Under One Person, your rebellious life has reached the heavens?

Soon after, similar situations occurred at the Creation Gate and the Void Stepping Hall.

In less than half a day, the elites of these sects vanished without a trace, as if they had evaporated into thin air. Their dojos, however, remained intact, suggesting they had not been attacked but rather had retreated voluntarily for some reason.

The news of Jiang Mo's reappearance also caused quite a stir.

No one expected that he would make a move at a crucial moment, first fighting against the four sects and holding his own to defend his territory, and then challenging the Flying Immortal Sect and running rampant. This suggests that he likely possesses terrifying strength comparable to many sect leaders.

Based on fragmented information from the front lines and Kyoto, the extraordinary individuals within the country deduced this conclusion.

They couldn't understand why Jiang Mo, who was so powerful, was unwilling to emerge into the world, quell the unrest once again, and kill the extraordinary creatures that had taken over various places.

He was absent from the two previous battles, which were so important—resisting the gods and driving out the ancestral snail.

Is it simply impossible?

Or do you not want to?

Or perhaps, as the four sects said, the so-called orthodox Xuanmen is nothing but a fraud, and their true identities have always been a group of wicked cultivators who devour people without spitting out the bones, and Jiang Mo is precisely the greatest of these evil demons.

Several groups of netizens with differing opinions argued heatedly, especially those who had abandoned the Sanyi Sect and Jiang Mo. In order to prove their own correctness, they hurled the harshest insults, even giving Jiang Mo the title of "Demon Lord".

They had never been cared for, yet felt they had been greatly humiliated, and were utterly disappointed in the Sanyi Sect and Jiang Mo.

In the evening, the scandal of some Level 5 Awakened from the three major universities secretly going to suppress the war was exposed by an unknown force, which immediately pushed the already tense atmosphere to a new peak.

The school was filled with curses. Teachers, students, and leaders were shocked and furious. Knowing they were in the wrong, they were terrified that if the rumors came true, none of the level 4 and level 5 awakened individuals in the school would be able to escape the Demon Lord's reckoning, and they would all be captured and used to make medicine.

That night, some cowards secretly left, deciding to go overseas to temporarily avoid the risks.

The Demon Lord's methods were truly terrifying. His past deeds were still vivid in my mind. He killed more than 500,000 evil cultivators in seven demon caves with ease, leaving not even a trace of their corpses. The more I thought about it, the more likely it was that they had been refined to nothing.

Those awakened beings who had painstakingly evolved to the pinnacle dared not risk their lives and all secretly went into hiding.

Coincidentally, martial arts masters in China who cultivate rapidly possess vigorous blood and energy, and whose bodies are tempered through countless trials, which is equivalent to unlocking a corner of a treasure.

Many people have been affected by this unexpected disaster. It's no longer a question of whether they believe Sanyi is a demonic cult or whether Jiang Mo is an evil cultivator. For them, the best solution is to lie low and wait for the crisis to pass.

The next day.

The twelve Trinity traitors, who had been recruited by the four factions, died suddenly overnight. The identity of the perpetrator is unknown.

The debate over whether the Sanyi Sect is a demonic cult has exploded in popularity. A poll was launched on the dark web, covering both domestic and overseas users. Nearly 90% of users believe that the Sanyi Sect is a demonic cult, while only slightly more than 10% hold the opposite opinion.

As public opinion intensifies, even though the Security Council used technical means to block all mentions of the Trinity Sect online, the impression of the Trinity Sect as a demonic cult that has taken root in people's minds is difficult to erase.

.......

September 7, night.

Under the bright moon and sparse stars, the desolate Sanyi Sect had removed the barrier of the black swamp. Under Chengzhen's arrangement, the Second True Body did not pursue the four sects' dojos, but stayed to guard the sect.

The Sutra Repository, fourth floor.

The older generation of disciples, such as Si Chong, Shui Yun, and Lu Jin, were all present. Dozens of ancient books were piled up beside them, all of which Cheng Zhen had taken from the Fei Xian Sect. They contained detailed records of the great war seventeen hundred years ago, as well as the origins of the Six Sects and the San Yi Sect.

"So that's how the Trinity Gate came to be?"

With clouded eyes, he stared at the last line of words on the yellowed paper, as if from another world.

He never imagined that the sect's predecessor was so glorious, with a hundred third-level experts at its peak.

This was a scene he never dared to imagine before, or even now; it was simply outrageous. Moreover, all the sect leaders throughout history, except for the founder, were all experts at the fifth level of the Profound Fate Realm. The last leader, Venerable Mingyao, was clearly described as being at the sixth level of the Profound Fate Realm or above.

It was from this moment that Si Chong finally understood just how strong his junior brother was. Even within the main lineage's inherited tradition, he was likely the strongest member of the Sanyi Sect throughout history.

At the same time, he also felt sorry for his master and senior brother Zuo Ruotong. Without the restriction of another cultivation method, they relied on their talent and perseverance to break through to the third level of reversal, which was extremely difficult and can be called a miracle.

As Lu Jin gained a deeper understanding of the ancient text's contents, a chill ran through him. He pondered, "..."

"Taiqing Palace, Jiuchong Mountain, Bixuan Temple, Jile Mansion, Zaohua Gate, Taxu Hall, I never imagined we had so many enemies."

"Fortunately, before leaving, my martial uncle wiped out the Taiqing Palace for us."

"As for Bixuan Temple, it also became a target of other secret realms nine hundred years ago, and thus perished."

Chengzhen spoke with a relatively optimistic attitude, saying that after reading these books, he could roughly determine the strength range of both sides.

The initial worries dissipated. With the Sanyi Sect guarded by Jiang Mo's second true form, it would be virtually impossible for the remaining four sects to break in unless their founders were resurrected or the strongest sect leaders of all time joined forces.

"The question we should be considering now is, which sect is imprisoning those disciples who were lost back then?"

"If there are still successors, we need to rescue them as soon as possible."

As the eldest of the family, Si Chong is the oldest and has the softest heart.

Even when faced with younger generations they had never met, the thought of their plight still darkened their expressions. They wondered if things would have been better if they had discovered it sooner.

"..."

Chengzhen's expression was somewhat solemn. He glanced at his junior brother beside him and his elderly senior uncle, but ultimately could not hide the truth and spoke frankly:

"It won't be that easy to get them out."

“Disciples who cultivate the Three Ones True Scripture can absorb the spiritual energy of all things, have strong vitality, and accumulate cultivation quickly. Therefore, they have become human-shaped medicine cauldrons suitable for the four sects to increase their cultivation. Every once in a while, they may have to endure the pain of having their blood energy and true qi plundered.”

"Based on this alone, the Flying Immortal Sect Leader and I had a detailed discussion, and we were both convinced that there were still prisoners."

"Unfortunately, there is even worse news. According to him, the sect leaders who attacked us that day were also in their Dharma bodies. As for their true bodies, they may still be hiding in the secret realm."

"With the accumulation of various deep-seated hatreds, we are now irreconcilable enemies. Now that they know the strength of their martial uncle, they have retreated and hidden back in the secret realm."

"Then, what should we do?"

Shuiyun was stumped and frowned, saying, "Can't we just attack? Do we need more people?"

“…”

Chengzhen shook his head slightly and explained, "Once the entrance to the secret realm is closed from the inside, it is impossible for outsiders to enter."

"Of course, perhaps. Just like the ancient records of when Venerable Mingyao stormed into three secret realms seventeen hundred years ago, those realms would have been sealed off. Logically speaking, he shouldn't have been able to enter, but he still managed to break in."

"It's simple. Either the leader of the Flying Immortal Sect really doesn't know, or he's afraid we'll settle scores later, march straight in, and wipe out his sect, so he's keeping it a secret."

Upon hearing this, the crowd's spirits dampened. Yu Huai, always skilled in negotiation, pondered for a moment, then shared his insights and offered further comment:

"The only option now is to wait."

"Wait for our uncle to return, and wait for the four sects to take the initiative to negotiate with us."

"The hostages are their last bargaining chip. They probably won't open the secret realm until they are absolutely certain of safety."

"However, it's also possible that they might secretly release some hostages to act as intermediaries and test our intentions."

Upon hearing this, Xian Shu instinctively became wary:

"Then how can we prove that the person who came to us is indeed the imprisoned main branch disciple, and not someone in disguise?"

"You should know that one of the Venerable One's disciples has defected. If he is hiding in a sect, there is no guarantee that a successor will remain. We may not be able to break the restrictions placed on him with the same cultivation method. It is also unrealistic to search his memories. There is a natural and unsolvable crisis of trust here."

“…”

Suddenly, the problems facing everyone seemed to exceed their capabilities.

Lingyun Daoist, a disciple of Taiqing Palace who was captured three years ago, has yet to have his memories retrieved by the Nine Departments and the Security Council.

The ancient books gifted by the Flying Immortal Sect mention that the six sects are at a similar level in terms of strength and foundation. Each sect has its own restrictions and methods. Disciples who possess core secrets will be protected by ancestral techniques.

In other words, to bypass the restrictions, one needs to be at least on par with, or even surpass, the level of the founders of each sect.

This is the reason why Shuiyun, Lu Jin, and others felt powerless.

"It's alright, let's go with the flow and wait for the opportunity to break the deadlock."

"Let them make their moves, we'll just take them."

Chengzhen made a decision and said gently, "Many times, things don't go as planned. We should just do our best to rescue those disciples."

"If we can't save them, then we'll avenge them."

"No matter what the cost, we must crush the four sects."

"Hopefully, in the end, we can bring them back. They are welcome here."

The lamplight illuminated Chengzhen's calm expression; he spoke these words to everyone, but also to himself.

Chapter 406 Differential Treatment: Are We Not as Important as a Bunch of Beasts?

Mythical beasts are wreaking havoc on the human world, and the sect faces a formidable enemy. Chengzhen's cultivation has reached a bottleneck, and there is no way to advance further.

He refined and tempered his body with the essence and blood of three extraordinary creatures: the Qingxuan Ancient Dragon, the Corpse Giant Whale, and the Ancestral Snail. The other disciples still have a lot of room for improvement.

On May 8th, Chengzhen arranged for the members of the Triple Rebirth to go to the back mountain for seclusion.

He didn't expect everyone to transform into new extraordinary beings, as that would be far too difficult. So he repeatedly gave instructions and passed on his experience, explaining the fatal forks in the road clearly and without any omissions.

Even if you refine the blood of an extraordinary creature and integrate it into your internal organs, it will cause a leap in physical transformation.

To this end, Chengzhen specially mobilized the spiritual energy of the mountains, gathered rocks and soil to form chambers, drew voids to form walls, and set up seven protective barriers for his disciples to devote themselves to seclusion.

Si Chong, Shui Yun, Sheng Sheng, Li Qing, Yan Gu, and Yun Feng entered one after another.

Lu Jin was the last one. He had something on his mind and made a frank request:

"Senior brother, I'd like to prepare a few copies for each of my two old friends. What do you think? Is that alright?"

“During this ordeal, the younger generation and relatives in the family all entrusted them with taking care of things, and they have been helping out behind the scenes.”

The essence and blood of extraordinary beings are of immeasurable value, almost second only to the true Dharma in the sect's treasures.

Although Lu Jin and Cheng Zhen had a very good relationship, he did not dare to be negligent when this matter was mentioned, and his words were respectful and cautious.

"Is he the Celestial Master of Longhu Mountain, and an old friend of Linqi?"

Chengzhen smiled and asked in return. He was not surprised, as he remembered that the two presidents and his junior brother had a life-or-death relationship several times.

On the eve of the four attacks, he secretly arrived at Sanyi Gate, ready to lend a hand.

Later, he and Lu Jin persuaded them to leave. The relatives of the Lu family and the wives and children of several middle-generation disciples were also taken care of by them and hid in the Celestial Master's Mansion to avoid being implicated.

"Yes."

Lu Jin sighed slightly, a hint of displeasure in his voice:

"Perhaps because they are too close to us, the blood of extraordinary creatures seized by the Nine Divisions, after being refined and concentrated, is distributed to the Swordholders and the Awakened Ones and Warriors they have personally promoted."

"A single vial of blood only contains a dozen milliliters, but Lao Zhang and Lao Wei didn't have any. The excuse they gave was that their dosage was much larger and they couldn't produce it in a short time."

After hearing his words, Chengzhen smiled, too lazy to delve into the reasons, and simply made a soft promise:

"If that's the case, if they won't give it to us, we will."

"Collect some from the past; if it's not enough, we'll arrange more later."

He changed his mind halfway through his sentence;

"etc...."

"There might not be time later, and I might not be there either. You should collect more in the future and prepare enough at once."

"Yes, thank you, senior brother."

Lu Jin clasped his hands in thanks on behalf of his friend and bowed slightly.

"Go ahead and come back early."

"From now on, you'll have to make your own decisions about similar incidents."

"There's no need to ask me; I trust your judgment."

Chengzhen patted Lu Jin on the shoulder, showing great trust in her junior brother. The slight smile on her lips was as bright as a tulip.

To him, the essence of a few extraordinary creatures was not worth as much as the kindness shown in times of need, especially in this chaotic world, where it was of utmost value.

Subsequently, Chengzhen personally assisted Lu Jin in refining the essence blood of the giant beast, preparing a total of 12 portions, 6000ml in total, at 3000ml per person.

evening.

The afterglow of the setting sun bathed the mountains, and a streak of light crossed the sky, landing at the gate on the mountaintop. Lu Jin returned, having done what he needed to do, bid a brief farewell to his senior brother, and then went to the back mountain for seclusion.

Other disciples who had reached or were close to the second level of perfection were also sent by Chengzhen to the Five Palaces Treasure Land for tempering and to attempt a breakthrough.

Yu Huai, Xian Shu, and Lin Qi, who had served in the Nine Departments for decades, were exhausted and mentally drained, and were always stuck at the last step before the third level. Unable to withstand the baptism of the treasure land, they could only choose a gentler, slower way of advancing, which allowed them to control the subtle and exquisite details.

Chengzhen plans to take three people to the vast ocean, find a trench over 4,000 meters deep, and gradually increase the pressure of the billions of tons of seawater to attempt a breakthrough.

Before leaving, he specifically instructed several young people in the sect to repair the damaged buildings and rebuild the ground. He also summoned the Dharma Protector, Will, and temporarily entrusted him with the management of many sect affairs.