Great Villain: Starting by Humiliating the Son of the Heavenly Fate

Chapter 206: Suspicion towards the Imperial Extreme Heavenly Palace

Time passed in a leisurely manner.

Under Jiang Chen's skilled hands, the Nether Qi Extraction Secrets were flawlessly executed. Thanks to him, cultivator after cultivator from the Holy Land was shielded from the devastating effects of the Nether Demon Spiritual Qi, achieving full recovery.

Elsewhere, outside the Holy Land's boundaries, the might of the Dao Palace realm was in full display. Led by Ji Mingxiu and three other formidable beings, they effortlessly dispatched demonic beasts below the Dao Comprehension realm. It was a testament to their power, akin to the simplicity of turning a hand.

Before long, the Purple Heaven Holy Land had successfully thwarted the second wave of the demonic beast tide.

Throughout the ordeal, the Holy Land wasn't threatened by any demonic beasts or Nether Demons of the Dao Palace realm. This offered a much-needed breather to the senior experts of the Purple Heaven Holy Land. If a large number of Dao Palace realm adversaries had descended upon them, Mo Yu might've had to unsheath the mighty Purple Heaven Immortal Martial Sword.

At that juncture, the leaders of the Purple Heaven Holy Land convened another high-level meeting in the grandeur of the Holy Land Grand Hall.

Those present were either of esteemed rank or had a cultivation base of the Dao Comprehension realm or above.

Jiang Chen was, of course, among them. Meanwhile, Ji Ruxue rejoined Xie Xiaojing.

Ji Mingxiu surveyed the dozens of Holy Land powerhouses gathered in the Grand Hall. Taking a deep breath, he began, "Earlier, we came across a crucial piece of intel."

"Just as with the initial onslaught, the second demonic beast tide simultaneously affected the territories of our three primary factions."

"While the Imperial Extreme Heavenly Palace and the Jade Lake Heavenly Temple managed to repel the demonic beast tide, they're bereft of the Nether Qi Extraction Secrets. This deficiency resulted in substantial casualties among their disciples."

He paused momentarily, letting the information sink in, before continuing, "Moreover, we've just received word from the Imperial Extreme Heavenly Palace. They urge us to expedite the gathering of the three major entities to strategize our response."

"Given the recent insights from Holy Son Jiang Chen," Mo Yu began, "we now believe that a Nether Demon of the Dao Palace realm might be lurking underground. It would be imprudent to leave the Holy Land unprotected." He paused for effect, then added, "Additionally, Jiang Chen has expressed concerns about the Imperial Extreme Heavenly Palace's intentions. With the mounting evidence of their dubious actions, such suspicions are not unwarranted."

Jiang Chen's influence was on a steady rise.

His words now carried more weight, and many were inclined to trust his judgments.

Ji Mingxiu nodded thoughtfully before turning his attention to Jiang Chen. "Jiang Chen, if the Imperial Extreme Heavenly Palace is indeed up to something sinister, what do you anticipate the consequences might be?"

At Ji Mingxiu's prompting, all eyes in the hall settled intently on Jiang Chen.

"If the Imperial Extreme Heavenly Palace harbors any ulterior motives, their tactics could mirror strategies like 'leading a lamb to the slaughter' or 'luring the tiger away from its mountain domain'," Jiang Chen mused, fingers tracing the curve of his chin thoughtfully. "Should we respond in haste, we risk playing directly into their hands. Sending a small group would make them easy targets, akin to lambs led to their doom. Conversely, deploying a significant force could leave our base vulnerable, reminiscent of enticing a tiger from its territory."

An Elder's voice broke through the tense silence, "So, what's our course of action?"

"We surely can't decline their invitation. Yet attending might play right into their trap!"

"Indeed, it's a conundrum." The attendees exchanged worried looks, their unease palpable from the creases forming on their brows. The weight of the decision pressed down on them.

Mo Yu stepped forward, seizing the moment to interject, "Given our possession of the Nether Qi Extraction Secrets and the intelligence at hand, it stands to reason that we, the Purple Heaven Holy Land, take the mantle of hosts."

A glint of realization shone in Ji Mingxiu's eyes. "You're suggesting... that we, the Purple Heaven Holy Land, should spearhead the assembly of the three dominant forces? And select a venue advantageous to us?"

"Exactly. Propose this, and observe," Mo Yu confirmed, "The reaction from the Imperial Extreme Heavenly Palace might be quite revealing."

Ji Mingxiu's determination solidified. "Then I'll convey our stance to both the Imperial Extreme Heavenly Palace and the Jade Lake Heavenly Temple. Moreover, I'll highlight the need to gather spiritual plants and collect demonic beast remains for Jiang Chen."

Without delay and in the full view of everyone present, Ji Mingxiu established contact with the Imperial Extreme Heavenly Palace and the Jade Lake Heavenly Temple.

The trilateral dialogue that ensued was concise yet pivotal.

...

Tucked into the southwestern reaches of the Bottomless Abyss, deep within the Everflowing Truth Central Domain, majestic golden halls and palaces stood tall, piercing the very heavens amidst cloud-kissed mountains.

The glittering structures, layer upon layer, resembled a cascade of mountains bathed in gold. They shimmered with an opulent, regal aura under the sun's embrace.

This was none other than the heart of the Imperial Extreme Heavenly Palace!

Yet, as grand as the setting might seem, a secretive meeting was currently underway within its walls.

In attendance were just five individuals.

Leading the group was Dong Yuanzheng, the reigning Palace Lord of the Imperial Extreme Heavenly Palace. Flanking him were the Deputy Palace Lords: Wei Pengcheng, Gan Xiangwen, Hou Yuquan, and Ruan Tianzong.

Dong Yuanzheng's voice, laden with a mixture of surprise and unease, filled the room. "The Purple Heaven Holy Land has sent a message. They wish to preside over this assembly." He paused, looking around the room, "I honestly didn't anticipate that they would actually possess the Nether Qi Extraction Secrets. I wonder where they acquired it!"

Deputy Palace Lord Gan Xiangwen leaned forward, his face tight with worry. "According to Lord Long Tianlu's intelligence, such a secret art shouldn't even exist on the Immortal Martial Continent!"

"Could it be possible that there are higher-level cultivator forces covertly stationed on the Immortal Martial Continent?"

"If this holds true, our allegiance to the Nether Demon Clan won't enable us to unify the Immortal Martial Continent. Instead, we might be ushered into an irreversible catastrophe!" As he finished, he looked at the others with an expression of deep concern and horror. "So, what's our course of action?"

Dong Yuanzheng cast his gaze around the room at everyone and spoke with determination. "Hmph! We've already accepted Lord Long Tianlu's gifts and have fully transformed into true demonic cultivators. Retreating now is not an option!"

"We must press on, fight with our backs against the wall!"

"Moreover, the Nether Qi Extraction Secrets might be a relic passed down from ancient times, and there may not be any higher-level cultivator forces clandestinely monitoring the Immortal Martial Continent," Dong Yuanzheng concluded with a steely resolve.

"Correct. Since we accepted Lord Long Tianlu's gifts, there's no turning back. Regardless of where the Nether Qi Extraction Secrets originated or whether there's a formidable force behind it, we have no other choices." Deputy Palace Lord Hou Yuquan nodded in agreement, stating, "Our current concern should be whether to proceed with our established plan or to make necessary adjustments?"

"The emergence of the Nether Qi Extraction Secrets has significantly upset our strategy. If we don't agree to the Purple Heaven Holy Land's proposition, we might inadvertently reveal something." Deputy Palace Lord Ruan Tianzong interjected, "In my view, it's wiser to consent to the Purple Heaven Holy Land's proposal, keep them in the dark, and adapt to the situation as it evolves."

"No. I disagree. The Nether Qi Extraction Secrets is their bargaining chip," Vice Palace Lord Wei Pengcheng said, his face unreadable. "If we have something even more valuable, we can insist on convening at the Verdant Leaf Giant Peak."

Ruan Tianzong's eyebrows drew together. "Something even more valuable? We don't have such a thing."

Wei Pengcheng's voice was cold and precise. "Why not create one? Claim we've developed a powerful formation that isolates the Nether Demon Spiritual Qi, protecting our sect's land, or offer other tempting advantages. The endgame? Get them to the Verdant Leaf Giant Peak. How we do it, whether through deception or other means, doesn't matter."

"Haha," Hou Yuquan laughed, offering a fist and palm salute. "In such little time, Daoist Wei has truly taken on the ways of a demonic cultivator. Quite commendable."

Ruan Tianzong shook his head. "Ji Mingxiu and the rest aren't gullible. The Nether Qi Extraction Secrets are widely recognized and their existence can't be denied. But our supposed grand formation or other made-up advantages? Won't they want proof?"

Turning to Dong Yuanzheng, he clasped his hands respectfully. "I urge the Palace Lord to rethink this approach."

"Each of you has made valid arguments. I will consult with Lord Long Tianlu," Dong Yuanzheng said, a glacial light flickering in his eyes. "Perhaps he might have a bargaining chip for us..."

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