Chapter 1121: Planning

Chu Qing stood mid-air, golden shuttles darting back and forth around him like birds. These shuttles emanated an extremely sharp aura, their swift movements even leaving streaks across the void.

As Chu Qing was at the very center of the battlefield, he naturally drew countless attacks. However, as fierce Genesis Qi assaults whistled towards him, they were all completely shattered by the golden shuttles. His expression was solemn. Occasionally, a golden shuttle would transform into a beam of light and shoot out, piercing through the body of a Sacred Palace expert.

Although the situation was at a stalemate, Chu Qing dared not relax in the slightest. Instead, his brow was slightly furrowed, as the Sacred Race forces had yet to appear on the battlefield.

"Kill!"Ahead, several experts at the late Heavenly Sun Stage formed a battle array and charged forward.

This time, before Chu Qing could act, a billowing cloud of green smoke suddenly swept in from behind him. Inside the smoke, countless sparks erupted. The next moment, a crimson fire surged within the green smoke, directly colliding with the several late Heavenly Sun Stage experts. A thunderous roar echoed. The late Heavenly Sun Stage experts were all forced back in disarray, their bodies scorched black.

Chu Qing turned his head and saw a wisp of green smoke condense into a figure beside him. It was a middle-aged man, barefoot and holding a tobacco pipe, like an old farmer in a field. Upon seeing him, Chu Qing slightly cupped his fist and said, "Senior Brother Mu Wuji."

If Zhou Yuan were present, he would surely be surprised, as Mu Wuji was an old acquaintance of his. Years ago, when Zhou Yuan traveled from the Cangmang Continent to the Cangxuan Sect, Mu Wuji was his guide. At that time, Mu Wuji was only at the Divine Dwelling Stage, but after years of cultivation, he had clearly reached the peak of the Heavenly Sun Stage, now ranking among the top within the Cangxuan Sect's Heavenly Sun Stage cultivators.

Mu Wuji looked at the chaotic battlefield, his expression solemn as he said, "Junior Brother Chu Qing, the Sacred Palace people are fighting too desperately. Something feels off, and the Sacred Race forces still haven't made a move."

Chu Qing nodded lightly and said, "This might very well be our final battlefield."

Mu Wuji's heart sank slightly.

"I've already arranged for Junior Sister Qingchan to lead the Cangxuan Sect disciples to disperse and flee if the situation turns dire. As for the rest, there's not much more we can do," Chu Qing said slowly.

"What about you?" Mu Wuji asked.

Chu Qing grinned, "Of course, I'll stay and 'play' with that traitor, Li Xuan." From Chu Qing's eyes, Mu Wuji saw a hint of grim resolve. Clearly, Chu Qing intended to stay and perish with Li Xuan, as Li Xuan was the mastermind behind Cangxuan Heaven's current predicament.

Mu Wuji was silent for a moment, then said, "You cannot die here. You are the second prodigy of our Cangxuan Sect in a hundred years. Only by living can you make our Cangxuan Sect stronger in the future."

"Who was the first?" Chu Qing asked.

"Of course, it's that kid Zhou Yuan. I was the one who brought him into the sect back then," Mu Wuji said with a hint of pride. But then he realized something was amiss and glared at Chu Qing, "Don't try to change the subject!"

Chu Qing chuckled, "Ah, Junior Brother Zhou Yuan, I'm certainly convinced by him. After all, he's the first person to master all seven arts of our Cangxuan Sect." However, seeing Mu Wuji's face grow increasingly serious, he could only say helplessly, "Senior Brother, I must stay. Otherwise, I fear not many of our Cangxuan Sect members will escape." "I also wish to preserve my useful body, but circumstances don't allow it." "You can't stop Li Xuan without me. What's more, the two captains of the Sacred Race forces still haven't acted. It seems they enjoy watching us fight among ourselves, or perhaps... they simply disdain us."

Hearing this, Mu Wuji fell silent, his expression filled with sorrow. "In the past, we truly were like frogs at the bottom of a well in Cangxuan Heaven. Our Cangxuan Heaven's strength is far too inferior compared to the other Heavens."

Chu Qing also sighed softly. This was an unchangeable reality. Cangxuan Heaven was weak, and it wasn't something that could be altered in a short time. Unless, in the future, Cangxuan Heaven could produce a true powerhouse standing at the peak of all Heavens, only such an existence could change Cangxuan Heaven's situation. But Chu Qing also understood that this hope was overly unrealistic. After all, even Patriarch Cangxuan couldn't achieve that.

Chu Qing looked up towards the distant, jagged peaks of the great canyon. There, he could vaguely discern three figures: Li Xuan and the two captains of the Sacred Race forces. He clenched his fists, his eyes icy. "What exactly do you want?"

"Senior Brothers, what exactly are we waiting for? Now is the perfect time to capture them all in one fell swoop!" Li Xuan looked at the massive battlefield and couldn't help but ask. At this moment, the Sacred Palace was locked in fierce combat with Cangxuan Heaven's forces. In just a short time, the Sacred Palace had paid a heavy price, with many disciples perishing in the canyon, swallowed by the surging river. Yet, the Sacred Race forces, along with Jimo and Weituo, remained unmoving. Li Xuan wasn't distressed by the deaths of those disciples; rather, these were forces under his command, and the greater the loss, the less influence he would have.

Jimo ignored Li Xuan. He held a crystal-clear sphere in his hand. Inside the sphere, blood-red light spots continuously emerged, gradually causing the sphere to turn scarlet. He watched for a while, then a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"Junior Brother Li Xuan, didn't you ask me earlier why we forced Cangxuan Heaven's forces here before making our move?" Jimo seemed to be in a good mood now, saying with a smile.

Li Xuan immediately showed a suitable amount of curiosity.

Jimo pointed at the great canyon and chuckled, "That's because deep beneath this canyon lies a hidden high-grade Ancestor Qi Vein."

"A high-grade Ancestor Qi Vein?!" Li Xuan's heart trembled. They had previously explored some Ancestor Qi Veins, but all were low-grade, yet even from those, they had gained significant benefits. If low-grade veins were so potent, then mid-grade veins would naturally be even stronger. As for high-grade Ancestor Qi Veins? Li Xuan had never even dared to dream of such a thing. But now, Jimo was telling him that a high-grade vein was hidden deep within this great canyon. How could he not be shocked?

"How did Senior Brother Jimo know?" Li Xuan couldn't help but ask. He hadn't detected any unusual fluctuations here, so why was Jimo so certain?

Jimo smiled faintly and said, "My Sacred Race's understanding of Ancient Origin Heaven is far superior to that of your Lower Five Heavens." Within the Sacred Race, they generally referred to the other five Heavens as the "Lower Five Heavens," while the four Heavens occupied by their Sacred Race were naturally the "Upper Four Heavens." This alone showed how superior and condescending the Sacred Race considered themselves, looking down upon all other races.

"However, this high-grade Ancestor Qi Vein is hidden extremely deep. Ordinary methods won't be able to force it out. We must actively lure it out..." Jimo's smile was profound and enigmatic. He pointed to the incredibly bloody battlefield not far away and chuckled, "They are the bait."

Li Xuan's face twitched slightly. "Senior Brother Jimo, you intend to use this place as a battlefield to induce a 'Earth Calamity' and unearth that high-grade vein?"

Jimo nodded with a smile.

Li Xuan said admiringly, "Senior Brother Jimo, what a brilliant scheme!" However, his heart was bleeding in pain, because many of their Sacred Palace forces had also been lost here.

Jimo, however, paid no mind to Li Xuan's inner thoughts. He put away the crystal ball and gazed at the battlefield with a gentle smile. His tone was soft, yet the killing intent emanating from it caused the surrounding space to turn icy cold.

"It's almost time...""Let's begin. This time, no prisoners. Kill them all."

As he swept his hand down, figures slowly ascended into the sky behind him. A terrifying pressure, like a surging tide, spread out and enveloped the entire great canyon.