Tongming Master looked at Cheng Kong Master’s furrowed brow illuminated by lamplight casting fluctuating shadows on his face and knew that the emissary from the Supreme Dao was not in good spirits.
Among them, the issue regarding Zheng Fa was actually a minor detail.
What troubled Cheng Kong Master the most was Quiet Bamboo.
"Emissary, this Quiet Bamboo..."
"We can’t delay any longer..." Cheng Kong Master said with a sigh in his voice, "I only hope for success in one battle..."
Tongming Master also fell silent, knowing what he meant.
The condition of Quiet Bamboo was getting increasingly worse; although the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Roots were extraordinary, the yellowing of its leaves grew a bit larger every day–inconspicuous, yet draining.
The Hundred Herbs Sect within the Hundred Immortals Alliance,
And other Spirit Farmers masters outside the alliance.
Cheng Kong Master had sought them one by one, to no avail.
The meaning of success in one battle was clear now: if things continued , Quiet Bamboo might only have the strength for one battle left.
Tongming Master felt that the emissary must have anticipated this–with the foundation of the Supreme Dao still unable to heal Quiet Bamboo, they were now just treating a dead horse as if it were alive, waiting for a miracle.
Obviously, there was no miracle.
Even Cheng Kong Master himself had given up.
Cheng Kong Master commanded lightly, and Quiet Bamboo disappeared from his hands, the worry on his face instantly vanished as he stood up and walked towards the door.
Tongming Master’s expression became more solemn as he followed behind, entering the largest and most luxurious hall atop Tongming Mountain.
Inside the hall, five low tables were set out, with Cheng Kong Master taking his place behind the central table while Tongming Master, the true host, could only stand respectfully behind him.
But he had no complaints, keeping his eyes fixed outside the hall, full of anticipation.
After a brief moment, Xie Qingxue came in with measured steps, accompanied by Yan Wushuang, who was looking around leisurely. They walked into the hall, saluted Cheng Kong Master, and then took their seats behind the first low table to the left without any hesitation.
A little while later, the shadow of a not-so-tall but broad-shouldered figure appeared on the threshold.
A man’s voice with a hint of martial valor echoed, and then, he entered the hall.
He seemed to be middle-aged, clad in earth-colored plain clothes, with extreme simplicity, yet carrying a richly decorated longbow studded with jewels on his back–its spiritual energy so dense it was visible to the naked eye.
Tongming Master recognized him at once; it was Luo Xingzi, who had achieved God Transformation from Haori Mountain not many days before.
Cheng Kong Master smiled as he watched him sit next to Xie Qingxue, then turned to look at the two empty seats on his right.
"Those two, they are the ones who are truly late."
"After all, they are from the West Continent..."
Luo Xingzi said with a quiet sneer, obviously having no good relations with those two.
Tongming Master, as if he hadn’t heard the remark, didn’t dare to show any expression on his face–joking aside, weren’t the Five Sects of Xuanwei from the West Continent just the Five Sects of Xuanwei?
However, considering that the East and West Continent of the Xuanwei Realm were separated, with a vast sea in between and Great Demons occupying the sea, ordinary cultivators found it extremely hard to cross.
Thus, he had also never seen the disciples of these two sects, and there was a sense of novelty in his heart.
After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, two figures came in together.
On the left was a young monk, his complexion like jade, his demeanor detached from the mundane world; with each step he took, a golden lotus flower would spring up under his feet.
Luo Xingzi muttered softly within the hall.
Although his voice was low, with most of the people there being at the level of Divinity Transformation, who couldn’t hear?
Even the two who had not yet entered the hall would not have missed this mocking comment.
But the young monk seemed to have not heard it, showing a face merely tinged with a few more traces of compassion, while his companion, a woman of majestic elegance, glanced into the hall, her eyes full of indifference, striking fear into those who met her gaze.
Tongming Master silently counted to himself:
The Tianhe Sect, Haori Mountain, Supreme Dao, could be called the foremost in the East Continent.
Leiyin Temple, Turquoise Pool, were even the overlords of the West Continent.
These five sects combined, known as the Xuanwei Five Sects, had been in control of the Xuanwei Realm for an epoch, and today, they had all gathered on the humble Tongming Mountain.
Thinking about this, his heart swelled with a kind of smug pride. Wouldn’t he be remembered in history for this meeting in the future?
As for why it was a bit unlucky, the main reason was that there were too many people, so much so that some who should not have come did, such as the Great Freedom Demon Ancestor...
The two newcomers took their seats, and with this, the five top forces of the Xuanwei Immortal Sect had come together.
Not to mention Tongming Master was finding it novel,
Even the five of them were looking at each other, speechless for a while, seemingly unaccustomed to such a gathering.
The hall fell into a brief silence.
After a short pause, it was Luo Xingzi who broke the silence impatiently, "What are you waiting for? Didn’t we all come here for the matter of Chen County? How do we handle it, can it be resolved without discussion?"
Cheng Kong Master nodded gently, "Luo Xing is right. The Great Freedom Demon Ancestor is not to be underestimated. We need a plan so we can unify our efforts and destroy the Great Freedom Demon Sect."
The Yaochi’s God Transformation, the luxurious woman, seemed reluctant, "This is, after all, a matter for the East Continent..."
Tongming Master couldn’t help but be startled. He knew that the interaction between the East and West Continents was very limited, but now hearing Yaochi’s God Transformation speak, it seemed as though she didn’t consider the matter of the Great Freedom Demon Ancestor as her own concern.
"The descent of the Demon Ancestor brings chaos to Xuanwei, what does it matter whether it is the East or West Continent?"
Xie Qingxue spoke up.
"Chaos in Xuanwei?" The woman seemed incredulous, her eyes swept over Xie Qingxue’s face and she huffed, "Has the Tianhe Sect fallen so far? A newly-recovered Demon Ancestor, relying on the Blood Slaughter Formation’s unknown strength, dares to claim to bring chaos to Xuanwei?"