Chapter 632: New Situation, Demon Mountain

Chapter 632: New Situation, Demon Mountain

A peculiar feeling arose within Chu Ning as he glanced around the hall, and he suddenly understood.

Unlike in the past, he was no longer solely focused on cultivation and was less inclined to bother with worldly matters.

Over the past few decades as the Pavilion Master of Longsky Hall, although he primarily focused on cultivation, occasionally inquiring about specific affairs, he had naturally become more aware of the intricate power struggles.

"It seems that the Sky Alliance is divided into two factions. One group supports Qin Chang Kong, while the other supports the Yu brothers."

As this thought flashed through his mind, Chu Ning smiled faintly and said, "Fellow Daoists, I, Chu, have traveled extensively in recent years, venturing to the Sky Curtain Continent. I've had the opportunity to learn about some of the cultivation world's affairs on other continents.

For instance, the realm above Late-stage Nascent Soul and the Demigod Realm, among others.

Why don't we first savor some Spirit Tea and Spirit Fruit while I, Chu, share some intriguing tales?"

Chu Ning continued, "I've been away from the Western Alliance Continent for some time, and I'm not entirely up to date with various matters. Perhaps we can discuss any important alliance matters another day?"

As Chu Ning spoke, the eyes of everyone in the hall turned towards him.

Yu Changge's eyes flashed with surprise.

Just a moment ago, he had thought he might need to step in to ease the tension for Chu Ning, but Chu Ning had effortlessly diffused the stalemate.

Currently, Chu Ning was at the Late-stage Nascent Soul, and they were in the territory of the Jiuhua Sect.

This proposal was difficult for both Qin Chang Kong and the Yu brothers to refuse.

Moreover, Chu Ning had mentioned the Sky Curtain Continent and the so-called Demigod Realm.

The gathered cultivators were naturally curious to learn more.

Indeed, as Yu Changge had anticipated, as soon as Chu Ning finished speaking, Qin Chang Kong asked without hesitation, "Fellow Daoist Chu, did you witness the Demigod Realm on the Sky Curtain Continent?"

Chu Ning smiled and nodded.

He didn't respond but instead turned to Yu Changkong and said, "Senior Brother Yu, this meeting hall is a bit too formal. Let's find a more casual place to chat."

As he spoke, Chu Ning stood up.

Yu Changge also rose to his feet and said, "Fellow Daoists, why don't we accompany me to the Cloud Peak for a chat?

The Cloud Peak is the most picturesque place in our Jiuhua Mountain."

At that moment, Qin Chang Kong stood up, and the Yu brothers exchanged glances before eventually following suit.

Thus, the group headed outside.

Chu Ning and Yu Changge led the way, and when they found an opportunity, Chu Ning transmitted a sound message, "Senior Brother Yu, why haven't I seen Zijin?"

Yu Changge immediately replied through sound transmission, "Senior Sister Cen has been traveling for several years and hasn't returned yet."

Chu Ning nodded and didn't inquire further.

Soon, the group arrived at the Cloud Peak.

Yu Changge promptly arranged for Spirit Tea and Spirit Fruit.

Chu Ning shared with everyone some of the things he had seen and heard on the Sky Curtain Continent.

He spoke of the four sects, three schools, and two palaces, as well as the Nine Transformation Body Cultivation Art, the Demigod Realm, and more.

Of course, when talking about these matters, Chu Ning didn't mention his specific involvement but only provided a general overview.

Even so, the group listened with rapt attention.

When they heard that the Demigod Realm was comparable to the Spirit Transformation Realm, except for the inability to divide one's consciousness, and that it could completely suppress Late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators and even approach a state of instant annihilation, everyone was astonished.

For a moment, everyone on Cloud Peak was abuzz with discussion.

Especially the Late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators, their faces remained grave even as night fell.

After chatting with everyone for half a day, Chu Ning and Yu Changge, along with the others, arrived at Yu Changge's cave abode on the Jiuxiao Peak.

Earlier, at the Cloud Peak, Chu Ning hadn't had much time to talk with the others.

Now, as they sat around the table, a smile naturally appeared on his face.

"The strength of our Jiuhua Sect has indeed grown significantly. We now have six Nascent Soul cultivators."

Chu Ning's words carried a sense of emotion.

He recalled when he first joined the Jiuhua Sect, there was only one Early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, Tang Xuan.

Later, Yu Changge and he successfully condensed their Nascent Souls, but Tang Xuan's lifespan limit had been reached.

Eventually, Cen Zijin and Gong Yuyuan also advanced to the Nascent Soul stage.

And this time, upon his return, Yuan Zhuo and Cheng Qinghui had successfully condensed their Nascent Souls.

Over a hundred years, the sect's strength had grown significantly, and it seemed that the sect's fortune was indeed on the rise.

Upon hearing this, Yu Changge immediately laughed and said, "The one who truly strengthened our sect's power is actually you, Junior Brother! If it weren't for you saving our sect in a time of crisis and boosting our morale, allowing the other junior brothers and sisters to put down their burdens and adjust their mindset, we might not have had such smooth success in condensing our Nascent Souls.

Now that you've advanced to the Late-stage Nascent Soul, our sect's morale is even higher.

In the future, it's very likely that we'll have even more Nascent Soul cultivators, and the sect's prosperity is truly within reach."

Yu Changge spoke, and before Chu Ning could respond, Gong Yuyuan burst into hearty laughter, "Indeed! Elder Tai Shang, you've advanced to the late-stage Nascent Soul so quickly, it's beyond everyone's expectations! From now on, our Jiuhua Sect will truly be the top sect in the Cloudsoaring Alliance, and even the entire Western Alliance Continent, we'll be the foremost great sect!"

Even the usually stern Yuan Zhuo couldn't help but smile at this.

Cheng Qinghui also laughed and said, "It's a pity that Sister Cen isn't here, otherwise, she would be overjoyed."

Hearing this, Chu Ning smiled and asked, "I was just about to ask about Sister Cen, where did she go for her travels, and has it been many years?"

"Let me explain this matter," Yu Changge took over, his expression turning serious. "This matter may also have some connection to the discussion we had earlier today."

Hearing Yu Changge's words, Chu Ning looked at him with some confusion.

"Before that, I should first give you a general idea of the current situation," Yu Changge said slowly.

From Yu Changge's words, Chu Ning also learned that due to his actions, the dynamics of the Western Alliance Continent had undergone significant changes.

Heaven's Apex Alliance had already become a name in name only, with the death of several late-stage Nascent Soul Cultivators occurring before Chu Ning's departure from the Western Alliance Continent.

Especially before Chu Ning's departure, when the late-stage Nascent Soul Cultivators, Gaotian Yi from the Demon Dao Alliance and Yan Qichang from Heaven's Apex Alliance, came to kill him at the same time.

This led to a fierce battle between the two, and he took advantage of the situation by using the Void Tear and the Primordial Fire Lotus to kill them both.

With the death of Yan Qichang, a late-stage Nascent Soul Cultivator, Heaven's Apex Alliance was completely removed from the alliance.

Similarly, the Demon Dao Alliance suffered a significant loss with the death of Gaotian Yi, another late-stage Nascent Soul Cultivator.

Initially, after Heaven's Apex Alliance's demise, the True Martial Alliance ranked first, the Demon Dao Alliance second, and the Cloudsoaring Alliance third.

However, the Cloudsoaring Alliance rose to prominence and took the second position.

Especially after the Yu brothers from Tahe Pavilion advanced to the late-stage Nascent Soul, the Cloudsoaring Alliance's strength became almost on par with the True Martial Alliance.

In recent years, the Demon Dao Alliance had toned down significantly.

Logically, the Western Alliance Continent should have become a contest between the Cloudsoaring Alliance and the True Martial Alliance.

However, the Cloudsoaring Alliance hadn't engaged in external struggles; instead, internal disagreements emerged.

The reason was that after the Yu brothers from Tahe Pavilion advanced to the late-stage Nascent Soul, they were unwilling to continue following Qin Changkong as the leader.

They secretly plotted for Tahe Pavilion to take the lead in the Cloudsoaring Alliance.

Qin Changkong, who had been in charge of the Guiyuan Sect for many years, wasn't willing to give up his position easily.

In the past few decades, there had been much intrigue and power struggles between the two major sects, and various other sects took sides.

Yu Changge from the Jiuhua Sect didn't want to get involved in the open and hidden conflicts between the two factions.

After all, under Chu Ning's influence for nearly a century, the Jiuhua Sect had been on a smooth path.

He didn't want to hinder the sect's development by taking the wrong side.

Perhaps due to Chu Ning's lingering influence, both sides were actively courting the Jiuhua Sect, but they didn't put too much pressure on the sect.

This made the Jiuhua Sect a rare neutral sect within the Cloudsoaring Alliance at this time.

For this reason, when the Cloudsoaring Alliance gathered to discuss important matters, it was inconvenient for them to go to the Cloudsoaring City, which would attract too much attention.

After both the Guiyuan Sect and Tahe Pavilion had their own venues in mind.

They compromised and chose the Jiuhua Sect as the meeting place.

After explaining the current situation in the Western Alliance Continent and the Cloudsoaring Alliance, Yu Changge got to the main topic, "This gathering is primarily due to the True Martial Alliance and the Demon Mountain.

Half a month ago, the True Martial Alliance sent a message to all the major powers on the continent, saying they had detected the presence of Beyond World Demons near Demon Mountain.

Moreover, they had found a safe passage into Demon Mountain.

So, they invited all the major powers to join them in Demon Mountain to kill the Beyond World Demons."

Hearing this, Chu Ning had a general guess and asked, "There's a disagreement within the alliance? Some want to go, and some don't?"

Yu Changge nodded, "Qin Dao believes that we should go and that killing the Beyond World Demons is of utmost importance.

No one knows how many Beyond World Demons are in Demon Mountain, and if we don't eliminate them early on, they might cause chaos and disaster.

If that happens, the entire Western Alliance Continent will surely descend into chaos, and even the foundation of the cultivation world in the Western Alliance Continent will be affected."

Chu Ning immediately asked, "So, the Yu brothers are definitely unwilling to go?"

"That's right!" Yu Changge sighed softly. "Not only do the Yu brothers disagree with going, but they also propose that while most of the True Martial Alliance's Cultivators are likely to enter Demon Mountain, and both sides are fighting like clams in a quarrel, or even both suffer losses.

We should take advantage of this opportunity to launch an attack on the True Martial Alliance, and use this to let the Cloudsoaring Alliance ascend to the top position in the Western Alliance Continent."

Chu Ning listened intently, his eyebrows slightly raised.

Speaking purely in terms of their standing, Qin Changkong was evidently a step above the Yu brothers.

The Yu brothers were still in the early stages of late-stage Nascent Soul, and their ambitions were not small when their confidence was inflated.

Of course, they might have also set their sights on many sect powers and didn't want to fight the Beyond World Demons, causing unnecessary trouble.

Hence, they made this proposal.

"Then what do you think, Senior Brother?" Chu Ning asked.

Just as Chu Ning finished speaking, his expression changed slightly, and he said, "You just mentioned that this is related to Zijin. Could it be that Zijin went to Demon Mountain?"

Yu Changge hesitated and said, "I'm not entirely sure. Logically, we cultivators should not be able to enter Demon Mountain.

But the True Martial Alliance has sent news that some Nascent Soul Cultivators had previously fought over treasures near Demon Mountain and later disappeared without a trace.

According to the information they sent, there was indeed a female Nascent Soul Cultivator who resembled Sister Zijin."

Upon hearing this, Chu Ning's eyebrows furrowed slightly.

"In that case, we naturally have to support going to Demon Mountain," Chu Ning said.

Yu Changge nodded and said, "I was thinking the same, but..."

As he spoke, he sighed lightly, "After all, the Yu brothers have two people, and the Tahe Pavilion originally had strong strength. Many in the alliance support them.

If it weren't for you appearing at the right time today, the Yu brothers would have already decided on this matter.

Even if you support Qin Changkong tomorrow, it will be difficult to truly convince the other side."

After listening to this, Chu Ning responded noncommittally, "That's simple. We just need to make the Yu brothers submit."

Yu Changge immediately asked, "Do you have any brilliant ideas to convince the Yu brothers?"

Chu Ning shook his head and said calmly, "I don't have any brilliant ideas, but since the Yu brothers think they are strong, we can just defeat them."

"Elder Taishang's words make sense!" Gong Yuyuan exclaimed with a smile.

"Elder Taishang was able to fight against late-stage Nascent Soul Cultivators in the intermediate stage, and now that he has advanced to the late stage, his strength is naturally far superior to his peers.

Qin Changkong has been in the late stage for many years, and his strength is also stronger than one of the Yu brothers.

The two of you together can definitely defeat the Yu brothers."

Gong Yuyuan's words caused the other three to brighten up.

However, the next moment, Chu Ning's calm words made everyone present stunned.

"We don't need anyone else to deal with them."

"Chu Shidi, you..." Yu Changge looked at Chu Ning with wide eyes.

Chu Ning had displayed strength far beyond his peers in the intermediate and early stages of Nascent Soul.

But at the late stage, the gap between Nascent Soul Cultivators would narrow.

Could it be that Chu Ning had reached the late stage of Nascent Soul and possessed the strength to dominate his peers?

This thought flashed through Yu Changge's mind, and he immediately composed himself and said, "Chu Shidi, you must not be careless.

The Yu brothers of Tahe Pavilion have excellent teamwork in battle, and their combat power exceeds that of two ordinary late-stage Nascent Soul Cultivators.

If you can join forces with Qin Changkong to defeat them, it will be enough to convince the other side."

"Rest assured, Senior Brother. I know my limits," Chu Ning said to Yu Changge.

He didn't dwell on this matter but instead asked about other sect affairs.

From Yu Changge, he learned that not only had the number of Nascent Soul Cultivators increased, but there were also many more Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

The number of cultivators had increased significantly compared to a hundred years ago.

Regarding the Golden Core Cultivators, Chu Ning learned that Su Yuqing, Yuan Rongzhang, and others he was familiar with had all entered the Golden Core realm.

However, Ling Cang, the Dan Refining Pavilion Elder who had taken good care of Chu Ning when he first arrived at Jiuhua Sect, had reached his limit and passed away.

Chu Ning couldn't help but feel a sense of loss.

There were too many familiar faces in Jiuhua Sect, but as it was already late, Chu Ning didn't go to look for them.

He returned to his cave abode on Tianlan Peak.

Looking at everything as it was before, Chu Ning couldn't help but feel a bit worried.

According to what Cheng Qinghui had just said, Zijin had advanced to the intermediate stage of Nascent Soul, so she went out to gain experience a year ago.

If the news from the True Martial Alliance was accurate and she was seen near Demon Mountain, she might indeed be in danger.

After all, Chu Ning was aware that there were quite a few cultivators from the Immortal Demon World in this realm, and they weren't just the Beyond World Demons that ordinary cultivators knew about.

Many were also human cultivators, and it was challenging to guard against them.

"Tomorrow, we'll finalize this matter. It seems I must go to Demon Mountain myself."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end