"We've waited so many years, finally encountering such a perfect opportunity, and just at this moment, several Ancestral Patriarchs suddenly pop up. They've long since withdrawn from worldly affairs and lived in seclusion for years. Their appearance at this time must be because Feiyan used some method to notify them."
"Feiyan holds the Palace Mistress Seal Token, left behind by Lady Zhuyue herself. Summoning the various Ancestral Patriarchs through the seal token isn't difficult."
"So what if they've come? Are we supposed to fear a few old relics?
In the Ancient Era, their strength might have dominated the Great Northwest, but as for the Current Era... Hmph!
Their meager cultivation and power are probably not even worth a glance."
Inside the main hall of Yao Yue Palace, the Elders were discussing animatedly. Some of the direct disciples didn't seem to hold the so-called Yao Yue Palace Ancestral Patriarchs in any regard.
Indeed.
They were all geniuses of the Current Era, possessing innate talent, profound comprehension, and extraordinary Fortune. A single stroke of Fortune could match a century of arduous cultivation. In this Current Era where Fortune rains from the sky, the strength painstakingly cultivated day after day, year after year, through long, hard toil in Ancient times was utterly insignificant. Whether it was a Great Nature Colored Spirit or a Seed refined later in life, both were far more powerful than strength gained through mere hard cultivation.
"We shouldn't speak so carelessly. Leaving aside the other Ancestral Patriarchs for now, Ancestral Patriarch Fenghua had already forged his Dao Heart even before the Ancient Era. His strength is unfathomable. We must absolutely not let our guard down."
The speaker was Yao Yue Palace's Fourth Elder, Feisha, also a senior Elder of considerable standing. Within Yao Yue Palace, aside from the Second Elder, he held the most prestige. He knew that although the Current Era was one where Fortune rained from the sky, it didn't mean the old-timers without Fortune were weak. On the contrary, strength cultivated through a hundred or a thousand years of bitter toil was earned with one's very life. Their experience and worldly knowledge were not something the younger generation could compare to. If a real fight broke out, who would be stronger or weaker was truly unknown.
Stroking the beard on his chin, he continued, "Moreover, they are, after all, the Ancestral Patriarchs of our Yao Yue Palace. If we take action against them, people like Feihe and Zihao will surely accuse us of betraying our masters and ancestors. If word gets out, our reputation will suffer."
Within Yao Yue Palace, not all Elders followed the Second Elder's lead. There were also about a dozen Elders like Feihe and Zihao who stood on Feiyan's side. Although Elders like Feihe and Zihao weren't particularly impressive in terms of cultivation and power, they were, after all, senior Elders of Yao Yue Palace. Precisely because of this, the Second Elder's faction didn't dare act too brazenly.
"After Ancestral Patriarch Fenghua and the others returned just now, they immediately demanded we release Feiyan. They're currently in the back mountains, discussing who knows what. If the Ancestral Patriarchs restore Feiyan's position as Palace Mistress, what do we do?"
"Esteemed Elders, you worry too much."
The one who spoke was a handsome and extraordinary young man.
He wore a set of brocade robes, held a jade fan, wore a faint smile, and possessed an exceptional bearing.
Everyone in the main hall, whether Elders or direct disciples, showed him deference, for this person was the leader of the Twelve Full Moons of Yao Yue Palace, Zhong Yulong, hailed as Yao Yue Palace's number one direct disciple and also the sole disciple of the Second Elder, Feilu.
Due to his extraordinary innate talent, transcendent comprehension, and unparalleled Fortune, he was also acclaimed as one of the Ten Great Prodigies of the Great Northwest.
Having cultivated for a mere forty-odd years, he was already a Daozun at the Nascent Soul Transformation realm. His mastery of martial arts and spells was peerless, and his Great Nature Colored Spirit had reached the pinnacle of Transcendent Perfection. Most terrifyingly, it was said he also refined a powerful and dreadful Yao Yue Seed.
As was widely known, Yao Yue Palace possessed a Yao Yue Heart. It was precisely this Yao Yue Heart that nurtured the Yao Yue Spirit Vein.
However, the Yao Yue Heart had always only been fusable by the Palace Mistress. Moreover, following Feng Zhuyue's mysterious disappearance, the Yao Yue Heart had also vanished without a trace.
The Yao Yue Seed refined by Zhong Yulong was a unique seed born from the Yao Yue Spirit Vein, the only one nurtured over countless millennia. The Yao Yue power contained within it was exceptionally potent. When it first manifested, the Second Elder had immediately gifted it to his disciple, illustrating just how highly he regarded his pupil.
Hearing him speak, the various Elders looked over and asked, "Yulong, do you have a good plan?"
"Hehe, the Ancestral Patriarchs have come, so let them come. There's nothing to worry about. As for your concerns about them restoring Feiyan's position as Palace Mistress, everyone need not worry even more. That Lord Chiyan not only killed Ancestral Patriarch Fenglie but also several of our Yao Yue Palace's Elders and direct disciples. And Lord Chiyan is Han Dong's Dao companion. As Han Dong's master, Feiyan naturally cannot escape involvement. As long as we cling to this point, even if the Ancestral Patriarchs exhaust themselves trying to protect her, their stance will be untenable."
Zhong Yulong slowly opened his jade fan, smiling as he said, "Moreover, the arrival of the Ancestral Patriarchs doesn't necessarily mean it's a bad thing for us."
"Oh?
How so?"
"Perfect timing. We can take this opportunity to wipe them all out in one fell swoop. Along with Feihe, Zihao, and anyone in Yao Yue Palace who opposes us, this time I'll make sure they all die without a place to be buried."
His words were shocking enough to kill.
Zhong Yulong's words truly frightened Elders like Feisha and his faction. Only the Second Elder, sitting high on his chair, continued to toy with two crystal orbs, not even looking up, though a trace of a gratified smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"We've already spread the news that Feiyan has been imprisoned. I believe it won't be long before Han Dong personally delivers herself to our doorstep. I understand her character; she would never abandon Feiyan to survive alone. Han Dong will definitely come to rescue her master at all costs. Once Han Dong appears, our grand plan will be half successful."
Zhong Yulong wore a smile, glancing at the Elders in the main hall. His words carried confidence and arrogance. "Once Han Dong appears, we immediately notify the various major sects. Right now, all the major sects, including the Immortal Office and Crimson-Letter Sect, are looking for her. Once we notify them, they will inevitably rush here at once."
He paused, then added, "At that time, the major sects will surely press Han Dong for information about that Lord Chiyan's whereabouts. Hehe, whether she knows or not, whether she speaks or not, it's already unimportant. As long as she appears, she is doomed. Even if we don't kill her, the various factions won't let her go."
"Once Han Dong dies, Feiyan's fate will be exhausted. The Ancestral Patriarchs, out of respect for Lady Zhuyue from back then, will surely swear to protect Feiyan's life with their own... Hehe...
We shouldn't fear them taking action; we should fear them not taking action. As long as they dare move, we'll go all the way and eliminate them on the spot. From then on, within Yao Yue Palace, no one will ever oppose us again."
"Yulong truly possesses great talent!"
After hearing Zhong Yulong's plan, Elders like Feisha and the others all nodded excitedly in praise.
The Second Elder Feilu, who had remained silent all along, finally opened his eyes and praised, "Making preparations before it rains, planning first then deciding—Excellent!
Excellent!
Excellent!
Truly worthy of being this master's good disciple. A youth worthy of teaching, a youth worthy of teaching indeed!"
"Thank you for Master's praise."
All the Elders were rejoicing over Zhong Yulong's perfect plan when, at that moment, a disciple came to report from outside the main hall. Upon hearing that Han Dong had arrived, the Elders immediately became excited, their faces flushing red.
"She's come at the perfect time!"
The Second Elder Feilu shouted an exclamation of approval, stood up, and ordered, "Immediately notify the various major sects. Tell them Han Dong is at our Yao Yue Palace and request they come with all haste."