Chapter Sixty-Two: The Formation of the Savior Group

“That man asked me for directions, and in the end, he went to the Lost Mountain. It seemed he had discovered something there…” Hua Queyue struggled to recall the details, then, a hint of uncertainty in her voice, she continued, “The aura on that man was something I’ve never encountered before. He gave me the feeling that I had to look up to him, a sense of overwhelming might that made any thought of resistance vanish from my heart.”

Listening to Hua Queyue’s account, Ling Youzi and the others fell into a heavy silence. The four gathered in this secret chamber were the very pinnacle of power within the entire Path of Rebirth. The combined strength of the four could rival that of a nation. Yet Hua Queyue’s assessment of this mysterious man was so exceedingly high, it was almost unbelievable—except that no one could doubt Hua Queyue, herself a supreme cultivator. Thus, it could only mean that this mysterious man was of immeasurable strength.

“If what you say is true, that man’s power is beyond comprehension. When did such an entity appear in this world?” After a long silence, Tian Xing finally spoke.

“Unless… he is not human,” Ling Youzi sipped his tea, his tone calm. “Now, with the demon clans invading, the Child of Destiny descended, the Sacred Beasts awakening, and this formidable stranger, the world is on the brink of chaos…”

“There are legends from the era of Sacred Beasts, countless years ago, of an invincible visitor from beyond the heavens who once defeated the Four Sacred Beasts. Could this man be that visitor—or perhaps another like him?” Jin Buhuan mused.

The secret chamber lapsed into silence once more. After a long while, Ling Youzi spoke softly, “Legends may not always be true, but as the saying goes, there is no smoke without fire. With so many events unfolding at once, it cannot be mere coincidence.”

“For now, let us set this matter aside. Uncle Tian Xing, how is your investigation progressing?” Ling Youzi turned to Tian Xing.

Tian Xing’s large frame was sprawled across a specially crafted redwood chair. He labored to sit upright, the chair groaning beneath his weight. “I began my investigation immediately after the Sword Sect incident. I have managed to gather some intelligence.” He took a sip of now-cold tea before continuing, “Behind the Sword Sect affair, there is a mysterious organization pulling the strings. Internally, they call themselves the Paradise Division.”

“The founder is unknown, the number of members unknown, their roster unknown, their objectives also unknown. However, their numbers should be few—less than ten—and each one possesses unfathomable strength. That black-robed demon was one of them, and now Liu Wujian has also joined their ranks.”

“The Sword Sect massacre was likely Liu Wujian’s offering to gain entry into this organization. The reason I knew Liu Wujian and the black-robed demon would come to the Spirit Realm was through piecing together various clues. In truth, I only knew this organization sought the Sacred Beast, not that Liu Wujian would be among those dispatched.”

“Additionally, during the Sword Sect incident, it is certain that the demon clan, the Xuanming Kingdom, and the Beast Sect were all involved.” In just a few words, Tian Xing laid out the entirety of the classified intelligence he had risked his life to gather.

Having finished, Tian Xing leaned back, burying his bulk in the chair, which creaked once more under his weight.

This time, the room was engulfed in the longest silence yet. According to Tian Xing, the mysterious organization had about ten members. The black-robed demon and Liu Wujian alone were a match for Tian Xing, Hua Queyue, and Jin Buhuan. If every member was so powerful, then this was a terrifying cabal of peerless masters.

“I truly cannot fathom when so many supreme cultivators appeared in this world,” Jin Buhuan’s voice, usually as resonant as metal and stone, now sounded uncharacteristically subdued.

“Perhaps there are many hidden experts, but to gather together like this—such a force is far too terrifying. And who could possibly have such influence to unite so many under their banner?” Ling Youzi muttered to himself.

At his level, Ling Youzi understood well the law of survival among the powerful. If these were renowned figures, he would know them—their joining such an organization could not go unnoticed. If they were hidden experts, that was even less likely, for those who lived in seclusion tended to be unruly and single-minded in their pursuit of strength, not wasting time on organizations or meaningless endeavors.

Moreover, with every true expert came an indomitable heart—who would bow to whom? Gather them together and a conflict would erupt within the time it took an incense stick to burn.

If this organization had the power to annihilate the Sword Sect, it must also have the capacity to threaten the Spirit Realm itself. As the lord of the Spirit Realm, Ling Youzi could not ignore such a threat.

Judging by current events, the organization’s power was indeed off the charts. Though not enough to withstand a million-strong army in open battle, they could easily assassinate anyone; no one in the world could escape their reach.

“What’s most frightening is not the organization’s might itself, but that it has already managed to influence the Xuanming Kingdom and the Beast Sect, and even has ties to the demon clan. If so, could it be that this war is their true aim? But what is it they truly seek?” Hua Queyue finally broke the silence. His weak voice sent a chill through the room, for the implications were too dire.

“The Beast Sect lies in the southern wilds, the Xuanming Kingdom borders the Lost Mountain. Now, the Beast Sect’s rebellious intentions are clear, and the Xuanming Kingdom, at the very frontline, maintains a strategy of constant retreat, forcing all other factions into the conflict. I have here a newly acquired report: since the outbreak of war, the Xuanming Kingdom—though the main battlefield—is suffering the lowest casualties. It seems all of this is part of a long-planned conspiracy,” Tian Xing added.

The first rays of dawn crept into the chamber. Their discussion had lasted through the entire night, and yet none of these matters had reached a conclusion—testament to their complexity, leaving even the Spirit Realm, the strongest of all factions, at a loss.

“At present, our enemies remain in the shadows. If we reveal what we know, we risk forcing the Beast Sect and Xuanming Kingdom into open rebellion, possibly breaking the stalemate with disastrous consequences. For now, we must focus on collecting more intelligence on this organization, especially the reasons behind its connection to the Xuanming Kingdom and the Beast Sect. What mutual interests bind them? If possible, we should work to drive a wedge between them,” Ling Youzi said quietly.

“Tian Xing, you will continue to oversee this matter. As for the worldwide bounty on Liu Yueming—since it’s already issued, let it stand. But secretly notify our disciples: no one is to harm Liu Yueming, as his targets have all been from the Beast Sect.”

“We must also assemble a covert reserve force to handle emergencies and confront the organization. What are your thoughts?” Finishing his words, Ling Youzi picked up the teapot and poured himself a cup of tea.

“At present, the other elders and most of our best disciples are at the front lines. Elder Tian Xing must continue his investigation, Queyue is injured, and I must manage daily affairs. Who could we possibly spare for this task? Furthermore, the appearance of the Sacred Qilin has cost us dearly. If forming this force would weaken our defenses, I cannot agree. Have you all forgotten the lesson of the Sword Sect?” Jin Buhuan protested loudly.

Suddenly, inspiration flickered in Hua Queyue’s mind—he understood Ling Youzi’s true intention. He spoke up, “We still have a special force at our disposal—those Travelers.”

“Among them, a Child of Destiny has appeared, and by their very nature, the Child of Destiny is meant to save the world. They must do their part. Besides, logistics reports that since their arrival, our daily food expenditures have doubled. There’s no such thing as a free meal in this world.” The memory of being forcibly dragged by Zhou Yu to eat, then being surrounded and stared at by onlookers, filled Hua Queyue with bitter indignation.

“There are only a few dozen of them—how could they possibly eat so much?” Jin Buhuan, ever literal-minded, voiced his skepticism.

Hua Queyue looked troubled, then gritted his teeth and said, “Have you never heard the legend of the Spirit Realm’s Number One Rice Bucket?”

“All right, all right, Queyue is right. We must utilize every resource available, and this group of Travelers has decent overall strength. Several of them have already reached the level of Demon General—they are worth our consideration,” Ling Youzi interjected as the conversation began to stray.

Thus, the team later known as the Salvation Squad was formed under these circumstances. After much further deliberation, the lack of actionable intelligence meant no decisive measures could be taken. In the end, they could only remain vigilant against the Paradise Division and its allies, the Beast Sect and the Xuanming Kingdom.

When the meeting finally concluded, Ling Youzi asked Hua Queyue to stay behind.

“Master, what are your orders?” Hua Queyue inquired respectfully.

“How are your injuries?” Ling Youzi poured him a cup of tea.

Staring at the nearly full cup, Hua Queyue replied, “Give me another half year.”

“Wujian meant well, you mustn’t blame him.” Ling Youzi’s eyes softened at the mention of Liu Wujian—his most cherished disciple, without exception.

“I understand, Master. Others may not know that the meridians in my arms have been destroyed, but you and Liu Wujian do. He could have killed me, yet chose instead to cripple my arms again. It means he wishes for me to grow stronger.” Hua Queyue carefully lifted the cup, but his hands still trembled uncontrollably, spilling much of the tea.

“At the same time, I believe since he destroyed my arms, he had calculated how long it would take me to restore my meridians. With my previous experience, this time it will take a year.” Hua Queyue drained the remaining tea in a single motion.

Ling Youzi fell silent, his brows furrowed deep in thought. After a while, understanding dawned, and the wrinkles on his snow-white brow gently smoothed.