Eternal Life: I Can Control My Essence Qi-Chapter 280 - 205: All-Out Confrontation (Part 2)

As his words finished, Elder Yuanxu and the Daoist Three Evils in the main seat both fell silent.

The situation is stronger than man, what can be done?

"Phew!"

Elder Yuanxu took a deep breath, seemingly making a certain decision, and spoke:

"Daoist Brother Sansha, Fellow Daoist Bai Hong,"

"Currently, the worst situation we predicted has indeed happened! Haihe Ancestor and Fairy Xia Guang have indeed found external support, and it's a formidable ally like Da Li Qingxu!"

"We must also act immediately, otherwise we won't be able to compete with them in the Jade Divine Palace..."

Bai Hong Sword Immortal hesitated for a moment before asking:

"You mean... should we also find two external allies?"

"Yes."

Elder Yuanxu said heavily:

"To hesitate is to court chaos."

"Since the opponent's strength has surpassed ours, naturally, we cannot sit and wait for death."

As he spoke, he glanced at the Daoist Three Evils in the main seat and gestured:

"Daoist Brother Sansha, what do you think?"

"This..."

Upon hearing the words, Daoist Three Evils frowned deeply and hesitated.

A secret often becomes harder to keep the more people know it.

If their initial surprise attack plan succeeded the first time they left the Jade Divine Palace, only three people would know the secret of the Jade Divine Palace.

As long as there wouldn't be major deviations in the distribution of benefits in subsequent actions, this secret could potentially be kept for many years.

But since Haihe Ancestor and Fairy Xia Guang escaped successfully, the plan no longer works.

These past few years, although they tore the veil and openly confronted each other, they didn't spark a full-scale war within Dayu's territory, mainly because of this consideration; they didn't want to push the opponent to a corner and have the secret leak.

But the situation has changed again:

The opponent has brought in powerful aid like Da Li Qingxu and likely another helper, forcing them to seek external support as well.

A total of nine people entering the Jade Divine Palace, as long as one harbors other thoughts, the secret will get out, attracting strongmen from the Central Plains, and even tempting Nascent Soul Old Monsters.

If it really comes to that, then the Jade Divine Palace is destined not to belong to them, handing over the Jade Order early would at least save their lives.

"...Alright."

The Daoist Three Evils slowly began to speak with a determined voice:

"Then let's use the last few months to find two Golden Core cultivators with outstanding strength to help us confront Elder Qingxu's side!"

He finally realized that the development had reached such a point that secrecy was impossible.

This time entering the Jade Divine Palace might very well be their last, so they must use every means available, striving to reach as far as possible.

"Don't worry, Daoist Brother!"

Hearing this, Elder Yuanxu's face revealed a hint of a smile:

"There are only a few strongmen in the Southwest Land, but among the nearby Jing Kingdom, Xu Kingdom, Gui Kingdom, and further away Mani and Bingzang countries, we know some formidable figures among the Golden Core ranks, with a few having good relations."

"There are still a few months left, plenty of time to select the two most suitable ones to unite and fight against Qingxu's side!"

...

Inside the Luoxia Sect.

Zhang Yao, Fairy Luoxia, and Haihe Ancestor were still gathered to discuss matters regarding the Jade Divine Palace and the Golden Core cultivators like the Daoist Three Evils.

"...Just as expected by Fellow Daoists."

Fairy Xia Guang laughed:

"After receiving your letter, they immediately panicked and rushed to the Celestial Demon Sect's gateway for warmth, not even caring about their own sect."

"Of course."

Haihe Ancestor took a sip of spirit tea and responded:

"They are astute and won't let themselves be caught in a crisis."

A simple truth:

Disciples can be recruited if they die; mountain gates can be rebuilt if they are destroyed.

But if the sect leader's pillar and Golden Core Ancestor die, the sect is essentially finished, and there will be no chance for a revival, while the surrounding wolves and tigers will pounce and tear it apart.

In a certain respect, preserving themselves is preserving the sect; with Golden Core Ancestors roaming outside, adversaries will have some reservations.

"What a pity..."

Fairy Xia Guang's tone still carried a hint of regret:

"If we resolve them in advance, there will be no opponents in the Jade Divine Palace."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yao shook his head and said:

"It's quite difficult, otherwise I would have acted sooner and not sent a letter."

The Daoist Three Evils aside, but Elder Yuanxu and Bai Hong Sword Immortal are not lonely figures.

With a third-level array strengthened over hundreds of years and a Golden Core Ancestor stationed at the core, even with Zhang Yao's formidable strength, breaking through isn't a task to be completed overnight.

If time drags on, various changes are likely, and with arrays as barriers, it's also easy for opponents to flee in the chaos, and Zhang Yao may not catch them.

"Fellow Daoist Qingxu..."

Fairy Xia Guang asked softly, her eyes flashing:

"At this moment, Daoist Three Evils, Elder Yuanxu, and Bai Hong Sword Immortal are gathered at the Celestial Demon Sect's gateway."

"If we join forces, perhaps there's a chance to capture them all and eliminate future troubles..."

"This..."

Zhang Yao pondered for a moment before cautiously asking:

"The ancient spiritual treasure that Daoist Three Evils holds, what type is it exactly and what specific powers does it possess?"

To speak of ordinary early-stage Golden Cores, Zhang Yao didn't pay much attention.

But the ancient spiritual treasure in the opponent's hands poses a great uncertainty and threat, something he cannot ignore.

"Even we are unsure."

Haihe Ancestor, standing aside, spoke:

"But it's certain it shouldn't be a slaughter-type treasure."

"Yes."

Fairy Xia Guang also added:

"If it were a major slaughter-type treasure, we would have died at the gate of the Jade Divine Palace back then, unable to escape."

"From my guess, perhaps it might be a body-protection or auxiliary type..."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yao frowned and said:

"Then this is difficult."

If he knew specific information about the opponent's treasure, he could plan targeting it.

Having no information at all is the nightmare, as nobody knows its effects, potentially causing them to fail unexpectedly.

"If it really is a body-protection type, even if the three of us attack together, it may be hard to win in a single stroke."

After hearing Zhang Yao's words, Fairy Xia Guang showed a hint of helplessness but didn't say more.

"Ancestor!"

Just then, the Sect Leader of Luoxia Sect hurriedly arrived, stopping at the entrance of the Gorge.

Fairy Xia Guang extended her divine thought and, after a few exchanges, gently laughed and said:

"Fellow Daoist Qingxu, it seems your reputation truly carries a deterring force."

"Elder Yuanxu and Bai Hong Sword Immortal have agreed to your condition of exchanging Fengxi Mountain Copper, and their price is one tael of Fengxi Mountain Copper for five hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yao nodded and said:

"The price isn't expensive."

One tael of Fengxi Mountain Copper is nearly equivalent to a magical treasure, genuinely costing at least a million spirit stones.

Yet Elder Yuanxu and Bai Hong Sword Immortal, essentially halving the price, clearly show a bit of goodwill, fearing Zhang Yao's wrath against their sect.

"Let's do it then."

Zhang Yao nodded and suggested:

"Send word to them, I agree to the swap, I'll take all Fengxi Mountain Copper they have."

This exchange, even with his wealth, will inevitably require him to bleed substantially.

But with mere months until entering the Jade Divine Palace, the priority is enhancing strength as much as possible; some costs must be paid.

Moreover, if significant gains are made in the Jade Divine Palace, he might even recoup the costs also.

...

Several days later.

Thanks to a few Foundation Establishment masters from neighboring sects acting as liaisons, Zhang Yao, Elder Yuanxu, and Bai Hong Sword Immortal completed the exchange.

He spent over one million low-grade spirit stones, tens of thousands of middle-grade spirit stones, and a magical treasure to finally acquire all Fengxi Mountain Copper.

Bai Hong Sword Immortal and Elder Yuanxu possessed about as much Fengxi Mountain Copper as Fairy Xia Guang, totaling nearly nine taels.

Inside a pavilion on a Floating Island on the sky.

Zhang Yao sat cross-legged, gazing at the several pieces of Fengxi Mountain Copper in front of him, revealing a hint of a smile:

"Finally about to start cultivating the 'Celestial Wind Formless Body'..."