The exact number of casualties of the Five Elders Association’s nine Dao Integration experts was not disclosed by the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance in their announcement.
However, the losses were undoubtedly severe.
Otherwise, the recently arrogant Five Elders Association wouldn’t have suddenly shrunk its forces, changing from offense to defense.
In this event, the only Dao Integration cultivators known to have died belonged to the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance.
However, he did not die in battle; he was executed.
Because he was a spy.
He was a spy deeply embedded within the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance for nearly a millennium, and no one had ever suspected him.
He held a distinguished position, and until his identity was exposed, no one would suspect him as a spy for the Five Elders Association.
Immortal Sage Ziqiong, who presided over the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance’s Martial Hall in Tianyu Province, was highly revered.
It was precisely because of this Immortal Sage Ziqiong’s secret information transmission that the Five Elders Association, after some probing and verification, became convinced of the news that a Dao Integration cultivator was about to be promoted to Longevity Immortal.
Thus, they made the strategic move to dispatch nine Dao Integration cultivators deep into enemy territory, an initiative with extremely high risks.
Because this was not the first time.
In previous actions, the Five Elders Association had tasted the sweetness of success.
The last time they did something similar was during the surprise attack on the Five Element Subworlds.
Indeed, at that time, it was also Immortal Sage Ziqiong who leaked the information about the Five Element Subworlds.
His men had received the plea for help from the exploration team, hoping that the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance headquarters would send assistance in relocating the Five Element Subworlds.
This Immortal Sage Ziqiong knew better than most in the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance about the true value of those subworlds.
So, he secretly passed on the information to the Five Elders Association.
That’s why the Five Elders Association reacted so swiftly, arriving even before the support from the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance.
Even with the pursuit team dispatched later by the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance, consisting of eight Dao Integration experts, the Five Elders Association was well aware of their personnel composition with Immortal Sage Ziqiong leaking information.
If it weren’t for unexpected circumstances.
One of the overlooked Soul Transformation cultivators in the team unexpectedly erupted with combat power comparable to Dao Integration, turning the tide in a critical moment.
Otherwise, the eight Dao Integration cultivators responsible for pursuit, in all likelihood, would have all perished on the battlefield.
Even so, the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance suffered significant losses in this incident.
Although the Five Elders Association also incurred some losses, they were entirely acceptable compared to the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance.
The only regret was that due to the suddenness of the situation, they didn’t have time to mobilize even more personnel.
The mission to seize the Five Element Subworlds ended in failure.
Regardless, the information Immortal Sage Ziqiong provided, as the deepest nail of the Five Elders Association within the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance, was absolutely reliable.
So, even though the act of “dispatching nine Dao Integration cultivators deep into enemy territory” theoretically carried extremely high risks, the Five Elders Association still went through with it.
Thus, they fell into the trap meticulously woven by the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance.
Regarding the mysterious leakage of information about the Five Element Subworlds the last time, there had been someone within the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance harboring a grudge.
The announcement did not reveal this cultivator’s name.
He was only referred to as Solitary Hero.
A good friend of Solitary Hero was one of the eight Dao Integration cultivators involved in the pursuit.
With his friend’s tragic death, coupled with his sense of responsibility, Solitary Hero vowed to uncover the spy deeply embedded within the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance headquarters.
After the conclusion of the Tianling Province War, the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance initiated an internal investigation program.
Solitary Hero was responsible for this task.
Unfortunately, Immortal Sage Ziqiong’s status was too high and was too well hidden.
Even with some suspicions, without substantial evidence, there was no way to take any action against him.
The final outcome had to be left unresolved.
Nevertheless, Solitary Hero did not give up easily.
A bold plan took shape in his mind.
To speak frankly, it was quite simple.
Nothing more than “luring the snake out of its hole.”
However, this plan involved too much; a slight oversight could lead to complete failure.
Solitary Hero initially hesitated a bit.
But he ultimately withstood the pressure and slowly laid out the strategy.
Gradually, news that there was a Dao Integration cultivator within the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance about to achieve Longevity Immortal started quietly circulating among the higher-ups of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance.
Moreover, many Dao Integration cultivators received invitations to assist and were nowhere to be found.
Naturally, Immortal Sage Ziqiong also got wind of this news.
However, Ziqiong couldn’t guarantee the accuracy of the information.
Additionally, having been investigated recently and not completely cleared of suspicion, Ziqiong had no intention of personally risking himself to verify the authenticity of this piece of news.
However, this matter was too significant.
If the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance were to have a new Longevity Immortal…
After much hesitation, Ziqiong still transmitted this information to the Five Elders Association.
However, he let the Five Elders Association verify it themselves.
The Five Elders Association, upon receiving the news, attached great importance to it.
Coincidentally, a sect ruin suddenly appeared near the border of the Jiushan Province, attracting the attention of numerous cultivators.
Taking advantage of this opportunity, the Five Elders Association dispatched a Soul Transformation cultivator to provocatively probe the situation.
The Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance’s response was quite peculiar.
While issuing tough words, delivering solemn warnings, and threatening to kill any who came, they only dispatched a few Soul Transformation cultivators.
Since when could Soul Transformation cultivators hold the line?
Where were the many Dao Integration cultivators of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance at the moment?
It should be noted that without any Dao Integration cultivators, the sole Soul Transformation cultivator Luo Xi would be difficult to stop.
The Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance should be aware of this.
Could it be that after receiving a resounding slap, they would just endure it?
What happened?
The so-called solemn warning.
In the eyes of the Five Elders Association, it was a bluff.
Rather than being intended for the Five Elders Association, it seemed more like it was meant for the internal members of the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance.
To pacify and reassure the people.
It seemed that Immortal Sage Ziqiong’s conveyed message was likely true!
Within the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance, there really was a Dao Integration cultivator who was about to carry out the act of “defying the laws of heaven and earth.”
Even multiple divinations and calculations had confirmed the veracity of this matter!
The Five Elders Association suddenly became anxious.
No wonder the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance was willing to endure humiliation compared to a newly ascended Longevity Immortal.
Let alone a bit of face, they might even accept losing a few territories.
Once the ascension was successful, all those lost territories would instantly return.
No, it must be stopped!
So, the Five Elders Association suddenly declared war.
Simultaneously, a team consisting of nine Dao Integration cultivators, based on the information provided by Ziqiong, went to Tianyu Province to carry out the mission of disrupting the ascension.
However, everything turned out to be a trap.
…
Li Fan looked puzzled, repeatedly reading the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance’s arrogant announcement several times.
Finally, he let out a long sigh.
“Without standing at that height, it’s impossible to understand the whole picture of what’s happening.”
“As for what exactly has happened, perhaps only after the conclusion of the matter, looking back on it…”
“Can I learn a thing or two.”