Chapter 933: If a Contest of Strength Fails, One Can Still Use Their Brain

"Fellow Immortal Lords..." Supreme Venerable Xuanfa asked with a tinge of trepidation, "What... what should we do now? With that Dharma treasure in the hands of those three female immortals... I fear they will be dreadfully difficult to deal with..."

The several Immortal Lords exchanged glances and smiled, one of them remarking, "If a couple of obscure, ordinary immortals could utterly crush our clans past the point of retaliation simply by acquiring a potent artifact or two, then wouldn't anyone in the world be able to dive into the Primordial Ruins and ride roughshod over our heads upon their return?"

"The Immortal Lord speaks the truth..." Supreme Venerable Xuanfa was instantly enlightened; if the eight great immortal clans, having endured for countless ages, could be rendered utterly helpless by a single treasure obtained from who-knows-where, wouldn't they have been annihilated countless times over by now?

"But..." Supreme Venerable Xuanfa inquired further, "Could it be that the three Immortal Lords have some immortal techniques to pass down?"

The three exchanged glances and immediately burst into laughter at Supreme Venerable Xuanfa.

Following this, the Immortal Lord Wuming spoke up:

"However... in this world, there are some matters that do not require strength to resolve."

He smiled faintly. "Nor is it strictly necessary to clash with them head-on."

"You mean...?" Supreme Venerable Xuanfa's eyes lit up instantly, a cold, sinister smile creeping onto the corners of his lips.

"Every person has their Achilles' heel and weakness; if you pinpoint his weakness and crush him, why would it require the slightest effort?" Since it was unnecessary, there was naturally no need to let these venerable elders take risks; these individuals were cultivated by their respective clans at immense cost, a human resource that no clan could afford to squander. "This ignorant child who only knows how to flaunt his power by relying on a treasure is even more susceptible; he appears formidable, but his foundation is unstable, much like a rootless tree."

He smiled indifferently. "A single breath of wind... and it shall collapse."

Immortal Venerable Wanjie bore an expression worn by the passage of time, as if such matters were already entirely commonplace; after all, from ancient times to the present day, the countless treasures amassed by the eight great immortal clans were by no means all forged by their own hands.

"Then..." Supreme Venerable Xuanfa rejoiced upon hearing this, and hearing the other party mention it, he hastily said, "Having obtained that supreme treasure, this boy ought to possess the capabilities of a true god, making him rather troublesome for even us to deal with. Yet, he insists on establishing these methods of cultivation for the common folk to practice, maintaining a fervent relationship with these mortals. On the day the legions under the Nine Netherworld Evil God invaded, he even performed some resurrection technique; he must have suffered a severe blow to his vitality, as he failed to cause any further stir for quite some time afterward."

"In other words, though this fellow possesses some strength by relying on that treasure, he still cannot detach himself from a mortal mindset. Mortals are entirely submerged in the seven emotions and six desires, unable to attain tranquility; familial ties, friendships, and the like can all become his weakness."

"Then wouldn't this be exceedingly simple to handle," Immortal Lord Wanjie remarked.

Immortal Lord Wuming said placidly, "I have heard that this boy desires to single-handedly fight the armies of both gods and demons; though he possesses some strength, acting in this manner is inevitably far too arrogant."

"Facing three opposing sides in this manner will bound to bring no small amount of pressure, and under such immense pressure, he will inevitably expose a flaw. We need only bypass the frontal battlefield and strike where he is unprepared," Immortal Lord Wuming added.

Hearing up to this point, Supreme Venerable Xuanfa's expression turned grave as he said, "Supreme Venerable Miaofa once sent men to investigate; this person has some tricks up his sleeve, and that shop of his seems to bear some connection to that supreme treasure. I once heard that someone attempted a sneak attack while he was off-guard, but the moment they stepped through the door, they were entirely suppressed by a sheet of thunderlight; this boy likely knows this is his weakness as well, which is why he protects it so exceedingly well."

"The shop may be guarded, but what about outside the shop?" Immortal Lord Wuming countered. "His friends have relatives, and those relatives have friends; extending continuously in this manner, it encompasses nearly the entire world. Mortals are precisely this foolish, dragged down by their attachments." Immortal Lord Wuming smiled. "I heard there is a young girl of the beast race by his side who shares an exceptionally close relationship with him, and that girl's kin are all far away in the kingdom of the beast race, distant from humanity. Am I correct?"

Supreme Venerable Xuanfa replied in astonishment, "Precisely so."

Immediately after, Supreme Venerable Xuanfa added in a low voice, "And it is not just this one; there are also... the Nalan Clan, the Liuyun Daoist Palace, the Haotian Academy... as well as those foreign races in the Elven Forest of the Western Continent, who also associate closely with him..."

"Those who achieve great things must not be fettered by trivialities; they must know how to abandon what is necessary. But regrettably, viewing this fellow's conduct, it is truly laughably naive; he is likely still indulging in his idealized world. He can protect those within his shop, but can he protect these weak... mortal races!?" Immortal Lord Longchi sneered. "This dooms him to be a failure, destined only to make a marriage gown for others."

"Therefore, this treasure is a gift bestowed upon us by the heavens; if we do not take it... wouldn't that be a terrible waste of heaven's relics?" Immortal Lord Wanjie laughed heartily.

"It should be exactly so!" Immortal Venerable Longchi clapped his hands in high praise, then spoke to Supreme Venerable Xuanfa and the others once more, "We shall remain here to contend with these three immortals. For the time being, other Dharma treasures cannot be lent to you, however..."

The three looked at one another and said with utmost gravity, "The heavy responsibility you bear this time is of no small consequence, therefore..."

Immortal Lord Longchi took a token down from his waist. "Take my token and return to the Sacred Emperor's Palace. Within it lies a supreme, peerless treasure born to suppress heaven and earth; for this occasion, it shall be lent to you to use for seven days. Take this treasure to the lower realm and swiftly capture all of his kin."

"This single location might not carry enough weight," Immortal Venerable Wanjie spoke up. "Fellow Daoist Wuming and I shall also give our tokens to you. Guangfa, Yuanfa, the two of you shall also go and retrieve the three spiritual treasures I left in the Wanjie Palace, just to be entirely safe and to prevent him from having any hidden methods remaining. Conclude this with all haste."

"Yes!" Several individuals hastily voiced their assent.

"When the time comes, I shall see how he handles it!"

"Once this matter is accomplished, you shall all be heavily rewarded!"

The crowd was instantly overjoyed upon hearing this. "Our thanks to the Immortal Lords!"

...

At this time, upon the battlefields situated across the mortal realm, the atmosphere could be described as one of swords drawn and bows bent, with murderous intent lurking everywhere; yet upon the Sacred Emperor's Mountain, it could be said to be entirely jubilant.

In Yao Ji's hands, he cradled a square communication jade of a peculiar design.

This place was within the rear garden of the Gui family estate, where several youths sat huddled around a stone table in the garden, each holding an identical, peculiar communication jade in their hands.

"Brother Yao, take a look at this auspicious beast of mine, what do you think? It has the skill 'Advanced Counter-Shock', as well as 'Mount Tai Pressing Down', and..."

Before he could finish his words, a commotion was heard outside, causing that particular youth of the Gui clan to hastily stand up and look outward.

Right at that moment, a middle-aged man who bore a fifty-percent resemblance to the youth of the Gui clan walked in. "What are you few still doing here? Why haven't you come with me to welcome the several Supreme Venerable Elders?"

"Several elders?" The youth of the Gui clan asked in wonder. "Father, didn't the elders go to the lower realm to exterminate demons? How do they still have the leisure to return?"