Immortal Road.

Outside the cave on the back of Tianfu Mountain, the high-ranking members of the Seeking Antiquity Sect were allowed to witness a historic moment: two powerful beings from ten thousand years ago reconciled under the matchmaking of their sect leader.

Three large hands clasped tightly together, facing the Water Mirror Technique and smiling at each other.

It shouldn't be long before this video material is circulated and displayed in various immortal cities of the cultivation world across the continent. This is also a well-intentioned scheme orchestrated by Lin Shan.

Once the news gets out, his prestige in the eyes of the world will soar to new heights!

The cultivation world is not just about fighting and killing. Diplomatic skills such as forming alliances and counter-alliances are also very important. As the saying goes, those who follow the right path will find many helpers, while those who stray from it will find few. Didn't you see that even Pure Lotus Hermit and Azure Lotus Fairy need to form factions?

Being able to mediate a major battle proves one's popularity and strength!
The role of a "nice guy" isn't something just anyone can play. A kind and harmless appearance is only for outsiders.

A truly skilled and adept person must possess exceptional abilities! Otherwise, why would others seek your mediation?
Whether the two are outwardly friendly but inwardly at odds is actually not important. Lin Shan is too lazy to care about such things and just wants to fulfill the conditions he was promised.

The two wanted to create a legacy, especially one of great supernatural power, which would require a great deal of effort and time, so they were temporarily confined to the Xun Gu Sect.

Release will be considered only after all transactions have been completed.

The thrilling clashes on the Luxi side are merely a minor episode in the grand scheme of things. The real focus remains on the great battle between the Black Lotus faction and the Immortal Envoy faction in the Dian Kingdom in southwestern China.

Inside the Blackwater Cliff Cave.

Youmei is conducting pre-battle mobilization, and this time the strategic plan has been adjusted.

"The World Honored One and Layman Jinglian are still facing off in the heavens. The enemy army has already conquered the central part of the Dian Kingdom, losing half of its strategic depth. After discussing with several Dharma protectors and strategists within the sect, and reporting to the World Honored One remotely and receiving his approval, we have decided to launch the fifth battle."

The two camps have been fighting for two and a half months, and have already experienced four large-scale battles. Both sides have had their victories and defeats, and there is no absolute winner or loser.

The Immortal Envoy faction suffered even greater losses among its high-ranking members, while the Black Lotus faction lost vast tracts of land. This was essentially trading casualties for the opponent's strategic depth, and now the overall strength of the two factions is basically equal.

"Given that there are only three enemy forces left, we must rely on our last line of defense to achieve a great victory and pave the way for the final battle!"

Now, outside of Blackwater Cliff, there are only three natural barriers left on each of the three sides: Daliang Mountain, Red River Beach, and Yuxi Valley, which serve as the three holy sites' advance directions to the north, south, and east.

The terrain of the Daliang Mountains is treacherous, and the spiritual energy is scarce due to the high altitude; the Honghe Beach is a mountainous area with pits and hollows, filled with poisonous miasma and lurking strange insects; the Yuxi Valley is covered with a dense network of waterways, and numerous strange birds drive away outsiders.

These are all top-notch places for stealthy ambushes and strategic deployments!
Youmeiji divided the people present into three groups and sent them to different locations to guard. This time, the leaders of the three groups were the three Nascent Soul stage protectors of the Black Lotus Sect.

That precisely ruled out Chi Hong!
Previously, when there were four routes, Chi Hong was able to hold a leadership position, but since following Lin Shan, he has clearly been feared by You Mei Ji, and now she has taken the opportunity to reclaim his military power.

Chi Hong secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

He actually knows his own limitations and it's not convenient for him to lead the team in a high-profile manner all the time. Last time, he almost died at the hands of the Holy Lord Haoran because of his status as the team leader. This time, he also intends to keep a low profile.

You Meiji probably heard Qinglian Fairy's instructions and didn't deliberately do things too obviously or intentionally target anyone. Instead, she arranged for Lin Shan, Chi Hong, and the other three to go to Yuxi Valley together.

"Senior Brother Feng, you will be in full charge of Jade Creek Valley. Remember to follow the plan."

"Don't worry, junior sister, I understand."

The Black Lotus Sect protector, surnamed Feng, was an old man who had resurrected the Green Lotus Fairy and followed her ever since. He was steady and experienced in his actions and seemed very reliable.

You Meiji walked up to Lin Shan, bowed, and surprisingly apologized!

"Leader Lin, I was wrong before. I was blinded by hatred when facing a great enemy and made a lot of fools. From now on, let's work together to win this battle."

"Easy to say, easy to say."

Lin Shan gave a few perfunctory replies, but in reality, he didn't take it seriously.

Knowing that this must have been at the behest of Fairy Qinglian, this woman was merely following the script and was forced to go through the motions. She was definitely still planning to trick people, but she just didn't express it.

This assignment did not involve any specific tasks, or rather, it only specifically instructed the leader; the rest of the people simply needed to follow instructions.

Lin Shan saw that several Nascent Soul stage cultivators had already lost one of their avatars in battle, but they quickly sent new Nascent Soul avatars!

It was all because of the allure of the Azure Lotus Fairy's ascension.

"Alas, we still don't know if there's any certainty about ascension. Half a lifetime of hard work has been poured into this great war, and all that effort has been wasted, working for others' benefit."

The four-person group secretly communicated and exchanged messages. Venerable Hanhai expressed his feelings, and Divine Lord Yuming also deeply agreed.

"But if it were me, I would definitely continue to come. After all, we have already suffered huge losses. Wouldn't it be a waste of time to give up halfway?"

Chi Hong could only manage a bitter smile.

“Yes, the sunk cost is too high. Who can easily extricate themselves? Unlike you two fellow Daoists who are veteran primordial spirits, I only have this one avatar. Once I perish, there will be no one left to send me.”

The three of them sighed repeatedly, which was a true reflection of everyone's feelings. After all, they were all employees, and who would be willing to truly risk their lives for Fairy Qinglian?

But if they don't risk their lives, there will always be someone on the other side who will!
Especially since Pure Lotus Hermit's side offers rewards for killing people and distributes Earth Spirit Pills like candy, the cultivators here are all in danger and have no choice but to fight to the death.

"We'll have to rely on Leader Lin then. The three of us will follow your lead without question!"

"Easy to say, easy to say."

Lin Shan took in three followers, who became the leaders of their small group. He felt a little more at ease. If something really happened, he wouldn't need their help, but at least he wouldn't have to fight alone.

After the distribution was completed, everyone dispersed.

Before leaving, You Meiji glanced in this direction and her gaze met Lin Shan's from afar. She smiled mysteriously.

"Playing tricks and deception"

Lin Shan snorted inwardly, but he was not careless. This woman represented the Azure Lotus Fairy and held great power within the camp. He had to be wary of her using underhanded tricks.

Protector Feng, one of the four protectors of the Black Lotus Sect, came over, gathered his men together, and then mustered his troops to head to the designated location. Along the way, they became acquainted with each other, and those who didn't know him well gradually noticed that this old protector was always smiling, spoke slowly, and seemed like a kind old man.

Especially when facing Lin Shan, she even went out of her way to mediate between him and You Meiji, hoping that the two could put aside their prejudices and focus on external matters. Her words showed that she relied heavily on Lin Shan and implied that she was pushing him into the limelight.

"Our team is of average strength. We don't have powerful figures like the Old Ghost of the Scattered Demon and the Water Demon of the Qinghe River in the late stage of the Nascent Soul realm. If we want to hold off the Supreme Elder of the Shangxiao Sword Sect, then only Sect Leader Lin can do it!"

"Oh no, you are the commander-in-chief. It is still up to you to fight against the Holy Lord."

Lin Shan wasn't buying it at all. He knew this guy was trying to use him as a scapegoat. Back in Blackwater Cliff, You Meiji wouldn't even speak to him to his face. He only realized he was trying to get close to her after they got out, but it was too late!

This time, their opponent was no longer the Haoran Holy Land. It is unknown whether Youmeiji realized that the Haoran Holy Lord could not do anything to Lin Shan and was preparing to give him an unfamiliar opponent, or whether it was for other strategic considerations.

But the Shangxiao Sword Sect is a renowned holy land for sword cultivators in this world!

Its Supreme Elder is recognized in this world as the master of sword cultivation, and his individual strength is comparable to that of the Holy Lord of Penglai, making him an even more terrifying opponent than the Holy Lord of Haoran.

In the past, almost all the Black Lotus faction cultivators who faced this road had no restraining effect, and they didn't even dare to linger in battle. They would flee in panic after just one encounter, allowing the enemy to advance unimpeded and even penetrate to the rear, forming a pincer attack!
Currently, the only natural barrier facing the enemy is Yuxi Valley!
Yuxi Valley belongs to the rear area of ​​the Black Lotus Sect, which is the territory of the former Yuxi Holy Land!

Yuxi Holy Land was strategically located, serving as the last line of defense for the Black Lotus Sect's headquarters and a crucial escape route in case of war. However, it was discovered by the Azure Lotus Fairy before the war that it had colluded with the enemy, leading to its complete uprooting and annihilation.

The group arrived here in a grand procession. The valley was crisscrossed by a dense network of waterways, making it an ideal place for hiding and ambushes.

"Let's start setting up the formation. If I'm not mistaken, the enemy will probably pass through the Jade Creek Holy Land. The Supreme Elder of the Shangxiao Sword Sect will likely come to take a look, and may even offer a sacrifice."

Protector Feng had inquired beforehand and learned that the Jade Stream Saint Master and the Supreme Elder of the Shangxiao Sword Sect were old friends. It was because the other party chose to join the Immortal Envoy camp that he personally came to have a secret talk and was persuaded to defect, attempting to betray the Green Lotus Fairy at a crucial moment.

Therefore, the destruction of the Jade Creek Holy Land was not unrelated to the Upper Night Sword Sect, and it was only natural that one would take a look when passing by.

This is the perfect spot to ambush!
The Yuxi Holy Land was destroyed in just two and a half months, and now weeds are growing rampant among the ruins, and trees are towering and lush, which is enough to prove that the spiritual energy density here is extremely high. If there is no control, the vegetation will grow wildly.

Among them, the training hall, lecture hall, library, council hall and other buildings can be identified from the ruins.

The once-prosperous holy land of Southwest China was destroyed overnight, slaughtered without leaving a trace, which is truly lamentable.

So many elites and geniuses from the holy lands, perhaps cultivating in their caves as usual, lost their lives inexplicably and inexplicably due to a mistake in the decision-making of the higher-ups.

Therefore, the cultivation world is unpredictable and treacherous, with no certainty of tomorrow and no guarantee of survival. Luck plays a significant role in this.

Everyone used their own methods to set up their own formations and planned their escape routes in advance. Many people were afraid before the battle even started, feeling that their path had been abandoned by You Meiji because their lineup was inherently inferior. How could they possibly be a match for Shangxiao Sword Sect? They had to make plans early.

"That Youmei Ji is a real scoundrel. Every time, she takes away nearly half of the experts from her own camp, wins battles and gets the credit, leaving us, a bunch of old, weak, sick and disabled, to be chased around in a mess and in grave danger. Why should she get away with this?"

Venerable Hanhai and Divine Lord Yuming were inwardly grumbling. Looking at Protector Feng, who was old and decrepit, slowly directing everyone to set up the ambush, and wandering around with his hands behind his back and his back bent, he was definitely a scoundrel!
"This little ambush, how could it possibly cause them a scratch? Even I could escape unscathed!"

Chi Hong couldn't stand it anymore either. Before, when he led the team, he at least had the idea of ​​holding them off even if he couldn't win. But this Protector Feng was just like a bystander, leading the team loosely and easily, clearly giving up and just dealing with it casually.

Don't let everyone get hurt!
"Protector Feng, if I may be so bold, this level of intensity is nothing more than a tickle and won't cause much damage at all."

Upon hearing his words, Protector Feng turned around and smiled.

"Of course I know, but this is just doing my best. Anyway, with Master Lin's Heavenly Treasure Treasure in the Kun Di territory, no amount of arrays can compare to this treasure, so why be too serious?"

"."

Chi Hong was speechless and turned to look at Lin Shan.

All that could be heard was Protector Feng still sighing:
"The Holy Maiden sent Sect Leader Lin here because this place is the original site of the Jade Creek Holy Land. Not only are there countless spiritual veins of all sizes below, but there is also a super-grade spiritual vein!"

"You must know that the dragon of a super-grade spiritual vein carries the earth's spine and is the culmination of the earth's essence. It contains infinite energy and its power is tens of millions of times more terrifying than that of an ordinary spiritual vein. When all its energy is released, it can break through the world's barrier. Even the Nascent Soul stage cannot withstand the explosion's center!"

"Master Lin's Cangkun territory is a treasure of the Ghost Valley Holy Land. He is an expert in manipulating the earth's veins. No matter if it's the Shangxiao Sword Sect or not, they can suffer heavy losses if they are not careful!"

At this point, Protector Feng's eyes gleamed with anticipation.

"Master Lin, you will hide in the shadows and wait until the Supreme Elder of the Shangxiao Sword Sect takes the stage to offer sacrifices and is grieving for his old friend, the Jade Stream Saint Master. Then, adjust your position and suddenly detonate the Super Grade Spirit Vein. You will surely be able to achieve great success and kill a top-tier Saint Master in one fell swoop!"

"At that time."

"The Shangxiao Sword Sect is leaderless and severely weakened. Even if we cannot annihilate them completely, we can still cripple them. It will be a resounding victory!"

"Once we return to Blackwater Cliff, Fairy Qinglian will surely bestow upon you a great merit, which will spread throughout the entire continent. This is a golden opportunity to become famous for all eternity."

hiss~~~
Chi Hong and the others gasped as they listened to his eloquent words, turning to look at Lin Shan's expression.

Lin Shan was also somewhat shocked at this moment!
That's right.

It was truly shocking!
Because don't be fooled by how easily Protector Feng speaks, as if he could kill a top-tier Holy Lord and defeat a prestigious Holy Land with ease. If things go wrong, it could happen.

It’s really possible!
Because top-grade spiritual veins are extremely rare in the world, otherwise this realm wouldn't only have so few sacred sites. If there were a way to extract, control, and detonate them with full force, and the opponent was caught off guard at the center, theoretically, it would indeed be possible to achieve a decisive victory in one strike.

Let alone someone who is in the late stage of the Primordial Spirit realm, even if he had completed the entire Primordial Spirit path and was on the verge of reaching the Void Realm, he probably wouldn't be able to withstand this power!
"This plan is feasible."

After repeated evaluations, Lin Shan was surprised to find that the ruins of this holy land and his Tongtian Lingbao were a perfect match, especially since the Xiaojian Sect and the Jade Stream Saint Lord had such a connection.

All these coincidences are connected. When the Azure Lotus Fairy destroyed the Jade Creek Holy Land, she left this spiritual vein behind. Could it be that she had foreseen this situation all along?

If he had taken Linshan and Cangkun's territory into account back then, he would truly admire the foresight of the immortals from the upper realm!

So, no wonder Youmei didn't dare to cause trouble this time; everything was going according to plan.

"Either I successfully kill a top-tier Holy Lord, or I'll be killed by a top-tier Holy Lord in their rage. Is this the opportunity that Fairy Qinglian deliberately left for me?" (End of Chapter)