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External influence?

Chen Xuan thought of the purple smoke cascading down from Kunlun Mountain, and those uninvited guests in the Sect dressed in modern attire.

Though the information gathered just now was already considerable, he knew it was not yet the time to rest.

"In the Artifact Refining room of the Sect, I saw many corpses. They... don’t look like residents of the Six Kingdoms. Moreover, some erosion phenomenon is occurring within Nine Sons Peak. Do you know about this?"

"If the erosion you mentioned refers to the Xumi Chaos," the figure replied, "Indeed, that is one of the external factors. Approximately a hundred years ago, some people broke into the Grotto Heaven through the cracks of Xumi Chaos. But they are not troublesome; on the contrary, they have been well-behaved within the Grotto Heaven, even worshiping that temple as a sacred place."

"Ah?" Chen Xuan did not expect to hear such words from this person, "Did they mention their origins?"

"Of course, they call themselves the Evangelical Association."

Evangelical Association!

Hearing this term again, Chen Xuan found himself not as surprised.

He had already had a premonition as to why the dead on the Dimensional Limit Mechanism’s flying ship showed signs of a battle before the crash—besides the Evangelical Association, who else at the time dared to thwart the Mechanism’s plans?

Another doubt had also been answered at this moment.

He once suspected that before Liu Shuyue slayed the dragon, the barrier between the two worlds was already pierced, allowing the Shadow Demon, which should never have appeared in the other world, to possess Su Xingwan.

Facts proved his suspicion was correct.

This intrusion point unexpectedly connected the two worlds.

And the ones who discovered it first were the members of the Evangelical Association.

"Why did they create the jade amulet?"

"I’m not so sure. There were many difficult-to-understand words in what they said, sounding like Western Regions dialect," the figure replied truthfully. "According to them, the jade amulet can absorb magical power and is considered a divine gift. In my view, it is purely superstition. Taking the treasures from the Treasure Vault filled with Spiritual Qi and refining them into junk—naturally this junk would also be imbued with the glow of Spiritual Qi."

"Huh?" Chen Xuan asked in surprise, "Are there really treasures in the Treasure Vault?"

He thought that it was just a vision seen by Liu Shuyue in a dream.

"The Grotto Heaven is not equivalent to an illusion. The Lotus Cloud Sect has been operating for many years, and naturally, its foundation is substantial," she replied nonchalantly. "Actually, that’s just a small part of the treasures in the vault. The Sect houses numerous precious items beyond count."

Even a small part is treasure!

"Why didn’t you stop them? With your power, it should be easy to do," Chen Xuan asked.

"Xumi Chaos is the force of world laws; I can only go with the flow. As for those people, I could stop them, but what need is there?" the figure replied calmly. "It is their opportunity; as long as it doesn’t threaten the Sect, I won’t interfere. Those treasures were considered precious over a thousand years ago, but now they are just relics no one appreciates."

"Over a thousand years?" Chen Xuan was startled, "The Lotus Cloud Sect has been around for so long? When did the Evangelical Association come in?"

"About two hundred years ago."

Two hundred years... The time span is too vast, and two centuries ago, the Dimensional Limit Mechanism even existed.

This only indicates a clear time discrepancy between the locations; it cannot be taken as evidence to gauge the historical timeline of the Evangelical Association.

"But can an eroded space be considered an opportunity? They’re just a group of intruders," Chen Xuan couldn’t help but complain, finding the Lotus Cloud Sect somewhat too welcoming.

If the Evangelical Association hadn’t invaded the Grotto Heaven, or been eliminated by the Lotus Cloud Sect upon entry, the Mechanism’s counterattack plan wouldn’t have implicated Liu Shuyue’s world.

"Just like you entering this Grotto Heaven world," she replied matter-of-factly. "Your arrival can be your own opportunity, or someone else’s opportunity. There’s no reason for me to intervene hastily."

"Uh..." Chen Xuan was momentarily speechless.

Saying so seemed to make sense.

If he hadn’t met Liu Shuyue here, no one would have guided Ji Yun and Ji Lian. Without guidance, the siblings might reach a considerable level but wouldn’t have the later Lotus Cloud Sect and Sect cultivation techniques.

If there were no Lotus Cloud Sect, Liu Shuyue wouldn’t have come into existence—this causal loop fits precisely closed.

And all of this is based on the other’s non-intervention philosophy.

But why did so many people die in artifact refining?

Initially, he thought it was because they accidentally triggered Treasure Vault’s defense mechanisms or the Sect’s punishment for their plunder of the vault, but hearing her speak, it seemed the Lotus Cloud Sect wasn’t opposed to what they did.

Chen Xuan asked this unresolved question.

"It’s because of the refining method they used," the figure sighed. "Among the many artifact refining techniques in the Library Pavilion, they chose a wild method. This technique originated from the ocean Demon Fiend and is a replica captured by the Witch Gathering Hall, not suitable for human use. Forcibly refining results in the outcome you’ve seen."

Regardless of life or loss, it is all part of opportunity, so even if they used the Demon Fiend’s wild method, the Lotus Cloud Sect wouldn’t discourage them.

Chen Xuan twitched his mouth; all those corpses were the price they paid for artifact refining?

Speaking of which, these Evangelicals are quite unusual.

Without the guidance of an Immortal Master, they managed to self-learn the artifact refining techniques, and even knowing the risks, they continued one after another, unlike an organization supposedly of snakes and rats as described by the Mechanism.

Chen Xuan had reason to believe that the jade amulet refined by the Evangelical Association in the Sect was precisely the key item for evolving the nanobots into nano-living bodies.

At this time, a wound suddenly appeared on the figure’s shoulder again.

It almost extended from the left shoulder to the chest.

Blood surged from the pure white section, making Chen Xuan furrow his brows. For ordinary people, this extent of injury was undoubtedly fatal.

"Are you sure you’re okay?"

She glanced down at the wound, seeming somewhat troubled, "It has never been so troublesome before, but now the situation is different."

"Different?" Chen Xuan immediately followed, "It’s related to the purple smoke on Kunlun Mountain, isn’t it! This matter is complex to explain; it’s linked to a crisis from another world. I came to visit the Lotus Cloud Sect to investigate how much of a threat the Star God coin poses to this side—"

"It’s okay, you don’t need to explain," the figure interrupted, "I’ve said before, the fate of this world is destined, sooner or later the fortress will collapse. Moreover, the enemies invading the Grotto Heaven and Inner Demons are of the same grade; neither you nor I can do anything about it."

Invaders... on par with Inner Demons?

Chen Xuan’s heart sank, "Where is it?"

"In the depths of the Grotto Heaven, you can’t enter," she then smiled with ease, "The only concern Ji Yun has is whether the jade amulet carved especially for you can be put to use before the Lotus Cloud Sect vanishes—this is also the purpose I’ve fought until now. Now that you’re here, the Lotus Cloud Sect has no regrets anymore."

The healing speed of the shoulder wound was evidently much slower than that of the hand.

Even before this wound disappeared, another bloodstain appeared on her right arm.

"It’s time to leave," the figure’s tone quickened slightly. "The complete collapse of the Grotto Heaven will take at least a few days. Since you can freely enter and leave the Grotto Heaven, there’s plenty of time to take those you care about and leave together."

After saying this, she raised her hand pointing at Chen Xuan.

"Wait—" Just as Chen Xuan spoke, a strong dizziness suddenly hit him, and he involuntarily closed his eyes. The next moment when he opened them, he was already ejected from the white branches, falling from mid-air to the ground.