Chapter 815: Evil Alliance Collapses

To reach a point where one treats all living beings as their children, one's position naturally transcends that of ordinary beings—at least from the chess player's own perspective. Therefore, it was rare for an immortal cultivator to be praised as "so extraordinary."

"How extraordinary?"

The voice of the person beside him seemed close, yet at that moment, it felt as distant as the horizon. The chess player, who sensed Tu Siyan's death, watched a patch of powder gradually vanish from his palm. The momentary connection to the chess piece was rapidly fading, but the impression lingered.

"To be able to slay Tu Siyan in Jade Fox Grotto-Heaven in an almost mocking manner, perhaps that immortal has, at times, already begun to perceive the blurred boundaries..."

The voice beside him remained unanswered for a long time. The chess player, having lost a piece, also remained silent for a while.

After a long silence, another voice emerged.

"It seems the time has indeed come."

"Indeed, the emergence of such an immortal, however rare, serves as further corroboration!"

"Well said!"

Despite losing a chess piece, the objective had been achieved, and there was even an unexpected bonus.

Ji Yuan, of course, knew that Tu Siyan's death would attract the attention of the chess player behind her. However, as he had considered before making his decision, this was also his own move, designed to actively enter the game rather than to showcase his power.

People often say that onlookers see clearly, but also that true understanding comes from personal experience. Ji Yuan thus combined the roles of chess player, observer, and disruptor, with no need for timidity, as others were unaware he was one of the chess players.

Ji Yuan presented himself as a highly cultivated immortal, a reclusive immortal of the mountains and wilderness, belonging to no sect or school. He appeared carefree and unbound, never constrained by trivialities in his actions. With broad interests, he seemed somewhat idle. While claiming to uphold the immortal path, he did not hesitate to interact with demons and spirits. Though considered unorthodox by some, his Dao aligned with natural principles.

Having previously merged with heaven and earth, Ji Yuan could now comprehend many truths more clearly. Given his grand vow to protect all living beings, and the opposing stance of his adversaries, even if heaven and earth seemed indifferent, they possessed a spirit. This allowed Ji Yuan to blend with the cosmos, confident that even face-to-face, his true nature would remain undetected.

Putting himself in their shoes, Ji Yuan suddenly realized that among the vast multitude of beings, an immortal cultivator like him might provoke a desire for contact from his adversaries. While a direct confrontation was unlikely, Ji Yuan somewhat hoped they would attempt it.

'If their intentions truly align with my predictions...'

Ji Yuan's mind was full of thoughts. His gaze was fixed on the distant horizon, where heaven and earth met. However, his perception extended beyond mere observation of the world. To destroy heaven and earth—they couldn't possibly be mad. Yet, some things Ji Yuan might understand but would never condone.

"Mr. Ji, now that Tu Siyan has been vanquished, would you be free to return with this old monk, to listen to the scriptures of my Buddhist realm in my sanctuary, and perhaps discuss Buddhist principles with me?"

The old monk Foyin's words brought Ji Yuan's thoughts back to reality. Ji Yuan gently shook his head, declining.

"Master, Ji Yuan appreciates your kind offer, but at this moment, I am not yet suited to quietly listen to scriptures. With Tu Siyan dead, the situation in Tianyu Continent is bound to change. Without Tu Siyan as a link, the demon kings from Black Wasteland, who had previously abducted a large number of mortals, some demons will surely return to 'guard their spoils'..."

Foyin Mingwang understood Ji Yuan's meaning and, of course, did not try to dissuade him.

"Namo Amitabha. Mr. Ji, with your compassionate heart, you may go. This old monk will pay close attention to Jade Fox Grotto-Heaven."

Ji Yuan bowed in deference to the old monk Foyin.

"Thank you, Master Foyin. The world ahead promises to be tumultuous; please be careful!"

Although all righteous cultivators across the land are nominally allies, they still maintain their own regional distinctions. The chaos in Tianyu Continent was a sensitive issue for its cultivators. While Master Foyin, as a Buddhist Mingwang Venerable, would certainly not have been obstructed from entering in the past, his presence would definitely displease the "major sects" of Tianyu Continent. Now that the situation was moving towards stability, there was no need or reason for him to court trouble.

After Ji Yuan bade farewell, he was ready to depart, but Foyin Mingwang, with a smile, posed another question.

"Mr. Ji, what is your opinion of the 'Sword Manual' written by that nine-tailed fox, Tu Miao?"

Ji Yuan smiled.

"As I said in Jade Fox Grotto-Heaven, the drawings are quite beautiful, and the calligraphy is also very fine."

The old monk Foyin nodded.

"I have an avatar at the Daliang Temple dojo in Cloud Continent, and I am aware of your extraordinary skill, Mr. Ji. The written record of that sword discussion isn't truly important, as this old monk was privileged to witness it firsthand, which far surpasses any book. However, if a hundred or a thousand years from now, people universally believe that the 'Sword Manual' by the nine-tailed fox Tu Miao perfectly depicts that sword discussion, it would be quite unfitting."

It was unexpected that the old monk Foyin had given it so much thought. Ji Yuan himself hadn't previously felt that Tu Miao's writing would tarnish the reputation of that sword discussion.

"Very well. Since Master has expressed this, when I find leisure, I shall also fully document that sword discussion. Perhaps..."

Ji Yuan paused, considered for a moment, and then revealed a mischievous smile.

"How about we also call it 'Sword Manual'?"

The old monk Foyin smiled and bowed in Buddhist salutation again.

"Namo Amitabha!"

Having settled this amusing matter, the two bid farewell once more. This time, the Buddhist light and immortal glow parted ways. Foyin Mingwang returned to his Buddhist realm, while Ji Yuan swiftly departed to the southeast, and soon flew higher and higher, entering the stratospheric winds.

Time rewound to the moment Ji Yuan slew Tu Siyan with a single sword stroke in his dream. In a grotto near a ley line in Tianyu Continent, numerous demons with terrifying auras were gathered.

Inside this grotto, there were tables, chairs, and flowing springs; it was also rich in terrestrial energy. Clearly, multiple layers of restrictions were in place, capable of isolating the terrifying aura of so many demons without leaking a trace. It was indeed the residence of a local earth deity, though the deity himself was nowhere to be seen. It was unknown if he had always been complicit or had already met with misfortune.

In addition to the many demon kings and great demons seated around a round table, numerous important members of the Revelation Alliance stood in the outer circle, including Wang Youhong and Shi Jiu. Curiously, Beimu, whose cultivation was clearly insufficient, was already seated at the table.

At this moment, they appeared to be discussing something important.

"Has Madam Spider appeared?"

The demons found the events in the city earlier quite bizarre, and were therefore particularly wary of Madam Spider, who had suddenly fled.

"Not yet. Madam Spider's whereabouts cannot be found anywhere. The heavenly secrets of Tianyu Continent have been thrown into disarray by us and those righteous cultivators, making it impossible to discern if she is alive or dead."

"If she died, who was responsible? If she didn't... then why is she hiding from us? Aside from that departing demonic light, when was the last time any of you saw her?"

A sharp-voiced man pondered these questions, then glanced at Wang Youhong and Shi Jiu.

Wang Youhong felt a flicker of panic but maintained a calm expression.

"We only met her once at the very beginning. Madam Spider disliked disturbances, so we dared not visit often. Then, one day later, she suddenly fled. We, who were in the city, followed in astonishment, but after fleeing a thousand li, we were horrified to discover that only a few of our companions had made it out. We dared not return to investigate..."

Someone turned to a charming woman lounging languidly at the table and asked.

"Tu Siyan, what do you think happened to Madam Spider?"

"Hmm, I have no interest in discussing her. I am currently playing chess. You should all press your subordinates harder. Whether by coaxing or coercing, make them bring more people to Tianyu Continent; it's still not chaotic enough..."

"Hmph! An avatar of yours dictates here while your true body safely hides in Jade Fox Grotto-Heaven, telling us to risk our lives? My demon army has suffered considerable losses!"

Tu Siyan gazed languidly at the speaker, letting out a charming laugh.

"My nine-tailed form is yours for the taking; are you still not satisfied?"

"The sensation is indeed delightful, but you are no longer a nine-tailed fox!"

Tu Siyan toyed with a strand of hair and merely smiled. Just as she was about to speak, her body suddenly stiffened. An indescribable sensation of dread enveloped her entire being.

In a trance, she heard Ji Yuan's soft whisper: "...That sword strike is for you..."

The next instant, an endless chill assailed her. Her consciousness vanished in an instant, and the demonic energy within her began to dissipate.

The surrounding demons were not blind; Tu Siyan's sudden change was instantly noticed.

"What happened to Tu Siyan?"

The demon king who had just scoffed approached Tu Siyan, seized her chin, and lifted her head.

"Avatar dissipating?"

"No, this is... the dispersal of the primordial spirit. Tu Siyan is dead..."

"What?" "How is this possible!"

The changes before them were indeed chilling, but the reality was undeniable: Tu Siyan's true primordial spirit in Jade Fox Grotto-Heaven was clearly dead.

"In the eyes of the righteous path, Tu Siyan should have died long ago under Daoist Yuanzi’s lightning magic. And she was hiding in Jade Fox Grotto-Heaven, so how could anything have happened to her?"

"But something did happen to her!"

The demons present exchanged glances. Slowly, their expressions shifted, their eyes turning from horror to apprehension.

"Surely there isn't a traitor among us, is there?"

Upon hearing this, someone immediately scoffed mockingly.

"Ridiculous. If there were a traitor, would they still be here?"

As the words fell, silence once again descended upon the table. Beimu, who had remained silent, suddenly thought of something.

After Madam Spider's disappearance, Beimu had personally sought out Lu Wu. In Beimu's view, the secret of Lu Wu's true form was known only to himself and Lu Wu, and perhaps Niu Batian. Lu Wu had previously been unaware of a demon king like Madam Spider in the city, yet instinctively he had never approached the street where Madam Spider resided, claiming he intuitively sensed danger there.

"Wang, when you fled, did hundreds of escape lights leave the city simultaneously?"

Wang Youhong, still reeling from Tu Siyan's death, felt her heart lurch. Had they been found out? But he remained impassive and quickly responded.

"I didn't observe closely. Everyone was focused on fleeing in haste, with little regard for anything else. We only later realized many companions were missing..."

"Northern Demon, have you noticed something?"

Beimu sneered.

"I fear those individuals didn't vanish during the escape, but had already disappeared prior to it..."

"An immortal cultivator?"

"Hmph, perhaps Madam Spider herself."

Silence fell over the grotto, then quickly, someone spoke again.

"This is no place to linger. Tu Siyan is dead; I shall take my leave!"

"I don't wish to remain here either." "I'm also departing!"

"Farewell!"

Soon, the demons gathered in the grotto dispersed one after another. Wang Youhong and Shi Jiu, feeling both a chill and excitement, exchanged a subtle glance, then swiftly departed as well.

Only the corpse of Tu Siyan's avatar remained, slumped over the table.

By the time Ji Yuan departed Jade Fox Grotto-Heaven, though many demons and monstrous entities from Black Wasteland were still reveling in their rampage across the human realm, veteran members of the Revelation Alliance, such as Wang Youhong, already understood that monumental changes were afoot.

Niu Batian and Lu Shanjun had been staying at an inn in a coastal city, living just like ordinary people, from their clothes and food to their lodging and travel.

One morning, the two men, who had been having breakfast in the inn's lobby, suddenly felt a stirring within them. Almost simultaneously, they looked up. Moments later, Wang Youhong rushed in and whispered to Old Niu and Lu Shanjun.

"Those individuals from Black Wasteland are retreating; they will undoubtedly relocate the abducted mortals!"