https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-771-Who-Reigns-Supreme-in-the-Northern-Continent/13466385/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-773-You-Are-the-Chief-Disciple-of-the-Spiritual-Void-Cave-So-Who-Is-Shen-Yi-/13466387/
Chapter 772: The Spirit Void Cave's Counterattack
Chapter 772: The Spirit Void Cave’s Counterattack
In recent days, Yun Miao has been acting like a meticulous accountant, meticulously keeping track of every detail.
Despite having almost no prior involvement with the Daoist sect, he has shown an unprecedented level of dedication to the tasks assigned by You Yao.
First and foremost, he needed to ensure that the Imperial Qi was fully gathered; otherwise, he wouldn't be able to complete his mission. However, he also couldn't let the people in these four prefectures die out, or else what use would he have for four desolate and barren lands?
To achieve this, Yun Miao racked his brains and directed the disciples of the Clear Light Cave to move about the Daoist sect. They not only employed the same tactics he had seen in Kaizhou Prefecture—building shelters for the refugees and ensuring an ample supply of water and food—but he also personally monitored the attitudes of the numerous disciples, taking on the role of the head of the Clear Light Cave.
After all, only by letting the people experience good times could their suffering be more profound when those good times were taken away. This would highlight the invaluable grace of the Immortals.
Many of the Clear Light Cave disciples, out of respect for Senior You Yao, followed his orders without question. However, they couldn't help but whisper and gossip about this overly enthusiastic "outsider" behind his back.
There are no secrets in the world, especially not in the Northern Continent, where all cultivators belong to the same sect.
Soon, the changes in Zhenning Prefecture and the other three prefectures caught the attention of many fellow disciples.
"Senior Sister You Yao doesn't seem like she's giving up."
"Could it be that she’s resorting to underhanded tactics? Just like how Grand Emptiness True Lord secured Kaizhou Prefecture, she might be trying to influence the surrounding sects in a similar manner?"
"Putting aside Senior Sister You Yao for a moment, why does Senior Brother Yun Miao look so eager and happy, as if he expects to get a share of the Imperial Qi from these four prefectures?"
These recent changes have clearly diminished You Yao's standing within the sect. In the past, no one would have dared to speak so casually about her.
Listening to the banter of his fellow disciples, Li Shan fell into a deep silence. He gazed toward Zhenning Prefecture, his eyes flickering with uncertainty.
Contrary to what others speculated, he saw that You Yao had not only conceded but also intended to withdraw entirely.
Of course, regardless of her intentions, she would find it extremely difficult to compete for the final Imperial Throne.
What Li Shan truly feared was that You Yao, with her intention to use the Imperial Qi to achieve Golden Immortal status, was harboring a deep-seated anger. Given the significant setback she had faced, she was likely seething with rage.
Moreover, her urgent desire to break through suggested that she might be planning to drag others down with her.
Li Shan was not afraid of a madwoman. Even if she managed to achieve Golden Immortal status, the elders of the sect would not stand idly by and let her harm him, the chief disciple of the Mystic Microcosm Cave.
What he feared was that You Yao, in her anger, might disrupt the rules. If that happened, what should have been a fair competition among the disciples for the position of Heavenly Sovereign could turn into an uncontrollable chaos.
"Senior Brother Li Shan, where are you going?"
Noticing his unusual behavior, the other disciples looked at him with confusion.
Li Shan smiled helplessly. You Yao's withdrawal was a good thing for him, as it eliminated a strong competitor. However, he couldn't stand by and watch her turn this great calamity into a dirty and vile mess, harming both herself and others, and potentially causing widespread disaster.
"I need to go and talk to Senior You Yao."
...
In Zhenning Prefecture, even though it had been several years since the city was breached, the place was still a wasteland.
The air was thick with the stench of urine and feces.
Even though Yun Miao was a Great Luo Immortal, he could easily avoid these odors if he wished. However, just the sight of the surrounding desolation made him instinctively cover his nose with a handkerchief.
"Have everything been arranged?"
"Report to the senior, the seven great demons have all been summoned. We have discussed the routes they should take and the number of people they should kill or spare, all according to your instructions."
The Clear Light Cave disciple, hiding his disdain, bowed respectfully.
"Then it's time to begin."
Yun Miao lowered his handkerchief and surveyed the area, his face showing a mixture of excitement.
Before long, everything within his sight would belong to his Daoist sect.
The insect demon, despite its cunning and malevolence, had only managed to temporarily occupy Kaizhou Prefecture and ultimately met its demise.
But as the chief disciple of the Spirit Void Cave, he didn't need to struggle. With a little effort, he could secure a far superior Daoist sect.
Who will truly be the one to lead the Spirit Void Cave lineage to a brighter future? In time, that old, farsighted Master will see everything clearly.
Moreover, with Senior Sister You Yao choosing to step down, wouldn't it be only natural for him to take her place?
At this thought, Real Man Yun Miao instinctively looked up at the sky, his breathing becoming slightly rapid. He never imagined that one day, he, Yun Miao, would have the qualifications to vie for the Imperial Throne of Immortals!
If he truly ascends to the throne, even his Master would have to bow respectfully and address him as the Heavenly Sovereign, no matter what.
Just imagining this scene made Yun Miao tremble slightly, and he waved his sleeve, saying, "Go and do it quickly!"
He couldn't wait to clear his name and prove to the many disciples in the Northern Continent just how prescient he had been.
"As you command!"
The disciples of Clear Light Cave quickly bowed and dispersed in all directions.
Given the vast expanse of the four prefectures, even mobilizing all the manpower of the lineage would seem insufficient to gather Imperial Qi all at once.
Thus, as they made their meticulous plans, unfamiliar figures began to quietly infiltrate from many inconspicuous places.
At the border of Zhenning Prefecture.
With the help of the immortals, this place had already begun to show signs of life, much like Heavenly Tower Mountain did several months ago.
The people, dressed in new clothes, gathered around the well, drinking heartily.
A man in a hemp robe slowly walked in, neither taking food nor water. He cast a light, mocking glance at the rough huts around him and sat down against a large tree.
An old man noticed his peculiar behavior, hesitated for a moment, and then broke off half of his pancake, offering it to the man, "Want to fill your stomach?"
In the old Zhenning Prefecture, such a gesture would have been unimaginable.
"Life is getting better."
The old man smiled, revealing a mouth of yellow, broken teeth.
The man glanced up at him but didn't reach out to take the pancake. Instead, he said coolly, "What if this good life doesn't last long?"
Hearing this, the old man froze, his face quickly turning red with anger as he snatched back the half-pancake. He glared at the man, his eyes filled with fury.
Such ominous words were as offensive as cursing at a funeral.
The people who had been gathered around the well also fell silent and slowly surrounded the man under the tree. They clenched their fists, their eyes cold and menacing, until the area was completely blocked off.
How could the good life granted by True Man You Yao just disappear?
"Get out of here!"
Someone growled, and the others quickly joined in.
A group of emaciated, almost zombie-like figures advanced on the man step by step.
"Tsk."
The man remained relaxed, leaning against the tree. Only when someone raised a fist did he slowly stand up.
A burst of immortal light enveloped him, and his hemp robe transformed into a clean and simple Spirit Void Cave disciple's robe.
"I didn't mean to curse you."
He waved his sleeve and respectfully placed a statue of a figure standing on black clouds under the tree, lightly carving words on the tree trunk, "Can you read?"
The refugees were stunned by the transformation, standing there in a daze.
"Memorize this name. If any changes come, recite this true name, and it might save your lives."
The Spirit Void Cave disciple walked out of the crowd and headed toward the outskirts of Zhenning Prefecture.
The refugees stared at the tree trunk, "Grand Emptiness... True Man."
Before they could react, an angry voice rang out behind them.
"Shameless! You scoundrels, you dare to step into Senior Aunt You Yao's Daoist grounds!"
A Clear Light Cave disciple had noticed the commotion and hurriedly descended from the sky. Seeing what was happening, his face turned red with anger, "What are you all looking at? Are you courting death? Disperse now!"
He raised his hand and sent a burst of clear light toward the statue under the tree, intending to destroy it completely.
However, the clear light twisted and dissipated before it reached halfway.
Seeing this, the Clear Light Cave disciple almost laughed in frustration. He hadn't even confronted the man, and now the Spirit Void Cave disciple was getting cocky.
Given the gap between the two lineages, Spirit Void Cave disciples usually avoided Clear Light Cave disciples when traveling. Today, it seemed the tables were turning.
In an instant, clear light erupted from his fingertips, ready to strike again, but his hands suddenly froze in mid-air.
A celestial sword had appeared, pressing against his neck.
"Go ahead, try touching our True Man's statue."
The Spirit Void Cave disciple held the celestial sword, lightly tapping the other man's cheeks with the blade, and sneered, more confident than ever.
In the past, even if his cultivation was higher, he truly didn’t dare to provoke others. But ever since he witnessed Grand Emptiness Uncle casually slay five Bodhisattvas on Heavenly Tower Mountain, everything changed.
“You….”
The Clear Light Cave disciple, feeling the Disaster Force contained in the sword’s edge, was filled with rage but dared not make the slightest move.
Only now did he finally realize that Senior Aunt You Yao’s status in the Northern Continent had changed dramatically.
Even the timid Spirit Void Cave dared to run wild on their own grounds!
What this disciple didn’t know was that the scene before him was not an isolated incident. Similar situations were unfolding across the vast Four Prefectures.
He wanted to inform Senior Yun Miao that something had gone wrong, but under the cold blade, he could only reluctantly put away his jade slip.
Not long after.
A powerful demonic howl, heard from a great distance, spread out with overwhelming force.
Roar!
The refugees, who had been stunned, were suddenly awakened by the fear ingrained in their bones, instinctively wanting to scatter and flee.
At that moment, a light and casual voice reached their ears once more.
“Don’t forget what I said earlier.”
The Spirit Void Cave disciple sheathed his sword, turned to look at the statue under the tree, and bowed respectfully.
The refugees paused for a moment. Having witnessed countless demonic calamities, they would never entrust their lives to a lifeless statue, even in such earth-shattering times.
The demonic howls grew louder, almost tangible like a storm.
They screamed in terror and ran again.
At the same time, a massive shadow suddenly enveloped the land, as if the sun and moon had lost their light, plunging everything into eternal night.
Some people looked up in fear, only to realize it wasn’t a great demon coming.
It was as if a drop of ink had fallen into clear water, spreading rapidly and turning into rolling black clouds that dominated the horizon.
The black clouds, though vast, didn’t seem malevolent; instead, they gave a sense of boundless awe.
With human eyes, they could only see the heavy sky, unable to discern its true form.
But the great demon, which had already arrived in Zhenning Prefecture, was stunned by this change. Even with the scent of living flesh under its feet, it didn’t dare to move an inch.
It stood there dumbfounded, neither leaving nor advancing.
The Three Immortal Sect disciples, who had been closely watching the You Yao Daochang, exchanged glances in surprise.
“This is….”
In fact, there was no need to say more. They all saw the figure in white standing calmly in the center of the black clouds.
The handsome young man, amidst the vastness, looked down with a calm expression, taking in the Four Prefectures. The dense cloud shadows cast a shadow like a giant claw, slowly enveloping the land.
Though he did nothing, he gave the disciples far away a strong sense of suffocation.
It was the confidence of having everything under control.
“Senior Brother Grand Emptiness, this is a counterattack!”
Finally, someone reacted, but they only felt amazed, not alarmed. Instead, they thought this was expected.
After all, Senior Sister You Yao had made the first move by attacking Kaizhou Prefecture. Since the competition failed, it was only natural that there would be a price to pay.
What they didn’t expect was that Senior Brother Grand Emptiness’s retaliation would come so quickly and without mercy, taking advantage of Senior Sister You Yao’s attempt to seize the Imperial Qi to strike at all four major prefectures at once!
Such a widespread conflict involving so many dao venues had never been seen in the entire Northern Continent.
While many of his fellow disciples watched in excited anticipation,
In the city of Zhenning Prefecture,
Yun Miao, the True Man, also saw the black clouds. He stared intently at the figure within, and when he realized what was about to happen, a surge of resentment filled his eyes.
Why? Why do you keep harming me!
The dao venue that was within reach, the throne of the Immortal Emperor that was almost his, suddenly seemed distant again.
Since descending the mountain, Yun Miao had never openly confronted anyone. Even when he was extremely angry with Shen Yi, he never said a harsh word to him, let alone attacked.
But today, if he continued to hold back, all his cultivation would be for nothing!
Yun Miao watched as the figure in the black clouds slowly disappeared, heading east. His face twisted in anger, and he rose into the air, chasing after it.
(End of Chapter)
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