Compared to those elders slumbering in the Hidden Cave Mystical Realm, the number of female cultivators from Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace who, for various reasons, have had their divine souls fall into the cycle of reincarnation and start over, is certainly no less.

This is the norm in the world of cultivation, from the novices who have just entered the Qi Refining Realm to the Quasi Holy Emperors approaching the pinnacle of the Dao in this realm, none are spared from calamities. Heavenly tribulations are just one type; there are also human tribulations, emotional tribulations, inner demons, war tribulations, slaughter tribulations… countless bizarre and strange calamities.

If you survive, all is well; if not, you face death and the dissolution of your Dao. With good luck, you may leave behind a remnant soul to reincarnate, and if you have the protection and guidance of friends and mentors, there’s a chance to regain past life memories and cultivation. With bad luck, your soul disperses, returning to dust.

Of course, even for those cultivators fortunate enough to reincarnate, if they are not discovered in time by their sect or lack other opportunities, they can only wander endlessly in the mortal world, trapped in an endless cycle of reincarnation. If discovered by enemy forces, even death may seem a luxury.

“This matter can’t be rushed; we must plan carefully,”

After a brief excitement, Yu Lingzhou pondered, “Perhaps, at least until Junior Brother reaches the Golden Immortal realm, then we can take action. Otherwise, the cost is too great, and it will severely slow down your cultivation progress.”

“I understand.”

Qing Muling nodded. The price of divining the future is terrifying; even with Heng Yi ancestor’s cultivation, a single effort could deplete a significant amount of vitality, mana, and even lifespan, and recovery is exceedingly difficult.

Even with the special nature of the Harmony Spirit Seed, the cost might be much less, but Qing Muling’s cultivation is still low. To deduce the reincarnated identities of those high-ranking female cultivators is indeed a daunting task.

Therefore, in Yu Lingzhou’s view, it might be better to wait. After all, those female cultivators have been reincarnating for many generations; a few more decades or centuries shouldn’t matter.

Of course, if this plan could be realized in the future, Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace’s strength might even rival that of the Dao Courts, right? After all, among those female cultivators forced into reincarnation, there are not only Taiyi and Daluo, but also Quasi Holy Emperor-level powers.

“Another problem is that after we find these female cultivators and help them restore their past cultivation, it will consume a massive amount of resources, which our sect currently cannot afford,”

Qing Muling said with a frown.

Yu Lingzhou had no objections, “Definitely, one or two is manageable, even dozens or hundreds wouldn’t be a big problem for the sect’s resource reserves. But if thousands return at once, perhaps no power, not even the Supreme Dao Lineages, could withstand it.”

“So… we need to find another way.”

Qing Muling sighed. At this moment, he truly missed the good times of plundering resources in the Misty Illusion Secret Realm, where vast and infinite rare resources were everywhere, easily gathered by himself and the elders.

If he could have such an opportunity again, Qing Muling vowed to bring back at least ten times, a hundred times more rare resources than before!

Yu Lingzhou was about to comfort him when she felt a warmth on the inside of her wrist, where the communication jade talisman was fixed. It emitted a beautiful soft starlight and a slight vibration.

“Is there important news from the sect?”

Muttering to herself, Yu Lingzhou took the jade talisman in her hand. Qing Muling’s talisman reacted similarly, but his movements were inconvenient at the moment, as the Lolita Elder was sitting on his lap, her voluptuous curves and deep cleavage in full view, her fragrant scent enveloping him.

Sure enough, it was a major announcement from Xinyu Emperor through the jade talisman: including the previous Supreme Sect Master Luoyun Shui, fifty-three Supreme Elders had passed away due to the exhaustion of their lifespan after slumbering too long in the Hidden Cave Mystical Realm, hereby announced to the entire sect…

The rest was routine formalities. Normally, the sect would hold a grand funeral, finalizing the achievements and faults of these Supreme Elders, and allowing their designated successors to inherit their treasures, scriptures, Dao Court branches, and other properties.

However, Yu Lingzhou and Qing Muling both knew the truth behind this, so the aforementioned arrangements were impossible. After all, their relatives and disciples were long gone, with no one to inherit, and all personal belongings were confiscated by the sect.

“Good, at least one major concern for the sect has been eliminated.”

Yu Lingzhou breathed a sigh of relief. As a Supreme Elder who witnessed everything back then, no one knew better than her the actions of that Sect Master. Xinyu Emperor’s decision not to execute her publicly was already merciful, preserving her last bit of dignity.

“There’s another matter I’m concerned about,”

Qing Muling said contentedly as he enjoyed the creamy delicacy, communicating with her through divine consciousness, “Are there any other spies sent by opposing forces in the sect? There must be, right? Perhaps among those slumbering Supreme Elders, there are high-level secret agents planted by certain powers!”

“It’s entirely possible!”

Yu Lingzhou’s smile faded slightly as she nodded, “Although the Emperor has taken various measures and screened those Supreme Elders, nothing is foolproof.”

High-level secret agents who have reached the level of Supreme Elder are usually strategic pieces painstakingly cultivated by enemy forces, not to be activated until a critical moment, and may not even make contact for hundreds or thousands of years.

Normally, they are the backbone of the sect, loyal and diligent, with some outstanding agents even earning significant merits for the sect. In short, until they receive specific secret instructions, they are completely elite members of the sect, outperforming most disciples and elders.

Such secret agents are the most dangerous and difficult to identify in advance. It’s manageable if they don’t act, but once “awakened” by enemy forces, they can unleash unimaginable destructive power, even threatening the survival of the sect.

Forget about simple measures like soul searching; they have special secret techniques to seal certain memories deep within their divine souls, thoroughly brainwashing and transforming themselves. Until awakened by specific means, they themselves are convinced they are disciples of Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace.

“Let it be, this matter is unsolvable for now; we’ll take it one step at a time,”

Yu Lingzhou concluded, “As long as Junior Brother you remain cautious and don’t recklessly venture out alone, the sect can ensure your safety for a hundred years. Even the Emperor’s avatar is constantly watching over you, so even if there are spies, they won’t find an opportunity to strike.”

Mentioning this, the Lolita Elder felt a strange sensation. Since Xinyu Emperor’s avatar was guarding Junior Brother, then when he and the sisters cultivated together, the process was also… clearly observed by her.

But considering her and the sisters’ actions, it seemed none were much better. Of course, she would eventually belong to Junior Brother, so previewing the details of the cultivation process shouldn’t matter, right?

Qing Muling nodded, temporarily setting the matter aside. After all, if he faced a life-threatening danger, the supreme fortune would warn him in advance to be prepared.

While Junior Brother enjoyed the benefits of the facial cleanser, Yu Lingzhou continued to browse the messages in the jade talisman. Currently, disciples of Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace were striking out in all directions, exterminating the progeny of the Magic Clan scattered across various territories and supporting some tense defense areas, so there were still many matters to attend to.

She mentioned a few important messages to Qing Muling, and as his movements became more intense, the flame in Yu Lingzhou’s heart stirred, her eyes shimmering, her fair face flushed, and her long, shapely legs subconsciously tightened around Junior Brother’s waist…

Just then, the communication jade talisman vibrated again, the soft starlight successfully drawing their attention.

“Another big event?”

Muttering, Yu Lingzhou opened the message and was astonished by the content:

“It’s reopening so soon? How is that possible? It can’t be such a coincidence, can it?”

“What’s the matter?”

Qing Muling casually released the milky Daxuezi and looked up to ask.

“It’s news from Calamity Fate Palace, saying that according to their sect’s diviners working together, they’ve confirmed that the Misty Illusion Secret Realm will reopen in half a year. At that time, all cultivators in the Great Void can enter with a quota to seek opportunities!” Yu Lingzhou explained.

“Is there really such good news?”

Qing Muling was surprised but not unexpectedly so, as he had a premonition earlier. For the Heavenly Human Clan’s high echelons to continue harvesting the fortune of the Great Void, such operations were only right.

“It shouldn’t be false.”

Yu Lingzhou said, Calamity Fate Palace was reliable in this regard, having never had a blunder in tens of thousands of years, so there was no need for doubt.

High above, the bell on Imperial Dao Peak began to toll, its deep and stirring sound instantly spreading across the entire Main Altar.

This bell was a summons for all core high-ranking members of the sect to gather at the Supreme Sect Master’s abode for a meeting hosted by Mu Yinghua within a specified time.

“Let me change my clothes, and we’ll go together!”

Yu Lingzhou hugged him for one more kiss, then slid off him. Her current dress was too bold and revealing; if she went out like this, who knows how her sisters would look at her.

She took out a dignified and elegant feathered robe from her Space Bracelet and changed in front of Qing Muling. After helping him tidy up, they flew together towards Imperial Dao Peak.

Soon after, their light beams landed three hundred feet from the Sect Master’s abode, and they walked into the depths of the abode with the high-ranking elders.

On the spacious white jade cloud bed, Sect Master Mu Yinghua sat in the center, shrouded in dazzling radiance, her features indistinct.

Although she had fulfilled Qing Muling’s wish to see her true appearance, it was limited to private interactions between master and disciple. In front of others, she still presented this image to maintain a sense of mystery and authority.

Seeing Yu Lingzhou holding Qing Muling’s hand as they entered, Mu Yinghua was slightly puzzled but didn’t think much of it.

Her eyes swept over the crowd, and her voice, clear and enchanting like pearls falling on a jade plate, rang out, “Now that everyone is here, let’s begin.”

The elders bowed to the Sect Master on the high platform, then sat down on either side, with Qing Muling naturally sitting next to his master, a privilege reserved for him alone.

The core content of the meeting was naturally about the reopening of the Misty Illusion Secret Realm.

“Well, it seems the sect needs to act quickly to prepare for this.”

Yueyi Heavenly Lord said solemnly, “First, we need to confirm the authenticity of the news and whether Calamity Fate Palace and the Heavenly Human Clan have tampered with anything else, then allow our disciples to enter.”

Ice Falcon Heavenly Lord spoke calmly, “I have a question I don’t quite understand. With the calamity of the Magic Clan not yet subsided and the Great Void’s cultivators falling like rain, suffering heavy losses, will there really be people willing to take the risk? If their divine souls enter to seek opportunities and their sect’s protective array is breached by those outsiders, their unguarded bodies will likely become sacrifices to those creatures.”

“That’s also what I find puzzling,”

Fenghua Fairy said, “Not to mention, the quota to enter the secret realm is not cheap; each one requires a large amount of resources to obtain. Now, not just the smaller sects and powers, even the Supreme Dao Lineages probably don’t want to consider this anymore.”

Every decision must consider the cost and benefit. When the cost is too high to bear and the return is far below expectations, any sane leader would not continue to be a fool.

Qing Muling said, “Calamity Fate Palace must have considered this aspect of the relationship, right? Since they can contact the Heavenly Human Clan, don’t they have a say?”

To lure a massive number of cultivators into taking risks, sufficient bait is necessary. Others might not be clear, but as high-ranking members of a Supreme Dao Lineage, they have long speculated about the intentions of the Heavenly Human Clan. After so many years of interaction, who isn’t familiar with whom?

Mu Yinghua spoke, “Indeed, the high ranks of Calamity Fate Palace have announced that in light of the current situation of the Magic Clan’s rampage in the Great Void, the Heavenly Human Clan has decided to reduce the cost of the quotas to one-tenth of the usual price, as a way to support the cultivators of the Great Void through this crisis.”

“Really? Since when did they become so kind-hearted?”

The elders laughed scornfully. The Heavenly Human Clan’s past behavior had always been akin to vampires, squeezing every benefit from those entering the secret realm without any mercy.

Mu Yinghua smiled, “It’s certain they don’t have good intentions, but the cost of the quotas has indeed been reduced. Moreover, the Heavenly Human Clan’s high echelons have decided that each Supreme Dao Lineage can receive three hundred quotas for free, distributed by Calamity Fate Palace. In addition, the opening time of the secret realm has been extended from one year to three, and it is said that the loss of cultivators’ deaths will also be reduced.”

Three years in the Great Void, calculated by the time flow of the Misty Illusion Secret Realm, is nine years.

Yu Lingzhou covered her mouth and chuckled, “No matter what schemes they have, we don’t need to care about them now. With Junior Brother here, Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace is bound to gain as much as possible from the secret realm this time.”