The Yunmeng Pavilion Master exchanged a few more words with Cui Hao, left behind a promise that Yunmeng Pavilion would give its full support in the Great Calamity, and departed with a cluster of elders.
He asked neither about the contents of Bai Xuanling's jade token nor about Cui Hao's subsequent arrangements.
Zheng Zhaoling, the core disciple, was in fact a carefully chosen buffer by Yunmeng Pavilion.
First, having the core disciple demonstrate the pavilion's seriousness about the matter. Second, she could coordinate affairs. And third, the core disciple would naturally act in the sect's interest—there was no risk of her being swayed by personal gain.
After all, the Eighteen Immortal Sects would ultimately be led by core disciples. The stake was already paramount.
Should future disagreements lead to conflict, it would not be a clash between Bai Xuanling and all of Yunmeng Pavilion. And naturally, Yunmeng Pavilion had no intention of making its own core disciple a scapegoat.
This arrangement merely gave both sides a breathing space.
This was also why Chu Xingchen typically dealt directly with Xu Jin and Daoist Yuyang.
As for Bai Xuanling's explanation of the opportunity for immortality—that only after the Great Calamity passed and the Heavenly Dao returned to normal would the Tribulation Transcendence cultivators have their chance to ascend…
The Yunmeng Pavilion Master was not particularly taken by this promise.
Though for high-level cultivators, such a promise was indeed very tempting—especially given the precedent of Chu Xingchen having actually helped Bai Xuanling achieve True Immortality.
But no matter how tempting, a painted cake could not fill one's stomach.
They were all old foxes of a thousand years. Everyone understood that painted cakes could not satisfy hunger.
The Yunmeng Pavilion Master was merely using this matter to make a statement—regarding the Great Calamity, Yunmeng Pavilion was not indifferent. Yunmeng Pavilion also had Tribulation Transcendence cultivators who needed to achieve immortality.
At the very least, for the pavilion's high-level cultivators, quelling the Great Calamity in exchange for an opportunity at immortality was a perfectly equitable trade.
Until the Great Calamity was resolved, Yunmeng Pavilion had its own intrinsic motivation to see the task through—not acting reluctantly under Bai Xuanling's coercion.
This was a subtle disclosure of their true position, and it represented Yunmeng Pavilion's genuine stance.
For a matter of this magnitude, Yunmeng Pavilion could never make an absolute commitment.
As long as the words were not spoken aloud, no one had to take responsibility.
But once the words left one's lips, one became their slave.
After all, flexibility was the way of the world.
Clearly, Cui Hao understood this disclosure.
And he should understand the boundary, and recognize that Zheng Zhaoling had been deliberately positioned nearby from the very start.
First, to become familiar with the other party. Second, to prepare for this exact moment.
When great sects acted, they looked far ahead while also attending to every near-term detail, doing everything that needed doing and could be done in advance.
After the Yunmeng Pavilion Master departed with his entourage of elders…
The small courtyard was once again left with only Zheng Zhaoling and Cui Hao, who held the jade token.
Zheng Zhaoling glanced at the jade token in his hand and asked unprompted:
"Do I need to step away for a moment?"
"No need." Cui Hao gripped the jade token. "Let me review the contents first. If it's something I can show you, I will. If not, you'll follow my arrangement."
Zheng Zhaoling nodded gently, then picked up her sunflower seeds and resumed cracking them.
After a few moments, she heard Cui Hao suck in a sharp breath. His entire expression changed, and the shock in his eyes was unmistakable.
Zheng Zhaoling teased: "What, is the sky falling and they need you to patch it up?"
"More or less." Cui Hao immediately stowed the jade token in his spatial ring, showed it to Zheng Zhaoling, and rose at once. "I can't believe Senior Bai handed me something this urgent with such a calm face."
His tone carried a note of disbelief: "I thought it was something minor."
Zheng Zhaoling saw that Cui Hao was genuinely serious, and pressed:
"What's the situation?"
"The demon race in the Northern Julu Continent has begun relocating spirit veins, preparing to activate the grand formation. There are suspected Heavenly Demons overseeing it." Cui Hao spoke concisely. "You need to chase after your Pavilion Master immediately. Tell him to mobilize as many Tribulation Transcendence cultivators as possible."
"The mobilization status of the other Eighteen Immortal Sects in Northern Julu Continent is unknown—it seems they're still assessing the situation. But they've already granted us full authority over the spirit-vein relocation."
"We can directly command any sect's teleportation formation in Northern Julu Continent to transport us."
Cui Hao hurriedly copied a note onto a slip of paper and handed it to Zheng Zhaoling:
"This is the assembly point. Have your Pavilion Master make arrangements first, give a brief situation report, then come find me immediately. I'm taking you to coordinate with the other immortal sects."
"A cunning rabbit has three burrows. What they let us discover may not be the most important one."
"In short, this matter is critical—so critical that I'm starting to wonder if Senior Bai is deliberately making things difficult for me."
"Fellow Daoist Zheng, this time we truly stand together to hold back the sky!"
Zheng Zhaoling watched Cui Hao speak without pause, her expression unchanged. She lowered her gaze to glance at the note in her hand, reading the address written there.
Clearly, Cui Hao had no idea just how absurd and impossible it was to mobilize so many Tribulation Transcendence cultivators the way he described.
The final reserve of a sect could not be summoned simply by calling a name. The matter's credibility and urgency both required internal assessment.
Without a certain amount of time, one might not even get face-to-face with a single Tribulation Transcendence cultivator.
However…
Zheng Zhaoling nodded without hesitation: "Leave it to me."
"Thank you." Cui Hao nodded gratefully.
Eastern Divine Continent, Yuliu River.
The upper half of Chu Xingchen's protective robes had been destroyed. On his left arm, a wound from a slice of Origin Power had yet to heal. His complexion was somewhat pale.
Several other Tribulation Transcendence cultivators also looked somewhat worse for wear.
A Celestial Demon that wielded the Dao Authority, had fused numerous strange powers, and was fighting with suicidal desperation.
The good news: no Tribulation Transcendence cultivator had been taken down by Xu Linglong.
The bad news: not a single one had escaped unscathed.
One Tribulation Transcendence cultivator had nearly perished alongside Xu Linglong.
And this was in a situation of numerical superiority and encirclement.
By the later stages, Chu Xingchen suspected that Xu Linglong had long since lost consciousness, its body driven purely by instinct—or perhaps its mind had been entirely eroded by the Dao Authority, leaving only battle instinct and the authority it could wield without restraint.
Especially the terrifying wish-power it released indiscriminately, expanding like a domain.
Chu Xingchen gasped for breath, staggering slightly as he found his footing.
Many of the surrounding Tribulation Transcendence cultivators were likely in similar condition.
"Sorry for the trouble, seniors and fellow Daoists." Chu Xingchen exhaled. "Everyone's injuries are considerable, and you'll all need proper rest…"
Chu Xingchen's words were cut short.
A Tianyan Sect Tribulation Transcendence cultivator looked at him, suddenly recalling something, and interrupted directly:
"Rest is fine, but don't bring out those pills you refined for everyone to take."
"Not even if they're incredibly effective."