Chapter 2714: Heaven River Sword Sovereign

Qinglian Island, Council Hall.

Wang Moshan and over a hundred clan elders were discussing countermeasures, their expressions grim.

Zhao Yunxiao sent a message offering them a few slots to enter the Profound Spirit Cave, but the Wang family would need to provide the keys, as Zhenhai Palace could only grant access, not the keys themselves.

Wang Moshan dispatched people to collect keys, even offering high rewards. However, at the same time, other factions were also offering significant bounties for the keys.

Apart from the three keys acquired by Wang Chuanming and others, the Wang family had not obtained a fourth key.

"Send out more people and post bounties," Wang Moshan instructed. "Elixirs, treasures, and even array formations can be exchanged for them." He added that the Profound Spirit Cave would open in a few decades, and he hoped they could gather several more keys before then.

"Yes, family head," many elders rose and left the council hall.

Heavenly Lizard Mountain Range, the Lizard Tribe's lair.

In the Heavenly Lizard Hall, Yifeng and over a hundred Lizard Tribe elders were discussing countermeasures, their faces looking grim.

A dozen smaller tribes were attacking the Lizard Tribe's affiliated races. Although Lizard Tribe elders led forces to the front lines, their efforts were largely ineffective. The small tribes had already captured a significant amount of territory and were steadily closing in on the Lizard Tribe.

If the attacks had been orchestrated by humans or the Essence Fire Tribe alone, it would have been manageable. However, they were instigated by a combined force of humans, the Essence Fire Tribe, and the Yaksha Tribe. Facing such a three-way alliance, the Lizard Tribe was under immense pressure and simply couldn't hold them back. The territories of several of the Lizard Tribe's affiliated races had already been occupied, forcing them to retreat continuously.

The Lizard Tribe now had no retreat. Any concession would only lead to further encroachment; the humans, Yaksha Tribe, and Essence Fire Tribe would become even more aggressive. A kind person is easily bullied; a gentle horse is easily ridden.

Fortunately, the humans, Essence Fire Tribe, and Yaksha Tribe were not truly cooperating as a unified force; they fought individually. As the dozen small tribes captured some territory, their progress slowed, giving the Lizard Tribe an opportune moment.

"Mobilize personnel," Yifeng declared gravely, his tone stern. "Their assault must be repelled. The territories lost to these small tribes must be reclaimed."

"Yes, tribe leader," the Lizard Tribe elders assented in unison, then rose and departed.

In a vast estate belonging to the Profound Azure Sect, Profound Azure Master and a burly old man in blue robes sat playing chess in a hexagonal green stone pavilion.

The blue-robed elder had a square face, no spiritual energy fluctuations, and a fair complexion. He would be completely unremarkable in a crowd.

This was Sky River Sword Venerable, a cultivator at the Mid-Mahayana stage.

"I didn't expect to see you after so many years, Daoist Friend Lin, and you've already advanced to the Mid-Mahayana stage! Congratulations!" Profound Azure Master congratulated him, an envious expression on his face.

Sky River Sword Venerable originated as a rogue cultivator and entered the Mahayana stage later than Profound Azure Master. Yet, while Profound Azure Master remained at the Early-Mahayana stage, Sky River Sword Venerable had already reached the Mid-Mahayana stage, clearly indicating a great opportunity.

The higher the cultivation, the harder it is to advance. Although Profound Azure Master entered the Mahayana stage earlier, he remained stagnant at the Early-Mahayana stage, while Sky River Sword Venerable, the later arrival, had surpassed him.

"Haha, Daoist Friend Lin, you flatter me," Sky River Sword Venerable modestly replied, a smile playing on his lips. "I journeyed to the Guangyun Realm, where I happened upon the manifested dwelling of Divine Monarch Tianyin and sought treasures, yielding some rewards."

The Guangyun Realm is a parallel dimension to the Profound Sun Realm; one can travel between realms with treasures like a Dimension-Breaker Disk.

"Divine Monarch Tianyin? That person is said to be the most legendary cultivator in the Guangyun Realm over the past hundred thousand years. Is it true he ascended to the Immortal Realm?" Profound Azure Master's face showed curiosity.

Divine Monarch Tianyin was a Mahayana sound cultivator, a rather legendary figure comparable to Heavenly Venerable Profound Spirit.

"I don't know," Sky River Sword Venerable said. "I didn't obtain his legacy; I only found a few Jade Epiphyllum Immortal Fruits." As he spoke, Sky River Sword Venerable took out an exquisite golden jade box.

"What? Jade Epiphyllum Immortal Fruit?" Profound Azure Master's voice trembled. "The Jade Epiphyllum Immortal Fruit is a wondrous fruit transmitted from the Immortal Realm. It blossoms every thirty thousand years, bears fruit thirty thousand years later, and then takes another thirty thousand years to ripen. For Mahayana cultivators, it can enhance their spiritual power."

Because this fruit originated from the Immortal Realm, it was named the Jade Epiphyllum Immortal Fruit.

Profound Azure Master opened the lid, revealing a golden fruit shimmering with unsteady light. An enticing aroma wafted forth. The fruit's surface bore natural, intricate patterns.

"I heard you used a spirit domain to injure Yan Zheng of the Essence Fire Tribe," Sky River Sword Venerable said sincerely. "I'll trade you one Jade Epiphyllum Immortal Fruit for the cultivation method of your spirit domain." He explained that for Mahayana cultivators, consuming a Jade Epiphyllum Immortal Fruit could significantly enhance spiritual power, saving thousands of years of arduous cultivation. However, any cultivator could only consume one such fruit in their lifetime; the effect of consuming two was the same as one. He himself had already consumed a Jade Epiphyllum Immortal Fruit, and even if he used another to refine elixirs, its effectiveness would be greatly diminished. Otherwise, he would not have been willing to trade it.

Without hesitation, Profound Azure Master took out a green jade slip, handed it to Sky River Sword Venerable, and put away the Jade Epiphyllum Immortal Fruit.

Sky River Sword Venerable swept his divine sense over it and nodded in satisfaction.

"You didn't happen to acquire a rare treasure like a Dao Comprehension Orb, did you? To actually comprehend a spirit domain..." Sky River Sword Venerable asked with a chuckle.

"If I had a Dao Comprehension Orb, do you think Yan Zheng would have escaped?" Profound Azure Master explained, a proud look on his face. "I merely used a treasure to display a superficial understanding of a spirit domain; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to get away."

Although he relied on a treasure to cast the spirit domain, and it was only a superficial understanding, it was still enough to deal with ordinary Mahayana cultivators. If he had been at the Mid-Mahayana stage, Yan Zheng would not have escaped at all.

Sky River Sword Venerable's face showed an expression of realization, and he nodded. "That's true."

"By the way, the Lizard Tribe's Mahayana cultivator hasn't appeared for many years; they might have already passed away," Profound Azure Master said, getting to the main topic. "I plan to move against the Lizard Tribe. Their clan-suppressing treasures are quite good, especially the Qian-Light Shield. It would certainly be very effective in resisting a major heavenly tribulation."

"If you don't have conclusive evidence, don't act rashly," Sky River Sword Venerable cautioned. "When I was traveling in the Guangyun Realm, the ancestor of the True Spirit Family, the Shangguan family, also hadn't appeared for many years. Two major clans ganged up on the Shangguan family, fighting their way to their stronghold, but then the Shangguan ancestor suddenly appeared, displayed immense power, and severely injured a Mahayana cultivator from another race."

"Don't worry, I know what I'm doing," Profound Azure Master replied. "Since you've advanced to the Mid-Mahayana stage, even if we can't annihilate the Lizard Tribe, we should at least make them bleed. This will be beneficial for humanity." Profound Azure Master's face was filled with righteousness.

"You make the decisions then! I'm going to comprehend the spirit domain now; I hope to gain some insights." After saying this, Sky River Sword Venerable's figure blurred and vanished.

Profound Azure Master took out a green communication disk, cast a spell into it, and instructed, "Disciple-Nephew Qin, send word for the Green Ape Tribe and others to intensify their attacks. If the Lizard Tribe's Mahayana cultivator doesn't show up, we'll fight this battle to the end." He intended to force the Lizard Tribe's Mahayana cultivator out. If they didn't appear, he would bleed the Lizard Tribe dry.

With Sky River Sword Venerable's return and his advancement to the Mid-Mahayana stage, Profound Azure Master's confidence had significantly grown.

"Yes, Martial Uncle Lin," a respectful female voice came from the communication disk.