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The massive upheaval at the Calamity Fate Palace Main Altar was not difficult to deduce, and it soon spread throughout the Great Void.
The reactions of the various factions’ high echelons were mixed. They were both surprised by the swift return of the sect’s founding ancestor and delighted by the Heavenly Human Clan’s grievous losses.
After all, neither side was particularly virtuous. A mutual conflict resulting in mutual destruction was the most ideal outcome for everyone, as it temporarily alleviated concerns about the Heavenly Human Clan’s schemes.
As for the Calamity Fate Palace, now busy licking its wounds and restoring its strength, it was unlikely to stir up trouble again anytime soon. The external forces were just grateful they didn’t have to deal with them for now.
At this critical juncture of the great calamity, falling behind even a step could mean losing the initiative, leading to a disadvantageous position of being perpetually suppressed.
Unless they had some other significant leverage, the future of the Calamity Fate Palace looked bleak. Keeping their current foundation would already be fortunate, and vying for the fortune origin of the Great Void was out of the question.
However, the internal power dynamics of the human cultivation world had little impact on the calamity of the Magic Clan. In the vast, boundless dark Immortal Domain, legions of Magic Clan progeny continued to emerge, heading to various Immortal Domains and launching nearly endless frenzied assaults on the territories of numerous human Dao Lineage powers.
No one knew how long this unprecedented great calamity would last or how many factions would ultimately survive.
Nevertheless, those Dao Lineage powers whose ancestors had ascended to the upper realm were all secretly trying to contact their ancestors to bring back some forces for support.
Only the Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace was an exception. Due to Qing Muling’s presence, both Xinyu Emperor and Mu Yinghua were extremely cautious about this matter and did not rush to communicate with the upper realm or summon their ancestors back.
If possible, they preferred to give Qing Muling as much time as possible to grow safely until it was absolutely necessary to consider other options.
Over the next month or so, Qing Muling stayed indoors, continuing his closed-door cultivation with his senior sisters, aided by the time-accelerating formation array.
When this round of closed-door cultivation ended, Dragon Ritual Princess had finally achieved perfection, breaking through the peak of the Golden Immortal realm and stepping into the Taiyi Golden Immortal realm. Su Yuanzhen was a fourth-grade Taiyi Golden Immortal, Fengxia was a twenty-ninth-grade Golden Immortal, and Xuebing Xuan and the other senior sisters were all twenty-third-grade Golden Immortals. Even the weakest among them, Qi Shuyu and Su Yunmo, had reached the fifteenth-grade Golden Immortal level.
Of course, the one who benefited the most was Mu Yinghua. With Qing Muling giving her special attention, she was not far from the peak Great Golden Immortal realm.
As for Qing Muling himself, he had already reached the late stage of True Immortal cultivation. With the entire female cultivator alliance’s resources fully supporting him and the innate Harmony Creation Blue Lotus’s extraordinary qualities, his rapid progress was inevitable.
“Junior Brother, if we continue this kind of closed-door cultivation two or three more times, we’ll all be Taiyi Golden Immortals!”
Luo Wanqing said with a bright smile as she held Qing Muling. For any faction, Taiyi Golden Immortals were a crucial part of their strategic high-end force, let alone having so many Taiyi Golden Immortals. With their combined efforts, dealing with external threats would be much easier.
“Let’s hope so.”
Qing Muling said, thinking that before he advanced to Xuan Immortal, he should be able to bring all his senior sisters to the Taiyi Golden Immortal level. As for the Daluo Dao Fruit, it would be a bit more challenging, but once he became a Xuan Immortal, it wouldn’t be a problem.
Unfortunately, unexpected events always happen.
Perhaps it was because things had been too peaceful recently, but after Qing Muling came out of seclusion this time, the high echelons of the Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace received news that the Liuhua Star Domain was under massive attack by legions of Magic Clan progeny. The number of high-level Magic Clan experts was unprecedented since the great calamity began.
Sensing the dire situation, Xinyu Emperor immediately led a group of Taiyi and Daluo-level experts to reinforce, with part of the high-end forces from the female cultivator alliance accompanying them. Even Qinghuan and Lan Hua Emperors went along.
The reinforcement operation initially went smoothly. Under the fierce onslaught of many high-level female immortals, the Magic Clan progeny legions suffered heavy losses and were driven out of the Liuhua Star Domain.
However, just as victory seemed imminent, the battlefield situation changed. From the depths of the dark fog, three Magic Clan Emperors appeared with a large number of high-level Magic Clan progeny to support.
After a fierce battle, the three female Emperors, at the cost of their severe injuries, managed to repel the three Magic Clan Emperors and successfully killed one of them. Over eighty percent of the accompanying high-level Magic Clan progeny were destroyed.
The number of female immortals from the Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace who died was not many, but most of them were injured to varying degrees. On the surface, it seemed like a mutual destruction outcome.
The two fleeing Magic Clan Emperors were severely injured, and without a massive supply of mortal blood and souls, recovery would not be easy. They didn’t have someone like Qing Muling to help them heal. As for the injured or fallen Taiyi and Daluo-level Magic Clan progeny, their future was grim.
Upon returning to the Main Altar of the sect, Mu Yinghua immediately summoned Qing Muling to heal the Emperors and then the injured female immortals.
For Qing Muling, this was a simple task. Although there were many people, it was not a big deal. By the time he finished, ten days had passed.
After reviewing the battle, since all the injured had fully recovered without any hidden injuries, the actual losses on the Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace’s side were minimal. In contrast, the Magic Clan progeny legions suffered significant losses.
“Similar-scale attacks are bound to happen again in the future, right?”
Qing Muling frowned and asked, “Next time, if there’s another reinforcement operation, why not take me along? It would prevent the situation from getting out of control.”
Fortunately, only three Magic Clan Emperors appeared this time. If two more had shown up, the Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace would have suffered greatly, and a Quasi Holy Emperor might have fallen.
Xinyu Emperor shook her head, “Your safety is far more important than that of the Emperors. Taking you along is not a wise decision. In critical moments, we might not be able to protect you, so it’s better for you to stay home.”
Mu Yinghua smiled, “As long as you’re safe in the sect, they can fight without worries. No matter how severe the injuries, as long as they return with a breath left, you can save them. Isn’t this the best arrangement?”
With Qing Muling around, the entire alliance of millions of female cultivators essentially had “immortal bodies.” As long as they weren’t killed on the spot, they could be restored to their original state through him.
Therefore, the Magic Clan progeny legions were destined to be gradually worn down. Whether they liked it or not, facing such an opponent as the female cultivator alliance, their defeat was inevitable.
“Master is right, let’s do it this way.”
Having figured this out, Qing Muling no longer insisted on his point.
“…Sect Master, the Emperors Weide and Xuanyin from the Dao Court have come to visit. Their envoy team is approaching the sect’s border star domain,” a senior elder reported after entering and saluting.
The cave suddenly fell silent.
“The inevitable has come,”
Xinyu Emperor sighed softly and stood up, saying:
“In that case, I’ll personally welcome them. Sect Master, you should come too. As for you, Muling, don’t show yourself for now!”
Qing Muling nodded, knowing he couldn’t avoid it forever. The two from the Dao Court were not easy to deal with, and their main purpose in visiting was undoubtedly him.
So the upcoming talks would not be easy. If the negotiations failed, a conflict was unlikely, but with Xinyu Emperor’s wisdom, she wouldn’t allow that to happen.
It was just a matter of cooperation. From the perspective of the Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace and Qing Muling, having more friends was better than having more enemies. If they could coexist peacefully, why fight?
“Alright, let’s go meet them together!”
With Qinghuan Emperor’s gentle voice, the figures of Tongying, Lan Hua, and Jinglan Emperors appeared one after another.
“Very well, let’s go together!”
Xinyu Emperor nodded. This negotiation was crucial, not just for the Cloud Dream Heavenly Palace but for the entire female cultivator alliance.
The five female Emperors welcoming them was a sign of respect and a silent warning, reminding the two to be mindful during the negotiations and not to make excessive demands.
Qing Muling returned to the back mountain of Imperial Dao Peak and continued to play with his senior sisters.
Meanwhile, the heavenly boat fleet of the five female Emperors used the void shifting formation and soon arrived at the border star domain, meeting the Dao Court’s envoy team.
Emperors Weide and Xuanyin were not only present in person but had also invited a Quasi Holy Emperor each to support them. They were the current patriarch of the ancient human royal family Huaxu Clan and the current Sect Master of the Two Instruments Four Symbols Sect.
These two forces had always been close to the Dao Court. Who knew what conditions the two Emperors had offered to make them willing to come and support?
So, it was now four Emperors against five Emperors, with the female cultivator alliance still holding the advantage.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, both sides entered a secret hall to discuss the main topic.
“…The decision to establish the female cultivator alliance, apart from traditional friendship, is primarily due to Qing Muling, isn’t it?”
Xuanyin Emperor asked leisurely, staring at the five female Emperors opposite.
Xinyu Emperor smiled slightly, “Xuanyin, your intelligence network must have been busy lately, gathering quite a bit of information.”
“Just average. Your side’s confidentiality measures are quite effective,”
Weide Emperor said calmly, “To have the child of fortune of this era and a key anomaly in the river of fate in your hands, I must admit your side has the upper hand. As for whether he has a more sensitive identity, I believe you all know.”
“So I’ll be straightforward. As the key to surviving this great calamity in the Great Void, Qing Muling shouldn’t be monopolized by your factions. We are here to discuss a win-win cooperation plan, which is the best choice for us and the future situation of the Great Void. What do you think?”
Seeing the five female Emperors of the female cultivator alliance welcoming them together, Weide and Xuanyin Emperors were indeed touched and had more considerations for the upcoming negotiations.
When both sides’ strengths were close, avoiding direct conflict was the most pragmatic choice to prevent mutual destruction and benefiting other forces. The Calamity Fate Palace and Heavenly Human Clan were recent negative examples.
The patriarch of the Huaxu Clan, Huaxu Que, an elderly man with a spirited demeanor and white hair, looked at the five female Emperors with a smile and said:
“The Great Void is not just the domain of human cultivators. There are many hidden alien forces. If we humans fight too much internally, it will only benefit those aliens. You all are part of the human lineage and wouldn’t want to see that happen, right?”
Tongying Emperor pondered for a few moments and asked, “What do you suggest?”
Xuanyin Emperor said, “We need the same treatment as your people for tribulation crossing, healing, and access to vast resources of divine and heavenly medicines. As for the cost, we can discuss it.”
Xinyu Emperor frowned and thought for a while, then said, “Muling’s cultivation is still low, and his own cultivation improvement is the priority. If you send too many people, it might exceed his capacity, which is like draining the pond to catch the fish.”
“No problem, the number of slots within a certain period can be negotiated.”
Weide Emperor said warmly. As long as there was room for negotiation, it was an ideal outcome.
Thus, the two sides engaged in a back-and-forth, arguing over the terms of the agreement word by word. When the envoy team arrived at the Main Altar of the sect, after a simple yet grand welcoming ceremony, they continued their negotiations in another place.
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