Chapter 604 - 409: Each Has Their Own Thoughts
Chapter 604: Chapter 409: Each Has Their Own Thoughts
Dragon Demon Palace.
The Palace Master’s residence.
Reports streamed in to the Dragon Demon Palace Master, and his expression grew darker with each one.
None of it was good news.
’Why have the Celestial Cloud Sect and Wind Ling Sect suddenly ramped up their attacks against us?’
For the Dragon Demon Palace Master, the situation over the past few decades had been relatively good, especially after he learned that Foundation Establishment Influences within the territories of the Black Ghost Cave and Ghost-Controlling Sect had also been destroyed by the mysterious Spirit Refiner.
He had been delighted for quite some time when the mysterious Spirit Refiner made a move against the Black Ghost Cave and the Ghost-Controlling Sect.
The mysterious Spirit Refiner’s actions meant that the Black Ghost Cave and the Ghost-Controlling Sect were now firmly on their side, sharing the pressure they were under.
The Celestial Cloud Sect was undoubtedly powerful now, but facing four Core Formation Influences would certainly be difficult for them. The Wind Ling Sect could only help the Celestial Cloud Sect shoulder some of the pressure, and the territories of the Black Ghost Cave and Ghost-Controlling Sect didn’t even border the Wind Ling Sect’s.
Before long, the Dragon Demon Palace Master convened a meeting of his high-ranking officials.
The three Vice Palace Masters arrived shortly thereafter.
"Palace Master, what is so urgent? Why call a meeting now?"
They had just held a high-level meeting a few days ago, but that one had been a regularly scheduled affair.
"The Celestial Cloud Sect and the Wind Ling Sect have suddenly intensified their offensive against us. Multiple battles have broken out in a short period, and our side has suffered significant losses."
"What? Things were fine just before. Why so sudden?"
"Indeed. There was no warning at all before they intensified their attacks."
The Dragon Demon Palace’s intelligence network was decent; they would normally get some advance warning before an offensive of this scale.
But now, they were only receiving information after both the Celestial Cloud Sect and the Wind Ling Sect had already made their move.
"Keeping a major operation so secret... Are they trying to imitate the mysterious Spirit Refiner?"
"Whether they’re imitating the Spirit Refiner or not is another matter. What should we do now?"
"With this sudden escalation, the Celestial Cloud Sect and the Wind Ling Sect must be planning to annihilate us."
As one of the Vice Palace Masters said this, the other three Core Formation-level leaders fell silent.
The word "annihilate" was unpleasant to hear, especially since they had cautionary tales before them: the Celestial Demon Sect and the Demon Spirit Sect had already been wiped out by the Celestial Cloud Sect, their Core Formation Sects’ entire territories seized.
The Dragon Demon Palace had no desire to become the third such power to fall.
Sensing the atmosphere in the meeting, the Dragon Demon Palace Master knew he couldn’t let this continue.
"It won’t be so easy for the Celestial Cloud Sect and the Wind Ling Sect to destroy us. Ghost Head Castle is providing us with substantial support, the Ghost-Controlling Sect and Black Ghost Cave are now on the same front as us, and the mysterious Spirit Refiner has even paid a visit to their territories. Most importantly, unlike the Celestial Demon Sect and the Demon Spirit Sect, we have three Elders from the Black Dragon Hall on our side, one of whom is at the Peak of Core Formation!"
As the Dragon Demon Palace Master spoke, the mood in the meeting improved considerably.
Everything the Dragon Demon Palace Master said was true. It would be very difficult for the combined forces of the Wind Ling Sect and the Celestial Cloud Sect to destroy them.
They had multiple layers of security.
"The Palace Master is right! We are not like the Celestial Demon Sect and the Demon Spirit Sect."
"Palace Master, does Elder Jin from the Black Dragon Hall know about this?"
"He doesn’t know yet. I will go see him personally afterward."
"I’m sure Fellow Daoist Jin will be very pleased to hear the news."
"With such a major move from the Celestial Cloud Sect and the Wind Ling Sect, it’s highly likely the mysterious Spirit Refiner will also take action."
The upper echelon of the Dragon Demon Palace all hoped that Jin Daolei of the Black Dragon Hall could deal with the mysterious Spirit Refiner.
The mysterious Spirit Refiner was simply too troublesome. Every time they struck, they would silently annihilate several Foundation Establishment Influences, sowing panic among them. The most terrifying part was that there were no effective methods of prevention.
Jin Daolei had lain in wait within the Foundation Establishment Influence, the Qin Family, for several years, but he never once encountered the mysterious Spirit Refiner.
The cultivation environment in a Foundation Establishment territory was not suitable for a Core Formation Stage cultivator, let alone someone like Jin Daolei, who was at the Peak of Core Formation.
So, seven years ago, Jin Daolei had come back.
After the mysterious Spirit Refiner attacked the Foundation Establishment Influences in the territories of the Ghost-Controlling Sect and Black Ghost Cave, Jin Daolei went back and stayed with the Foundation Establishment-level Qin Family for another three years.
The Dragon Demon Palace’s high-level meeting concluded, and a general response strategy was formulated.
Afterward, the Dragon Demon Palace Master went to find Elder Jin Daolei of the Black Dragon Hall.
"Fellow Daoist Jin."
"Palace Master Han, if you have news, just say it directly."
"Yes." The Dragon Demon Palace Master nodded, then briefed Jin Daolei on the current situation, making a specific point at the end. "...Fellow Daoist Jin, with an operation of this scale from the Celestial Cloud Sect and the Wind Ling Sect, it is highly probable the mysterious Spirit Refiner will also make a move."
"Then tell me, where is the mysterious Spirit Refiner most likely to appear now?"
"Well..."
The Dragon Demon Palace Master thought for a moment.
The current situation was different from before; it seemed possible for the mysterious Spirit Refiner to appear anywhere.
Seeing the Dragon Demon Palace Master’s prolonged silence, Jin Daolei’s eyes narrowed as he spoke.
"When the mysterious Spirit Refiner comes here, I will naturally deal with them."
Originally, Jin Daolei had wanted to quickly complete his primary objective: eliminate the mysterious Spirit Refiner, obtain Contribution Points, and exchange them for the items he currently needed.
But later, he changed his mind.
Trying to eliminate the mysterious Spirit Refiner quickly was fraught with too much uncertainty.
Rather than waste time on such things, it was better to settle down and cultivate, to reach the true Peak of Core Formation. Only then could he prepare to break through to the Nascent Soul Stage.
With his talent and the resources he currently possessed, he had some chance of breaking through to the Nascent Soul Stage. After killing the mysterious Spirit Refiner, obtaining a large amount of Sect Contribution Points, and exchanging them for the necessary resources, his chances of breaking through to the Nascent Soul Stage would increase even more.