144: Chapter 144 Eight Years Pass in the Speed ​​of a Single Thought! A Late-Stage Golden Core cultivator Descends to the Eastern Region!

You set down your teacup. The bottom of the cup tapped against the stone table. The sound was extremely soft.

"Sect Master. Shen Ji has one more matter."

Daoist Xuantian leaned back on his stone throne. The spiritual spring water in his cup had reached the bottom. He did not refill it.

"Speak."

"The demon race has made the Eastern Region their primary target. If the defensive line collapses, the Central Plains will have no barrier left. The resources of Xuantian Holy Sect alone are not enough to support this bulwark in the Eastern Region."

Daoist Xuantian's fingers stopped on the armrest.

You did not wait for him to respond.

"The Central Plains still has Tianyan Sword Sect, Tianxing Sect, and Lingxiao Sect. The foundations of these three are no less than your sect's. Tianyan specializes in ancient killing sword formations, Tianxing controls the lifeblood of the northwest spiritual mines, and Lingxiao possesses three hundred years of medicinal reserves. The four sects each have their own reliance. If we combine them and use the resources of the Central Plains to fill the gaps in the Eastern Region's battle situation, pinning the battlefield firmly within the Ten Thousand Mountains, only then can the Central Plains remain uninvolved."

"If we fight separately, once the Eastern Region becomes ruins and the flames of war cross the border, no one will be able to stop the demon tide."

Daoist Xuantian stared at you. Three breaths passed.

His thumb traced a circle on the armrest. Then he traced another.

"You want to use the Eastern Region as a shield and let the Central Plains add fuel to the fire?"

"I dare not."

You straightened your body and cupped your hands in salute.

"Relying solely on your sect to provide manpower and materials to protect the Eastern Region will inevitably damage your vitality in the long run. To defend against the enemy outside the borders, we must pull those three sects into the situation."

The wind at Tianxin Platform paused for a beat.

Daoist Xuantian stood up and walked to the edge of the stone platform, turning his back to you. His grey cloth Daoist robe was billowed by the mountain wind.

"Since you dare to say this, you must intend to go to these three sects yourself?"

"I will go."

"Prepare to be thrown out of their mountain gates."

Daoist Xuantian did not turn around. His voice was blown dry and hard by the wind.

"Han Wuji. Sect Master of Tianyan Sword Sect. Late-stage Deity Transformation. A sword cultivator. His temper is three points harder than mine. When you arrive, he will not invite you to drink tea. He will make you take three sword strikes first. If you cannot take them, there is no need to talk."

"Shang Heng. Sect Master of Tianxing Sect. Nascent Soul Peak. He acts tyrannically. He is more adept at devouring allies than fighting demon beasts. When you bring those two Foundation Establishment juniors into his territory, do not say a single redundant word. He can smell weaknesses."

You did not speak, just listened.

"Lingxiao Sect. Sect Master Changsun Lianxin. Nascent Soul Great Perfection. A female cultivator."

Daoist Xuantian turned around and looked at you.

"The most rule-abiding one among the four sects. But being rule-abiding means that if you do not have bargaining chips that move her, she won't even have the interest to stand up."

You cupped your hands.

"Thank you, Sect Master, for your guidance. I humbly request a letter of recommendation."

Daoist Xuantian walked back to the stone table. He sized you up for two breaths.

"With a letter written by my own hand, the three of them will at least finish reading it. That is all. Whether you can cross their thresholds depends on your own fate."

He extended his right hand. Spiritual power emanated from his fingertips, condensing into three pale gold talisman papers in the air.

He took the spiritual ink brush from the stone table, dipped it in the spiritual spring water, and began to write.

The first letter: To be opened by fellow Daoist Han Wuji of Tianyan Sword Sect.

The brushwork was sharp and fierce. Every character was etched deep into the paper. He pressed his palm print at the signature. The Sect Master's seal branded the emblem of Xuantian Holy Sect. The golden light faded into the surface of the paper.

The second letter: Shang Heng of Tianxing Sect.

The third letter: Changsun Lianxin of Lingxiao Sect.

After writing the three letters, the spiritual ink dried. Each signature was branded with the same Sect Master seal. The golden light vanished.

Daoist Xuantian pushed the letters toward you.

"Take them."

You stored the letters in your storage ring and cupped your hands in salute.

Daoist Xuantian's gaze passed over you and fell below the steps.

Huo Quji was still leaning against the stone pillar, his face deathly pale. Ling Qingmeng stood beside him, her back straight.

"The two behind you."

Daoist Xuantian lifted his chin slightly.

"A Fire-type Heavenly Spiritual Root and a mutated Lightning Spiritual Root. Even in the Central Plains, these are top-tier seedlings. I will arrange for two elders to guide them for three months. That would be more useful than fumbling in the Eastern Region for three years."

You cupped your hands.

"I am grateful for the Sect Master's kindness, Shen Ji is appreciative. But the two of them have other urgent tasks. The Eastern Region is on the verge of war; there is a shortage of manpower for setting up defensive formations and rotating front-line sentries. We cannot afford to delay for three months."

Below the steps, Ling Qingmeng lifted her head.

She looked at your back.

She let go of Huo Quji's shoulder, stood up straight, and remained silent.

Huo Quji opened his mouth, then swallowed his words.

Elder Wen Huaian stood on the side of the stone platform with his hands tucked into his sleeves, glancing at you twice.

Daoist Xuantian paused for two breaths.

"You are quite willing to sacrifice."

"The battle is imminent. I can distinguish between priorities."

Daoist Xuantian patted the stone table. The spiritual spring pot wobbled.

"Good."

One word fell, crisp and decisive.

You took Huo Quji and Ling Qingmeng and performed a farewell salute.

Daoist Xuantian did not get up. He picked up his cup and leaned back on the stone throne, watching the three figures disappear at the end of the cloud bridge.

You exited Tianxin Platform and crossed the cloud bridge. The stone steps extended downwards, lined with pine and cypress trees.

"Fellow Daoist Shen. Please stay."

Elder Wen Huaian walked out from the corner of the cloud bridge with a calm pace.

He stopped in front of you and glanced at Huo Quji and Ling Qingmeng ahead.

"You two go ahead. Turn left up ahead, and there is a guest house to rest."

Ling Qingmeng looked back.

You nodded.

She pressed Huo Quji's arm, and the two walked down the stone steps first. Huo Quji turned his head once after taking five steps, only to be dragged away by Ling Qingmeng.

Only you and Elder Wen Huaian remained on the stone steps.

Elder Wen Huaian took out a dark green jade slip from his sleeve.

"What you did at Tianxin Platform today left me in admiration. But there is one thing I must remind you of."

He handed over the jade slip. The jade felt cold, and its surface was engraved with extremely fine sealing patterns. You took it.

"The demon race's infiltration of the human race is not limited to the Eastern Region. The Central Plains is equally deeply mired in it."

Elder Wen Huaian lowered his voice. The sound of the wind through the pines and cypresses drowned out his voice, but only you could hear it.

"This jade slip records an organization called the 'Shadow Pavilion'."

"Shadow Pavilion?"

"A dark web. In the last decade, they have planted spies in various major sects in the Central Plains. Their methods are treacherous. We have been investigating for many years, but have only obtained fragmentary clues."

Elder Wen Huaian paused for a beat.

"These clues point to the same direction. This Pavilion has dealings with the demon race and is directly dispatched by the demon race's high-level members."

He stared at you.

"When you travel in the Central Plains, you must be wary of this Pavilion. They will disguise themselves as rogue cultivators, merchants, or even sect disciples."

Your thumb paused on the surface of the jade slip.

Fifth Senior Brother Lu Chen.

Inside the Tianxuan Sect, that hidden mole who had never been exposed.

His abnormal movement patterns, the timing of his entries and exits from the sect, and the suspicious individuals he had contacted—if they aligned with the 'Shadow Pavilion'...

The malignant tumor was within the Five Regions.

You put the jade slip into your storage ring.

"Elder Wen. Thank you. Shen Ji will remember this favor."

Elder Wen Huaian stepped back and cupped his hands.

"Take care. The waters in the Central Plains are deeper than you think."

You walked into the guest house and closed the door.

Ling Qingmeng leaned against the window, her arms crossed over her chest.

Huo Quji was squatting in the corner, chugging water. He drank half a pot in one go.

You laid out the letters of recommendation, the guest elder token, and the Shadow Pavilion jade slip on the table.

Ling Qingmeng walked over, picked up one of the letters, and flipped it over. The golden Sect Master seal reflected in the candlelight. She put it down.

"Three major sects. Are you really going to visit them one by one?"

"If I don't go, who will?"

You took out a topographical map and unfolded it. Your finger pointed toward the southeast of the Central Plains.

Tianyan Sword Sect. Nine Sword Peaks. Sect Master, Late-stage Deity Transformation.

Your fingertip pressed down hard on that location, leaving a white mark with your nail.

Outside the light screen.

Shen Ji's gaze moved away from the topographical map.

Three letters of recommendation.

One guest elder token.

One piece of Shadow Pavilion intelligence.

The trip to Tianxin Platform was successful; all the trump cards that needed to be obtained were now in his hands.

The route ahead was already determined.

Tianyan Sword Sect, Tianxing Sect, Lingxiao Sect.

After visiting these three, the four sects of the Central Plains would be drawn into the game.

Afterward, it would be time to return to the Eastern Region and break through to the next realm.

Shen Ji looked at the trait bar in the upper right corner of the light screen.

Instant Deduction, remaining uses: 3.

The last Instant Deduction skipped seventeen years, exchanging it for a death list.

Huo Quji, fifty-nine years old.

Gu Yunxi, fifty-eight years old.

Died in battle on the same day.

The trigger point was set too far; seventeen years of blank space, unable to save the doomed situation.

He needed to make his move and take control on the first day the war drums sounded.

Shen Ji reached out to adjust the trait configuration.

[Instant Deduction] replaced [Shift Image].

Equipped.

Final configuration locked.

[Equipped Traits 8/8: Wealth Returns After Being Spent (Gold), Supreme Sword Bone (Gold), Phantom Raid (Purple), Thirteen Gale Strikes (Purple), Instant Deduction (Purple), Sword Dao Insight (Purple), Lingxi Finger (Blue), Greased Soles (White)]

Strategy set.

Visit Tianyan Sword Sect, Tianxing Sect, and Lingxiao Sect with the letters. Form an alliance. After completion, return to Tianxuan Sect and go into seclusion to break through. Do not go out.

Event trigger point: First invasion of the Eastern Region by the demon race.

Confirmed.

Instant Deduction activated. Deduction started. Remaining uses: 2.

The light screen image contracted rapidly. The timeline was crushed. The sun and moon overlapped into a band of light.

In the image, you stood before Nine Sword Peaks. The mountain wind was cold and fierce. You drew your sword.

On the peak's sword-testing platform, a grey-haired old man sat still. A Deity Transformation sword aura pressed down over your head.

Three sword lights slashed down.

The image shifted.

Tianxing Sect. Mineral vein secret chamber. Shang Heng sat opposite you with his legs crossed.

A spiritual mineral map was spread out on the table. He slapped the table heavily, and the corner of the table shattered.

The scene cut.

Lingxiao Sect. Pill Pavilion. Changsun Lianxin held a brush.

The final stroke fell on the alliance talisman paper. The great seal was pressed onto the paper. The golden light faded.

Three stops of maneuvering. All the clashes of blades and verbal sparring were compressed into five breaths of light and shadow.

The journey back.

Eastern Region. Tianxuan Sect. Back mountain seclusion cave.

Your figure froze on the meditation cushion. You consumed the pill, and your spiritual power condensed.

The spiritual patterns on the surface of your Golden Core deepened layer by layer.

Mid Golden Core Stage perfected.

Golden Core Late Stage.

Eight years of time passed in two breaths.

The image stopped abruptly.

A line of blood-red text popped out.

Event triggered: Thirty-eight years old. May 3rd. First invasion of the Eastern Region's northern border by the demon race. Target: Ningbian City. Return to simulation?

Shen Ji chose "Yes".

Thirty-eight years old. May 3rd. The hour of Chen (7-9 AM). Tianxuan Sect. Back mountain seclusion cave.

You opened your eyes.

Within your dantian, the Golden Core rotated. The surface was covered in dense spiritual patterns, each one etched into the core's heart. The circulation of spiritual power was thick and restrained.

Golden Core Late Stage.

Call up the system panel.

Cultivation: Golden Core Late Stage.

Luck Value: 439.

The survival status of all related characters is marked as "Alive".

Eight years. No one died in battle.

You selected [Shift Image] to replace [Instant Deduction]. Equipped.

You pushed open the stone door of the cave. Sunlight poured in.

On the northern horizon, a blood-colored light pierced through the clouds.

The Tianxuan Sect's communication array was fully activated. In the direction of the mountain gate, the bronze bell rang continuously. It was low and short, with the intervals getting shorter and shorter.

An urgent report pierced through the cave's protective barrier.

"Urgent report from Ningbian City! The demon race has entered the city! The garrison is retreating! Civilians have not been evacuated in time! Requesting reinforcements!"