True Lord Xuanxu's appearance was like a stabilizing pillar, instantly reversing the battle situation. Golden Core stage pressure, like a substantial mountain, pressed down; the three originally arrogant Shadow Snake Pavilion Foundation Establishment cultivators' faces turned deathly pale, eyes filled with unbelievable terror and fear. The leading Foundation Establishment late stage cultivator reacted fastest; almost the instant True Lord Xuanxu appeared, he roared: "Retreat!" Without hesitation, all three simultaneously erupted with intense black light, actually deploying some escape technique burning essence blood, transforming into three wisps of black smoke, fleeing for their lives in three different directions, speed far exceeding their arrival!
True Lord Xuanxu coldly snorted, not pursuing; merely gently waved his sleeve. An invisible yet tremendous force surged forth like a catastrophic wave, instantly pursuing those three fleeing wisps of black smoke. Puff! Puff! Ah! Two muffled sounds accompanied by a short scream; the two Foundation Establishment middle stage cultivators' black smoke wisps, like smoke struck by a boulder, instantly dispersed, falling from midair, life or death uncertain. Only the Foundation Establishment late stage cultivator's black smoke wisp violently shook, suddenly accelerated, ultimately disappearing at the horizon, but his aura already withered to the extreme, clearly having paid a tremendous price. With a wave of his hand, he drove away the powerful enemy, injured one, and let one escape. Golden Core might was terrifyingly so!
Below, Liu Yun, Mu Qingfeng, and others finally breathed a sigh of relief, bowing to True Lord Xuanxu: "Thank you for rescue, Senior Uncle (Master)!"
True Lord Xuanxu descended, gaze sweeping the bedraggled crowd, especially pausing briefly on Xiao Qi with his arms fixed and pale face, nodding slightly: "Good that you are unharmed. Receiving Chen Feng's earlier urgent message about discovering a Shadow Snake Pavilion important stronghold and rescuing villagers, the Sect Master sent me to provide support. Looks like your gains this time are far more than that." His gaze finally landed on the heavily sealed jade slip in Liu Yun's hand.
Liu Yun did not dare neglect, both hands presenting the jade slip, briefly summarizing the cave discovery, the Iron Mask Enforcer's appearance, and the terrifying information recorded in the jade slip. When hearing the name "Myriad Soul Devouring Spirit Formation," even with True Lord Xuanxu's Golden Core stage cultivation and temperament, his face suddenly became extremely grave, even flashing a trace of alarm. He took the jade slip, not immediately investigating, but saying in a deep voice: "This place is not safe to linger. Immediately follow me back to the sect!"
With True Lord Xuanxu's escort, the subsequent journey was smooth. The group with nearly a hundred villagers safely arrived at Clear Void Temple's mountain gate by sunset. Disciplinary disciples who had received news quickly came forward, properly settling the shocked Kaoshan Village villagers, checking their bodies, providing food and lodging. Liu Yun, Mu Qingfeng, Xiao Qi, and that crucial jade slip were directly taken by True Lord Xuanxu to Clear Void Temple's core restricted area — the Taixu Hall.
Inside Taixu Hall, the atmosphere was solemn and dignified. Sect Master True Lord Xuanying sat at the main seat, with white hair and beard, gaunt and refined features, eyes deep like the sea. On both sides, several profound-aura Elders at least Golden Core stage were present, including Xiao Qi's Master Xuanlin, the Disciplinary Elder, the Transmission of Virtue Elder, and other sect core high-ranking officials. Every gaze focused on the black jade slip Liu Yun presented. Liu Yun once more detailed the entire account. When True Lord Xuanxu personally broke the jade slip's outer restriction (effortlessly compared to Liu Yun's attempt), sharing its information through spiritual sense with all present high-ranking officials, the entire Taixu Hall fell into silence. A pin drop could be heard. Only that incomplete yet terrifying Myriad Soul Devouring Spirit Formation structure diagram, along with keywords like "Holy Lord Revival" and "Blackwater Marsh," like the coldest ice pick, pierced every Elder's mind.
After a long while, Disciplinary Elder True Lord Xuanlu suddenly struck the chair's armrest; that armrest made of thousand-year iron wood instantly turned to powder! His hair and beard stood on end, eyes wide, voice trembling slightly due to extreme anger: "Myriad Soul Devouring Spirit Formation! It is actually such a forbidden, heaven-defying demon formation! Shadow Snake Pavilion! How dare they?! Do they want to recreate the ancient demon calamity, turning the world into a ghost realm?!"
Transmission of Virtue Elder True Lord Xuanming's face was ashen; fingers trembling slightly: "Gathering myriad souls, devouring spiritual opportunities... once this formation is complete, it is absolutely not simply slaughtering creatures in one area. Looking at this formation diagram's evolution, its ultimate purpose likely uses massive soul power and yin evil to impact some seal, or... awaken some slumbering, requiring extreme negative energy ancient terrifying existence!" He looked at the Sect Master, "Brother, if the 'Holy Lord' mentioned in the jade slip is such an existence, its harm will probably be immeasurable!"
Xiao Qi's Master Xuanlin, his gaze sweeping over Xiao Qi's bandaged arms, eyes flashing with heartache, then turning extremely grave: "Blackwater Marsh... there the environment is special, yin energy converges, many living creature species; if selected as a formation site, indeed materials are abundant. Shadow Snake Pavilion's layout is profound, movements so large, probably not the work of a day. We must act immediately!"
Sect Master Xuanying had been silent all along; his deep gaze seemed to penetrate the jade slip, seeing a more distant future and deeper darkness. The heated discussions in the hall gradually quieted; everyone looked at him, awaiting his decision. Xuanying slowly raised his head, gaze sweeping every Elder present, finally landing on Liu Yun, Mu Qingfeng, and Xiao Qi, his voice steady yet carrying undeniable power and determination: "Disciple Xuanlu, immediately copy this jade slip, and with the highest-grade encrypted transmission, notify all core member sects of the Righteous Alliance without error! Make Shadow Snake Pavilion's conspiracy public! Disciple Xuanming, issue orders — Clear Void Temple enters first-level combat readiness starting today! All disciples outside, unless special circumstances, return within deadline! Resources shift to combat readiness! Disciple Xuanxu, you take the lead, joint Formation Court and Disciplinary Hall, immediately begin researching Myriad Soul Devouring Spirit Formation countermeasures! Also, dispatch elite secret scouts to Blackwater Marsh and other locations mentioned in the jade slip to verify intelligence! Disciple Xuanlin, these children brought back crucial intelligence, earning great merit, but also injured not lightly; arrange proper recovery and rest for them, follow-up missions may follow."
Commands issued one after another, clear and definite; Clear Void Temple, this massive machine, because of one small jade slip, began operating at unprecedented efficiency. The tremor within Taixu Hall would soon spread throughout the entire sect, then sweep the entire Righteous Alliance. A storm concerning countless living beings' survival was already upon them. And Clear Void Temple, as the sect first to discover and face this storm, must step forward. Xiao Qi stood below the hall, listening to the Sect Master's commands concerning world affairs, feeling the solemn yet passionate atmosphere in the hall, his heart surging. He knew from this moment, his personal grievances had thoroughly merged into this sweeping world battle between good and evil.