Chapter 605 - 409: Each with Their Own Agenda (Part 2)
Chapter 605: Chapter 409: Each with Their Own Agenda (Part 2)
"Then we’ll do as Fellow Daoist Jin wishes."
Hearing this, the Dragon Demon Palace Master could only reply as such.
It was impossible for him to oppose Jin Daolei’s intentions. No matter what Jin Daolei said, he had to go along with it.
By not eliminating the mysterious Spirit Refiner ahead of time, their Dragon Demon Palace’s subordinate Foundation Establishment influences would likely suffer great losses later on.
It was even possible that within their Dragon Demon Palace’s Earth Realm, not a single Foundation Establishment Influence would remain, leaving only the Dragon Demon Palace itself.
This was not a situation the Dragon Demon Palace Master wished to see. The destruction of their subordinate Foundation Establishment influences would take a great deal of time to recover from in the future.
Given Jin Daolei’s current attitude... it seemed their Dragon Demon Palace might need to alter its countermeasures.
...
「Ghost Head Castle.」
The Dragon Demon Palace Master had already sent the latest news here.
At the same time, similar information was circulating within Ghost Head Castle.
Some of their forces were distributed throughout the Dragon Demon Palace’s Earth Realm, helping them deal with the Spirit Refiner influences of the Celestial Cloud Sect and the Wind Ling Sect.
After these Ghost Cultivators sensed something was amiss, they too quickly sent word back.
"Why have the Celestial Cloud Sect and the Wind Ling Sect suddenly accelerated their movements?" Duan Shiling frowned.
This was bad news for him.
The accelerated actions of the Spirit Refiner influences would likely lead to an early end to the war.
A prolonged stalemate was the situation Duan Shiling most wanted to see.
’I was hoping to use this opportunity to make a push for the Nascent Soul Stage.’
Duan Shiling’s breakthrough from the peak of late-stage Core Formation to the Peak of Core Formation had been relatively smooth, which gave him even more confidence in breaking through to the Nascent Soul Stage.
"Shiling, what’s the situation?" Lan Zhaifen, a mid-stage Core Formation cultivator, asked from the side. They were the only two Core Formation Ghost Cultivators present.
"It’s not good..."
Duan Shiling briefly explained what was happening.
After listening, Lan Zhaifen also frowned.
As someone who fully supported Duan Shiling, she was well aware that this chaotic war needed to last for at least forty to fifty years for him to have a chance at breaking through to the Nascent Soul Stage.
With the accelerated actions of the Celestial Cloud Sect and the Wind Ling Sect, the war might be over in less than twenty years.
"Should we contact the Celestial Ghost Mansion now?"
"Not yet." Duan Shiling shook his head. "It’s still too early."
In Duan Shiling’s plan, contacting the Nascent Soul Influence, the Celestial Ghost Mansion, was something to be done much later.
If the Celestial Cloud Sect and the Wind Ling Sect had waited another thirty or forty years to launch their current offensive, then he, Duan Shiling, would have contacted the Celestial Ghost Mansion right now without a moment’s hesitation.
The timing was all wrong.
"We have to do something to delay the offensive of the Celestial Cloud Sect and the Wind Ling Sect. Otherwise, if this continues, the Spirit Refiners will eventually discover that a Peak of Core Formation Elder from the Black Dragon Hall is stationed as a Guardian at the Dragon Demon Palace, and they will definitely halt their attack."
This was a crucial piece of information.
If the Dragon Demon Palace Master hadn’t revealed this, they would never have known that the Black Dragon Hall had actually arranged for a Peak of Core Formation Elder to be stationed as a Guardian at the Dragon Demon Palace.
The Dragon Demon Palace Master hadn’t shared more specific details, but with a Peak of Core Formation Elder from the Black Dragon Hall present, there were sure to be other Black Dragon Hall Elders as well.
To this day, neither the Black Ghost Cave nor the Ghost-Controlling Sect knew of this.
Whether she was visiting the Black Ghost Cave or the Ghost-Controlling Sect, Lan Zhaifen had never revealed even a hint of this information.
If this news were told to those two Ghost Cultivator influences, they might deduce Ghost Head Castle’s fundamental reason for helping the Dragon Demon Palace.
"The Elders from the Black Dragon Hall definitely won’t make a move easily, so there are still many opportunities left for us."
"Zhaifen, I’ll need you to make a trip to the Black Ghost Cave and the Ghost-Controlling Sect." An idea had already formed in Duan Shiling’s mind.
"What do you need me to do?"
Duan Shiling laid out his plan, including the general talking points for Lan Zhaifen to use when visiting the two Core Formation Ghost Cultivator influences.
...
「Black Ghost Cave.」
After leaving Ghost Head Castle, Lan Zhaifen had rushed here at top speed.
Just as during her last visit to the Black Ghost Cave, she was received by the Great Cave Master.
"Fellow Daoist Lan, I trust nothing major has happened recently?"
Lan Zhaifen smiled upon hearing his words. "It seems the Great Cave Master hasn’t heard the news yet."
"What news?"
"A large number of Spirit Refiners from the Celestial Cloud Sect and the Wind Ling Sect have appeared in the Dragon Demon Palace’s Earth Realm. At this rate, the Dragon Demon Palace will likely fall to their offensive, annihilated just like the Celestial Demon Sect and the Demon Spirit Sect. If you haven’t heard, Great Cave Master, it must be because the Celestial Cloud Sect has made no move against you."
"No." The Great Cave Master shook his head gently. "The Celestial Cloud Sect has also taken action against us."
"Oh?" This time, it was Lan Zhaifen’s turn to be surprised.
"Compared to before, the intensity of the Celestial Cloud Sect’s actions against us has increased by at least fifty percent."
Fifty percent...
Lan Zhaifen thought for a moment. That fifty percent didn’t amount to much.
After all, the original intensity of the Celestial Cloud Sect’s actions against the Black Ghost Cave had been mediocre at best.
"Fellow Daoist Lan, now that I combine this with the information you’ve provided, I understand the purpose of the Celestial Cloud Sect’s increased pressure. This is another warning to us!"
The Great Cave Master now took warnings from the Celestial Cloud Sect very seriously.
A warning from the Celestial Cloud Sect often heralded the arrival of the mysterious Spirit Refiner.
Their subordinate Foundation Establishment influences had sent them a lot of information. The gist was a desperate plea for the Black Ghost Cave to provide a way to defend against the mysterious Spirit Refiner. They were terrified that the appearance of this Spirit Refiner would lead to their annihilation.
If they had a way to counter the mysterious Spirit Refiner, they promised to act with even greater diligence and effort.
"The Celestial Cloud Sect’s previous warnings have already cost us dearly," the Great Cave Master added, then began pondering a question.
’Once the Celestial Cloud Sect and the Wind Ling Sect annihilate the Dragon Demon Palace, should we perhaps pull back and stop provoking the Celestial Cloud Sect?’
From the moment they started opposing the Celestial Cloud Sect until now, they had not gained a single benefit.
"Great Cave Master, what are your thoughts now?" Lan Zhaifen asked.
"What thoughts could I have? Naturally, I will first observe the situation. We can discuss whatever happens later, later."
The Black Ghost Cave’s Great Cave Master’s nonchalant attitude made Lan Zhaifen anxious, but she couldn’t let it show.
"The Celestial Cloud Sect’s warning is intended to stop you from reinforcing the Dragon Demon Palace. Great Cave Master, if you really don’t support them, wouldn’t you be falling right into the Celestial Cloud Sect’s trap? That’s why I believe reinforcing the Dragon Demon Palace is a must."
"Fellow Daoist Lan, you are well aware of the news you yourself brought. The Celestial Cloud Sect and the Wind Ling Sect have increased their pressure with the aim of destroying the Dragon Demon Palace. If we rush to their aid, not only will we have to pay a great price, but there will be very little benefit to gain."
The more the Great Cave Master spoke, the more convinced he became that his decision was correct.
’The other Cave Masters will definitely support my view.’
Recently, whenever they discussed the Celestial Cloud Sect in the Black Ghost Cave, the atmosphere became quite oppressive. If they could choose again, they would see there was truly no need to provoke the Celestial Cloud Sect.
"If we sit back and wait for the Dragon Demon Palace to be destroyed, the Celestial Cloud Sect will occupy their Earth Realm and only grow stronger in the future. Right now, the Celestial Cloud Sect already has more than ten Core Formation Stage Spirit Refiners. If this continues, it’s not impossible for their number of Core Formation Spirit Refiners to exceed twenty. When that time comes, we will be the ones to suffer.
There are no more Demon influences around the Celestial Cloud Sect, and they have few conflicts with the Blood Demon Influence. If the Celestial Cloud Sect decides on its next target, it will definitely be us! Great Cave Master, you must understand the principle of the lips being gone and the teeth growing cold!"
Lan Zhaifen was painting the worst-case scenario.
In reality, she knew this situation would never come to pass.
Because with the Elders of the Black Dragon Hall present, the Dragon Demon Palace could not possibly be destroyed.
The moment the Black Dragon Hall’s Elders appeared, they would certainly deliver a devastating blow to the Celestial Cloud Sect.
"The Celestial Cloud Sect has already offended the Demon influences. I know a thing or two about the Nascent Soul influences; normally, after destroying the Dragon Demon Palace, there’s an eighty percent chance the Celestial Cloud Sect wouldn’t move against us.
If the Celestial Cloud Sect truly wanted to destroy our Black Ghost Cave, I would immediately inform the Celestial Ghost Mansion. The resulting conflict would be even greater, and I imagine the Celestial Cloud Sect understands the consequences of such an action."
Lan Zhaifen took a deep breath.
Duan Shiling had anticipated this situation.
It was time to use the final line of persuasion Duan Shiling had given her. If even this didn’t work, then the Great Cave Master of the Black Ghost Cave was truly impervious to all reasoning.