Su Nu Peak, stone pavilion.
"There is still one year left before the Furnace of Creation closes. Sister Lin Yun sent word that the plan has begun." Mo Ningxiang put down her teacup and looked into the distance as she spoke.
Bai Suxin Bai Zun nodded slightly upon hearing this, "I hope that kid can succeed, otherwise the consequences will be a bit troublesome."
"Our family's foundation is almost depleted, and we can only pin our hopes on him now. There's another matter, according to reliable intelligence, the Myriad Ancients Domain will make a big move. Their target, I'm afraid, can only be our Tianyi Domain. The Myriad Ancients Great Venerable has endured for so long, and it's possible he will personally make a move this time."
Mo Ningxiang said with a solemn expression.
"Could he be trying to break the Great Venerable Oath?" Bai Suxin Bai Zun frowned instantly. In this Cloud World, the Nine Domains had all signed the Great Venerable Oath.
Among the Nine Domains, Great Venerables could not attack each other. Once the oath was broken, they would inevitably be jointly resisted by other Great Venerables.
After all, the strength of a Great Venerable had reached the advanced or even peak of the Free Realm. Such a powerful figure making a move would undoubtedly be a great threat to this Cloud World.
"The Great Venerable Oath is an oath between nine Great Venerables. If Brother Yi were still here, the Myriad Ancients Great Venerable would naturally not dare to act. But Brother Yi has been missing for over ten thousand years, and the Myriad Ancients Great Venerable can't wait any longer."
"Once the Myriad Ancients Great Venerable makes a move, we may not be able to cope. In fact, it's not just the Myriad Ancients Great Venerable who covets our Tianyi Domain; other domains also have their eyes on us."
"It is said that the Myriad Ancients Great Venerable has been in close contact with the one from the Fu Cang Domain recently. If the Myriad Ancients Great Venerable makes a move, the one from the Fu Cang Domain might also intervene." Mo Ningxiang sighed softly.
"Overall, it's because we don't have a Great Venerable," Bai Suxin Bai Zun also sighed, taking a sip of tea with a complicated expression.
Mo Ningxiang gave a bitter smile, "We have no idea what Brother Yi discovered back then. Apart from sending back news, it's truly difficult for us to figure out."
"But this is all we can do now. I hope Brother Yi has some contingency plans. Otherwise, once the Myriad Ancients Great Venerable attacks, we won't be able to resist."
...
Time quietly slipped by. After another half a year, various forces in the Tianyi Domain began to stir.
The opening of the Tianyi Pavilion's Five Pavilion Master Selection Competition naturally attracted countless gazes. Every hundred years, the Tianyi Pavilion would hold a competition for the replacement of its pavilion masters. Today, that moment had finally arrived.
Within the Five Pavilions, disciples from each pavilion were busy making preparations. Especially those disciples who had previously cultivated in the Furnace of Creation were now emerging from their seclusion after breakthroughs.
Breakthroughs and phenomena appeared almost daily, with the aura of the Divine Transformation Realm shaking the surroundings. Many forces that were heading to the Tianyi Pavilion looked up at the fluctuations of aura emanating from above the Tianyi Pavilion with awe.
Although Great Venerable Lin Yi had not appeared for over ten thousand years, witnessing so many Divine Transformation Realm experts emerge was truly astounding.
"There are only five days left until the Pavilion Master Selection Competition begins. Will the Furnace of Creation not close yet?" In a side courtyard, Gong Hanfeng looked at Qiu Jiqian with a slight frown.
After all, the Pavilion Master Selection Competition only happened once every century; missing it meant waiting for the next one. While the Furnace of Creation's opening period varied, it was of less importance compared to the Pavilion Master Selection Competition.
Qiu Jiqian also replied with a helpless expression, "The one in control of the Furnace of Creation is Venerable Yun. How can we disciples know? For now, we can only wait patiently."
*Dong!*
*Dong dong!*
Just as Qiu Jiqian and the others finished speaking, three bell tolls suddenly rang out. Gong Hanfeng and Qiu Jiqian exchanged a glance, then simultaneously moved and rushed out of the house.
Wen Qing, Bai Xinghan, and others also emerged from their respective rooms.
"It's the signal to gather all disciples. Could it be that the Furnace of Creation is about to close?" Wen Qing looked at Qiu Jiqian and Gong Hanfeng and asked.
Qiu Jiqian nodded slightly, "Perhaps. There are only five days left until the Pavilion Master Selection Competition. If it doesn't close soon, we'll miss the registration period. I wonder what level Commander Li has broken through to; it truly makes us eager to know. Alright, let's go together."
As soon as Qiu Jiqian finished speaking, he immediately swept towards the Grand Pavilion. Wen Qing and the others also showed excited expressions; after a year, they would finally see Commander Li Xuan again.
On the Grand Pavilion's plaza, disciples from the Five Pavilions arrived from different directions and stood in formation. The delegations from various forces who had received permission to observe were now looking at the high platform in the plaza with curiosity and anticipation.
These forces were sects that were affiliated with the Tianyi Domain. In recent days, they had been feeling the aura fluctuations of the Tianyi Pavilion disciples breaking through, and now, witnessing the emergence of talented disciples was truly a fortunate event.
"I, Deng, welcome all fellow daoists here today to witness the closing of the Tianyi Pavilion's Furnace of Creation. For now, please take your seats."
After the disciples of the Five Pavilions were all present, Deng Lun, after saluting Mo Ningxiang and the others, cupped his hands and surveyed the surroundings before speaking.
"Now, open the spacetime tunnel!"
*Buzz!*
As Deng Lun's voice fell, Mo Ningxiang and the Five Supreme Beings all made a move simultaneously. A stream of spiritual light was injected into the air, connecting and quickly forming a formation that merged into the void. With a buzzing sound, a spatial rift instantly appeared high in the sky.
*Whoosh whoosh whoosh!*
As the spatial rift stabilized, several piercing sounds of breaking through the air immediately echoed. Ma Tianyu, Xu Guoxiong, and others appeared one after another.
Time gradually passed. Qiu Jiqian and the others, who were waiting, exchanged glances, their expressions filled with surprise. Among the over a hundred disciples who emerged, Li Xuan's figure was nowhere to be seen. And after a minute had passed with no more disciples appearing, something was indeed not right.
"Welcome, Venerable Yun!"
Just then, Deng Lun and Yao Yulong suddenly bowed towards the void. Venerable Lin Yun's figure appeared in everyone's sight.
"This time, one hundred and fifty-six disciples entered the Furnace of Creation for cultivation. There is still one disciple currently breaking through, so I did not forcibly wake him. After he breaks through, I will naturally bring him out."
"As the Grand Pavilion Master Selection Competition is about to commence, the next opening time for the Furnace of Creation is yet to be determined," Venerable Lin Yun said softly, nodding her head slightly.
"Only Commander Li didn't come out. Could it be that Great Venerable Yun is referring to Commander Li?" Gong Hanfeng muttered in a low voice upon hearing this.
Qiu Jiqian nodded slightly, "Naturally, it's Commander Li. I thought I would see Commander Li today, but it seems we have to wait a few more days."
"You all should return and cultivate for two days. If you wish to participate in the Pavilion Master Selection Competition, you can find your respective pavilion masters to register later."
As Venerable Lin Yun's words fell, Deng Lun, the Grand Pavilion Master, nodded slightly and then looked at Ma Tianyu and the others.
After all, these disciples were all at the peak of the advanced Divine Transformation Realm, just one step away from breaking through. Once they broke through, they would become formidable opponents in this Pavilion Master Selection Competition.
"Yes!" Xu Guoxiong and Ma Tianyu, upon hearing this, bowed respectfully and then swept towards their respective sub-pavilions.
After Xu Guoxiong and the others returned to their sub-pavilions, Deng Lun cupped his hands again and announced, "Tonight, our Tianyi Pavilion will host a banquet. We sincerely hope all of you will grace us with your presence!"
"We thank Grand Pavilion Master Deng, thank all the Supreme Beings, and thank the Great Venerable's wife!" As Deng Lun's words fell, the lords of each force stood up and cupped their hands in gratitude.