Chapter 382: Alternative Plan

"The identity of this person has been confirmed. The one who killed Fellow Disciple Fang and Fellow Disciple Chong is a cultivator named Li Feiyu. He was originally a rogue cultivator and joined the Candle Dragon Sect several hundred years ago. Before we could make a move, the incident with Baili Yan occurred in the Candle Dragon Sect. It is said that this kid was also implicated and is now missing. The Immortal Palace has issued a kill order for him, but as far as I know, he has not yet been captured." The one-eyed man shook his head and said.

"Li Feiyu..." The zombie-like man frowned and murmured.

"Senior Brother, rest assured. Once this matter is concluded, I will definitely send more people to capture this kid and hand him over to you for disposal." The one-eyed man quickly said.

"The Separabond Chains I bestowed upon Fang Pan and Chong Luan have likely fallen into this person's hands as well. That item must not be lost." The zombie-like man said in a deep voice after a moment of silence.

"Yes!" The one-eyed man replied.

The zombie-like man nodded, then closed his eyes.

Seeing this, the one-eyed man took his leave and walked toward the cabin, where indistinctly, many figures seemed to be seated.

...

On the other side of the Black Wind Sea, amidst the chaotic and raging Desolate Soul Wind, a golden light several dozen zhang in size was speeding forward.

The golden light was dazzling, and within it, one could vaguely see a huge golden beetle, entirely golden, with purple patterns emerging on its surface, giving it a somewhat ferocious appearance.

The golden light was interspersed with piercing crystalline threads, emitting a cold gleam that looked extremely sharp.

The golden beetle opened its mouth wide, emitting a devouring force. The nearby yin wind howled as it approached, but was completely swallowed by the golden beetle, unable to hinder it in the slightest.

Seated atop this beetle was a woman in silver robes.

She appeared to be about twenty-eight or twenty-nine years old, wearing a silver crown, silver earrings dangling from her ears, barefoot, with two silver rings on her ankles adorned with a few bells—a foreigner's attire.

Her features were fairly beautiful, but her eyes were extremely cold, like an unmelting glacier of ten thousand years.

The soul-snatching sounds from the surrounding Desolate Soul Wind came in overwhelming waves, but seemed to have no effect on her.

Seeing the golden beetle devour the yin wind with unstoppable momentum, the silver-robed woman slowly nodded, revealing a hint of joy, and murmured to herself:

"Not bad, it wasn't in vain that I spent so much effort."

Squeak, squeak, squeak...

At that moment, the golden beetle suddenly let out a series of squeaking screams, its huge body shaking violently, causing the woman seated on it to sway as well.

The silver-robed woman's expression darkened. She quickly began to chant incantations, her ten fingers moving rapidly like white scallions.

Streams of spell seals shot out from her hands, all sinking into the golden beetle's body.

The golden beetle's body trembled violently, and silver threads emerged on its surface, coalescing into a thick silver chain that deeply embedded into its body.

The chain shook violently, and the golden beetle let out a sharp cry like a scream, then quickly calmed down.

Seeing this, the silver-robed woman dispelled the spell seals in her hands.

The thick silver chain turned into a void state and vanished without a trace.

"Strange, I've already applied the Soul Imprisonment Technique, why is it still so restless?" The silver-robed woman frowned slightly and murmured to herself.

She appeared contemplative, then after a moment shook her head and said, "Forget it, I'll deal with it after this matter is over."

The silver-robed woman formed hand seals, and suddenly a bright silver light burst from her delicate body, turning into a brilliant silver mass that slowly sank into the golden beetle beneath her.

The golden beetle's huge body trembled, and the golden light it emitted instantly brightened by half. Its body suddenly transformed into a massive golden phantom, and its speed increased considerably.

...

In the blink of an eye, nearly five years had passed.

The secret realm of the Reincarnation Hall remained as quiet as ever. Inside the hall within the mountain peak, two figures sat facing each other, the scar-faced man and Jiao San.

The scar-faced man looked somewhat gloomy. Jiao San wore a mask, so her expression was unreadable, but from her eyes, she seemed equally uneasy.

"Tell me, what's the situation outside now?" Jiao San asked.

"Xiao Jinhan arrived in the Black Wind Sea a few years ago, as did the Cangliu Sect and the Fuling Sect, all led by their sect masters. Especially the Fuling Sect, it is said that even their Grand Elder Feng Tiandu might have come." The scar-faced man said with some concern.

"It seems they are plotting something big this time." Jiao San sneered.

"The current situation has exceeded our expectations. To be safe, should we report to our superiors?" The scar-faced man suggested.

"No need. The Northern Frost Immortal Palace, the Cangliu Sect, and the Fuling Sect each have their own agendas and are not of one mind. We can guide the situation to our advantage, let them fight among themselves, and seize the opportunity to complete our mission." Jiao San shook her head and said.

"If everything goes smoothly, that would be fine. But I'm worried they might secretly reach an agreement and join forces against us, which would make things troublesome." The scar-faced man frowned.

"The Northern Frost Immortal Palace used the opportunity to deal with Baili Yan to take control of the Candle Dragon Sect. The Cangliu Sect and Fuling Sect have seen this. Even if they appear neutral on the surface, the possibility of cooperation is extremely low. Even if they do cooperate, I have already prepared countermeasures. Just proceed with the plan as usual." Jiao San said slowly.

"Since Fellow Daoist Jiao San has already made preparations, I can rest assured." The scar-faced man's expression relaxed, and he nodded.

"Have you thoroughly investigated the situation on Red Moon Island, Fellow Daoist Chi?" Jiao San asked again.

"Rest assured, I have investigated everything thoroughly. It won't hinder the major plan." The scar-faced man said.

"That's good." Jiao San nodded.

"Everything on my end is ready. Now we only lack the Void Origin Pill. The fifteen-year deadline you gave has arrived. How is Long Wu's alchemy progressing?" The scar-faced man changed the subject.

Upon hearing this, Jiao San's gaze darkened, and she said nothing.

"This person is indeed unreliable. Time is running out. What should we do now?" The scar-faced man asked with a grim expression.

"Since it has come to this, we have no choice but to adopt an alternative plan. However, this will reduce the chances of success considerably." Jiao San said coldly.

"We have no other choice. This person has failed our expectations. His qualification as the Child of Reincarnation should be revoked immediately. Moreover, since he knows so many of our secrets, he must be..." The scar-faced man sighed and said coldly.

But before he could finish, the surrounding void suddenly shook violently, and a sensation of earth-shattering tremors came.

The hall where the two stood also shook, and loud, sharp booming sounds came from outside.

Their expressions changed. They exchanged a glance and immediately flew out, appearing outside the mountain in a flash.

The sky of the secret realm, which had been clear, was now changing. Patches of dark clouds emerged from nowhere, rolling violently.

Black lightning bolts darted through the clouds, producing deafening roars. The entire sky seemed like a cauldron of boiling water.

"Could it be..." Seeing this, Jiao San's eyes flashed with a hint of surprise and joy.

The scar-faced man was first startled, then also showed joy.

The spiritual energy of heaven and earth within the entire secret realm began to fluctuate, then surged like a tide toward the dark clouds.

The dark clouds rapidly expanded, spreading outward, and began to rotate. At the center of the black clouds, a black vortex slowly emerged, directly above Han Li's cave dwelling.

At this moment, several other cultivators flew out from various parts of the secret realm, all True Immortal realm cultivators. Among them was Li Shiliu, who had led Han Li here earlier.

"Quick, activate the forbidden spell!" Jiao San shouted to Li Shiliu and the others, forming hand seals.

"Yes!"

Li Shiliu and the others immediately acknowledged, and their遁光 (escape light) rose, shooting off in different directions within the secret realm.

As Jiao San chanted incantations, dazzling golden light radiated from her body, shooting into the sky to form a massive golden pillar of light.

Countless golden runes flickered on the pillar, emitting waves of immense power that caused the surrounding void to tremble.

The scar-faced man was jolted by this wave, his body swaying, and a hint of surprise appeared in his eyes.

He flashed and moved several dozen zhang to the side, looking toward Jiao San.

Rumble!

Elsewhere in the secret realm, other thick golden pillars of light emerged, eight in total.

Nine golden pillars of light shot into the sky, sinking into the void above the secret realm.

The entire secret realm brightened suddenly, revealing vast golden rays that rippled outward like water waves, quickly forming a massive golden light array covering the entire sky of the secret realm.

Sounds of Buddhist chanting emanated from the golden light array, bringing a sense of clarity and tranquility to those who heard it, as if they were intoxicated.

The dark clouds in the sky were enveloped by the golden light array, as if restricted, and stopped expanding.

The vast law aura emanating from the dark clouds was also confined by the golden rays, stirring only within the secret realm without spreading outside.

Seeing this, Jiao San's expression relaxed.

Although the dark clouds were confined, the surrounding spiritual energy of heaven and earth was unaffected by the golden light array and continued to converge toward the dark clouds.

As time passed, the dark clouds in the sky grew denser, eventually becoming almost solid.

Waves of powerful law fluctuations emanated from the dark clouds, surging toward the surrounding light array.

The golden light array trembled violently, and the areas closest to the dark clouds directly shattered and collapsed.

Jiao San was startled. Her hands moved like wheels, forming hand seals, and streams of spell seals shot out. The golden pillar around her immediately brightened, and the other pillars also flared up, sending surging golden light into the golden light array in the sky.

The shattered light array suddenly brightened, and countless golden runes emerged, quickly reconstructing the light array, even brighter than before.

The fluctuations from the dark clouds grew stronger. The nearby light array held for a while but was torn apart again by the impact. However, under Jiao San and the others' spells, it was immediately regenerated.

Thus, through constant shattering and regeneration, the golden light array, though trembling incessantly, firmly confined the dark clouds within the secret realm.