Five Immortal Sects
Chapter 152: The Unknown

Outside the Wheel of Life and Death, a scene of profound tranquility unfolded. Clouds drifted gently, a light breeze stirred, and on the peaks of numerous mountains, cultivators and demonic beasts stood, sat, or clasped their hands behind their backs, their gazes fixed upon the spherical peak at the center.

All the cultivators had been here for three days, watching the diminishing number of light ribbons appearing and disappearing amidst the mountain forests. The expressions of each sect's cultivators varied greatly.

In the sunlight, a few strands of hair softly caressed a fair, jade-like face, revealing a gentle yet resolute beauty. The light breeze rustled a dark-green robe, occasionally exposing a small section of a smooth, snow-white ankle beneath a rounded, long leg. This fleeting glimpse captivated the heart and soul.

Beneath the blue sky, Zhao Min's tall figure stood like one who would ascend to the very pinnacle. Her clear, black-and-white eyes remained fixed on the seven shimmering light ribbons in the center.

"I wonder how Sixth Senior Sister and the others are faring? Now, only seven teams remain…"

Zhao Min sighed softly in her heart, her gaze filled with hesitation and worry, though no one knew what she was contemplating.

Not far away, Li Wuyi sat cross-legged on a rock, eyes closed in meditation. Beside him stood a plump, charming, and beautiful young woman, idly brushing away passing white clouds with a jade-like hand.

She occasionally cast her nimble, large eyes towards Li Wuyi, then towards Zhao Min, who stood at the edge of the mountain peak.

"Wuyi, look at how long Junior Sister Min has been standing there. What do you think she's thinking?"

Li Changting withdrew her jade hand, allowing the clouds to drift past her hairline and float into the distance. She blinked her large eyes, looking at Li Wuyi.

Li Wuyi, speaking as he did, helplessly opened his eyes.

"Junior Sister Li, you and Min'er should be meditating and healing right now!"

Over the past few days, he had been interrupted countless times by Li Changting during his cultivation.

A hint of cunning appeared on Li Changting's somewhat pale face. She thought to herself:

"Once we leave the secret realm, finding you will be as hard as finding a Nascent Soul supreme ancestor! Where can you run off to here? Healing? Watching you is even more effective than taking pills."

As this thought crossed her mind, a blush rose on her jade-like face, blossoming like a hundred flowers.

"Junior Sister Li, what's wrong? Is your injury acting up? I told you to heal, and you're still so disobedient! Are you perhaps short on pills? I have plenty here, or you could simply ask your aunt, that would be even better."

When Li Wuyi opened his eyes, he saw Li Changting's jade-like face flushed pink, appearing abnormal. He couldn't help but frown and ask.

Li Changting froze, then her heart filled with joy, fluttering like a startled deer. She bit her lip, thinking to herself:

"This scoundrel still cares for me. Otherwise, I might as well not treat this injury and remain like this, so he will constantly worry about me."

For a moment, Li Changting's mind raced with wild thoughts.

"Junior Sister Li, Junior Sister Li…"

Seeing Li Changting appear somewhat dazed after he spoke, her beautiful eyes unfocused and hazy. This appearance, coupled with Li Changting's peerlessly alluring figure, caused Li Wuyi to momentarily freeze, his eyes filled with awe.

But in the next instant, his eyes cleared.

"Li Wuyi, you heartless man, today you actually care about my injuries."

Li Changting, startled awake by Li Wuyi's words, couldn't help but chide him, though her heart was filled with sweetness.

"Cough, cough, cough… Junior Sister Li, you mentioned Min'er and Junior Brother Li…"

When Li Wuyi heard Li Changting speak in such a manner, he understood perfectly what his junior sister was thinking. His old face flushed, he coughed a few times, composed himself, and hastily changed the subject, while secretly thinking:

"Junior Brother Li, Min'er, don't say your senior brother is spouting nonsense. This is out of necessity, consider it saving your senior brother this once!"

Li Changting, seeing Li Wuyi change the subject, let out a soft snort in her heart.

"You think you can escape from this old lady's palm so easily? Sister Wangqing, it seems you can only be a concubine."

At this thought, Li Changting's face flushed even deeper. She secretly chided herself, wondering when her skin had grown so thick. However, knowing the principle of moderation, she followed Li Wuyi's lead and looked towards the slender figure in the distance.

"Junior Sister Min is too strong-willed, but among the male disciples of our sect, besides you, she truly has the most affinity with Junior Brother Li."

Li Changting withdrew her gaze from Zhao Min's back, gave Li Wuyi a sidelong glance, and then slowly spoke.

"Min'er rarely confides in me, let alone talks about mending her relationship with master. As soon as I bring it up, she simply walks away with a flick of her sleeve, sigh!"

Li Wuyi said helplessly. He, too, was unable to persuade Zhao Min with her temperament.

He had watched Zhao Min grow up and in his heart, Zhao Min was his own sister. No one could speak ill of her; even if his most respected master spoke ill of Zhao Min, he would argue a few words for her, neither humble nor arrogant.

"Junior Sister Min's mood seems to have softened somewhat these past few years. She's visited Little Bamboo Peak much more often. Every time she returns, I can feel that her mood is no longer as cold as it used to be, and each time, it's after she's conversed with that young man."

"You're right, I've also noticed that Min'er has indeed visited Little Bamboo Peak more often in recent years than before. Although she hasn't gone to pay respects to Master or Mistress, Master and Mistress naturally know, and their moods have also improved considerably.

Though Master hasn't said anything, Mistress has secretly asked me about Junior Brother Li's daily affairs…"

Li Wuyi said, feeling secretly guilty.

"Junior Brother Li, I hope you come out soon. This place is truly not fit for humans!"

Zhao Min remained intently gazing at the spherical mountain peak, completely unaware that two mischievous individuals behind her were secretly peeking at her back and whispering.

Her mind was indeed on Li Yan at this moment. That rustic, countrified youth, bamboo leaves dangling from his mouth beneath the colossal moon, his clear eyes gazing at the undulating dark mountains in the distance.

Whenever he did so, his eyes would reveal a familial affection that Zhao Min yearned for. Zhao Min stood there, lost in thought, a warm and hazy memory lingering in her mind.

"He's with Sixth Senior Sister, so he should be fine. Sixth Senior Sister's ferocity is no weaker than a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, and with her array formations, she wouldn't fall behind even against a Pseudo Core cultivator.

It's just that his Qi Condensation eighth-level cultivation is too low… Once he comes out, he can continue talking about those mortal affairs under the moonlight…"

Zhao Min was by nature aloof, and her thoughts were exceedingly simple. She thought of the relaxation she found in chatting with that young man, experiencing the strong familial affection and joy of the mortal world. She loved listening to Li Yan recount everything about his mountain village, as if she herself were there.

Unbeknownst to her, a smile gradually appeared on Zhao Min's exquisitely fair, jade-like face. Her lips curved upwards, revealing a glimpse of her pristine white teeth. Beneath her neatly trimmed dark brows, her gem-like eyes were as clear as a mirror and still as water…

...

Behind them, Elder Peng of the Law Enforcement Hall, the beautiful Peak Lord Li, and Elder Yi of Four Symbols Peak, along with five other Core Formation cultivators they sat together, whispering in low tones.

Their gazes occasionally drifted towards the peaks where the other three sects were located. At this moment, all the members of the three sects wore relaxed, composed expressions, which only intensified an ominous feeling in their hearts.

"Now there are only seven light ribbons left. Just looking at the three sects' expressions of certain victory, those disciples who entered this trip are truly in grave danger."

Elder Peng's face bore a grave expression.

"If any of our disciples survive this time, we should be able to learn what methods they used."

Elder Yi of Four Symbols Peak's gaze was gloomy. Although they had been mentally prepared beforehand, they had not anticipated that only seven light ribbons would remain before three days had passed, indicating the ferocity of the battle within.

Seeing the three sects' unconcerned demeanor, it could be concluded that the remaining individuals were essentially all their own people.

"If all these disciples are wiped out, we might as well seize an opportunity in this secret realm and eliminate the Grand Profound Sect entirely. Then, we can obtain all information through soul-searching."

The beautiful Peak Lord Li said calmly, her alluring charm completely gone from her eyes, replaced by sharp killing intent. The direction they were returning was the same as the Grand Profound Sect's, and at that time, they would eliminate everyone the Grand Profound Sect had sent this time.

None of these individuals were to be trifled with. After the beautiful Peak Lord Li spoke, the others also revealed fierce gazes, seemingly unconcerned about instigating a sect-wide war.

"If we're going to do it, let's do it thoroughly, leaving no trace, so there will be no evidence. Yin Congfeng and his group also appear anxious, so they should have been schemed against by the three sects as well. We can use this to our advantage."

An elder with narrowed eyes slowly spoke.

...

On the peak where the Grand Profound Sect stood, Immortal Master Hang Wu occasionally glanced towards the Wraith Sect, a subtle glint of light in his eyes.

"If I'm not mistaken, given the Wraith Sect's usual ferocity, if their disciples in the Wheel of Life and Death are all wiped out, we should be wary of their retaliation."

"Hmph, it's not certain who will wipe out whom!"

A tall Taoist behind Hang Wu spoke coldly, his cultivation clearly in the late Core Formation stage. As he spoke, his aura surged, causing the surrounding spiritual energy to feel chaotic.

"Junior Brother Hang Yuan is right. I will personally eliminate that vixen Li Yu'yin, lest she continue to harm the mortal world."

The beautiful Taoist nun Hang Zhi said, her face twisted with malice and venom.

A few individuals who heard this secretly shook their heads. Ever since that incident, Junior Sister Hang Zhi had been unable to tolerate any beautiful women, especially those with alluring charms.

"I wonder how Jiuxing and the others are doing?"

Immortal Master Hang Wu said with a smile.

"Jiuxing is naturally fine. He's a Pseudo Core cultivator, and with the heavy treasure bestowed by the sect, he is sure to come out on top."

A middle-aged Taoist said proudly. Quan Jiuxing was an exceptionally brilliant prodigy of this generation. Whether within the Grand Profound Sect or compared to the other three sects, he was a first-rate genius.

The sect held him in extremely high regard. This time, when he entered the Wheel of Life and Death, the Sect Master even bestowed a great treasure upon him for protection, giving them even greater peace of mind.

After the middle-aged Taoist finished speaking, the others also smiled and nodded.

But what they didn't know was that before entering the Wheel of Life and Death, Quan Jiuxing had privately given that heavy treasure to Qiu Jiu. At the final moment of life and death, when facing the equally talented Wang Lang who revealed the treasure bestowed by his Ten-Step Court master, Quan Jiuxing no longer had anything with which to contend.

The same situation was occurring in the Ten-Step Court and the Pure Land Sect. They were all assessing their losses, and the results showed minimal losses for their own side, because they had all secretly brought in magic-treasure-level killing artifacts.

"Wang Lang is certainly going to claim first place this time. And there are the equally powerful Liang Liang and Miao Zhengyi. If they then ally with the other two sects, eliminating enemies in any path will be nothing more than slicing melons and dicing vegetables."

The Sword King Xiahua, his long robes flapping, gazed deeply at the spherical mountain in the center.

"Amitabha, the Pure Land's destination is to reside in righteousness, and to subdue is to depart from evil…"

Master Yisong sat cross-legged on a colossal rock, his eyelids slightly lowered.

...

This was an endless realm of darkness, where gale-force winds howled and spiritual energy currents raged. If an ordinary person were to fall here, their soul would be instantly annihilated by the gales, and their physical body would be pulverized into dust by the currents in an instant.

Even a Core Formation cultivator, without a powerful treasure for protection, could not survive more than a few breaths of time here.

It was as if no living beings existed here, only boundless darkness extending infinitely. Occasionally, large and small meteorites would hurtle through the air, colliding with each other.

In a certain part of this turbulent space, a colossal meteorite, over a thousand zhang in size, slowly drifted. Often, smaller meteorite belts in its path were scattered by its massive body upon impact, vanishing and shooting off into the endless void.

With each collision, a greenish light would flicker along the edges of the large meteorite, resembling the flash of a cultivator's immortal art.

What was even more bizarre was that three individuals sat cross-legged at the very front of this colossal meteorite. Their long hair draped several zhang to the ground, and their clothes were ragged, merely strips of cloth hanging from their bodies.

The three kept their eyes tightly closed. Only when a meteorite appeared in front of them would one of them occasionally raise a hand, and a vast amount of heaven and earth primordial energy, powerful enough to change the expression of a Nascent Soul ancestor, would directly spread outwards.

Following this, a trace of green light would illuminate the front of the colossal meteorite. The large and small meteorites that collided with it would instantly turn into dust upon touching the green light. The edges of the colossal meteorite remained completely unharmed, save for the flashing light.

But on this day, among the three individuals at the front of the meteorite, one suddenly raised his head, revealing a gaunt and shriveled face. At this moment, a sharp glint flashed in his eyes, as if directly cleaving through all obstacles ahead, instantly parting a channel through the gales, and the turbulent currents within slowed considerably.

"I sense a familiar aura, right ahead! Perhaps, soon we can return there, and at that time, everything will change…"

As the meteorite slowly drifted, an incredibly ancient voice suddenly resonated throughout this space from one of the three figures at the front.

As his words fell, the surrounding gales momentarily paused, while the spatial turbulence raged even more wildly.

This voice carried endless hatred, as if desiring to slaughter all living beings. What was terrifying was that behind these three individuals, on the meteorite, countless figures sat densely packed.

They were similarly gaunt, ragged individuals, stretching as far as the eye could see! Each of them exuded a powerful aura, and as the ancient voice rang out, many of them raised their heads, their eyes cold and filled with monstrous killing intent beneath their disheveled long hair.