Nangong Yanran wanted to say something more, but seeing the guard as cold as ice, she knew that saying anything would be useless at the moment, so she left filled with doubts.
Meanwhile, when Pei Quan’an hurriedly arrived at the conference hall, he found that almost all the elders of Wanghai Tower had gathered, including his master Shen Jiu (Shen Zigeng).
Presiding over the meeting was none other than Jiang Shengwu, the usually elusive master of Wanghai Tower.
At this moment, his expression was also extremely serious.
Pei Quan’an dared not make a sound and quietly hid at the back of the crowd.
Once everyone had arrived, Jiang Shengwu glanced around at everyone with a stern expression and then said in a cold voice.
"I assume everyone is aware of the situation. Let’s hear it, what are your thoughts?"
Everyone exchanged looks, and after a moment, one of the elders spoke.
"Master, the open and covert struggle between the North Canglong and South Canglong has been going on for over twenty years; it’s nothing new. The Separation Tower is even less worth mentioning. The only noteworthy aspect is whether the news of Jingping Saint’s emergence is true."
Everyone deeply agreed.
Though the news of South Canglong confronting and defeating the combined attack of North Canglong and Separation Tower was indeed shocking,
it still paled in comparison to Jingping Saint’s emergence.
This was also why Jiang Shengwu, upon hearing the news, immediately gathered all the elders and key disciples in the tower.
After all, this Jingping Saint left an extremely profound impression on all the sects beyond the world years ago.
"I estimate it to be true; otherwise, North Canglong and Separation Tower wouldn’t be so impatient to attack," another elder analyzed.
"I also believe it to be true, but the key issue is what cultivation realm this Jingping Saint is in now," Shen Zigeng, Pei Quan’an’s master, said at this time.
Everyone fell silent upon hearing this.
Pei Quan’an also felt a wave of panic.
Though he hadn’t personally experienced the great battle twenty years ago, he had often heard his master mention the name Jingping Saint over the years.
He knew this was the true favored son of heaven, a being that stirred the winds and clouds beyond the world.
Moreover, according to Shen Zigeng, this Jingping Saint had great ambitions.
If it weren’t for the Grand Elder of the Azure Dragon Temple’s desperate strike back then, injuring his foundation and forcing him into seclusion, all the sects beyond the world might have been implicated, maybe even never finding peace.
Now, this demon-king-like figure has emerged after twenty years. No wonder Wanghai Tower is on such high alert.
"Zigeng is right; back then, this Jingping Saint, at just over twenty years old, had opened all his meridians and reached the Primordial Sea Realm, unprecedented and unparalleled. If his cultivation ideology hadn’t gone astray, he would arguably be the foremost figure beyond the world today," Jiang Shengwu lamented.
"Now, twenty years later, he emerges once again. Does this mean he has fully recovered from his internal injuries, or even advanced further? This indeed requires careful consideration."
At this moment, an elder suddenly chuckled lightly and said, "Actually, this news isn’t hard to verify, because the first target Jingping Saint would deal with post-emergence would surely be South Canglong. So as long as we focus on the struggle between North and South Canglong, we can naturally ascertain what Jingping Saint’s capabilities are."
Upon hearing this, all the elders present nodded in agreement.
"After all these years of struggle between North and South Canglong, it’s indeed time to resolve it. However, I don’t think South Canglong will be able to hold out this time," Shen Zigeng said.
Jiang Shengwu also nodded upon hearing this.
"Guan Xuejiang is someone who is sufficient at maintaining stability but lacks initiative. Guo Luming, despite not being weak, has guarded the Library for over twenty years and has never fought anyone, so he’s been wasted."
"Apart from that, there’s only Shen Yunshen worth focusing on, but relying on him to resist Jingping Saint is like daydreaming."
Jiang Shengwu, as the master of Wanghai Tower, though not often seen, possessed insight far beyond ordinary people.
His comments struck right to the heart of the matter.
The elders of Wanghai Tower all nodded in agreement.
It was then that an elder hesitantly said, "In this battle, there’s a disciple among South Canglong who has risen to fame, even slaying Luo Congkuan, and I hear this disciple is also leading the defense against North and South Canglong. Shouldn’t we also pay attention to this?"
Everyone then looked at the speaker; it was Elder Wang, who was responsible for intelligence gathering at Wanghai Tower.
"Oh? Who is this disciple?" Jiang Shengwu asked, somewhat surprised.
Previously, he focused mainly on information concerning Jingping Saint and wasn’t really aware of anything else.
"This disciple is the same Zhao Ya who previously overthrew Elder Yu Zhang and others."
"Zhao Ya?" Jiang Shengwu frowned, as he had no impression of this name.
Even though Zhao Ya’s toppling of Yu Zhang had already spread beyond the world, Jiang Shengwu, being the master of Wanghai Tower, naturally wouldn’t concern himself with such trivial matters, hence he hadn’t heard Zhao Ya’s name.
Pei Quan’an in the crowd, however, was shaken to the core.
His impression of Zhao Ya was extremely deep.
After all, during the inaugural ceremony, it was Zhao Ya who embarrassed him in public.
Unexpectedly, he was involved this time as well, and even beheaded Luo Congkuan.
This seemed almost unbelievable.
However, after Elder Wang recounted the story, Pei Quan’an couldn’t help but believe it.
The crowd was also in turmoil.
"Hiss, that Luo Congkuan was a renowned elder of North Canglong, and he just died like that?"
"What is Zhao Ya’s capability exactly? Isn’t he just a disciple? How could he be so formidable?"
Jiang Shengwu, having understood the situation, was also astonished to learn that Zhao Ya had joined South Canglong only a year ago.
"In this light, this disciple’s talent might not be inferior to Jingping Saint’s, indeed, he deserves special attention."
He then made a summary: "Now, with Jingping Saint’s emergence, the decisive battle between North and South Canglong is imminent, and the world beyond is entering a troubled time. Our Wanghai Tower must be prepared in advance."
"From today, unless it’s a special case, disciples must not go out, and elders should not leave at will. Elder Wang."
"I am here."
"These days will be more arduous for you; you need to gather intelligence on Jingping Saint and the North-South Canglong conflict. Report immediately if there’s any anomaly."
"Understood."
The entirety of Wanghai Tower was on high alert, but they weren’t the only ones.
With the news of Jingping Saint’s emergence, all the sects beyond the world were in an uproar.
In the Purple Swallow Forest Pavilion, within a small chess courtyard.
Zhuo Tingqin looked solemnly at Nan Liangyu across from him, and after a long time, he spoke.
"Senior Brother Nan, what do you think of this matter?"
Nan Liangyu, in contrast, was much calmer.
He considered the remaining chess pieces in front of him for a long while, then finally raised his eyes to speak.
"This matter was bound to happen sooner or later, after all, Jingping Saint couldn’t remain in seclusion forever."
"While the outside world believes South Canglong is bound to fail, I have a different perspective."
"Oh? What perspective?" Zhuo Tingqin immediately inquired.
"Guan Xuejiang of South Canglong, though mild-tempered and reputed to be only sufficient at maintaining stability, when confronted with a crisis that threatens the whole sect, his reaction may surprise everyone."
"Furthermore, during the previous split war, because they didn’t want to partake in internal sect conflicts, the Library faction didn’t take action. But now, as time has passed, the situation between North and South Canglong has become irreconcilable. If Jingping Saint truly dares to approach the Azure Dragon Temple, Guo Luming will not tolerate it."
Zhuo Tingqin nodded, but then asked the most pressing question everyone beyond the world wanted to know.
"Then, Senior Brother, what do you think Jingping Saint’s current cultivation realm is?"
Nan Liangyu smiled wryly and shook his head, "How would I know, but twenty years ago when he went into seclusion, he was already at the Primordial Sea Realm. Now, twenty years later, he might have taken another step forward."
Zhuo Tingqin’s expression changed dramatically upon hearing this, "If that’s the case, who in the world beyond could be his opponent?"
"I don’t know, but my intuition tells me that this crisis might see a turn of events no one expects."
"Senior Brother, are you suggesting..." Zhuo Tingqin hesitated.
"I think many people are only focusing on Jingping Saint, but they’re overlooking another person worth paying attention to this time."
As he spoke, Nan Liangyu gently placed a piece on the chessboard.
It was originally an inconsequential position, but once the piece was placed,
the black pieces, originally at a disadvantage, instantly turned the tables, even showing a faint trend of countering the white pieces.
Zhuo Tingqin’s eyes lit up, "You’re referring to... Zhao Ya?"
"Precisely, it’s him!"