Chapter 2841 Shaman World

“You..”

The thought of Yun Muzhe struck Yun Tianming like a blade to the heart, his expression twisting violently. After all, Yun Muzhe was his great-nephew, and he had been defeated by Lin Xun hand during the Origin Sect’s successor assessment!

Lin Xun smiled faintly. “I know you still hold a grudge over Yun Muzhe’s incident. But don’t worry, Peak Master Yun, I won’t take it personally during this mission. Wouldn’t want to bring shame to our sect in front of outsiders.”

Yun Tianming's face darkened instantly.

Watching from the side, Yuan Changtian let out a hearty laughter, “Brother Lin is right. Grievances within the sect are internal matters. This time, in the Immortal Dao Battle, we must stand united to bring glory to the sect.”

“Of course.” Lin Xun nodded.

Yun Tianming only gave a cold snort and said nothing else.

Lin Xun turned, clasping his hands respectfully. “Elder Li.”

Li Zhen gave a nod. His bronze skin gleamed like cast metal, his towering figure imposing like a mountain, and his stern face calm as rock. Just then, the air shimmered. Two figures emerged from the void. Fang Daoping and Yuan Xiliu had arrived.

Fang Daoping smiled. “Everyone’s here. Let’s depart.”

......

Swoosh!

Outside the Origin World, over the vast expanse of the Thousand Star Sea, a treasure ship carrying Lin Xun and the others pierced through the heavens, vanishing into the distance. Aboard the ship, Lin Xun, Yuan Changtian, and the others each received a jade slip from Fang Daoping.

The jade slip contained the list of experts from the other three great ancestral courts who would be participating in the upcoming Immortal Dao Battle.

Lin Xun scanned it briefly then his heart gave a sudden jolt. Among the names, one instantly caught his eye: Well Moon, his twentieth senior brother, was listed among the participants from the Spirit Sect Ancestral Court! It even noted that Well Moon had reached the pinnacle of the Nirvana Spirit Stage, and that his mastery of the bow was said to be divine.

Last time, at the Nine Peaks Dao Contest, I encountered Senior Sister Cheng Yu, and now, I’ll be seeing Senior Brother Well Moon. What an unexpected delight.

Lin Xun felt a surge of excitement. Well Moon was known as the number one archer of Fangchun Mountain. His arrows were said to pierce the heavens and startle the gods. His mastery was truly wondrous and unmatched. These were the feats Lin Xun had often heard his senior brothers and sisters speak of in awe.

“As expected, the Ji, Cang, and Wen Clans have each sent their divine sons and divine maidens.” Not far away, Yuan Changtian was also studying the jade slip.

“Oh? Elder Yuan seems to have discovered something?” Cao Beidou asked softly.

Although they were both elders of the Origin Emptiness Pavilion, Cao Beidou’s tone and bearing toward Yuan Changtian carried a faint hint of respect.

“It’s no secret.” Yuan Changtian said casually. “Look here. Cang Fufeng of the Shaman Sect Ancestral Court, a divine son of the Divine Cang Clan in the Ninth Heaven Domain. His temperament is fiery as flame and his nature is domineering to the extreme. He’s quite renowned throughout the Ninth Heaven Domain. It’s said his talent defies the heavens. He can command the Nine Flames Divine Wind, and cultivators of the same realm simply can’t withstand the annihilating might of such an innate talent power.”

He continued, “Then there’s Wen Qiaoshui of the Zen Sect Ancestral Court, descended from the Divine Wen Clan of the Ninth Heaven Domain. Three hundred years ago, he already reached the pinnacle of the Nirvana Spirit Realm. The reason he has suppressed his breakthrough for so long is likely because he seeks to forge an extraordinary path before stepping into the Transcendence Stage. With a temperament as deep as a mountain, heart as steady as stone, he is an opponent not to be underestimated.

“And then there’s Ji Shanhai of the Spirit Sect Ancestral Court. Her name may sound like a man’s, but she is in fact the youngest daughter of the Divine Ji Clan’s patriarch and the one most cherished by her clan. Outwardly serene and gentle, yet when she acts, she radiates a majesty that can shake the heavens and command the earth. Within the Ninth Heaven Domain, she is deeply revered among her peers.”

At this, a faint glimmer flickered in Yuan Changtian’s eyes. “There’s even a saying in the Ninth Heaven Domain: whoever wins Ji Shanhai’s heart shall gain the full backing of the entire Divine Ji Clan. Some even call her a celestial fairy ‘peerless among all, pure and untouched in this world.’”

Even Cao Beidou and Yun Tianming, old monsters who had lived for countless years, exchanged looks of wonder. None of them could imagine what kind of woman could possess such brilliance.

“Ah, I didn’t expect Ji Shanhai to come as well. Things just became far more troublesome.” Yuan Changtian exhaled.

Cang Fufeng and Wen Qiaoshui, like him, were both divine sons, so he felt no fear toward them. However, he felt an indescribable sense of fear toward Ji Shanhai.

After all, her fame in the Ninth Heaven Domain was so great that even some mighty figures at the Eternal Stage had heard of the Divine Ji Clan’s precious pearl: a woman peerless among all, pure and untouched in this world.

“Young...Elder Yuan, there’s no need to underestimate yourself. Once the clashes begin in the Ten Directions Demon Realm, the truth will reveal itself,” Yuan Xiliu said softly. He had almost addressed him as ‘Young Master’ just now.

“That’s right,” Cao Beidou chimed in with a laugh. “With Elder Yuan leading our Origin Sect, we have nothing to fear.”

Yun Tianming nodded repeatedly in agreement. All three were old monsters who had lived for countless years, but before Yuan Changtian who came from the Ninth Heaven Domain, they spoke with deference.

“Brother Lin, what are your thoughts?” Yuan Changtian turned his gaze over with a faint smile.

“I don’t know them well enough to have any.” Lin Xun replied casually.

Yuan Changtian chuckled, “If anyone else said that, I’d call it ignorance. But from you, Brother Lin, I take it as confidence.”

Cao Beidou and Yun Tianming exchanged startled looks, clearly not expecting Yuan Changtian to speak to Lin Xun with such respect.

Lin Xun smiled. “Elder Yuan, you flatter me. You’re the one most familiar with these divine sons and maidens. Whether our Origin Sect earns glory this time will depend on your abilities.”

Yuan Changtian shook his head with a wry smile. “We’re all in this together. If I had to face them alone, I’d hardly stand a chance.”

Lin Xun didn’t answer and only smiled.

“I think,” Cao Beidou interjected. “We should follow Elder Yuan’s command for this operation. After all, he knows the enemy’s strength better than anyone.”

“Agreed.” Yun Tianming said at once.

However, when Lin Xun and Li Zhen remained silent, Cao Beidou and Yun Tianming frowned, irritation flashing across their faces.

“What do you two think?” Cao Beidou asked.

Lin Xun replied, “If you and Peak Master Yun weren’t here, I might’ve considered acting under Elder Yuan. But as things stand...I’m afraid that won’t be possible.”

Cao Beidou and Yun Tianming’s faces instantly darkened. Lin Xun’s meaning couldn’t have been clearer: He had no intention of standing on the same side as them.

Cao Beidou snapped coldly, “Deacon Lin, even now you think only of your personal grudges and ignore the greater good. If our Origin Sect’s ranking suffers in this Immortal Dao Battle, you’ll be the one to blame!”

Lin Xun’s eyes narrowed slightly, but before he could speak, Fang Daoping, who had been meditating quietly not far away, opened his eyes and said. “Enough quarrelling. The sect’s ranking won’t be decided by words, but by how many Desolate Law Power Beasts each of you slay in the Ten Directions Demon Realm.”

𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

He paused, then looked squarely at Cao Beidou. “If none of you are willing to yield, then when the Immortal Dao Battle begins...let your results decide.”

Cao Beidou’s expression stiffened. “Deputy Pavilion Master Fang is right.”

Fang Daoping ignored him, sweeping his gaze slowly across the group. A faint smile touched his lips. “There’s one thing you should all know. Whoever brings glory to the sect in this Immortal Dao Battle will receive a reward upon your return.”

Yuan Changtian’s eyes brightened. He stepped forward respectfully and said, “Deputy Pavilion Master Fang, may I ask...what kind of reward?”

Fang Daoping's smile deepened. “You’ll find out soon enough. I’ll keep it a mystery for now, but rest assured, none of you will be disappointed.”

Yuan Changtian turned to look at Yuan Xiliu, who shook his head. “I’ve no idea either.”

“All the better. If we assist Elder Yuan in hunting Desolate Law Power Beasts, I’m sure we’ll share that reward.” As Cao Beidou spoke, his gaze flicked toward Lin Xun, gleaming with open provocation.

Lin Xun couldn’t possibly back down now. A faint smile tugged at his lips. “I’m eager to see just how many Desolate Law Power Beasts Elder Cao can help our sect slay, and whether he can truly elevate our ranking. If Elder Cao accomplishes that, the sect’s rewards will naturally be his to claim.”

Cao Beidou’s face darkened, and just as he was about to retort, Yuan Changtian stopped him.

“Everyone,” Yuan Changtian said with a strained smile. “We should be working together to bring glory to the sect in the Immortal Dao Battle. There’s no need for pointless quarrels.”

At the same time, Yuan Xiliu cast a cold glance at Cao Beidou and Yun Tianming. Both men felt their hearts tremble and dared not utter another word. Lin Xun, unwilling to waste another breath, fell silent. Fang Daoping merely watched, saying nothing.

Seven days later.

The Shaman World. The domain of the Shaman Sect Ancestral Court.

It was a world like that of the primeval age, steeped in an ancient and primordial aura. Across its boundless mountains and plains, herds of ferocious beasts thundered in unison, their roars rolling like thunder and shaking heaven and earth.

Shenhou Hall. The sacred heart of the Shaman World.

At this moment, countless figures of the Shaman Sect stood gathered before the hall. The Shaman Sect was divided into twelve branches and three divisions.

The twelve branches, Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Soil, Wind, Thunder, Heaven and Earth, mirrored the Nine Peaks of the Origin Sect in their structure and hierarchy. Each branch housed its own Shaman Masters, elders, lineages, and successors.

The three divisions were known as the Ritual Division, the Martial Division, and the Disciplinary Division. Within them were ranks such as Heaven Shaman, Earth Shaman and Great Shaman.

The Heaven Shamans held status equivalent to the pavilion masters of the three pavilions of the Origin Sect, while the Earth Shamans stood on par with the sect’s deputy pavilion masters.

At this moment, before the Shenhou Hall, the Earth Shamans of the Shaman Sect stood waiting in solemn silence, each radiating terrifying power equivalent to the pinnacle of the Transcendence Stage. Alongside them stood elders, Shaman Masters, Great Shamans and other figures from the three divisions.

“Report! The powerhouses of the Origin Sect Ancestral Court have arrived at the boundary gate!” A deep voice rolled in from the distance, and at once, commotion rippled through the square before the Shenhou Hall.

“I didn’t expect the Origin Sect to arrive first,” someone murmured, a cold gleam flashing in their eyes. “Good. I’ve long wanted to see this Fangchun Mountain successor, Lin Xun...the one who crushed Xing Jun at the Nine Peaks Dao Contest!

Lin Xun! A flicker of killing intent swept through the eyes of the Shaman Sect figures present. They were no strangers to this name.

The Shaman Sect and Fangchun Mountain were sworn enemies, bound by a hatred that could never be undone!