The Demon with Holy Radiance

Yang An then laid out his plan concerning the Golden Soul Sect.

Although he wasn’t sure if the Workshop Master already knew that the Central Continent had long since collapsed, Yang An didn’t intend to hide anything from him regarding the Golden Soul Sect.

First Huan, and now the Bow Lady, had provided mounting evidence that the Central Continent had completely collapsed back when it was sealed off. The Five Great Celestial Sects were no more, and the path to leaving this world was severed for good.

But Yang An still wanted to confirm it with his own eyes.

Otherwise, if the goal everyone in the world was striving for turned out to be a lie or a colossal mistake, it would be a blow more devastating than the world’s impending collapse.

And this could only serve as Yang An’s baseline assumption. With that in mind, he could explore other possibilities as much as he could.

"I’ve received reliable intelligence. The Golden Soul Sect is trying to support the Great Virtue Temple, helping them gain control of the Treasure Temple Domain and gather all Four Domains Command Tokens to enter the Central Continent. It’s even possible the Senluo and Celestial Dragon Domains have a hand in this..."

Gathering the Command Tokens determined whether the Four Domains can enter the Central Continent, so the other two domains would never just stand by and watch.

Yang An and the Workshop Master were well aware that if all Four Domains managed to collect the Command Tokens, their own plans would become completely unfeasible.

At that point, they would have to face not just the Golden Soul Sect, but all the major powers of the Four Domains.

The stakes were clear at a glance.

"So..."

The air of weariness around the Workshop Master instantly vanished.

"So I think we shouldn’t sabotage the Golden Soul Sect’s plan to support the Great Virtue Temple. Instead, we can use this opportunity to strike them at their core!"

Yang An’s words were concise.

In the end, it was all about getting the Command Token from the Golden Soul Sect. Rather than playing a slow game and causing trouble from the sidelines, it would be simpler to confront them directly—especially a Golden Soul Sect that had sent a large portion of its forces away.

But the Workshop Master firmly rejected Yang An’s idea.

"No!"

"The Scripture Defector Association’s overall strength is not enough to take on the Golden Soul Sect. Even if the Golden Soul Sect has sent many of its members to support the Great Virtue Temple, they are still too powerful for the Scripture Defector Association to challenge.

"Besides, I can’t get away right now to help you. On your own, you won’t be able to get the Golden Soul Sect’s Command Token.

"You were only able to kill that Insect Dao expert from the Golden Soul Sect because you had help. Your own strength isn’t enough to face their true upper echelons. Just stick to our original plan."

The Workshop Master’s goal was to proceed steadily. Although it would take a long time and involved many variables, it was also the most promising strategy.

He saw Yang An’s plan as far too reckless. One failure would mean losing everything; it was better to play it safe.

Although Yang An had unexpectedly killed a powerful Insect Dao expert, in the Workshop Master’s eyes, his Cultivation Level was still too low. Besides, killing that Insect Dao expert wasn’t something Yang An had accomplished alone.

The Workshop Master being unavailable meant that Yang An was the only one in the entire Scripture Defector Association who could face an Insect Dao expert. If anyone else encountered one, it would almost certainly result in a total party wipe.

Unable to get the Workshop Master’s help at this time, Yang An could only nod resentfully.

’I’m still not strong enough. If I were, I wouldn’t have to worry about all this.’

’But now that the Bow Lady has recovered and even improved, her support will allow me to unleash even greater strength.’

’On top of that, there’s the deal with Elder Monk Jin’e in the Consciousness Realm. If I can get the Jade Kagyu Vajra Body Seven-Colored Dust from him, my power will see a terrifying increase. At that point, maybe I won’t have to worry about any Insect Dao experts.’

Soon, Yang An took the Moon Talisman and the fully recovered Bow Lady, used the container to teleport away, and set off back to Chongwen State in the Fusheng Domain.

Only the Workshop Master remained. On the calm lake, the thick fog gradually dispersed, the water reflecting the vast, desolate expanse between heaven and earth.

The Workshop Master stood silently on the water’s surface, all alone, seemingly lost in thought.

After a long while, he suddenly looked up and muttered to himself.

"Kui, how much longer do you need?"

Across the desolate expanse, a gust of wind carried a familiar voice.

"Call me Miao Ye."

"..."

"To escape the Seal, I still need several years."

"But if you help me with all your strength, it might only take a year or so!"