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A massive Copper Yellow Dharma Disc stretched across the Celestial Vault, rotating slowly and emitting a vast, majestic pressure.

Upon the Dharma Disc, more than a dozen figures were scattered, some sitting cross-legged in meditation, others standing with their hands behind their backs.

Every one of them had a profound aura and a sharp gaze.

These were the Inner Mansion True Cultivators sent by the Wuji Holy Sect for this mission!

For this purge, the Holy Sect hadn’t even deployed the Outer Mansion Disciples who usually served as vanguards and cannon fodder.

Instead, they had directly dispatched Inner Mansion True Cultivators, clearly intending to deliver a devastating, thunderous blow to the battered remnants of the Three Sects.

In the southwest corner of the Dharma Disc, buffeted by strong winds, Qi Yun sat cross-legged in his Deep Blue Daoist Robe, a slight contrast to his peers who were either meditating with their eyes closed or polishing their Magical Artifacts.

His hands moved slowly before him, forming seals. His ten fingers shifted nimbly, their tips wreathed in faint, mysterious wisps of interweaving green and yellow light.

He was engrossed in practicing the newly acquired Wood Element Command Skill.

’This Wood Element Command Skill really is vastly different from modern Magic,’ Qi Yun mused.

Most Magic nowadays had a clear target and a single function.

For instance, the Skull Curse specialized in Bone Manipulation, while Basic Sword Qi focused on condensing Qi to harm enemies.

This ancient Magic, on the other hand, was more like a vast "system of magical disciplines," capable of multiple uses from a single skill.

Its profundity lay in how a practitioner, by deepening their understanding of the Wood Element Dao and through the combined application of different Spells, could derive a wide variety of specific, miraculous effects with different functions.

It wasn’t limited to a single, fixed power or effect.

After circulating his True Qi for a moment, Qi Yun softly chanted an obscure Spell, while the Spell his hands were forming shifted subtly.

The green and yellow wisps of light swirling at his fingertips suddenly coalesced and took shape.

In the blink of an eye, a Peach Wood Awl—about a foot long, pointed at the top and wide at the bottom, its entire body covered in ancient Magic Patterns—materialized above his palm.

It then fell gently into his outstretched palm.

’Different combinations of Spells can resonate with the different Daoist Intents of Heaven and Earth, giving rise to completely distinct wood-element miracles.

The breadth and flexibility of this ancient Magic are truly extraordinary,’ Qi Yun marveled, sensing the evil-warding and spirit-calming power contained within the Peach Wood Awl.

’But, every gain has its loss.’ His thoughts shifted, and he remembered the drawback of it consuming his flesh and blood.

’The price for this power and versatility is the draining of the Caster’s life essence.’

’If I didn’t have the Magic Technique Panel to optimize it and remove the side effects later, I would never have dared to practice this skill so rashly.’

He picked up the Void-Piercing Cone and examined it closely.

Compared to the suppression technique he had experimented with before—the immensely powerful but costly Dragon-Binding Shackles—

this Void-Piercing Cone required less True Qi, was faster to activate, and had an extra suppressive effect against vile Ghosts and Demonic Cultivators.

’This journey is long and fraught with danger. I can use this Wood Element Command Skill as a new skin. If something unexpected happens, I’ll have an escape route,’ Qi Yun planned to himself.

For this purge operation, the Holy Sect had divided the Inner Mansion True Cultivators into sixteen advance teams.

Qi Yun was in one of them.

Each team was small, but all members were elites.

Their primary mission wasn’t a direct assault, but to first infiltrate the area around the target stronghold or Marketplace.

After thoroughly scouting the situation, they were to secretly set up a special kind of positioning ritual.

Then, the Holy Sect’s Magic Cultivators, far away in a safe zone, could use the ritual’s positioning to unleash devastating, beyond-visual-range Magic for a saturation bombardment.

After the bombardment, the nearby advance teams like theirs would move in to clean up the remaining enemies and tie up loose ends.

This strategy undoubtedly placed the advance teams at the greatest risk.

If they were exposed while infiltrating or setting up the ritual, they would likely be surrounded by enemy forces.

But high risk also came with high reward. Being closest to the battlefield, they would be the first to plunder any remaining spoils of war in the stronghold and Marketplace once the cleanup was complete.

Proximity has its advantages.

"Senior Brother, I see you sitting here alone, contemplating profound mysteries. Might I ask which Master you have the honor of studying under?

I am Zhu Liang, a disciple of Master Xuan Cheng."

Just as Qi Yun was immersed in the wonderful transformations of the Wood Element Command Skill, a voice interrupted his thoughts.

Looking up, he saw a man with thick eyebrows and large eyes approaching. The man had an honest, simple-looking face and took the initiative to clasp his hands in greeting.

Qi Yun glanced up at him, the Spell he was forming with his hands pausing for a moment. He then rose to his feet and slowly returned the greeting:

"Ah, it’s Senior Brother Chu. Forgive my rudeness.

I am Qi Yun. I only just entered the Inner Mansion and have not yet had the honor of becoming a disciple to any Master."

"Just entered the Inner Mansion?" Hearing this, a flicker of light passed through Zhu Liang’s eyes, almost imperceptibly.

His Spiritual Sense was sharp, and he had clearly detected an aura from Qi Yun that was profound, majestic, and far surpassed that of an ordinary Sixth Layer Qi Refining Cultivator.

This was not something a newcomer to this realm could possess. He seemed more like a veteran who had been accumulating power in the Condensing Qi into Essence stage for over a decade.

’How could a disciple with such a foundation have only just entered the Inner Mansion?’

’He’s lying! He must be wary of me and unwilling to reveal his background...’

The thought flashed through Zhu Liang’s mind in an instant; he felt he had seen right through Qi Yun’s deception.

But his face betrayed nothing. Instead, he feigned a look of sudden realization and chuckled.

"I see. In that case, Chu will take the liberty of calling you Junior Brother Qi.

We are under orders to purge the outer factions of the Three Sects this time. Dangers lurk everywhere. If we can look out for each other, we’ll have a better chance of survival, wouldn’t you agree?"

"Senior Brother Chu is absolutely right," Qi Yun replied with a smile, readily agreeing.

"Everyone in the Holy Sect is as close as brothers; we should naturally work together.

Moreover, we are serving the Sect this time, purging evil. We should certainly be of one heart and one mind."

"Excellent, excellent! Then you should rest, Junior Brother. I won’t disturb you any longer." Zhu Liang smiled and nodded, exchanged a few more pleasantries, and then turned to leave.

Watching Zhu Liang’s retreating back, the corner of Qi Yun’s mouth curved into a barely perceptible smile.

’Was he coming over to say hello and draw a line in the sand, so we don’t backstab each other later?’

He knew perfectly well that the relationships between fellow disciples of the Holy Sect were intricate and complex.

Behind these seemingly friendly encounters often lay probing and scheming.

However, Qi Yun wasn’t particularly worried. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Scheming was one thing, but this purge was ordered by a True Monarch’s own decree. Anyone who dared to play petty tricks or backstab a comrade at a time like this truly had a death wish.

A True Monarch Level existence was terrifying beyond measure!

A being of that caliber could survey the entire world with a single glance, perceiving the most minute details.

They could even seize a target from ten thousand miles away, relying on nothing more than a single thread of karma.

If someone truly dared to defy the decree and cause internal strife, they would have no hope of escaping punishment—even if they fled to the ends of the earth—unless they had the protection of another True Monarch of the same level.

This was true for Qi Refining Disciples and Foundation Establishment Masters alike; there was no difference.

In the blink of an eye, a day and a night passed as the massive Copper Yellow Dharma Disc flew through the air.

Upon reaching the edge of the target region, countless ashen-gray scripture Curse Talismans suddenly appeared around the Dharma Disc, forming a tough, thick barrier of light that firmly protected everyone on board. The Dharma Disc then slowly descended into a hidden mountain ravine.

At this moment, the team leader, Yuan Zong, who was slightly plump with a sallow complexion and an unhealthy dark aura about his cheeks, stepped forward.

He was the only Seventh Layer Qi Refining Cultivator in their detachment and the leader of this advance team.

His gaze swept over the group, and his voice, though not loud, reached everyone’s ears clearly:

"Fellow brothers, one hundred and fifty li ahead is a Marketplace established by the Yellow Springs Netherworld: the Ghost Wail Collection."

"Shortly, we will split up and act according to our pre-arranged assignments to scout for intelligence on the Marketplace."

"Ten days from now, at Midnight, you must return to this spot and regroup, regardless of success or failure."

"Anyone who fails to return on time will be considered captured. The Sect will proceed with the established plan and will not wait."

"Is everyone clear?"

"Clear," the group responded in unison, their expressions grim.

"Good. Move out!" Yuan Zong nodded, said no more, and with a flicker of his body, transformed into a thin wisp of black smoke.

Hugging the ground, he vanished into the dense forest with ghostly speed, his aura instantly disappearing without a trace.

Seeing him take the lead, the other Inner Mansion True Cultivators also showed off their Divine Techniques. Some transformed into a Clear Wind, some escaped into shadows, and others dove directly into a nearby stream, becoming a surging wave.

In the blink of an eye, they were all gone.

Only Qi Yun and the yet-to-depart Zhu Liang remained in the ravine.

"Junior Brother Qi, take care! See you in ten days!"

Zhu Liang gave Qi Yun a broad grin and clasped his fists. Then, like a loach, he dove headfirst into the ground beneath his feet.

The earth and rock rippled like water for a moment, and then he was gone completely.

"As expected of Inner Mansion True Cultivators. Every one of them has unique skills and a hundred tricks up their sleeves." Witnessing his fellow disciples’ varied concealment and Escape Techniques, Qi Yun’s mouth curved slightly, a flicker of interest in his eyes.

Without further delay, a Heart Thought stirred, and his body abruptly transformed into a formless, intangible wisp of Pure Qi, melting into the surrounding air.

He silently drifted toward the Yellow Springs Netherworld’s Marketplace, one hundred and fifty li away.

...