https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-161-Ambush-and-Assassination-Attempt/12530474/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-163-Jun-Wuji-I-Know-Your-Big-Secret-It-s-just-that-town-s-holy-artifact-/12530476/
Chapter 162: The Ancient Sage of Refinement is Nothing Special
Chapter 162: The Ancient Sage of Refinement is Nothing Special (Please Subscribe)
The moon hung high in the sky, bathing the land in its ethereal light. Lin Yuan looked down, his gaze falling upon the group of Heavenly Monarchs at the Nascent Soul stage whose legs had turned soft.
The Lunar Primordial Spirit, trailing behind Jun Dongjin and the others, had an incredibly vast perception.
Even from tens of thousands of miles away, it had sensed the ambush waiting here.
Thus, it had arrived early, intending to crush them effortlessly.
However, the power of the Refinement stage talisman they possessed exceeded Lin Yuan's expectations.
It had actually blocked him for an instant?
"The Immortal Cultivation System does have its remarkable aspects," Lin Yuan mused. For instance, this path of talismans could preserve the power of an Ancient Sage of the Refinement stage in an almost perfect state.
Lin Yuan couldn't help but marvel at the profound mysteries involved.
Boom! Just at that moment— In the heart of the Central Plains of China, a terrifying aura suddenly erupted.
A mirror light that contained infinite light and infinite tribulations appeared in an instant and condensed into a mirror light avatar.
It then struck out at Lin Yuan.
This strike caused the surrounding space to seem frozen, and its terrifying power swept through the air in all directions.
Ordinary Heavenly Monarchs at the Nascent Soul stage, even if it was the Great Prince of the Nest of Barbaric Demon Saints who had resurrected, would risk instant death if they dared to resist this attack head-on. The might of this strike hinted at the peak of the Cavernous Void realm of the Refinement stage.
"The Grand Immortal Mirror of Taihao?"
"Troublesome!"
Lin Yuan's eyebrows furrowed slightly.
He had already been careful to conceal his strength, but it seemed the Grand Immortal Mirror of Taihao had still sensed the anomaly and descended upon them.
However, it might not have been the mirror that discovered Lin Yuan's actions; perhaps it was the destruction of the Refinement stage talisman that had alerted the Grand Immortal Mirror.
Whoosh! Lin Yuan took a step back, his wide sleeves fluttering as he casually blocked this strike that was almost at the peak of the Cavernous Void realm of the Refinement stage.
Buzz.
Invisible waves rippled out in all directions. If the two Ancient Sage-level forces hadn't intentionally restrained themselves, the ground within a radius of several thousand miles would probably have started to crack by now.
Several thousand miles away— Jun Dongjin and the others, riding on the Jade Chariot artifact, immediately noticed the fluctuations caused by the clash of Ancient Sage-level powers as they drew closer.
"There are two Ancient Sages fighting? One of them is the sect master, but who's the other?" Jun Dongjin exclaimed in shock. There were only a handful of Ancient Sages of the Refinement stage in the world, no more than could be counted on two hands, and each one was incredibly famous.
"Where?"
Jun Dongjin looked up at the sky and saw two figures facing each other. The figure on the left was shrouded in immortal light, and it was none other than the sect master of the Immortal Sect, Mu Qingliu, in his mirror light avatar.
The figure on the right had fluttering sleeves and an obscure appearance, standing proudly beneath the moon with an aura as vast as the moon itself.
"Lunar Power... Could it be the King of Ghost Cultivators from the Palace of Hades?" Jun Dongjin guessed, as the aura of this figure was most similar to that of the King of Ghost Cultivators among the Ancient Sages of the present world.
"Dad, what's that over there?"
Jun Zhilan seemed to have noticed something and pointed in a certain direction as she spoke in a low voice.
Jun Dongjin followed her gaze and saw several Heavenly Monarchs at the Nascent Soul stage cowering in a hidden corner.
These Heavenly Monarchs had pale faces, and they didn't even have the courage to flee.
"Who are they?"
Jun Dongjin observed them closely.
In the Central Plains of China, including the East Sea, the Barbaric Wilds, the Blood Demon Sea, and the Palace of Hades, there were indeed some cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage, but they were all well-known by name.
"The aura of a Refinement stage talisman..."
Jun Dongjin's expression turned solemn.
He faintly sensed that these Nascent Soul stage Heavenly Monarchs, filled with fear, were surrounded by the aura of a Refinement stage talisman.
Refinement stage talismans were something that only the Immortal Sect could create in the present world.
Just because one had the strength of the Refinement stage didn't mean they could leave behind a Refinement stage talisman. Crafting such a talisman required a specific level of attainment in the Dao of Talismans, and a certain core material that was unique to the Immortal Sect.
In other words, the aura of the Refinement stage talisman that Jun Dongjin sensed at this moment could only have come from the Immortal Sect.
"This Refinement stage talisman should belong to the 21st generation sect master of the Immortal Sect, Mu Shouzuo," Jun Dongjin thought to himself.
Each Ancient Sage of the Refinement stage was unique, and the Refinement stage talisman carried the full power of such a sage.
Thus, one could distinguish which Ancient Sage it belonged to just from the aura of the talisman, especially since the Immortal Sect had a tradition of setting up statues to honor each Refinement stage sect master, and these statues were worshipped by countless disciples of the sect.
"A Refinement stage talisman from the Mu family..."
Jun Dongjin's feelings were complicated.
The Mu family was one of the three main branches of the Immortal Sect, and it had produced more than one sect master at the Refinement stage.
The 21st generation sect master, Mu Shouzuo, and the current 30th generation sect master, Mu Qingliu, were both from the Mu family.
Jun Dongjin wasn't a fool.
On the ancient path to Meng Cliff Mountain, which they had to pass through, there was an ambush set up by several Nascent Soul stage Heavenly Monarchs, and these Heavenly Monarchs possessed Refinement stage talismans.
"What are they trying to do?"
Jun Dongjin sighed inwardly. He knew that these people were definitely not arranged by the sect leader. If the sect leader wanted to kill him, there would be no need for such trouble. He could simply suppress him with the Grand Immortal Mirror of Taihao. Why waste a Refinement stage talisman?
However, if it wasn't the sect leader's doing, then it must be someone from the Mu family. Furthermore, it had to be a high-ranking member, or they wouldn't be able to bring out a Refinement stage talisman left behind by their ancestor.
"Is Mu Mengting trying to cut off the grass and root out the problem?" Jun Dongjin felt disheartened for a moment.
He admitted that he had a competitive relationship with Mu Mengting, and the two often butted heads. But that was all out in the open. It was normal for disciples of the Immortal Sect to have differing opinions. However, Mu Mengting had now directly taken action to kill him.
High up in the sky, the sect master of the Immortal Sect, Mu Qingliu, had descended with the aid of the Grand Immortal Mirror of Taihao, his mirror light avatar gazing intently at Lin Yuan.
From their brief exchange, Mu Qingliu deduced that the powerful being before him was at least at the peak of the Cavernous Void realm. After all, although he wasn't manifesting his true body here, this place was still within the Central Plains of China, under the influence of the Grand Immortal Mirror of Taihao.
The avatar manifested by the mirror's light should be able to withstand an attack from at least a Cavernous Void-level cultivator. Yet, Lin Yuan had effortlessly blocked that strike, indicating that he possessed battle prowess at the peak of the Cavernous Void realm.
"Who exactly are you?" Mu Qingliu stared at Lin Yuan, sensing a resemblance in their auras. Lin Yuan's aura was very similar to that of the King of Ghost Cultivators from the Palace of Hades.
Both of them possessed the power of the Great Yin.
However, Mu Qingliu keenly sensed a difference. Lin Yuan's aura was purer and more concentrated, like an embodiment of infinite Great Yin power.
"Who I am is not important," Lin Yuan replied. "But it seems your Immortal Sect has interesting internal struggles." He glanced at the group of trembling Heavenly Monarchs in the Nascent Soul stage below, as well as the Jade Chariot artifact that had come to a halt in the distance.
"Internal struggles?" Mu Qingliu sighed inwardly. As soon as he had descended and sensed the aura of the Refinement stage talisman, he had already guessed what was happening.
Mu Qingliu never imagined that Mu Mengting would be so narrow-minded. Even after he had transferred Jun Dongjin and his family to Meng Cliff Mountain, far from the power core of the Immortal Sect, Mu Mengting still felt threatened by Jun Dongjin and took the opportunity to strike.
"This is an internal matter of our Immortal Sect. It has nothing to do with you," Mu Qingliu said calmly.
In fact, he had been keeping a close eye on Jun Dongjin's whereabouts. Even if Lin Yuan hadn't acted, he would have sensed the activation of the Refinement stage talisman by those Nascent Soul stage Heavenly Monarchs.
For Mu Qingliu, what mattered was the bigger picture of the Immortal Sect. Jun Dongjin possessed rare talent and potential, and even if he couldn't become the sect master, he could still be of great use. That was why he couldn't be allowed to die.
Actually, whether one became the sect master or not, talent wasn't the most important factor. As long as one could reach the Refinement stage and wield the Grand Immortal Mirror of Taihao, they would be invincible in this world.
As for ultimately achieving the 'Entry into the Void', 'Cavernous Void', or 'Refinement' within the Refinement stage, there was no essential difference.
This was also the reason why Mu Mengting chose to support Mu Mengting despite knowing that Jun Dongjin had superior talent.
Mu Mengting also possessed a Heavenly Spirit Root talent, and with the various resources within the Immortal Sect, such as the Nine Heavens Glazed Water and other treasures, breaking through to the Refinement stage would not be a problem.
In simpler terms, Jun Dongjin's advantage in talent and potential wasn't an absolute necessity. But the advantage Mu Mengting had—being from the Mu family—was something that Jun Dongjin lacked.
If the Mu family of this generation didn't have a talented disciple like Mu Mengting, Mu Qingliu would have chosen to nurture Jun Dongjin as the future sect master for the sake of the Immortal Sect's future.
"To openly interfere in the affairs of my Immortal Sect, I am curious to see what gives you such confidence," Mu Qingliu said as he raised his right hand. A shadow of the Grand Immortal Mirror appeared.
It was a projection of the Grand Immortal Mirror of Taihao, the sect's treasure.
Mu Qingliu's true body and the actual Grand Immortal Mirror were stationed at the Immortal Sect, and they couldn't be moved lightly. However, the mirror light avatar and the projection of the Grand Immortal Mirror could descend upon any location in this world. Especially within the Central Plains of China, they could retain the power of the Refinement stage.
Boom! In an instant, Mu Qingliu attacked again.
"Go to the Ninefold Heavens!"
Lin Yuan's figure disappeared, and when he reappeared, he had crossed hundreds of thousands of meters and reached the heights of the azure sky.
When ancient sages of this realm fought, they would choose the Ninefold Heavens as their battlefield. Here, the space was more vast, allowing them to unleash their full power.
In the north of the Central Plains of China, the Blood Demon Sea rippled with blood-red waves, creating delicate ripples.
On a small island deep within, the Blood Demon Lord's expression changed slightly.
"Are there ancient sages fighting in the Ninefold Heavens?" The Blood Demon Lord looked up, gazing in a certain direction.
A casual strike from a Refinement stage ancient sage could shake the world, let alone when two ancient sages clashed.
The fluctuations of that kind of aura were subtle, and lower-level cultivators might not have been able to sense them, but at the Refinement stage, it was as easy as reading the lines on one's palm, and there was no way anything could be missed.
"Is it Mu Qingliu? It should just be an avatar of the Grand Immortal Mirror, but since its location is within the Central Plains of China, even if it's just an avatar, it still possesses peak Cavernous Void-level combat power. I wonder which Ancient Sage dares to fight with Mu Qingliu here?"
The Blood Demon Lord was somewhat incredulous.
Normally, no Refinement stage Ancient Sage would be willing to engage in battle with Mu Qingliu within the range of the Central Plains of China.
Because that wouldn't be a fair fight at all.
Mu Qingliu, wielding the sect's sacred treasure, was invincible in the world, his combat power and killing intent surpassing the limits of the Refinement stage.
As for the avatar of mirror light, it would indeed be weaker, but what was the point of fighting it? One would have to pay a huge price to win, and Mu Qingliu would only lose an avatar. With the power of the sect's sacred treasure, he could recover in half a day.
But if one lost, they would be chased down by the mirror light avatar, and there would be no dignity left for an Ancient Sage.
"This aura... the power of Great Yin, is it the Ghost King?"
"Wasn't the Ghost King usually timid? Why is he so courageous this time?"
The Blood Demon Lord's expression was filled with surprise.
In the Nest of Barbaric Demon Saints, the giant ape Demon Saint also sensed the fluctuations of the Ancient Sage-level battle.
"This is rare."
"The Ghost King has actually taken action this time?"
The ape Demon Saint clicked his tongue in amazement. For beings like them, true enjoyment was hard to come by, but they would definitely pay attention to battles between peers.
In the south of the Central Plains...
In the Palace of Hades, a withered man sat on a throne.
Sensing the aura of the Ancient Sage-level battle, he fell into deep thought.
"...?"
The withered man frowned, as the aura of the Ancient Sage who fought with Mu Qingliu was somewhat similar to his own.
But it was only similar.
Ghost Cultivators mastered the power of Great Yin, but they also cultivated the death energy of the underworld.
However, that figure was purely exuding the power of Great Yin, and his Great Yin power was much purer and more concentrated than that of the withered man, a Refinement stage Ghost Cultivator.
"Who is it?"
The withered man immediately contacted the Blood Demon Lord and the ape Demon Saint, making it clear that he had not fought with Mu Qingliu and asking who the Ancient Sage who had fought with Mu Qingliu was.
In the Cloud Mist Blessed Land...
Lin Yuan lay lazily on the pavilion atop the mountain, keeping an eye on the movements of the Immortal Sect.
The Cloud Mist Blessed Land was not far from the Immortal Sect, only tens of thousands of miles away, and with Lin Yuan's current perception ability, it was easy to keep an eye on it.
"Hmm?"
Lin Yuan vaguely felt that the aura of the Immortal Sect was starting to change.
Mu Qingliu, holding the sect's sacred treasure, wanted the true body of the treasure to go to the Ninefold Heavens and keep the mysterious Great Yin Ancient Sage there.
Synchronizing his consciousness...
In the Ninefold Heavens...
Lin Yuan's astral body glanced at the direction of the Immortal Sect, then struck out, forcing Mu Qingliu to retreat. His figure dispersed, turning into strands of Great Yin power that disappeared between heaven and earth.
"He ran?"
Mu Qingliu's expression turned ugly.
He had been about to merge with his true body and deliver a fatal blow to the mysterious Ancient Sage, but his opponent had fled? "Is it a coincidence, or..."
Mu Qingliu's face grew heavy, and his figure also disappeared.
The battle between Lin Yuan and Mu Qingliu had a huge impact on the Central Plains of China, as well as the Blood Demon Sea, the Palace of Hades, and the Barbaric East Sea.
After all, it was a battle between Ancient Sages, something that hadn't happened in countless years.
There were only a handful of Refinement stage Ancient Sages in the entire world, and with the oppressive presence of the Immortal Sect, they rarely took action.
Moreover, one of the Ancient Sages in this battle was Mu Qingliu, the sect master of the Immortal Sect.
In the East Sea...
On White Jade Island...
Numerous disciples of White Jade Island were also discussing the battle between the Ancient Sages.
"Have you guys heard?"
"In the Ninefold Heavens above the Central Plains, there was a battle between Ancient Sages not long ago."
"Ancient Sages? Refinement stage Ancient Sages? My goodness, would such beings actually fight?"
"It's unclear, but one of the Refinement stage Ancient Sages who fought was the sect master of the Immortal Sect, who has already reached the Cavernous Void realm."
"I heard that the Ninefold Heavens where the two Ancient Sages fought is still filled with the tearing gale force and the killing intent of the Ancient Sages. Ordinary Nascent Soul stage Heavenly Monarchs don't dare to approach."
"That's the power of the Refinement stage. It's a good thing the battlefield was in the Ninefold Heavens. If it had been in the Central Plains, who knows what would have happened."
"Refinement stage Ancient Sages... I wonder when we'll be able to see such powerful beings again."
On White Jade Island, the disciples quietly discussed the matter as they rested, their tone filled with admiration.
In the core area of White Jade Island...
Lin Yuan sat cross-legged.
He naturally overheard the conversations of the disciples on the island.
"Refinement stage Ancient Sage?"
Lin Yuan slowly got up, walked outside, casually sat on a boulder, glanced at the direction of the Central Plains where the Immortal Sect was located, and smiled, "It's nothing special."
(End of Chapter)
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