Gentlemen, it's time to enter the Banner of Ten Thousand Souls.

Chapter 478 Snatching Immortal Fate

The ten-day deadline set by the Great Sage Overturning the Sea was like a sword hanging overhead, constantly urging the cultivators who were working hard by the Dragon Pool to hurry up.

Time has passed, and the seventh day has arrived.

These past few days haven't been entirely without good news.

The people of Tianxin Island, thanks to their unique merman bloodline, have shown an astonishing talent in sensing magical power.

Following the sect leader, Master Jiaoyue, who successfully integrated a wisp of magical power into himself on the sixth day, five more elders and disciples broke through to the next level, drawing envy from everyone.

For a time, the Tianxin Island campsite was filled with inspiration and ever-changing scenery.

This is a true advantage of bloodline. The secret techniques taught by the Great Sage of the Overturning Sea are closely related to the method of water control. In this respect, Tianxin Island is truly the best in the world.

However, the Yunlu Immortal Sect seemed rather gloomy and desolate.

Of the forty-nine elites, including the sect leader, Master Wuyun, not a single one succeeded!
Even the Five Elements Master himself was still lingering outside the gate, let alone his disciples whose mental cultivation was far inferior to his.

Zeng Wenyu was the most anxious of them all.

He sat cross-legged on an ice rock, his face alternating between pale and flushed. The spiritual energy within his body was already chaotic and disordered, showing no trace of cultivation whatsoever. With only three days left of the ten-day period, the ethereal magical power remained like the moon's reflection in water—clearly visible, yet impossible to grasp.

"That's unreasonable!"

He suddenly opened his eyes and slammed his fist into the ice rock beside him, sending ice shards flying everywhere.

"I've even abandoned all pretense of honor for this opportunity to ascend to immortality. If I return empty-handed, wouldn't I become a laughingstock to the world!"

The image of himself kneeling and kowtowing to Chen Ye kept replaying in his mind. That humiliation should have been washed away by the opportunity to ascend to heaven in one step, but now, he had lost his reputation and gained no benefits at all. This deal was a complete loss.

In his impotent rage and resentment, he gradually stopped his futile cultivation.

My gaze passed over the Dragon Pool and landed on the distant horizon, which was buried by wind and snow.

From beginning to end, the people from the Yellow Springs Sect rarely showed up at the Dragon Pool.

There must be a demon in the abnormal situation!
The dragon inexplicably shortened the deadline to ten days, saying it was related to Chen Ye's attack.

How could the dignified sect leader of the Yellow Springs Sect possibly be attacked? It couldn't possibly be some insignificant demon who launched the sneak attack.

Moreover, with a true immortal present, it seems unreasonable to shorten everyone's cultivation time just because a mere mortal was attacked.

Zeng Wenyu believes that this ten-day period was probably not orchestrated by Chen Ye himself.

As for the reason... Zeng Wenyu couldn't figure it out, but it was related to Chen Ye anyway.

A sinister glint flashed in Zeng Wenyu's eyes.

He knew he absolutely couldn't go looking for trouble with Chen Ye now. The scene of him kowtowing and admitting his mistakes a few days ago was still vivid in his mind; whatever he did now would be seen as a fickle and treacherous person.

But just because he doesn't move doesn't mean others can't.

He quietly got up, walked over to a junior brother with whom he usually had a good relationship, and whispered something in his ear.

"Junior Brother Wang, don't you find it strange? The people of the Yellow Springs Sect seem completely indifferent to this Dragon Pool Immortal Fate. They chose the farthest place to cultivate; the water vapor from the Dragon Pool would freeze over there. How can they cultivate then?"

“This… perhaps Sect Master Chen has a different opinion,” Junior Brother Wang said hesitantly.

"A brilliant idea?" Zeng Wenyu sneered. "I think there's another shortcut! We're suffering here, while they're hiding and reaping the benefits all by themselves. You and I aren't qualified to comment, but the sect leader can. Find an opportunity to remind the sect leader that you're worried something might have gone wrong at the Yellow Springs Sect, and why they haven't shown up yet. The sect leader is concerned about the bigger picture, so he'll naturally investigate. If there's really something to gain, shouldn't my Cloud Peak Immortal Sect get a share?"

Junior Brother Wang was already restless and easily agitated, and after being swayed by Zeng Wenyu's few words, he suddenly felt that it made a lot of sense.

……

The Five Elements True Man was also in a state of utter confusion at this moment.

The six members of Tianxin Island succeeded, while their own sect gained nothing. This was no ordinary difference.

Having truly experienced the difference between magical power and spiritual energy, True Person Wu Yun knew that this was the very foundation upon which the sect existed. Once this opportunity for immortality was completely lost, the decline of the Yunlu Immortal Sect would be inevitable.

His eyes have been red these past few days as he has been focusing entirely on his cultivation.

As a cultivator in the Returning to the Void Realm, if given a few years, True Person Wu Yun might actually be able to master it, but ten days... is simply too short.

With only three days left, Master Wuyun felt as if Mount Tai was pressing down on him, so heavy that he couldn't even speak.

Just then, the Five Elements Master heard a commotion.

Already filled with anxiety, the Five Elements True Man could hardly bear the noise and angrily said, "Instead of cultivating properly, what are you all doing, making a fool of yourselves?"

Soon after, a disciple came to admit his mistake.

One of them was a disciple of the Yunlu Immortal Sect surnamed Wang.

After carefully inquiring, Master Wuyun said, "This disciple is dull-witted and I'm afraid I won't be able to master it within ten days. So I thought I'd go to the Yellow Springs Sect for advice. I saw that the Yellow Springs Sect is using an array to conceal their secrets, so I suppose they have some other ingenious method..."

The speaker may not be unintentional, but the listener is certainly paying attention.

What kind of person is the Five Aggregates True Man? How could he not hear the implied meaning in the words?

He stared at the disciple for a moment. Perhaps the man had ulterior motives, but his reasoning was sound.

Originally, True Man Wu Yun did not want to disturb Chen Ye at this critical juncture. Being able to share this immortal opportunity was already a great favor. Even if Huang Quan Sect really had other ways to cultivate, that was their ability. Why would Yun Lu Immortal Sect inquire about this secret?
But given the current situation, he no longer has time to worry about saving face.

If even one disciple of the Yunlu Immortal Sect had succeeded in cultivating, True Person Wuyun would not have bothered to inquire about the secrets of the Huangquan Sect. But if none of them succeeded, then he would have failed the sect's ancestors.

With a sigh, Master Wuyun got up and headed alone toward the location of the Yellow Springs Sect.

When he reached a mountain valley surrounded by glaciers, he was stopped by a boy who looked no more than sixteen or seventeen years old.

The young man was dressed in the disciple's robes of the Yellow Springs Sect. His skin was somewhat dark, making him look like a local from the Northern Frontier. He spoke in a somewhat unreliable Central Plains dialect. He was none other than Qin Le, the second disciple whom Chen Ye had recently taken under his wing.

Although the boy's cultivation level was not high and he was young, he still behaved properly when he saw the Five Elements True Man and came forward to pay his respects first.

When Master Wuyun asked to see Chen Ye, Qin Le said, "Master Wuyun, my master instructed that I will not see any outside guests these days."

Master Wuyun frowned slightly, about to speak, but his gaze suddenly froze on Qin Le.

He was horrified to discover that this young boy, whose cultivation was only at the Qi Condensation Realm, was surrounded by a faint aura.

The aura was ethereal yet pure, exactly like the magical power in the Dragon Pool!
The Five Elements Immortal couldn't help but ask, "Young friend Qin Le, may I ask if you have mastered the method passed down by the True Immortal?"

Qin Le remembered Chen Ye's instructions: if anyone asked, answer truthfully.

"I have indeed mastered it, thanks to my master's guidance."

Master Wuyun was dumbfounded. A mere Qi Condensation stage cultivator had actually mastered it?!

At this moment, even the Five Elements True Man, with his hundreds of years of cultivation, could not remain calm.

If it were someone like Chen Ye or Qu Heng who had mastered the technique, that would be one thing, but for even a novice like him to succeed, he would never believe there wasn't something fishy going on!

The Yellow Springs Sect was indeed hiding its secrets.

Master Wuyun took a deep breath, suppressing the surging emotions in his heart, and tried his best to keep his tone calm: "Please inform him that Master Wuyun has important matters to discuss with Sect Master Chen. No matter how long it takes, please ask Sect Master Chen to come out and meet him."

Seeing his solemn expression, Qin Le dared not be negligent and said, "Please wait a moment, Master," before turning and entering the formation.

This wait lasted for a full half hour.

The Five Elements Master could meditate and seclude himself for years without even blinking, but today, half an hour made him restless, as if a hundred years had passed.

Just as he was considering whether to force his way in, the array flashed, and Chen Ye's apologetic face finally appeared.

Chen Ye quickly stepped forward and said to the Five Elements Master, "I am truly sorry. I was in a critical moment just now and neglected my duties. Please forgive me, Master."

"Sect Master Chen!" True Man Wuyun didn't bother with formalities and asked directly, "I only have one question: Does your sect have any secret techniques that can help people quickly comprehend this magical power?"

Chen Ye looked at his bloodshot eyes and sighed inwardly.

This matter couldn't be kept secret sooner or later, and he never thought he could keep it a secret forever, but he didn't expect it to be discovered so quickly.

Chen Ye didn't hide anything and frankly admitted, "That's right, there is indeed a way."

Upon receiving an affirmative answer, Master Wuyun's breathing became rapid.

He stepped forward and said almost pleadingly, "Sect Master Chen, please lend a helping hand. If not a single person from Yunlu Immortal Sect can complete the training, I will have no face to face the sect's past patriarchs. Yunlu Immortal Sect is willing to pay any price."

"Just one person, as long as one person can master it, that will suffice. If Sect Leader Chen is willing to help, I will return to the sect now and bring Yu Shenxing here. You can let him master it!"

Yu Shenxing and Chen Ye were bosom friends, and Wu Yun Zhenren thought that Chen Ye would give Yunlu Immortal Sect a chance out of consideration for Yu Shenxing.

Upon hearing this, Chen Ye felt helpless.

The Five Elements Master had done him a great favor, willingly teaching Chen Ye the secrets of the sect's grand formation and meticulously guiding him, making him practically his mentor. If Chen Ye had more Time Arrows, he certainly wouldn't have been stingy with them.

Unfortunately, it's really not enough.

The Soulfire Lord's soul had already been shattered by Chen Ye and sent to hell to be tortured. Every time the Time Arrow is used up, it becomes less and less. The Yellow Springs Sect's stockpile had long been exhausted, but it still couldn't be mastered by everyone.

Now that the Five Elements Master has come to ask, Chen Ye can only tell him those three crucial words: "The Arrow of Time".

Upon hearing these three words, the Five Elements Master suddenly understood.

So that's how it is! It turns out that they used the Arrow of Time to turn one day into ten years!
No wonder even newly initiated disciples of the Yellow Springs Sect can succeed; it's entirely at the cost of their lifespan.

Master Wuyun hurriedly said, "Sect Leader Chen, could you lend me a few Time Arrows?"

Chen Ye shook his head, a troubled look on his face.

“It’s not that I’m unwilling to lend it to the Five Elements True Man, but we’ve already used it all up. None of the elders of our Yellow Springs Sect can get a turn.”

This is no exaggeration; the Time Arrow was indeed insufficient, leaving Fu Lu Shou and his companions with no chance to even attempt a breakthrough.

However, seeing the anxiety on Wu Yun Zhenren's face, Chen Ye said, "Zhenren, I remember during the Battle of Guixu, I distributed a lot of Time Arrows to various sects in order to set up the formation. The situation was urgent at the time, and I didn't count them afterwards... I suppose your sect and Tianxin Island should still have some left?"

Upon hearing Chen Ye's words, Wu Yun Zhenren was about to retort, saying that his Yunlu Immortal Sect was upright and would never embezzle the treasures of its allies.

But the words were on the tip of his tongue, and he swallowed them back.

Because he recalled the scene at the time, after the Reverse Star Sea Formation was set up, there were indeed some Time Arrows left.

At the time, everyone's attention was focused on suppressing the true immortals, so who would pay attention to these details?

Once the dust settled, Chen Ye was taken away by the Great Sage of the Overturning Sea, and the Yellow Springs Sect hastily withdrew, leaving the remaining supplies unattended.

As the owner of the White Whale ship, Tianxin Island naturally had the advantage of being close to the source.

"So that's how it is... No wonder six people from Tianxin Island succeeded!"

The Five Elements True Man felt that everything made sense now; it wasn't just the advantage of the mermaid bloodline, but also the effect of the Time Arrow.

Once he understood the key to it, he could no longer sit still.

"Thank you for your guidance, Sect Leader Chen."

The Five Elements True Man clasped his hands in a deep fist salute to Chen Ye, then transformed into a streak of light and flew towards the camp where the cultivators from Tianxin Island were located without looking back.

……

The atmosphere inside the Tianxin Island camp was completely different from the gloomy and desolate atmosphere of the Yunlu Immortal Sect.

Master Jiaoyue was sitting cross-legged, his body circulating with magical power, clearly consolidating the realm he had just comprehended. He looked at Master Wuyun, who was approaching angrily, frowned slightly, and said calmly, "Fellow Daoist Wuyun, what brings you in such a hurry?"

"Fellow Daoist Jiaoyue, let's not beat around the bush." ​​True Man Wuyun went straight to the point, "Does your sect still possess any Time Arrows left over from the Battle of Guixu?"

A hint of embarrassment flashed across Jiao Yue Zhenren's face, but she quickly regained her composure.

"Fellow Daoist Wuyun, are you here to question the Yellow Springs Sect?"

The acquisition of this treasure was ultimately not entirely innocent. Although it was lost by the Yellow Springs Sect, it was taken without the owner's consent, and if word got out, it would damage the reputation of Heavenly Heart Island.

True Man Wuyun sneered, "Fellow Daoist, why pretend to be ignorant? I remember that quite a few Time Arrows were left on the White Whale Ship. Today, I will not argue with you about the ownership of this treasure. My Yunlu Immortal Sect is willing to exchange the sect's treasures for the Time Arrows in your possession. Didn't you ask me for a diagram of the Xuanwu Sea-Suppressing Formation? I will not only give you the diagram, but also promise to provide everything needed to set up the formation!"

For the sake of the sect's reputation, True Person Wuyun has already gone to great lengths.

Upon hearing this, Master Jiaoyue was somewhat tempted.

The Yunlu Immortal Sect is most skilled in magic and formations. This Xuanwu Sea-Suppressing Formation is even more powerful than the Tianxin Island Mountain-Protecting Formation. If we could obtain the formation diagram and study it further, it would definitely be of great benefit to the magic of Tianxin Island.

Previously, the Yunlu Immortal Sect was unwilling to communicate, and even among those who shared the same path, there was still a distinction between sects.

I never expected that the Five Elements Master would be willing to pay such a price.

Six people on Tianxin Island have already succeeded, and the remaining Time Arrows are few in number, making it unlikely that they can train even one more. Using these almost useless resources to obtain such a generous return is a deal that's incredibly profitable no matter how you look at it.

After pondering for a moment, Master Jiaoyue finally relented: "Since Fellow Daoist Wuyun is so sincere, I cannot refuse any longer. However, my sect still has a disciple with exceptional talent who is currently in seclusion and needs the power of the Time Arrows. Once he has completed his cultivation, regardless of success or failure, I will give all the remaining Time Arrows to you, Fellow Daoist."

"Still have to wait?" Master Wuyun frowned. Time was of the essence right now; every moment of waiting meant less hope.

Master Jiaoyue comforted him, "I can't ruin the future of the sect's disciples, please understand."

Although the Five Elements Master felt uneasy, he knew it was not advisable to push too hard at this moment, lest it create unnecessary complications. He nodded and said in a deep voice, "Alright, then I will await good news!"

After saying that, he returned to the camp of the Yunlu Immortal Sect.

The Five Elements Immortal did not make a fuss. He knew that there were probably not many Time Arrows left, so the safest way was for him to obtain the Time Arrows and cultivate them himself, so that he could maximize his chances of mastering them.

But if this were to get out, the disciples of the Yunlu Immortal Sect would likely become unsettled.

A day and a night passed, but there was still no movement from Tianxin Island, with only two days left until the final deadline.

The Five Elements True Man felt his spiritual energy surging within him, and his excessive anxiety made him feel as if he were about to go astray.

Left with no other option, Master Wuyun could only instruct his disciples to immediately summon any messengers from Tianxin Island if they came to see him.

After giving his instructions, the Five Elements Master sat cross-legged and began to suppress his inner demons.

However, Wu Yun Zhenren did not expect that just as he began to meditate, the disciples of Tianxin Island brought an exquisite jade box to the front of the Yunlu Immortal Sect's camp.

Before he could get close, a disciple from the Yunlu Immortal Sect came up to greet him warmly; it was Zeng Wenyu.

Ever since the Five Elements Immortal went to the Yellow Springs Sect to inquire about news, Zeng Wenyu had been waiting outside the camp, carefully observing all the movements.

He knew that if there were any transactions between sects, only those guarding the entrance had a one in ten thousand chance of participating.

Of course, it's more likely that the Five Elements True Man himself had already reached an agreement with the Yellow Springs Sect, in which case everything would be over and he could only accept his fate.

Zeng Wenyu had no idea that the people who came were not from the Yellow Springs Sect, but rather disciples from Tianxin Island.

No matter what the other party sent, Zeng Wenyu had to stop them and find out what kind of treasure it was.

“I am Zeng Wenyu of the Yunlu Immortal Sect. The sect leader is currently cultivating. You can simply hand over the items to me, and I will pass them on,” Zeng Wenyu said eagerly.

The Tianxin Island disciple recognized Zeng Wenyu, after all, he had knelt before Chen Ye in front of everyone. Since he was confirmed to be a disciple of the Yunlu Immortal Sect, the Tianxin Island cultivator had no doubts, handed over the jade box, and turned to go back to report.

Holding the cold jade box, Zeng Wenyu's heart pounded wildly. He quickly hid behind a deserted ice cliff and eagerly opened the box.

Inside the jade box lay four arrows, each one crystal clear and gleaming with a faint light.

Arrow of Time!
It's the Arrow of Time!

"So that's how it is! The Arrow of Time is a shortcut that consumes lifespan to buy time. No wonder so many people from the Yellow Springs Sect and Heavenly Heart Island have successfully cultivated it!"

Zeng Wenyu had also participated in the setup of the Reverse Star Sea Formation and had naturally witnessed the wonders of the Time Arrow.

However, there were only four Time Arrows in the box.

Zeng Wenyu immediately frowned deeply.

Four arrows of time represent forty years. If given to others, who knows if they would succeed? For those with good aptitude, perhaps one is enough. For those with poor aptitude, even forty arrows might not be effective.

Moreover, even the sect leader himself hasn't mastered it, so he'll probably use any treasures he has first.

Even if the sect leader only needs one, how many of the remaining three will he get?

Even if we're lucky enough to get a unit, is ten years enough?

What if it's not enough?
Do not!
no way!

This destiny with the immortals was meant to be mine!

Cultivation is inherently like this; it's all about competition and scrambling. How can one achieve immortality without fighting?!

A crazy idea exploded in his mind: instead of placing his hopes on others, he should put all his eggs in one basket.

The path to immortality is right before our eyes; there's no way we can let it slip by.

Success is like a fish leaping over the dragon gate, while failure or surrender ultimately leads to death and turning into dust.

Zeng Wenyu is willing to give it his all, even if it takes forty years!
"Achieving immortality and attaining enlightenment hinges on this one moment!"

Zeng Wenyu's face was contorted with rage, his eyes flashing with the madness of a gambler. Without the slightest hesitation, he grabbed the four Time Arrows from the box, gritted his teeth, and plunged them all into his chest.

(End of this chapter)