Chapter 447: The Great Elder of the Sword Pavilion Has Changed

Almost all Great Fey with Rank Eight bloodlines in Northern Qi could sense a faint yet overwhelming pressure.

The stronger the Fey Race, the deeper its impact.

Their bloodlines trembled and their hearts pounded, instinctively filling them with a mix of fear and respect.

Only a Rank Ten Fey God could inspire such reverence.

As there was only one known Fey God in the Abyss, the Great Feys instantly knew it was the ancient Thunder Dragon of the Dragon Lair Sect.

"It's the oldest and most powerful dragon of the Dragon Lair Sect."

"He's entered Northern Qi."

"It seems he's come to formally negotiate with us, just like Li Bai of the Demon Scale Race did!"

The Great Feys all looked to the sky.

Crackle!

A lightning storm swept through the sky of Northern Qi with devastating force and headed straight into the depths of the bizarre mist.

A Rank Eight Scarlet-Eyed Demon Wolf stood near a Celestial Phoenix bone embedded in the earth, watching as the lightning storm vanished into the distance.

"That ancient Thunder Dragon could easily tear Northern Qi apart," he muttered, the eyes of his human form filling with awe.

The other Rank Eight Great Feys were silent under the suffocating pressure of the ancient Thunder Dragon's aura.

These Great Feys had lived on fragmented lands within the bizarre mist and had never truly stepped into the Abyss. Only now did they comprehend the true terror and might of the legendary Thunder Dragon.

The Great Feys did not doubt that the ancient Thunder Dragon could easily destroy their homeland and could not help but question whether their most revered ancient Fey Race powerhouse could stand against him.

"No wonder this ancient Thunder Dragon reigns supreme among the Fey Race in the Abyss. It has the strength to back its arrogance."

"Indeed, I now understand why it can even disregard the True Gods of the human race."

"If the Celestial Phoenix were still alive and the old black turtle still among us, we wouldn't be in such a difficult position."

"If that were the case, we wouldn't have been forced to hide in the bizarre mist in the first place."

The Great Feys conversed at length about their situation.

Whoosh!

A streak of dark light shot out from Blackwater Pond and flew toward the Abyss outside.

The Scarlet-Eyed Demon Wolf frowned as he watched the dark light speed into the distance.

"So, your bloodline has broken through to Rank Eight and your intelligence has awakened," he remarked. "Are you still going to serve under that Celestial Race woman master of yours?

"Within you flows the noble blood of the Black Dragon. That Black Dragon was once a famed Fey God that rose to prominence in the Fifth World. How could you, as its descendant, stoop to such humility?"

The Scarlet-Eyed Demon Wolf's voice was cold and sharp.

"Aren't you going to intervene?" asked a Great Fey.

"Intervene? What right do I have to intervene?" the Scarlet-Eyed Demon Wolf replied solemnly. "His bloodline rank now matches mine and all his innate abilities have awakened.

"Not to mention, he's a direct descendant of the ancient Black Dragon.

"We're all part of the Fey Race. I have no authority to restrain him. I have to respect his choices."

"What do you think he's planning to do?" the Great Fey asked again, puzzled.

"We've already reached an understanding with the foreign races of the Fifth World. It doesn't matter what he plans to do. As long as he doesn't head into the human race's territories, there won't be any issues," the Scarlet-Eyed Demon Wolf said calmly.

The arrival of the ancient Thunder Dragon was seen as a positive sign.

After all, it showed that the Dragon Lair Sect, the representatives of the Fey Race outside of Northern Qi, had taken great interest in them after Yuan Qi went to the Sacred Soul Continent.

The Fey Race in Northern Qi had already reached an understanding with the foreign races of the Fifth World.

It would likely be easier for fellow Fey Race to communicate and cooperate.

After all, their fundamental interests aligned. They all wished to secure greater benefits for the Fey Race, foster more Fey Gods, and obtain more continents after the war.

Ideally, they wanted to claim all the continents and replace the human race as rulers of the Abyss.

***

Great Elder Jiang Ran summoned Wang Ce, Guang He, Xu Yu, and Liu Junhong to the Sword Honing Peak in the Sword Pavilion.

"I've arranged for Lu Xiaolin, Cai Xin, and Shi Bingyun to descend to the lower worlds and assist Zhou Wenhao and Chen Weihuang," Jiang Ran said calmly. Then, with an indifferent expression, asked, "How confident are you all that Junior Brother Li will successfully ascend to the True God Realm?"

The four elders he had summoned were those firmly on Li Zhaotian's side and harbored a deep distrust toward Jiang Ran.

"Senior Brother Jiang, I've heard a rumor...that someone is going to try to stop Pavilion Master from ascending to the True God Realm," Xu Yu murmured in a voice barely louder than a whisper.

After she finished speaking, she cast a furtive glance at Jiang Ran.

Wang Ce's expression subtly shifted, and he secretly broke into a cold sweat, fearing Jiang Ran would lose his temper.

"Idle rumors have no place here!" Liu Junhong snapped at Xu Yu, attempting to mask his unease as he discreetly observed Jiang Ran's reaction.

"I've heard that rumor as well." Jiang Ran's tone was neutral. Resting his open hands on his knees, he added, "Many don't want him to succeed, but that's because he hasn't always adhered to the rules of the True Gods and acts without considering the bigger picture.

"The situation is different now.

"I assure you, no True God will dare interfere with his breakthrough at this critical juncture. The entirety of the human race, including the True Gods, needs him.

"The Abyss needs the sharpened blade of his Tempest Fiend Sword in these perilous times."

The situation in the Third World was dire and many Nirvana Realm cultivators had already fallen in battle.

The foreign races of the Fifth World had received a substantial boost thanks to the cooperation of the Vicious Beasts.

In contrast, the human race had lost the Dragon Lair Sect's allegiance, and by extension, the Fey Race of the Sacred Soul Continent.

The scales of victory no longer weighed perpetually toward the human race and they now faced challenges unlike any before.

"Every attempt to break through to the True God Realm has failed in recent years. We cannot be certain the Pavilion Master will succeed." Liu Junhong sighed. "Just because he's needed doesn't guarantee his success."

"Where is that new disciple of his? Why didn't he return with Hu Yuanfei? Where is Pang Jian?" Jiang Ran suddenly asked.

The four elders were taken aback, unsure why Jiang Ran had him up.

"If Junior Brother Li fails and dies, then..." Jiang Ran knitted his brows and carefully chose his words. "I will not object if you decide to support Pang Jian."

The four elders stared at Jiang Ran in shock.

"Zhou Wenhao doesn't have what it takes to lead the Sword Pavilion. Neither does Hu Yuanfei.

"Chen Weihuang is too meticulous. Also, the Immortal Realm will likely be his peak, and it'll be difficult for him to advance further.

"As for Pang Jian, his strength lies in his rapid breakthroughs.

"I recently conducted a thorough investigation into Pang Jian. It's only been a little over a decade since he left the Fourth World, but he's already reached the Soul Wandering Realm.

"Junior Brother Li chose this boy well. He's a rare gem destined to emerge during a great calamity. If he survives these dangerous times, he'll likely become the pillar of the Sword Pavilion.

"I don't like Junior Brother Li, but I trust his judgment.

"Time is running out. We don't have the luxury of waiting for new talents to emerge. Zhou Wenhao and the others lack sufficient potential and can't advance as quickly as Pang Jian can.

"I'm old and I know my limits. There's no way I can break through to the True God Realm."

Great Elder Jiang Ran had been stirring up trouble at every turn since returning to the Sword Pavilion. However, the increasingly grim news and the constant deaths of the Sword Pavilion disciples and protectors in the lower worlds forced him to confront the harsh reality of the situation.

Pang Jian's meteoric rise to the Soul Wandering Realm, his role in helping key figures like Fan Chen and Liu Youyu escape the Third World alive, and his placement near the top of the Soul Wandering Realm leaderboard had not gone unnoticed.

Jiang Rang's investigation revealed Pang Jian's incredible progression—a rarity not seen in a thousand years.

Similar prodigies had also appeared during past calamities.

Provided they did not die prematurely, these prodigies almost invariably succeeded in ascending to the True God Realm.

***

Two figures pierced through the thick white clouds and descended toward a concealed fragmented land under the cover of the ink-black night.

The fragmented land consisted of the Forbidden Land of the Thunder God, the Frozen Land, and a third unknown fragmented land.

Zhou Qingchen did not recognize the third fragmented land, but Dong Tianze did.

After all, a powerful force had once pulled Dong Tianze into it while he had been fleeing for his life. It was on that fragmented land that he had miraculously turned the tables and killed a Divine Guard.

A Ghost Altar had been set up in a dense forest on the third fragmented land.

Standing nearby was a familiar figure.

Dong Tianze immediately understood.

The fragmented land he had tirelessly searched for beneath the sea of massive boulders was likely Pang Jian's secret—a secret he was now sharing with Dong Tianze and Zhou Qingchen.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The two landed beside the Ghost Altar.

At that moment, that sensed dense spiritual qi pouring into Pang Jian in an endless stream.

"Nirvana Realm?" Dong Tianze was astonished.

Zhou Qingchen was equally stunned. "We haven't been apart for long. How did you already break through? Pang Jian, aren't you advancing too quickly? Isn't this too reckless?"

"I'm fine, don't worry." Pang Jian's lips curved into a faint smile. "The spiritual qi here is extraordinary, and it's nearly impossible for outsiders to detect this place. Stay here and cultivate for now.

"I'll keep us updated on the situation below with my sword token."

He then retrieved the sword token from his spatial bracelet and transmitted a message to Li Zhaotian reporting his safety.

It did not matter when Li Zhaotian saw that message. The fact that Pang Jian had sent it meant he no longer intended to keep the Resolute Expanse a secret from his master.

Pang Jian's respect and gratitude for his master had only grown stronger with each passing day.

His master had repeatedly protected him, venturing to the Fey Spirit Continent in the Fourth World for his sake and even attempting to ascend to the True God Realm early on his behalf.

Li Zhaotian had treated him sincerely from the moment they came into contact, with his unexpectedly kind master expecting nothing in return.

Pang Jian waited patiently for a response, but the sword-shaped symbol symbolizing Li Zhaotian remained silent.

He's in seclusion and is attempting to ascend to the True God Realm. It's only natural that he won't see my message,

Pang Jian comforted himself.

Even so, he could not help the unease that swept over him.

What if he fails? So many have tried only to fail. Could he fail too?

I've never even seen him in person. Not even once.

A strange, stifling frustration swelled in his chest, causing his grip on the sword token to tighten as his expression darkened.

At that moment, the Giant Abyssal Serpent established contact with Pang Jian for the first time in a long while.

I've left Northern Qi. The ancient Thunder Dragon from the Dragon Lair Sect has gone there.

I think that ancient Thunder Dragon has killed me before.