Simultaneous traversal: All Abyss difficulty.

Chapter 822 The Big One is Coming
Inside the main hall, Fang Yu inwardly groaned.

'Does this woman have ears like a bat?'

But now that things have come to this, pretending not to hear will only make us look more guilty.

He suddenly sprang up from the throne, his movements as fast as if he had a spring under his buttocks, showing no trace of the composure of a Nascent Soul Ancestor.
"Ahem!" He cleared his throat, trying to regain some of his ancestral authority, but his tone was still a bit weak. "That... Li Huayuan, tell everyone outside to disperse! Tell them that this old ancestor... has suddenly had an epiphany and urgently needs to go into seclusion to study the ultimate principles of heaven and earth! No guests today!"

His voice was deliberately raised, with a stiffness that left no room for doubt, but he dared not glance in the direction of Nangong Wan at the palace gate.

Li Huayuan and the other elders exchanged glances, feeling that the patriarch's condition was particularly strange today, but they still quickly replied, "We obey the patriarch's decree!"

The palace doors slowly closed, shutting out the bewildered, ashamed, and intensely curious gazes of the female cultivators from the Hidden Moon Sect outside.

Before the door closed completely, Nangong Wan's cold eyes were fixed on the blushing, shifty-eyed figure inside the hall, and the turmoil in her heart almost burst out of her chest.

Conspiracy! A colossal conspiracy!

Nangong Wan's mind was instantly filled with this thought, as if she had been thrown into a pot of boiling water with rolling stones.

"It's him! It's definitely him! That voice, that white light from the severed arm, and that guilty look he'd rather disappear into the ground! What Old Ancestor Fang? What nonsense about Nascent Soul! This is clearly that scoundrel Fang Tiezhu, the one who's pretending to be weak!"

'No wonder! No wonder! A Qi Refining cultivator ascending to the Nascent Soul stage in one step? Unheard of, utterly absurd! So that's how it is! So that's how it is! Huangfeng Valley pulled off a masterful trick, a complete substitution!'

'The oppressive aura of Patriarch Linghu that day must have been secretly amplified by him! That scene of tearing through space must have been some kind of trump card illusion array or talisman! The purpose was to use an impossible Nascent Soul illusion to intimidate the six major sects, reverse the decline after the defeat at the Crimson Forbidden Land, and even use this as a pretext to redistribute the resources of the Yue Kingdom!'

'What a deep scheme! What a grand scheme! Using an outer disciple as a front... wait, wait! Isn't this kid from my Hidden Moon Sect? How did he suddenly become a member of Yellow Maple Valley? Could he be a top spy?'

Just as Nangong Wan was frantically analyzing the situation in her mind, her eyes sharp as knives, as if she wanted to dissect Fang Yu thoroughly through the palace doors, the side door of the main hall creaked open a crack.

An arm emitting a soft white light reached out and precisely grabbed Nangong Wan's wrist, who was still having a mental breakdown!
Shh! Come with me!

It was Fang Yu's low voice, tinged with a hurried, almost thieving tone.

Before Nangong Wan could react, she was pulled by a strong force and involuntarily followed the sneaky figure, twisting and turning, avoiding all possible eyes and ears, and rushing towards a secluded place in the back mountain.

After a few leaps, the two stopped beside a deep pool where even moonlight could hardly penetrate. Ancient trees towered all around, and only the gurgling of water and the low chirping of night insects could be heard.

Fang Yu then let go of her hand, looked around furtively to make sure no one was there, and then let out a long sigh of relief. He plopped down on a smooth rock next to him, patted his chest, and completely forgot all about his old ancestor's airs: "Your eyesight... no, your hearing is too sharp!"

Nangong Wan stood still, her moon-white white dress fluttering slightly in the mountain breeze. She crossed her arms and coldly looked down at Fang Yu, who was sitting improperly, her tone carrying an all-knowing understanding and a hint of barely perceptible smugness.

"Fang Tiezhu, or... should I call you Old Ancestor Fang?"

She raised an eyebrow, a mocking smile playing on her lips, as if she'd seen through his act. "You did a good job. You almost fooled me. Tell me, what did Huangfeng Valley offer you that made you willing to take such a risk and impersonate a Nascent Soul cultivator? Was it Linghu Ancestor's secret cultivation technique, or did they promise you a Daoist partner?"

Upon hearing this, Fang Yu's face instantly contorted into an exaggerated "you know what I mean" expression. He slapped his thigh, lowered his voice, and leaned closer mysteriously: "Oh my! Elder Nangong is indeed incredibly intelligent and perceptive! Nothing can escape your notice!"

He rubbed his hands together, looking like a child who had just raided a bird's nest and was sharing his crime experience: "Actually, hehe, you guessed half right! It was Ancestor Linghu! He... well, he had no choice! As you know, the Blood Forbidden Land incident caused a lot of trouble, putting a lot of pressure on our Yellow Maple Valley! The six major sects are eyeing us covetously, all wanting a share of the pie."

He paused, looked around, and lowered his voice even further, as if revealing a huge secret: "Our ancestor... he has an ancestral treasure! Yes, it's a treasure that can simulate the pressure of a Nascent Soul cultivator and even create spatial ripples to scare people! But it can only be used once, and it needs a vessel. So, seeing that I'm young and strong and my mind is still pretty sharp, they made me, a Qi Refining cultivator, take the blame!"

Fang Yu shrugged, looking aggrieved and helpless: "Think about it, a Qi Refining cultivator suddenly becoming a Nascent Soul cultivator, how huge is that contrast? How shocking? How much of a way to shut those people up? They'll just find it unbelievable, and won't dare to investigate further, thinking it must be true! See, you've seen the effect, how effective it is! Hehe, I just wanted to use this Nascent Soul Ancestor's name to get more resources and gain more advantages, that's all."

As he spoke, he carefully observed Nangong Wan's expression.

As Nangong Wan listened to his "confession," a look of "I knew it" appeared on her usually cold face. She nodded slowly, her eyes sharp, as if all the clues had been connected.

"I see."

She muttered to herself, her fingers unconsciously twisting the corner of her sleeve, entering "Kogoro Mouri" mode. "No wonder when Senior Sister Ni Chang returned, she described the oppressive aura as strong, yet with an indescribable strangeness. No wonder the scene of tearing space was fleeting, without any subsequent spatial fluctuations. Yes, yes! That explains it! Deception, a bluff! Huangfeng Valley is taking a risky gamble, betting that the six major sects will be intimidated by this 'impossible' fact and dare not investigate further! What a brilliant scheme! Truly a brilliant scheme!"

The more she spoke, the more reasonable it seemed to her, her eyes gleaming with what she thought was wisdom: "In this way, not only will Huangfeng Valley preserve the secrets obtained from the Crimson Forbidden Land, but it can also use this opportunity to put pressure on other sects and gain absolute initiative in the subsequent resource allocation! Ancestor Linghu truly lives up to his reputation as a cunning old fox who has lived for a thousand years! He took a risky move, but it hit the nail on the head!"

Fang Yu sat on the rock, his shoulders trembling slightly and his lips twitching wildly upwards. He only managed to keep from laughing out loud thanks to his strong willpower.

But seeing Nangong Wan's serious, analytical look, as if she had already grasped the whole situation, Fang Yu was about to burst out laughing.

Even those with professional training would find it hard to stay calm at this point.

"Cough cough!"

Fang Yu quickly coughed twice, forcibly suppressing his laughter, and put on a serious expression, nodding vigorously: "Yes, yes, yes! Elder Nangong, your analysis is absolutely right! That's exactly it! Huangfeng Valley just wants to share resources! To take advantage! That's exactly what they mean! You are truly insightful and have a clear understanding of everything!"

He stood up, leaned closer to Nangong Wan, his face showing a mix of buddy-like camaraderie and utmost seriousness, and lowered his voice: "Elder Nangong, this matter is between heaven, earth, you, and me, but absolutely, absolutely cannot be spread!"

He paused, a perfectly timed hint of lingering fear appearing on his face, his voice trembling slightly: "Just think, if word got out that the six major sects would know they were completely fooled by a mere Qi Refining stage cultivator, wouldn't those old guys from Yellow Maple Valley do something like taking me, a nobody, to appease public anger?"

He made a throat-slitting gesture, then gestured as if peeling skin and pulling out tendons, his eyes filled with a weak, helpless, and pitiful light. "Tear off the skin? Pull out the tendons? There won't be any bone fragments left, right? You can't just stand by and watch me die!"

Looking at Fang Yu, who was now completely honest and whose life and fortune depended entirely on her decision, Nangong Wan remained silent for a few moments, considering the seriousness of the consequences.

Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on her delicate face. Her cool, clear eyes swept over Fang Yu's face, and finally, she took a soft breath.

"Don't worry." Nangong Wan's voice returned to its usual cool tone, but carried a certain certainty that indicated she understood the gravity of the situation. "This matter is of great importance, and even more so, it concerns..."

She paused, not revealing his fate, but simply said, "I will not speak of the delicate balance between the Hidden Moon Sect, the Yellow Maple Valley, and even the entire Yue Kingdom." She raised her eyes, looking directly into Fang Yu's eyes, her gaze complex, containing helplessness, a sigh for this farce, and perhaps even a barely perceptible sympathy for his pitiful pawn situation.
"This matter ends here. You'd better take care of yourself."

After saying that, she gave Fang Yu one last deep look, as if she wanted to etch this audacious and cunning figure into her mind. Then she turned around, and her moon-white figure silently disappeared into the back mountain, leaving only the faint sound of her footsteps fading into the distance.

Fang Yu finally couldn't hold back any longer until he was sure Nangong Wan was far away.

"Pfft—Hahahahahaha!"

He clutched his stomach, laughing so hard he couldn't stand up straight, rolling around on the smooth rock, tears welling up in his eyes.

His long-suppressed, unrestrained laughter echoed through the empty back hills.

"Oh my god, sharing resources, taking advantage, hahaha. She actually believes that?"

Meanwhile, at the border of Vietnam.

The sound of something cutting through the air grew louder as it approached, shattering the usual deathly silence along the border.

The dark, dense crowd, like a migrating tide of beasts, swept across the border, carrying with it a soaring aura of malevolence and undisguised fluctuations of spiritual energy.

Dust billowed into the sky like smoke, obscuring half the sky.

That scene was far from ordinary sect exchanges; it was more like a massive army pressing in!

The Yue Kingdom cultivator guarding this place was a man in the mid-Foundation Establishment stage. At this moment, he felt a chill run from the soles of his feet straight to the top of his head.

He suppressed the pounding in his heart, suddenly took a deep breath and demanded, his voice carrying far and wide with the amplification of his spiritual power, yet unable to conceal a barely perceptible tremor:

"Halt! This is Yue Kingdom territory! Which immortal friend from Shayun Kingdom are you ahead? What is your intention in entering with such a grand procession?!" The Qi Refining disciples behind him turned pale, and their hands holding magic weapons trembled slightly.

At the front of the crowd, a middle-aged cultivator dressed in a black brocade robe, with a fair complexion and no beard, but with eyes as sharp as a hawk, slowly raised his hand.

The massive crowd behind them, a mixture of countless disciples from various sects of the Shayun Kingdom, suddenly stopped abruptly, as if their throats had been choked, displaying a chillingly disciplined and unyielding demeanor.

The middle-aged cultivator's lips curled into a smile that appeared gentle but was actually chilling. His voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached the ears of every Yue Kingdom cultivator, carrying an undeniable arrogance:

"I am Li Wuyai, the External Affairs Officer of the Shayun Sect."

His gaze swept over the border guards, who looked as if facing a formidable enemy, and he slowly stroked his neatly trimmed goatee:
"As for what we intend to do... Hehe, why ask when you already know the answer? Nowadays, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth is becoming increasingly scarce, and the path of cultivation is becoming more and more difficult. All the sects, large and small, of my Shayun Kingdom have learned from our painful experience and have put aside our past grievances to become one! Today, the entire Shayun Sect has moved here, and it is for no other reason than this."

He paused, the warmth in his smile vanished completely, leaving only naked ambition and oppression:

"All for the purpose of 'recruiting' ambitious individuals from the cultivation world of Yue Kingdom to join us in this grand undertaking! With my Shayun Sect as our foundation, we will strive for a path to the heavens amidst this chaotic world!"

"Absorb?!" The Foundation Establishment cultivator's expression changed drastically, and alarm bells rang in his mind.

This isn't absorption; this is outright swallowing!
It's a blatant takeover!
They intend to trample the entire cultivation world of the Yue Kingdom under their feet!

Without further hesitation, he reached into his robes and crushed a crimson jade talisman covered in runes in an instant!
"call out--!!!"

A blindingly bright crimson beam of light, accompanied by an extremely sharp and shrill whistle, like the howl of a ferocious beast struggling in its death throes, suddenly burst forth from his hand and shot straight into the sky!

The red light exploded in the gray sky, transforming into a huge and twisted "danger" character that lingered for a long time, staining half the sky blood-red!
This is the highest level border attack alert!

However, what terrified the border monks was—

The Shayun Sect steward who called himself Li Wuyai, and the massive, silent Shayun Sect army behind him, did not make a single move to stop him! They didn't even blink!
Li Wuyai stood with his hands behind his back, even looking up with interest as he watched the huge blood-red character for "danger" slowly dissipate in the sky, as if he were watching a clumsy fireworks display.

The mocking smile on his face deepened, carving into the hearts of every Yue Kingdom cultivator like a carving knife.

"Have you finished sending the signal?" Li Wuyai withdrew his gaze, his eyes returning to the ashen-faced Foundation Establishment cultivator. His voice was calm, yet carried a suffocating chill, clearly echoing throughout the surrounding area:

"Very well, that will save me the trouble of explaining further. Listen—"

His voice suddenly rose, carrying a terrifying pressure from the Nascent Soul level, instantly forcing the Foundation Establishment cultivator to his knees: "This signal is your death warrant, and also your final ultimatum to the seven sects of Yue Kingdom! One week! I'm only giving you seven days!"

He slowly extended his index finger, "Let your so-called Nascent Soul ancestors from the seven sects wash their necks and wait! In seven days, experts from my Shayun Sect will personally visit your sects to pay their respects!"

A cold light flashed in Li Wuyai's eyes, and each word he uttered was like an ice pick striking down:

"If those old fogies of yours can't withstand the methods of my Shayun Sect on the arena..."

A cruel, cold smile spread across his lips as he uttered his final verdict:
"Then, all members of the seven factions of Yue Kingdom, from top to bottom, shall serve my Shayun Sect as slaves to the death!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Wuyai stopped looking at the pale-faced border cultivators, as if they were nothing more than ants and dust.

He waved his sleeve:
"go!"

The black torrent of the Shayun Sect was activated once again, silently and resolutely surging into the heart of the Yue Kingdom with the power to crush everything.

All that remained were endless yellow sand and Yue Kingdom cultivators whose fingers trembled like leaves and whose bodies were soaked to the bone.
(End of this chapter)