Two True Monarchs in the Soul Transformation realm inexplicably disappeared.
It sounds like a fantasy.
But it happened so mysteriously.
Since the fall of the Blue Feather Immortal Sage, Dugu Xi and Dugu Shi would annually compete in the Tian Du Martial Arena for the ownership of the “Heavenly Feather Transformation Technique.”
For many years, they had not determined a winner.
Each time, it attracted numerous cultivators to come and watch, becoming a spectacle in the Yuandao Prefecture. Many cultivators from other provinces also came, eager to witness the grand battle between the two Soul Transformation True Monarchs.
However, this year, on the agreed-upon day for their grand battle in the Tian Du Martial Arena, not a single figure was seen.
People waited for a long time, but Dugu Xi and Dugu Shi did not appear.
Initially, some thought there might be a change in the schedule, and the cultivators did not think much of it. It wasn’t until a few days later that shocking news spread.
Relatives and subordinates of the two tried various methods but could not contact them. Even the Hall of Heavenly Secrets failed to find any trace of them through divination.
As if they had vanished into thin air, no one saw them alive or dead!
The most shaken was the Blue Feather Sect.
The disappearance of the two top powerhouses left the internal atmosphere of the Blue Feather Sect anxious, and paranoia took hold; everyone suspected everyone else were potential conspirators.
While other forces were initially shocked, they gradually regained their composure.
The Blue Feather Sect, once unassailable, had suffered internal strife for several years and now faced the inexplicable disappearance of two Soul Transformation True Monarchs.
How much strength did the Blue Feather Sect have left now?
Greedy thoughts sprouted in the hearts of many, giving rise to a covert alliance called the “Burning Feather Alliance.”
Minor frictions emerged initially.
But then, sparked by the Heavenly Feather Transformation Technique, a large-scale battle erupted.
This profound technique, divided into five parts before the fall of the Blue Feather Immortal Sage, was stored in five encrypted jade slips. Four were entrusted to the most loyal subordinates, and the remaining one was safeguarded by the most mysterious and reclusive Law Enforcement Hall of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance.
Only when the five jade slips were combined could the complete “Heavenly Feather Transformation Technique” be reconstructed.
When the Dugu brothers went missing, inviting numerous wolves, the Blue Feather Sect’s seemingly most loyal Soul Transformation True Monarch, Wei Xutuo, betrayed them. Under the guise of discussing strategies against their enemies, he tricked the other Soul Transformation True Monarch, Wutong Tian, into a trap set by the Burning Feather Alliance.
Wutong Tian, resentful and infuriated, fell into the ambush. Wei Xutuo obtained two portions of the “Heavenly Feather Transformation Technique,” and the Burning Feather Alliance took advantage of the situation to conquer territories of the Blue Feather Sect.
Upon hearing the news, the Blue Feather Sect was first shocked and then infuriated.
A bloody counterattack began.
The turmoil expanded, sweeping across the entire Yuandao Prefecture.
Countless Golden Core, Nascent Soul, and even Soul Transformation cultivators were affected, and signs of constant deaths from the heavens were evident.
However, the most numerous Qi Condensation cultivators, due to their low strength, could not even serve as cannon fodder, so they weren’t affected much.
Mingyue Palace.
“Who is behind this again…”
Observing recent events in the Yuandao Prefecture, Li Fan’s eyes flickered.
The thick scent of conspiracy behind this was too obvious.
“People with insight can easily see the suspicious points.”
“Unfortunately, at this moment, I am already deeply entangled in the chessboard, unable to act freely.”
“Qi Condensation cultivators, with their low strength, don’t even qualify to be pawns.”
“However, even if I cannot detect the manipulations, I don’t mind.”
At this moment, Li Fan gathered the members of Mingyue Palace and issued orders for a great expansion.
Although Su Xiaomei and others were somewhat puzzled by this command, they resolutely carried it out.
At the end of the 43rd year, after stagnating for nearly half a year, the breakthrough loaning business of Mingyue Palace reopened with even more intensity than before.
Under Li Fan’s guidance, Mingyue Palace retained only 30,000 contribution points for emergency use, lending out the rest.
News of the resumption of business by the Mingyue Palace spread instantly among Qi Condensation cultivators. After waiting patiently for half a year, they rushed to Mingyue Lake.
The number of people was beyond Li Fan’s imagination.
However, Li Fan did not fill all the quotas at once but continued to select a Qi Condensation cultivator with affinity for Foundation Establishment every three days, whetting the appetite of the cultivators.
After nearly a month, the planned contribution points were fully lent out.
At this point, the external debts of the Mingyue Palace accumulated to nearly 220,000 contribution points.
With the 30,000 points in self-reserve, and the remaining 320,000 points from Zhang Zhiliang’s legacy, the total amounted to 570,000 contribution points.
However, the chaotic fighting situation in the Yuandao Prefecture provided the Mingyue Palace with an excellent incubator for concealed development.
With unbridled growth, the terrifying speed of compound interest finally revealed itself.
At the end of the 44th year, the contribution points of the Mingyue Palace’s external debts soared to 310,000.
By the end of the 45th year, it reached 450,000.
At the end of the 46th year, it reached 630,000.
…
By the mid-50th year, the external debt contribution points of the Mingyue Palace had reached the astronomical figure of 2.2 million.
In seven years, the Mingyue Palace had successfully helped almost five hundred Qi Condensation cultivators to build their foundations.
Every time a cultivator successfully built their foundation, the “Mountain Meditation Technique” would return almost six months’ worth of cultivation.
This nearly 250-year cultivation return had long pushed Li Fan to the late Foundation Establishment stage.
Under the vigilant surveillance of the Formless Killing Intent, Li Fan also personally witnessed the foundation-building process over five hundred times.
At this time, his understanding of Foundation Establishment probably surpassed all other Foundation Establishment cultivators in this realm.
At this point, the prodigy Su Xiaomei had just broken through to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, while Xiao Heng was still lingering in the early Foundation Establishment stage.
The horrifying cultivation speed made Li Fan feel like he was in a dream.
However, the huge amount of contribution points in hand made Li Fan feel like he was walking on thin ice.
Instead of experiencing the joy of rapid advancement, an inexplicable unease grew in his heart.
He ordered the Mingyue Palace members to stop the breakthrough loaning business immediately and quickly collect contribution points.
Li Fan took precautions in advance, reading methods to break through the Golden Core realm in the Tianxuan realm while keeping his guard up, ready to flee at any moment.
…
In an unknown space in the Yuandao Prefecture.
A black-robed cultivator had just awakened from seclusion.
He habitually formed a seal.
In front of him, a golden ginkgo tree suddenly appeared.
The black-robed cultivator, holding a whisk, gently waved it.
The ginkgo tree, seemingly frozen in time, suddenly began to change.
The trunk swayed, and five golden leaves fluttered down.
The black-robed cultivator showed a pleased expression, “How did five Soul Transformation cultivators die during my closed-door cultivation?”
The hand seal changed.
Besides the golden ginkgo, another identical tree appeared.
However, it emitted a soft silver light all over.
The whisk was waved once more.
Twenty-three silver leaves slowly descended.
The black-robed cultivator was even more delighted.
With a quick calculation, he already knew the reason.
“So, there was an internal conflict. What an unexpected joy.”
“Strange, whose doing is this? Why can’t I calculate it?”
“Hmph, never mind. The more that die, the better.”
“Originally, I leveraged Blue Feather’s death and executed the Blue Feather Legacy Strategy, significantly reducing the number of cultivators.”
“Now, with this happening, it seems I will exceed the mission quota this time.”
The black-robed cultivator was inexplicably joyous, muttering to himself.
“The Yuandao Prefecture has been peaceful for too long, and there are too many cultivators. It’s about time for a thorough pruning. It was all because of that old Blue Feather’s protection…”
“Hmph, now that you’re dead, there’s no way for you to show off.”
A blue ginkgo appeared, and this time, even more leaves fell.
The black-robed cultivator was suddenly overjoyed, “This time, the instructions from the Immortal Ancestor are finally completed.”
Then, he habitually summoned the last green ginkgo.
To the black-robed cultivator’s astonishment, this green ginkgo grew rapidly in the wind.
In just a breath, it increased its size by a full circle.
Full of vitality, it swayed gracefully.
The black-robed cultivator stood up in shock, exclaiming, “How could this be?”
“The number of Foundation Establishment cultivators has tripled in ten years?”
Cold sweat dripped from his forehead, and the black-robed cultivator quickly calculated with his fingers.
“What a remarkable Mingyue Palace…”
After a long time, the black-robed cultivator gritted his teeth and said in a resentful tone, “There are also a bunch of imitators…”
“You will all die!”
Boom!
The gold, silver, blue, and green ginkgo trees in front of him instantly turned into flying ashes.
The black-robed cultivator, holding the whisk, took a step forward and disappeared instantly.