Chapter 4584: The Dark Hand of the Hunxie King Tribe

Western Continent Boundary Cluster, Golden Birch Realm.

The Golden Birch Mountain Range, spanning trillions of miles in the southwest of the Golden Birch Continent, is the ancestral land of the Lin Family.

The Lin Family boasts a heritage of over a million years. Originally a minor, struggling clan, it flourished immensely after Lin Tianchen and Lin Tianfeng ascended to the Immortal Realm and gained the powerful patronage of the Wang Family. With the Wang Family's support, the Lin Family rapidly developed into the foremost True Spirit Family in the Golden Birch Realm.

A team of Lin Family cultivators was on patrol, led by a well-built woman in a purple dress, who was at the late Stage of Void Refinement.

“Someone is approaching,” the purple-dressed woman said, her expression hardening as she gazed towards the distant horizon.

A green streak of light appeared on the distant horizon. With a flash, it stopped, revealing a shimmering green lotus platform. Standing on it were two women and one man, led by a tall young man in a red shirt. The red-shirted youth had well-defined features and wore a coiled dragon jade pendant at his waist. All of their clothes bore a green lotus emblem.

“I am Wang Zhiqi. Young friend, please relay a message. We have matters to discuss with your Lin Family patriarch,” the red-shirted youth said cordially.

These three were precisely Wang Zhiqi, Wang Zhilin, and Wang Zhibing. They had been ordered to descend to the lower realms to search for the Moon Banner, a mission personally assigned by Wang Changsheng, and also a form of training for them.

The purple-dressed young woman’s expression became serious. She bowed respectfully and said, “Junior Lin Ziyu greets the three Senior Wangs. The Patriarch has already given instructions; as soon as you arrived, we were to invite you in immediately. Please follow me.”

“Very well, please lead the way,” Wang Zhiqi replied, his tone gentle.

Lin Ziyu felt a surge of goodwill; she had expected cultivators from the Immortal Realm to be arrogant!

The Wang Family’s clan rules were very strict. After Wang Zhiqi, Wang Zhilin, and Wang Zhibing settled on Qinglian Peak, Wang Changsheng frequently instructed them to be humble and courteous to others. Under such constant influence, they naturally could not be arrogant—at least not towards their own people; it was a different story for enemies.

While leading the way, Lin Ziyu used a communication disk to notify the clan elders. They had not flown far when ten streaks of light shot out from deep within the Golden Birch Mountain Range. With a flash, they stopped, revealing ten Mahayana cultivators—seven men and three women—led by a slender young woman in a green dress.

“This one is Lin Yuqing. Greetings, fellow Daoists. Our Patriarch has already informed us of your arrival. Please feel free to issue any commands; our Lin Family will certainly comply,” the green-dressed young woman said with a respectful expression.

Lin Tianchen, currently a Golden Immortal, had been instructed by Wang Yixin to contact Lin Yuqing using a communication array. Lin Tianchen then ordered the Lin Family members to obey Wang Zhiqi, Wang Zhilin, and Wang Zhibing’s commands and to assist the three of them with all their might.

Lin Tianchen also revealed a crucial piece of information: Wang Zhiqi, Wang Zhilin, and Wang Zhibing were core members of the Wang Family with boundless futures. By cooperating with them to successfully complete their mission, the Lin Family members would have support when they eventually ascended to the Immortal Realm.

“Madam Lin, are you familiar with the Star-Moon Realm?” Wang Zhiqi asked gently.

“Yes, I am. To travel from the Golden Birch Realm to the Star-Moon Realm, one must pass through at least fifteen other realms. We are fully prepared and can depart at any time. We also have allies and in-laws in other realms, allowing us to mobilize over fifty Mahayana cultivators, all of whom will follow our commands,” Lin Yuqing replied.

Lin Tianchen had explained everything clearly to her, so she was well-prepared.

“Send word to your allies and in-laws, instructing them to dispatch Mahayana cultivators to the Star-Moon Realm. We will depart first. Also, this matter is top-secret; do not reveal it to outsiders. Those involved in the operation must keep their mouths shut. Upon finding what we seek, all participating Mahayana cultivators will receive a Flying Immortal Talisman, which can weaken the power of the Nine-Nine Heavenly Tribulation. However, those who fail in their duties or betray us will not be lightly spared. Do you understand?” Wang Zhiqi’s voice grew solemn.

The Star-Moon Grotto Heaven is quite vast, and relying solely on Wang Zhiqi and his two companions would make the search duration uncertain. To motivate other Mahayana cultivators to work diligently, rewards must be offered, but also punishments, ensuring clear distinctions between commendation and discipline.

“Understood,” Lin Yuqing agreed. She dispatched messengers to contact their allies and in-laws, requesting their assistance. At the same time, she brought over a hundred Integration cultivators to accompany Wang Zhiqi and his two companions as they departed the Golden Birch Realm for the Star-Moon Realm.

In the Immortal Realm, within Hunxie Royal City, an obscure underground cave pulsed with strong restrictive fluctuations from runes flickering on its stone walls.

A graceful woman in a white dress was respectfully reporting to Kun.

“We currently support seventeen peripheral organizations, all led by our people. The highest cultivation level among them is late-stage Grand Unity Golden Immortal,” the white-dressed woman slowly stated.

Chen Xue, who possessed late-stage Grand Unity Golden Immortal cultivation, was responsible for gathering intelligence for the Hunxie Royal Tribe and for instigating Immortals to serve the tribe.

The Hunxie Royal Tribe ordered pseudo-Immortals to establish these peripheral organizations to facilitate intelligence gathering, acquire cultivation resources, and handle matters that Chaos Beasts found inconvenient to directly intervene in. With pseudo-Immortals as leaders, the risk of exposure was significantly reduced.

Some leaders of these peripheral organizations were even unaware they were working for Chaos Beasts; they simply took payment for their services. Additionally, they had restrictions placed upon them. Obedience was rewarded, but insubordination was met with immediate execution.

“Do they have any news regarding Dao artifacts?” Kun asked.

“We have collected some information about Dao artifacts, but after investigation, they all turned out to be false leads. I have already informed them that finding a Dao artifact or other rare items will be rewarded with cultivation resources sufficient for breaking through to Grand Unity Golden Immortal. As of now, there is no new information,” Chen Xue reported.

“Dispatch more personnel then! Support more peripheral organizations. After all, those resources would just sit in the treasury otherwise,” Kun instructed.

The Chaos Beasts’ treasury contained cultivation resources such as immortal essence stones, enlightenment secret arts, high-grade immortal artifacts, immortal pills, and medicinal herbs. These items could be used to bribe Immortals, making them serve the Chaos Beasts—an effective strategy of using Immortals to control Immortals.

“Yes, Lord Kun,” Chen Xue readily agreed.

Kun gave a few more instructions before dismissing her.

On a vast, boundless green grassland, Immortal Lord Xuanhun and Immortal Fairy Tianchen stood atop a small mound. Immortal Fairy Tianchen held a small, golden shimmering mirror, her delicate brows furrowed.

On the ground lay two infant skeletons and two sets of voluminous clothing.

“Only one! I wonder where the remaining Time Mirrors are,” Immortal Fairy Tianchen said with a frown. She had used the Law of Time to eradicate the Grand Unity Golden Immortal who had obtained the life-bound immortal artifact of Dao Ancestor Qiankun’s youngest disciple.

“Perhaps we could ask Immortal Lord Jiugong for a divination? His divinatory arts are very powerful,” Immortal Lord Xuanhun suggested.

The cost of requesting assistance from a Grand Unity Golden Immortal-stage diviner would be too great; it would be better to ask Wang Qiulin for help instead.

“Ask him for help? Will Immortal Lord Taihao agree?” Immortal Fairy Tianchen hesitated slightly.

“As long as we offer a suitable price, Fellow Daoist Wang should be willing to help. He has a vast appetite; ordinary items won't satisfy him,” Immortal Lord Xuanhun said.

“As long as we can find the remaining Time Mirrors, nothing else is a problem. Let’s go to Qinglian City first,” Immortal Fairy Tianchen said. She incinerated the enemies’ corpses, seized their possessions, and then departed the area with Immortal Lord Xuanhun.