"Remember I told you that you will have a share of the sacred stone after this is completed."
Master Haoyi's words immediately shocked Jiang Yun. Wasn't this his original purpose?
"Although the Purple Sun Divine Stone is called a divine stone, its stock is small. However, in recent years, the demand for divine stones within the sect has become less and less, and it is more often used as the core of formations. If you can take Miaomiao away, you can also take the divine stones in Purple Sun Mountain with you."
Jiang Yun's heart raced upon hearing this. He had seen the later divine stones from Ziyang Mountain more than once. Their weight far exceeded the forging capacity of a single magical weapon. Jiang Yun was confident he could forge two of the magical weapons from his childhood Xuanlu. Although he could only choose one as his own name, even if its power was less, it would still far surpass the current magical weapons Jiang Yun knew.
"Okay, when do we leave?"
Jiang Yun asked immediately, ignoring Zhang Miaoyi who was crying and heard this.
Zhang Haoyi showed an expression of "as expected" on his face, and then he said slowly:
“Opportunities can come at any time.”
Ziyang City, after the disturbances caused by the third-tier monsters and demonic cultivators of the past few days, has become much calmer these past few days. Consequently, the number of monsters attacking the city walls on both sides has also decreased significantly, and the frequency of their attacks has also decreased.
But in Ziyang City, the enthusiasm of all the cultivators did not slow down at all, because the once-in-a-decade Ziyang Talisman Meeting and Grand Auction were about to begin.
Over the past few days, Ziyang City's city guards have not allowed a single demonic beast to cross the border, ensuring unimpeded access to the city gates. This is why so many cultivators feel safe coming here. What surprised all the cultivators this year was that Jindan cultivators, once virtually unseen on the streets, were now being seen several times a day.
Ziyang City's special wind messengers kept watch at the city gates and the Immortal Residence, which received Jindan cultivators. They counted the number of Jindan cultivators arriving and were surprised to find that this year's number was 30% higher than in previous years.
At this time, in Ziyang Mountain, inside an antique pavilion, Zhang Hongyi, Zhang Huayi, Haoyi, and Ge Zhengping gathered in the lobby on the second floor of the pavilion.
Zhang Hongyi and Master Haoyi sat in the main seats at the top, while Zhang Huayi and Ge Zhengping sat in the guest seats on both sides respectively.
"The news has been leaked, let's talk about what to do!"
Zhang Hongyi glanced at his fellow disciples and spoke first.
Several people were here to discuss the leak of True Demonic Energy. Most of the Jindan cultivators who had rushed here in the past few days had come for this True Demonic Energy. Which Jindan cultivator wasn't stuck in a bottleneck, feeling like they were dying of ecstasy?
"Humph, I'll go kill all the monks who were present at the time. They dared to reveal the sect's secrets!"
Zhang Huayi glanced at Master Haoyi, and after speaking angrily, he was ready to stand up and kill all the cultivators present. His purpose was to take the opportunity to kill Master Haoyi's men.
"Humph! Isn't it obvious who leaked it?"
Master Haoyi snorted coldly, looking at Zhang Huayi with suspicion as he spoke. He had already made up his mind that Zhang Huayi had leaked the secret so that he could take advantage of the geographical advantage and get the true demonic energy into his hands.
"you......"
"alright!"
Seeing that the two were about to quarrel again, Zhang Hongyi shouted angrily and glared at them fiercely. Master Haoyi and Zhang Huayi then snorted coldly and sat quietly in their chairs.
"Now is not the time to discuss who leaked the information. All of our fellow Taoists have received the news. Right now, it's not right for us to hold the demonic energy, and it's even worse to hand it over. Are we just going to waste it like this?"
After hearing Zhang Hongyi's words, everyone began to ponder. If the True Demonic Energy wasn't properly handled, Ziyang City would suffer a double blow from internal and external troubles. If so many Jindan cultivators started fighting in the city, it would be disastrous.
"If you ask me, we should gather the strength of the four of us and seal the true demonic energy first. Then notify the sect and send a formation master to set up a refining formation. Refine the demonic energy!"
Master Haoyi spoke first, stating that this was also the common procedure used by the Ziyang Sect to deal with demonic energy. First, seal it, then set up a formation to refine it. Although refining it was extremely slow, it was the most reliable method.
"That's not right. If so many cultivators knew we were hoarding the demonic energy, not handing it over, and even refining it, and started making a fuss, it would be disastrous. In my opinion, the auction is about to begin, and we can just auction off the true demonic energy as the grand prize!"
It was Huayi Zhenren again. After hearing Zhang Haoyi's words, he immediately stood up and refuted. As expected, as soon as he finished speaking, Haoyi Zhenren immediately objected:
"If a huge fight breaks out in the city to compete for the demonic energy, what will happen to Ziyang City and all the cultivators in the city?!"
Zhang Haoyi’s main consideration is to protect the safety of Ziyang City. If the cultivators cannot get what they want, countless people will fight each other. Then the ones who will be in trouble will be Ziyang City and the cultivators in it.
Zhang Huayi, on the other hand, was more concerned with his own selfishness and safety. Many Jindan cultivators were drawn to the True Demonic Qi. If he kept it in his possession and refused to hand it over, the Ziyang Sect's Jindan would be in danger.
"Alright, I understand your considerations. Choose the lesser of two evils. The sect's golden elixir is the most important. Spread the word that this auction will feature the True Demonic Qi!"
Zhang Hong looked at everyone and finally spoke in a firm voice.
"Brother Hongyi! If our sect openly sells true demonic energy, does our Ziyang Sect still have the nerve to be the leader of the righteous path?"
Upon hearing this, Zhang Haoyi leaped to his feet and stared at Zhang Hongyi in disbelief. In his opinion, even throwing the True Demonic Qi outside the city would be far better than this. The Ziyang Sect's open auction of True Demonic Qi meant that the sect was preparing to merge with the Demonic Path.
For many years, there has always been a saying in the world of immortal cultivation: Taoism and demons alternate. When Taoism fades and demons grow, the demonic path will flourish.
The numerous True Demon Wells in the Central Region, the heart of the Immortal Cultivation Realm, are clear evidence of this. Some cultivators have proposed a theory of the alternation of Dao and Demon, with Dao diminishing and Demon growing. They claim that this era is the Age of Demonic Paths, and that only by actively embracing the Demonic Path can cultivators finally achieve immortality and ascend.
The six cultivators at the time disagreed with this philosophy, and so they crossed the treacherous Yunluo Mountains to the relatively barren land of Luonan. Among them, the most radical, most steadfast in their adherence to the principles of Taoism, and whose cultivation methods best restrained the demonic arts, was the Ziyang Sect. Now, the Ziyang Sect had even begun to align with this philosophy, a fact that truly pained Master Haoyi.
"Brother, this is a serious matter. We should inform the sect and then make a decision!"
"Hmph! Don't bother yourself with notifying the sect!"
Zhang Huayi snorted coldly and spoke sinisterly to Master Haoyi.
Master Haoyi's heart slowly sank, reaching the bottom. He knew that no matter how much he spoke, it would be in vain. Furthermore, how could such a major matter be decided so easily without the approval of the entire sect's cultivators? He just wondered how many of the Jindan cultivators who came to Ziyang City were actually sect elders in disguise?
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