A thousand miles away, yet as close as a heartbeat.
Ye Xianyu raised her hand and beckoned. A sixth-stage Shadow Hall disciple materialized before her, clasping his fists in a deep bow.
"Sect Master!"
Ye Xianyu gazed toward the distant mountains and said softly, "Make a trip. Tell your Little Grand-Uncle that I’ve changed my mind. I want the auspicious beast alive."
The eyes of everyone present snapped toward her, filled with unexpected shock—even Li Qingshan was no exception.
The Shadow Hall disciple was also briefly stunned, but he quickly nodded.
"Yes!"
As the others looked on in confusion, Ye Xianyu added another sentence. "Tell him to fight with everything he has. If he can, tell him it’s fine to level the city on the other side. He doesn't need to have any reservations or fears. The demons of the Great Desolation cannot stir up any significant trouble."
"Understood!"
Though the Shadow Hall disciple was perplexed, he did not ask a single question.
He withdrew silently, transforming into a gust of wind. Hiding his presence, he rushed toward the battlefield a thousand miles away at his maximum speed.
In contrast, the Pavilion Elders were left somewhat dazed.
The Sect Master’s sudden decision didn’t seem like an attempt to resolve the issue.
Instead, it felt like she wanted the Little Grand-Uncle to cause as much chaos as possible and escalate the matter.
Was she planning to have a final showdown with the demon beasts of the East Desolation?
Or did she have other plans?
They racked their brains but still couldn't understand her reasoning.
Li Qingshan furrowed his brows and asked tentatively, "Master, why the sudden change?"
Ye Xianyu pursed her thin lips and squinted slightly, smiling as she said, "What do you mean 'why'? Didn't you see how powerful your Little Junior Martial Uncle is? Even the trump card of his divine sword has been revealed. Since that's the case, why not let him have a grand battle and show off his might? Is that not right?"
"You know that's not what I'm asking," Li Qingshan replied.
The expressions of the other Pavilion Elders shifted between dark and uncertain. Their gazes never wavered; what Li Qingshan asked was exactly what troubled them.
Ye Xianyu’s eyes narrowed slightly, her thoughts drifting toward the distant battlefield.
Before departing, she had gone to the Ancestral Peak to see Yun Zheng.
Senior Brother Yun Zheng had told her not to be wary or have any concerns.
Whether it was the demons of the East Desolation or those people in the Central Plains, no matter how much they wanted to cause trouble, let them. Wendao Sect did not need to hide its edge.
Yun Zheng had also said that if possible and if conditions allowed, it would be best to let the demons of the East Desolation take the initiative to tear up that treaty.
He said:
He would have to go to the East Desolation eventually. Whether he went now or a hundred years from now, he would go, regardless of whether he had a justification.
But if he could have a righteous pretext, that would be for the best.
He also said:
The birth of an auspicious beast in the Demon Suppression Abyss was a perfect opportunity. It wasn't necessarily a bad thing for Wendao Sect.
At the time...
Ye Xianyu hadn't asked many questions. She had simply nodded in agreement, saying she would do her best, and then left.
However...
She knew very well what Senior Brother Yun Zheng’s intentions were.
Human strength has its limits, but the Dao is infinite, and life must eventually end.
She understood that her senior brother’s great tribulation was likely approaching.
She also knew that in the end, he would certainly do something.
In private, over the past several hundred years, she had often heard Yun Zheng talk about certain things. Every time, his face was filled with melancholy and sorrow.
This man, who carried the burden of being Wendao Sect’s strongest combatant, was often filled with helplessness when mentioning the affairs of the world.
He always said that Fanzhou would face a great tribulation, and Wendao Sect played a vital role in it.
He said that when this tribulation began, the entire world would find it difficult to remain uninvolved.
He also said:
Though the Demon Abyss was vast, they only feared Lei Yunche.
He said:
Though the Central Plains were large, the people's hearts were scattered. They needed to be guarded against and disciplined, but that was all.
He said:
Though the North Sea was vast and filled with experts, they had remained at peace with each other for thousands of years.
He wasn't sure what the future would hold, but for now, there was still room for maneuver.
Finally...
He would often look toward the east and say that the hatred between the demons of the Great Desolation and their sect was deep-rooted and irreconcilable.
Furthermore, given the chance, they would surely make a comeback. They would never be content living under others forever.
In the war ten thousand years ago...
Of the hundreds of beast gods, nine out of ten had fallen. Of the remaining beast gods, there were fewer than twenty in the entire East Desolation.
But that war had only broken their legs, forcing them to kneel for ten thousand years.
Their spines remained, and their backs were still held straight.
Over the years...
The minor skirmishes in the Demon Suppression Abyss were only what the world could see. In the shadows where people couldn't see, the demon race had been accumulating strength, attempting a counterattack.
They didn't just smuggle themselves across Boundary Mountain to cause chaos in the Northern Borders or infiltrate the Central Plains to gather intelligence.
They even repeatedly sent envoys to the North Sea, intending to unite with the great demons there to restore the former glory of the demon beast race.
Their wicked ambitions never died!
Bai Ze’s intent was the entire world; this was known by everyone.
He also said:
If this spine of the East Desolation wasn't broken, the Northern Borders would never know peace, and he would not be able to close his eyes in peace even in death.
Of course...
Every time he finished saying these things, he would gently comfort Ye Xianyu, telling her not to be afraid.
If the day came when he was gone, he would definitely break that spine completely before he left.
At the time, Ye Xianyu would only make a few jokes, pretending as if nothing were wrong.
But in her heart, she knew exactly what her senior brother wanted to do.
Just like this time, he had specifically given her instructions before she left because he wanted to do one last thing for this world.
Ye Xianyu understood the consequences of doing so.
She also knew the ending that awaited Senior Brother Yun Zheng.
She was resistant to it.
Even though she should understand that some things cannot be changed.
Even though she should see through the fact that some things cannot be forced.
But her primal human nature made her push back against it. She felt they could delay it, that the time hadn't come yet. She was caught in a dilemma, unable to make a decision.
But...
She knew her senior brother would definitely do it. She couldn't stop him. Whether it was now, in a hundred years, or even longer, the result would be the same.
The only thing that would change was the process.
The cause was there.
The consequence was there.
How could the process simply vanish into thin air?
She had come to terms with it. Her senior brother was right. If this task had to be done eventually, then having a good reason was better than none.
Although influence fades when one is gone and one shouldn't fear rumors, leaving behind a good reputation would undoubtedly be a great blessing for both Wendao Sect and her senior brother.
Therefore...
She felt her senior brother was right. At this time, the birth of an auspicious beast was not a bad thing. Everything was the best possible arrangement.
Furthermore, her Little Junior Brother was proving his worth.
Since that was the case, she shouldn't hesitate or agonize over it.
She would let Xu Xian do as he pleased.
If the demon race didn't move, then so be it. If they did, then they would have a grand war.
Once and for all.
Her thoughts traveled a thousand miles in an instant and returned just as quickly, all within a single breath.
She looked sideways at Li Qingshan, then slowly scanned the Pavilion Elders, speaking frankly:
"Don't look at me like that. I don't know either. This was your Fifth Senior Martial Uncle’s idea. I’m just conveying it on his behalf."
Upon hearing this...
The Pavilion Elders either lowered their heads or stole glances at the high-hanging Spirit Eye.
Ye Xianyu didn't give a direct answer.
But the answer was already obvious.
Li Qingshan’s Adam's apple bobbed slightly. He lowered his voice and asked, knowing the answer, "What exactly does Fifth Senior Martial Uncle... intend to do?"
Ye Xianyu pretended to be carefree as she said, "Don't ask. Knowing too much won't do you any good."
Li Qingshan: "..."
Does it have to be like this?
The Pavilion Elders: "..."
Let nature take its course!