Half an hour later, Ji Yuan and the others returned to the small courtyard where they were staying.
The three of them looked somewhat solemn, sitting around the table without speaking, each lost in thought about the secrets they had uncovered.
Only Lv Yin, who knew nothing, scampered back and forth on the tabletop, thoroughly enjoying himself despite being alone.
These spirits born of heaven and earth possessed naturally long lifespans and were accustomed to solitude, knowing how to entertain themselves.
"Based on what we know now, the Rain Tribe has undoubtedly caught wind of the small movements of the Westwood Tribe and the other beings they protect."
After a long silence, Ji Yuan finally spoke, voicing his thoughts.
There was no doubt the Rain Tribe had sensed something. However, with various factions and imperial court officials present in the Absolute Immortal Valley, they were unable to act rashly, even if they knew.
Meanwhile, the Westwood Tribe and other affiliated races, along with the other protected beings, were using the current situation to establish advantageous positions, aiming to ultimately destroy the Rain Tribe that intended to sacrifice them.
"The most crucial element now is the stance of the various factions and the people from the prefectural city," Tang Muhuan said, stroking his beard.
From the current situation, it seemed that the ambitions of these factions extended beyond the Rain Tribe's accumulated resources; they sought their tens of thousands of years of research.
In this world, since the ancient war between immortals and gods, true immortals had vanished, and no being had ever reached that realm again.
Many brilliant cultivators, even those at the peak of grandmasterhood, could only stop there, unable to truly attain enlightenment and share the lifespan of heaven and earth.
This was precisely why, after several months, these factions had made no moves, patiently waiting for the final moment.
Simultaneously, they were observing the power struggle between the Rain Tribe and the beings they protected, as if everything was within their control.
With this thought, the three suddenly looked up, their gazes meeting in the air.
"I fear that a Golden Core Grand Cultivator is already observing the vicinity of the Absolute Immortal Valley," Jiang Yunzhou said slowly.
Otherwise, how could a group of third-realm cultivators, facing beings comparable to Golden Core cultivators and ancient alien races, possess such an air of certainty?
And if their suspicions were confirmed, then no matter what happened next, it would be beyond their ability to influence.
To put it bluntly, no matter how much they pondered or deduced the truth, they would be unable to change the final outcome.
A sense of powerlessness silently crept into their hearts, unavoidable even for Jiang Yunzhou and Tang Muhuan, who were both in the third realm.
"No..."
Suddenly, Ji Yuan frowned, murmuring to himself.
He immediately turned to look at Jiang Yunzhou, his eyes flashing, as if contemplating something.
Seeing this, the other two were taken aback, exchanging a bewildered glance.
"If we can't influence anything, then why did the Sect Master of the Nine Heavens Sect send you to the Absolute Immortal Valley?" he asked, looking at Jiang Yunzhou and pondering a sudden question.
It couldn't be that the Sect Master of the Nine Heavens Sect deliberately sent his personal disciple to his death, could it?
"My master naturally..."
Jiang Yunzhou began, instinctively wanting to mention the Sky Cloud Water Essence, but then he suddenly realized.
As a paramount sect in Feiyun Prefecture, the Nine Heavens Sect could not be unaware of the matters here. Yet, under these circumstances, not only had they made no move, but they had also remained silent, sending him to this place without any warning.
With this realization, they became completely certain that the Sect Master of the Nine Heavens Sect must have had some ulterior motive.
And this motive was clearly inextricably linked to Jiang Yunzhou!
"What cultivation technique do you practice?" Ji Yuan asked, as if a thought had struck him.
Inquiring about another's cultivation technique was taboo among cultivators, even among close friends, they generally avoided it. However, given the current situation, they could no longer afford to be so circumspect.
"I cultivate the divine path technique from the Nine Heavens Sect's secret collection, named 'Nine Heavens Cloud Rain Creation Art'," Jiang Yunzhou blurted out. Immediately, his eyes lit up.
Although he did not know the specifics of the technique, its name alone hinted at its nature.
"So... that explains it." Ji Yuan leaned back in his chair, a smile appearing on his face.
It seemed his speculation was correct. The reason the Nine Heavens Sect had made no move, and why the Sect Master had suddenly sent his disciple to the Absolute Immortal Valley, was all because...
"This is the place of my enlightenment!" Jiang Yunzhou's eyes flickered as he grasped the key.
He had once been a prodigy of the Nine Heavens Sect, his talent surpassing all his peers in Lingyang Prefecture, with only a handful comparable to him.
Unfortunately, he had been ambushed by villains in his early years, forcing him to exclusively cultivate the divine path to preserve his life. Yet, decades passed, and he remained stuck at the peak of the third realm, unable to advance.
Although no one explicitly said anything, Jiang Yunzhou knew that even if his sect could pay a heavy price to obtain an imperial enfeoffment from the court, he would still need hundreds of years of incense and wish power, and forge a solid golden body, before he would have a sliver of a chance to break through.
The divine path, in this world, had ultimately declined. Advancing was incredibly difficult, and countless deities had watched their golden bodies decay and collapse without their cultivation improving one bit.
His talent in the divine path was indeed not as astonishing as that of the immortal path. Reaching his current stage was due to the transformation of his immortal path foundation and his master's unsparing assistance.
"Perhaps the Nine Heavens Sect understands better than anyone what is about to happen here, which is why they sent fellow Daoist Jiang to this place," Tang Muhuan said slowly. "Their intention was for you, fellow Daoist, to take this crucial step."
By leveraging the events about to unfold here, he could find an opportunity for breakthrough, or even forge an unparalleled golden body, thereby advancing to the next major realm.
This was perhaps the calculation of that Sect Master.
Ji Yuan's presence here, however, might have been an accident. No one expected him to venture into the Absolute Immortal Valley for the Sky Cloud Water Essence.
Perhaps, according to the original plan, Jiang Yunzhou was simply ordered by his master to go to the Absolute Immortal Valley to obtain the Sky Cloud Water Essence. Then, he would be recognized by the gathered factions and eagerly courted by the Rain Tribe and the Westwood Tribe. After the truth was revealed, he would rely on his own strength and fortune to seize the opportunity for his breakthrough.