Translator: CinderTL
Outside the dark horned prison, the atmosphere was heavy with tension, both within the Heavenly Palace and the Wu Ji Sect camps.
Every few hours, reports arrived from both factions detailing the deaths of Dharma Manifestation Venerables.
Two days prior, the casualties had been primarily Heavenly Palace Dharma Manifestations, but now...
Wu Ji Sect's Dharma Manifestations were also falling, and at an alarming rate.
If this trend continued...
Just then, a Wu Ji Sect Vice Sect Master rushed in, his face ashen, and transmitted a Divine Sense message: "Sect Master, disaster has struck... News just arrived from the Chiyang Sword Sect... Long Xingyu's soul lamp has gone out!"
Upon hearing this, Yuan Taiji abruptly rose to his feet, his face etched with disbelief.
As one of the most influential figures present, nearly on par with the Demon-Quelling Great Emperor and Huang Daozhen, his every move drew the attention of the entire assembly.
His sudden, uncharacteristic loss of composure naturally captured everyone's gaze.
Dragon-Elephant Imperial Lord had initially looked down on the Wu Ji Sect, viewing them as having gained their position on the Immortal Alliance Council solely by clinging to the Supreme Truth Sovereign's coattails. However, the Heavenly Palace's recent catastrophic losses of Dharma Manifestations had shaken his confidence. He now doubted whether his faction could capture Li Chunjun on their own.
Seeing Yuan Taiji abruptly rise from his seat, the Imperial Lord couldn't help but ask, "Sect Master Yuan, what's happened?"
Having his trump card eliminated, Yuan Taiji naturally couldn't reveal the truth. He simply explained, "Nothing, just an old friend I haven't heard from in years suddenly contacted me. I was merely pleased."
"Pleased?"
The Dragon-Elephant Imperial Lord, sensing Yuan Taiji was still holding back, snorted in displeasure. "Sect Master Yuan, you looked anything but pleased just now. More like you were terrified."
He added pointedly, "Could it be your forces have suffered catastrophic losses? Perhaps even been completely annihilated?"
Yuan Taiji frowned.
Considering the increasingly negative rumors surrounding the Imperial Lord in recent years, and the often erratic behavior of those nearing the end of their lifespans, he saw little point in continuing the conversation.
"If the Imperial Lord says so, then so it is," he replied coolly.
This response only deepened the Dragon-Elephant Imperial Lord's displeasure.
However, mindful of his own faction's heavy losses and the risk of a humiliating defeat, he forced himself to moderate his tone. "Sect Master Yuan, regardless of other matters, we stand united against Li Chunjun! I can tell you, our losses have been staggering. That Li Chunjun... he's truly treacherous."
Yuan Taiji glanced at the Dragon-Elephant Imperial Lord, his own confidence wavering slightly.
After a long pause, he asked, "Have you received any news from within the dark horned prison?"
"When Li Chunjun chose the battlefield, he undoubtedly considered the possibility of external interference. Once sealed, the dark horned prison becomes like a super black hole, preventing any information from escaping. We have no reliable means of obtaining intelligence from within," the Dragon-Elephant Imperial Lord replied.
If even the Heavenly Palace, a Council-level Power with vast resources, was powerless, the Wu Ji Sect naturally had no chance either. Thus, the Dragon-Elephant Imperial Lord hadn't bothered asking Yuan Taiji about it.
After further hesitation, Yuan Taiji finally said, "While Li Chunjun's strength far exceeds our expectations, I still believe that even at his peak, he couldn't possibly withstand two hundred Dharma Manifestations alone. Especially since nearly all of those Dharma Manifestations are seasoned veterans with profound Qi cultivation!"
Seeing Yuan Taiji stubbornly avoid mentioning the cause of his earlier outburst and instead evade the topic, the Dragon-Elephant Imperial Lord grew increasingly impatient.
He scoffed. "Of course. With over two hundred veteran Dharma Manifestations attacking together, even you and I would face certain death. No matter how strong Li Chunjun is, he can't possibly surpass us top-tier supreme sages, can he?"
Top-tier supreme sages?
Yuan Taiji glanced at Dragon-Elephant Imperial Lord, his heart filled with cold disdain.
You dare claim such a title?
If not for the sake of his disciple, the Demon-Quelling Great Emperor, would any top-tier supreme sage even bother to acknowledge him as an equal?
Giving him too much respect has made him think he's actually one of us.
Yet Yuan Taiji saw no need to disabuse him of this notion.
Playing the elder will only lead to someone eventually teaching him the true meaning of hierarchy and power.
Just then, the Vice Sect Master beside him trembled slightly, as if receiving urgent news.
Yuan Taiji turned sharply. "What is it?!"
"Annihilated! Annihilated!" The Vice Sect Master's Divine Sense trembled. "News from the Eternal Flame Hall—over twenty soul lamps have extinguished in rapid succession..."
A flicker of fear crossed his eyes. "The battle formation led by Shaoyang has been broken!"
"The formation is broken?!" Yuan Taiji felt a chill run down his spine.
Over twenty soul lamps extinguished?!
The battle...
Had the battle truly escalated to such a point?!
"What about Shaoyang? How is Shaoyang?!" Yuan Taiji demanded urgently.
Yuan Shaoyang was a pillar of the Yuan Clan. Though he had yet to attain the Supreme Sage realm, no one in the Wu Ji Sect doubted his future transformation into a Law-Manifesting Lifeform.
He, Yuan Guiyi, and Yuan Shaoyang had once been hailed as the "three heroes of the Yuan Clan" within the Profound Yellow Great World.
Had the siege of Li Chunjun not been of such critical importance, Yuan Taiji would never have risked Shaoyang's life.
"Shaoyang... he's unharmed, but..." The Vice Sect Master's face twisted with grief. "Our Array Formation has been shattered... We... we've been defeated..."
"Defeated..."
The weight of those two words crushed Yuan Taiji's heart.
Simultaneously, a commotion erupted among Dragon-Elephant Imperial Lord's forces.
Yuan Taiji glanced over and quickly deduced from their reactions that the Heavenly Palace faction had also suffered heavy losses.
This scene...
Left the entire Heavenly Palace in mourning.
Li Chunjun had annihilated their Supreme Dharma Aspect, which they had hired at great expense, and shattered the Wu Ji Sect's meticulously trained Battle Formation. Now, he would inevitably turn his attention to the Heavenly Palace forces.
In stark contrast to the solemn faces of the Heavenly Palace and Wu Ji Sect members, the Profound Yellow Sect and the Three Sages of Heaven, Earth, and Humanity wore relaxed smiles.
Truly worthy of being a legendary figure destined for dao unification!
Li Chunjun...
He had not disappointed them.
"How dare he?! How dare he?! Li Chunjun, how dare he treat the Heavenly Palace's people this way?!"
The Dragon-Elephant Imperial Lord's rage burned uncontrollably.
With Liu Yu present, he dared not lash out.
Yet his mind raced with countless thoughts.
Especially...
Both he and Yuan Taiji, upon learning that Li Chunjun had achieved such a feat while facing over two hundred Dharma Manifestations simultaneously, found their shared suspicion confirmed.
Yuan Taiji, in particular, was now almost certain!
Divine Sage!
Li Chunjun was undoubtedly an Innate Divine Being!
No human Dharma Manifestation could possibly become strong enough to defeat two hundred Dharma Manifestations working together within just one or two years of ascending to the Dharma Manifestation realm!
Even many top-tier Supreme Sages might lack such power!
Only those Innate Divine Beings born embodying the Dao could achieve such a feat!
Each Innate Divine Being could be considered a future Dao Unifier, possessing innate Dao-Unifying divine abilities. Thus, even before achieving Dao Unification, their capabilities far surpassed the imagination of Void Refining, Dharma Manifestation, and Supreme Sage-level beings!
Li Chunjun must have relied on these divine abilities to dominate the dark horned prison, accomplishing the extraordinary feat of defeating over two hundred Dharma Manifestations single-handedly!
After confirming his suspicions, Yuan Taiji found himself strangely calm, even though the Wu Ji Sect had suffered devastating losses. In fact, he felt a flicker of secret joy at the prospect of an earth-shattering opportunity.
He couldn't resist glancing in the direction of the Profound Yellow Great World.
The greatest obstacle to dealing with Li Chunjun was the profound yellow spirit.
However...
The profound yellow spirit's protection stemmed solely from Li Chunjun's status as the supreme sovereign's supreme disciple. It would only intervene in times of mortal danger, sending reinforcements rather than acting as a constant Dao Protector.
If someone could stall the spirit for even a short time, or disrupt Li Chunjun's attempts to seek aid from Liu Yu using the Profound Yellow Key, the threat posed by this quasi-tenth-tier entity would be easily neutralized.
And the Yuan Clan...
possessed methods to achieve just that.
"I must summon Guiyi back immediately," Yuan Taiji resolved inwardly.
As he pondered, he calmed his mind, no longer dwelling on the loss of the sect's Dharma Manifestations. Their deaths had confirmed Li Chunjun's status as an Innate Divine Being, making their sacrifices worthwhile.
This tranquility lasted only a moment before the Dragon-Elephant Imperial Lord suddenly activated his Divine Sense, leaning in to ask, "Sect Master Yuan, have any more Dharma Manifestations of the Wu Ji Sect fallen?"
"Hmm?"
Yuan Taiji paused, startled by the Imperial Lord's question. He immediately turned to the Vice Sect Master for confirmation.
The Vice Sect Master quickly responded, "No! The remaining soul lamps in the Eternal Flame Hall haven't extinguished for dozens of breaths now."
Yuan Taiji was startled.
He immediately turned to the Dragon-Elephant Imperial Lord. "You too..."
Hearing Yuan Taiji's words, the Dragon-Elephant Imperial Lord smiled.
However, given the short time that had passed, neither dared to be certain. They suppressed their agitation and continued to wait.
Each passing moment felt like an eternity.
Half an hour, an hour, three hours, ten hours, a day...
Soon, three days had passed!
And throughout those three days...
Whether it was the Wu Ji Sect or the Heavenly Palace, not a single soul lamp had extinguished.
This situation undoubtedly confirmed a certain conclusion.
"Li Chunjun has either been captured or killed."
Yuan Taiji and the Dragon-Elephant Imperial Lord understood this clearly.
They glanced at the Profound Yellow Sect.
The Profound Yellow Sect showed no signs of panic, maintaining their composure.
Did this mean Li Chunjun's soul lamp hadn't extinguished?
Therefore...
Had the best possible outcome occurred?
Li Chunjun had been captured alive by their combined forces?!
This kind of reversal...
Was far too drastic!
"Hahahaha! This must be the triumph of my Array Formation!"
The Dragon-Elephant Imperial Lord of the Heavenly Palace was overjoyed upon confirming the news. "Bring forth my White Cloud Brew! And summon the Heavenly Demon Dance Troupe to perform for me! Today, this Imperial Lord shall celebrate in grand style!"
Yuan Taiji, however, saw things differently, his eyes flickering with calculation. "Our Wu Ji Sect's trump card, Long Xingyu, has been defeated... They must have followed my orders, using overwhelming force to clash with Li Chunjun, resulting in mutual exhaustion. This allowed the Heavenly Palace, who also possessed a trump card, to seize the opportunity..."
For a moment, he pondered how to reclaim Li Chunjun from the Dragon-Elephant Imperial Lord's grasp, while also feeling a pang of disappointment.
"Li Chunjun, oh Li Chunjun! You're an Innate Divine Being, yet you've proven so utterly useless? At least stand your ground and destroy the Heavenly Palace Dharma Manifestation! It wouldn't have been too late to be captured alive after exhausting both sides."
He glanced at the dark horned prison, even finding himself hoping for the bizarre Li Chunjun to stage another desperate resistance.
(End of the Chapter)
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