Hao Ren spent a whole day complaining about the "dynamic news" of everyone entering the "Dong Xuan Secret Realm."
There was simply too much to make fun of!
Wang Tenglong's act of bringing 99 "Sturdy Beds."
Wang Dong's illogical "thought process."
...
These things turned what should have been an extremely solemn and complex event, full of veiled schemes and cunning deceptions, into something hilariously absurd.
Alas!
Hao Ren then shifted his attention back to the "dynamic news" of his enemies.
The Great Ancestor "Long Liulin" delivered a "pre-battle mobilization."
He spoke with great fervor.
Below him, a scene of gloom and desolation unfolded.
It wasn't their fault that "Heavenly Dragon Holy Land" had been systematically demoralized by some "old schemer," leaving everyone's mental state shattered.
Morale?
What morale?
The cultivators of "Heavenly Dragon Holy Land" had no morale left!
Were they now most afraid of hearing a "rumbling" explosion?
Had someone been overcome by inner demons and self-destructed again?
Every time they heard that "rumbling" sound, that was their first reaction.
Their second reaction was to find cover and hide!
Could you imagine?
A bunch of "Golden Core cultivators," "Foundation Establishment cultivators."
The "immortals" in the eyes of mortals.
Just because someone farted a little too loudly.
And they all exploded in panic!
Some people hid under their beds, bottoms sticking out.
Others screamed and jumped onto tables.
Curses... inner demons... self-destruction... it's over... we're all going to die...
With all that, how could there be any morale left?
"Heavenly Dragon Holy Land" managed to scrape together a little over thirty "Golden Core cultivators" and sent them into the "Dong Xuan Secret Realm."
These were mere "cannon fodder," meant to distract.
The true trump card of "Heavenly Dragon Holy Land" was the "Three Hundred Dragon Soul Death Warriors" trained by the Third Ancestor "Long Sixu."
These "Three Hundred Dragon Soul Death Warriors" were divided into eight "combat squads."
Seven of these "combat squads" were each tasked with guarding a "Bronze Ancient Lamp."
This set of "Bronze Ancient Lamps" was an ancient "Witch artifact," not a magic treasure, but possessing even more peculiar and extraordinary functions.
Its function was "sacrifice."
When a set of seven "Bronze Ancient Lamps" were placed in their designated positions and all lit, the entire Dong Xuan Secret Realm would transform into a grand "sacrificial ritual."
At that point, all cultivators within the "Dong Xuan Secret Realm" would have their souls ripped out and become nourishment for the resurrection of the "Heavenly Dragon Dharma King."
Besides these seven "combat squads," there was one additional "combat squad."
This "combat squad" had the largest number of members, and their mission was the most crucial.
They were to escort the "True Dragon Egg" to the "Dong Xuan Divine Hall" before the sacrificial ritual began.
A most important "fragmented soul" of the "Heavenly Dragon Dharma King" had been lurking deep within the "Dong Xuan Divine Hall," in slumber.
This "combat squad" would sacrifice the "True Dragon Egg" along with themselves, helping the "Heavenly Dragon Dharma King" absorb the "True Dragon bloodline" and achieve a resurrection in his "strongest state"!
Once resurrected, the "Heavenly Dragon Dharma King" would bypass the "Tribulation Crossing Realm" and ascend directly to the "Mahayana Realm"!
This mortal realm had not seen a cultivator in the "Mahayana Realm" for one hundred thousand years.
With the "Heavenly Dragon Dharma King" appearing out of nowhere, wouldn't he be able to dominate and sweep across the land?
This was going to be an "arduous and extraordinary" battle!
Hao Ren's mood gradually became somber.
How easy could it be to thwart "Heavenly Dragon Holy Land's" "ten-thousand-year grand plan"?
For now, all he could do was take it one step at a time, steadily moving forward!
As Hao Ren was contemplating this, several "dynamic news" notifications suddenly appeared in his mind.
[Ding! Your friend "Yun Zhenting" has been teleported to a corner of the "Dong Xuan Secret Realm"...]
[Ding! Your friend "Yun Zhenting" is examining his surroundings and accidentally kicked a "stone," producing a crisp bronze clanging sound...]
[Ding! Your friend "Yun Zhenting" picked up the stone and discovered it was a "Bronze Ancient Lamp"...]
[Ding! Your friend "Yun Zhenting" has successfully obtained a "Bronze Ancient Lamp," and in principle, has disrupted "Heavenly Dragon Holy Land's" "sacrificial plan!"]
A "Bronze Ancient Lamp," a set of seven.
None could be missing!
All seven "Bronze Ancient Lamps" had to be placed in their designated positions and lit simultaneously to form the "sacrificial ritual."
Now that one "Bronze Ancient Lamp" had been picked up by "Yun Zhenting."
In principle, "Heavenly Dragon Holy Land's" "sacrificial plan" was disrupted, no problem... except for the fact that it was a huge problem!
What the heck was going on!
Hao Ren's mood was incredibly conflicted!
He knew this was a good thing!
He should be happy!
But he really couldn't help but want to complain!
According to the usual narrative, to disrupt such a "grand conspiracy," shouldn't there be a life-and-death struggle, clashing of swords, an endless war that obscured the sun and moon...
In a novel, the "protagonist group" and the "villain group" would have to fight at least a dozen times.
The "protagonist group" would first be outmatched and suffer heavy losses.
Then, for the sake of "love and justice," the "protagonist group" would rise up and unleash their power.
Finally, the "protagonist group" would defeat the "villain group," and everyone would live happily ever after.
That would take at least several hundred chapters to flesh out!
What was this kind of "explosive start" plot?
It was too bizarre!
Yes, utterly bizarre!
How could Yun Zhenting possibly find a "Bronze Ancient Lamp"?
Shouldn't all the "Bronze Ancient Lamps" be under the strict protection of the "Dragon Soul Death Warriors"?
[Ding! Your friend "Yun Zhenting" has encountered a "Dragon Soul Death Warrior"...]
Dong Xuan Secret Realm.
The sky was dim, shrouded in a hazy gray.
There was no sun, moon, or stars here; the sky was perpetually overcast and gray.
Yun Zhenting was holding the "Bronze Ancient Lamp," examining it from all angles.
He mused to himself, could this be the "Bronze Ancient Lamp" the senior mentioned?
It looked very similar!
But, surely not!
Could it be that easy for me to "find" it?
Speaking of which, Yun Zhenting's talent for "finding things" was truly astonishing.
A long time ago, Hao Ren had discovered this gift of his.
Yun Zhenting would stumble and "find" a "small spirit stone vein" underground.
Yun Zhenting would just take a stroll and "find" a complete "ancient immortal mansion ruin."
As for "top-grade spirit stones" or "top-grade spirit spring eyes," those were just casual finds, no pressure at all!
Hao Ren sometimes truly suspected that Yun Zhenting was the "child of destiny," and his ability to "find treasures" was bordering on the insane!
Yun Zhenting himself, however, did not think so.
His "thought process" was like this: I couldn't possibly find so many good things, it's not scientific, but it's happening, what's going on? Senior! It must be the senior protecting me in secret! The senior is too good to me, I'm so touched...
Such an inflated ego!
This time, as expected, Yun Zhenting "inflated" himself again. Looking at the "Bronze Ancient Lamp" in his hand, he muttered to himself.
"Could it be that the senior is protecting me in secret again? The senior is too good to me, I'm so touched..."
Just then, a voice abruptly cut through the air.
"Fellow Daoist, that's something I dropped. Please return it to me!"