C868 Enough!
Within the Rainier Empire's domain, amidst verdant forests, a variety of bamboo houses, stone palaces, and pagodas were sparsely dotted across the landscape. This was the home of the Seven Divine Sect.
Ostensibly a sect under the auspices of the Rainier Empire, the Seven Divine Sect lacked both deep roots and a storied history. It was essentially a loose coalition of mountain hermits and solitary practitioners. Consequently, the architecture in this region reflected the eclectic tastes of its inhabitants, with no adherence to a particular style or structure.
Take, for example, Yang Chuhe, the current Sect Master of the Seven Divine Sect, who had a fondness for bamboo. He constructed several bamboo towers using materials from the southern reaches of the Luan Bird Empire. Qiao Yunyu, another member of the sect, preferred stone and thus erected a palace from granite. Huang Ming had an affinity for wooden pagodas, shaping his cultivation retreat into the form of a precious tower.
The Seven Divine Sect, operating independently from the Rainier Empire's noble families, consistently welcomed unaffiliated cultivators into its fold. Regardless of their past reputations, those with sufficient strength and willingness to heed the Empire's commands were eligible for membership. Yet, all members were expected to adhere strictly to the edicts of the Rainier Empire's royal family.
"Qin Yun has managed to slip into the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area," Qiao Yunyu remarked, idly toying with a strand of white jade beads while casting a somber glance at the brooding Crown Prince, Liu Xu. "Your Highness, with the area teeming with malevolent demons, Qin Yun's chances of survival are uncertain."
All seven deities of the Seven Divine Sect were assembled in the granite palace, under the watchful eye of Liu Xu. Thanks to Yang Chuhe's influence, the entire sect had sworn loyalty to him.
In recent years, the Scorching Sun Emperor, Zhou Cangmin, had returned to the Red Devil Sect as a Demonic Seed. Whether he was disheartened or deeply engrossed in his cultivation was unclear, as he spent most of his time in seclusion. As a result, the reins of power within the Rainier Empire had shifted to the First Prince, Liu Xu.
Liu Xu himself was not particularly gifted in the arts of cultivation and had failed to garner the attention of the Primordial Yang Sect or any of the seven lower sects. His mentor in the ways of cultivation was none other than Yang Chuhe, the man who had replaced Qin Yun as the current head of the Seven Divine Sect.
It was with Liu Xu's backing that a substantial share of the empire's spiritual materials was funneled to Yang Chuhe, enabling his ascent from the late Yin God Stage to the mid Soul Wandering Stage.
As an independent cultivator, Yang Chuhe had been relentlessly oppressed by Qin Yun. During Zhou Cangmin's reign, the Scorching Sun Emperor lavished the empire's rarest spiritual materials on Cangmin's advancement.
The Seven Divine Sect received only a small portion, most of which Qin Yun used to craft the Azure Yang Arrow.
Only after Qin Yun was ousted and Zhou Cangmin returned to the Red Devil Sect, with the Scorching Sun Emperor in seclusion and First Prince Liu Xu at the helm, did Yang Chuhe's fortunes change.
In a remarkably short time, leveraging the empire's precious spiritual materials, Yang Chuhe progressed to the mid Soul Wandering Stage. He realized that his previous suppression by Zhou Cangmin and Qin Yun wasn't due to a lack of talent but a lack of access to the necessary resources.
This realization sparked a deep resentment towards both Zhou Cangmin and Qin Yun.
Zhou Cangmin, the Demonic Seed of the Red Devil Sect, was a towering figure across the Quietus Continent. Despite Yang Chuhe's grievances, he dared not act against him.
Qin Yun, on the other hand, had defected from the Seven Divine Sect years ago, seeking refuge with the Yu family in Darkmoon City—an act the sect deemed treasonous.
Qin Yun's activities were mostly confined to Darkmoon City and the Absence Relic, beyond Yang Chuhe's reach.
When word reached him that Qin Yun had been spotted in the Jade Peak Mountain Range on the border, Yang Chuhe rallied the Seven Divine Sect's forces for a manhunt.
Yet Qin Yun managed to slip away to the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area.
"Qin Yun has also reached the Soul Wandering Stage. He still wields the Azure Yang Arrow he refined, and he's acquired some rather extraordinary items from the Babel Chamber of Commerce in Spider City," said Huang Ming, a fellow rogue cultivator, his brow furrowed. "From what I've heard, the only person Qin Yun truly respects is Yu Yuan of the Yu family."
"Yu Yuan?"
"That youngster from Darkmoon City, the one who turned his back on Hao Ran within the Luan Bird Empire?"
"Isn't Qin Yun's defection from the Rainier Empire to join forces with Yu Yuan and the otherworldly Cosmic Evil Demon essentially the same?"
"I've heard Yu Yuan is quite the formidable character."
The experts of the Seven Divine Sect began to buzz with conversation.
In that moment, the towering Liu Xu rose to his feet, clutching a scarlet badge featuring a Three-legged Golden Crow perched atop a sun. "This was bestowed upon me by Tang Zheng of the Primordial Yang Sect! A Heaven Level First Grade artifact!"
Whoosh!
The badge erupted, unleashing scarlet flames as the Three-legged Golden Crow, stepping on three "glorious suns," sprang to life and soared out.
The hall's temperature skyrocketed in an instant.
"The Primordial Yang Sect presenting me with this item speaks volumes," Liu Xu declared, enveloped in divine light and fire, exuding a regal and commanding presence. "What can a mere minor family from Darkmoon City, a traitor to this realm, offer in defense of Qin Yun?"
"Your Highness is invincible!"
The members of the Seven Divine Sect, reassured by the sight of the badge and Liu Xu's proclamation, let go of their concerns.
Yang Chuhe, merely a practitioner at the Soul Wandering Stage and lacking a Yang God, was not privy to the intricate dynamics of the Central World discussed by the realm's mighty.
Nor was he aware of the dramatic upheaval the return of the Divine Soul Sect had caused in this world.
...
"My lord, my injuries are not severe. There's no need for you to make a trip to the Seven Divine Sect over such a trivial issue."
Qin Yun, perched upon the Evil Cauldron, presented himself in the guise of a scholarly young man. His eyes were clear, his demeanor tranquil, and his manner gentle, like a humble scholar in pursuit of knowledge. "Moreover, the Seven Divine Sect has grown significantly stronger since my tenure."
He cautiously informed them that the current Seven Divine Sect boasted three cultivators at the Soul Wandering Stage.
On the Profound Sky Continent, those at the Yin God Stage could serve as family elders, revered guest ministers, and mainstays of the great empires.
Those at the Soul Wandering Stage represented the pinnacle of combat prowess.
Back in the day, the Silvermoon Queen, the Imperial Advisor Zhou Cangmin, and the now-renowned Yan Gui were all mighty Soul Wandering Stage cultivators, steering the helm of an empire as its key decision-makers.
Currently, the Seven Divine Sect boasts the presence of three Soul Wandering Stage powerhouses: Yang Chuhe, Qiao Yunyu, and Huang Ming, along with four Yin Gods. They are bolstered by numerous Penetrating Stage and Profound Break Stage practitioners, all united under the Seven Divine Sect banner, forming a formidable force in service to First Prince Liu Xu.
"Are you concerned for my safety?" Yu Yuan asked with a soft chuckle, his gaze resting on the old servant before him, unchanged since their first encounter.
Qin Yun wore an awkward expression, not bothering to conceal his feelings, "Yes, I'm somewhat worried. And frankly, I see no need for this."
"It is necessary," Yu Yuan simply stated, without delving into details. "The Seven Divine Sect has a narrow view of the world, oblivious to the astonishing changes beyond their borders. No matter, if they're unaware, it's time they were enlightened."
As they conversed, the Evil Cauldron silently traversed the Jade Peak mountain range, making its way into the vast wilderness.
"No matter how well I mask our trail, those from the Seven Divine Sect will recognize me instantly," Qin Yun said with a wry smile, "It's all too familiar. Steering the Evil Cauldron into Rainier Empire territory will make us easy targets for detection and confrontation."
He had thought that if Yu Yuan chose to confront the Seven Divine Sect, they could leverage the strength of Yan Qiling. With Yan Qiling's intervention, they could carve a path straight to the Fallen Moon Forbidden Area, unleashing Heavenly Devils and utilizing Yan Qiling's formidable combat prowess to deliver a harsh lesson to the Seven Divine Sect.
Yet, Yu Yuan had opted against this approach.
"Visitors from other realms must abide by the agreement not to wage war on the mortal empires," Yu Yuan mused. "For eons, the mighty sects of both the Heavenly Source Continent and the Quietus Continent have refrained from overstepping into imperial territories. This ancient rule has stood unbroken for countless millennia."
"Sects are sects, families are families, empires are empires," Yu Yuan reflected. Having engaged in numerous discussions with Yan Qiling, Zu Ann, and Xie Binn from the Clouds Sect, his experiences over the years had helped him to clarify his perspective.
Although Qin Yun once led the Seven Divine Sect and has since ascended to a higher realm, his understanding of the continent's dynamics pales in comparison to Zu Ann and his peers.
His insights and grasp of the continental situation couldn't match Zu Ann's expertise.
"The Seven Divine Sect is merely a collective of wilderness cultivators, not a true sect in the strictest sense," Yu Yuan said with a beaming smile. "As it happens, I'm a wilderness cultivator myself now. Let's boldly use that as our guise and pay the Seven Divine Sect a visit, just the two of us."
He cast a glance at the sky and continued, "Should any sect from the Heavenly Source Continent or the Quietus Continent dare to meddle, they'll be the ones flouting the rules. By then, Mr. Yan and his backers will have all the justification they need."
Having explained at length, Qin Yun was beginning to catch on, yet his concerns lingered. "But is it really enough, just the two of us?"
"It's plenty," Yu Yuan declared with unwavering confidence.
In the lowest tier of the miniature world within the cauldron, nearly a thousand evil spirits were in the midst of being refined.
Above that layer, close to five thousand evil demons were arrayed, with the Ice Concubine leading the pack, unrivaled and positioned at the ninth step.
