Chapter 4916: Tianhe Sword Sovereign

At Green Lotus Island, in the deliberation hall, Wang Moshan and over a hundred clan elders were discussing countermeasures, their expressions grim.

Zhao Yunxiao had sent a message, offering them several slots to enter the Mystic Spirit Cave, but the Wang family would need to provide the keys, as Zhenhai Palace could only grant access, not the keys themselves.

Wang Moshan had dispatched people to collect keys, even offering high rewards. However, at the same time, other factions were also offering substantial bounties for keys.

Aside from the three keys acquired by Wang Chuanming and others, the Wang family had not obtained a fourth key.

“Send out more people and issue a bounty,” Wang Moshan instructed. “Spiritual elixirs, treasures, and even formations can be exchanged for them.” He added that the Mystic Spirit Cave would open in a few decades, and he hoped to collect several more keys during that time.

“Yes, Patriarch,” the many clan elders said in unison, rising and leaving the hall.

At the Sky Lizard Mountain Range, the stronghold of the Lizard Clan, in the Sky Lizard Hall, Yi Feng and over a hundred Lizard clan elders were discussing countermeasures, their expressions troubled.

Over a dozen smaller clans were attacking the Lizard Clan’s affiliated species. Lizard clan elders had led teams to the front lines to direct the defense, but their efforts were largely ineffective. The smaller clans had already captured considerable territory and were steadily advancing toward the Lizard Clan.

If the attacks had been orchestrated by merely the Human Race or the Essence Fire Race, it would have been manageable. However, they were directed by a coalition of the Human Race, Essence Fire Race, and Yaksha Race. The Lizard Clan faced immense pressure from this three-way alliance and was completely overwhelmed. The territories of several Lizard clan affiliated species had already been occupied, forcing them into continuous retreat.

The Lizard Clan now had no retreat. Any concession would only encourage further aggression; the Human Race, Yaksha Race, and Essence Fire Race would become even more demanding. As the saying goes, "a kind person is easily bullied, and a gentle horse is easily ridden."

Fortunately, the Human Race, Essence Fire Race, and Yaksha Race were not truly united, fighting independently. After seizing some territory, the smaller clans began to falter and slow down, which provided the Lizard Clan with an opportunity.

“We must reallocate our forces and repel their offensive,” Yi Feng stated with a stern and decisive tone. “The territories lost to these smaller clans must be reclaimed.”

“Yes, Clan Leader,” the Lizard clan elders responded in unison, rising and departing.

At the Mystic Azure Sect, within a vast estate, Xuanqingzi and a burly elder in blue robes sat in a hexagonal azure stone pavilion, playing a game of chess.

The blue-robed elder had a square face, no discernable spiritual energy fluctuations, and a fair complexion. Amidst a crowd, he would be completely unremarkable.

This was Heavenly River Sword Venerable, a mid-stage Mahayana cultivator.

“I didn’t expect that after all these years, Fellow Daoist Lin has advanced to the mid-stage. Congratulations!” Xuanqingzi’s face showed an envious expression as he congratulated him.

Heavenly River Sword Venerable was a rogue cultivator. He had entered the Mahayana stage later than Xuanqingzi, yet while Xuanqingzi remained in the early Mahayana stage, Heavenly River Sword Venerable had already reached the mid-stage, clearly indicating a significant fortuitous encounter.

The higher one’s cultivation, the more difficult advancement becomes. Xuanqingzi had entered the Mahayana stage earlier, but he was still stagnant in the early Mahayana stage, whereas Heavenly River Sword Venerable, a latecomer, had surpassed him.

“Haha, Fellow Daoist Lin, you flatter me,” Heavenly River Sword Venerable said humbly, a smile playing on his lips. “I took a trip to the Vast Cloud Realm and traveled around. Coincidentally, I stumbled upon Heavenly Sound Divine Lord’s awakened training ground, went inside to seek treasures, and gained some modest rewards.”

The Vast Cloud Realm is a parallel plane to the Mystic Sun Realm; one can travel between realms with treasures like the Realm-Breaker Disk.

“Heavenly Sound Divine Lord? That person is said to be the most legendary cultivator in the Vast Cloud Realm over the past hundred thousand years. Is it true he ascended to the Immortal Realm?” Xuanqingzi’s face showed curiosity.

Heavenly Sound Divine Lord was a Mahayana sound cultivator, a truly legendary figure comparable to Mystic Spirit Heavenly Venerable.

“I don’t know,” Heavenly River Sword Venerable replied. “I wasn’t able to obtain his legacy; I only found a few Jade Sandalwood Immortal Fruits.” As he spoke, Heavenly River Sword Venerable took out an exquisite golden jade box.

“What? Jade Sandalwood Immortal Fruit?” Xuanqingzi’s voice trembled. The Jade Sandalwood Immortal Fruit was an extraordinary fruit rumored to originate from the Immortal Realm. It blossomed every thirty thousand years, bore fruit after another thirty thousand years, and matured after yet another thirty thousand years. For Mahayana cultivators, it could significantly enhance their spiritual power.

Because this fruit came from the Immortal Realm, it was named Jade Sandalwood Immortal Fruit.

Xuanqingzi opened the lid of the box, revealing a fruit pulsating with golden light. An enticing aroma wafted forth, and the fruit’s surface bore natural, intricate patterns.

“I heard you used your spiritual domain to injure Yan Zheng of the Essence Fire Race,” Heavenly River Sword Venerable said sincerely. “I’d like to trade you one Jade Sandalwood Immortal Fruit for the cultivation method of your spiritual domain.” He explained that while a Mahayana cultivator could significantly boost their spiritual power and save thousands of years of arduous cultivation by consuming a Jade Sandalwood 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 Sandalwood Immortal Fruit, and even if he used another to refine elixirs, the effect would be greatly diminished. Otherwise, he would not have been willing to part with it for exchange.

Without hesitation, Xuanqingzi took out an azure jade slip, tossed it to Heavenly River Sword Venerable, and put away the Jade Sandalwood Immortal Fruit.

Heavenly River Sword Venerable swept his divine sense over the slip and nodded with satisfaction.

“You haven’t perhaps acquired a rare treasure like an Enlightenment Orb, have you? To think you’ve comprehended a spiritual domain.” Heavenly River Sword Venerable asked with a chuckle.

“If I had an Enlightenment Orb, do you think Yan Zheng would have escaped?” Xuanqingzi explained, a proud expression on his face. “I merely utilized a treasure to exert a rudimentary spiritual domain. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have gotten away.” Although he achieved it by relying on a treasure and it was only a basic application, it was sufficient to deal with ordinary Mahayana cultivators. If he had been a mid-stage Mahayana cultivator himself, Yan Zheng would not have escaped at all.

Heavenly River Sword Venerable’s face showed dawning realization. He nodded, acknowledging the point.

“By the way, the Lizard Clan’s Mahayana cultivator hasn’t appeared for many years; they might have already passed away,” Xuanqingzi said, shifting to serious matters. “I plan to target the Lizard Clan. Their several clan-guarding treasures are quite good, especially the Qianyang Shield. It would certainly be very effective for resisting grand heavenly tribulations.”

“If you don’t have conclusive evidence, don’t act rashly,” Heavenly River Sword Venerable warned. “When I was traveling in the Vast Cloud Realm, the patriarch of the True Spirit Family, the Shangguan family, also hadn’t appeared for many years. Two major clans joined forces to attack the Shangguan family, pushing all the way to their stronghold. However, the Shangguan patriarch suddenly appeared, unleashed immense power, and severely wounded a Mahayana cultivator from another race.”

“Don’t worry, I know my limits. Since you’ve advanced to the mid-stage Mahayana, even if we can’t annihilate the Lizard Clan, we should still make them bleed. That would be good for the Human Race.” Xuanqingzi spoke with an air of righteousness.

“You make the decisions then! I’m going to meditate on the spiritual domain now, hoping to comprehend something.” After saying this, Heavenly River Sword Venerable’s figure blurred and disappeared.

Xuanqingzi took out an azure communication disk, imbued it with a spell, and instructed, “Nephew Qin, send word for the Azure Ape Clan and their allies to intensify their attacks. If the Lizard Clan’s Mahayana cultivator doesn’t show themselves, we will fight this battle to the end.”

He intended to force the Lizard Clan’s Mahayana cultivator to appear; if they didn’t, he would bleed the Lizard Clan dry.

With Heavenly River Sword Venerable’s return and advancement to the mid-stage Mahayana, Xuanqingzi felt even more confident.

“Yes, Senior Martial Uncle Lin,” a respectful female voice replied from the communication disk.