"This time I've gathered you all here for two reasons. The first is to inform you of the full story behind what happened previously. The second... well, let's discuss the first matter first," the Grand Hall Master said solemnly.
Ye Zhengwei and the others frowned. The Grand Hall Master's expression was grave. Could something even more serious have occurred? However, they remained silent, waiting for the Grand Hall Master to speak.
Soon, the others understood as the Grand Hall Master recounted the events.
It turned out that the space they had encountered was indeed created by the Demon Lord. The entity within was merely a clone of the Demon Lord. As for the Three Star Master and the Great Star Master, they had encountered the clone by chance. Lacking sufficient resistance to power, the Great Star Master and the Three Star Master reached an agreement with the Demon Lord's clone.
The Great Star Master and the Three Star Master would provide blood sacrifices to the Demon Lord's clone to sustain its consumption, while the Demon Lord's clone would provide them with demonic cultivation techniques to enhance their strength.
However, as time passed, the Demon Lord's clone grew unsatisfied with ordinary spirit masters' flesh and blood. Similarly, the Great Star Master and the Three Star Master were no longer content with such slow progress. After further deliberation, they turned their attention to the disciple competition among the three sects and one palace.
Moreover, in order to obtain the complete demonic cultivation manual, the Great Star Master and the Three Star Master discussed with the Demon Lord's clone the addition of the one hundred and twenty-eight disciples of the Star Cloud Hall. This way, they would avoid suspicion from the three sects and one palace while also satisfying the Demon Lord's clone's urgent needs.
Once the complete cultivation manual was acquired, the Great Star Master and the Three Star Master had no fear of retaliation from the Star Cloud Hall.
Therefore, the Three Star Master intervened to replace the elder who was originally supposed to preside over the disciple competition of the three sects and one palace, and personally took charge. The subsequent events were all known to the three sects and one palace.
"After several days of investigation, I have found only four individuals within the sect who were misled by the two and turned into demon cultivators. I have dealt with them all. This matter concludes here," the Grand Hall Master stated calmly.
Ye Zhengwei and the other three nodded slightly. They had a general understanding of the situation beforehand, and the Grand Hall Master's account filled in the details.
"Grand Hall Master, you mentioned two matters just now. The first one is concluded. What is the second matter?" asked Wen Haoyan, the Palace Master of Liú Míng Palace, after some thought.
The Grand Hall Master remained silent for a moment before replying gravely, "This second matter concerns the safety of our Star Cloud Continent. As mentioned before, that demon cultivator was merely a clone. If a clone possesses strength at the Heavenly Revelation realm, one can only imagine the power of the main body."
Ye Zhengwei and the others immediately understood.
If a clone had strength at the Heavenly Revelation realm, the main body would naturally be far more powerful. And if the clone was destroyed, the main body would surely have noticed. Furthermore, if it were them, would they not seek revenge upon discovering their clone's demise?
It was certain that the Demon Lord would personally descend upon the Star Cloud Continent. Currently, the strongest beings on the Star Cloud Continent were the three Hall Masters of the Star Cloud Hall. However, even the Grand Hall Master's strength only reached the Karma realm.
Invisibly, the Star Cloud Continent faced a great calamity.
"Grand Hall Master, how much time do we have left?" asked Yao Bieli, the Sect Master of the Spirit Refining Sect, after a moment of contemplation.
"At the latest, one year; at the soonest, half a year. Of course, this also depends on the extent of the Demon Lord's main body's power," the Grand Hall Master replied slowly.
Everyone fell silent again. While this timeframe seemed ample, to spirit masters, it was merely the duration of a short seclusion.
Li Xuan sighed with a hint of helplessness. He had not expected the Demon Lord encountered in that space to be merely a clone. As for the timeframe speculated by the Grand Hall Master, Li Xuan agreed. After all, if there were powerful demonic cultivators of such a caliber in the vicinity of the Star Cloud Continent, the Grand Hall Master and the others would surely be aware.
This implied that the Demon Lord's main body must be located far from the Star Cloud Continent. However, with the clone now annihilated by the Grand Hall Master, it inadvertently provided the main body with a spatial coordinate. Following this coordinate, they could reach it regardless of the distance.
Moreover, the stronger the existence, the faster they could travel, far exceeding ordinary cloud ships. Li Xuan had a feeling that even half a year might be an exaggeration.
"I understand your concerns. We could perhaps choose to abandon our sect and leave, thereby evading this calamity. However, on this Star Cloud Continent, not only do we have our roots, but there are also billions of living beings. If we all flee, what will become of them?"
The Grand Hall Master paused before continuing, "As spirit masters, while we may not have the explicit duty to protect everyone, the strong protecting the weak is an obligation we should uphold. Therefore, our Star Cloud Hall has decided to remain and await the Demon Lord's arrival."
"Of course, if any of you wish to migrate your entire sect, our Star Cloud Hall will not obstruct you."
Ye Zhengwei and the other three fell silent. This was a very serious decision, one that concerned not only their own lives but also the future of their respective sects. Furthermore, each sect had tens of thousands of disciples, and as sect leaders, they had to consider them.
"Grand Hall Master, if we were to confront the Demon Lord, what are our chances of victory?" asked Lei Zhan, the Sect Master of the Profound Thunder Sect, after some thought.
The Grand Hall Master remained silent for a moment before slowly stating, "If the Demon Lord is at the peak of the Karma realm, our Star Cloud Hall can resist. But if it is in the Samsara realm, our Star Cloud Continent only has a forty percent chance."
Li Xuan looked at the Grand Hall Master with a hint of surprise. His words were quite artful.
The implication was that if the Demon Lord's main body was at the peak of the Karma realm, the three sects and one palace would not be needed. However, if it was at the Samsara realm, even with all the forces of the Star Cloud Continent combined, the chance of victory would only be forty percent.
"Grand Hall Master, forgive me for saying this, but given the situation, what is the point of us staying to fight? With half a year's time, we could instead evacuate the people of the Star Cloud Continent," said Wen Haoyan, the Palace Master of Liú Míng Palace.
"Palace Master Wen, where would we evacuate them to? Even if another continent could accommodate us, how can we guarantee they would be willing to accept us? At that point, it would likely lead to another war," the Grand Hall Master retorted.
Wen Haoyan fell silent. This was indeed a problem. Not to mention the number of living beings on the Star Cloud Continent, the Liú Míng Palace alone had over a hundred thousand disciples. And where would they relocate? Wen Haoyan had no answer. Although Wen Haoyan considered himself capable, who could guarantee that there were no stronger cultivators on other continents?
Seeing everyone fall into silence, Li Xuan thought for a moment before looking at the Grand Hall Master and saying, "Forgive my presumption, but we may not be without other options."
As Li Xuan spoke, everyone in the grand hall turned their attention to him. Even Ye Zhengwei was momentarily surprised, clearly unaware of any solution his junior disciple might have.
The Grand Hall Master looked at Li Xuan with interest and said, "It is fine. All of this is for the sake of these billions of lives. If your words hold merit, we will naturally be willing to adopt them. Even if they do not, it matters not."
Li Xuan felt a measure of admiration for the Grand Hall Master's magnanimity, and then he spoke, "According to my knowledge, beneath this vast sky, besides our Star Cloud Continent, there are four other continents. My suggestion is: unity."
"Unity?" As Li Xuan finished speaking, everyone fell into deep thought.
"When the nest is overturned, no egg remains intact. If our Star Cloud Continent is indeed destroyed, the surrounding continents will likely not fare any better. Aside from unity, they too may have no other choice," Li Xuan stated again.
The Grand Hall Master nodded slightly. "It seems we were narrow-minded, failing to consider such a simple principle. If we can unite with them, then even a Demon Lord in the Samsara realm would have a fighting chance!"