Volume 5 Chapter 53
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Volume 5 Chapter 53: Chaos Arises
After the "Wind of Destruction" swept through, Xu Qingfan’s house was in complete chaos, with everything shattered by the raging wind. Now, Xu Qingfan didn’t even have a place to sit and meditate, which was quite awkward for him.
The only thing to be thankful for was that before Xu Qingfan began his seclusion, he had moved all his books to Zhang Ningmei’s room, as he knew Zhang Ningmei loved reading as much as he did. Otherwise, if the "Wind of Destruction" had destroyed the countless books collected over the years by Yue Qingru and himself, Xu Qingfan would have been truly heartbroken.
In the empty room ravaged by the "Wind of Destruction," the only exception was Little Black, who was absorbing the death aura from a skull. Together with the skull and the Death Spirit Pearl, it was quietly floating in mid-air, undisturbed by the wind. Xu Qingfan knew that the "Wind of Destruction" gusting around Little Black was likely corroded by the pure death aura.
Although Xu Qingfan hadn’t expected the power and uncontrollability of the "Wind of Destruction," his initial plans were successful. Out of the five goals he set for himself during seclusion, he had accomplished two, and made significant progress on the remaining three: perfecting the "Formula of Life and Death," reaching the late stage of the Real Golden Core Stage, and refining the third magical ability, "Body Outside the Body."
Xu Qingfan took out a black stone from his sleeve, called the "Star Concealment Stone." Once refined, it absorbs the power of the stars, and for each year it absorbs, a white spot appears on the stone. It is typically used by cultivators to track time during seclusion. Xu Qingfan saw three white spots on the stone, realizing that three years had passed since he began his seclusion.
Out of the planned twelve years of seclusion, he had only used three years, indicating that everything had gone smoothly.
However, Xu Qingfan knew that the real challenge was just beginning. Improving the "Wind of Desolation" or enhancing his body with the "Formula of Life and Death" were the simplest of his five goals. The remaining three, on the other hand, would require much more time, keeping him pressed for time.
After briefly summarizing his experience with the "Wind of Destruction," Xu Qingfan didn’t hesitate, and despite the fact that the bed he previously meditated on had turned to ash, he didn’t mind and simply sat on the ground to continue meditating.
This time, when Xu Qingfan meditated with closed eyes and reopened them, eight years had passed.
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In the seventh year of Xu Qingfan’s retreat, which was five years before Jiuhua’s mountain closure would end, the time that worried and drew attention of the cultivation world for the start of the calamity finally arrived.
This was the ninth calamity, occurring every 2,800 years. Judging by previous signs and chaos, the destruction of this calamity seemed likely to surpass the previous eight.
Throughout this year, every powerful cultivator in the cultivation world watched every corner with anxiety, becoming tense at the slightest oddity.
Although this calamity’s damage might surpass the previous eight, there’s a silver lining: unlike before, this time the cultivation world was prepared with the mighty Righteous Alliance. The known Mahayana Stage masters, legendary figures, had mostly joined this alliance, and there were hundreds of the esteemed Condensed Core Stage experts. With such power, it seemed no calamity could intimidate them.
But in truth, the Righteous Alliance, formed by all major sects and high-level cultivators of the cultivation world, seemed to know something significant, causing great tension. They patroled everywhere hoping to find anything unusual, yet the true elite of the Righteous Alliance gathered at the Ronghua Mountain where the Qingxu Gate was located.
At the same time, many cultivators regarded Ronghua Mountain as the safest place, moving nearby. Mortals in the area were astonished to see beings capable of flying among them. Their initial shock turned into normality, though they wondered why these powerful beings all appeared so anxious; could there truly be something even they would fear?
After the legendary calamity time arrived, for half a year, the cultivation world remained extraordinarily calm, even more so than usual. Rival sects who normally saw each other as enemies greeted each other politely, creating a harmonious atmosphere. There was no sign of chaos in the cultivation world.
Many cultivators started to doubt, wondering if there were only eight calamities after all and if the current tension was unnecessary. However, the pre-calamatous chaos seemed very real.
Many cultivators and sects, especially those with strength below the second tier, were not favored by the Righteous Alliance and had no power to resist the catastrophe. Without even a single Condensed Core Stage cultivator, they had long since found hidden places to retreat to.
Because of this, those who watched the situation in the cultivation world, including the Righteous Alliance and cultivators, failed to notice that most of these retreating cultivators and sects had disappeared from their hiding spots. No one knew where they went, or if their disappearance was simply a move to a new hiding place or due to being forced by others.
In a seemingly calm cultivation world, strong undercurrents were stirring.
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Like other cultivators, every member of the "Eight Wilderness Hall" was tense, but unlike others, they were not afraid. Instead, there was a hint of excitement beneath their nervousness.
The "Eight Wilderness Hall" had changed significantly since the Newcomer Competition with Xu Qingfan. With increased strength and expansion across the cultivation world, it was no longer struggling in desolate areas. After absorbing some resource-rich but weaker sects, its arrangements had become much grander. The number of disciples had grown to three thousand, and they received many more spirit stones and elixirs each year. The sect’s activities were no longer confined to the barren lands of Shenzhou Continent, but had established branches in several prosperous regions of Middle-earth.
At this moment, all three thousand disciples of the "Eight Wilderness Hall," whether in the Qi Refining Stage or the Lingji Stage, sat cross-legged in front of the "Wilderness Hall," their faces alight with excitement, as if waiting for something.
Although the "Eight Wilderness Hall’s" expansion had been suppressed by the Righteous Alliance, slowing their growth considerably, their power continued to develop steadily, gradually surpassing the six great Holy Lands of the cultivation world.
In the core of the "Eight Wilderness Hall," inside the "Wilderness Hall," all the leaders gathered together. The eight enigmatic hall masters, the powerful Twelve Evil Immortals, and the increasingly renowned seventy-two Flying Generals made the spacious "Wilderness Hall" feel somewhat crowded.
At this moment, nearly a hundred powerful cultivators sat silently in a circle, focusing intently on a statue in the center.
It was a fierce-looking Demonic Figurine, its entire body glowing with mysterious red light, captivating anyone who looked at it.
Among them, the main leader of the "Eight Wilderness Hall," Man Tian, had a particularly complex expression because he knew that the statue he had brought was one of the biggest secrets of the "Ming" organization, the "Statue of Shura"! Over the years, one-third of the blood and souls collected by the "Ming" had been used to activate the "Statue of Shura."
The "Statue of Shura" was also the reason he entered "Ming." The price was that he had to lead the "Eight Wilderness Hall" to first spark this great calamity in the cultivation world!
Man Tian knew the consequences of igniting a catastrophe in the cultivation world would mean being attacked by all major sects, so he immediately refused.
However, at that moment, the two elders, "Heaven" and "Earth," demonstrated the wonders of the "Statue of Shura" to Man Tian and the other seven leaders. In the end, Man Tian and the other seven leaders agreed. Although starting a catastrophe in the cultivation world was a threat, the "Statue of Shura" could definitely help the "Eight Wilderness Hall" escape from a situation where they could only operate in desolate places and become the peak of the cultivation world. At that time, breaking free from "Ming’s" control and even dominating the cultivation world would not be impossible.
Moreover, the Eight Wilderness Hall was only responsible for starting the disaster; the real chaos would depend on the arrival of forces like "Ming," Zhang Xusheng, and the Zhong family. As long as they could hold out until then, the Eight Wilderness Hall would be fine. Furthermore, with the wonders of the "Statue of Shura," the righteous might not be able to do anything to the Eight Wilderness Hall at all.
"Great Leader, can we begin?"
While Man Tian contemplated whether his decision was right or wrong, another leader, Man Mo, suddenly asked.
Man Tian sighed and slowly said, "Let’s begin."
As soon as Man Tian finished speaking, the eight palace masters, Twelve Evil Immortals, and seventy-two Flying Generals all started to form hand signs and chant some ancient, mysterious incantations.
Under the influence of these masters, a faint red mist rose from the "Statue of Shura" in the center and began to spread throughout the "Xuan Ye Palace." Not only were Man Tian and the others inside the hall enveloped by the mist, but even the three thousand disciples outside were shrouded in it.
The great calamity had finally begun.
