Sect Master Hai Yun swept his divine sense across the message talisman. The single line of text inside became crystal clear to him. He drew in a slow breath, steadied his emotions, and finally spoke.
"Please instruct me, Zhēnzūn."
Yun Yun Zhēnzūn saw that Hai Yun remained relatively composed, which meant the man already had some idea of the situation. She wasted no time on pleasantries.
"Ready the entire sect for war."
"Yes, Zhēnzūn!"
"First, Hai Yue and Hai Yi will assist you in inspecting every peak of the sect. Root out all unstable elements.
Second, begin acquiring basic resources—sea beast inner cores, spirit plants, and pills. Prepare our reserves before the fighting starts. Purchase gradually so you do not leave a vacuum in the market that would affect ordinary cultivators' training.
Third, the hunt for evil cultivators will overlap with the search for that ancient expert's estate map. Some will scout ahead. Assign people to watch them. If there is any unusual movement, report to me immediately."
"Understood, Zhēnzūn. I will start preparations as soon as I return. Should this news be shared with the entire sect?"
Hai Yun bowed deeply and waited for her response.
"What do you think?" Yun Yun asked instead of answering.
Hai Yun replied, "I believe the higher-ranked cultivators and peak lords should be informed. As for low-ranked disciples, there is no need to tell them for now. It would serve no purpose at this stage."
"Agreed."
Yun Yun nodded.
Hai Yun then drew a post from his sleeve and offered it with an explanation.
"Zhēnzūn, this is an invitation we just received from the Heavenly Sword Sect. Their Sect Master Jian Chun is advancing to the Void Refinement stage and will step down. A month from now, the new Sect Master will take over."
Yun Yun accepted the Violet Radiance Sword Invitation and, after a glance, immediately understood why Haiyun had brought this up.
"I had planned to send a delegation to attend the ceremony," Hai Yun continued. "But now that we have received the war preparations order, I suspect other sects may have gotten the same message. This succession ceremony will be an opportunity for inter-sect exchange. I hope Zhēnzūn will consider the selection carefully."
"You have thought this through well," Yun Yun said. "Since such an opportunity has come, we will not waste it. Keep your original team. I will have Yu Tu lead them, and Hai Yi will go along as well."
"Yes, Zhēnzūn."
Hai Yun and Han Pengfei, who had been listening attentively, accepted the order.
After they left to begin preparations, Yun Yun sent a message talisman to Yu Tu.
Moments later, Yu Tu arrived and saluted. Yun Yun handed over both Senior Brother Yun Tao's talisman and the Violet Radiance Sword Invitation. She explained the situation briefly and concluded, "This trip will be hard on you. Attend the ceremony on the sect's behalf and quietly sound out the other sects' situations."
From the moment she began explaining, Yu Tu's handsome brows had been furrowed. Only when she finished did they relax. He nodded.
"Yes, Zhēnzūn. I will fulfill the mission."
"Good. I have arranged for Peng Fei to accompany you. If you need anything done, have him handle it."
Yu Tu looked up and smiled faintly in acknowledgment.
Purple Sky Sect
A few days earlier, Zi Qing Zhēnzūn had also received a warning from a senior of the sect. She summoned the Sect Master immediately to plan a hundred-year war preparation. Arrangements for the Heavenly Sword Sect's succession ceremony were also made separately.
"Summon Xiao Yong and Xiao Rong to see me privately," Zi Qing ordered her attendant, then turned to Sect Master Xiao Zi, who had just presented the Violet Radiance Sword Invitation.
"This is a chance to probe the other sects' situation. I will have Xiao Yong and Xiao Rong lead the team to the Heavenly Sword Sect. You may decide on the rest of the entourage yourself."
"As you wish, Zhēnzūn."
The decision came as no surprise. It was Xiao Yong Zūnzhǔ who had uncovered the evil item—the blood sac—during the sect's internal purge. He also had some personal ties with the Heavenly Sword Sect's Jian Lu Zūnshàng, which was no secret. Sending him would likely yield more information.
At the time of the summons, Xiao Yong and Xiao Rong were poring over the ancient estate map.
"Cousin, do you think this map is genuine?" Xiao Rong asked softly.
"Half and half," Xiao Yong replied, still tapping the beast-hide map as if confirming locations.
"What do you mean?"
"This map was likely released intentionally. Otherwise it would not have spread so widely."
"True. If a cultivator obtained it, they would keep it hidden and explore in secret. Why broadcast it and invite so many rivals? What would they gain?"
"Perhaps the place is too dangerous, and they need others to clear the way. Or it is a trap. Or it is an immense opportunity they cannot seize alone."
Xiao Rong frowned, about to speak again, when Zi Qing's summons arrived.
They exchanged a glance, rose, and went to meet her.
"Xiao Yong and Xiao Rong pay respects to Zhēnzūn."
With a wave, Zi Qing had them sit. She handed over a jade slip.
Xiao Yong read it first, passed it to Xiao Rong, and asked, "Shall I send a message to Jian Lu Zūnshàng now to feel out her thoughts?"
"No need," Zi Qing said. "There is no rush. Prepare yourselves. Attend the succession ceremony, and while you are there, gauge the strengths of the other sects."
"Yes, Zhēnzūn. Rest assured, we will see it done."
"You are both meticulous and careful. I have no worries. But the Lingyun Continent will soon be in turmoil. Focus on raising your cultivation so you can face the coming war."
"Yes!"
Loose Cultivator Alliance
Qian Wanguan twirled his folding fan as he went to see Alliance Leader Huang. He requested the Violet Radiance Sword Invitation for the Heavenly Sword Sect's ceremony, volunteering to lead the delegation so he could visit his old friend Jian Lu Zūnshàng.
Huang had been fretting over who to send—those too weak would shame the alliance, those strong enough were too busy cultivating. Qian's offer solved the problem neatly.
Pleased, Huang handed over both the invitation and the alliance's prepared gift list. Qian scanned it and found it satisfactory. Everything was of respectable quality, with no need for him to add anything.
Back in his cave abode, Qian began preparations. Besides the usual entourage, he planned to bring his personally taught disciple, Kuang Dao.
Kuang Dao's true name was Dao Ren. Once a mortal martial artist from a family of blade-wielders, he had risen above his peers to become the most outstanding of his lineage. In the end, his mastery of the blade had opened the door to the cultivation world.
Only after entering did Dao Ren realize he was at the very bottom. To reach his goals, he fought his way through the cultivation world, surviving countless life-and-death trials. He had been gravely wounded, used as a pawn, but over a thousand years he carved a bloody path upward—until he finally stood before Qian Wanguan.
===
We made it to Chapter 500! (≧▽≦)/
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