Elder Li’s face on the Divine Boat of the Dao Xuan Sect suddenly turned grim as he watched the changes in the arena.
"The Demon Sect's brats are indeed unreliable."
"Never mind. Although I can't lure Long Ji out of the grand formation, with my prior arrangements, I still have a ninety percent chance of success when we make our move later."
"Hmph, a Grandmaster of Dharma Body and Array Dao, plus a group of cultivators who have ascended to immortality. Do you, Long Ji, really think you can monopolize that rare treasure?!"
With this thought, Elder Li suppressed his grim expression and resumed his appearance of detached elegance, like an immortal.
After the interlude with Qi Sha concluded, the assembled cultivators looked at Qi Sha, who was acting like a subservient lackey behind Ling Long. Although they didn't understand what had happened between the two, there was clearly no more excitement to be had.
However, the cultivators weren't too disappointed because this delay meant that as Ling Long fully opened the Heavenly Curtain Gate, the true appearance of the Vast Sea Sect would be completely revealed amidst the gradually dissipating spiritual mist!
"Did you see that? Is it raining behind the Heavenly Curtain?!"
"This is my first time having the chance to enter the small world of one of the Ten Great Sects. I must broaden my horizons this time!"
"Haha, look at you all, so pathetic. How can this so-called outer realm of the demon race compare to our orthodox immortal sects!"
"Senior Daoist is absolutely right. I think that so-called spiritual liquid waterfall is probably just the Vast Sea Demon Kingdom putting on a show, spending God knows how much of their foundation to display it!"
Under the expectant or doubtful gazes of the cultivators, the spiritual mist that had been revealed at the gate due to the difference in concentration completely dissipated.
A world shrouded in a brilliant rain curtain appeared before everyone's eyes.
But before anyone could get a good look, two orderly columns of people flew out from the gate.
Men on the left, women on the right, each column consisting of five hundred cultivators. A thousand people in total marched out of the Heavenly Curtain Gate, exuding an inexplicable pressure upon the scattered cultivators in the distance.
Those who knew little about the Vast Sea Sect, only knowing it as part of the Vast Sea Demon Kingdom, asked the person next to them: "What's going on? I know that the Vast Sea True Inheritance, as a Great Demon who has ascended to immortality, can transform into human form. But these over a thousand people, they can't all be ascended immortal mighty beings, right?"
"Where did this Vast Sea Demon Kingdom get so many human cultivators? Wait! Could it be that the demon race's ambition is still alive, and they are enslaving our human race?!"
The inquiring cultivator, as if finding an answer, immediately looked at the Vast Sea Dragon Girl in mid-air with righteous indignation.
The cultivator beside him, who clearly knew more about the Vast Sea Sect, rolled his eyes at his foolish companion upon hearing this:
"What are you thinking? Wars between races are things of the ancient mythical era. How could the demon race possibly contend with our human race now?"
"The Vast Sea Demon Kingdom is just a derogatory term! The Vast Sea Sect, even though it's located overseas, is still one of the Ten Great Sects of our Primeval Land, so of course, it has human disciples!"
"So they aren't enslaved humans, but cultivators who have legitimately joined the Vast Sea Sect!"
"As for ascended immortal great demons? You really dare to imagine! The ascended immortals of the other nine great sects combined probably barely exceed a hundred. If the demon race truly had over a thousand ascended immortals, what would be the point of us trying to get by!"
Amidst the cultivators' discussions, those who were less familiar with the Vast Sea Sect learned more information.
They also found what they believed to be reasonable explanations for this thousand-person contingent that made them feel an inexplicable pressure.
However, the mere dozen or so Dharma Body ascended immortals in the arena fell silent the moment the thousand-person contingent appeared.
Elder Li trembled as he took out a communication jade token from his embrace: "The si... situation has changed... Cancel the operation!!"
The next moment, a reply came immediately from the other end: "Xuan Hezi! What do you mean?! We are determined to obtain the abnormal Vast Sea Treasure Light!"
"As the person in charge of this plan! With the arrow already nocked, you rashly cancel! Can you bear the organization's punishment?!"
Elder Li no longer had any intention of replying. He simply stared blankly at the orderly thousand-person contingent, and at the Vast Sea Dragon Girl who had now arrived at the center of the group, smiling charmingly:
"How is this possible... Is all of this an illusion?!"
The Dharma Body on the other end of the communication jade token, seeing Elder Li's prolonged silence, angrily questioned:
"Li Hexuan!! Do you still want longevity?! You don't want to die in the seventh great tribulation, do you!"
The voice from the other side seemed to strike a heavy blow to Elder Li's heart. His eyes, which had been unfocused due to shock, gradually converged.
To survive...
I want to survive...!
Visualizing the Grand Cycle of Stars Diagram in his heart, Elder Li steadied his mind with sheer determination, and once again resumed his appearance of detached elegance.
Looking at the anxious words constantly coming from the jade token, he calmly transmitted:
"You are right. In the face of longevity, everything else is minor!"
"The plan proceeds as before! Wait for my signal, and you will commence your actions! With our coordinated efforts, the Vast Sea Sect will surely be breached!"
The Dharma Body on the other end, however, did not want to let Elder Li off the hook so easily:
"Mo Xuanzi! Are you playing with me?! What exactly is the situation! You keep changing your mind!"
Elder Li's gaze flickered slightly, and he calmly transmitted:
"It's just a few more ascended cultivators who have reached the Dharma Body stage than the previous records. In the face of longevity, these are but minor inconveniences."
"Oh, is that so. Heh, you and I are Dharma Bodies! What is there to fear from a few more mere ascended cultivators? You truly are getting older and more timid! Tell me, how many more are there, and I'll arrange corresponding personnel on my end."
"A thousand."
"...."
"From what I can see currently, it's a thousand. Once I enter, I'll investigate further and report."
"....Um, Elder Li, I think we can consider... perhaps giving up."
Mo Xuanzi Li Hexuan looked at the clearly wavering words on the communication jade token, calmly shook his head, and transmitted:
"I am the person in charge arranged by the organization. If I say the plan continues, it continues."
"If you do not act according to the plan, you will not want to experience the organization's punishment."
With that, Elder Li put the communication jade token back into his embrace, and looked at the orderly thousand-person contingent, a trace of ferocity flashing in his eyes:
"No matter who it is! No one can stop me from achieving longevity!"
....
Under the strange gazes of the various true disciples, the Dharma Body elders or sect masters leading their respective groups suddenly became very amiable.
Even as they walked past the thousand-person welcoming contingent, these noble Dharma Bodies nodded quite kindly at these ordinary cultivators who were serving as receptionists.
Ye Aohan looked at these cultivators, who were presumably the human disciples of the Vast Sea Sect, and then looked at his own father with a strange expression:
"Dad, you are a Sect Master level figure among the Ten Great Sects. Getting so chummy with these ordinary disciples of the Vast Sea Sect will lower your status! Be more reserved, Dad!"
Sect Master Ye's mouth twitched as he looked at his foolish son.
Ordinary disciples?
Heh heh!
These are all ascended immortals, damn it!