Chapter 664 - 338: Arrivals from the Immortal Sect
As time passed, several brilliant streaks of light appeared in the sky outside the passage. They shot from the distant horizon like meteors, coming to a steady stop at the entrance of the Ice Cave in the blink of an eye.
The five beams of light gradually dissipated, revealing five figures with the bearing of Immortals.
The arrivals were the five Golden Core Level Cultivators from the Five Great Immortal Sects, who were stationed in Ice City.
Of these five Golden Core Cultivators, the one at the very front was a Golden Core Steward from the Infinite Daoist Sect. Though his hair was white with age, his eyes were as deep as an abyss. He wore a long cyan robe with a golden belt, which was inlaid with a sparkling white gemstone. In his hand, he held an unadorned duster, each wave of which seemed to stir the surrounding Spiritual Qi.
His expression was stern, and he possessed an intimidating aura without being angry, inspiring awe and fear in all who looked upon him.
Another, slightly younger Golden Core Cultivator was from the Medicine Immortal Sect. He was dressed in black martial attire, with sharp eyebrows and star-like eyes that held a piercing glint. His black hair was casually tied back, giving him a dashing and heroic appearance.
The other three Golden Core Cultivators each had their own distinct characteristics.
From the Celestial Sword Immortal Sect was a young man in a white robe with a longsword on his back, his expression solemn, resembling a Sword Immortal;
from the Lingxi Immortal Sect was a middle-aged Female Cultivator in a red robe, her expression cold and severe, giving off an unapproachable air;
and the last was an old man from the Carefree Immortal Sect. He wore a black robe and, despite his average build, was hale and hearty.
Upon seeing the five Golden Core Cultivators arrive together, the disciples from the Five Great Immortal Sects, who had already cleared the crowd and were guarding the Ice Cave, immediately and respectfully approached their respective Cultivators to report on the situation inside.
These disciples wore the attire of their respective Sects, their faces filled with reverence.
After the five Golden Core Cultivators had each been briefed on the situation, they exchanged a look, nodded, and strode steadily into the Ice Cave.
Although they couldn’t pass the boundary within the cave, they could still enter it.
When the five of them reached the invisible barrier and each made an attempt to pass, they all fell into deep thought.
A moment later, the old man from the Carefree Immortal Sect swept his gaze over the other four and asked in a low voice, "Nothing like this has ever happened in the Profound Origin Secret Realm in all its hundreds of years, and the Five Great Immortal Sects have always coexisted peacefully. But now... I wonder which Immortal Sect’s ancestor has made a move?"
At his words, the expressions of the other four darkened. The young Golden Core Cultivator from the Medicine Immortal Sect snorted, "Without proof, it’s best not to make baseless accusations. We wouldn’t want to damage our peaceful relations."
However, the old man from the Infinite Daoist Sect ignored the insinuation in the words of the one from the Carefree Immortal Sect and said:
"If someone had this ability, wouldn’t it be better to just seal another Immortal Sect directly? I consider myself fairly knowledgeable about Arrays. I just tried using our Sect’s Tier Five Array-Breaking Order, and it had no effect. This Array Barrier is clearly beyond Tier Five. At present, even my Infinite Daoist Sect cannot deploy a Tier Six Array Barrier. This was likely not created by human hands. I fear something has gone wrong within the Secret Realm itself."
At this, the expressions of the other four grew even more grim.
The Infinite Daoist Sect’s knowledge and research of Arrays were unquestionable, and their standing in the field was nearly supreme. It could be said that the Infinite Daoist Sect’s contributions to the current stability of the Ice and Fire Cultivation Immortality Realm were indispensable!
The Profound Origin Secret Realm held considerable resources and was an important source of external assets for the Ice and Fire Cultivation Immortality Realm.
If something were to happen to the Secret Realm, it would be an extremely grave matter for the entire Cultivation Immortality Realm.
If this led to the Secret Realm being sealed off, the Cultivation Immortality Realm would likely suffer a tremendous impact.
At this moment, the atmosphere in the Ice Cave became exceptionally tense. The surrounding air seemed to freeze, creating an oppressive feeling. The frost on the cave walls shimmered with a faint light, reflecting the grave expressions on everyone’s faces.
But just then, on the other side, within the Secret Realm, several people were waving their hands, their mouths opening and closing as if they were trying to say something.
Those gesticulating Innate Martial Artists were all probationary Outer Sect disciples of the Immortal Sects, tasked with managing affairs within the Secret Realm. As long as they reached the Qi Cultivation stage, they could officially become Outer Disciples.
Although the five Golden Core Cultivators could neither hear them nor extend their Divine Sense across, all five were capable of reading lips.
They began to decipher what the probationary disciples were saying. After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the expressions of all five changed dramatically.
They exchanged a look, and their eyes were all filled with horror!
The Profound Origin Secret Realm actually had a master—and it was a place where an Immortal was nourishing their Divine Soul!
The current situation was caused by a wisp of that Immortal’s Divine Soul awakening, which had also produced several changes!
They immediately had their respective disciples bring in paper and brushes to transcribe the contents of the booklet the people on the other side were displaying.
As their disciples quickly took down the information, the five Golden Core Cultivators read the transcribed content, their expressions growing heavier and their breathing becoming more ragged!
The appearance of these rules was nothing short of an upheaval, completely subverting the long-standing laws and customs of the Five Great Immortal Sects of the Cultivation Immortality Realm!
Among them, three things—the Ten Thousand Races Spirit Seal, the altars, and the Points system—were a chance for the so-called common people at the bottom to rise up and overturn their fate!
For the Immortal Sects, this was by no means a good thing!
The resources in the Cultivation Immortality Realm were finite. If everyone wanted to become a Cultivator, then those resources would naturally dwindle. And when resources became scarce, the amount available to those at the top would also decrease. It was a chain reaction.
Besides, if everyone was climbing up the ladder, who would be left to do all the work at the bottom?
These common people, wanting to change their destiny, would develop the Realm of Ten Thousand Races to make sacrifices. But development takes time and involves conflict. It would be much faster to just take resources from the Cultivation Immortality Realm and sacrifice them instead!
This meant that the resources of the Cultivation Immortality Realm, instead of increasing, would actually begin to decline!
Among the new rules, several were the most tempting—irresistible to anyone who learned of them—