Chapter 4899: Heaven River Sword Sovereign

On Green Lotus Island, within the Discussion Hall, Wang Moshan and over a hundred clan elders were engaged in a solemn discussion, their expressions grim.

Zhao Yunxiao had sent a message, offering them several slots to enter the Mystic Spirit Grotto-Heaven. However, the Wang family would need to provide the keys, as Zhenhai Palace could only grant access and not supply the keys themselves. Wang Moshan had dispatched people to collect keys, even offering high rewards, but at the same time, other factions were also offering substantial bounties for them. Apart from the three keys obtained by Wang Chuanming and others, the Wang family had not acquired a fourth.

"Send out more people and post bounties," Wang Moshan instructed. "Elixirs, treasures, and even formations can be exchanged for keys." He added that the Mystic Spirit Grotto-Heaven would open in a few decades, and he hoped to gather a few more keys before then.

"Yes, family head," the numerous clan elders responded in unison, rising and departing the discussion hall.

***

In the Heavenly Lizard Mountain Range, the Lizard Tribe's lair, over a hundred Lizard Tribe elders, including Yifeng, were discussing countermeasures in the Heavenly Lizard Hall, their faces reflecting deep concern. Over a dozen smaller tribes were attacking the Lizard Tribe's affiliated races. Lizard elders were leading forces to the front lines, but with little effect. The allied tribes had already captured considerable territory and were steadily advancing on the Lizard Tribe.

If it were only the Human or Spiritfire tribes instigating them, it would be manageable. However, this offensive was orchestrated by the Human, Spiritfire, and Yaksha tribes acting in concert, placing immense pressure on the Lizard Tribe. They simply couldn't hold them off, and the territories of several of the Lizard Tribe's affiliated races had already been occupied, forcing a continuous retreat. The Lizard Tribe had no retreat now; any concession would only lead to further encroachment, with the Human, Yaksha, and Spiritfire tribes becoming even more aggressive. Too much leniency would only invite further exploitation.

Fortunately, the Human, Spiritfire, and Yaksha tribes were not truly unified; they were fighting independently. After seizing some territory, the dozen smaller tribes became less aggressive, which gave the Lizard Tribe an opportune moment.

"We must deploy more personnel and repel their attacks," Yifeng said gravely, his tone severe. "The territories lost to these smaller tribes must be reclaimed."

"Yes, chieftain," the Lizard Tribe elders responded in unison, rising and departing.

***

At Xuanqing Sect, within a vast estate, Xuanqingzi and a burly elder in blue robes were playing chess in a hexagonal green stone pavilion. The blue-robed elder had a square face, showed no signs of magical power fluctuations, and possessed a fair complexion, making him utterly unremarkable in a crowd. He was Sword Sovereign Tianhe, at the Mid-Mahayana stage.

"I didn't expect, after so many years, that Fellow Daoist Lin has advanced to the Mid-Mahayana stage. Congratulations!" Xuanqingzi said, an envious expression on his face as he offered his congratulations. Sword Sovereign Tianhe originated as a rogue cultivator and achieved the Mahayana stage later than Xuanqingzi. Yet, while Xuanqingzi remained in the Early Mahayana stage, Sword Sovereign Tianhe had already reached Mid-Mahayana, clearly indicating a significant fortuitous encounter. The higher the cultivation, the more difficult advancement becomes. Xuanqingzi had entered the Mahayana stage earlier, but he remained stagnant in the Early Mahayana, while Sword Sovereign Tianhe had surpassed him.

"Haha, Fellow Daoist Lin, you flatter me," Sword Sovereign Tianhe said modestly, a smile on his face. "I took a trip to Guangyun Realm, traveled around, and coincidentally stumbled upon Heavenly Sound Divine Monarch's cultivation abode appearing. I went in to seek treasure and had some gains." Guangyun Realm and Xuanyang Realm were parallel dimensions; with a treasure like a Boundary-Breaking Plate, one could travel between them.

"Heavenly Sound Divine Monarch? He is said to be the most legendary cultivator in Guangyun Realm for the past hundred thousand years. Is it true he ascended to the Immortal Realm?" Xuanqingzi's face showed curiosity. Heavenly Sound Divine Monarch was a Mahayana sound cultivator, a truly legendary figure whose renown rivaled that of Mystic Spirit Heavenly Venerate.

"I don't know," Sword Sovereign Tianhe replied. "I didn't obtain his legacy; I only found a few Jade Udumbara Immortal Fruits." As he spoke, Sword Sovereign Tianhe took out an exquisite golden jade box.

"What? Jade Udumbara Immortal Fruits?" Xuanqingzi's voice trembled. Jade Udumbara Immortal Fruits were miraculous fruits said to originate from the Immortal Realm, blooming every thirty thousand years, bearing fruit after another thirty thousand, and maturing after a further thirty thousand. For Mahayana cultivators, they had the effect of greatly increasing magical power. Due to their origin in the Immortal Realm, they were named Jade Udumbara Immortal Fruits.

Xuanqingzi opened the lid, revealing a fruit shimmering with golden light. An enticing aroma wafted towards him, and the fruit's surface bore naturally formed patterns.

"I heard you used a spirit domain to injure Yan Zheng of the Spiritfire Tribe," Sword Sovereign Tianhe said sincerely. "I'll trade you one Jade Udumbara Immortal Fruit for the cultivation method of your spirit domain." He explained that while Mahayana cultivators could advance their magical power and save millennia of arduous cultivation by consuming a Jade Udumbara Immortal Fruit, any cultivator could only benefit from one such fruit in their lifetime; consuming a second would have no additional effect. He had already consumed a Jade Udumbara Immortal Fruit himself, and even if he used another to refine elixirs, the effect would be greatly diminished. Otherwise, he wouldn't part with it for trade.

Without hesitation, Xuanqingzi took out a green jade slip, tossed it to Sword Sovereign Tianhe, and put away the Jade Udumbara Immortal Fruit. Sword Sovereign Tianhe swept his divine sense over it and nodded in satisfaction.

"You didn't happen to acquire a rare treasure like an Enlightenment Orb, did you? To actually comprehend a spirit domain..." Sword Sovereign Tianhe asked with a chuckle.

"If I had an Enlightenment Orb, do you think Yan Zheng would have escaped?" Xuanqingzi explained, a proud look on his face. "I merely used a treasure to manifest a rudimentary spirit domain; otherwise, he couldn't have gotten away." Although he relied on a treasure to manifest a spirit domain, and it was only a rudimentary form, it was still sufficient against most Mahayana cultivators. If he had been at the Mid-Mahayana stage, Yan Zheng would not have escaped at all.

Sword Sovereign Tianhe's face showed understanding, and he nodded. "That makes sense."

"By the way, the Lizard Tribe's Mahayana cultivator hasn't appeared for many years; they might have already passed away," Xuanqingzi said, getting to the main point. "I plan to move against the Lizard Tribe. Their clan-protecting treasures are quite good, especially the Qian-Light Shield—it would certainly be very effective in resisting the Grand Heavenly Tribulation."

"If you don't have concrete evidence, don't act rashly," Sword Sovereign Tianhe warned. "When I was traveling in Guangyun Realm, the old ancestor of the Shangguan family, a True Spirit family, also hadn't appeared for many years. Two major clans teamed up to deal with the Shangguan family, attacking their lair. But then, the Shangguan ancestor suddenly appeared, displayed immense power, and severely wounded a Mahayana cultivator from an enemy tribe."

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing," Xuanqingzi said with a righteous expression. "With you having advanced to Mid-Mahayana, even if we can't wipe out the Lizard Tribe, we can at least make them bleed. That would be good for the human race."

"You make the decisions then! I'm going to comprehend the spirit domain now; I hope to gain some insights," Sword Sovereign Tianhe said. After saying this, his figure blurred and vanished.

Xuanqingzi took out a green communication plate, cast a magic seal into it, and instructed, "Disciple-nephew Qin, pass on the order: have the Azure Ape Tribe and others intensify their attacks. If the Lizard Tribe's Mahayana cultivator doesn't show themselves, we will fight this battle to the end." He intended to force the Lizard Tribe's Mahayana cultivator out; if they didn't appear, he would simply make the Lizard Tribe bleed. With Sword Sovereign Tianhe's return and advancement to Mid-Mahayana, Xuanqingzi's confidence had grown considerably.

"Yes, Master-Uncle Lin," a respectful female voice replied from the communication plate.