Chapter 1051 - Impending Storm

No one present could comprehend why the Heavenly Dao Society turned down a partnership with the Spirit Jade Pavilion. Was it merely because Shi Yuan had provoked them?

At a distance, Shi Yuan stood frozen, still scheming ways to sabotage the potential alliance between the two factions. But he hadn’t anticipated the Heavenly Dao Society to reject the offer of their own accord, boldly and without hesitation.

“What do you mean by this? Are you looking down on us? On the Spirit Jade Pavilion?” Long Chen’s expression darkened, fury simmering beneath his voice.

No one had ever dared to refuse the Spirit Jade Pavilion. Over the years, countless sects and clans had fought tooth and nail to gain their favor. And now, the Heavenly Dao Society had tossed aside that opportunity as if it were worthless.

“To be exact, it was the Spirit Jade Pavilion that looked down on us,” Xu Yilin replied coldly. His voice carried a chill that silenced the crowd. Ever since the sect had reassigned Elder Qin without explanation, Xu Yilin had held this grudge close to heart.

With that final remark, he turned and led the entire Heavenly Dao Society out of the plaza without another word.

Given the temperaments of the Liao and Yuan Clans, retaliation was inevitable. Once their talks with the Spirit Jade Pavilion concluded, they would no doubt launch a direct offensive against the Heavenly Dao Society. They left early as a strategic move, giving themselves time to prepare.

“We of the Liu Clan also refuse to partner with the Spirit Jade Pavilion,” Liu Xiucheng announced. He had been waiting for the signal, and now that it came, he didn’t hesitate. Turning with conviction, he led his entire clan to follow behind the Heavenly Dao Society.

One rejection could have been tolerable, but two rising forces had directly humiliated the Spirit Jade Pavilion in a way they had never experienced before.

Long Chen and the other elders stood frozen, their expressions dark and rigid. What stung wasn’t just the loss of potential allies; it was the blow to their face and pride. Liu Wuxie’s open defiance had delivered a public slap to the Spirit Jade Pavilion’s authority.

Around the plaza, the remaining sects looked at one another in stunned silence. No one had expected events to spiral out of control this far.

“Who do they think they are? Courting death by refusing the Spirit Jade Pavilion,” someone muttered under their breath.

The Pavilion was not to be trifled with. Unlike the Profound Cloud Sect or even the Three Great Clans, the Spirit Jade Pavilion was backed by a Heaven Profound Realm expert. Offending them could lead to consequences far more terrifying than any rival had ever dared to provoke.

Every force in the Central Plains had, at one point or another, become entangled with the Spirit Jade Pavilion. They could summon a wave with a single word, and countless individuals were ready to stake their lives without hesitation.

“This is going to be interesting. The Heavenly Dao Society has already made enemies of the three great clans, the Profound Cloud Sect and the Scarlet Dragon Cult. And now, they’ve offended the Spirit Jade Pavilion, too. How will they survive the consequences?” murmured several spectators. Their gazes drifted toward the departing figures of the Heavenly Dao Society, tinged with reluctant pity.

The Society had climbed to prominence through great struggle and sacrifice, only to throw it all away in what many believed was a reckless, suicidal move.

Long Chen’s fists tightened as he forced himself to focus. He turned and led the representatives of the remaining forces to sign the partnership agreements.

Due to the unexpected withdrawal of both the Heavenly Dao Society and the Liu Clan, they concluded the signing process much more quickly than anyone had expected.

In a surprising gesture, the Spirit Jade Pavilion reduced its commission by ten percent, an apparent concession that left the other representatives visibly pleased.

The Pavilion sensed a storm brewing on the horizon.

In recent years, numerous forces had emerged with astonishing speed. The competition was fiercer than ever, and several factions even showed signs of becoming serious contenders to replace the Spirit Jade Pavilion’s dominance.

“Wuxie, what should we do next?” Xu Yilin asked quietly, rubbing his temples. “The three clans have mobilized a large number of experts. The Heavenly Dao Society alone can’t hold them all off.”

He didn’t seem too concerned about the Spirit Jade Pavilion taking action themselves. With their lofty status, it was unlikely that they would personally target the Society.

On the other hand, the three clans were a different matter altogether.

They had suffered tremendous humiliation at the hands of the Heavenly Dao Society during the commerce fair, none more so than the Yuan Clan. Anyone with a sense could see that the Yuan Clan wouldn’t rest until Liu Wuxie was dead.

Fresh intelligence had just arrived: the three clans were already mobilizing their elite forces and converging on Astral Glory City.

“My only concern was that they wouldn’t come,” Liu Wuxie said with a cold smirk curling at the corners of his lips. He had waited far too long for this day.

Ever since falling into the Void Realm, he had made a vow to annihilate the three great clans.

Even if he couldn’t destroy them entirely, he would break their arms and legs, crippling their strength so thoroughly that they would never dare rechallenge him.

“Wuxie, I’ve already called for reinforcements. They’re on their way,” Liu Xiucheng reported.

Though the Liu Clan and the Heavenly Dao Society were separate entities, the bond between them ran deep.

“Grandfather, absolutely not!” Liu Wuxie objected at once. “They won’t just come for the Heavenly Dao Society, but they’ll go after the Liu Clan, too. If the Liu Clan sends all its elites, the aftermath could destroy it.”

“I’ve already made arrangements back at the clan,” Liu Xiucheng said, his voice resolute. “I’m staying behind to fight alongside you.”

He had anticipated this outcome.

The three clans had never intended to merely dismantle the Heavenly Dao Society. They also wanted to erase the Liu Clan.

Their grudge had long since passed the point of reconciliation. Dozens of clashes over the years had left deep scars on both sides, and today, the three clans had finally gathered their full strength to deliver the killing blow.

“Grandfather, you don’t need to worry about me,” Liu Wuxie said calmly. “Since I dare to stand here and speak these words, I naturally have my reasons. Please, take everyone and return to the Liu Clan immediately.”

He knew his grandfather’s concern stemmed from genuine care. However, the clan’s survival depended on Liu Xiucheng’s protection.

The Liu Clan still held a trump card: an ancestor who had stepped into the Heaven Profound Realm. But that kind of existence would not emerge unless the clan’s very foundation was in peril.

For cultivators at that level, seclusion could last centuries, even millennia. They would not act lightly.

“Father, listen to Wuxie,” Liu Dashan said, stepping forward with firm eyes and resolve. “I’ll stay and fight by his side.”

He wanted his father to safeguard the clan while he stood alongside his son in the coming battle.

Liu Xiucheng paused for a moment, then nodded. “Very well.”

At some point, without anyone realizing it, Liu Wuxie had become the spiritual pillar of both the Liu Clan and the Heavenly Dao Society. He was no longer just a promising youth but the very soul that held them together.

With the decision made, their forces split.

Liu Xiucheng led the Liu Clan members back to their ancestral grounds, while Xu Yilin took charge of the Heavenly Dao Society, guiding them back to their territory.

Upon returning to their base, they were met by a massive crowd already gathered outside. Word had spread: the three clans were mobilizing and intended to seize this moment to annihilate both the Heavenly Dao Society and Liu Wuxie.

Inside the main hall, Tian Xing looked at Liu Wuxie. “Wuxie, what do we do next?”

They had endured in silence for a year. Now, they finally had a chance to retaliate.

“There’s no need to rush,” Liu Wuxie said, raising a hand to calm them. His voice was steady and composed.

Outside, the sun dipped toward the horizon, casting a golden glow across the land. The chill of dusk crept in, and a sharp autumn breeze scattered fallen leaves across the courtyard.

The air turned heavy with killing intent. The wind’s howl and the scattering leaves painted a tragic omen of the coming storm.

“Leader, someone requests an audience,” a young disciple announced as he rushed into the hall.

“Let them in,” Xu Yilin replied with a quick wave of his hand.

A full minute passed in tense silence before footsteps echoed through the hall. Jiang Le strode in, his face lit with warmth as he approached Liu Wuxie and pulled him into an embrace.

“Junior Brother, look who I’ve brought.”

Behind him stood three elders, each radiating a formidable presence. As Liu Wuxie turned to face them, he immediately sensed their cultivation at the fifth-level Earth Profound Realm, and each one was brimming with strength.

“Greetings, seniors,” Liu Wuxie said with a respectful bow to the three elders.

The elder standing in the center cupped his fists and replied warmly, “We’ve long heard of Young Master Liu’s reputation, and you truly live up to it. You saved Jiang Le and gave him a new life. We cannot ignore this debt. We’re here to repay it with every ounce of strength we have.”

Someone had already briefed them on the situation during their journey. Even so, they were still taken aback by the Heavenly Dao Society’s accomplishments in pills, artifacts, talismans, spiritual arrays, each one bearing undeniable mastery. The recent events at the Sacred Ground had shaken the Central Plains, and news of Liu Wuxie’s deep bond with his three senior brothers had spread far and wide. Their relationship surpassed that of mere fellow disciples.

“Junior Brother, I’ve come too,” Yu Zhibai announced as he stepped into the hall, flanked by three elders of his own.

Xu Yilin and Tian Xing exchanged glances, stunned. They hadn’t expected so many powerful experts to arrive in just a matter of days.

Moments later, Shen Rong arrived, bringing three more experts. One of them immediately drew attention; his aura was suffocating, and the bloodline of the Kunpeng roiled within him.

The sudden influx of elite reinforcements ignited a surge of morale throughout the entire Heavenly Dao Society. The hall, once filled with anxiety, now brimmed with anticipation. Battle fervor lit their eyes.

Only moments earlier, despair had hung heavy over the room. Everyone had been wondering how they could resist the oncoming assault from the three clans. They couldn’t even contend with one clan, much less all three.

The Yuan, Wang, and Liao Clans each possessed formidable numbers, boasting thirty to forty elders at the Earth Profound Realm. Their rivals had hopelessly outmatched the Heavenly Dao Society.

A few days earlier, Liu Wuxie's three senior brothers had left, each returning to their respective clans to rally their forces in support of the Heavenly Dao Society. For this, Liu Wuxie would remember their loyalty for the rest of his life.

Outside the Society’s base, more cultivators began to arrive, their numbers growing by the hour. They stood shoulder to shoulder in layered ranks, creating suffocating pressure. The tension of impending war hung heavily in the air.

......

Meanwhile, after the Spirit Jade Pavilion finalized its partnership agreements, the remaining forces began to disperse.

However, the three great clans did not leave with the others. Instead, they regrouped at a designated stronghold, their eyes fixed on a single goal: the destruction of the Heavenly Dao Society.

“Patriarch Wang, Patriarch Liao,” Yuan Huaiguang addressed them, his voice cold and eyes burning with hatred. “Today, we face a common enemy. Once we destroy the Heavenly Dao Society, we’ll divide the spoils as agreed.”

Yuan Huaiguang’s resentment ran deep. Being forced to kneel in public was a shame that he and the Yuan Clan could never forget.

“I only want their spiritual talisman techniques,” said Wang Yuanhou. That alone was enough to make this campaign worthwhile for him.

“I want their spiritual array techniques,” Patriarch Liao added. Spiritual formations were the foundation of his clan’s power, and he saw this war as an opportunity to claim more.

“Very well,” Yuan Huaiguang nodded. “I’ll take their blacksmithing techniques. As for alchemy, we’ll split those evenly among the three clans.”

With that, the three patriarchs sealed their alliance.

“Patriarch!”

At that moment, waves of elite cultivators arrived from afar. The three clans had summoned reinforcements from every corner.

“Everyone’s here. Move out!” someone roared.

Over a thousand experts surged forward like a tide, charging directly toward the Heavenly Dao Society’s territory. The sound of their advance shook the ground beneath them. It was a terrifying sight, like the descent of a storm meant to obliterate everything in its path.

......

Back at the Spirit Jade Pavilion, Shi Yuan knelt respectfully outside the central tower.

“He rejected us?” The Pavilion Master’s voice drifted from within, laced with faint amusement. “Interesting.”

Observers had already taken note of the events at the plaza. However, he hadn’t expected Liu Wuxie to walk away from the partnership so decisively.

“Pavilion Master, that boy disrespected us,” Shi Yuan growled, resentment twisting his features. “I recommend wiping him out immediately!”

He still hadn’t recovered from the humiliation of slapping himself in front of the entire crowd.

“They won’t live past tomorrow,” the Pavilion Master said calmly.

Having reached the Heaven Profound Realm, he could perceive everything happening in Astral Glory City. Nothing escaped his notice.

“I fear the three clans may not be enough to take them down,” Shi Yuan admitted with a grim expression. After everything he had seen today, his view of the Heavenly Dao Society had shifted. They weren’t merely surviving by clinging to the Liu Clan’s protection, but they possessed power of their own.

“Go observe,” the Pavilion Master said with a dismissive wave. His tone remained neutral, but a flicker of uncertainty lingered behind his words.

To the Spirit Jade Pavilion, it didn’t matter who emerged victorious. He wanted to see who would have the last laugh.