I Collect Skill Fragments in the Demon World-Chapter 750 - 388: Alarming Winds and Cranes (Part 2)

Xuanji Ancestor recounted the events, and also mentioned the method of verification, only excluding Zhang Chen and attributing everything to his own calculations of the celestial secrets.

As soon as Xuanji Ancestor spoke, everyone present, without exception, showed expressions of shock and change.

Ancestor Fu Lu frowned, his eyes full of doubt: "Impossible! Changsheng is not someone blinded by profit and madness. No matter how much he plans on his own, he's definitely not our match. Even with a Peacock True Spirit added, he can't stir up much trouble. Why would he lose his head and do such a thing?"

"Indeed, might your calculations have been wrong?" Monk Hai Chan also looked puzzled.

Upon hearing this, Xuanji Ancestor said, "It is quite simple to discern the truth. We just need to see if that Peacock True Spirit is still there to know the truth of the matter."

With these words, all the ancestors exchanged glances and nodded in agreement. In matters affecting their safety, it is better to kill by mistake than to miss out. They all headed together to the courtyard of the Ancestral Master of Longevity.

The Ancestral Master was in the backyard, having just finished grinding his sword, when he saw his fellow Daoists approaching together. A dreadful premonition surged in his heart: "Why have you all gathered so neatly, fellow Daoists? Could it be that you've deciphered the keys of that grand formation?"

Monk Hai Chan replied with a sly smile, "We have had some discussion. Since we cannot solve it ourselves, we should seek someone who can. Don't you keep an Old Peacock here? Perhaps we should inquire if this Old Peacock has a solution."

Hearing Monk Hai Chan's words, the Longevity Ancestor's pupils contracted, and he thought to himself, "So it begins? Are they finally revealing their true intentions? They're indeed coveting my Grass Returning Pill and Heaven and Earth Treasure Mirror!"

But with the many adversaries before him, he was certainly no match alone. Even with a raging fury in his heart, he showed no signs of it, merely forcing a smile: "Honest words to fellow Daoists. Even if you hadn't sought me out, I was about to ask you for counsel. That Innate Peacock True Spirit escaped confinement from here at some unknown time and vanished. That beast's vicious power is overwhelming; once regaining strength outside, all of us could potentially face its reckoning. I was about to seek out fellow Daoists to discuss capturing back the Innate Peacock."

The words of the Ancestral Master made everyone's hearts skip a beat. As their eyes moved from one to another, a sense of impending doom emerged: 'Could it be that Xuanji Ancestor's calculations were true? Longevity Ancestor is truly insane, attempting to defy the natural order!'

"And how exactly did the Innate Peacock escape?" Monk Hai Chan asked, with tones filled with shock—truly the act of a seasoned performer.

Upon hearing this, the Longevity Ancestor nearly shouted out: 'You bastards, how the Innate Peacock escaped, don't you already know? After all you plotted in secret, now you dare to ask me?'

Though furious to the extreme, his heart turned cold. He dared not tear off the facade, lest those present immediately attack, reducing the Five Villages Temple to ruins and his millennia of efforts into nothing.

"Stay calm! Stay calm! I must keep these old guys placated, then find a way to divide and dissolve their alliance, and see if I can secretly win over a few to regain control." The Longevity Ancestor continuously warned himself and then spoke bitterly:

"I really have no idea how that Old Peacock escaped. If I knew, I would have caught it by now and wouldn't have let it have a chance to run away."

"Do you know where the Old Peacock's True Spirit is?" Ancestor Fu Lu asked in a gloomy voice.

The Longevity Ancestor scanned his Daoist friends with an increasing sense of bitterness, uttering: "No idea!"

With this, the atmosphere in the courtyard grew ever stranger. The Longevity Ancestor felt something was amiss, yet he could not pinpoint what.

The group deliberated for a while with no resolution, and then gathered at Xuanji Ancestor's residence, exchanging looks while their expressions turned grim and somber.

"It seems Changsheng is truly acting recklessly due to the calamity, actually being bribed by the Innate Peacock and setting it free. We, who were taught by the Innate Peacock in the past but betrayed him due to the guidance of the Immortal Master, may be in deep trouble now that the Peacock True Spirit is free. We might face its vengeance," East Profound Ancestor said with helplessness and a tinge of fear and dread.

"What shall we do now?" Moonlight Fairy asked, "If the Peacock True Spirit regains its power, we might all perish." 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

"Delay for time!" Xuanji Ancestor stated.

All eyes fixed on Xuanji Ancestor, who continued: "At this point, even if we kill Changsheng, it won't solve anything, as the Peacock True Spirit has already escaped. Without the Primordial Spirit of the Immortal Master restraining it, we stand no chance of sealing it. It's better that we revive the Immortal Master's True Spirit and request its aid to suppress the Peacock True Spirit, thus resolving this disaster."

With these words, silence fell upon the scene. None spoke until Ancestor Fu Lu finally said, "Back then, we sealed the Peacock True Spirit and took advantage of the Immortal Master's devastation to divide and suppress its spirit. This animosity isn't any less than with the Peacock. If the Immortal Master revives, we might suffer too."

"Wrong, the power of that Peacock was something we all experienced, even the Immortal Master was no match for the Innate Peacock. If the Immortal Master's True Spirit revives and wants to fight the Innate Peacock, they'll need our help. If they purge us, leaving only themselves to face the Innate Peacock, they'll be done for! The Immortal Master isn't a fool; they'll know what choice to make." Xuanji Ancestor argued.

With that, everyone exchanged glances with heavy silence, unsure about reviving the Immortal Master's True Spirit, fearing a backlash post-revival where each present could face doom.

Key is, should the Peacock True Spirit and the Immortal True Spirit battle, one would certainly prevail. Whoever survives might retaliate, leaving everyone helpless.

Better not to release one trouble only to solve another, placing all in new danger, for that would be futile.

In the courtyard of the Ancestral Master of Longevity, as everyone departed, he took a deep breath and turned back inside, his hand caressing his treasured sword: "Immortal Slaying Sword, oh Immortal Slaying Sword, tell me what to do? They've formed an alliance and even set free the Innate Peacock True Spirit. What should I do?"

For him, the best option was indeed to abandon his foundations, find a place to hide, and quietly enact revenge. But he was bound to the Earth Immortal Dao, tied by the Dragon Vein of Qingcheng Mountain, rendering escape impossible!

"There's no way to win, but how do I solve it?" The Longevity Ancestor's mind raced: "Must I collude with the Demon Race and seek help from those old demon beings?"

The Human Race offered no allies; even the strongest now stood opposed, leaving him only allies within the Demon Race.

"Yet if allied with the Demon Race, the Immortal Slaying Sword would be lost, a sacred relic of theirs, and it must be returned." The Ancestral Master caressed the Immortal Slaying Sword with great reluctance, for it was a supreme treasure of destruction, and he was loath to part with it.

"Enough, given the circumstances, there's no choice. Summon Bai Lu; there's a task I must assign him!" he instructed outwardly.

Bai Lu was the foremost among his four chief disciples!