Chapter 106: The Whole Nest Emerges

Cao Chengyu had a profanity on the tip of his tongue, though he wasn't sure if it was worth speaking aloud. Fortunately, he had been practicing the Heaven-Locking Technique for years, keeping his cultivation aura suppressed to avoid being shockingly conspicuous or attracting the attention of some old man lusting after a young body.

The Daoist Yin-Yang beckoned to him, and he was forced to fly over under the watchful eyes of the higher-ups. There was no doubt that this formation had been assembled specifically for the main ingredient of the Nine-Turn Reincarnation Pill. It was utterly shameless. As a minor player, he naturally dared not voice his true thoughts, so he could only curse inwardly while obediently standing beside the Daoist Yin-Yang.

"Cao Chengyu, why are you here?"

"..."

"I returned to my hometown to visit an old friend."

"Forget it. Since you are here, stay by your master's side and follow my lead later."

"Understood, Master."

A strange look flickered in the eyes of the Daoist Yin-Yang—a mix of greed and anticipation. There were things he hadn't fully disclosed to Cao Chengyu. Years ago, he had indeed encountered the Yin-Extreme Yang Fire, a rare, heaven-born elemental flame. At the time, he was not in the Spirit Refining Realm, but the Dao Body Realm. Lacking the technique to consume such a fire, his greed drove him to attempt a forced absorption. The result was that he only managed to swallow a sliver of the flame’s outer edge; he failed to obtain the fire seed and was severely crippled, with one-tenth of his Dao body foundation incinerated. He had no hope of reaching the Golden Core stage in this lifetime.

That was why he had been so overjoyed when he first met Cao Chengyu. A Five-Elements Dao body, when pushed to its peak, could derive Yin and Yang. He possessed a split seed of that Yin-Extreme Yang Fire within him, which allowed him to track Cao Chengyu’s location through a mysterious connection. If he could possess Cao Chengyu’s body, combined with the techniques and pills he had prepared over the years, his re-absorption of the flame would be foolproof.

The Five Elements Sect had mobilized almost its entire force, save for the Supreme Elders and the Sect Master. He knew his limits; he would never dare to covet the treasures sought by the Golden Core elders—though he didn't actually know what those were. Finding Cao Chengyu here made him feel the timing was perfect. In an operation of this scale, it was perfectly normal for a few people to die.

The Daoist Yin-Yang planned for his own demise, intending for his "beloved" disciple to inherit everything. Heh...

However, Cao Chengyu was not interested in his intense psychological activity; he had already guessed ninety-eight percent of it. It was just the same old trick. He was now a Purple Mansion cultivator, equal in rank to the Daoist Yin-Yang, and with the Heavenly Demon Pill and the Floating World Observation Technique to reinforce his soul, he had no fear of a Golden Core attempting to possess him. In his eyes, the Daoist Yin-Yang looked more like a walking gift bag; the timing of when to open it was entirely up to him.

Perhaps because his previous vow to uphold chivalry had failed, he felt somewhat despondent, ashamed, and regretful, feeling like a scholar all talk and no action—useful only for his sharp tongue. Especially seeing these Golden Core elders of the Five Elements Sect ready to act, a certain dark cynicism began to grow within him. What difference was there between this "Righteous Path" and the Demonic Path? No wonder there had been a demonic calamity three thousand years ago. If he were in their position and survived such a betrayal, he would ensure every last one of them died.

Cao Chengyu silently recited the Heart-Calming Mantra, preventing his extreme thoughts from inviting the Heavenly Demon into his body. This group of hypocrites had been hiding for who knew how long; after Cao Chengyu stumbled upon them, he had waited another three days.

"Everyone, prepare for action!"

The speaker was the Great Elder, Ouyang Qingtian, a pinnacle Golden Core cultivator aged 1,100. In a few years, he would be eligible for the Supreme Elder tier and could retire. He surely wanted a Nine-Turn Reincarnation Pill.

"Third to Seventh Elders, take twenty deacons from the Five Elements Peaks to guard against the Heaven-Monitoring Tower and the Golden Core clans. Use lethal force if necessary."

"Eighth to Twelfth Elders, take twenty deacons to deal with the Golden Core ancestors of the Red Clan Imperial Family."

"Nangong Yao, Head of the Hidden Lineage, you will join me in dealing with the Thousand-Eyed Demon Centipede. The Five Elements Peak Masters are to adapt to the situation and cover any gaps."

"By the Great Elder's command!"

The group responded in unison. Ouyang Qingtian stroked his beard with a satisfied smile. The Five Elements Sect possessed the greatest strength in this operation, with eighteen Golden Core cultivators. The Great Yue Imperial Family had only three, plus the Thousand-Eyed Demon Centipede; the Capital Immortal Clans had four, though one had already left; and the Heaven-Monitoring Tower had three, not counting the rogue cultivators. By this calculation, they had a surplus of eight Golden Core cultivators, allowing them to fight two-on-one or serve as a reserve force against anyone trying to fish in troubled waters. It was nearly foolproof.

As for the Purple Mansion cultivators, he had brought a full hundred—the pillars of the future, nurtured by the Five Elements Sect since childhood. Suppressing Great Yue would be no problem. This was the foundation upon which the Five Elements Sect dominated the three kingdoms; nothing could go wrong. The main ingredient of the Nine-Turn Reincarnation Pill and the flesh and blood of the resurrected person had to be secured!

"Move out!"

*Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!*

At the command, the group dismantled the cloud formations that masked their presence, and the entire army surged toward the capital of Great Yue. Cao Chengyu feigned weak cultivation, allowing the Daoist Yin-Yang to carry him along. Compared to three days ago, the territory of Great Yue had become even more desolate. The vegetation had turned a charcoal black, and the world was dim and somber.

For a thousand miles, there was no sign of life; for ten thousand miles, no smoke of human habitation. Wailing spirits haunted the air, and bones littered the ground. It was like a wasteland, and none who saw it could remain unmoved. Among the cultivators present, only the Golden Cores knew the truth and remained indifferent. The Purple Mansion cultivators, however, were shocked by the imperial family’s ruthlessness. They wondered why the sect hadn't stopped this catastrophe, why they had only dealt with it afterward, and why they hadn't rushed in immediately but instead waited outside for several days. These strange inconsistencies caused some dark thoughts to stir, and certain long-held beliefs began to collapse.

The Great Elder seemed to notice this and sent a voice transmission to everyone: "Do not overthink it. Previously, Great Yue was covered by a formation. The Third Elder spent several days calculating it to eliminate the danger for us. You are all pillars of the sect and will need to develop your talents in the future. The matters of Great Yue are still shrouded in mystery; remain vigilant on all fronts. Be careful."

"We understand!"

Cao Chengyu witnessed his shamelessness once again. Even Nangong Yao frowned, wanting to speak but ultimately holding her tongue. To be honest, he was disappointed in this lineage head. She had reached the peak of Golden Core at just over five hundred years old, with nearly seven hundred years of lifespan left. Even if she just wore down the barrier with sheer persistence, she could reach the Nascent Soul stage. She didn't need a Nine-Turn Reincarnation Pill; there was no reason for her to be involved in this.

Yet, look at the Second Elder, Zhao Fengxian, who was ranked as a righteous cultivator on the leaderboards—she hadn't come at all, clearly disgusted by the behavior of these people. She was over nine hundred years old, yet she could still stick to her principles. By comparison, this No. 1 had a very narrow perspective.