At first, some stubborn cultivators dismissed the Myriad Immortals Alliance's warnings, continuing their ways while relying on concealment techniques to infiltrate Jiushan Province.
But this time, the Spirit Transformation cultivators assigned to guard the area had come thoroughly prepared. They jointly deployed a massive array that enveloped the entire province.
This array wasn't designed for killing, but rather to automatically mark any Five Elders Council cultivators within its range.
The exact principles remained unknown, but whenever a Five Elders Council cultivator stepped inside, a towering pillar of light would instantly lock onto them.
No matter how they tried to conceal their tracks, they stood out like candle flames in the darkness, completely exposed.
The result was predictable. Even before the Spirit Transformation cultivators had the chance to step in, the rats who had infiltrated Jiushan Province would be torn to shreds by swarms of cultivators from the Myriad Immortals Alliance.
This array, capable of distinguishing between factions, had never appeared before, not even during the previous major battle in Tianling Province.
It proved remarkably effective from its debut performance.
The Five Elders Council seemed temporarily unable to find a countermeasure. Unprepared for another full-scale war, they temporarily withdrew, avoiding an escalation.
However, they didn't appear to have completely abandoned their plans to explore the Chaoyuan Sect’s ruins.
They gathered forces along the Jiushan Province border, adopting a stance suggesting they might invade at any moment.
With both sides poised for battle, the frontlines grew tense, and conflict was on the verge of erupting.
Meanwhile, in the secure rear areas of the Myriad Immortals Alliance, the Five Elders Council's motives became a hot topic of discussion among cultivators.
Logically speaking, having just concluded a devastating war with countless casualties, this should have been a period of recovery and peace.
Yet the Five Elders Council’s actions defied expectations, provoking the Alliance time and again. What was their goal?
Furthermore, the previous war was incited by their desire for the five elements grotto-heavens. What were they aiming for this time by massing troops?
After extensive discussion and analysis, two prevailing theories emerged.
First, the Chaoyuan Sect ruins truly contained some priceless treasure, compelling the Five Elders Council to seize it even at the cost of war with the Myriad Immortals Alliance.
The second theory suggested that Jiushan Province was just a diversion, and they were using the ruins' appearance to create a major disturbance to draw the Myriad Immortals Alliance's attention while their true target lay elsewhere.
Whatever their purpose, one thing was certain: the Five Elders Council harbored ill intentions.
For the vast majority of Qi Refinement and Foundation Establishment cultivators, war still felt somewhat distant. After all, they weren’t deployed even during the large-scale conflict in Tianling Province. Meanwhile, the post-war discount on techniques provided tangible benefits.
Most watched events unfold with a mixture of tension and anticipation, closely following further developments.
Chaoyuan Sect...
In the Congyun Sea, the situation hadn't yet escalated to the point where array maintenance technicians needed to conduct patrols.
Li Fan remained within the Tianxuan Mirror, gathering and examining information on recent events.
According to cultivators who successfully explored the Chaoyuan Sect ruins and returned safely, it appears to be an ordinary ruin site. Aside from being somewhat larger, it doesn't seem particularly special.
The only odd thing is that the ruins are unnaturally pristine, completely unlike a site that's stood for millennia.
There are no signs of battle or struggle, and no remains of fallen cultivators. Even most of the sect's protective arrays remain in an inactive state.
It's as if in a single moment, every member of the Chaoyuan Sect vanished. Then their entire sect traveled through a thousand years of time to appear before us now.
I've heard that Spirit Transformation cultivators from the Myriad Immortals Alliance personally investigated the ruins as well. Unfortunately, they apparently found nothing substantial.
Hmm, intriguing...
Li Fan's eyes gleamed with light.
Any smart person could tell there was something fishy about the Chaoyuan Sect.
If even Spirit Transformation cultivators couldn't uncover its secrets, the dangers had to be extraordinary.
I hope this matter is resolved before I activate Return to Truth. Then I can gain an advantage in my next life.
As Li Fan waited quietly for developments, his avatar received an urgent message from Jiao Xiuyuan.
Apparently, he could wait no longer and had decided to hold the first auction for the Mini Medicine King Cauldrons.
"I've invested too much already! With tensions rising again, I can't delay anymore!" Jiao Xiuyuan lamented.
"Even if cultivators aren't as financially comfortable now, it's better than waiting years to recoup my investment.
"I've poured too many resources into promoting these Mini Medicine King Cauldrons. Any longer and I won’t be able to keep my funds flowing."
The cash flow problems might be exaggerated, but Li Fan agreed with his decision.
If they didn't offload these Mini Medicine King Cauldrons soon, these replicas would transform from priceless treasures into catastrophic liabilities once the true Medicine King Cauldron appeared.
By then, even Jiao Xiuyuan might not escape unscathed.
"I've chosen Tianhua Province for the first auction. It's deep within Myriad Immortals Alliance territory, connected to eight provinces, including Tianyu Province. Cultivators there are generally wealthier than those elsewhere.
"Will you come observe the proceedings, Fellow Daoist?"
Jiao Xiuyuan clearly valued his business partner's opinion, extending the invitation personally.
Li Fan declined with a faint smile. "Such a grand occasion is beyond an insignificant Foundation Establishment cultivator like me. I wouldn't want to intrude.
"I wish you speedy success in your venture, Fellow Daoist. May you establish the Mini Medicine King Cauldron’s reputation far and wide."
Though slightly disappointed, Jiao Xiuyuan didn't press further.
"By the way, Fellow Daoist Jiao, what's your take on the Five Elders Council's recent movements?" Li Fan suddenly asked.
"The Five Elders Council?" Jiao Xiuyuan paused, tilting his head as if receiving information.
After a moment, he replied, "My personal assessment is they're using this opportunity to test us."
"Test us? What do you mean?" Li Fan's interest sharpened.
Jiao Xiuyuan lowered his voice. "Let's keep this between us. Don't spread it.
"I have a special source. A certain Dao Unity Immortal Venerable within the Myriad Immortals Alliance seeks to ‘defy the principles of heaven and earth’ to achieve eternal life.
"This Immortal Venerable maintains good relations with other Dao Unity powerhouses. Rumor says he has gathered considerable support and departed for some unknown place.
"I suspect the Five Elders Council somehow caught wind of this and wants to apply pressure, testing whether the intelligence is genuine.
"The incident in Jiushan Province was merely an appetizer. If I'm not mistaken, the main course has yet to come."
When Li Fan first heard Jiao Xiuyuan's words, he thought the Dao Unity powerhouse being discussed was Immortal Venerable Lan Yu from Yuandao Province.
Yet the subsequent description clearly didn't match Lan Yu's profile.
Another one seeking to advance to the Eternal Life realm? Li Fan's heart stirred slightly.
But doubts immediately arose within him.
"This Immortal Venerable wants to break through, yet he invites friends to assist? Isn't he afraid of..." Li Fan left the sentence unfinished, but his meaning hung clearly in the air.