right now was unwise.
The man had reached the end of his road; there was no need to bicker with him.
Having spoken, she directly transferred her arts into the jade slip.
Seeing this, Qi Yuan could not help but remark, "We aren't even married yet and you're already so stingy. Thank goodness I didn't accept your confession back then, otherwise... sigh."
Qi Yuan let out a deep, sorrowful sigh.
His words caused Great Venerable Moli's expression to freeze.
Had she not been wary of Qi Yuan's strength, she would have struck him down long ago.
Rage burned within her.
Called stingy?
She deeply regretted ever using the Blood-Robed Sword God as a shield when rejecting Great Venerable Wujun.
Now, he brought it up day in and day out.
And she couldn't even refute him.
The Yin God Venerables swiftly finished uploading their techniques, anxious to depart.
Qi Yuan beamed as he looked at the ever-growing collection of arts in his jade slip.
He began wondering whether he should establish branches of the Origin God Sharing Society across every domain.
If he held a celebration in every single domain, wouldn't he reap countless cultivation arts?
"Everyone has shown great righteousness today, and I shall remember your kindness. Why not stay for a meal before heading out?" Qi Yuan offered politely.
"No, thank you!" The Yin God Venerables waved their hands in frantic refusal.
Right now, their sole desire was to get as far away as possible.
If the Four Generals of the Lei Family sent by the Dark Sun arrived and dragged them into the crossfire, they would be thoroughly doomed.
"But the food has already been prepared. Wouldn't it be a waste not to eat?
"Someone come! Pack up the food for these Yin God Venerables to take with them.
"Remember, they are distinguished guests. When you pack the food, be generous with the meat and dishes—don't just give them rice and vegetables, understand?"
Qi Yuan gave serious instructions to the Purple Mansion cultivators.
The Purple Mansion cultivators looked on, utterly bewildered.
Packing leftovers for Yin Gods?
In all their years of living, they had never witnessed such a spectacle.
Yet with the Blood-Robed Sword God's command given, they had no choice but to... start boxing up food for the Yin God Venerables.
Before long, every Yin God Venerable present was holding bags and parcels of food.
Because the Blood-Robed Sword God had instructed that none of them should leave empty-handed, but rather depart laden with bounty.
"Splendid. No pushing, no shoving, no fighting or squabbling over the doggy bags—Yin Gods truly possess high quality."
Qi Yuan offered an approving nod.
As expected of old monsters who had cultivated for tens of thousands of years; every single one of them was remarkably well-mannered.
"Everyone... you may return now."
Hearing this, the heavy stone pressing on the hearts of the Yin God Venerables finally dropped.
After swallowing their pride for so long, standing there clutching big and small bags of takeout, what had they endured it all for?
It was all to hear these exact words from the Blood-Robed Sword God.
The moment Qi Yuan finished speaking, the Yin God Venerables waved their hands in farewell and vanished into thin air without a trace.
Chapter 260