I have Immortality In The Cultivation World

Chapter 173: Chapter 171 Coercion and Bribery

Zhou Yi looked at the Creation Dew that had transformed from five hundred years of lifespan in front of the young tree, yet saw no changes in the sprouts.

His divine sense swept over it, and it had grown just a tiny bit.

At this rate, to grow into a Heaven-reaching Divine Wood, it would likely require the sacrifice of the entire population of the Nine Continents, only the Longevity Dao Fruit could sustain such consumption.

"There's always this feeling of being schemed against by the heavens!"

As Zhou Yi pondered, his expression subtly changed, and he took out an elder's token from his storage bag, receiving a message from Feng Yang.

—Tang junior brother, come quickly to the main hall, Five Spirits Sect has returned from the Nine Continents, inviting the Eastern Sea True Monarchs to discuss important matters!

"Five Spirits Sect!"

Zhou Yi's eyebrows raised slightly, the sect had assigned external affair disciples to monitor the news of the right and demon path swordfight across the Nine Continents.

In recent years, the Five Spirits Sect had gained notoriety, and after taking over a Profound Level Spirit Vein, they hadn't stopped their expansion, joining forces with the North Sea True Monarch to assassinate the Demon Path True Monarch, reportedly taking over several more Spirit Veins.

Compared to the relatively barren Eastern Sea, it would be difficult to attract the attention of the Five Spirits Sect.

After checking the message, Zhou Yi immediately turned into a streak of escape light and flew towards the main hall of the Earth Fire Palace, where he saw Feng Yang and all the real people of the sect.

"Greetings to Elder Tang!"

Sect Leader Yuan Qi and the rest of the real people quickly got up, bowed deeply, their faces showing unmistakable reverence.

Zhou Yi gave a lecture on the dao every month, from the first level of Qi Refinement up to the later stages of Foundation Establishment, covering many cultivation insights and spell secrets, after which the real people of the sect became confident that their escape skill speed was far superior to cultivators of the same level.

"No need for such courtesies. Feng elder brother, has the Five Spirits Sect returned to the Eastern Sea with a particular purpose in mind?"

"The specifics are still unclear, they only left ordinary disciples in the Eastern Sea, hard to reach the core of the sect."

Feng Yang, with a worried tone, said: "With the current might of the Five Spirits Sect, the cultivation resources of the Eastern Sea are not worthy of their attention, most likely the only thing they need are the Golden Elixir True Monarchs."

Zhou Yi nodded slightly: "So the Five Spirits Sect is planning to drag the various sects of the Eastern Sea onto their chariot?"

With the strength of the Dan Ding Sect, it takes decades to produce one true monarch, while the Five Spirits Sect has a shallow foundation, the disciples with Heavenly Spiritual Roots and Exotic Spirit Roots they recently recruited, would need over a hundred years to transcend tribulation and condense a Golden Core.

"It's very likely so."

Feng Yang asked: "Junior brother, what do you think?"

Zhou Yi shook his head and said: "The Demon Path is just weak, the Nascent Soul ancestors are still there, their foundation unharmed, going up now is just asking for death!"

Feng Yang nodded and said: "I also think so, but the Five Spirits Sect is powerful, what if they threaten or entice us?"

Zhou Yi pondered for a moment, then spoke.

"Elder brother should mention our seniority to them, I believe no one would dare to be too aggressive, it's better to wait some more years for the Demon Path to be completely defeated, then turning our attention to the Nine Continents wouldn't be too late."

"This old bone of mine, does indeed have some use!"

Feng Yang immediately realized, Earth Fire Palace having two real monarchs is not scary, but a dying real monarch is very scary!

The other real people, including Yuan Qi, who were listening, showed worried expressions upon hearing this, indeed, no one dared to provoke the dying Feng Yang, but once he passed away in a few decades, the Five Spirits Sect would surely try to swallow the Earth Fire Palace.

...

A month later.

Red Cloud Island.

Streaks of spiritual light flashed, and the aura was at least that of Foundation Establishment real people.

The Five Spirits Sect did not only invite the true monarchs from various sects, but Loose Cultivators at the level of Foundation Establishment also received invitations, and their purpose was clear.

The banquet was divided into major and minor seats, Foundation Establishment real people were in the outer hall at smaller seats, with tables laden with Spiritual Fruits and Spiritual Wine that they usually couldn't bear to consume, yet no one had the mind for it, all ears pricked up listening to the true monarchs talking in the inner hall.

Inner hall.

Zhou Yi and Feng Yang arrived the latest, they descended from their escape light and cupped their hands in greeting to Wan Bao before finding a vacant seat to sit down.

Wan Bao, with a Heaven-reaching Crown on his head and wearing a large purple vestment robe embroidered with the Yin Yang Five Elements pattern, sat solemnly at the top position in the middle of the hall, his aura appeared much stronger than it was back in the day.

"Tang Daoyou, in a blink of an eye, more than twenty years have passed, I trust you've been well."

Zhou Yi nodded and said, "The Eastern Sea is peaceful, so it's pretty good."

"Having spent a long time in the Nine Continents, I only then understood what the Cultivation World is. It's not just the resources that are scarce in the Eastern Sea."

Wan Bao laughed and said, "Now that Daoyou presides as the Supreme Elder in the sect, I wonder if you would return to your original sect after the demise of the Demon Path, and how the succession of the Earth Fire Palace will be carried on?"

Feng Yang's complexion changed slightly, he had thought about this issue before but with no alternative, he had always avoided discussing it. After all, the contributions Zhou Yi made after joining the Earth Fire Palace were clear for all to see.

Zhou Yi countered with a question, "I wonder if the Sect Leader of the Five Spirits Sect has any insights?"

"I can't speak of insights, but I do have some ideas..."

Wan Bao's gaze swept across the more than twenty True Monarchs in the hall, nearly encompassing the entire power structure of the Eastern Sea, and said, "The East Sea Cultivation World has a longstanding heritage from ancient times to the present, which is no worse than that of the Nine Continents. Why is there such a heaven and earth difference now?"

All the True Monarchs lowered their eyebrows and eyes, everyone was smart and guessed Wan Bao's purpose.

The elder of the White Rainbow Sect, Xie Zhenjun, took the initiative to say, "The Eastern Sea has been in endless strife since ancient times, with numerous sects fragmented. Today, a sect is established, and tomorrow it may dissolve, naturally it can't compare with the thousands of years of foundation of the Nine Continents sects!"

"Daoyou Xie is right, that's exactly why it can't match the Nine Continents."

Wan Bao's expression became stern, "The Five Spirits Sect now has eight True Monarchs, possesses four Spirit Veins in the Nine Continents, and rules over one-third of the Ji Continent. With such resources, the Eastern Sea could have been dispensable, but after all, it is where my ancestors originated!"

"The Five Spirits Sect is willing to share all cultivation resources, including the texts for breaking through the Golden Core to form a Nascent Soul, with everyone present here. We only hope that the East Sea Cultivation World can unite as one, so that our heritage can be passed on and endure!"

Such statements left all the True Monarchs dumbfounded, the coercion and bribery intent on annexing various sects was dressed up so righteously.

Xie Zhenjun was the first to respond, "With the Sect Leader's earnest heart, how can I not support it? The White Rainbow Sect is willing to merge into the Five Spirits Sect."

"Immeasurable Heavenly Honored One, Daoyou Xie's act of righteousness is truly a role model for the Eastern Sea!"

As Wan Bao said this, he looked at Zhou Yi with a smile that was not a smile, "If the Earth Fire Palace could join the Five Spirits Sect, when Daoyou Feng passes away, Daoyou Tang would not need to leave because of lack of resources. Wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?"

Feng Yang's face grew dark, and he silently savored the Spiritual Wine, for the thoughts of a man nearing death are the hardest to calm.

Zhou Yi shrugged his shoulders, it was time to make a heartfelt oath again, "If in the future I fail the Earth Fire Palace, may I lose five hundred years of my lifespan, this oath is witnessed by Heaven and Earth!"

"Junior brother!"

Feng Yang suddenly looked up, his voice trembling slightly, "Why must it come to this?"

"I have been well treated at the Earth Fire Palace, having great power as a Supreme Elder is much more comfortable than being managed by others back in the Nine Continents."

Zhou Yi didn't mention anything about gratitude, he simply made it clear that it was about interests, which would make Feng Yang trust him more. He then turned his head to look at the still smiling Wan Bao and spoke slowly.

"Since Daoyou Wan Bao has the secret texts for forming the Nascent Soul, you should be seeking a place for secluded cultivation, so why take on the role as the Sect Leader of the Five Spirits Sect? With the sect being newly established, there will be countless affairs to deal with, probably leaving you no time to cultivate!"

The True Monarchs in the hall nodded one after another, looking at Wan Bao, waiting for his explanation. Wan Bao's lifespan was only a few decades longer than Feng Yang's.

A gleam of sadness flashed through Wan Bao's eyes, but he forced a laugh, "I have already prepared the Spirit Objects for Nascent Soul formation, and after the final battle between the righteous and demonic paths, I will borrow the good fortune of united rightness encompassing the Nine Continents to try breaking through the Golden Core to form the Nascent Soul!"

This reason was barely enough to fool the True Monarchs, as cultivators took the concept of destiny very seriously.

Zhou Yi could now confirm that Wan Bao had learned of the changes in the world, after all, it was no secret among the high ranks of the Nine Continents. He decided to expose it straightforwardly.

"Back when I was cultivating in the sect, the elders said that in the past six hundred years, the Nine Continents have seen only one Xuan Xiao Daojun. Other True Monarchs, no matter how brilliant, have found it difficult to break through the Golden Core to form a Nascent Soul. Daoyou Wan Bao, with your exceptional talent and brilliance.

"Perhaps you could defy fate and rival the esteemed Xuan Xiao ancestor?"