Cultivation: When you take things to the extreme

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"A minor Mahayana, laughable, laughable!

A minor Return to Void, even more laughable!

Therefore, Xu Yang still took this matter seriously.

In the land of the marginal path of the Southern Sea, there is talk of the Hundred Sects and Ten Factions.

There is no need to mention the Hundred Sects again, for at this moment, they can barely make it to the stage.

The Ten Factions are of average level; only three possess Mahayana cultivators.

South Sea Sect, Bright Moon Pavilion, Mysterious Yin Island!

Bright Moon Pavilion, conducting business across the world, values harmony and seldom engages in disputes.

As the ruler of the Southern Sea, the South Sea Sect belongs to the marginal path but leans toward the Righteous Path, and can barely be considered orderly.

Mysterious Yin Island, on the other hand, tends toward the path of evil, with its cultivation methods strange and its methods ruthless, a scourge upon the Southern Sea.

Over the years, Bright Moon Pavilion has stayed out of affairs, leaving the rivalry for the 'Master of the Marginal Path' to the South Sea Sect and Mysterious Yin Island.

Both Mahayanas have their strengths and weaknesses; the ancestor of the South Sea Sect is mighty but has little life left, while the ancestor of Mysterious Yin Island has weaker combat power but strange methods and, as a newly ascended Mahayana, plenty of life left.

Though he's not a match for the ancestor of the South Sea Sect, with the Mysterious Yin Great Array, he is also able to firmly defend his lair, stable as Mount Tai.

The two factions have been in conflict for ten thousand years, and in recent times, it has reached a life-and-death struggle.

After the news of the South Sea Sect ancestor's impending demise spread, he intensified his attacks on Mysterious Yin Island, trapping the island's ancestor in his lair, afraid to take half a step into the Ghost Domain, for fear of a suicidal counterattack by the South Sea Sect ancestor.

This is the recent situation in the Southern Sea.

But now, the situation has changed.

The South Sea Sect ancestor's life is about to end?

Xu Yang looked at Lu Mingyu, "Is this true or false?"

"I am afraid it's true!"

Lu Mingyu shook her head and sighed, "Mahayana cultivators generally have only a lifespan of thirty thousand years. Even with the consumption of pills and the practice of life-extension secret techniques, it is difficult to exceed the forty-thousand-year limit. The South Sea Sect ancestor has been famed for more than thirty thousand years; considering the time, it's about up."

"Is that so?"

Xu Yang pondered for a moment and then asked, "Then, in the fairy's view, what's the outlook for the victory or defeat between the two?"

"It doesn't look optimistic!"

Lu Mingyu shook her head again, her words bearing weight, "That Mysterious Yin Island ancestor, relying on the Profound Yin Earth Vein of the island, deployed the Profound Yin Great Array, practically becoming a Ghost Domain Power with a sixth-order Ultimate Formation defending it.

Although the South Sea Sect ancestor is highly cultivated and powerful, breaking through this array and killing the Mysterious Yin Island ancestor..."

"A sixth-order Ultimate Formation?"

Xu Yang murmured to himself, contemplating.

With the achievements from the Earth Immortal Realm, his myriad of techniques have stepped into the seventh-tier realm, truly a Superior Grade Immortal Master.

A mere sixth-tier array, even if utmostly formidable, would not pose an obstacle to him, as long as his cultivation was sufficient, he could shatter it with a flick of his wrist.

But he is him, and the South Sea Sect is the South Sea Sect. Aside from the seventh rank, even sixth-rank formation masters, there are not many in the Southern Sea.

Now, the Mysterious Yin Island ancestor is firmly defending the gate, clearly waiting for the South Sea Sect ancestor to die of old age, then to come out and settle scores with the South Sea Sect, eventually dominating the Southern Sea cultivation realm and becoming the new Master of the Marginal Path.

For Xu Yang, this is not good news. Although the actions of the South Sea Sect are commendable, it generally belongs to the Righteous Path, and under its rule, order in the Southern Sea is barely maintained.

Mysterious Yin Island is different, rising from Robbing Cultivators, Demon Evil Cultivators, acting extremely and ruthlessly...

If it gains power, the Southern Sea cultivation realm will surely be thrown into chaos, which does not suit his strategy for steady development.

Besides, Li Cangwu of the South Sea Sect is also his friend.

In the past, he crafted Heavenly Thunder Double Swords for Li Cangwu. Afterwards, Li Cangwu often visited him to discuss Sword Dao together. After a century of friendship, the two became close friends, and the business of the Ten Thousand Swords Pavilion also received much support from the South Sea Sect.

Even without this relationship, with his crafting of the Heavenly Thunder Double Swords for Li Cangwu, he had indirectly struck a blow to Mysterious Yin Island. Over the years, Mysterious Yin Island cultivators who fell to those very swords mostly had him to account for it.

If Mysterious Yin Island gains power, they will definitely come to settle accounts with him. Although he is unafraid, it would still be quite a hassle.

Therefore, it would be best if the South Sea Sect could take care of Mysterious Yin Island; that would align most with his developmental interests.

But…

The development of the situation did not lean in this direction.

The lifespan of the Mahayana ancestor of the South Sea Sect is coming to an end. Even if he sacrifices himself in a desperate battle, it would be very difficult to breach the Ghost Domain Array defended by the old ghost of Mysterious Yin.

After the demise of this Mahayana ancestor, even if the South Sea Sect is not destroyed by Mysterious Yin Island, it would hardly be able to continue activities in the Southern Sea. Most likely, they would close off their mountain gates, retracting and not venturing out, until Li Cangwu or another Integrating cultivator progresses to Mahayana.

That is to say, if nothing unexpected happens, Mysterious Yin Island gaining the upper hand is an inevitable result; the South Sea Sect does not know when it will be able to rise again.

And he…

Lu Mingyu coming here has already revealed her intentions.

One is the concern of a friend, to give him a warning.
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The second is to represent Bright Moon Pavilion in courting his favor.

After the fall of the South Sea Sect, if the Ten Thousand Swords Pavilion does not wish to be settled with by Mysterious Yin Island, then the best choice would be to join another major Mahayana power, the Bright Moon Pavilion.

Everyone is intelligent, and these things need not be said outright.

It all depends on how one decides.

Xu Yang smiled playfully, "I feel there are still uncertainties in this matter."

"Oh?"

Lu Mingyu's eyebrows raised, "What kind of uncertainties?"

Xu Yang did not commit to a view, merely replying with a smile, "Does the fairy wish to make a bet with me?"

"A bet?"

Lu Mingyu became interested, "What's the wager?"

"A bet on the success or failure of the South Sea Sect, the life or death of Mysterious Yin Island!"

Xu Yang smiled, "How about it?"

"This…"

Lu Mingyu looked at him, momentarily hesitant and uncertain.

Where does his confidence for such a wager come from?

Could it be...

Several months later, on Mysterious Yin Island.

"Kill!!!"

The cries of slaughter shook the heavens; the flames of war penetrated the earth.

A vast number of Southern Sea cultivators, some on flying boats, some on building ships, and some wielding sword lights and thunderfire, each displaying their divine powers as if the Eight Immortals were crossing the sea, attacked the somber, eternally darkened Ghost Realm.

It was indeed the South Sea Sect!

As the number one faction of the Southern Sea, a true orthodox power among the marginal paths, the South Sea Sect's inheritance was extremely prosperous, with the moniker "Thousands of Cultivators Pay Homage." Its disciples were numerous, with over ten Integrating, and Return to Void and Becoming Divine reaching into the hundreds.

Unfortunately, a marginal path is after all a marginal path; not only is there no hope of Crossing the Tribulation in the future, even reaching Mahayana is difficult.

Thus, the mighty South Sea Sect has reached a life-and-death juncture.

The lifespan of the Mahayana ancestor is nearing its end.

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The Profound Yin Evil Cultivators eyed their prey like tigers on the hunt.

For the sake of future generations, for the sake of succession, the South Sea Sect, with no other path to take, could only risk everything in a desperate assault, marshaling the full might of the sect to storm Mysterious Yin Island.

This was the origin of the battle!

The South Sea Sect came forth in full force, further calling upon allies from all directions to lend their strength, with nearly ten thousand cultivators laying siege to Mysterious Yin Island.

However...

"Hmph, Yun Old Ghost, you're on the brink of death and you want to drag me along for the ride? Utter fantasy!"

Inside Mysterious Yin Island, amidst the howling of myriad ghosts, a black-garbed old man sat firmly within the array, directing countless evil ghosts and the Profound Yin cultivators to fend off the South Sea cultivators' offensive.

Yet the myriad ghosts and cultivators, the great array yet to be activated, the Ghost Domain power untouched.

Because he needed to be wary of one person and prepared for a scorched earth move.

And so, both sides engaged in a bloody battle, lives scattering like leaves in the wind!

Regardless of whether they were South Sea cultivators or the myriad ghosts and demons of Mysterious Yin, all suffered heavy casualties.

"Hmph!"

With a cold snort, the black-garbed old man's eerie words were cast forth, "Yun Old Ghost, you pride yourself as a paragon of the Marginal Righteous Path, yet to attack our Mysterious Yin Island, you've even called upon allies from all quarters. And now, you send your own disciples to their deaths, your allies to fight valiantly, while you cower away in safety. What is it?

Too cherishing of your own life, even when death approaches?"

His words were a clear provocation.

Though it was a provocation, it was also an overt strategy.

The fierce attack had left both parties with heavy losses—Mysterious Yin Island had no need to say more, as their very survival was at stake, leaving them no choice but to battle.

However, the South Sea Sect justified this war with grand principles—for their disciples, for the continuation of their Tao lineage, for the overarching strategy of the Southern Sea—thus they laid siege to Mysterious Yin Island.

Such noble-sounding justification, yet it resulted in sending their people to die and their allies to face peril; could such a stance truly hold?

His words were a provocation aimed at the heart!

To this...

"Hmph!"

A cold snort sounded, and the skies abruptly changed.

An old man descended from the heavens; although he had white hair and long eyebrows, and an air of an otherworldly sage, an inexplicable air of twilight lingered, unable to be dispelled.

It was none other than the ancestor of the South Sea Sect—Yun Tianhe!

Yun Tianhe descended with hands behind his back, completely fearless, entering directly into the heart of the array.

His life was nearing its end, his sitting transformation imminent. Leading the entire sect in this outing, his intention was to breach Mysterious Yin Island, to take the Xuan Yin Old Ancestor with him in death, sparing his descendants from being targeted for retribution.

Thus, with nothing to lose, he fearlessly entered into the array.

His approach was one of desperation!

Seeing this, the black-garbed old man also focused intently, channeling the Profound Yin Earth Vein, pushing the Ghost Domain Array Power to its limit.

As one of the few sixth-tier Formation Masters of the South Sea, this Profound Yin Great Array was his greatest assurance against Yun Tianhe.

But the Profound Yin Great Array was only sixth-order, and when faced with an eighth-order Mahayana cultivator, it held no absolute advantage.

Luckily, he himself was a Mahayana, the person aiding the array, the array assisting the person, pushing the Ghost Domain Power to the utmost limit, engulfing Yun Tianhe's silhouette.

"Kill!"

"Support the ancestor with our strength!"

"If Mysterious Yin is not broken, this battle is not over!"

As the two Mahayana engaged in battle within the array, the integrated cultivators of the South Sea Sect intensified their offensive, charging towards the myriad ghosts and demons, the Demon Evil Cultivators.

Among them, one sword light was particularly sharp—the combined force of thunder and fire, moving with a power that shook the heavens, wreaking havoc within the Profound Yin array, slaughtering countless Profound Yin evil ghosts and Demon Evil Cultivators.

"Heavenly Thunder Double Swords!"

"Li Cangwu!!!"

A furious shout sounded, and the ghosts howled in unison. An integrated cultivator from Mysterious Yin Island burst forth, intending to halt the formidable edge of the Heavenly Thunder Double Swords.

However...

"Boom!!!"

With a thunderous clash, the Heavenly Sword sprang into action, the sword light momentarily splitting and then instantly merging again. The Profound Yin Island Integration cultivator, who was about to make a move, was pierced and crossed by the twin sword lights, exploding into pieces, their evil path achievements scattered to the winds.

"Third Elder!"

"Hiss!!!"

At this scene, every South Sea cultivator and all of the Profound Yin host drew a sharp breath in shock and alarm.

This Integration cultivator was the Third Elder of Mysterious Yin Island. Although he had no hope for Mahayana, his Integration cultivation had long been perfected, making him exceptionally formidable in combat, second only to the Xuan Yin Old Ancestor.

But now, he had been instantly slain by a single move from the Heavenly Thunder Double Swords!

Such might...

The cultivators of Profound Yin all felt a chill in their spines, hurriedly making way to avoid.

Seeing this, Li Cangwu didn't continue to fight; he simply propelled the Heavenly Thunder Double Swords towards the core of the Profound Yin Great Array.

The crux of the battle lay with the Mahayana!

Only by slaying the old ancestor of Mysterious Yin Island could the South Sea Sect claim victory in this battle.

Therefore, taking decisive action, Li Cangwu endeavored to combine his own strength with the Heavenly Thunder Double Swords to help Yun Tianhe slay the Xuan Yin Old Ancestor.

"Hmph!"

Within the Profound Yin Array, the black-garbed old man's expression was grave as he manipulated the Profound Yin forces to trap and hinder Yun Tianhe.

Now that the Heavenly Thunder Double Swords were closing in, breaking through layer by layer and pressing towards the core of the array,

this posed a dilemma for the black-garbed old man.

Li Cangwu was a Heaven Sword Cultivator, immensely strong, not weak compared to the orthodox sect, and a hundred years ago, he had forged the Heavenly Thunder Double Swords. For him, a Mahayana of the Marginal Path, an Elder Ancestor of a different doctrine, the threat was significant.

Should Li Cangwu manage to breach the array's defenses, the outcome for him...

"You've all forced my hand!"

The black-garbed old man's teeth clenched as he drew forth an item—a book.

This black book, with no visible title, exuded only a deathly aura, from which wisps of it rose, giving off a markedly ominous vibe!

"King Yama's Writ!"

"Yun Tianhe!"

The black-garbed old man bit his teeth together hard, a grim look in his eyes as he gazed at Yun Tianhe trapped in the array. Enduring the pain in his heart, he channeled his immortal power, flipping open the book in front of him. Then, biting the tips of his index and middle fingers, he used them as a brush and his blood as ink to inscribe the six characters "South Sea Sect, Yun Tianhe".

Afterwards...

"Go!!!"

With the curse spell unleashed with urgency, in an instant he saw his vigor and spirit drained by half; his originally gray and failing hair broke off and scattered, rendering the black-garbed elder a resemblance to a ghastly skeleton.