Qin Renhuang just became an immortal, and you told me this is the prehistoric time

A burly man with the most powerful aura, who had reached the peak of the late Nascent Soul stage and whose face was tattooed with ferocious beast patterns, spoke in a deep voice that echoed beneath the silent altar.

What they sought was nothing more than to break through to the Nascent Soul stage and achieve immortality. If this Supreme Elder were still at his peak, they might still have the confidence to negotiate with the Heavenly Star Sect, or even bargain with them. But now the Supreme Elder was on his deathbed, and once he passed away, the Mulan Grassland would lose its highest-level deterrent force.

At that time, facing a powerful Tianxing Sect with a Nascent Soul cultivator in charge, the best outcome for these Nascent Soul cultivators would probably be to be swallowed up like the Nine Kingdoms Alliance, or even worse—to be used as a target for establishing authority and completely annihilated!

Although they hadn't personally witnessed Ying Xuan's power, the records in ancient texts and the traces left in ancient ruins all depicted Nascent Soul cultivators as near-god-like beings, capable of moving mountains and filling seas, controlling the laws of nature—far beyond the reach of Nascent Soul cultivators. No one wanted to be an enemy of a fully-fledged Nascent Soul cultivator; that would be tantamount to suicide.

In the center of the altar, the old man in gray robes, barely breathing, slowly opened his eyes.

His eyes were cloudy, like two bottomless whirlpools. His gaze swept over the faces around him, filled with fear and expectation, and a cold, sarcastic smile appeared on his lips.

"Ha...a bunch of...cowards."

The old man's voice was hoarse and dry, broken and intermittent, yet it clearly reached everyone's ears.

"Afraid? Afraid of that newly promoted Nascent Soul cultivator? Afraid of the Heavenly Star Sect's military might?"

He was slightly out of breath, and his cloudy eyes seemed to see through everyone's thoughts.

"You came here not to seek advice, but to probe my intentions, to see whether you will fight, surrender, scatter, or flee after my death, right? I'm afraid you've already lost the will to fight to the death, and are only thinking about how to protect yourselves, or even... how to gain benefits from the Tianxing Sect?"

Many Nascent Soul cultivators looked embarrassed and lowered their heads in silence after their secrets were exposed.

The burly man with the beast-patterned tattoo changed his expression and gritted his teeth.

"Your Excellency, the Supreme Elder, is wise! The power of a Nascent Soul cultivator is beyond human capability. We are not afraid of death, but we are unwilling to make a pointless sacrifice and cause the Mulan lineage to be cut off! May I ask, Elder, is there... a way to achieve both?"

"A win-win situation? Wanting to avoid war but also wanting to gain benefits?"

The Supreme Elder's sneer intensified.

"There are ways...it's not that there aren't any."

Everyone perked up and looked at the old man.

"The Tianxing Sect...seems to be an impenetrable force, but in reality, it is fraught with hidden dangers."

The Supreme Elder spoke slowly, his eyes gleaming with a shrewd, worldly wisdom.

"Although I have lived here for a long time, the Mulan people are scattered all over the place, and some have even infiltrated the Tianxing Sect. According to the information they have sent back, that Sect Leader Ying has no interest in running the sect at all. His only purpose in establishing the Tianxing Sect and recruiting cultivators is to collect all the clues about the 'Void Passage'!"

He paused, took a breath, and continued.

"Those Nascent Soul cultivators who merged into the Tianxing Sect, especially those from the seven sects of Yue Kingdom and the Nine Kingdoms Alliance, became somewhat arrogant after gaining some benefits, thinking that they could run rampant with the backing of the Nascent Soul cultivators."

Their attacks and plundering of resources, seemingly serving the sect's purpose, were actually draining the Nascent Soul sect leader's prestige and patience! A Nascent Soul cultivator is not to be trifled with. Did they think the sect leader was unaware or indifferent to their reckless actions? Foolish! They will pay the price sooner or later!

The crowd was shocked and puzzled. The burly man with the beast-patterned tattoo asked.

"Does the elder mean... that the Tianxing Sect is not a united front? Is there already a rift between the sect leader and his Nascent Soul subordinates?"

"A rift?"

The Supreme Elder shook his head.

"There's no question of grudges. In the eyes of a Nascent Soul cultivator, what difference is there between a Nascent Soul cultivator and an ant? No matter how an ant hops around underfoot, as long as it doesn't get in the way, one might not bother to give it a second glance. But if an ant doesn't know how to restrain itself, or even tries to use its power to seek too much personal gain and disturbs the peace... then crush it to death."

The reason that Sect Leader Ying hasn't reacted yet is simply because he still finds these ants useful; they can still help him gather clues.

He looked at everyone and revealed the most crucial plan.

"Therefore, our opportunity lies here. All a Nascent Soul cultivator seeks is to stabilize the void passage. Everything else—sects, resources, cultivation techniques—is meaningless to him."

"You must immediately send people, at all costs, to find out when that Sect Leader Ying will return to the Tianxing Mountains."

A glint of light flashed in the eyes of the Supreme Elder.

"The day he returns will be the day our entire Mulan Grassland surrenders!"

"What? The whole clan surrenders?"

Everyone was stunned.

"That's right! It's not resistance, it's not negotiation, it's about bringing all the coordinates of the 'void passages' that my Mulan Grassland has collected and explored over the generations, and having everyone join the Tianxing Sect!"

The Supreme Elder's tone was resolute.

After a brief moment of astonishment, many Nascent Soul cultivators revealed expressions of wild joy!
"Wonderful! This method is truly wonderful!"

A mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator clapped his hands and laughed.

"We bring real 'channel coordinates' to join us, which is far more valuable than those guys who only know how to fight and plunder ordinary resources! We will definitely gain the favor of the Nascent Soul Sect Master, exchange for higher-level cultivation techniques, and even get the opportunity to receive personal guidance!"

"Exactly! If the Seven Factions of Yue and the Nine Kingdoms Alliance can take advantage of it, why can't I, Mulan, take advantage of it? Moreover, what we are giving is exactly what a Nascent Soul cultivator needs most!"

"Another person said excitedly."

Some people's eyes flickered, and they whispered.

"Once that Nascent Soul Sect Leader finds a suitable passage and ascends to the Spirit Realm using the coordinates we provided... the vast Tianxing Sect will be leaderless and inevitably split! At that time, our Mulan Sect will have the largest number of powerful members and will be well-prepared, ensuring we secure the largest and best share!"

"That's right! Those cultivators of the Tianxing Sect are mostly independent cultivators or members of various other sects. How loyal can they be to the sect? They're just here for personal gain."

Once the Nascent Soul stage is over, the tree falls and the monkeys scatter. This will be the perfect opportunity for us to seize resources, cultivation techniques, and territory amidst the chaos!

The more everyone thought about it, the more feasible the plan seemed, and their excitement was palpable, as if they could already see a bright future ahead.

Seeing everyone's excited expressions, a barely perceptible trace of sorrow and mockery flashed in the Supreme Elder's cloudy eyes.

He forced himself to breathe and raised his voice a few decibels, suppressing the murmurs of the crowd.

"Listen up, all of you!" The crowd fell silent and looked at him.

The Supreme Elder's stern gaze swept across each face.

"This plan is feasible, but there is one thing you must remember—once you join the Tianxing Sect, before Sect Leader Ying ascends to immortality, you must put aside all your ulterior motives and serve him wholeheartedly, gathering resources and exploring clues without the slightest slackening, and you must not collude with the original Nascent Soul cultivators of the Tianxing Sect in an attempt to deceive the Sect Leader!"

His tone was menacing.

"The Nascent Soul stage is not to be trifled with! Those Nascent Soul cultivators of the Heavenly Star Sect are now acting recklessly, digging their own graves. If we want to survive, or even benefit from them, we must draw a clear line between ourselves and them, demonstrating a completely different 'value' and 'loyalty'. If we think ourselves clever and try to fool them, or even secretly collude with them... then we will surely die without a burial place!"

Upon hearing this, everyone felt a chill run down their spines, but they were still puzzled.

The burly man with the beast-patterned tattoo hesitated for a moment, then asked in a low voice.

"Elder, are you saying... that the Sect Leader already knew that his Nascent Soul disciples were deceiving him? Then... why didn't he punish them? With his Nascent Soul cultivation, wouldn't it be easy for him to clean up his sect?"

The Supreme Elder closed his eyes, seemingly having expended a great deal of energy, and after a long while, he sighed softly.

"Why not deal with them? Perhaps... in his eyes, how these ants scurry about is completely irrelevant. As long as they can still help him find a 'pathway,' he can tolerate a little selfishness and a little overstepping of boundaries. Or perhaps... he's waiting, waiting for the right opportunity, or... waiting for them to commit a truly serious mistake that crosses his bottom line?"

He opened his eyes again, looked at the incredulous crowd, and slowly spoke.

"How could we Nascent Soul cultivators possibly know the thoughts of a Nascent Soul cultivator? Remember my words, act according to the plan, and serve sincerely. There may be a glimmer of hope, or even a stroke of luck. If you harbor ulterior motives and try to take shortcuts... the Mulan Grassland may truly be doomed to extinction."

Beneath the altar, silence returned. Only heavy breathing and the distant howling of the wind and sand could be heard. The hundreds of Nascent Soul cultivators from the Mulan Sect gazed at the frail old man in the center, their initial excitement gradually cooling, replaced by a deeper sense of awe and calculation regarding their unknown fate.

Beneath the ancient altar on the Mulan Grassland, a deathly silence reigns.

The Supreme Elder's murky yet seemingly penetrating gaze slowly swept across the faces of the hundreds of Nascent Soul cultivators around him.

These beings, who usually command the wind and rain and are revered as ancestors on the grasslands, felt a chill rise from their spines under his gaze.

The old man took a deep breath, seemingly summoning his last remaining energy. His voice was clearer than before, but it carried a chilling solemnity and... a hint of barely concealed terror.

"Do you... know what it's like when a Nascent Soul cultivator truly makes a move?"

The Supreme Elder's voice was hoarse, carrying a complex mix of reminiscence and awe.

He didn't wait for anyone's reply and continued talking to himself, his eyes becoming somewhat vacant, as if he were lost in a distant memory.

"In my younger days, before I fell into such decline, I was fortunate... or rather, unfortunate, to have witnessed a Nascent Soul cultivator make a move from afar. It wasn't a fight, but rather that being's mind was slightly moved by something..."

He paused, as if recalling that scene still left him with lingering fear.

"In the blink of an eye! The spiritual energy of heaven and earth within a thousand miles, like subjects hearing the king's command, converged wildly! The sky suddenly darkened, and the sun and moon lost their light. This was not due to dark clouds, but rather the pure power of heaven and earth being drawn away and condensed, forming a powerful pressure!"
The earth trembled, and mountains and rivers shifted! This was not magic, but... but the very essence of heaven and earth themselves, which, with a single thought, altered the rules!

The Supreme Elder's voice trembled.

"For us cultivators, a Nascent Soul cultivator is already considered a great power, capable of moving mountains and overturning seas. But in the face of a Deity Transformation cultivator... there may be no essential difference between a Nascent Soul cultivator and a Qi Refining cultivator. A Deity Transformation cultivator can already mobilize and even command the 'momentum' and 'power' of a region! They... are more like living legends, walking immortals!"

He suddenly looked at the crowd, his eyes filled with even greater fear.

"So what if the Tianxing Sect has fifty Nascent Soul cultivators? So what if it has over a hundred? In the eyes of that Sect Leader Ying, they are nothing more than stronger ants!"

If he harbors even the slightest doubt, or even just finds it troublesome, with a mere thought and a wave of his hand, he can mobilize the power of heaven and earth within a radius of thousands of miles of the Tianxing Mountains to wipe you all out! You won't even have a chance to self-destruct at the Nascent Soul stage!

These words were like ice water, extinguishing the nascent hope of "waiting for the best price" and "profiting from the chaos" that had just risen in everyone's hearts.

The burly man with the beast-patterned tattoo had his Adam's apple bobbing and sweat beading on his forehead as he spoke in a hoarse voice.

"Elder... if we are careful to conceal our true intentions, sincerely pledge allegiance, and only offer the coordinates without revealing any disloyalty, perhaps..."

"Hidden? Hidden for a long time?"

The Supreme Elder chuckled, interrupting him, his eyes filled with a worldly-wise sorrow and mockery.

"Having lived for so many years, struggling from a minor Qi Refining cultivator to where I am today, the thing I dare not gamble on the most is 'human nature'!"

"Hundreds of Nascent Soul cultivators come from various tribes on the grasslands, each with their own distinct personality and intertwined interests. After joining the Heavenly Star Sect, how can they truly remain united in the face of the temptations of massive resources, high-level cultivation techniques, and guidance from the Nascent Soul stage?"
Unequal distribution breeds resentment, and some, desperate to impress the sect leader, even risk their lives searching for clues to the void passage… If even one person, or just one, realizes our true intentions or betrays us for their own benefit… we will all perish!

His voice grew increasingly stern.

"Moreover, the Tianxing Sect has now gathered hundreds of sects from the Yue Kingdom and the Nine Kingdoms Alliance, with its influence deeply entrenched and its spies spread throughout the world."

"Aren't there any truly intelligent people among those sects? Didn't anyone see through the perfunctory attitude and selfish motives of those Nascent Soul elders? Do you think you can fool everyone?"

Beneath the altar, the Nascent Soul cultivators remained silent, feeling a chill run from their feet to the top of their heads. The vision described by the Supreme Elder sent shivers down their spines.

……

Meanwhile, in the Tianxing Mountains, next to a superior spiritual field belonging to the Lingzhi Hall.

Han Li was squatting on the edge of the field, carefully checking the growth of a "Seven-Colored Lotus".

His movements were gentle and skillful, with a faint flow of wood-elemental spiritual energy at his fingertips as he brushed across the lotus leaves, sensing the vitality and spiritual energy circulating within them. Under his "meticulous" care, this already rare spiritual herb grew exceptionally well, its lotus leaves unfurling, faintly shimmering with seven-colored light.

Thanks to the miraculous effects of the little green bottle, Han Li's status in the Spirit Plant Hall rose rapidly. He is now the "number two" figure in the hall, second only to the Nascent Soul Hall Master, and many Golden Core stage spirit plant masters seek his advice. The spirit field allocated to him by the hall is also one of the best in quality and most abundant in spiritual energy.

However, Han Li felt little pride.

He always remembered that everything he had today was a gift from the sect leader. If the sect leader had not established the Heavenly Star Sect, widely recruited disciples, and not cared about their aptitude, a rogue cultivator with four spiritual roots like him would have had a hard time even entering an immortal sect.

If it weren't for the sect leader seemingly valuing his "planting talent" and entrusting him with important responsibilities and trust, he probably wouldn't have even been able to protect the little green bottle in his arms, let alone reach the Foundation Establishment stage; he would have been killed and robbed long ago.

After truly establishing his foundation, Han Li gradually interacted with his fellow disciples, and he gained a deeper understanding of the cruelty and helplessness of the cultivation world.

He had heard that many exceptionally talented individuals with Heavenly Spiritual Roots and Extraordinary Spiritual Roots might be stuck in the Qi Refining stage for life due to a lack of a Foundation Establishment Pill or an incompatible cultivation method. As for him, a universally acknowledged useless person with four Spiritual Roots, without the sect leader directly bestowing a Foundation Establishment Pill and personally assisting him, he would probably never even be able to touch the threshold of Foundation Establishment in his lifetime! (End of Chapter)