Chapter 716: Silver Mist Sect Ruins

Pure Nine-Lotus Treasure Lantern.

The Soul Transformation True Monarch of the Ice and Snow domain perished during the great calamity, causing this Eastern Lands Holy Land to disintegrate.

However, even a starving camel is larger than a horse. A few elders, after leaving the Holy Land's fifth-tier spiritual vein, re-established the Ice Heaven Palace, which remains a Nascent Soul force to this day.

Among the elders who originally established the Ice Heaven Palace, one was the founding ancestor of the Snow-Blowing Palace. The current Nascent Soul cultivator, Master Bingyun, directly inherited this ancestor's legacy.

Therefore, the Snow-Blowing Palace lineage has always leveraged this individual's prestige in the Eastern Wasteland.

Previously, Fu Zongjue might have been wary, but ever since Zhou Shengqing formed his Nascent Soul, Fu Zongjue's aspirations have grown.

Even a mighty dragon can't suppress a local snake; he simply didn't believe Master Bingyun would truly dare to come to the Eastern Wasteland.

Faced with Zhu Jinyu's questioning, Fu Zongjue couldn't be bothered with such a minor Foundation Establishment character. Jiang Zongheng immediately stepped forward, flying to the front of the formation, speaking with politeness and propriety.

"Sect Master Zhu, we harbor no covetous desires for the spirit stone mine. We merely wish to help the mortals achieve unification and establish an era of peace and prosperity."

"This is destiny, an irresistible trend. If you merely open your grand formation and allow us to pass, I can swear a Dao-heart oath not to encroach upon any of your Snow-Blowing Palace's mineral veins or spirit fields."

"However, if you choose to act against destiny, then don't blame us for using thunderous methods to reduce your sect's legacy to dust."

Jiang Zongheng's words, a blend of courtesy and threat, made Zhu Jinyu's expression one of surprise and suspicion.

She didn't believe the Five Elements Sect would deploy such a large force merely to help the Yan Kingdom unify the Eastern Wasteland. She thought it was an excuse to encroach upon their own spiritual veins, ores, and other resources.

But if they were willing to swear a Dao-heart oath, it would lend some credibility.

However, Jiang Zongheng, being merely at the Foundation Establishment stage, despite being a disciple of Xiao Nanshan, still lacked sufficient authority.

"Could this Dao-heart oath be sworn by True Person Fu or Sect Master Chen instead?"

Zhu Jinyu asked, somewhat greedily, provoking an angry snort from Fu Zongjue.

"Don't be ungrateful. If you continue to obstruct us, not even Kong Lingling will be able to save you."

Carefully weighing the relative strengths of her sect and the Five Elements Sect, Zhu Jinyu could only grit her teeth. However, she didn't dare to make a decision on such a significant matter.

"Master, what are your thoughts?"

Zhu Jinyu took two steps back and respectfully asked the figure hidden within a cloud of ice mist.

Only with Kong Lingling holding down the fort did she dare to bring out all of the Snow-Blowing Palace's elite cultivators, intending to use the grand formation set up in this spirit stone mine to fight to the death against the Five Elements Sect's Wood Vein.

"Agree to their terms."

Kong Lingling's cold voice echoed from within the ice mist. The mist then dissipated, but she had already vanished from her spot.

After receiving authorization, Zhu Jinyu also approached the formation and, along with Jiang Zongheng, laid down a three-point agreement, with each swearing a Dao-heart oath.

Both parties agreed that the Snow-Blowing Palace must not hinder the unification of the Eastern Wasteland, and the Five Elements Sect's cultivators must not encroach upon the Snow-Blowing Palace's spirit fields, mineral veins, or other resources.

"Grand Tutor Jiang, after the mortals are unified, if our sect wishes to recruit disciples through fate from now on, you must not obstruct us."

Jiang Zongheng nodded, not depriving the Snow-Blowing Palace of this right, but he added restrictive conditions.

"It will be limited to the Shuang Kingdom and Xue Kingdom. Furthermore, if any mortals with spiritual roots wish to join our Five Elements Sect, your Snow-Blowing Palace must not obstruct them. Should you violate this rule, it will be regarded as your breaking the contract, and the previous Dao-heart oath will be rendered null and void."

Zhu Jinyu naturally disagreed with Jiang Zongheng's words.

However, Jiang Zongheng was unwilling to yield on this point. If the Snow-Blowing Palace refused, then they would not be allowed to recruit any new disciples in the entire Eastern Wasteland from then on.

In any case, the Dao-heart oath stated that the Five Elements Sect would not encroach upon the Snow-Blowing Palace's spirit fields or mineral veins, but they could still effectively trap them, preventing them from stepping out of their mountain gate.

Faced with Jiang Zongheng's resolute stance, Zhu Jinyu gritted her teeth. Thinking that her master still needed some time, she could only feign compliance and agree for now.

Just a few more years, as long as the Holy Son matures...

With these thoughts, Zhu Jinyu accepted Jiang Zongheng's condition.

"Sect Master Zhu, from now on, the Eastern Wasteland will follow the tenets of the Morality Sect. The mortal world will be ruled by dynasties, while we cultivators will live in seclusion within our spiritual mountain gates."

Jiang Zongheng invoked the Morality Sect's philosophy. Upon hearing it, Zhu Jinyu actually thought the Five Elements Sect intended to emulate this Eastern Lands Holy Land by governing the world to accumulate virtue.

It was said that the reason the Morality Sect produced Soul Transformation cultivators generation after generation was because their ancient sages established this rule: as long as the mortal dynasties were prosperous and the people were at peace, and the world was tranquil, they would continuously receive the Five Virtues, remain untouched by karmic retribution from killing, and their cultivation breakthroughs would proceed smoothly.

However, aside from the Morality Sect, other forces had also attempted this. But they often expended immense energy and effort to support a dynasty, only to find they didn't achieve the outstanding results of the Morality Sect, leading them to feel it was not worth the effort.

Gradually, in the Tianhe Realm, few bothered to try this path other than the Morality Sect.

"Sect Master Chen has lofty ambitions. I hope a moral sage can also emerge in our Eastern Wasteland."

Zhu Jinyu could only manage a strained smile. The progenitor of the Morality Sect was the first human cultivator to ascend, known as a Sage.

Throughout the Eastern Domain, the Morality Sect had produced the most ascended cultivators. It also had the longest lineage, an supreme Holy Land that had never been broken since ancient times.

"On behalf of my master, I thank Sect Master Zhu for your auspicious words."

Jiang Zongheng, however, merely nodded and accepted, causing Zhu Jinyu to inwardly curse him as shameless.

That Chen Guixian actually wanted to be a sage!

And he didn't even consider what kind of place the Eastern Wasteland was, if it was worthy of producing such a person!

If a sage could emerge from here, one might as well believe that the Five Elements Sect could produce a Soul Transformation cultivator and become a Holy Land!

Jiang Zongheng was naturally unaware of Zhu Jinyu's inner thoughts. After the contract was finalized, the grand formation blocking their path dispersed, and he immediately commanded Duan Shuyu to lead the army through.

This spirit stone mine had blocked the army's path. Although the cultivators could fly over it, the 200,000-strong army had no way to pass except by traversing the mountain ridges, so it had to be cleared.

It was precisely for this reason that Jiang Zongheng had patiently negotiated terms with Zhu Jinyu.

After all, if they truly had to attack the third-tier grand formation that the Snow-Blowing Palace was protecting with all its might, the people here might not necessarily be able to breach it.

Even if they could take it, it would likely require sacrificing one-third of their cultivators.

For Jiang Zongheng, this was very uneconomical. After all, these people were invited by him to help, and many were the mainstays of their respective influential families, Foundation Establishment cultivators.

If they died, a cultivation family would essentially weaken and perish.

In that case, Jiang Zongheng would incur significant karmic repercussions.

Furthermore, several Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivators from their sect were accompanying the army. Losing even one of them would be an irreparable and immense loss for their Wood Vein.

Therefore, reaching an agreement with Zhu Jinyu and resolving this issue bloodlessly was a considerable success for Jiang Zongheng.

"Grand Tutor Jiang, then let Junior Sister Xueting stay here to coordinate the subsequent matters with you. I will take the rest of the sect disciples back to our mountain gate first."

Zhu Jinyu instructed the graceful Foundation Establishment female cultivator nearby, then cupped her fist in salute to Jiang Zongheng.

Xueting, standing nearby, was slightly stunned, clearly not having expected this.

"Sect Master Zhu, there's one more thing. My sect's Junior Brother Yulian delivered a letter from my master to your esteemed sect, but we've lost contact with him. If he has been detained by you, please release him immediately."

Jiang Zongheng, however, spoke up and stopped Zhu Jinyu, bringing up another matter.

"Grand Tutor Jiang, I am not aware of this matter. After your esteemed sect's Junior Brother Yu delivered the letter, I personally escorted him out of the Snow-Blowing Palace. I can swear that I did not detain him."

Zhu Jinyu also frowned upon hearing this. However, as she had not done such a thing, she openly swore a Dao-heart oath, which left Jiang Zongheng with no choice but to sigh and nod.

"Sect Master Zhu, please understand. Junior Brother Yulian joined the sect in the same batch as my master, and his disappearance is of great concern to my master."

At this moment, Zhu Jinyu's ears twitched slightly, as if she had received a sound transmission. She then activated the Snow-Blowing Palace's flying ice boats in the spirit stone mine and began instructing the sect's Foundation Establishment and Qi Condensation cultivators who had been guarding the place to board them.

"Xueting, this place is now in your hands."

Xueting could only nod lightly, indicating she had accepted the task.

She probably thought Zhu Jinyu valued her previous relationship with the Xiao Nanshan lineage of the Divine Wood Sect, and that her presence would reduce friction between the two sides.

"Sect Master, do you need me to cooperate with the Five Elements Sect and have the Xue Kingdom's royal family open their city gates and surrender?"

Xueting asked. In her view, since the Snow-Blowing Palace had already conceded, doing so would be the correct course of action to minimize conflict.

"No. You must try your best to delay the advance of the Five Elements Sect and the Yan Kingdom's army to buy us some time."

However, Zhu Jinyu gave Xueting an instruction that caused her delicate brows to knit together.

By this time, the Snow-Blowing Palace's army of cultivators had all boarded their ice boats, ascending one by one into the sky and departing from the area.

Only the disciples who had previously guarded this spirit stone mine remained. All of them gathered around Xueting, the Foundation Establishment elder, and respectfully saluted her.

The incessant sound of hooves clattered continuously.

Under Duan Shuyu's leadership, the Yan Kingdom's army began to pass through the spirit stone mine in formation.

It was only after the entire 200,000-strong army had passed through and entered the Xue Kingdom's territory that Jiang Zongheng finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Although he and Zhu Jinyu had established a Dao-heart pact, they were not, after all, at the sect's highest echelons; Golden Core cultivators could renege at any time.

At most, it would only mean sacrificing the two who had established the pact.

After the army had safely passed, Fu Zongjue, who was flying in mid-air, also nodded lightly, feeling relieved.

Xie Yuntian and the others beside him felt it was a pity they hadn't gotten to fight the Snow-Blowing Palace.

It seemed they would only earn the most basic contribution points from this outing.

"Should we go look for Yulian? Before he joined the sect, he was a disciple of the Silver Cloud Sect. Perhaps we can find some clues by visiting its ruins in the Xue Kingdom."

Yue Zutao suddenly spoke. Although he had spearheaded the previous mission listed at the Spirit Treasure Pavilion, after the Snow-Blowing Palace intervened and the army was blocked, the follow-up had been modified by Sect Master Chen Mobai.

The mission had changed to assisting the Yan Kingdom in unifying the Eastern Wasteland.

It would only be considered complete, and contribution points would be settled, after the Xue Kingdom, Feng Kingdom, and the Xia and Hua Kingdoms under the Reverting Heavens Valley were all subdued.

Besides this mission, Chen Mobai had also posted a mission to find Yulian, who had gone missing.

Since the Snow-Blowing Palace had retreated, subduing the Xue Kingdom would not pose any problems. So, Yue Zutao thought of using this time while they were still in the Xue Kingdom to investigate.

Originally, he had intended to complete the mission alone.

However, his previous solo acceptance of a mission had already drawn criticism from Xie Yuntian and others, and that mission was still incomplete. This made Yue Zutao feel that it would be better to share the task of finding Yulian with his fellow disciples.

Mainly, he estimated that his sect contribution points would place him exactly fifth, allowing him to exchange for a Golden Liquid Jade Reversion Pill.

As long as he maintained a united front with Xie Yuntian and the others present, he could await his desired outcome.

"That's fine, but what if the Yan Kingdom's army is blocked by cultivators when we leave?"

Quan Shanlin hesitated, but Fu Zongjue waved his hand, indicating that he would oversee the army.

"Thank you, Master."

Quan Shanlin was immediately overjoyed and saluted Fu Zongjue. Xie Yuntian and the others likewise saluted.

Then, the four Foundation Establishment Perfection cultivators transformed into streaks of light and vanished into mid-air.

Although four people were missing, with Fu Zongjue and Meng Hong overseeing the situation, the cultivation families within the Xue Kingdom dared not make a move.

However, what surprised Jiang Zongheng somewhat was the fierce resistance from the Xue Kingdom.

But Duan Shuyu's military tactics were unparalleled. Without cultivators interfering, the army he led advanced with irresistible force, quickly capturing the three most crucial major cities.

In just one month, the Yan Kingdom's army arrived beneath the walls of the Xue Kingdom's royal capital.

The ruins of the Silver Cloud Sect.

On a perennially snow-covered mountain in the Xue Kingdom, there was a high-grade second-tier spiritual vein.

Unfortunately, after the Silver Cloud Sect was annihilated, this place was regarded as ominous. To this day, only a group of rogue cultivators, unaware of the details, resided there.

When Yue Zutao and the other three landed, the powerful spiritual energy fluctuations instantly made these rogue cultivators tremble in fear. They tried to stealthily sneak down the mountain and flee on their extremely crude bamboo horse artifacts.

But they were stopped.

Soon, the six rogue cultivators, whose cultivation levels were at most Qi Condensation fifth-level, were bound together with wooden strips by Yue Zutao and rounded up.

"Have any of you seen this person?"

Yue Zutao took out Yulian's portrait. Soon, all the rogue cultivators nodded.

"A few days ago, this Immortal Master came here. He lit three sticks of incense on the highest peak, then warned us not to go there."

"And then?"

"Then he flew away."

"Did you see where he went?"

"East."

After asking, Yue Zutao and the other three went to the mountain peak.

They soon found traces left by Yulian, which indicated that Zhu Jinyu had not lied.

After delivering the letter, he had indeed left the Snow-Blowing Palace and then come here to commemorate his deceased fellow disciples from the Silver Cloud Sect.

The four then flew eastward again.

They soon discovered a battlefield.