Cultivation begins in Qingfeng Market.

Lin Zhao tapped the table; the sound wasn't loud, but everyone heard it.

"Senior Yang, you came here today not just to talk about these things, right? What are your plans? Please tell us all at once."

Yang Qingxuan leaned back in his chair, his fingers resting on the armrest. "Regardless of who was responsible for the Heavenly Fire Dynasty's actions or the extent of the inside story, the Taixu Pavilion bears at least 70% of the responsibility. Therefore, the Taixu Pavilion must pay the price!"

Lin Zhao countered, "Is True Monarch Tongming going to make a move?"

Yang Qingxuan shook his head. "A Nascent Soul cultivator won't make a move. A battle between Nascent Soul cultivators is more terrifying than the collapse of a dynasty. Without absolute certainty, a Nascent Soul cultivator won't act."

He paused for a moment, then said, "This turmoil will end with that Dharma body. A demonic cultivator is refining a Dharma body deep within the Heavenly Fire Secret Realm, causing a disaster. Soon, Core Formation cultivators will join forces to punish him."

Zhu Yan's voice was low: "Is this a decision by Tongming Immortal City?"

"This is a joint decision by Tongming Immortal City and Taixu Pavilion," Yang Qingxuan said in an unchanged tone. "Don't complain, it's pointless. This is the best result that Tongming Immortal City can achieve for you—making Taixu Pavilion pay the price of a Nascent Soul cultivator, which can be considered an explanation to the Heavenly Fire Soul."

Lin Zhao frowned. "Would Taixu Pavilion agree? A Dharma Body comparable to a Nascent Soul cultivator, just given up like that? And even if that thing isn't finished, it's not something a Core Formation cultivator can handle."

Yang Qingxuan's tone turned much colder: "The Taixu Pavilion has no choice but to agree. That Dharma Body is not yet complete, its strength is limited, and it cannot leave the depths of the volcano unless True Monarch Taixu personally takes it away—but if he makes a move, True Monarch Tongming will also make a move, and then the matter will be completely out in the open."

His voice turned cold. "While Nascent Soul True Monarchs are powerful, they are not powerful enough to disregard all human sentiments and moral principles. Without the checks and balances of the Tongming Immortal City, the Taixu Pavilion might be able to suppress everything with a single hand."

But now the situation is this: if True Monarch Taixu insists on protecting his Dharma Body, the whole truth will be revealed. How many of his twenty-six allied sects, hundreds of Core Formation cultivators, and even cultivators within the Taixu Pavilion sect, will still remain loyal to him?

What Yang Qingxuan didn't mention was that Tongming Immortal City also had its own concerns—the newly born Nascent Soul cultivator from Loulan, the King of Loulan, had been eyeing them covetously.

If Tongming Immortal City pushes Taixu Pavilion too hard, and a fight breaks out between the two sides, King Loulan will definitely take the opportunity to make a move. It would not be a good thing to completely break ties with Taixu Pavilion before we have absolute confidence.

It would be enough to take this opportunity to kill one of the Nascent Soul Dharma Bodies of Taixu Pavilion. This would give the Tianhuo Dynasty an explanation without forcing Taixu Pavilion into a desperate situation.

To put it bluntly, Nascent Soul cultivators value their lives, and the Heavenly Fire Dynasty incident was an unexpected event, leaving none of the three parties prepared.

Without absolute certainty, the three Nascent Soul cultivators would not make a direct move.

But some things don't need to be said; those who understand will naturally understand.

Zhu Yan said in a low voice, "You've already planned everything out, so why are you still coming to us?"

Yang Qingxuan's face showed a rare hint of unease: "After all, that is a Nascent Soul Dharma Body. Ordinary Core Formation cultivators would be committing suicide against it, so we need external assistance—powerful top-tier Core Formation cultivators."

He looked at Lin Zhao and said, "For example, your master, True Person Qianqiu, is a Nascent Soul cultivator with combat power at the threshold, but he is still in an incomplete state. He is an excellent target and the best whetstone. Perhaps True Person Qianqiu can take this opportunity to break through the bottleneck and touch the threshold of the Nascent Soul."

Lin Zhao remained silent for a long time.

So that's what they were waiting for. No wonder they dragged Zhu Yan, Yan Chiheng, and Lin You into it. They even arranged for a Core Formation cultivator to die in order to pull him out of seclusion.

Ultimately, it was all about the Thousand Autumns Master behind Lin Zhao; he was just an accessory.

Firstly, by leveraging the Holy Sect's powerful Core Formation ability to exert pressure on the Taixu Pavilion, they could thwart their plans to preserve their Dharma bodies.

Secondly, it solidifies the righteous cause of eliminating evil and firmly binds all forces together on the same boat.

It's even possible that this is to prepare for a future confrontation between the ancient Loulan Kingdom and the sect alliance against the Immortal City, making some righteous preparations in advance.

Lin Zhao raised her head and looked at Yang Qingxuan. "I will convey this to my master. As for whether he comes or not, that's not something I can decide."

Yang Qingxuan nodded and stood up. "That's all I have to say. You may all consider it yourselves."

He walked to the door, paused, and didn't turn around. "Commander Lin, today's battle was brilliantly fought."

As soon as he finished speaking, his figure faded away silently, disappearing from the garrison without leaving a trace.

The naval base fell silent once again.

Lin Zhao returned to the main seat, and her fingertips began to tap lightly on the table again, one tap at a time, the rhythm slow and gentle, yet it made people's hearts clench.

Zhu Yan kept his head down, his expression unreadable.

Yan Chiheng opened his mouth, then closed it again.

The little ones stood in the corner, not daring to breathe.

Lin Zhao knocked for a while, then stopped. "Go and rest."

He said in a flat voice, "Whatever it is, we'll talk about it tomorrow."

No one moved.

Lin Zhao stood up and walked to the window.

They gazed at the distant direction of the Heavenly Fire Dynasty, remaining motionless for a long time.

After much deliberation, Lin Zhao finally opened the sect token and relayed everything to True Person Qianqiu, including the affairs of the Heavenly Fire Dynasty, the Dharma Body, and the power struggle between Tongming Immortal City and Taixu Pavilion.

The runes on the token's surface lit up for a moment, then the information, like a mysterious ray of light, disappeared into the sky.

He couldn't control what happened next.

He didn't know whether Master Qianqiu had emerged from seclusion.

But Yang Qingxuan was right about one thing—his master had been stuck at the late stage of Core Formation for over a hundred years. If he could take this opportunity to break through the bottleneck to the peak of Core Formation, or even go further and achieve Nascent Soul—then all the problems would no longer be problems.

The Nascent Soul cultivators within a sect and those outside the sect are completely different in status.

a few days later.

Hundreds of thousands of miles away, the vast sea of ​​clouds stretches to the horizon, and the ancient peaks stand tall.

Deep within the cave at the summit, a middle-aged cultivator dressed in black feather robes sat quietly in meditation.

He was slender, with a face sculpted by a knife and axe, and distinct features. Just sitting there, his aura blended seamlessly with the spiritual energy of the entire mountain.

Master Qianqiu opened his eyes and took out the sect token.

Lin Zhao's message appeared in his mind, and he read it three times. Finally, he stopped at the words "Jade Yang Fiend Fire Dharma Body" and remained silent for a long time.

After a long while, he stood up, his black feather robe brushing against the stone platform with a very soft sound.

He stepped out of the cave, stood on the peak, and gazed into the distance. Clouds and mist swirled beneath his feet, and in the distance stretched the continuous spiritual peaks of the sect, each representing at least one Core Formation cultivator. One after another, they extended to the horizon, with no end in sight.

It is difficult to form a nascent soul.

He watched for a long time, then turned and went down the mountain.

Ten days later, at Cangyun Mountain.

When Lin Zhao received the message, she was meditating in her quiet room.

He suddenly opened his eyes, and without thinking, got up and walked out, while telling someone to notify Yan Chiheng, Zhu Yan, Lin You and others.

"Master has arrived." He only said these four words.