Cultivation begins in Qingfeng Market.

Not long after, a powerful, peak-stage Core Formation divine sense swept across the entire battlefield, carrying a chilling aura.

"Are you satisfied now?" The voice was cold and sharp, as if it were being forced out from between clenched teeth, full of suppressed anger.

Another voice came from the distant void, carrying a faint smile, and calmly said, "I am very satisfied."

After a pause, the voice rang out again, its tone tinged with amusement: "How do you plan to end this Jade Yang Fire Fiend Avatar of yours? You don't have much time left."

The first divine sense remained silent for a long time, and finally said nothing more, leaving only a cold snort before receding completely like the tide.

As his divine sense dissipated, the air above the battlefield slightly distorted, and a figure in white slowly stepped out.

This man, dressed in white robes and wearing a tall hat, had an exceptionally handsome face. He appeared to be no more than twenty years old, yet he exuded an air of otherworldly grace. Standing amidst the scorched earth and ruins, his robes fluttered, and not a speck of dust touched him.

He glanced down at the ashes in the deep pit, then looked up, his gaze piercing through the void, towards the direction of Cangyun Mountain, his brows furrowing slightly.

Lin Zhao's performance in that battle just now did indeed exceed his expectations.

Not only does it possess strength far exceeding that of its peers, but it also has ruthless methods of swift and decisive killing, leaving no room for retreat.

Especially the final line, "Who else?" that echoed throughout the wasteland, was clearly a shout directed at all the Core Formation cultivators secretly watching.

A Foundation Establishment cultivator forcefully killed another Core Formation cultivator in front of several Core Formation cultivators, and then questioned them sternly.

This is not just a demonstration; it's a statement—I'm not happy that you're using me as a pawn.

He shook his head and muttered to himself, "The little guy has quite a temper... Fine, I'll go to Cangyun Mountain myself and make things clear."

Tongming Immortal City is a Nascent Soul power and is not afraid of Lin Zhao. However, if it can avoid a conflict, it would be the best course of action.

If Lin Zhao were still at the Foundation Establishment stage, he would naturally be just like Yan Chiheng and Zhu Yan, becoming a pawn manipulated by various parties.

But today is different—having personally killed a Core Formation cultivator, coupled with the background of the Holy Sect, Lin Zhao now possesses the qualifications to become a chess player.

As for Nascent Soul True Monarchs, they are beings who set the rules.

The whole game was actually very simple and clear: the Nascent Soul True Monarchs were unwilling to completely break off relations and start a large-scale war, but they could not sit idly by and do nothing about it.

This kind of weighing of options and numerous concerns has created the current strange situation where we are caught in a dilemma.

He lifted his foot and walked towards Cangyun Mountain.

With one step, one is already miles away. A few steps later, one disappears from sight.

-----

The atmosphere inside the naval base was extremely oppressive.

Lin Zhao sat upright in the main seat, her fingertips tapping lightly on the table.

"Zhu Yan, what exactly did you discover?" Lin Zhao finally spoke, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable sense of pressure. "How did this attract the pursuit of several Core Formation cultivators and cause such a commotion?"

Zhu Yan sat opposite him, remaining silent as if making a difficult decision.

The matter of the Jade Yang Fiery Body is too far-reaching, directly related to the power struggle between Nascent Soul True Monarchs. Once it is mentioned, everyone present will be completely drawn into it.

But if we don't speak out, the tens of millions of lives lost in this relentless pursuit and the tragic deaths of the Tianhuo Dynasty deserve an explanation.

Lin Zhao did not urge him.

His fingers were still tapping on the table, one tap after another, slowly and deliberately.

Suddenly Lin Zhao stopped.

He looked up and gazed out the door.

"Looks like we don't need you to tell us anymore." His voice was calm. "Someone's here."

Zhu Yan was taken aback. He released his divine sense but sensed nothing. Yan Chiheng also released his divine sense and shook his head.

Lin Zhao didn't explain, but slowly withdrew his hand from the armrest and sat quietly waiting.

A quarter of an hour later, Old He's voice came from outside, tinged with tension: "Governor, a distinguished guest has arrived."

Old He stepped aside, and behind him stood a young man in white.

The moment this person stepped into the hall, everyone present felt an invisible, immense pressure. It was not something he deliberately released, but rather a natural consequence of his improved cultivation level and the strengthening of his life essence. The high-level aura he exuded made everyone's breath catch in their throats.

The opponent made no attempt to conceal his cultivation level; it was the powerful aura of a peak Core Formation cultivator, far surpassing that of all the cultivators present.

Yan Chiheng placed his hand on the storage bag.

Lin Zhao glanced at him, and he released his grip.

Lin Zhao stood up and cupped his hands in greeting: "Lin Zhao, the garrison commander of Cangyun Mountain, greets Senior."

The man smiled and sat down opposite the head of the table, as if he were sitting in his own home.

His gaze swept over everyone present, finally settling on Zhu Yan, lingering for a moment before withdrawing.

Lin Zhao skipped the pleasantries and, once the other person was seated, went straight to the point: "Senior, are you from Tongming Immortal City or Taixu Pavilion?"

The man paused for a moment, then introduced himself: "Yang Qingxuan, the third disciple of True Monarch Tongming. I apologize for this intrusion and hope Fellow Daoist Lin will not take offense."

At this moment, Mr. He carefully served tea, and as he left, his hands trembled slightly uncontrollably.

Lin Zhao picked up the teacup in front of him but did not drink it, looking directly at Yang Qingxuan: "Senior Yang, did you come all the way from Tongming Immortal City?"

"Exactly." Yang Qingxuan nodded.

Lin Zhao's tone was calm, cutting straight to the point: "You've come about the Heavenly Fire Dynasty?"

Yang Qingxuan glanced at Lin Zhao, then at Zhu Yan, his expression hardening, and said bluntly, "That's right. I'll be frank."

He slowly put down his teacup, his tone calm but every word piercing: "The disaster of the Heavenly Fire Dynasty was because the Taixu Pavilion was refining a Jade Yang Fire Fiend Dharma Body underground."

That Dharma body requires absorbing a vast amount of fire-attribute spiritual energy and takes hundreds of years to form. Once completed, it will possess combat power equivalent to the threshold of a Nascent Soul cultivator.

Zhu Yan clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. "So, in order to destroy this Dharma body, you deliberately detonated the entire volcanic field, burying tens of millions of people in my Heavenly Fire Dynasty?"

Yang Qingxuan remained silent for a moment. "I can tell you definitively that the eruption of the volcanic cluster was not caused by Tongming Immortal City. Tongming Immortal City did know of the existence of that Dharma body, but never intended to destroy the Heavenly Fire Dynasty."

He paused for a moment, then said, "These are not my words, but the exact words of my master, the True Lord Tongming. He asked me to tell you this personally."

"And according to our investigation," Yang Qingxuan continued, "the volcanic eruption was an accident. The Taixu Pavilion's preparations in the early stages were indeed focused on refining the Dharma Body, but the detonation of the volcano—that was also unexpected for them."

Yang Qingxuan looked at him and did not avoid his question.

"Someone tampered with the volcano, causing it to erupt prematurely. As for who that person is..."

He paused for a moment, then said, "You'll have to find out for yourself. If you can't even find out who that person is, there's no point in talking about revenge."

After a long silence, Zhu Yan replied in a low voice, "I understand."

He felt a deep bitterness in his heart, yet he was helpless, for the other party was a Nascent Soul disciple, backed by the powerful Tongming Immortal City.

The fact that he is willing to reveal the truth now is already out of consideration for the fact that he is the only remaining Core Formation cultivator in the Heavenly Fire Dynasty. Any further words would be futile.