Chapter 1508: Great Master Lan's Falsehood

But amidst this torment, the nine major powers also discovered that the Soul-Suppression Palace’s Supreme Elders had still not appeared.

This took the nine major powers from initial tension to conflict, then doubt, and finally, to pleasant surprise.

This caused their side’s will to fight to grow stronger and stronger, their morale soaring like a rainbow.

In contrast, the Soul-Suppression Palace began to experience internal turmoil.

They had been fighting for several years, always hoping that their two Supreme Elders, who could turn the tide with a single move, would make a grand return. But they had yet to show themselves.

The news from the lone peak in the back mountain only told the disciples to continue waiting. The formation restrictions around the Supreme Elders’ seclusion site were too strong; currently, only a little over thirty percent of the restrictions had been broken.

To have broken through so many of the restrictions around a Body Integration cultivator’s seclusion in just a few short years was actually quite fast.

But the nine major powers were no fools. Of course, they would intensify their psychological warfare, spreading all sorts of unfavorable rumors, claiming that the two Supreme Elders of the Soul-Suppression Palace had long since perished and listing various pieces of evidence.

This evidence was varied and plentiful. As long as a Body Integration old monster didn’t appear, these rumors would become more and more believable.

This caused many cultivators within the Soul-Suppression Palace to also begin discussing the matter in private. They started to secretly try to verify some of the evidence spread by the nine major powers to see if it was true.

And often, after their own tests, the results they obtained surprised them. The situation was just as the nine major powers had claimed.

With this, an undercurrent began to flow within the Soul-Suppression Palace, and the atmosphere in the entire sect became oppressive.

At the same time, among those “fence-sitters” who had been observing, some forces were still hesitating, continuing to put on a show for both sides.

Some forces, however, no longer even wanted to put on a show and directly switched sides to join the camp of the nine major powers…

…

On this day, inside the grand hall on the lone peak of the Soul-Suppression Palace, there were more than twenty figures present. Not only were there Void Refining cultivators, but also some core disciples at the Spirit Transformation level.

“Currently, the Strange Sparrow Hall has lost forty percent of its disciples. The Arc Arrow Hall, due to the previous rebellion and the casualties from the great war, now has less than twenty percent of its disciples remaining. The Subduing Stars Hall, however, still has seventy percent.”

“From this, it is clear that the enemy is already desperate. Every day, they launch all-or-nothing attacks against us, leading to tragic battles and extremely severe losses.”

“We should not send any more disciples out. We should consolidate our forces and use the Sect-Protecting Grand Formation as a shield. Let them come and attack.”

“Then, we will be consuming resources, while they will be consuming lives and morale. Let’s see who can’t hold out first!” said a Void Refining elder.

He believed that the Soul-Suppression Palace’s deep foundation should be fully utilized.

They should use their abundant resources to trade for the enemy’s lives. Once the enemy’s death toll rises, their morale and confidence will be severely damaged.

At that time, the Soul-Suppression Palace will still have a strong army. When they counterattack, they will surely achieve the desired result.

In any case, the Sect-Protecting Grand Formation was laid down by the Supreme Elders. As long as the Void Refining elders controlled the formation, they had no fear of being besieged.

“Elder Ding’s words are very reasonable. When a wall is about to collapse, everyone gives it a push; when a drum is broken, everyone beats it!”

“The grievances we have accumulated with the various forces are too deep. Now, apart from a few sects established by former disciples of our own sect who are still assisting us on the periphery, the number of forces we have to deal with is growing. If we keep fighting like this, every disciple we lose is one less we have. No one is willing to join us!” said another Void Refining elder.

“I disagree with retreating. By spreading out like this, we can still maintain contact with many forces, control them, and also receive external resources.”

“If we hole up in the sect, in the eyes of outsiders, it will seem like we have reached the end of our rope.”

“This will not only make the forces that were originally helping us feel that we are at a dead end, causing them to waver and abandon us, but it will also have a greater impact on the sect’s disciples, leading to instability and endless future troubles!”

“But if this continues, how long can we hold on? Elder Lan, that matter that is underway, how is it going now…”

These Void Refining elders were endlessly debating.

As for the core disciples at the Spirit Transformation level, they just listened quietly from below. The fact that they could be here already indicated their special status.

But when it came to discussing matters that would decide the fate of the sect, none of them dared to speak casually. Only when the elders asked them would they dare to give a brief reply.

And the Sect Master, Xue Tieyi, sat quietly in the main seat.

After arriving here today, he had said only one sentence at the beginning and had remained silent since, just listening to everyone’s continuous discussion.

Great Master Lan had also remained silent, her expression the calmest among all the elders.

Only when the elder who proposed activating the Sect-Protecting Grand Formation and having everyone retreat made his suggestion did she shoot him a sideways glance, letting out a cold snort in her heart.

Once the Sect-Protecting Grand Formation was activated, it wouldn’t just be a matter of normal operation. The thought of providing enough power to withstand the daily attacks from the outside was staggering.

It would undoubtedly be the result of a joint, continuous assault by numerous Void Refining cultivators from the outside.

From this, one could imagine the resources that would be consumed every moment. No matter how deep the Soul-Suppression Palace’s pockets were, it had only been a little over two years. Did they really have to take this step so soon?

But that wasn’t even the key issue. The key issue was that once the Sect-Protecting Grand Formation was activated to defend against so many Void Refining cultivators’ attacks, they couldn’t just passively take the hits.

They would have to use the formation’s restrictions to counterattack, and that couldn’t be done by the grand formation on its own.

As that elder had said, it would require several Void Refining elders to take turns entering the formation’s eye to control the grand formation. But were all of these Void Refining elders truly reliable right now?

As long as there was even one person who had not been completely cleared of suspicion, if they were put in charge, and they decided to launch a desperate sneak attack from the center of the grand formation, then the entire foundation here would be destroyed in an instant.

As they were discussing, someone looked towards Great Master Lan. Someone had finally asked the question everyone had been wanting to ask.

It was just that everyone knew that this matter was the sole responsibility of the Sect Master and Great Master Lan. Although others were aware of it, they didn’t know the specific progress.

In fact, even someone like Elder Liu, who guarded the Civil and Martial Hall, was not too clear on the details. She just felt that the security around Li Yan’s entry was too tight and had some suspicions.

How was the plan to awaken the two Supreme Elders progressing?

Only those two knew how far along they were. But in truth, Tang Feng also knew some of the plan’s details due to his special status.

After that Void Refining elder finished speaking, everyone’s gaze turned to Great Master Lan. Her expression did not change.

But she finally spoke.

“In another year and a half, we will reach the final critical moment. The process has not been slow. At that time, it will take at most three months. If it succeeds, it succeeds. If it fails, it fails!”

The moment her voice fell, you could hear a pin drop in the grand hall.

The core disciples below exchanged glances, joy appearing in their eyes.

Then, the voices of the Void Refining elders burst forth.

“Is that really so?”

“Elder Lan!”

“You’re saying it will only be another year and a half?”

“…”

A series of voices, each with a different tone—surprise, doubt, astonishment…

…

An hour later, only Xue Tieyi and Great Master Lan remained in the grand hall. Even Tang Feng, out of consideration for the other Void Refining elders’ pride, had not been asked to stay.

“Elder Lan, have you confirmed Li Yan’s realm? We have already delayed for half a year. The enemy’s determination to fight to the death has reached its peak. Now we have to extend it for another year and a half. I’m just worried the situation could change in an instant.”

“The situation is really getting worse and worse. Right now, we either have to truly retreat to the sect and activate the Sect-Protecting Grand Formation, no longer conserving the sect’s resources.”

“Or, we follow my plan. I will sneak over soon and assassinate that Old Daoist Shenyi!” Xue Tieyi said.

Their original plan was that if there was no hope of awakening the two Supreme Elders, Xue Tieyi would personally take the risk to go out and assassinate Old Daoist Shenyi.

This Old Daoist Shenyi was the Supreme Elder of the “Divine Garment Sect,” the strongest sect among the nine major powers, and also their strongest cultivator.

If he died, the entire situation would change drastically.

But this was a plan to be executed only as a last resort. Xue Tieyi was the Sect Master of the Soul-Suppression Palace.

But Old Daoist Shenyi had also reached the late-stage Void Refining Realm and had been immersed in this realm for a very long time. Only he was confident he could assassinate Old Daoist Shenyi.

If Xue Tieyi’s assassination failed, he would likely be in a fatal situation.

At that time, with no Supreme Elders appearing, the entire Soul-Suppression Palace would probably collapse in a very short time. They might not even have the option of a final retreat.

Therefore, Xue Tieyi had not yet set a time for the implementation of this plan. He was waiting for the results from Great Master Lan’s side.

But now, he had been told that it would be delayed for another year and a half.

Xue Tieyi’s mind was racing, quickly assessing the speed at which things were developing. He felt that in another year and a half, the situation would have deteriorated to an uncontrollable degree.

“No need. Today, we will go find the Supreme Elders. This is not something that requires the help of others. Just the few of us will suffice. If we succeed, all the better. If not, we will execute the other plans.”

“Today, we also released the news that the final formation will be broken in a year and a half. Even if there are traitors among us and they leak this news to the outside.”

“The other side will certainly cherish the little more than a year they have left, but it will also bring us other conveniences!”

As Great Master Lan spoke, she stood up.

Even now, when facing the elders who could still enter the grand hall for discussions, she had not told the truth. Before, even Xue Tieyi had not known the full story.

For Great Master Lan to have lived this long and cultivated to this level, she would never pin her hopes on a mere possibility.

“Oh? Now?”