Impact

Taiyi Immortal Sect. Supreme Elder Yuhuang stared at the intelligence report in his hands, his expression dark and somber. "When he refined and killed Xie Tong, the Void Refining demon cultivator before, one could still argue that Xie Tong's Dao artifact didn't align well with his innate Dao art. But Crimson Fiend was the Eldest Direct Disciple of the Eight Desolations Demon Lord—practically the very face of that Void Shattering demon cultivator, an elite even among the Void Refining realm. For Yaoguang to be able to refine and kill him... that kind of strength already places him among the very pinnacle of the Void Refining realm." With a cold face, his thoughts were inscrutable. Just then, a strand of divine sense reached out to him. "Supreme Elder Yuhuang." Sensing the divine sense, Supreme Elder Yuhuang rose to his feet. "Sect Master." In the next instant, radiant light swirled, and a projection coalesced from divine sense materialized upon the mountain peak where Supreme Elder Yuhuang resided. Judging by his form of address... This arriving figure was none other than the Sect Master of the Taiyi Immortal Sect, True Monarch Taiyuan. "You have likely heard about Yaoguang, the deputy sect master of our neighbor, the Heavenly Dao Sect? I recall one of your disciples had some conflicts with Deputy Sect Master Yaoguang, so you should be keeping an eye on his news." The Taiyi Immortal Sect's master did not beat around the bush after appearing, cutting straight to the heart of the matter. "I have heard," Supreme Elder Yuhuang replied with a nod. "Cultivating for less than a century, yet having refined and killed two Void Refining demon cultivators in succession—he can indeed be called peerlessly brilliant." "With such talent, reaching the Void Shattering realm in the future is merely a matter of time. Once he reaches Void Shattering, how immense his standing will become... do you understand what I mean?" "Are you saying..." Supreme Elder Yuhuang seemed to think of something, but shook his head. "Impossible. Though the Void Dao is one of the four Supreme Great Daos, it is easy to learn yet difficult to master. Furthermore, the Grand Dao of the Void is the very first Dao all cultivators come into contact with, making its practitioners the most numerous in the world. Consequently, competition along this path is unprecedentedly fierce. Achieving Dao Integration through this Dao... the peril of mortal tribulations is countless times higher than with other Daos." "That is not what I am referring to, but rather... the Artifact Saint," True Monarch Taiyuan said slowly. "Artifact Saint?" Supreme Elder Yuhuang froze for a moment, but quickly caught on. "You mean, once he achieves Void Shattering, the Artifact Saint behind him will truly step onto the center stage, and wielding the backing of an Artifact Saint, he can contend for the position of Sect Master of the Heavenly Dao Sect and become the foremost figure beneath the Dao Lord?!" "Correct." True Monarch Taiyuan nodded. "He is already doing so right now, is he not?" Supreme Elder Yuhuang's heart sank. After completing the Dao artifact auction, Yaoguang had publicly pledged to accept custom Dao artifact commissions. That... It truly counted as advertising on behalf of the Artifact Saint behind him. Moreover, according to his words, the first customized Dao artifact would be delivered within a century... Once this order was fulfilled and Yaoguang—along with the Artifact Saint behind him—proved to the world that they truly had the ability to accept custom orders and forge Dao artifacts, the renown he commanded in the Heavenly Dao Sect, and even across Beihai Star, was bound to reach unprecedented heights. In particular... His mention of a century led many to suspect he was confident in reaching the Void Shattering realm within a hundred years. At Void Shattering, one possessed the qualification to compete for Sect Master of the Heavenly Dao Sect. Coupled with the backing of an Artifact Saint... Replacing Zong Wenxian to become the Sect Master of the Heavenly Dao Sect would be far from empty talk. "Our Taiyi Immortal Sect and the Heavenly Dao Sect are neighbors. Furthermore, the Dao Lords of our two sects do not walk the same Great Dao, so no 'Dao Contention' will arise between them, making our relationship quite cordial. Yet the friction between your disciple and Deputy Sect Master Yaoguang... is a buried thorn. Therefore, you had best resolve this matter." True Monarch Taiyuan stated the true purpose of his visit. Hearing this, Supreme Elder Yuhuang was not particularly surprised. Anyone could see that Yaoguang had already established an unstoppable momentum, rising like the sun at zenith. Within the Heavenly Dao Sect... Presumably no one dared overlook his influence any longer. Even their Taiyi Immortal Sect felt the ripple effects. So much so that their sect master had personally come to discuss the matter with him. However... Jiang Tianzun was his disciple after all. Even though he was utterly dissatisfied with Jiang Tianzun's rate of growth, he could not simply abandon him at a time like this. Pondering for a moment, he replied, "Zong Wenxian is shrewd, calculating, and exceptionally capable—we know this full well. Yaoguang may not necessarily best him." Saying this, he added, "Jiang Tianzun is currently at a critical juncture in breaking through to the Void Piercing realm. If he can achieve Void Piercing... a Void Piercing cultivator under two hundred years of age holds considerable potential. I will take him to apologize to Yaoguang, doing everything possible to turn hostility into harmony. And if his breakthrough fails... he will likely perish in the process, and everything will naturally come to an end." Hearing this, True Monarch Taiyuan felt it was somewhat inadvisable. However, whether Yaoguang could best Zong Wenxian was indeed an unknown. Moreover, although a sect master's status was slightly higher than that of a supreme elder, unless the vital interests of the sect were at stake, the sect master had no authority to command a supreme elder to do anything. He could only say, "Then think it through carefully. It would be best to settle this matter before Yaoguang attains Void Shattering." Supreme Elder Yuhuang nodded. With that, True Monarch Taiyuan's projection dissipated and vanished. "A trivial matter between juniors has escalated to the point where the sect master himself intervenes..." Supreme Elder Yuhuang was speechless for a long time. Yet immediately after, another thought struck him. A junior? Yaoguang had refined and killed two Void Refining demon cultivators—who dared call him a junior?! Not to mention that an Artifact Saint capable of forging Dao artifacts seemingly stood behind him. For his affairs to alarm the Sect Master of the Taiyi Immortal Sect... It was only too natural. After quite a while, the supreme elder called out, "Someone, come here." Once a follower approached, he handed over the jade talisman containing the news of Yaoguang refining and killing two Void Refining demon cultivators. "Give this to Mo Shan. Let him show it to Jiang Tianzun during a break in his cultivation. I believe he will understand my meaning then." "Understood." The follower acknowledged the order and swiftly withdrew. Watching him leave, Supreme Elder Yuhuang slowly exhaled a breath. "Everyone must bear the consequences of their actions. As your master, I have done enough. Whether you can demonstrate sufficient value to preserve your own life hereafter... will depend on your own fortunes." ... Within the Taiyi Immortal Sect, Yaoguang's slaying and refining of two Void Refining demon cultivators and his claim of possessing the ability to forge Dao artifacts had caused quite a stir; there was even less need to mention the Heavenly Dao Sect and the Penglai Immortal Sect. During a rest break in the half month Yaoguang spent researching the Tiandu Dragon Slaying Formation, Chi Yu brought an Azure Blue Golden Core cultivator named Shu Wuya before him. Upon hearing the Azure Blue Golden Core cultivator's introduction, Yaoguang was somewhat surprised. "You are a descendant of Elder Shu Chunqiu?" "Yes," Shu Wuya replied respectfully. "The Shu family is willing to pledge allegiance to the Sect Master, serving you heart and soul. However, the Ancestor feels he might be able to help the Sect Master more effectively by remaining in his current post. Thus, he has sent me ahead to await your orders. Should the Sect Master require it, he can also resign from his position as an Immortal Lineage elder and his duties to lead the members of the Shu family to the Southern Domain to be at your service." "Elder Shu... is quite thoughtful." Recalling how Shu Chunqiu had exerted himself to the utmost when helping him procure materials for Dao artifacts, Yaoguang did not refuse his goodwill. "Then let Elder Shu remain in the sect to issue missions on my behalf, harnessing the power of the Heavenly Dao Sect to gather Dao artifact materials. Shortly, I will have someone deliver a batch of supplies to Nine Cauldrons Peak," Yaoguang said. At present, his resources were abundant to the extreme. In just a short month, he had already distributed several hundred million. These hundreds of millions in supplies were predominantly utilized for members of the Nine Cauldrons Sect, striving to let them achieve Radiant Sun Golden Cores, Incandescent White Golden Cores, or even Azure Blue Golden Cores as quickly as possible. Yet a portion of the remainder was also shared among the Void Piercing elders, each receiving a reward of over ten million Pure Yang Great Pills—equivalent to ten years of their income back in the Heavenly Dao Sect. "As for you... Since Elder Shu has sent you to remain by my side, you may first serve under True Monarch Li. He happens to need capable hands to assist in maintaining Nandu's operations." "Understood." Shu Wuya bowed respectfully. Yaoguang waved a hand, dismissing him. However, on the very day Shu Wuya arrived, two Void Piercing Battle Immortals from the Penglai Immortal Sect also came to Nandu. Both brought along lavish gifts. And the figures they represented were none other than Palace Masters Zhengyang and Xuanyin of the Penglai Immortal Sect. "The two palace masters are very considerate. I have already received your noble sect's previous gifts." "The previous shipment consisted of supplies exchanged using contribution points, presented by our Penglai Immortal Sect to thank Deputy Sect Master Yaoguang for slaying Demon Emperor Tuntian and foiling the monster race's scheme. Those supplies could not convey the apologies of our two palace masters," the two Void Piercing Battle Immortals said hastily. Yaoguang glanced at the gifts. Each was worth over a hundred million. Over a hundred million Pure Yang Great Pills... Even for a Void Refining cultivator, that was an immense sum. The two Void Refining palace masters, Zhengyang and Xuanyin, merely because they had aided Leng Qingqiu against him in the past, had sent two lavish gifts one after another... "In that case, I accept them. Please convey to the two palace masters that I have not taken that matter to heart. Furthermore, Nandu welcomes the two palace masters to visit whenever they have leisure," Yaoguang nodded slightly and said. "We will certainly convey your words." "Our palace masters have also long yearned to experience Nandu's local customs and sights," the two chimed in one after another. Hearing this, Yaoguang understood. For the two palace masters to send lavish gifts in succession, they likely harbored other intentions. With a smile, he asked, "How have the two palace masters been faring of late?" "Thanks to Deputy Sect Master Yaoguang, the monster race of the outer sea has quieted down somewhat recently, allowing our palace masters a brief respite... It is just that... things within the sect are a bit unsettled," one of the Void Piercing Battle Immortals seized the opening to say. "Unsettled in what way?" Yaoguang inquired cooperatively. "When we departed, the two deputy sect masters, Leng Qingqiu and Zhan Xiao, went to make a scene with Acting Sect Master Shi Lin again. They..." The Void Piercing Battle Immortal glanced at Yaoguang and gave a wry smile. "They seem to believe that Deputy Sect Master Yaoguang's claim of accepting custom Dao artifact orders is due to Dao Lord Penglai's backing—that the one forging the Dao artifacts isn't an Artifact Saint at all, but rather Dao Lord Penglai himself." Yaoguang gave a noncommittal response and asked, "And what do your palace masters think?" "Our palace masters?" The Void Piercing Battle Immortal weighed his words carefully. "The Dao Lord is occupied with myriad affairs, especially with less than a millennium remaining until the Gate to the Immortal Realm opens and the Dao Contention draws near; he surely would not squander precious time forging Dao artifacts..." Saying this, he smiled and continued, "Personally, I feel that Deputy Sect Master Yaoguang is a figure of grand vision and strategy. In less than ten years since arriving in the Southern Domain, you have broken through the deadlock and made the Southern Domain flourish day by day... With Deputy Sect Master Yaoguang's capabilities... if this news were true and you really had a close relationship with the Dao Lord, it would by no means be a bad thing for our Penglai Immortal Sect." Yaoguang looked at him with a faint smile, saying nothing. How would a mere Void Piercing Battle Immortal dare voice his own personal opinion in front of him? These words... Were almost certainly spoken on the instruction of the two palace masters behind them. Or rather... They represented the attitude of many within the Penglai Immortal Sect who were dissatisfied with the deputy sect masters and acting sect master. Now, that was interesting.