Two years, far from being a short span, yet no one could have anticipated that Xiao Yan’s seclusion would last for such a time… According to the Elder Pharmacist and others, with the help of the Bodhi Heart and the Bodhi Pill, breaking through to the Half-Sage should not have been too difficult. Though the rumor of instant Sage status upon refining the Bodhi Heart was somewhat exaggerated, all vast and pure energy needs time to be absorbed. Nonetheless, this also proved the strength of the Bodhi Heart from another perspective. Even if it didn’t lead to immediate Sage status, given that Xiao Yan had already reached the peak of the Nine Rotations Dou Zun, it shouldn’t have taken more than a year at most for him to successfully break his seclusion.
However, reality did not align with these expectations. Time slowly passed as everyone waited. As spring turned to autumn, the massive stone door where Xiao Yan secluded himself had been engulfed by lush wild grass, its surface covered in green moss. This place had become a forbidden zone for the Falling Star Pavilion within a year, off-limits even to the guest elders save for a select few. When a year passed, they could only suppress their anxiety, as there was nothing to be gained by worry. The only comforting fact was that Elder Pharmacist could still sense a faint but non-weak aura deep within the mountain, suggesting a transformational state…
Feeling Xiao Yan’s presence reassured the group, though there was nothing they could do but wait in silence. During this time, the Central Plains experienced significant turmoil. The Soul Temple’s retaliation, though expected, did not come as early, allowing the Falling Star Pavilion to grow stronger under Elder Pharmaiser and Wind Sovereign’s guidance. Many powerful individuals were drawn to the pavilion, especially after the news of Elder Pharmacist’s ability to refine the Bodhi Pill spread. Some extremely low-key Dou Zuns, unable to resist the allure, became secret guest elders of the pavilion, willing to barter their freedom for a chance at the pill.
For these guest elders, Elder Pharmacist did not immediately offer the Bodhi Pill. Realizing that nothing comes free, these strong individuals also found ways to contribute to the pavilion, hoping to gain Elder Pharmacist’s trust and eventually receive the sought-after Bodhi Pill, propelling them to their desired breakthrough. In this virtuous cycle, the Falling Star Pavilion’s strength surged, becoming a formidable force rivaling the old powerhouses like the Heavenly Nether Sect on the Central Plains.
The rising power and reputation of the Falling Star Pavilion, however, unsettled the Heavenly Nether Sect, which historically acted with a domineering hand, expanding its influence. Initially, the territories of both factions didn’t clash, but as the Falling Star Pavilion expanded, the two eventually collided, leading to inevitable conflicts. An old power clashing with a new one naturally led to intense confrontations, with neither side able to gain the upper hand for a while.
However, this stalemate was broken when the Heavenly Nether Sect unexpectedly allied with the Ice River Valley, the Wind Thunder Pavilion, and other prominent sects, forming the “Nether River Alliance.” This alliance bolstered the Heavenly Nether Sect, catching the Falling Star Pavilion off guard and forcing it to retreat. Despite the contraction, Elder Pharmacist and his companions remained calm, viewing the rapid expansion as unstable and needing consolidation. They aimed for a lean, efficient force capable of handling any threat, not an overblown, vulnerable giant.
Hence, they did not launch a major counterattack but instead retreated, strengthening their defenses and creating spatial wormholes to link key cities. This allowed for rapid mutual support, making the Falling Star Pavilion’s territory impregnable. Months of conflict followed, with the Nether River Alliance achieving little and suffering significant losses. They eventually withdrew, having achieved their goal of intimidation without engaging in a full-scale war.
As the battle concluded, the Falling Star Pavilion’s reputation soared, becoming one of the few forces to stand against an alliance of such formidable powers. The Nether River Alliance was left in frustration, feeling they had inadvertently promoted the pavilion’s fame.
With the temporary peace, the Central Plains quieted down, but soon, a shocking rumor about the ancient Spirit Clan began to circulate. News of the Spirit Clan’s space closure had already surfaced when Xiao Yan emerged from the Tomb of Heaven. Initially, the information was restricted to a few major powers, but recently, it was discovered that the Spirit Clan’s space had reopened, only to find it empty and devoid of life, including the Spirit Clan’s descendants.
This news sent shockwaves through the Central Plains, with the other clans sending explorers who confirmed the Spirit Clan’s vanishing. Some speculated that the Spirit Clan might have migrated en masse to a new space, but such a large migration would not go unnoticed by the realm’s peak experts.
The disappearance of the Spirit Clan, a superpower despite its decline, caused a huge uproar. No clan on the Central Plains, not even the Ancient Clan, could quietly annihilate an entire race. There were rumors that the other ancient clans might have acted for the Emperor Jade, a legacy of the final Dou Emperor. To obtain it, one needed to gather eight pieces, each guarded jealously. The theory was that the ancient clans, or at least the Gu and Soul Clans, could have acted to seize the Spirit Clan’s Emperor Jade, leading to their complete disappearance.
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