Chapter 2606: Tianyuan Sect, Thunder Absorbing Pearl

The Tianyuan Mountain Range stretches for millions of miles, boasting countless treacherous mountains and unusual peaks. Its spiritual energy is abundant, and exotic birds and beasts roam its depths. This is the main headquarters of the Tianyuan Sect.

Over 20,000 years ago, Master Tianyuan founded the Tianyuan Sect here. During its peak, the Tianyuan Sect boasted nine Void Refinement cultivators. However, after a series of major disasters, the number of Void Refinement cultivators sharply declined, leaving only one.

During the great race war, True Monarch Thunder Falcon, the Tianyuan Sect's sole remaining Void Refinement cultivator, led a group of disciples into battle, seeking a treasure to aid in tribulation transcendence.

True Monarch Thunder Falcon died at the hands of an alien Void Refinement cultivator. The Tianyuan Sect disciples suffered heavy casualties, and only True Monarch Fire Toad, Thunder Falcon's second disciple, survived. Consequently, the Tianyuan Sect declined.

Su Qinghe was the current leader of the Tianyuan Sect. His master was True Monarch Thunder Falcon.

Inside the main hall, Su Qinghe, True Monarch Fire Toad, and more than a dozen other cultivators were in a heated argument.

“Senior Brother,” True Monarch Fire Toad sneered, “Master passed the sect leader position to you, and now you want to pass it to Yun Xin? How truly selfless of you!”

While True Monarch Thunder Falcon was alive, they could coexist peacefully. But with his death and the sect left behind, everyone desired control of the Tianyuan Sect.

Su Qinghe was the sect leader designated by True Monarch Thunder Falcon, so no one dared to question him initially. However, Su Qinghe's lifespan was nearing its end, and he intended to pass the position to his descendant, Su Yunxin, an early-stage Soul Transformation cultivator. True Monarch Fire Toad and several other elders vehemently opposed this.

“Exactly!” another cultivator chimed in. “Is the Tianyuan Sect going to become a family clan? If our Grand Ancestor knew of this in the afterlife, he certainly wouldn't rest in peace!”

“Precisely!” another added. “Sect Leader Su is advanced in age. He should let Senior Uncle Lin take over the position. Senior Uncle Lin is also a disciple of our Grand Ancestor. Why should the sect leader position be passed to Yun Xin? If he weren't Sect Leader Su’s descendant, he might not even have reached the Soul Transformation stage!”

“Senior Brother Lin has shed blood for the sect, risking his life repeatedly. What has Yun Xin ever done for the sect? Why should he take over the sect leader position? Just because he’s the sect leader’s descendant?”

Listening to the elders' words, Su Qinghe sneered, “Why? Because he can preserve the Tianyuan Sect's heritage! Do you really think I don't know about your collusion with the Xu family? You've been secretly funneling benefits to the Xu family. How much territory has our sect ceded to them? If the Tianyuan Sect falls into your hands, it will sooner or later be named Xu.”

“Hmph,” True Monarch Fire Toad sneered coldly, “Junior Sister Li is out on business. If you're smart, you can still leave the Tianyuan Sect alive.”

True Monarch Fire Toad sneered, noting that there were currently six Soul Transformation cultivators at the headquarters, and three of them supported him, giving him a strong chance of victory.

“Senior Brother Lin, stop wasting words with him,” a beautiful woman in a green dress, with exquisite features, said with a cold laugh, her face full of murderous intent. “Eliminate him now to avoid complications. We must get that item.”

They all unleashed their treasures, attacking Su Qinghe.

With a thunderous roar, the main hall disintegrated. Over a dozen figures flew out from the debris, and Su Qinghe was sent flying backward, his face pale.

A small, mountain-sized crimson toad lay sprawled on a hilltop. Judging by its aura, it was clearly a fifth-tier high-grade spirit beast.

“Your Firecloud Toad has advanced to the fifth-tier high-grade! The Xu family must have helped a lot, didn't they?” Su Qinghe remarked meaningfully.

“Stop talking nonsense!” True Monarch Fire Toad retorted, his voice filled with killing intent. “Winners take all. The Tianyuan Sect leader should have been replaced long ago. Hand over that item, and I might let you and Yun Xin leave the headquarters alive. Otherwise, this time next year will be your death anniversary.”

“Is that so? Not necessarily!” a cold, emotionless male voice interjected.

As soon as the words fell, a crimson flood dragon, hundreds of feet long, flew in from a distance. Wang Gonghu, Wang Lihe, and more than a dozen other members of the Wang family stood on its head.

“The Azure Lotus Wang Family!” True Monarch Fire Toad exclaimed, a hint of dread flashing in his eyes. He had never imagined that Su Qinghe would actually enlist the help of the Wang family.

“This is bad! It's Wang family cultivators, and a fifth-tier flood dragon!” the beautiful woman in the green dress cried out, her complexion changing dramatically.

The Wang family had multiple Void Refinement cultivators and were backed by Zhenhai Palace, making them an adversary they could not afford to provoke.

“Well, well, Su Qinghe,” True Monarch Fire Toad mocked. “You constantly claim to be upholding the Tianyuan Sect's heritage, yet you invite outsiders for help. Impressive!”

“Hmph, the feeling is mutual,” Su Qinghe retorted with a cold smile.

At that moment, the crimson flood dragon also stopped before Su Qinghe.

“Fellow Daoist Su, are you alright?” Wang Gonghu asked, looking at Su Qinghe with concern.

The Wang family was expanding its territory inland, fostering good relations with many forces by helping them resolve various troubles.

“I'm mostly fine, Fellow Daoist Wang,” Su Qinghe transmitted mentally, “They seem to know about the Thunder-Absorbing Pearl. Kill them, or the news will leak.” As he transmitted, Su Qinghe took out an exquisite green jade box and handed it to Wang Gonghu.

Six months prior, a Soul Transformation cultivator from the Tianyuan Sect discovered an ancient cultivator's immortal abode. After much effort, they broke through its restrictions and obtained a trove of treasures, including a Thunder-Absorbing Pearl, formed from a sixth-tier demon beast.

Su Qinghe had originally intended to use the Thunder-Absorbing Pearl to exchange for cultivation resources, hoping to help his descendant, Su Yunxin, advance to the Void Refinement stage. However, the news leaked, and True Monarch Fire Toad and others forced his hand. Fortunately, Wang Gonghu and his group arrived in time.

“The Thunder-Absorbing Pearl!” Wang Gonghu commanded, his face stern with killing intent. “Assist Fellow Daoist Su and eliminate the Tianyuan Sect rebels.” He knew the value of the Thunder-Absorbing Pearl; if news of it leaked, it would cause significant trouble, so all those who knew about it had to be eliminated.

The crimson flood dragon shook its head and tail, charging directly towards True Monarch Fire Toad and the others. True Monarch Fire Toad and the other four Soul Transformation cultivators dared not stay and fight; they each cast spells to escape.

A brilliant red light erupted from True Monarch Fire Toad's body, transforming into a streak of light that merged into the Firecloud Toad. The Firecloud Toad's aura surged dramatically.

Just then, a vast expanse of sharp sword energy shot over, striking the Firecloud Toad repeatedly. The Firecloud Toad immediately became covered in blood, with numerous bloody gashes appearing on its body.

The Firecloud Toad transformed into a streak of red light and vanished into the air, moving with extraordinary speed.

“Chase them, don't let them escape,” Wang Gonghu commanded, giving chase. The crimson flood dragon's speed was even greater. He had finally managed to cultivate a fifth-tier flood dragon after expending immense energy and resources.

Wang Gonghu hadn't known about the Thunder-Absorbing Pearl beforehand and had only brought three Soul Transformation clansmen, which he believed would be sufficient.

Su Qinghe wasn't idle either; he took out a continuously flickering green array disk and cast a spell into it. Thousands of green lights burst from the ground, converging into a massive green light barrier that enveloped the entire Tianyuan Sect. The surface of the green light barrier was adorned with patterns of flowers and plants.

Dragon roars, sword cries, thunderous booms, and other sounds intertwined, as various spiritual lights clashed. Most of the Tianyuan Sect disciples had no idea what was happening and rushed out of their residences.

“Junior Brother Lin has colluded with outsiders to harm the sect leader!” Su Qinghe shouted, his voice echoing throughout the Tianyuan Sect. “I have invited cultivators from the Wang family to eliminate the traitors. All Tianyuan Sect disciples are to immediately gather at the Ancestral Hall. No one is to assist Junior Brother Lin; those who defy this will be treated as sect traitors.”

After this incident, the Tianyuan Sect would undoubtedly need a thorough cleansing.

A series of thunderous explosions echoed, and a dazzling ball of green lightning flared. Su Qinghe picked up the array disk and his face darkened.

“Bastard! They actually altered the restrictions, just as I suspected!” Su Qinghe cursed. The Soul Transformation elder responsible for maintaining the sect-protecting grand array had modified the restrictions. Su Qinghe was not proficient in array formations; if he hadn't activated the grand array this time, he wouldn't have discovered the problem.

A large hole appeared in the green light barrier, and a golden rainbow shot through the air and away. A swath of sharp sword energy came streaking, forming a sky-piercing sword light. The golden rainbow suddenly exploded, transforming into countless golden lights that flew in different directions.

“Thousand-Light Spirit Transformation Talisman! A sixth-tier escape talisman!” Su Qinghe exclaimed, his brow furrowing.