Chapter 259: Chapter 11: The Ancient Saint of Refine Void, Just So-So (Subscribe Please)_2
....
Beneath the high sky,
the Immortal Sect Leader Mu Qingliu, with the aid of the Taihao Immortal Mirror, descended in a mirror incarnation and gazed solemnly at Lin Yuan.
From the brief exchange they just had, Mu Qingliu inferred that the strength of the formidable individual before him was at least at the peak of the Hollow Void Realm.
Though his true self hadn't descended, the area was still within the bounds of the Central Divine Continent, enveloped by the might of the Taihao Immortal Mirror.
The avatar descended by the mirror's light would require, at the very least, a cultivator of the Refinement Void Dongxu Layer to withstand.
And the fact that Lin Yuan could so effortlessly block that strike indicated that he possessed, at a minimum, the combat power of someone at the peak of the Hollow Void Realm.
"Who exactly are you?"
Mu Qingliu scrutinized Lin Yuan, noting the similarity between his aura and that of the Ghost Cultivator King from the Ghost Palace of Netherworld.
Both were of the Power of Taiyin.
However, Mu Qingliu keenly sensed a difference.
Compared to the Ghost Cultivator King, the aura emanating from Lin Yuan was much purer, almost as though he was an incarnation of the infinite Power of Taiyin itself.
"Who I am is not important."
"What's interesting is the overt and covert struggles within your Immortal Sect."
Lin Yuan glanced at the trembling Mahayana Phase Heaven Lords below and the jade carriage artifact that had stopped in the distance.
"Overt and covert struggles?"
Mu Qingliu internally sighed.
The moment he descended, after sensing the presence of the Symbol Talisman of the Ethereal Refinement Stage, he had already figured out most of the situation.
Mu Qingliu could never have imagined that Mu Mengting had such a small-mindedness. Even though he had sent Jun Dongjin's family to the remote Vast Cliff Mountain, far from the Immortal Sect's power core,
Mu Mengting still harbored such wariness toward Jun Dongjin, daring to strike en route.
"This is an internal matter of the Immortal Sect, which should be irrelevant to you."
Mu Qingliu said with a composed expression.
In truth, he had been keeping tabs on Jun Dongjin's whereabouts all along.
Even if Lin Yuan hadn't intervened, the very instant those Mahayana Heavenly Monarchs activated the Symbol Talisman of the Ethereal Refinement Stage, he would have been alerted.
For Mu Qingliu, his concern rested with the overall direction of the Daode Immortal Sect.
Jun Dongjin possessed a talent rarely seen, and even if he couldn't become the Sect Master, he was someone that could be of significant use and absolutely must not die.
In fact, whether one becomes the Sect Master of the Immortal Sect is not of utmost importance. As long as one can step into the Refine Void Stage and wield the Founding Artefact of the Sect, one would be invincible in this world.
As for the ultimate stages within the Refining Void Period—'Entering Void', 'Hollow Void', or 'Refine Void', there isn't any fundamental difference.
This was also the reason why, despite knowing that Jun Dongjin had higher potential than Mu Mengting, the latter was still chosen.
Mu Mengting was also born with a Heavenly Spiritual Root, and with many foundations within the Immortal Sect like the Nine Heavens Glazed Water and other treasures, there shouldn't be any problem breaking through to the Refining Void Stage.
To put it simply,
the advantage of talent held by Jun Dongjin was not indispensable.
But the advantage that Mu Mengting had, which stemmed from being part of the Mu Family, was something Jun Dongjin lacked.
If this generation of the Mu Family did not have a talented disciple like Mu Mengting, Mu Qingliu, for the future of the Immortal Sect, would definitely choose to cultivate Jun Dongjin as the next Sect Master.
"Daring to meddle in the affairs of my Immortal Sect, I'd like to see on what grounds you do so."
Mu Qingliu raised his right hand, and an illusory image of a mirror appeared.
It was the projection of the Taihao Immortal Mirror, the Founding Artefact of the Sect.
Mu Qingliu's true body, together with the genuine Taihao Immortal Mirror, resided at Mount Morality Immortal and were not to emerge lightly.
However, the avatar reflected by the mirror light and the mirror's projection could descend to any place in this world.
Especially within the range of the Central Divine Continent, it could retain the power of the Refinement Void Stage.
Boom.
In an instant,
Mu Qingliu struck once more.
"To the Nine Heavens."
Lin Yuan's form vanished, and when he reappeared, he had already traversed tens of thousands of meters to reach the high heavens.
Ancient Saints of this realm who engage in battle typically take the Nine Heavens as their battleground.
The space here is more vast, allowing Ancient Saints to unleash their full power.
...
In the north of the Divine Continent,
the Blood Demon Sea stirred, its blood-red waters rippling gently.
On a secluded island deep within,
the Master of the Blood Demon's expression subtly changed.
"Ancient Saints clashing in the Nine Heavens?"
The Blood Demon Master looked up, gazing toward a certain direction.
A casual blow from an Ancient Saint can shake the heavens and the earth, let alone a battle between two such beings?
Such fluctuations in aura, while perhaps imperceptible to lower-level cultivators, would be unmistakably clear to anyone in the Refining Void Stage, with no detail overlooked.
"Is it that old fellow Mu Qingliu? It should only be his mirror incarnation, but since the location is within the Central Divine Continent, even if it's just a mirror incarnation, it still possesses the combat power of the peak of the Hollow Void Realm. Which Ancient Saint would dare to make a move here against Mu Qingliu?"
The Blood Demon Master was somewhat in disbelief.
Normally, no Ancient Saint would willingly engage Mu Qingliu within the bounds of the Central Divine Continent.
Because that wouldn't be a normal fight.
Mu Qingliu, with the Founding Artefact of the Sect in hand, is invincible in this world, and his combat and killing power surpass the limits of the Refining Void Stage.
As for the avatar created from the mirror's light, it might be weaker, but what would be the point in battling with an avatar?
Having paid a huge price to win, Mu Qingliu only lost an avatar, which would recover in half an hour with the power of the Founding Artefact of the Sect.
If he had lost... then he would have been chased and beaten by the mirror avatar, devoid of any dignity befitting an Ancient Saint.
"This aura, the Power of Taiyin, is it that old Yin God?"
"Wasn't the Yin God quite cowardly before? How come he has such courage this time?"
The Blood Demon Prime God was surprised.
...
Barbaric Demon Saint Nest.
The colossal Ape Demon Saint also felt the fluctuations of an Ancient Saint-level battle.
"Rare indeed..."
"That old Yin God, he actually made a move this time?"
The Ape Demon Saint clicked his tongue in amazement; for beings like them, there wasn't much entertainment, but they would definitely pay attention to a battle at their level.
...
South of Divine Continent.
Ghost Palace of Netherworld.
A gaunt man sat on the throne.
Feeling the fluctuations of an Ancient Saint-level fight, he fell into contemplation.
"...."
The gaunt man's eyebrows were tightly furrowed, the aura of the Ancient Saint battling with Mu Qingliu did indeed somewhat resemble his.
But it was just that, similar.
Ghost cultivators wield the Power of Taiyin, but they also encompass the Youming Death Qi.
However, that figure was entirely powered by the Power of Taiyin, and its Power of Taiyin was much purer, to the extent that even a Refinement Void-layer ghost cultivator like the gaunt man couldn't compare.
"Who exactly is it?"
The gaunt man immediately contacted the Blood Demon Prime God and the Demon Saint of the Nest, clarifying that he hadn't battled with Mu Qingliu and inquiring about the identity of the battling Ancient Saint.
.....
Cloud Mist Blessed Land.
Lin Yuan lay lazily on the top floor of a mountain loft.
At the same time, he was paying attention to the movements of the Daode Immortal Sect.
Cloud Mist Blessed Land wasn't far from the Daode Immortal Sect, only tens of thousands of miles away, and Lin Yuan's current perceptive abilities could easily cover that distance.
"Hmm?"
Lin Yuan faintly sensed the shifting qi in the Daode Immortal Sect.
Mu Qingliu, holding the Founding Artefact of the Sect, wanted to send the true body of the Immortal Artifact to the Nine Heavens, to thoroughly detain that mysterious Taiyin Ancient Saint.
The consciousness synchronized.
In the Nine Heavens above.
Lin Yuan's Yin God glanced in the direction of the Daode Immortal Sect, repelled Mu Qingliu with one strike, his figure dispersed, turning into wisps of the Power of Taiyin, vanishing between heaven and earth.
"Ran away?"
Mu Qingliu's expression was ugly.
He had been thinking about joining with his true form to deliver a fatal blow to this mysterious Ancient Saint. The opponent had run away?
"Is it a coincidence, or..."
Mu Qingqiu's expression was grave as he too disappeared from sight.
...
The battle between Lin Yuan and Mu Qingliu had a significant impact on Central Divine Continent, as well as the Blood Demon Sea, Nether Palace, and Barbarian East Sea.
This was an Ancient Saint-level battle, which might not occur even once in many years.
Refining Void Ancient Saints, there were only a few in the entire world, and under the suppression of the Daode Immortal Sect, the Ancient Saints rarely took action.
Not to mention that one of the participating Ancient Saints this time was Mu Qingliu, the Sect Master of the Daode Immortal Sect.
...
East Sea.
Baiyu Island.
The numerous disciples of Baiyu Island were also discussing the matter of the Ancient Saints' battle.
"Have you heard?"
"In the Nine Heavens above Central Divine Continent, there was a battle between Ancient Saints not long ago."
"Ancient Saints? Refining Void Ancient Saints? Good heavens, even such beings would engage in combat?"
"It's unclear, but one of the Refining Void Ancient Saints involved in the battle is the Sect Master of the Daode Immortal Sect, who has already stepped into the Hollow Void Realm."
"I heard that the piece of Nine Heavens where the two Ancient Saints fought, the Gang Winds tore apart, and the murderous intent belonging to the Ancient Saints hasn't dissipated even now; ordinary Mahayana Heavenly Monarchs don't dare to get close."
"That's a Refining Void Ancient Saint, it's a good thing the battlefield was in the Nine Heavens, if it were in Central Divine Continent... tsk tsk..."
"Refining Void Ancient Saints, ah, I wonder when we'll get to see such powerhouses for ourselves..."
On Baiyu Island, many disciples conversed in low voices during their rest, their tones filled with longing.
...
At the core area of Baiyu Island.
Lin Yuan sat cross-legged.
The conversations of the disciples on the island naturally couldn't escape his attention.
"Refining Void Ancient Saints?"
Lin Yuan slowly stood up, walked outside, and casually sat on a huge rock, glancing in the direction of the Daode Immortal Sect in Central Divine Continent, and smiled faintly, "Merely so."