As Lin Miaoyi's voice fell, everyone present couldn't help but look at each other.
Who could have imagined that the once formidable Crimson Heart Daoist, after falling into the demonic path and sacrificing countless cultivators to break through his current realm, would be betrayed by his own direct disciples. At the crucial moment of his impending success, they, along with all his forces, delivered a fatal blow!
That's right, thousands of years ago, during a great sacrifice, even though all the cultivators present fought with all their might, and several Golden Core realm experts intervened.
They were still suppressed by the Crimson Heart Daoist, after all, this person could directly confront powerful beings!
However, at the critical moment of his imminent success, his few direct disciples, who were about to be sacrificed themselves, betrayed him along with many cultivators who had already colluded.
In the end, the Crimson Heart Daoist's plan failed. As he was dying, he detonated the heavenly tribulation, causing infinite divine punishment to pour down, burying the entire dojo underground.
For thousands of years, those who had betrayed him were tormented by the power of divine punishment. Although they achieved a form of eternal life, their souls were constantly corroded by death qi. When the underground dojo was discovered, and countless cultivators from all sides poured in, the betrayers seized this opportunity to conduct another blood sacrifice, reviving several of the Crimson Heart Daoist's direct disciples.
"Those people gathered enough blood essence power to break through the restrictions left by the Crimson Heart Daoist, hoping to obtain that otherworldly cultivation technique and the magical artifact capable of confronting powerful beings!"
Lin Miaoyi said with a solemn expression.
As soon as the Crimson Heart Daoist's restrictions were broken, several powerful beings immediately took action. They had already rushed to the underground dojo and had even waited there for several years.
In the end, that powerful magical artifact was seized by a powerful being from the Divine Profound Sect, and everything finally came to a close.
Those betrayers, who should have perished thousands of years ago, were also used by the powerful beings to vent their anger, and they turned to dust under several peerless divine arts.
Zhao Yuansong, too, vanished without a trace after everything was over.
Of course, he was not the only one who disappeared. Although there was no detailed count, after this upheaval, at least hundreds of cultivators went missing.
No one knew if they had perished or if something else had happened.
The Nine Xuan Sect had been searching for half a month but had found nothing. Including Zhao Yuansong, more than ten inner and outer disciples were missing.
"Should we go and look for Senior Brother Zhao?"
Lin Miaoyi asked.
She and the Tang brothers deeply respected this senior disciple of the outer sect, and they had received his care in the past.
However, Li Junxian, who was Zhao Yuansong's closest friend, shook his head without thinking.
"The Master is in seclusion for a breakthrough, and we absolutely cannot leave his side!"
He said slowly, his expression extremely resolute.
Although his heart ached to go and search for Zhao Yuansong's whereabouts as quickly as possible.
But now that Ji Yuan was in seclusion, at the critical moment of breaking through the third realm, they absolutely could not leave.
Although they couldn't help much, they could protect him and guard against any intruders.
Everyone knew that the main forces of the Rebirth Tower, though openly marching with the rebels towards the border of Feiyun and Tianhe Prefectures.
They had definitely left a force that could not be ignored elsewhere.
The importance of the Five Counties area to Ji Yuan and others was self-evident. It was hard to guarantee that the hidden forces of the Rebirth Tower, upon receiving news of his breakthrough, wouldn't cause trouble at a crucial moment.
"As for Senior Brother Zhao, the Peak Master of Lei Ze Peak, along with a group of elders and disciples are searching."
Li Junxian looked at the people beside him and then said in a deep voice, "But by the Master's side, there are only us!"
If any unexpected events occurred, Ji Yuan, while in seclusion, could only rely on these people.
"Junior Sister Lin, send a message to Mingxin Pavilion, informing them that we need expert support!"
After thinking for a moment, Li Junxian decisively made his decision.
With the rebels rising up, and the Rebirth Tower emerging from the shadows, Mingxin Pavilion's situation was also dire.
Not only were many trade routes cut off, but a large number of their industries were attacked. Both the general headquarters in Luoxia Prefecture and the branch in Feiyun Prefecture were severely short of personnel.
This was one of the reasons why Ji Yuan had not asked for much help from Mingxin Pavilion in recent months.
In the Five Counties area, there were only some forces from Mingxin Pavilion, consisting of cultivators and warriors of the first realm, as well as many talented individuals recruited from various professions.
But now, the situation was different. With the incident at the underground dojo, Feiyun Prefecture was bound to experience a period of turmoil, and it was hard to say that no one would take advantage of it to do something.
Upon hearing this, Lin Miaoyi immediately nodded in agreement, turned around, and hurried away to arrange for a message to be sent to Mingxin Pavilion.
From this day onwards, everyone began to take turns guarding the courtyard where Ji Yuan was in seclusion. Even the household servants and maids in the residence were ordered to only move within designated areas.
Apart from them, no one could approach the courtyard.
Within two or three days, as Li Junxian had predicted, external turmoil swept through the entire Feiyun Prefecture with extreme speed.
In some aspects, its intensity was no less than the impact brought about by the Rebirth Tower and the rebels!
The two blood sacrifices in the underground dojo half a month ago resulted in the deaths of at least several thousand cultivators.
These cultivators came from all walks of life, including rogue cultivators and disciples from other prefectures. Especially the latter, who, upon discovering that they had lost contact with their disciples, would surely send people to investigate.
After more than ten days of brewing, the impact of this incident finally erupted.
Among the thousands of dead cultivators, many were the core forces of a sect, or even sect leaders and elders.
Having lost important personnel, many sects and forces that were not particularly strong immediately became targets for those with malicious intent.
A weakened beast guarding a treasure, what would you do if you saw it?
Within a few days, countless forces were divided and devoured. Overnight, more than ten sects were attacked at their mountain gates and annihilated.
Even demonic cultivators took this opportunity to wreak havoc with impunity, causing many forces and sects to lose their legacies, and even frequent cases of entire families being wiped out.
In an instant, the prefectural government, which already had a mess to deal with, became even more overwhelmed.
Even the Mingjian Division and other forces in Feiyun Prefecture, who stepped in to maintain order, still had little effect.
The local sects and numerous forces, having lost strength in the Rebirth Tower, the rebels, and the underground dojo, were struggling to protect themselves and could hardly provide any assistance.
After several more days, in the Five Counties area where Ji Yuan and others were located, many cultivators and warriors of unknown identity gradually appeared.