Immortal Creation.

Chapter 738 Eight Peaks Council
The main gate of the Wanxiang Sect.

The space inside the Myriad Manifestations True Form Array is vast and expansive, like a new world.

There are no ordinary mountains and palaces here, but an endless expanse of cloud-shrouded ruins. All around and above and below, it is enclosed by cloud-inscribed walls.

This wall is neither stone nor jade, but rather a semi-transparent crystalline membrane formed from primordial mica refined by the earth's veins and sculpted by the heavenly winds. Various cloud-like patterns naturally flow across it, resembling the orbits of stars in the heavens or the maxims of the Great Dao, constantly absorbing and releasing primordial pure energy, its radiance flowing endlessly.

Within the cloud wall, a vast sea of ​​clouds surges and boils, its color not merely pure white. In the morning, it weaves a tapestry of golden clouds; at dusk, it transforms into a cascading purple mist. Sometimes it is a clear, azure sky, sometimes a deep, dark azure sky brimming with thunder. Amidst the flowing mist, one can vaguely see the birth and death of the nine-aperture spiritual vortex, swallowing and exhaling primordial essence, nourishing all things.

As the cultivator's divine sense entered the array's core and struck the cloud-seal boundary wall, a wondrous phenomenon arose, forming a cloud-body avatar.

At this moment, the eight cultivators representing the eight main peaks have already activated their divine senses to form eight cloud-body avatars, which have gathered together.

Each of the cloud-like clones sat cross-legged on a cloud-like futon, with Wei Ji at the head.

He appeared to be a middle-aged man in his forties. He had a dignified appearance, smooth brow bones, and a nose that was neither high nor low, lacking any distinctive features; he was the type of person who would instantly blend into a crowd.

His skin was a light tan, untouched by strong sunlight for many years, like a riverbed stone polished smooth by flowing water.

Its pupils are extremely dark, almost pure black, and when it looks at people, its gaze is calm and detached, as if it is observing all things in the world through a transparent glass barrier, with very little emotional fluctuation.

He glanced around and slowly said, "The reason I have summoned you all to activate the divine sense array is to discuss matters concerning the White Paper Immortal City."

Before Wei Ji could finish speaking, a massive cloud-like figure on his right laughed heartily: "We should have discussed this matter long ago! The White Paper Immortal City should have been our Myriad Manifestations Sect's possession long ago."

“As long as that brat Wen Ruanyu submits, we can officially intervene in White Paper Immortal City.”

"We'll get him on our heels now!"

"As a disciple of my sect, he actually refused to cooperate, which is really infuriating."

The one who spoke was Tuoba Huang.

This man was the peak master of Ten Thousand Beasts Peak. He was as burly as a mountain, nearly ten feet tall, with muscles that were as knotted as the roots of an old tree, exuding an explosive sense of primal power.

His skin was a bronze color from years of exposure to the sun and wind.

Thick, black whiskers, like a lion's mane, grew wildly, almost covering half of his face, adding to his unruly and unrestrained nature.

His features were sharply defined, as if cleaved by a knife or axe. A ferocious claw mark slashed diagonally from his left temple to his right cheek, running across the bridge of his nose. His eyes were as sharp as a hawk's, yet carried the natural aura and domineering presence of the king of beasts, radiating a piercing light that made it impossible to look directly at him.

Tuoba Huang's words were immediately refuted by others.

"The peak master of Tuoba has the bones of a Confucian scholar, harder than the black iron of a cold pool. How could he be broken by great force? Wen Ruanyu has guarded the lonely city of white paper for decades, using benevolence to educate the barbarians. His blood has not cooled, and his way has not been extinguished. For him, benevolence and righteousness are the foundation of his life and the backbone that connects him to the heavens. To make him break his benevolent bones and bow his head in obedience... is as difficult as ascending to heaven."

The speaker slowly shook his head, a few strands of hair, still fragrant with ink, fell down beside his cheek, and his sleeves moved without wind, as if an invisible hand were gently turning the pages of a book.

His figure was as slender as bamboo, and his skin was pale and cold, as if he had never seen the sun all year round.

When he refuted Tuoba Huang, his eyes were half-closed and half-open, as if he were asleep, and his pupils were unfocused as if shrouded in a gray mist.

It was Lu Zhenshu, the peak master of Fuyou Peak.

For a moment, many people cast their gazes at Lu Zhenshu, each with a hint of unease.

In meetings like these, Lu Zhenshu rarely spoke, and his presence was always rather low. However, considering that Wen Ruanyu was a Confucian scholar, and Lu Zhenshu had always had a good impression of Confucian scholars, it was reasonable for him to speak up and refute her at this time.

"Hmph! Benevolence? Kindness? It's nothing but womanly kindness!" Tuoba Huang's angry snort was like a thunderclap from a clear sky, as he glared at Lu Zhenshu.

"Wen Ruanyu is merely a Golden Core cultivator. Even if she is a true disciple, does she think she can disobey our orders? This is utterly outrageous!"

This was precisely what angered Tuoba Huang the most.

He was rough and wild; at his command, thousands of his beasts charged and fought, overwhelming the enemy like a tidal wave.

He always made his decisions on a whim and hated subordinates who were unruly.

Just then, another voice broke in: "Benevolence? Integrity?"

The speaker's lips curled into a cold yet playful smile. His voice was not loud, but it carried a strange penetrating power: "It's all because the price hasn't been right yet."

"In my opinion, the soft jade is not a stubborn stone, but a piece of jade waiting to be valued."

"Their so-called 'resistance' is nothing more than waiting for our sect to offer a high price."

"With enough money, even a stubborn rock will nod in agreement, let alone a soft and tender jade?"

The speaker smiled dismissively.

He had a handsome face and smiling eyes, like a refined scholar. He was Meng Wuyan, the deputy peak master of Zilei Peak.

Meng Wuyan changed the subject: "However, this jade is not the only worry. Even if Wen Ruanyu yields, what about the group of pedantic scholars who always stick together for warmth behind her?"

“This group of people,” Meng Wuyan said in a slightly deep voice, “though they are only in the middle ranks, they are like centipedes, deeply entrenched and intertwined! If this matter causes them to feel a sense of shared fate and join forces to resist us… the daily affairs of the various peaks will likely be thrown into chaos!”

His purple eyes suddenly sharpened, and he spoke slowly and deliberately, his voice devoid of any frivolity: "Especially, the old gentleman Duanmu Zhang among them."

"He comes from Huazhang Kingdom and is one of the country's most renowned Confucian scholars. Originally, he was going to enter the officialdom of Feiyun Kingdom. However, the previous sect leader invited him repeatedly and sincerely, which is why this old man joined the Wanxiang Sect."

"He is not merely a Confucian scholar, but a banner, a link connecting the Huazhang Kingdom! Angering this old man will not only shake the Confucian spirit within the sect, but may also lead to a change in the attitude of the Huazhang Kingdom..."

Meng Wuyan's words silenced everyone present.

They all realized that dealing with Confucian scholars required caution, especially the great Confucian scholar Duanmu Zhang. A slight misstep could lead to enormous losses and negatively impact the overall situation of the Wanxiang Sect.

In this situation, Ling Juejian, the current peak master of Sword Echo Peak, suddenly spoke up: "Although the Confucian cultivators in my sect are closely united, they are not without flaws."

"Have you all forgotten... in the deepest part of the Cloud Prison, there is a prisoner named Qin De?"

"This man has long been nailed to the pillar of shame of the Confucian school. To control this scoundrel is to control the most painful nerve of Duanmu Zhang and even the entire Confucian community!"

"Using Qin De to manipulate the Confucian cultivators of the sects and dampen their arrogance is a very worthwhile endeavor. There is even a possibility that we can force Duanmu Zhang to bow down and cooperate with us."

Ling Juejian was a middle-aged man with a slender, sword-like figure. Although he was sitting, his back was straight as if he could pierce the sky.

His cheekbones were high, his eyes deep-set, and his gaze, like quenched fire and cold stars, constantly radiated a burning ambition and scrutiny. His thin lips were pressed into a thin line, giving him a cold and stern look.

As a sword cultivator, his words and actions were consistent. He dealt with problems by taking unconventional approaches, directly targeting the enemy's weaknesses with unparalleled sharpness. Meng Wuyan fell into deep thought, while Tuoba Huang angrily shouted, "Enough, enough!"

"So convoluted! So long-winded! It's giving me a splitting headache!"

With a wave of his massive hand, as if to shatter all the schemes before him, his violent aura burst forth: "Deal with Wen Ruanyu? Deal with a bunch of pedantic scholars? And we still have to go to the Cloud Prison to retrieve a rotten demonic scholar as a bargaining chip? When have I, Tuoba Huang, ever been so indecisive in handling affairs!"

How long will this take?

"To tell you the truth, my ancestor's birthday is just around the corner! The White Paper Immortal City is the perfect birthday gift, and I, Tuoba Huang, must take this immortal city before the Flying Cloud Conference ends."

He paused deliberately, raised his massive head, his face full of menacing features, and scanned his surroundings: "Who objects?"

Everyone was silent again.

Ancestor Tuoba is one of the most powerful figures in the Myriad Manifestations Sect, a Nascent Soul level expert. His individual combat strength alone can influence an entire cultivation kingdom.

clap clap.

A series of clear, resonant claps broke the silence.

Danxia Peak Master Wang Yu's cloud avatar sat on a cloud and clapped his hands in praise: "Peak Master Tuoba is decisive and powerful! Ancestor Tuoba is the pillar of our myriad phenomena, and his birthday celebration should be celebrated with a grand gift like the White Paper Immortal City to show the illustrious prestige of our sect!"

"Furthermore, taking advantage of the Flying Cloud Conference, which has attracted worldwide attention, we will bring this city under our control, killing two birds with one stone and spreading the fame of our sect throughout the land! With such ambition and planning, the entire Danxia Peak will certainly do its utmost to assist us!"

These words instantly dispelled the anger on Tuoba Huang's face. He raised his bushy beard slightly, his red eyes filled with satisfaction, and he couldn't help but nod slightly to Wang Yu.

Wang Yu's smile remained, but his words, like the opening and closing of an alchemical furnace, revealed a new opportunity: "However—"

"The White Paper Immortal City is located in the damp and murky swamp, just between the two kingdoms of Flying Cloud and North Wind, which are eyeing it covetously. It is a tacit buffer between the two countries and a delicate balance."

"If our sect were to openly seize power and forcibly destroy the silence... the mighty Wolf Army of the Northern Wind Kingdom could immediately raise the banner of 'Defending the Righteous and Rectifying the Name,' and 100,000 Xuanjia warriors would crush the swamp! At that time, our sect would face the wrath of an entire nation!"

"Even if the North Wind holds back its troops, what face will the Flying Cloud Royal Family have left? They will question, punish, and even blockade our clan's trade routes, and even our spiritual veins..."

Wang Yu looked at Tuoba Huang, whose face was now ashen.

Wang Yu's voice was gentle yet every word carried immense weight: "The ancestor's birthday is probably not an auspicious time for war and bloodshed, nor is it a good opportunity to make the world our enemy."

Wang Yu truly deserves to be the master of Danxia Peak!

Just moments before, Tuoba Huang had used his own Nascent Soul stage ancestor to exert pressure, but now Wang Yu's words have turned the tables, using Tuoba Huang's ancestor to deal with him instead.

Tuoba Huang's throat bobbed, his whole body blazing with anger, yet he was speechless, leaving only a muffled groan echoing in the clouds, causing ripples in the air.

Wang Yu's smile remained warm as he looked around and said, "If you want to get a blank sheet of paper, instead of going around the city and chiseling a hole in the wall, you might as well just knock on the main gate."

His voice was clear and resonant, like a spring washing away the clouds, as he explained his point of view: "The real crux of this situation is not the unyielding spirit of Wen Ruanyu, but rather—the leader of the Exorcising Evil Hall, Zhong Dao!"

"Zhong Dao?" the crowd asked, puzzled.

Meng Wuyan was the first to react. A sharp, insightful glint flashed in his eerie purple eyes, like a sudden burst of purple lightning in the dark night!

"Warm and gentle bones are bound by the might of Duanmu Zhang; Qin De's body is imprisoned in the Cloud Prison! These two lines intersect, and the key lies in the Hall of Exterminating Evil!" Wang Yu's speech quickened, like pearls falling onto a plate, clear and logical.

"At this very moment, Yang Sanyan will replace Wen Ruanyu in the White Paper Immortal City. If we can persuade Zhong Dao, then Yang Sanyan, as a key member of the Demon Extermination Hall, can immediately serve as our sect's vanguard and intervene in the city's affairs!"

"Qin De, this 'shame of the Confucian school,' can also become a sharp blade in my hand, hanging over the heads of Duanmu Zhang and even the Confucian scholars, making them full of concerns. How can such a gentle and soft person not bow their head?!"

Wang Yu concluded: "With Zhong Dao, we now have Yang Sanyan as our weapon, and Wen Ruanyu as our guide. The matter of the White Paper Immortal City can be accomplished."

After speaking, he slightly cupped his hands, his cloud-patterned robe swirling with crimson light, exuding a composed and amiable demeanor, fully demonstrating his keen eye for talent, as well as the worldly wisdom and profound strategy of a peak master.

Silently flowing amidst the sea of ​​clouds.

Although Wang Yu built upon the foundation laid by his predecessors and took it a step further, his strategy was indeed like a gentle breeze dispelling the fog. Even in the depths of Ling Juejian's icy eyes, a barely perceptible glimmer of approval flashed.

Wei Ji sat upright in the head seat, his body as steady as a mountain beneath his coarse linen Taoist robe. His pure black pupils turned to Wang Yu, his voice still calm and even: "Peak Master Wang's plan is mature and prudent, taking careful consideration before action. Do any of you peak masters have any objections?"

Words are like stones thrown into a deep pool, creating ripples.

"I second that," Ling Juejian said first, his voice still cold and sharp.

Tuoba Huang's expression shifted repeatedly, finally letting out a heavy, scorching snort from his nostrils: "Hmph!"

Although he was unwilling, he knew that Wang Yu's words hit the nail on the head, and the overall situation of the ancestor's birthday was of utmost importance, so he could only say in a muffled voice, "Then let's do it this way and act quickly!"

His gaze was fixed intently on Wang Yu, the meaning of which was self-evident—if this plan succeeds, you will be credited; if it fails, Danxia Peak will be held responsible!
Wang Yu smiled and nodded, appearing completely confident and oblivious to the threat in Tuoba Huang's eyes.

Everyone's gazes shifted, all choosing to overlook Meng Wuyan.

This deputy peak master of Purple Thunder Peak, who was born into a demon cultivation family, was looked down upon by everyone present.

Everyone looked at Lu Zhenshu, the master of Fuyao Peak, and saw that his eyelids were lowered, one hand holding a jade slip and the other supporting his head, seemingly asleep but not awake, his mind wandering.

"Peak Master Lu?" Wei Ji's voice carried a hint of barely perceptible helplessness. "Stop reading."

"Huh?" Lu Zhenshu seemed to wake from a dream, looking up blankly. "Everyone... has it been decided?"

After Wei Ji explained the current situation, Lu Zhenshu waved his hand, his posture and demeanor free and easy: "Very good, very good, then get the medicine according to this prescription."

Seeing that he agreed, everyone turned their attention to another person.

This woman, Heng Zifang, the peak master of Hundred Herbs Peak, participated throughout the entire process but remained silent.

She was delicate and unassuming, with downcast eyes and lips as pale as newly blossomed cherry blossoms. Her eyes were unusual—her left eye was as blue as an ancient leaf in a deep pool, while her right eye shimmered with amber light.

Feeling the gaze upon her, she finally raised her eyes, her voice clear and ethereal like a mountain spring: "Hundred Herbs Peak only cares about the flourishing and withering of spiritual plants, and does not concern itself with the affairs of the Immortal City. Fellow peak masters, please make yourselves at home."

Wei Ji's gaze swept over the crowd who had no further objections. He tapped his knuckles lightly on the jade ruler he held loosely, uttering a deep, decisive sound: "In that case, let's follow Peak Master Wang's plan and focus our efforts on Zhong Dao. Summon—the Hall Master of the Demon-Slaying Sect—to the formation for discussion."

He had barely finished speaking when someone suddenly spoke up to stop him: "Wait!"

(End of this chapter)