Chapter 316
Chapter 316
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ace
Chapter: [Undisclosed]
Chapter Title: Xuanling Realm's Harsh Immortal Laws
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Ordinary people, upon hearing Yu Shao's previous words, would focus on "fleeing from disaster."
However, Lu Yang was different.
Other truly quick-witted individuals would similarly only pay attention to Yu Shao's remark: "Fellow Daoist Ye possesses the cultivation of a Heavenly Immortal, even by the standards of the Xuanling Realm."
Cloud Family Ancestor had already briefed Lu Yang on the intelligence concerning the [Xuanling Realm]. Those who perform meritorious deeds on the path and carry out affairs on earth, receiving the Heavenly Book to enter the Heavenly Court, governing the world and managing the heavens—they are called [Heavenly Immortals]. Above Heavenly Immortals, True Lords were highly likely! If that was the case, what cultivation level did a Heavenly Immortal represent?
'Foundation Establishment perfection!'
This was the truly valuable intelligence. The Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion's Perfected Being Demon-Quelling had broken through to late stage unnoticed and quietly achieved Foundation Establishment perfection!
'Selling this to Senior Uncle Chongguang will definitely earn another fortune!'
At the same time, the atmosphere within the grand hall grew somewhat hushed. Lu Yang was not the only clever one; others had also noticed the crucial point.
Yet no one dared voice it aloud.
After all, a great Perfected Being at Foundation Establishment perfection who refrained from actively releasing his aura clearly had no intention of exposing it. Who would be so bold as to mention it?
Better to feign ignorance.
The next moment, someone took the initiative to change the subject.
"I wonder, Fellow Daoist, why have you fled here? And how did you cross the boundary void to escape?"
Yu Shao realized he might have misspoke. He subconsciously glanced at Perfected Being Demon-Quelling and, seeing his unchanged expression, breathed a sigh of relief before hurriedly replying.
"Our Xuanling Realm governs over a hundred mortal realms. With proficiency in crossing techniques and descending mortal realms as anchors, traversal is no great difficulty."
"As for the reason for fleeing..."
Here, Yu Shao let out an involuntary sigh.
"Ever since the new Supreme ascended to power, grasping Qiankun in hand, the immortal laws have grown intolerably harsh. There truly was no other choice."
His words fell, and the hall went utterly silent.
No one present was a fool. Though Yu Shao offered no further explanation, they all understood: the so-called Supreme was undoubtedly the Xuanling Realm's Golden Core True Lord.
As Yu Shao continued, the full picture of the Xuanling Realm emerged.
The Xuanling Realm revered the Heavenly Court above all, divided into five ranks of immortals—ghost, god, human, earth, and heaven—each with their duties. Only the strongest could ascend and claim the Supreme Dao Fruit.
Over a thousand years had passed since the previous old Supreme's demise.
For a millennium, Heavenly Immortals warred ceaselessly until, over a decade ago, one triumphed over the rest and claimed the Supreme throne.
At this point, hatred surfaced on Yu Shao's face.
"That man is named [Huan Shi]. He believes the Xuanling Realm's endless strife stems from the lack of laws, so he promulgated immortal edicts to bind the immortals, commanding our obedience and submission. Freedom is a thing of the past."
"Such harshness—how could it be borne?"
Yu Shao heaved a long sigh.
"I govern the Baichang Kingdom. Under the immortal laws, I cannot harm mortals. Even duels must occur in remote wilderness."
"Much less that all matters of weather and harvest in Baichang fall to me."
"From minor human calamities to grand heavenly disasters."
"Even daily rainfall is tallied drop by drop. Exceed the mandated quota, and immediate capture and execution follow—no mercy whatsoever."
Yu Shao meticulously described the Xuanling Realm's severity, then turned to the crowd, expecting shared outrage from these outside cultivators.
What he saw instead were faces of utter nonchalance.
"I thought it was something truly severe—just this?"
"Never mind the Jiangbei Demon Sects; even the Dao Court is harsher. At least these outworld cultivators can flee. The Dao Court offers no such escape."
"And these immortal laws actually protect mortals?"
"By that logic, the Xuanling Realm sounds rather orthodox."
Yu Shao: "???"
Question marks filled his mind. Assuming his explanation fell short, he hurriedly clarified.
"Fellow Daoists, you misunderstand. That Supreme once declared publicly..."
He emphasized his tone, speaking solemnly.
"He said we cultivators devour heaven and earth's spirit qi, cultivating ourselves without nurturing the world—a swarm of heaven-devouring locusts. Such outrageous words—how could that be orthodox? We immortal cultivators stand transcendent above the world; how can we be lumped with ants and insects?"
Silence followed as the crowd exchanged glances.
Then Yu Shao heard several Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion Perfected Beings voice their confusion.
"What's wrong with that? The Xuanling Realm has a very clear self-understanding."
Cultivators as locusts—this was long-accepted common knowledge.
But what of it?
The Primal Saint Sect paid it no mind. The Pure Land cared even less. The Dao Court had its own domain. As for the Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion, they saw locusts as divided into pests and beneficial ones.
And they were undoubtedly the latter.
They devoured heaven and earth solely to aid it in eradicating pests like the Jiangbei Demon Sects. By true reckoning, heaven and earth owed them karmic debt!
"..."
Yu Shao was utterly speechless, sensing something amiss yet unable to pinpoint it. He could only sigh.
"In any case, the Xuanling Realm is poised to invade the Jiangnan lands soon."
These words sent ripples through the hall like a stone in water.
"What!?"
"How dare these fiends!"
"Another Jiangbei Demon Sect, defying the orthodox path—fit only for extermination! Reincarnate after death to serve as odd-job disciples in our Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion and repay your evil karma!"
Faces shifted in an instant.
Yu Shao's eye twitched at the sight. He couldn't help glancing at Perfected Being Demon-Quelling and secretly transmitted sound.
'Senior... surely this isn't a Demon Sect?'
"Of course not."
Perfected Being Demon-Quelling sighed in response via transmission.
'You should count yourself fortunate to have met me. You haven't seen the real Demon Sects yet.'
There were even greater experts?
A chill truly settled in Yu Shao's heart. Having arrived recently, he now abruptly realized: was something off about this realm?
Meanwhile, Perfected Being Demon-Quelling finally spoke, quelling the clamor with a resolute tone.
"Regardless, per Fellow Daoist Yu's account, the Xuanling Realm will soon use the Ten Thousand Men Pit as a springboard to ravage our Jiangnan. To spare the Jiangnan populace from slaughter, I intend to head to the Ten Thousand Men Pit and sever its connection to the Xuanling Realm."
"However, Jiangbei must remain ignorant of this."
Perfected Being Demon-Quelling's expression grew grave. Demon Sects cared nothing for invasions; with the Xuanling Realm entering via the Ten Thousand Men Pit, it would breach Jiangnan alone.
Should the Demon Sects learn of it, they would rejoice.
They might even lend aid.
Such incidents had precedents. One of Jiangbei's current Golden Core sects stemmed from a great realm that once intruded.
"Thus, before we act, no one leaves without permission."
Perfected Being Demon-Quelling eyed the assembly. He had long planned to move, but the Demon Sects somehow learned ahead, forcing him to await his breakthrough to Foundation Establishment perfection.
The leak occurred outside the Sword Pavilion and True Lord oversight—only these hall Perfected Beings remained.
In other words—
'There's likely a Demon Sect spy among them!'
Subduing the Ten Thousand Men Pit required only him. Inviting these Perfected Beings served chiefly to expose the hidden mole.
For that, he needed an informant concealed among them to probe the suspects.
This informant had to be loyal, reliable, and utterly straightforward.
With that in mind, Perfected Being Demon-Quelling surveyed the crowd and swiftly decided.
"Fellow Daoist Yun, I have a task to entrust you with."
The Cloud Family—an old Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion lineage, once producing True Lords, purely orthodox though now declined—undeniably trustworthy.
……………
"Hey, hey, hey?"
In Jiangbei, Lu Yang activated his clone once more and retrieved the flying messenger spirit book for contacting Chongguang.