Eternal Life: I Can Control My Essence Qi-Chapter 236 - 83: Turbulent Seas (Part 2)

Wanchuan Ancestor sat cross-legged, his expression grim, with an undisguisable sense of defeat and pain in his eyes.

Perhaps he hadn't realized the planning of True Yang Ancestor and the others beforehand, but with the three of them appearing alone in Fubo Sea, it was easy to deduce where the rest of the forces were.

Yet even though he gained insight into the opponent's plan, he was powerless, unable to stop the situation from progressively deteriorating.

"One misstep, and the whole game is lost!"

"Pity my Fuhai Sect's foundation built over a thousand years, is it all going to crumble in my hands..."

Inside Wanchuan Ancestor's heart, there was still a strong sense of reluctance and regret.

What he regretted most was not waking up early enough, always maintaining a strong posture to strive for benefits, which ultimately offended potential allies and led him down the same path as Pingdu Sect.

Being the leader is hard, especially if you don't have an overwhelming advantage; you're often the most targeted and besieged.

But during those years of prosperity and glory, who could have thought it would lead to this desolate situation today?

"Master!"

At this moment, Lord Haihe's Divine Thought came, with a touch of sadness in his voice:

"A disciple below just reported, Junior Brother Zhou... his Soul Lamp has extinguished!"

Upon hearing this, Wanchuan Ancestor felt a sudden stifle in his heart, and after a long silence, he spoke bitterly:

"I am the one who harmed him, it's me as the master being incompetent, failing to detect the conspiracy early, leading him to lose his life needlessly."

"Not only him, but I fear your Haihe Association, along with Dongliu Alliance, Yuan Mountain Bai Clan, their leaders have also been eliminated to create a leaderless situation."

"Now with leaders dead, we're trapped in Fubo Sea, no one to lead, sect forces within the Twenty-four Continents are fighting independently, being pinpointed for elimination, one by one, which is just a matter of time."

"I fear at most within ten days or half a month, they can clear the entire Da Li territory, then gather hundreds of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, construct Arrays on the spot, and with Array against Array, with collective strength, break through our Mountain Gate Array."

Hearing his words, Lord Haihe was silent for a long time before slowly speaking, his voice somewhat hoarse:

"...Then Master, what should we do now?"

"Wait!"

Wanchuan Ancestor's eyes were deep, and he spoke softly:

"The Sect's thousand-year legacy still has some foundation, I have a way to escape."

"But now the timing isn't right, True Yang and the others outside are watching like tigers, we must patiently wait."

"How long must we wait?"

Lord Haihe couldn't help but inquire:

"Many Junior Brothers and Sisters below, and some younger ones, they might not be able to endure for much longer."

The Floating Island on the sky can withstand the siege of three Golden Core cultivators, not only due to its strong Array but also because of several Foundation Establishment masters guarding critical nodes of the Array.

But each fierce collision, the backlash of Magical Power Mechanism, and prolonged attrition are huge burdens.

Even with Spirit Pills and Spirit Stones to restore Magical Power and replenish energy, ultimately they're not made of steel; once they push to the limit and the tight strings snap, then all is over.

"Rest assured, it won't be long."

Wanchuan Ancestor's tone carried a hint of firmness:

"The Magical Power of Golden Core Realm Cultivators isn't infinite either."

"When they clear the Twenty-four Continents and large numbers of Foundation Establishment come to support, they will inevitably relax for just a breath or two; that's our chance."

"Go open the treasury, release all the top-grade Spirit Stones and Spirit Pills; supporting for ten days to half a month shouldn't be difficult."

"Understood, I got it."

Lord Haihe responded and withdrew his Divine Thought.

"Sigh..."

He sighed deeply in his heart:

"Qingxu, I have let you down..."

......

The flames of war sweeping from south to north engulfed the entire Da Li territory.

Three Major Sects had long planned jointly, rapidly assaulting various industries, stations, and bases of Fuhai Sect, pushing the brutal and fierce battles to a climax instantly.

And this battle is certainly not limited to the Four Major Golden Core Powers.

Within Da Li territory, numerous forces both nominally and practically affiliated with Fuhai Sect were struck down as rebel forces immediately after the public declaration from Lingyang Sect, Shanhe Sect, and Dugu Family, triggering countless upheavals in an instant.

Plots of betrayal, turning coats in battle, collusion and slander, oppression taking advantage of the situation... so many acts keep playing out.

The standoff on Fubo Sea continues, and the conflicts within the Twenty-four Continents grow more intense; many Marketplaces and stations are destroyed, with opportunists and plunderers constantly emerging.

All of Da Li fell into chaos within just a few hours.

And at the same time:

Zhang Yao crossed thousands of miles, flying from Qian Province to quietly arrive in Liang Continent.

Liang Continent is located south of Da Li, close to the Immortal Gate Island familiar to Zhang Yao; due to the presence of a super volcano, more than half the territory is desert and gobi areas.

"Here I am..."

Zhang Yao slowly decreased his Escape Light, landing on the giant volcanic crater.

"This place really is grand."

He looked out, seeing the lake within the crater stretching hundreds of miles, as blue as a gem mirror, prompting a sigh:

"So marvelous."

This giant volcano within Liang Continent, locals named 'Prison Gate Mountain', reportedly erupted thousands of years ago, permanently altering the landscape within miles, its obscuring ash covering half of Da Li for half a year.

Hundred years ago, no one expected—Five Elements Wanderer left the Secret Realm hidden within this giant volcano.

"Even with Daoist Technique and Spiritual Artifact for protection, Foundation Establishment master dare not linger in the magma."

"The only ones truly exploring the interior regions of the volcano are those at the Golden Core Level, but the interior of this 'Prison Gate Mountain' is too vast, no one expected Arrays could be built inside..."

Zhang Yao thought this, growing more respectful toward Five Elements Wanderer of the past.

No one ever anticipated that Five Elements Wanderer Liu Cang's prowess in Array had reached Level four, able to withstand the power of billions of molten magma, even reversing to harness this natural power to achieve his own Array.

It's through the endless Power of Earth's Magma that the completely sealed Five Elements Secret Realm has sustained for two thousand years.

"Such prowess in Arrays is the ultimate pursuit in the Path of Array Refining and Body Integration."

"Yet even Great Cultivator at Divinity Transformation might not engrave such massive complex Arrays on their body..."

Zhang Yao adjusted his breath by the lakeside, then used Water Resistant Daoist Skill and entered into the volcanic lake.

Though a Five Elements Secret Realm is hidden within the Prison Gate Mountain region, the Four Major Golden Core Powers haven't sent any to seal or guard it, nor set any Arrays, basically leaving it unchecked.

After all, this place is too vast; whether constructing Arrays or dispatching manpower, would make too much noise, alerting everyone of the treasure.

Over the past hundred years:

Countless forces have searched overtly or covertly throughout Da Li territory for the location of the Five Elements Secret Realm, dreaming of ascending instantly, only to meet failure.

This proves sufficiently that the entrance to the Five Elements Secret Realm within Prison Gate Mountain is extremely concealed; in normal circumstances, it's almost impossible to discover.

"Hoo..."

After a moment, Zhang Yao reached the bottom of the lake, then used Earth Escape Technique, moving underground.

He hadn't traveled far when he felt the temperature around him rising sharply, clearly nearing the area where magma rages.

"Must be careful!"

A trace of seriousness emerged in Zhang Yao's eyes; he utilized protective Daoist Technique, and transformed Thousand Change Glaze Qi into protective Spiritual Artifact, activating it.

After a few breaths:

"Boom..." 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

The scene suddenly became a vivid red, as intense light and heat ravaged the surrounding.

Looking around, the count of molten lava flowing in fixed channels, carrying near-melting temperatures, was impossible to determine.

The Magma Zone has arrived.