Chapter 585: Chapter 399: Seeking the Nascent Soul

The Elder from Black Dragon Hall was forcing their hand. Faced with this pressure, all they could do now was endure.

The Elder was right about one thing, at least: if they acted now, they would receive his full support.

"Dragging this out doesn’t seem to be a solution."

"Indeed. Black Dragon Hall will eventually lose patience with us."

The Vice Palace Masters of the Dragon Demon Palace spoke one after another. Listening to them, the Dragon Demon Palace Master couldn’t help but let out a sigh.

He longed for the days of a century ago.

Less than a century had passed, yet the situation here had changed so drastically.

"Black Dragon Hall’s support only extends to the Core Formation Stage. If we truly move against the Celestial Cloud Sect, our disciples and Elders will undoubtedly suffer devastating losses," the Dragon Demon Palace Master said after his sigh.

"Can we drag Ghost Head Castle and the Blood Red Sect into this mess with us?"

"It wouldn’t be hard to pull in Ghost Head Castle, but getting the Blood Red Sect involved would be very difficult."

"If Ghost Head Castle makes a move, our situation will improve dramatically. Ghost Head Castle has ties to both the Black Ghost Cave and the Ghost-Controlling Sect. Once Ghost Head Castle acts, it’s highly probable that the Black Ghost Cave and Ghost-Controlling Sect will also enter the fray."

"Palace Master, I recall you mentioning the Demon Spirit Sect’s cooperation with the Black Ghost Cave and the Ghost-Controlling Sect, and how you..."

"That’s enough."

The Dragon Demon Palace Master stopped the Vice Palace Master from saying any more. Only the two of them knew about this. If he continued, all the Vice Palace Masters would find out.

Previously, he had been critical of the Demon Spirit Sect’s collaboration with the Black Ghost Cave and the Ghost-Controlling Sect, believing that one should never, under any circumstances, cooperate with Ghost Cultivators.

Times had changed.

’As the master of a palace, one’s thinking must be flexible.’

"Our situation is completely different from when the Demon Spirit Sect cooperated with the Black Ghost Cave and the Ghost-Controlling Sect. The Demon Spirit Sect was betrayed by them and ultimately destroyed by the Celestial Cloud Sect. We, on the other hand, are the ones dragging these Ghost Cultivator influences into the fray." The Dragon Demon Palace Master had his own justification.

"The Palace Master is right," this Vice Palace Master said, nodding in agreement. Inwardly, however, he thought otherwise.

He remembered clearly that the Palace Master had said cooperating with either Ghost Cultivators or Blood Demons was a problem.

’The essence of it is still a partnership, not a matter of who can betray whom.’

***

「Ghost Head Castle.」

One of the Core Formation influences among Ghost Cultivators.

The fortresses on the surface were merely the tip of the iceberg. The vast majority of Ghost Head Castle’s domain lay underground.

Beneath one of the surface fortresses.

Today, the entire upper echelon of Ghost Head Castle was gathered here.

There were six Core Formation Ghost Cultivators in total, two of whom were at the late-stage Core Formation. One of them had successfully broken through to the late stage ten years ago.

In terms of overall strength, Ghost Head Castle was considerably stronger than the Black Ghost Cave, ranking as a top-tier, second-class Core Formation Ghost Cultivator influence.

"Elder Duan, it’s not the scheduled day, is it? What important matter have you gathered us to discuss?" a Supreme Elder of Ghost Head Castle asked, looking at Duan Shiling in the central seat.

Duan Shiling was Ghost Head Castle’s most powerful Supreme Elder.

He had broken through to the late-stage Core Formation over eighty years ago and had a very good chance of reaching the Peak of Core Formation in the future.

Once Duan Shiling broke through to the Peak of Core Formation, Ghost Head Castle’s overall strength would reach the level of a quasi-first-class Core Formation Ghost Cultivator influence.

"We’re here to discuss a plan to deal with the Celestial Cloud Sect," Duan Shiling began.

The moment Duan Shiling finished speaking, a Supreme Elder voiced a doubt.

"Deal with the Celestial Cloud Sect? From what I know, the Celestial Cloud Sect has kept to themselves for the last twenty-odd years. Elder Duan, taking the offensive has never been your style."

Ghost Head Castle’s territory was vast; a thousand years ago, it had been a first-class Core Formation influence. The past few centuries, however, had been a period of relative weakness for them.

For these reasons, Ghost Head Castle’s external strategy had been predominantly conservative for the past century.

"This matter concerns the Dragon Demon Palace."

"Elder Duan, what are you thinking? Are we really going to cooperate with the Dragon Demon Palace? Don’t tell me you’ve been taken in by a few pretty words from them."

"I’ve been the primary contact with the people from the Dragon Demon Palace, and what they say does have merit," a cold, feminine voice interjected.

Among the six seated figures, her face was the most obscured by shadows, her features completely indiscernible.

Her name was Lan Zhaifen, a cultivator at the mid-stage of Core Formation.

Of all the Ghost Head Castle Supreme Elders present, she was the only one at the mid-stage of Core Formation.

"What merit? Grand Elder Lan, enlighten us."

"As the Celestial Cloud Sect continues to grow stronger, it will eventually impact us. Right now, there are already eleven Core Formation Spirit Refiners within the sect."

"But not a single one of them is a late-stage Core Formation Spirit Refiner," the Supreme Elder immediately retorted.

"Given the Celestial Cloud Sect’s current trajectory, late-stage Core Formation Spirit Refiners are bound to appear, and eventually, there might even be those at the Peak of Core Formation."

"Late-stage Core Formation is one thing, but breaking through to the Peak of Core Formation isn’t so easy."

"Be that as it may, given the Celestial Cloud Sect’s current trajectory, they are undeniably growing stronger. That is a fact we cannot ignore," Lan Zhaifen stated.

"Dealing with the Celestial Cloud Sect is one thing, but we don’t need to do it just for the sake of a Demon influence like the Dragon Demon Palace."

The other late-stage Core Formation Supreme Elder of Ghost Head Castle spoke up. He addressed not Lan Zhaifen, but Duan Shiling.

"The Dragon Demon Palace is in a terrible position, caught between the Celestial Cloud Sect to the east and the Wind Ling Sect to the west. Given their location and the Celestial Cloud Sect’s current strength, I believe it’s only a matter of time before the Dragon Demon Palace falls. And once it is destroyed, the Celestial Cloud Sect’s appetite should be sated.

In the worst-case scenario, if the Celestial Cloud Sect’s appetite isn’t satisfied, the next in line for danger is the Black Ghost Cave, not us. It wouldn’t be too late to cooperate with them then. As we follow the same path, the Celestial Ghost Mansion would be pleased to see us work together."

"I agree with Yellow Supreme Elder. It’s truly not too late for us to make a move."

"Grand Elder Lan, continue," Duan Shiling said, glancing at Lan Zhaifen.

"Yes, Elder Duan." Lan Zhaifen nodded and quickly continued, "There is a crucial reason to cooperate with the Dragon Demon Palace. They currently have three Elders from Black Dragon Hall serving as their Guardians, one of whom is at the Peak of Core Formation."

At these words, the Supreme Elders who had voiced dissent all fell silent.

This was a crucial piece of news, from which a great deal could be inferred.

"To think the Dragon Demon Palace would reveal this information just to secure our cooperation."

For a Demon Cultivation Core Formation influence to have one Elder from Black Dragon Hall held a completely different meaning than having three—especially when one of those three was at the Peak of Core Formation.

A single Elder from Black Dragon Hall could merely serve as a Guardian for the Demon influence.

It was just like what happened before. Both the Celestial Demon Sect and the Demon Spirit Sect had called upon an Elder from Black Dragon Hall to act as their Guardian. The difference was that the Celestial Demon Sect had asked their Guardian to leave, and they were annihilated shortly thereafter.

This sent a clear message: the Celestial Cloud Sect did not dare to move against a Core Formation Demon influence protected by a Guardian from Black Dragon Hall.

Therefore, both the Demon Spirit Sect and the Dragon Demon Palace had immediately broadcast the news when an Elder from Black Dragon Hall came to serve as their Guardian.

However, the destruction of the Demon Spirit Sect had revealed a new truth: the Celestial Cloud Sect *did* dare to make a move.

The fact that the Dragon Demon Palace now had three Elders from Black Dragon Hall as Guardians was an absolute secret.

This meant that Black Dragon Hall had designs on the Celestial Cloud Sect.

"Elder Duan, by agreeing to cooperate with the Dragon Demon Palace, you intend to use Black Dragon Hall to draw out the Celestial Ghost Mansion and make the situation here... even more chaotic!"

"Precisely," Duan Shiling nodded.

At this, any Supreme Elders who hadn’t understood before now clearly saw what Duan Shiling was planning.

When the situation became more chaotic, one could do many things in secret, hidden beneath the turmoil.

’But what benefit would that bring to Ghost Head Castle?’

"Elder Duan, you’re aiming for the Nascent Soul stage!"

"Correct. The chances are slim, but I want to try. Do you still wish to stop me?"

For a Core Formation influence to ascend into a Nascent Soul influence, it had to face immense external pressure.

"Elder Duan, you jest. How could we possibly stop you? If you break through to the Nascent Soul Stage, this entire region will belong to our Ghost Head Castle."

"For now, that is the plan. Whether or not we actually execute it will depend on my breakthrough to the Peak of Core Formation. If I fail, the plan is off."

A faint smile played on Duan Shiling’s lips, but then he seemed to think of something and shook his head.

"Sometimes, I truly envy the Spirit Refiners. If someone in the Celestial Cloud Sect were to break through to the Nascent Soul Stage, they would almost certainly receive the Purple Mist Sect’s support. It’s nothing like our situation..."

"Elder Duan, for us to gain the support of the Celestial Ghost Mansion, the Ten Thousand Ghosts Mountain would have to be destroyed first."

"As if I needed you to tell me."

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