Chapter 674 - 674: The Golden Statue and the Sacred Heart Sect Master’s Purpose
Qin Huai opened his eyes and confidently stated, “The spiritual energy in Qingzhou will undoubtedly grow richer over time. Everything is going according to plan. But what’s the latest on the three sects and the Sacred Heart
Sect?”
Gou Jie gave a grim smile before replying, “The three sects are feeling the pressure and have started to actively engage on the battlefield, possibly fearing a joint assault from the nine kings and the six royal clans. It seems they have mustered the courage to fight to the bitter end, a vigor that was notably absent when they were ‘alive’.”
They then shifted the discussion to another pressing matter, “Zhang Youji, the Dao Child, appears to have parted ways with the True Path Sect and is operating solo now. The True Path Sect is already grooming a second Dao Child, likely as his replacement.” action
Qin Huai gestured dismissively, indicating that the matter required cautious handling, “We cannot afford any blunders here. If Brother Youji is willing to take this step for us, we will find a way to make amends later.” Gou Jie nodded in agreement.
Box
Suddenly, a burst of purple flame descended from the sky, heralding the arrival of the Purple Flame King who greeted, “Alliance Master.”
This king, now second in the rank of the Eight Supremes of Heaven, had been entrusted by Qin Huai to safeguard the Nine Dragons Sect against unforeseen calamities. Alongside him were others like Qi Shan of the Qilin clan and the once-defeated Prince Qing Cang, meticulously implementing Qin Huai’s strategies.
The king continued, “The great royal clans have accepted our proposition. We plan to trade ancestral blood for spirit stones at a steep price. A batch of ancestral blood could fetch ten thousand spirit stones.”
Hua Yanli couldn’t contain his shock and exclaimed, “That’s an enormous profit! Despite our fierce battles in the secret realm of Pingwang, we only managed to secure three hundred thousand spirit stones.” His cry of “It’s not fair!” belied the irrepressible smile on his face, clearly reveling in the staggering potential gains.
With Qin Huai’s tactic of dividing the ancestral blood into smaller parts, they stood to rake in millions in spirit stones, effectively raiding the coffers of the royal clans. Even for these affluent families, the cost was painfully high, a meticulously calculated move by the astute Seven Supremes who knew exactly where to set the bargaining line to secure the deal.
The thought of amassing one million spirit stones fueled a fiery confidence in them, with Yun Qi boldly declaring, “This will help with our advancement to the king realm in just five years, especially with the aid of a resource-rich region like Qingzhou.” His statement echoed with unshaken certainty, heralding promising prospects for their group.
The Purple Flame King continued, “Throughout Qingzhou, memorial services for you and the Qingzhou Alliance are taking place. We neither prevented them nor encouraged them.”
“Just let them carry on,” Qin Huai affirmed with a nod. There was no necessity to interfere, as doing so might expose a weakness or mistake in their strategy. “Now, let’s all begin,” he urged, waving his hand, aware that the clock was ticking.
Qin Huai had always operated on a different plane compared to the six royal clans, especially concerning the silent Sacred Heart Sect and its elusive master who seemed unfazed by the unfolding changes and the decline of Qingzhou. Only the heavens could fathom his true intentions.
Suddenly, Qin Huai felt a unique sensation and glanced skyward once again. The never-before-seen golden figure manifested once again. Utilizing his full might, Qin Huai vanished from his position, ascending swiftly through the clouds, beyond the majestic frame of the golden figure.
An intense clarity engulfed him, enhancing his vision remarkably. He could perceive the distant citizens conducting his funeral hundreds of miles away and hear their mournful cries echoing for miles.
“Incredible… How is this even possible?” he wondered, climbing higher, a vision becoming increasingly sharper.
Reaching the pinnacle of his ascent, Qin Huai gently floated out of the golden figure, turning around to glimpse its real form. As he moved away, the figure’s true nature gradually revealed itself — a faceless golden statue, the guardian entity of Qingzhou, reflecting the faces of all living beings.
Qin Huai murmured thoughtfully, “This golden figure could embody the spirit of any leader, the Emperor of Qingzhou, the Dragon Slayer Patriarch, or even myself…”
It seemed the golden figure and the providence true dragon shared a common purpose — symbolizing the destiny of the land and its people, embodying their hopes and aspirations.
Realization dawned upon him. As he reentered the golden figure, a burst of energy resonated, granting him a comprehensive view of the entire Qingzhou region.
Moments later, he noticed experience orbs descending gradually, which he began to gather. The next moment, experience flooded towards him from every corner of Qingzhou.
Meanwhile, in the West Cauldron State, an area filled with thousands of active furnaces, the sky was engulfed with the rising vapor of potent energy.
Atop a mountain, Yao Yongfei observed a figure seated amidst the crimson sea of clouds, maintaining a tranquil demeanor. After a stretch of undefined time, the figure immersed in the cloud sea rose slowly to his feet, moving forward to stand beside Yao Yongfei.
“When?” the man asked, his demeanor graceful and relaxed, a stark contrast to the turbulent energies surrounding him. The sky was infused with a blood-red aura which manifested as a ferocious demonic face in the air, seemingly engulfing the fate of an entire state with a voracious appetite.
“Master, Qin Huai is dead, and the Qingzhou Alliance was massacred by the nine kings, ” Yao Yongfei reported.
The Sacred Heart Sect Master, displaying no emotion, asked, “Is this information confirmed?”
“Absolutely, Master. The Qingzhou Alliance’s elites are being pursued relentlessly. Witnesses reported Le Ji’an’s downfall and demise at the old grounds, at the hands of the Sky Night King,” Yao Yongfei confirmed.
“What a pity…” the master mused, his tone tinged with irony. “The six royal clans are firmly entrenched in Great You, making the power gap insurmountable. Qin Huai had the right ideas and ample skills, yet the royal clans stifled any potential growth. Additionally, the three sects are spineless, their will crushed, unable to seize this golden opportunity.”
Although the Sacred Heart Sect’s master’s tone was calm, the sarcasm in his words was clear. “On the other hand, that Dao Child Zhang Youji is quite courageous. However, none of this is important.”
At this, Yao Yongfei perked up, eager to understand his master’s intentions. “Master, this means… Are you going to succeed?”
Acknowledging his disciple’s curiosity, the master confessed, “The previous encounter with the dragon clan’s former emperor in the Green Plains has shown me that we can alter our circumstances, albeit at a cost.”
Concerned, Yao asked, “What is the price, Master?”
“I won’t be able to truly step into the true emperor realm in this lifetime,” the Sacred Heart Sect’s master divulged, his countenance serene yet resolute. Shocked, Yao suggested, “Can’t we wait? We still have time, Master.”
But the Master dismissed the notion, explaining the unpredictable nature of the ancestral blood’s appearance and the pressing urgency of their cause. He detailed his foresight of humanity’s last stand, which drove him to alter the sacred heart technique, empowering him and humanity to face the impending challenges. He rationalized the impending loss of lives as a necessary sacrifice for the greater good of humanity’s resurgence.
“At that time, I will bear all the charges. After I destroy the other races, there will be a young man named Yao Yongfei who will kill the demons and lead the human race to a bright future…”
Yao Yongfei remained silent, his fists clenched, tears welling but not falling, as he absorbed the weight of his master’s words and the pivotal role he was foreseen to play in the rebirth of the human race.
“Now, go and cultivate. Don’t be negligent, or else if you can’t suppress the heroes below, I’m afraid we’ll start another chaotic era.
The Sacred Heart Sect’s master then turned away, ascending towards the sky once more.. He murmured softly, “What a pity for Qin Huai and those brats…”