Chapter 824: Who Supports, Who Opposes?

The Violet Palace Sect was their only hope for leverage. If even they couldn't make a decision, then the situation on the Unrivaled Continent would truly be unsolvable. They couldn't possibly rely on the nine of them to slowly eliminate the Corpse Race's forces; that would take an eternity.

Returning to the spiritual peak where they were housed within the Violet Palace Sect, Lu Ye detected a subtle abnormality as soon as he entered. This was expected! He descended from mid-air and looked up to see Lu Qing, Lan Ziyi, Feng Rulie, and Ying Wuji standing together, seemingly awaiting his return. Lu Qing appeared to be their leader. On the other side stood Mu Qingyun and Hua Ci. The two factions were clearly divided.

"Is there something you need?" Lu Ye's gaze swept over the four from Myriad Demon Ridge. Lu Qing stepped forward and asked, "Lu Yiye, given the current situation, shouldn't you explain things to us in detail?"

Lu Ye glanced at Ying Wuji and said indifferently, "Haven't you already found out?" He hadn't intended to deliberately conceal the matter of the Heavenly Mystery Pillars. If he had, he wouldn't have brought Ying Wuji along on this trip, nor would he have entrusted the task to him. He had simply been too lazy to say much to others. It was only on the way back, when Mu Qingyun asked, that he had revealed everything without reservation. Ying Wuji, having accompanied him, would naturally be questioned by Lu Qing and the others from Myriad Demon Ridge upon their return. It would be illogical for Ying Wuji to hide anything from them. Therefore, Lu Ye had anticipated this scene.

Ying Wuji instinctively flinched under his gaze. Lu Qing shook his head, "Although we know bits and pieces, it's still quite confusing! Lu Yiye, the Heavenly Mystery of Kyushu sent the nine of us here. Regardless of the purpose, we should put aside our factional differences. In this realm, there is no Vast Sky Alliance, no Myriad Demon Ridge; you and I are both cultivators from Kyushu!"

Feng Rulie nodded vigorously from the side, "Exactly, exactly!" Lu Qing continued, "You are the strongest, and we have no objections to you calling yourself the senior disciple. But since you are the senior disciple, shouldn't you take good care of your junior brothers and sisters? Putting other things aside, your performance in information sharing, Senior Disciple, has been rather unsatisfactory."

In fact, until today, they only knew that they came to the Unrivaled Continent to resolve the Corpse Disaster. As for how to resolve it, they had no clue whatsoever. But through Ying Wuji's experiences accompanying Lu Ye this time, it was clear that Lu Ye was carrying out certain tasks with a plan and a specific purpose. Everyone present was a prodigy of their respective sects, among the top cultivators of the Cloud River Realm in Kyushu. Normally, they were the ones in charge before their junior brothers and sisters. But here, they were completely in the dark, and the feeling of not knowing the path ahead was unsettling. So, before Lu Ye's return, they had agreed that they would extract some information from him tonight, no matter what. They didn't make things too difficult, merely appealing to his emotions and reasoning. Primarily, Lu Yiye was too strong; antagonizing him would not benefit them.

"I was already planning to tell you these things; there's no need for such a display," Lu Ye replied calmly. The plan had reached its final stage. Regardless of the Violet Palace Sect's decision, they had to enter the Grand Heavens Sacred Hall. For this, everyone was indispensable. Facing these core disciples from various top sects, if he truly hid things, it would only lead to disunity. Therefore, he should explain everything clearly to them.

Lu Qing's expression softened, and he smiled slightly, "That's excellent then. We apologize for our rudeness." Lu Ye then repeated what he had told Mu Qingyun on the way back. Everyone listened in silence; no one interrupted.

"This is all I know. I've finished speaking. We must breach the Grand Heavens Sacred Hall's mystic realm, and the last Heavenly Mystery Pillar must be placed inside. Who agrees? Who objects?" Lu Ye's hand rested on his saber hilt as his gaze swept over the people before him. No one spoke.

"Then no one objects!" Lu Qing said, "I have something to say." Lu Ye looked at him.

Lu Qing said, "Fellow Daoist's inference that the four mystic realms correspond to the four Heavenly Mystery Pillars, I agree with that. Three pillars have now been placed, leaving only the Grand Heavens Sacred Hall!" Inwardly, he couldn't help but grumble. Earlier, he had asked Lu Ye if he had received any special guidance from the Heavenly Mystery, and Lu Ye had explicitly told him he hadn't. But now it seemed that this fellow had not only received guidance no one else had, but even before setting off, the crucial four Heavenly Mystery Pillars were already in his possession, and others were completely unaware of this. "The Heavenly Mystery of Kyushu... is a bit too biased, isn't it?"

"Indeed!"

"Fellow Daoist previously personally investigated the Grand Heavens Mystic Realm. Do you believe that with our current strength, we can succeed?"

"No!"

Lu Qing understood, "So, no matter what, we must borrow the strength of the Violet Palace Sect! Was that what you were discussing with Pang Huanyin just now?"

Lu Ye remained silent, effectively acknowledging it.

"What is the Violet Palace Sect's stance? Has Pang Huanyin given any reply?"

"It's a matter of great importance. She needs a night to consider it and will give a reply tomorrow," Lu Ye replied.

"If the Violet Palace Sect agrees and we join forces, that would naturally be best. But what if they don't agree?" Lu Qing frowned. "Things have reached this stage; we can't pin our hopes on others."

"Do you have a plan?"

Lu Qing shook his head, "What plan could I have? Perhaps then, Fellow Daoist could have a... *good talk* with Palace Master Pang." The last four words were spoken with a chilling tone, and his expression was profound, making his meaning abundantly clear.

Lu Ye glanced at him, then walked towards his own room, his voice drifting back softly, "Don't worry, she'll agree!"

Though Pang Huanyin was a woman, she lacked the weakness typically associated with women. Her ability to bear the responsibility of the entire Violet Palace Sect meant she wasn't indecisive. Although Lu Ye hadn't interacted with her much, he could sense that her personal inclination was towards cooperating with him and his companions. However, as the sect master, she naturally had more considerations.

Meanwhile, on another spiritual peak, inside the Palace Master's chambers, Pang Huanyin stood with her hands clasped behind her back. Elder Xiao stood quietly beside her, though his expression was clearly not calm at the moment. Pang Huanyin's words earlier had sounded almost unbelievable to him.

"Kyushu... Are there truly other realms in this world?"

"If they weren't from another realm, how could these people have been unknown before, and how could they suddenly appear in a cluster? This realm simply cannot produce such individuals, and the outside world even less so."

"So, Palace Master believes what young friend Lu said?" Elder Xiao asked.

"I dare not believe it, but I have no choice but to believe it! You saw the strike he used to kill Liu Zhenguan, Elder. He's only at the eighth level of the Cloud River Realm, yet he possesses such power. This is definitely not something the Unrivaled Continent can produce nowadays. Moreover, each of them has their own unique strengths in cultivation; though they outwardly seem similar to cultivators of the Unrivaled Continent, there are significant differences."

"Then what is the Palace Master's intention...?"

"I don't know," Pang Huanyin replied with a bitter smile. As Lu Ye had thought, she was not indecisive; she was always resolute, shrewd, and capable. But the decision she had to make now was too monumental, almost concerning the very survival of the Violet Palace Sect. She couldn't help but consider it with utmost caution.

Elder Xiao couldn't help but sigh. He was Pang Huanyin's protector and had watched her grow up; how could he not know what she was thinking at this moment?

"For a thousand years, generation after generation of the Violet Palace Sect has upheld the ancestors' will, fighting against the Corpse Race. Yet, to this day, the human race's situation seems to have changed little," Elder Xiao said softly. "If things continue like this, what good would another thousand years do? Perhaps the situation will only worsen."

Pang Huanyin's eyes brightened, "Elder Xiao, are you suggesting... we should seek change now?"

"If things are truly as young friend Lu said, then those people are the variables of this realm! The sect never had such an opportunity before, but now that it has, why doesn't the Palace Master try it?"

"But..."

"Palace Master, the cultivators of our sect are not afraid of death! It's only about whether their death has value! Over all these years, have there been few disciples who died at the hands of the Corpse Race? As Palace Master, it is right for you to consider their lives, but even if you let them choose for themselves, I believe they would not disappoint you. Palace Master has always been intelligent, why can't you see this point?"

Elder Xiao stroked his beard and continued, "Even if, taking a step back, the sect is completely annihilated because of this matter, then what? At least we would die gloriously, dying for a worthy cause. But what if we succeed?"

"If we succeed..." Pang Huanyin also fell into deep thought, her eyes growing brighter and brighter.

"I am old now and don't have much time left. I haven't pursued much in my life, but before I die, I want to try to fulfill the ancestors' long-held wishes! Those few are visitors from Kyushu; as outsiders, they have such courage. We, the cultivators of this sect, are native to the Unrivaled Continent; how can we lag behind them? Palace Master, when outsiders are exerting themselves and risking their lives, we ourselves cannot just stand by and watch. That would be contemptible!"

Pang Huanyin exhaled deeply, turned, and bowed deeply to Elder Xiao, "You've gone to great trouble, Elder!" When she stood up again, her gaze was firm, clearly indicating she had made a decision.

Elder Xiao stroked his beard and smiled, "Good!"

At dawn, in the spiritual peak courtyard, Pang Huanyin did not conceal her figure, descending directly from mid-air. The doors of the various rooms opened, and figures from Kyushu emerged. Their eyes met, and Lu Ye gave a slight nod. Pang Huanyin bowed, saluting each person, then said in a deep voice, "Pang Huanyin of the Violet Palace Sect humbly requests all of you to lend our sect a hand in eradicating the Corpse Disaster of Unrivaled Continent!"

Lu Ye said, "Please rest assured, Palace Master Pang. We have no other demands in coming here; this is precisely our purpose!"

A smile appeared on Pang Huanyin's face, "Then let's sit down and have a good discussion."

"Let's discuss it right here," Lu Ye stepped forward and casually instructed, "Seventh Junior Brother, bring some chairs."

Ying Wuji almost swore. Was it fair that he always had to do all the odd jobs? He desperately wanted to resolve this matter quickly and return to Kyushu. He was absolutely fed up with being called 'Seventh Junior Brother'!