Chapter 281 Agree

Qiongxiao sensed the state of the cultivators and smiled, saying:

"My master is only responsible for overseeing the central command and preventing any transformed demons from taking action."

The period is three years, at which time they will leave regardless of whether the monsters retreat or not.

All you need to do is ensure the safety of the merchant ship within a radius of 800 li.

As for whether or not to join those Western Continent sects in attacking the demonic beasts, that's up to each of you fellow cultivators to choose.

She was one of the most beloved disciples of Master Tai Xuan. She had heard her master talk about cases in the past where Nascent Soul stage cultivators and transformed demons had died in battle during demonic calamities.

Later, the human race and the transformed demons reached a tacit agreement to limit the war to the Golden Core stage as much as possible, with Nascent Soul cultivators only playing a role in stabilizing the situation.

Reaching the Nascent Soul realm is extremely difficult; there's no need to personally engage in life-or-death struggles.

The fundamental reason for the demonic calamity is that the land cannot support the excessive number of demonic beasts, so war is needed to deplete them.

Humanity faces a similar situation. Although they are consciously controlling the number of cultivators, the number of cultivators has been increasing year by year, and the spiritual veins are not enough to support so many cultivators to absorb spiritual energy.

Spiritual veins can be cultivated through human means, but they can also dry up due to the passage of time.

In order to improve their cultivation, the human race inevitably engages in open and covert struggles.

Instead of fighting internally, it's better to attack externally.

The reason why Middle-earth adopted the strategy of migrating to West-earth was precisely for this purpose.

After each demonic calamity, smaller forces can migrate here again, freeing up more living space in the Central Continent.

"I see. Thank you for your explanation. Now we understand."

The burly man burst into laughter and said:

"Of course, if the cultivators from the Western Continent can offer treasures that can enhance their cultivation, we are still willing to do our part in resisting the demonic beasts."

It's true that they're unwilling to fight, but if there are enough benefits, they might still take action.

These cultivators were all seasoned veterans in the cultivation world; they wouldn't act without a benefit in mind.

Those cultivators who were honing their skills all went to the Eastern Continent to fight against the sea monsters.

The ocean is vast, where the pressure is greater, making it easier to hone oneself, and the cultivators of the Eastern Continent can offer more precious resources.

“What Master Dongyang said is absolutely right; that’s what I think too.”

The other Golden Core cultivators echoed this sentiment, saying that there was no point in discussing anything without any benefit.

Master Qiongxiao chuckled:

"I suppose you fellow cultivators will be disappointed. I think it's unlikely that cultivators from the Western Continent will be able to offer any third-tier resources that will tempt you."

According to intelligence, there are only seven Golden Core cultivators in the entire Western Continent, which is less than the number of Golden Core cultivators in a Nascent Soul sect.

After drinking to their hearts' content and becoming slightly tipsy, the cultivators dispersed.

Master Qiongxiao returned to his pavilion and was about to step inside when a female cultivator in a light blue Daoist robe hurried over:

"Senior Sister, Master requests your presence!"

The female cultivator had her full head of black hair simply tied up with a five-colored silk cord, adorned with a jade and gold hairpin, and her features were exquisite.

Qiongxiao's eyes darted around a few times, and she said with considerable doubt:

"Colorful Butterfly, do you know what Master has instructed you to do?"

Over the years, she hasn't had many opportunities to see her master unless there's something going on.

It is quite common for a Nascent Soul True Lord to go into seclusion for several years or even decades to comprehend the profound mysteries of the Dao.

The other party was the master's last disciple, and he often served by his side.

Ding Caidie shook her head slightly, forcing a smile:

"Senior sister, you've put me in a difficult position. I dare not guess what Master is thinking."

My senior sister invited me here; if I arrive late, I fear it will displease Master.

Qiongxiao circulated her cultivation technique while walking, refining the spiritual wine she had just drunk. She was ashamed to face her master with such a strong smell of alcohol on her!

The two arrived at the most magnificent jade tower and climbed the steps. The flying boat was heavily guarded and escape was forbidden.

Upon reaching the top floor, the hall doors opened automatically.

Qiongxiao stepped into the main hall and bowed gracefully:

"Disciple greets Master."

The interior was simply furnished. A painting of enlightenment under a pine tree hung in the central hall, and a bronze crane incense burner about half a person's height was placed nearby. Several futons were scattered throughout the hall.

Besides that, there was nothing of value.

A cultivator wearing a light blue robe with yin-yang fish trim sat cross-legged; this was none other than the True Lord Tai Xuan.

He was slightly thin, with a handsome face and a few long wisps of beard flowing down his chest, giving him an air of otherworldly elegance.

Tai Xuan Zhenjun opened his phoenix eyes and nodded slightly:

"I have gained some insights today and need to go into seclusion to contemplate them."

You will be fully responsible for all matters after entering the Western Continent.

Unless a powerful demon in human form stirs up trouble, do not disturb me.

After saying that, Tai Xuan Zhenjun tossed out a golden token.

Qiongxiao reached out and took the token, responding:

"Your disciple obeys."

It is extremely rare for a Nascent Soul cultivator to gain such insights, and of course, it cannot be delayed.

Tai Xuan Zhenjun admonished:

"Don't interfere too much in the affairs of Xizhou; just do your job well."

"I don't care about others, but you must strictly discipline your disciples."

His meaning was clear: do nothing and let the cultivators of the Western Continent fight on their own.

"I will keep this in mind."

Three days later, the merchant ship arrived above Qingyun Immortal City.

Since the three sects abandoned the Mingfeng Mountain defense line, they built a teleportation array here. If a demon king attacks, a Golden Core cultivator will come to their aid.

In addition, since this is not the main direction of the monsters' attack, they can maintain a defensive posture.

This immortal city is currently the last refuge for clan cultivators and independent cultivators, who also bear the responsibility of defending it.

"This is the largest immortal city in the Western Continent. It was jointly built by several sects and many middle-class and above families, and it is a major source of wealth for these forces."

The situation doesn't look optimistic now.

The speaker was Cangwu Zhenren, a steward of the Zhongzhou Yunhai Merchant Alliance. He had traveled to Xizhou several times and had some understanding of the situation there.

He had contact with Golden Core cultivators from the Western Continent, and in his memory, these fellow Daoists from the Western Continent were plotting something big.

Judging from the current results, the plan has not been successful.

The Golden Core cultivators looked down at the hordes of demonic beasts roaming the outskirts of the immortal city and shook their heads.

Master Dongyang curled his lip and sneered:

"The cultivators of the Western Continent are really incompetent. I briefly looked at the map of the Western Continent a few days ago. This is the heartland of human cultivators, and it has been developed for thousands of years."

"To think they couldn't even stop the demonic beasts' attack from reaching the most prosperous areas—I really don't know how weak these sects and families are."

This situation is akin to a monster attacking at our doorstep.

Such a situation would never happen in Middle-earth.

As soon as the sea monsters began to stir, the major sects dispatched their elite cultivators to the sea, firmly confining the war to the Eastern Continent.

"The weakness of the Western Continent is a good thing for us!"

To defend the mountain gate, they should be willing to bring out some of their most prized possessions.

Master Qinghe smiled quite happily. He had heard that there was a sect here that was quite skilled in raising demonic beasts, and he wanted to see if he could obtain a cub or egg with a Heavenly Rank bloodline at a relatively low cost.

He is now over six hundred years old, and his cultivation level has just reached the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm.

Unless one has an extraordinary stroke of luck, there is no hope of becoming a Nascent Soul cultivator.

Unlike other real people, he wanted to wait until the demon calamity ended before establishing himself as an ancestor in the Western Continent.

"Indeed, after all, it's the accumulation of a sect over a thousand years, so there must be some good stuff."

Master Cangwu secretly shook his head. The things from the three sects in the Western Continent were not easy to obtain. If one could not make a significant contribution, there was no chance.

News of the arrival of the merchant ships in Qingyun Immortal City quickly spread to various sects and families near Qingyun Immortal City.

The Golden Core cultivator from Zhongzhou led a group of cultivators in the Chaoyuan stage and wiped out the monster horde within a radius of eight hundred miles in just three days.

The music, crafted by a soothing soothing voice, was played, and the dancers leaped into the heavens in a graceful dance.

Master Dongyang downed a cup of spiritual wine and laughed loudly:

"Without a demon king present, the beast hordes are like clay chickens and tile dogs, yet these sects in the Western Continent have no strength left to drive them away. One can only imagine how destitute these sects are these days!"

His words revealed an undisguised contempt.

He realized that if there were even a Golden Core cultivator in charge, all the problems could be solved.

Master Cangwu lowered his gaze and spoke up to remind him:

"In the past few days, I have learned from the cultivators stationed in Qingyun Immortal City that the three sects of the Western Continent, together with many families, once built a defensive line in the Hundred Thousand Mountains, wiped out a large number of demonic beasts, and even killed a demon king at the sixth level of the Golden Core stage."

After thousands of years of accumulation, the sects of Xizhou still have some foundation.

The arrogant and domineering attitude displayed by the cultivators who arrived with the flying boat was inconsistent with the Merchant Alliance's philosophy of making money through harmony.

These people don't understand the situation. If a conflict breaks out with the Golden Core cultivators from the Western Continent, it will be an ugly scene.

"A record of slaying a demon king? Or a demon king at the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm?"

"Brother Dao, this must be a morale-boosting tactic used by several sects in the Western Continent!"

Master Dongyang shook his head, thinking to himself that Master Cangwu must be getting senile, unable to see through such a bluff.

Master Cangwu smiled faintly and said:

"Now that we have come to the Western Continent, those sects will surely come to pay us a visit."

If they really killed a mid-stage Golden Core demon beast, they would definitely use it to exchange for precious materials and spiritual herbs.

Whether it's true or not, time will tell.

Lies will always be exposed, and he believed there was a very high probability that this was true.

Past transactions reveal the strength of the various sects in the Western Continent. These sects not only have Golden Core cultivators, but also guardian spirit beasts at the level of Demon Kings.

He once roughly calculated that there should be eight or nine Golden Core level cultivators in the Western Continent.

When the merchant alliance's flying ship last arrived in the Western Continent, the cultivators of Falling Maple Valley exchanged a Moon Essence Pill, which is a pill used to break through to the late stage of the Golden Core realm.

If there were a late-stage Golden Core cultivator in the Western Continent, it wouldn't be difficult to kill a sixth-level Golden Core demon king after some planning.

Two days later, the leaders of the three sects of Xizhou were successively teleported to Qingyun Immortal City.

The three gathered in a grand hall and discussed matters for an hour before boarding a large flying boat on auspicious clouds.

The flying boat was so wide that it was comparable to half a celestial city; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it a city in the sky.

Several True Immortals arrived at the building where the Golden Core cultivators of Central Continent resided. True Immortal Huoyun cupped his hands and said:

"The Fire Cloud Daoist of Falling Maple Valley, the Right Yang Daoist of Golden Spirit Sect, and the North Star Daoist of Yuanhe Mountain have come to pay their respects to you fellow Daoists."

I apologize for not being able to welcome you all from afar.

I wonder which venerable master has come to oversee this matter; please help with the introduction.

These past few days he has been having a headache. To resolve the predicament of Yuanhe Mountain, Luofeng Valley and Jinling Sect would have to mobilize all their forces. However, without a Nascent Soul cultivator to oversee things from the rear, they lack confidence.

Now that the support from Central Continent has finally arrived, things are much easier.

As long as we meet with a Nascent Soul True Monarch, offer some resources, and request that he stay at Yuanhe Mountain for a period of time, the crisis can be resolved by the Western Continent's own strength alone.

"I am Qiongxiao, a disciple of Taixuan Zhenjun of Lingxu Sect. My master is the one who is stationed in Xizhou."

However, my master has recently had some insights into his spiritual practice and is currently in seclusion, not receiving any visitors.

I am now fully in charge of matters concerning the Western Continent. What advice do the three True Men have for me?

Qiongxiao's words were polite on the surface, but there was an undisguised air of superiority about them.

Huoyun Zhenren and the others looked at each other in dismay, while Beichen Zhenren cursed inwardly.

'These bastards, what kind of logic is it to go into seclusion during a major battle! Are they trying to squeeze more benefits out of me?'

A Nascent Soul True Monarch goes into seclusion, and it's at least one or two years.

So much time has passed, the situation at Yuanhe Mountain has long since deteriorated.

Master Huoyun frowned, pondering whether this was an excuse or the truth.

But in either case, it's not good news for the cultivators of the Western Continent.

"I wonder if the True Lord has stated when he will emerge from seclusion?"

Although he knew that the True Lord's seclusion would definitely last a long time, he still mustered up the courage to ask.

The situation at Yuanhe Mountain cannot be delayed any longer, otherwise Master Beichen will lose his temper.

How can one predict when one will attain enlightenment through seclusion and meditation on profound teachings?

Master Qiongxiao chuckled and then said:

"However, my master once said that if a great demon in human form appears, he will naturally emerge from seclusion."

Huoyun Zhenren's eyes lit up. The group hadn't expected Zhenjun to step forward and protect Xizhou from the storm.

With the True Lord backing them up, they felt more confident in their actions.

"Since you are new here, you are unaware of the specific battle situation in the Western Continent. I will explain it to you in detail."

Qiongxiao wore a polite smile, but was somewhat impatient, letting the words go in one ear and out the other.

Because of her master's admonition, she had no desire to interfere in the war in the Western Continent.

Master Huoyun recounted the current battle situation, saying:

"The situation at Yuanhe Mountain is currently perilous. We earnestly request that you, Master, travel there by flying boat to relieve the predicament of Yuanhe Mountain."

"The Master only needs to remain in command; we will disperse the demonic army ourselves."

The entire Western Continent mobilized, bringing together ten warriors at the Golden Core level.

They didn't even need to confront the demon kings head-on; they only needed to kill as many Foundation Establishment and Yuan Realm demon beasts as possible.

"That's not a good idea. Staying in this immortal city is the Yunhai Merchant Alliance's decision."

Furthermore, if the flying boat were to dock in a war-torn area and disturb the True Lord's comprehension of the profound Dharma, I, as his disciple, would be greatly guilty.

Qiongxiao Zhenren's words implied refusal, but there seemed to be room for negotiation.

Master Huoyun sneered inwardly; this was clearly an attempt to extort benefits.

How could a Nascent Soul cultivator not consider this point when they are in seclusion?

Once the restrictions on the secluded cultivation area are lifted, it will be impossible to disturb the area unless attacked by an enemy at the Nascent Soul level.

Master Huoyun coughed lightly, took out a gift box, and said:

"We will risk our lives to keep the demonic forces within a hundred miles of the flying boat, so as not to disturb the True Lord's comprehension of the profound method."

"This matter is of great importance. As your disciple, I must consider it carefully. How about I give you all an answer tomorrow?"

Qiongxiao intended to see the guest off.

"You can take your time to consider it."

After Huo Yun Zhenren and the others left, Qiong Xiao opened the gift box, inside which was a pale golden black-patterned demon core and ten high-grade spirit stones.

"A demon core at the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm? These people are quite sincere!"

She was only at the early stage of the Golden Core realm, so this gift was quite generous.

"Tell them tomorrow that their request can be granted."

(End of this chapter)