Mo Yuan’s deep level, the second area.

At the bottom of the second area, a vast Magnetic Barrier blocked the path downwards, transforming into an unbreakable Celestial Gate.

But today:

"Crack!"

A pale blue light seemed to be oppressed by immense force, taking on an almost solid form, and then a small crack appeared.

A wisp of Qingfeng, a mass of black mist, shot out from that crack at lightning speed.

A tenth of a second later, the tiny crack on the Magnetic Barrier closed again, and the Qingfeng and black mist reformed, revealing the figures of Zhang Yao and the Nether Abyss Ancestor.

"Hahaha..."

The Nether Abyss Ancestor’s gaze swept around, and he laughed long and heartily, the laughter filled with indescribable pleasure and joy:

"Finally out!!"

"Finally... we’re out!"

The suffocating, anxious, and melancholic feelings of over ten years seemed to vanish at that moment, casting off the heavy shackles.

Even though everywhere his eyes could reach was still pitch black underground, in a cramped and narrow cave, he still felt the world was more than ten thousand times vast.

"Yes, finally out."

Zhang Yao also wore a faint smile on his face, but he quickly restrained it:

"Escaping this cage is indeed worth celebrating, but... we might be rejoicing too early."

As he said this, his gaze became deep, scanning the surroundings:

"Above this Magnetic Barrier, someone has beforehand set an invisible and intangible array, specifically used to monitor changes to the Magnetic Barrier."

"The method used to set up this array is highly clever. When touched and broken, it immediately vanishes without a trace, leaving almost no evidence. Even I almost failed to notice..."

"At this moment, the person behind this array has probably already received the alarm of the array’s breaking!"

"What?"

The Nether Abyss Ancestor’s expression changed instantly upon hearing this.

His strong Divine Thought at the Golden Core Perfection Level surged out, scanning inch by inch around them. Only after a few moments did he discover some rapidly fading traces, his expression changing dramatically:

"...Damn it!! Who exactly employed this method?"

He was well aware of Zhang Yao’s high level of skill in arrays.

If even he said the methods of the array setter were extremely clever, then this monitoring array was clearly not set by his student Black Abyss Ascendant or Jiuhua Ancestor and the others.

Firstly, they didn’t have that level of skill, nor would they go to such lengths to invite someone from the Central Plains Countries for this matter;

Secondly, this array is set so secretly, and would self-destruct when triggered, revealing a strong sense of precaution, as if trying to avoid being detected by anyone breaking through the Magnetic Barrier.

A group of mysterious outsiders actually dared to openly set up an array in Mo Yuan’s deep level.

Just based on this, one can conjecture that the Da Mo Cultivation Realm has already undergone earth-shattering changes!

"So what are we waiting for?!"

The Nether Abyss Ancestor’s heart was ablaze with anger, gritting his teeth as he spoke:

"Perhaps some foreign cultivators have treated Mo Yuan as their forbidden property, turning it into their private land, that’s why they’ve set up such means!"

"We just broke through the Magnetic Barrier, even if they are aware, they won’t have time to mobilize more forces, we shouldn’t delay, attack immediately, catching them off guard!"

"No rush!"

Zhang Yao, however, stopped him, saying solemnly:

"Let’s take a good rest here, and go up after a few hours."

"Hmm?"

A suspicion arose in the Nether Abyss Ancestor’s heart, forcing himself to suppress the anger within and regaining some calm, he asked:

"What do you mean by this, my friend?"

He knew Zhang Yao was neither shallow nor foolish, if he insisted on waiting several hours, he must have another plan, hence the question.

Sure enough, Zhang Yao quickly gave an explanation:

"There are two reasons for this."

Zhang Yao pondered for a while, then spoke:

"From my inference, those occupying Mo Yuan now are probably not a single force, but a multi-party alliance."

"Because the major forces with Lord Nascent Soul stationed there likely wouldn’t look favorably upon Mo Yuan; and ordinary Golden Core Sects or Noble Families far lack the strength to dominate Mo Yuan alone."

Hearing this, the Nether Abyss Ancestor couldn’t help but nod slightly.

Mo Yuan seemed rich in Spiritual Treasures and even Grade Four Spiritual Objects, but that was the accumulation of hundreds to thousands of years, erupting at once.

If one were to manage Mo Yuan in a steady and long-term way, although the benefits generated would also be considerable, it wouldn’t be worth it for the large forces at the Nascent Soul Level to abandon their original territory and relocate to the remote Southwest Border.

"So... are you going to intentionally leave them time, letting them gather their Golden Core forces for an all-out battle?!"

The Nether Abyss Ancestor guessed his idea, his expression somewhat softening:

"That might indeed be a good strategy."

"However, with these few hours of buffer, their various preparations will certainly be more comprehensive, which also means greater risk."

"It’s even possible that, with the advantage of time and place, they could trap us to death within Mo Yuan!"

The Golden Core Alliance that could dominate Mo Yuan and fend off all threats surely wouldn’t have any fools among them.

There’s no need to think; if they try to break out after a few hours, they’ll certainly be met with a trap, surrounded on all sides!

From the beginning, losing the initiative makes the hope of victory even more elusive.

"So, this is the second reason."

Zhang Yao pointed at himself, looking composed as he said:

"To blast open the Magnetic Barrier, I used the Five Elements Divine Wheel, nearly draining seventy percent of my magical power."

"These few hours are also the time I’ll use to perform breathing spiritual qi, recover magical power, and nurture my body and mind."

"Now both sides need time, so let’s see within these few hours whether their gathered strength is greater, or if I recover more power!"

The Nether Abyss Ancestor heard this and immediately smiled:

"Then how could they find a way to survive?"

Zhang Yao’s peak strength, when using the Five Elements Divine Wheel, is terrifying; he had just witnessed it with his own eyes!

He did not believe that those Golden Core Sects and noble families, which needed alliances to hold Mo Yuan, could cultivate super talents at the Golden Core Limit, or even Golden Core Invincible!

"Hahaha..."

Zhang Yao laughed heartily, with a confident flair in his eyes:

"Then let’s hope they can give me enough of a surprise."

Then he found a place by the rock wall, sat down cross-legged, took out two top-grade spirit stones, and began to refine the spiritual qi to recover his magical power.

The Nether Abyss Ancestor quietly protected him, looking up towards the heights of Mo Yuan, a cold gleam in his eyes:

"Just you wait... no matter who you are, you will pay the price!!"

......

Above Mo Yuan.

The intertwined palaces, pavilions, and Immortal Cave Mansions formed a magnificent architectural complex within hundreds of miles.

From a distance, white mist rises, spiritual light surges, mountains and streams, flying waterfalls, and strange rocks create a wondrous immortal scene, no longer visible is the once bottomless pit-like entrance of Mo Yuan.

This is the headquarters of the now renowned Seven Sects Alliance.

Over the past dozen years, the Seven Sects Alliance has already established a firm foothold and become the de facto Southwest Overlord.

Among the Southwest Countries, the strongest are just four major nations, and after the Da Mo Native Sect was expelled and obliterated, the remaining Da Li and other three nations’ cultivation realms are powerless to shake the Seven Sects Alliance, so they naturally submit and obey.

As a result, they logically became the actual rulers of the cultivation realm of the Southwest Countries, establishing many rules and doctrines, and seizing massive benefits.

To this day:

The Seven Sects Alliance has long been a colossal entity, and its influence is by no means limited to the Southwest alone.

But no matter how far their influence expands, or how many new channels of benefit they create, this Mo Yuan situated in Da Mo remains their core and most critical interest.

The original rules still remain to this day, with each of the Seven Sects Alliance having a Golden Core Cultivator stationed at the headquarters of Mo Yuan throughout the year.

In the alliance headquarters:

Some of the seven Golden Core Cultivators are in seclusion meditating in their cave, some are comprehending profound skill and mysterious method, some are discussing profound matters with daoist friends, some are flirting with a concubine in broad daylight...

But no matter what they were doing, at a certain moment, the jade pendant they all uniformly wore around their waists suddenly shattered, and a sense of warning suddenly arose in their hearts.

"Hmm? The array we left at the bottom of the District Two was triggered? This..."

"How is that possible? Could someone really break the third layer Magnetic Barrier?"

"My heavens..."

Upon receiving the warning, the expressions of the seven Golden Core Cultivators varied, but all felt a sense of shock in their hearts.

Over a decade ago, the Sect Leader of Chentian Sect suggested at an alliance meeting to set up a concealed array at the bottom of the second district of the deep layer of Mo Yuan to monitor the state of the Magnetic Barrier, just in case.

What if those missing Nether Abyss and Qingxu truly could return after breaking the Magnetic Barrier?

If that day did come, this array would ensure they wouldn’t be caught off guard.

At the time, most of the Golden Core Cultivators were indifferent to this, but they didn’t refute the proposal either, as it was just a small task to set up while renovating Mo Yuan.

Over the past dozen years:

Now the seven Golden Core Cultivators stationed at Mo Yuan almost forgot this ’small matter.’

But never did they expect the day the Chentian Sect Leader predicted had truly arrived!

The ’in-case’ within the just-in-case had become a reality!

A reality so terrifying!!

"This is terrible!"

"That Qingxu and Nether Abyss can actually break the third layer Magnetic Barrier to return, then their strength..."

The Golden Core Cultivators immediately thought of something, and their expressions instantly changed.

No matter what method they used, just the ability to break the Magnetic Barrier was an extremely dangerous signal, proving they had at least near Nascent Soul Level burst methods!

And such an unprecedentedly terrifying enemy, once they leave Mo Yuan and discover the changes in the current Da Mo situation...

"Quickly send a message!"

The seven Golden Core Cultivators didn’t even bother with divine thought communication; they immediately employed methods like the Divine Travel Array and Communication Treasure to send for help from their sects and noble families!

Without a second thought, they understood—

A battle about to shake the very foundation of the entire Seven Sects Alliance was imminent!