The establishment of the Immortal Dao Alliance was imminent. For the Ethereal Sacred Domain, three months of preparation was far from sufficient.
However, time was pressing and the circumstances were special. Although many civilizations and orthodoxies had long since received the news and brought their clansmen, there were still powers and factions in the distant space-times of the Vast Expanse that simply could not arrive in time.
At present, the Ethereal Sacred Domain was bustling with activity. Star domains and universes everywhere were festooned with lanterns and streamers, publicizing the event with great fanfare. All cultivators and living beings were discussing it.
Each day, divine rainbows streaked across the cosmos, and ancient warships rumbled, crushing through spacetime tunnels as they raced in from every direction. Two months earlier, many nearby orthodoxies and civilizations had already dispatched experts to attend the ceremony, and they were now temporarily residing in Ethereal Sacred City.
Ethereal Sacred City was the core region of the Ethereal Sacred Domain. Almost everyone believed that once the Immortal Dao Alliance was founded, the Ethereal Sacred Domain would become a new holy land, and Ethereal Sacred City would be comparable to the headquarters of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance or the central region of the Alliance of Righteous Unity. Thus, during this time, many clans and forces throughout the Ethereal Sacred Domain were finding ways to migrate towards Ethereal Sacred City.
Spacetime tunnels were carved out across various territories and universes, within which ancient warship after ancient warship continuously shuttled through, a spectacle of immense and astonishing grandeur. In the pavilions, halls, immortal mountains, and divine peaks of Ethereal Sacred City, one could already see the silhouettes of many civilizations and clans that had come to observe the ceremony. The crowds surged, shoulder to shoulder, with figures everywhere. The several ancient families of Ethereal Sacred City had naturally long since dispatched numerous experts to welcome them, all the city gates thrown wide open in a truly bustling and extraordinary scene.
The Deputy Alliance Leader of the Alliance of Righteous Unity had arrived in Ethereal Sacred City several days ago, leading many high-ranking members of the alliance. The spokespersons of the various families appeared and accompanied him, touring the sights with a rather leisurely air.
However, at this moment, within the ancient Xiao family of Ethereal Sacred City, there was a scene of desolation and silence. Even the current head of the Xiao family had received word and had no choice but to excuse himself and return to the Xiao family.
"It seems that Ethereal Sacred City has not been peaceful lately," remarked Zhao Tianqi, the master of Cosmic Annihilation Mansion, who, in his capacity as Deputy Alliance Leader of the Alliance of Righteous Unity, was now leading a party of high-ranking officials to Ethereal Sacred City to observe the ceremony.
On a crystal-clear cloud boat that blazed with immortal mist and light, he clasped his hands behind his back and observed the sights of Ethereal Sacred City, a faint smile on his face, his words carrying a veiled implication. Behind him, the high-ranking members of the Alliance of Righteous Unity all wore thoughtful expressions. The spokespersons of the other families of Ethereal Sacred City, though still accompanying them, now looked deeply worried, their composure far from as calm as it appeared.
"Is it connected to the Heaven-Slaying Alliance? Or is this a scheme by the Dark Beings against the Immortal Dao Alliance?" Behind Zhao Tianqi, Zhao Xiuyan's delicate brows were slightly furrowed as she, too, sank into thought.
She was dressed in an immaculate white robe, her face appearing to be around twenty years of age. Her features were delicate and extraordinarily beautiful, her black hair cascading down to veil a small part of her countenance. Yet her expression was extremely cold, as if she considered no life between heaven and earth worthy of her notice. She carried an intense demonic air. The young disciples of the various families in Ethereal Sacred City scarcely dared to meet her gaze, feeling a deep, instinctive dread.
During this time, in Ethereal Sacred City—no, in the entire Ethereal Sacred Domain—bizarre events had been occurring. Not only the younger generation, but even many ancient figures with profound cultivation had not escaped being corroded... Many were beginning to suspect that this might be a harbinger of an invasion by Dark Beings...
In the ancient Xiao family. Many elders and disciples had gathered in the main meeting hall, their gazes fixed with deep worry on a handsome young man lying unconscious on the floor, his brow wreathed in black qi, his eyes tightly shut.
"What exactly happened? How could Fan'er, who was perfectly fine, end up like this?" A heroic and dignified middle-aged man in a golden robe asked, brows locked in a frown, his voice full of concern. His face bore some resemblance to the unconscious young man; he was the young man's father, and the current head of the Xiao family.
The ancient Xiao family was a reclusive clan, its strength and foundation ranking within the top five of the entire Ethereal Sacred Domain, with three Ancestral Dao Realm ancestors presiding over it. The young man lying unconscious on the ground before them was his own son, Xiao Fan. He was also the leading figure of the Xiao family's younger generation, his strength already on the verge of stepping into the Dao Realms.
Hearing the head of the Xiao family's question, several young men and women who had accompanied Xiao Fan back to the family spoke with equal worry and confusion. "We don't know what happened either, or why Senior Brother Xiao Fan, who was perfectly fine, turned out like this."
"In the past few days, we received a task from our sect to welcome the many orthodoxies and clans for the Immortal Dao Alliance ceremony in various places across the Ethereal Sacred Domain. Senior Brother Xiao Fan was fine at first, but we don't know what he came into contact with. A few days ago, something suddenly seemed off with his body, and he began muttering things like 'the Black Lotus descends to the world, bringing salvation to all beings'..."
"By yesterday, Senior Brother Xiao Fan suddenly went berserk, prostrating and kowtowing fervently toward some spot outside the courtyard, shouting 'Lord of the Black Lotus' with wild devotion. Copious amounts of black qi erupted from his body. We had no choice but to forcibly knock him unconscious and seal him. We suspect Senior Brother Xiao Fan may have come into contact with those eerie cultists."
They and Xiao Fan all hailed from the same sect: the Ethereal Sacred Sect. The Ethereal Sacred Sect was the true ruling power of the entire Ethereal Sacred Domain. Even the various family powers would have their clansmen and disciples join its ranks to cultivate.
"Again with the 'Black Lotus Descends'?" "How many times has this been now? How could even the young master be infected?" "What exactly is the origin of this Black Lotus? It appeared out of nowhere, without the slightest warning."
Hearing these young disciples' words, the expressions of all the Xiao family elders in the meeting hall changed, revealing a trace of fear, but even more anger and unease.
"The Black Lotus Cult?" The Xiao family head frowned deeply, fists clenched. A terrifying aura emanated from him, and terrifying visions seemed to unfold in his eyes. For now, he forcefully suppressed the fury burning within him.
In truth, during this period, in many places within Ethereal Sacred City, cultivators and living beings who had been "brainwashed" and corrupted by the Black Lotus Cult had begun to emerge, and the various families were no exception. At first, no one took it seriously, considering them just ordinary cult followers, a motley crew not worth noticing. But when the Black Lotus Cult's "doctrine" began to spread and corrode like a shadow, finally reaching and affecting them personally, they realized—but it was already too late.
One after another, the families of Ethereal Sacred City saw clansmen corrupted by the Black Lotus Cult's doctrine. Without exception, these clansmen fell into some inexplicable nightmare, seeming both asleep and awake, muttering phrases like "the Black Lotus descends to the world, bringing salvation to all beings." At the same time, a power akin to the Dark Origin surged within them, greatly increasing their strength. In this state, they would even become utterly unfeeling toward their own kin, seeing only the Black Lotus Cult and the so-called "Lord of the Black Lotus" of unknown origin.
The various families tried every means to probe the souls and seas of consciousness of these clansmen, but to no avail, unable to find the root cause. This plague-like calamity, once contracted, was almost impossible to eradicate. Though not as terrifying as that Dark Matter, so highly infectious and invasive, over time it was feared that the entire Ethereal Sacred City would not be spared. Especially now, with the day of the Immortal Dao Alliance ceremony imminent.
The Ethereal Sacred Domain had opened its gates of convenience to the entire Vast Expanse. Orthodox forces and civilized true worlds from all sides were surging in; it was a mixed bag, with every kind of being present. This disaster could not possibly be contained. It was like throwing an inkblot into a breached dam; the contaminated floodwaters would rush out to all corners, polluting the entire Vast Expanse.
Many guests from all sides had by now noticed this matter, and were growing panicked and fearful. Investigations by the major families of Ethereal Sacred City revealed that in other cosmic territories of the Ethereal Sacred Domain, numerous ancestral halls and temples related to the Black Lotus Cult had already appeared half a month ago. Only, at that time, the Black Lotus Cult had lain dormant, merely cultivating spores as it waited for the day it would burst forth and scatter. This was unquestionably a deliberate conspiracy, targeting not just Ethereal Sacred City, but the entire Vast Expanse.
"This matter is absolutely linked to the Dark Clans. We assumed that with the Land of the Dark Source about to descend and border the Vast Expanse, these clans would temporarily hold back. There has been no movement during this time—looks like they were waiting to make a big move like this..."
The Xiao family head's face was grim. Gazing at Xiao Fan, lying unconscious, black qi swirling about his brow, his heart ached even more. For now, cultivators and living beings corrupted and brainwashed by the Black Lotus Cult's doctrine could only be temporarily sealed; letting them roam free would only invite greater trouble. No one knew exactly how these people were being brainwashed by the Black Lotus Cult's followers.
He had always believed his son possessed exceptional talent, a steady temperament, and an unshakably firm Dao Heart, incapable of having his mind disturbed by external forces. Yet even a pride of heaven like Xiao Fan had fallen to the Black Lotus Cult's baptism and invasion. Ordinary beings and cultivators would likely be even less capable of resistance; those with unstable Dao Hearts would basically have no escape.
"Family head, this matter has long since been reported to the Sect Master and her side. As things stand, the Immortal Dao Alliance ceremony cannot be postponed or canceled. Otherwise, we would simply be playing into the Dark Clans' scheme. We can only see if the Sect Master and the others have any way, such as locating the source nest of this Black Lotus Cult and destroying it. Otherwise, the consequences will be absolutely unthinkable." Several highly senior elders of the Xiao family spoke with grave expressions, making these solemn suggestions.
"Alas..." "The Sect Master and her side are probably at their wits' end as well. The Ethereal Sacred Domain has always kept aloof from worldly affairs, but who could have imagined that the moment they stepped into the world, they would encounter such troubles." "The Sect Master only recently assumed her position. While her strength is sufficient, her capability may still be lacking. This matter is a great test for the Ethereal Sacred Domain." The Xiao family head, brows tightly furrowed, full of worry, let out a long sigh.
Majestic, ancient Ethereal Sacred City, ringed by countless galaxies, was enveloped in layer upon layer of iridescent mist and immortal light. The aura of the Great Dao surged, mysterious and timeworn. Even the outer city was a realm of countless wonders. Divine mountains and ancient peaks, towers and palaces, majestic halls and jade pavilions stretched on without end, radiating a glorious grandeur, their history unimaginably long.
Within the inner city, it was a boundless universe of beauty and delight, with countless immortal mountains and billions of divine islands. Mansions and cave dwellings were hewn from the void, where spacetime currents converged and collided, releasing chaotic qi, as if the dwellings of ancient immortals and gods. Those coming and going, cultivators and beings responsible for reception, were all without exception in the Immortal Dao realm. The patrolling guards were extremely powerful, their armor and divine weapons dazzlingly brilliant, radiating golden light.
Zhao Xiuyan detached herself from the group from the Alliance of Righteous Unity and walked alone through the inner city. Her delicate brows were tightly knitted, seemingly sizing up the passersby, but in truth, her mind was on the sea of consciousness within her.
A thick, archaic tome was constantly flipping its pages, emitting a sound like roaring mountains and tsunamis. A line of text began to emerge within it.
[Name]: Zhao Xiuyan
[Cultivation]: Late Immortal Emperor Realm
[Destiny Talents]: Innate Demonic Heart, Body of Misfortune
[Recent Trajectory]: While investigating the secrets of the Black Lotus Cult, she accidentally trespassed into a sacrificial ritual, was pursued by Black Lotus Cult followers, nearly fell into their hands, but at the crucial moment, was rescued by a gray-haired girl and an old man.
[Heavenly Fate Energy]: 38,000 points
"Gray-haired girl?" "Who is that?"
Zhao Xiuyan looked at her recent trajectory, sinking into thought. Then, without hesitation, she chose to spend 10,000 Heavenly Fate Energy to deduce the appearance and origin of that gray-haired girl. Immediately, a blurry, mirror-like image appeared before her eyes. As the Heavenly Fate Energy dissipated, the image soon became clear. A girl with gray hair and gray eyes, her skin as white as an ice sculpture, appeared in Zhao Xiuyan's sight.
"It's actually her?" She was somewhat stunned, recognizing this gray-haired, gray-eyed girl. Wasn't she the very person she had locked gazes with from afar back at the border of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance and the Alliance of Righteous Unity? At that time, she had coveted the other party's dense Heavenly Fate Energy and wanted to seize it for herself, but because the great war between the alliances had ceased, she had been wary of the experts there and had not made a move.
"This girl from the Heaven-Slaying Alliance has actually come to Ethereal Sacred City? And I am actually going to be saved by her?" Zhao Xiuyan's brows furrowed tightly. The Golden Tome of Primordial Chaos had been bestowed upon her by Gu Changge, and it had never been wrong. Thus, she harbored no doubt about her future fate trajectory.
Then, she attempted to deduce the origin of that old man, but found that his strength far exceeded hers, and her current Heavenly Fate Energy was insufficient. "I originally wanted to see if I could figure out the origin of this Black Lotus Cult; I never expected to come into contact with the Heaven-Slaying Alliance? If that's the case, doesn't it mean that that fellow was also investigating the Black Lotus Cult, and that's why he inadvertently saved me? Looking at it this way, the Black Lotus Cult likely has nothing to do with the Heaven-Slaying Alliance." Zhao Xiuyan fell into contemplation.
Judging by the current situation, the Alliance of Righteous Unity seemed quite pleased to see the Black Lotus Cult emerge, even a little gleeful about it. Many high-ranking members deliberately mentioned in front of the major families of Ethereal Sacred City that this matter might have been instigated by the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, as if trying to deflect the trouble elsewhere. Could it be that the Alliance of Righteous Unity had long anticipated something like this happening?
"Zhao Tianqi probably knew about this long ago as well..." Zhao Xiuyan's eyes were indifferent. Although Zhao Tianqi was her biological father, she harbored little feeling for him. Back then, if Gu Changge had not intervened to awaken her from that reincarnation trial, she would likely have spent her entire life immersed in that void dream, trapped in endless pain and torment. The status and position she had now were things she had built step by step through her own cultivation and strength. Zhao Tianqi had never given her any help; he had even watched his many children slaughter each other, like cultivating a Gu king, cold and merciless to the extreme.
She now had only one goal: to break through to the Dao Realms. He had promised that on the day she broke through to the Dao Realms, he would meet her. Now, following the trajectory in the Golden Tome of Primordial Chaos, she had come to the Ethereal Sacred Domain, where her opportunity to break through to the Dao Realms lay.
At the same time, in the depths of Ethereal Sacred City. Ethereal Peak soared into the clouds, surrounded by one towering, ancient mountain after another. Each peak resembled a True Dragon crouching or an immortal phoenix circling, majestic and eternal, shimmering with ancient radiance. The mountainsides were veiled in mist, and chaotic matter often drifted out, as if linking to other spacetime dimensions. The peak was draped in thick, layered clouds that blotted out the sky.
A graceful woman in a plain silk robe, a dark blue cape draped over her shoulders, stood there. She wore a veil, her figure indistinct, her true features hidden. Only the snow-white, delicate skin of her neck was visible, glistening like fine jade.
"Having come this far, the founding of the Immortal Dao Alliance cannot be delayed, nor can it be canceled. Although we anticipated that this would not go smoothly, now that we are here, there is no backing down." Her red lips parted slightly, and a look of firm resolution emerged between her clear brows.
Beside her, an old woman leaning on a cane made of a gray-white branch sighed softly and said, "Sect Master, you must think this through. Although the Black Lotus Cult is indeed spreading fiercely, we can certainly hold out until the establishment of the Immortal Dao Alliance. There is no need for you to take such a risk." "The Black Lotus Cult's emergence is so sudden and so bizarre. No one knows where its true source lies. For you to personally walk into danger... I am truly worried..."