"Use offense as defense, turn passivity into initiative..."

Zhong Lixiu muttered to herself.

He never expected that there was such a hidden story behind this martial arts tournament. He originally thought that the tournament was a deliberate attack to overturn the table and crush the Hidden World Alliance.

Was it just something they had no other choice but to do?

"Second Elder, gambling with the entire Elder Council is not like you. Could there be someone else behind this?"

In Zhong Lixiu's view, Wei Xia's personality has always been one of compromise and appeasement, always trying to please everyone, and can only be considered a person who maintains the status quo.

But they have absolutely no guts to take such a gamble.

His guess was indeed correct.

“You’re right, this decision wasn’t made by me, but by Huangfu Qingming.”

"It was him!"

Zhong Lixiu's gaze immediately darkened.

Huangfu Qingming, who shares the same lineage as the Grand Elder Huangfu Kong, is the heir of the reclusive Huangfu family, a powerful clan. However, their entire clan has already betrayed the Reclusive Alliance.

This led to Huangfu Kong establishing the council of elders.

“Huangfu Qingming, in terms of talent, is no less than Tantai Kong, and he even reached the Emperor rank at a young age. However, this man is too ambitious, and no one can restrain him. Could it be that the Grand Elder’s accident is related to him?”

In response to the questions raised by Zhong Lixiu.

Wei Xia shook his head silently.

"The Grand Elder's life is now uncertain, and it cannot be blamed on anyone else. He himself went astray in his cultivation process in order to break through to the Celestial Realm, which ultimately led to him suffering a qi deviation."

Zhong Lixiu was not satisfied with this result.

He shook his head with a cold laugh and said, "The Grand Elder has been in seclusion for many years, and only Huangfu Qingming can get close to him. Who knows if there are any hidden secrets in the whole process?"

Wei Xia remained silent.

In the current situation, the only people the Elders can rely on are powerful figures like Huangfu Qingming. Even if they have some doubts, what can they do?

Zhong Lixiu was still not convinced.

"Huangfu Qingming is ambitious. He actually gambled with the entire Elders' Council without consulting any of us. With the Grand Elder in trouble, this is practically a ruse!"

"The plan succeeded because Lin Jinglong intervened, but what if it had failed?"

Who will take responsibility?

"It won't fail."

Wei Xia appeared very confident.

Zhong Lixiu looked at him, puzzled.

The old man, sleeves tucked in, explained, "Huangfu Qingming, this time he entered Qingxu Cave Heaven in disguise. If it weren't for Lin Jinglong, he would have been the one wreaking havoc in the cave heaven!"

"He's a Martial Emperor, how could he possibly be kept in the dark by the Hidden World Alliance?"

Zhong Lixiu was immediately shocked.

Wei Xia did not continue to explain.

Meanwhile, inside Qingxu Cave, the Elders Council and many members of the Loose Cultivator Martial Arts Association had arrived at the place where Tantai Kong had previously attempted to refine Ge Ling'er.

And they engaged in a fierce battle with Lin Tianwei and his men.

However, led by three ninth-rank leaders, they were easily defeated. The remaining dozens of people, including Lin Tianwei, had scattered and fled in all directions, and were all being hunted down.

Logically speaking, the Elders' Council camp, under Lin Jinglong's leadership, should be in a very favorable situation, but everyone's eyes were filled with worry.

Jun Tianlin stood in an open space.

His gaze turned towards Zhenlong Mountain.

That enormous vortex absorbed more than half of the spiritual energy of Qingxu Cave, and its purplish-gold color looked extremely mysterious.

"Someone has actually broken through to the Martial Emperor realm!"

Jun Tianlin's tone was full of worry.

The two elders of the Netherworld beside him sighed, exchanged a glance, and shook their heads.

"If I'm not mistaken, the one who broke through is the only imperial son of the Tantai family. Among all the people, he is the only one who has reached this level."

"So what should we do next?"

Jun Tianlin looked at them with a worried expression.

The two powerful elders exchanged glances once more.

Tongyou subconsciously shifted his gaze to the crowd behind him, where a middle-aged man with a scar on his face and an unremarkable demeanor was smiling as he watched the three figures from behind.

He smiled and nodded at Tongyou.

Even Jun Tianlin was unaware that within their Loose Cultivator Martial Arts Association camp, there was a Loose Cultivator at the Martial Emperor realm who had been concealing his identity through disguise and other means.

The goal was to kill all the Martial Emperors of the Hidden World Alliance.

This person was none other than Huangfu Qingming.

With a weathered and rugged face, Huangfu Qingming, who looked like an ordinary rogue cultivator, also turned his gaze to the huge vortex of purple-gold spiritual energy.

"That guy named Lin Jinglong is in big trouble. I hope he can get through this. The newly formed Elders Council needs someone like him."

Huangfu Qingming had no intention of making a move.

Because he knew Tantai Kong's value, he was the apple of the Tantai family's eye, even though he had the ability to stop Tantai Kong from breaking through, or even kill Tantai Kong directly.

However, doing so would come at the cost of a complete falling out with the Hidden World Alliance, which contradicts Huangfu Qingming's purpose in organizing this martial arts tournament.

His goal was to weaken the other side, then negotiate peace, and strive to maintain the existing position of the Elder Council after the Grand Elder's incident.

Instead of completely breaking ties with the Hidden World Alliance.

Lin Jinglong, whom he was worried about, led Ge Ling'er away at high speed along a straight line, but in reality, his heart was sinking.

"After running for so long, Tantai Kong's aura still lingers around me. I'm afraid the first thing he'll do after breaking through to the Martial Emperor realm is to take my life!"

Lin Jinglong muttered to himself with a gloomy face.

Although he has now cultivated the Immovable King Technique and combined it with the ultimate enhancement of the Nirvana Treasure Technique, he can defeat an ordinary ninth-level martial artist with just one strike at most.

However, he still struggled somewhat when facing Emperor Wu.

"It's not that we can't protect ourselves, but if we choose to flee this Pure Void Cave, wouldn't all our previous efforts be in vain?"

Lin Jinglong was not willing to give up.

They encountered a monster like Tantai Kong.

Is it just that I'm unlucky?

"I have a plan!"

"I have a plan!"

At the same time, two voices came to his ears.

Lin Jinglong glanced at Ge Ling'er, somewhat puzzled. She was already in dire straits herself; what could she possibly do?

The owner of the other voice.

It is the Five Elements Dragon Soul hidden within the Dragon Roar Blade!

"Tell me your idea first."

Lin Jinglong questioned Ge Ling'er.

A similar look of resentment flashed across her eyes.

"I will teach you the Ten Transformations of the Heavenly Silkworm. Once you cultivate an immaculate body and combine it with your mastery of the Immovable King Technique, you will have the opportunity to achieve the Pure Lapis Lazuli Body!"

"The Immaculate Body can enhance the flow of Qi within your body by more than ten times, and increase your overall strength by three times. With the added benefit of the Pure Glazed Body, you might even be able to leapfrog to defeat a Martial Emperor!"

Ge Ling'er's tone was somewhat resentful.

After all, the Ten Transformations of the Heavenly Silkworm is a heaven-defying technique that surpasses even immortal arts; it is her lifelong enlightenment used to cope with the great calamity of heaven and earth.

And so it was passed on to Lin Jinglong.

She was naturally unwilling.

But to survive, this is the only way now.

Lin Jinglong's eyes lit up immediately, and he used his divine sense to ask the Five Elements True Dragon what solution he could come up with.

"My method is related to Qingxu Cave Heaven!"