Chapter 1388: Three-Day Deadline

It is no exaggeration to say that no war on the Yingzhou Continent had ever assembled such a large number of top-tier cultivation powerhouses simultaneously.

Nearly all influential figures from the five major cultivation domains of the continent were present.

Most of these individuals were either comrades who had fought alongside Xu Yang or admirers who had indirectly benefited from him.

This was precisely why Xu Yang's name was truly considered number one on the Yingzhou Continent.

This was undoubtedly an unparalleled display of influence in the continent's history, yet Xu Yang himself was not overly concerned with it.

His primary concern was how to proceed with the impending war.

The greatest challenge facing all these powerhouses was determining the exact location of the treasure site.

"Boss, what do you think we should do next? If we can't pinpoint the treasure's exact location, no matter how strong we are, we won't be able to launch an offensive.

We'll be forced to follow our enemies' lead, unable to seize the initiative in this war.

If these Specters stay here for one or two centuries, wouldn't we cultivators be wasting our lives away?"

Xu Yang gently shook his head. "Since I've gathered you all here, I certainly won't let you waste your time meaninglessly.

Trust me, give me three days, and I will surely provide you with a satisfactory answer."

Upon hearing Xu Yang's words, everyone, though still filled with doubts, knew that he was a man of his word. Given his confidence, they reasoned he must have a unique method to deliver on his promise, so they all settled down immediately.

"Hahaha, Boss, your words put our minds at ease. We can even wait thirty days. But I still stand by what I said: if we genuinely can't find it, dragging this on will do us no good.

This time, almost none of the top powerhouses gathered here brought their tribal warriors; they were all leaders who came in person.

If the Specter army ambushes us, we aren't afraid to die, but the safety of the thousands of our brethren in the family factions we represent would be jeopardized, and the consequences would be unimaginable."

Xu Yang nodded. "Everyone, rest assured, I understand your concerns. But since I've brought you all together here, I will certainly not let you leave empty-handed.

This time, I intend to lead you in conquering the final cataclysm of the Yingzhou Continent, and also bring a great boon to all of you, my brothers, who once fought by my side.

The opportunity to change your destiny is right before you."

With these words, Xu Yang hesitated no longer, transforming into a streak of light and vanishing once more.

Unbeknownst to them, his true intention was to return to the heart of Xuanyuan Imperial City. Xu Yang always had a feeling that the Imperial City was the key to solving all problems.

He simply hadn't yet found the key to unlock its mysteries. Thus, he calmly strolled alone through the center of Xuanyuan Imperial City.

In his current illusory form, Xu Yang could alter his appearance at will. If he wished to remain hidden, no one within the Imperial City could detect his presence.

Three full days passed in the blink of an eye, like a white steed streaking across a gap.

During these three days, Xu Yang seemed more like an itinerant traveler. He offered no further feedback, simply wandering through the vast Imperial City, stopping and going, exploring almost every corner.

It was only when he returned to the main entrance of Xuanyuan Imperial City that he realized he had unconsciously circled the entire city, taking exactly three days to do so.

It was time to give an explanation to everyone. Xu Yang still wore a faint smile; no one knew how he was seeking the answer.

In those three days, he hadn't done anything that seemed related to an investigation. How could he possibly know the outcome?

Just as he was about to step out of Xuanyuan Imperial City again, the dormant form of the Vermilion Bird suddenly awakened.

This time, the Vermilion Bird did not appear before Xu Yang as a fiery totem but as a woman dressed entirely in red.

Superficially, the woman transformed by the Vermilion Bird was breathtakingly beautiful, seemingly without a single flaw, and exuded an aura of elegant nobility.

She was clearly no ordinary mortal; how could a commoner possess such extraordinary temperament? Xu Yang slowly turned, his smile deepening slightly as he gazed at the woman formed by the Vermilion Bird.

"You couldn't resist in the end, could you? These three days, I was simply waiting for you to provide an answer."

The woman, formerly the Vermilion Bird, was visibly stunned, staring at Xu Yang with an incredulous expression.

"How did you possibly realize something was amiss with me?"

Xu Yang burst into laughter. "From the first moment I entered Xuanyuan Imperial City and went to the ancestral hall, I realized you were the woman Emperor Yunlong cherished most.

All secrets concerning Xuanyuan Imperial City and Emperor Yunlong are intrinsically linked to you. You've simply been guarding a series of his secrets, including the lineage of his Stellar Power, on his behalf.

You transformed into the Vermilion Bird, secretly protecting Xuanyuan Imperial City, unknowingly providing Emperor Yunlong with a protective shield under the guise of a divine beast totem.

Such a profound bond moved even me, so this time, I merely took a huge gamble.

I gambled that during these three days, you would be secretly observing my every move. And I also gambled on whether you could abandon your long-held convictions for the sake of the entire Yingzhou Continent, for the sake of the whole world.

Because once you assume human form and come before me to offer your help, it signifies that you've betrayed all your promises to Emperor Yunlong from long ago.

Yet, doing so would also save the fate of all living beings on the Yingzhou Continent. The outcome is clear: you did not disappoint me, and in doing so, you gave all beings on the Yingzhou Continent a chance for rebirth."

The woman simply let out a soft laugh and shook her head.

"I am far from being as noble as you imagine. The reason I assumed human form and appeared before you is that I don't want that woman to become a demon who brings chaos upon the world.

From the clues I've gathered, I know that woman, the fourth prince's birth mother, was not a life form born from the Yingzhou Continent itself. I saw through her ambitions back then, which is why I chose to maintain my distance by taking on the form of the Vermilion Bird's soul."