Lin Dong was in closed-door cultivation, and Lin Xuan was also quietly recuperating in seclusion.
That battle had a significant impact on Lin Xuan. Forcibly unleashing power that didn't belong to him was difficult for even Lin Xuan's physical body to bear. Without a relatively long period of recuperation, it would be difficult to recover.
However, the only good news was that Lin Xuan's injuries had almost stabilized and were mostly healed. Next, he just needed to rest quietly for a while to allow his body to gradually recover.
During Lin Xuan's recovery, the entire Eastern Xuan Region was experiencing great upheaval.
As mentioned before, the battle at the Yuan Gate Ancestral Land directly shattered the Yuan Gate's deterrent power. Otherwise, the Golden Owls of Demon Sound Mountain wouldn't have been in such a hurry to relocate, simply fearing that they would be targeted for revenge by the Yuan Gate's enemies. However, before they could move, Little Marten, passing by, found them and cleaned them up.
This was just one example. Besides this, there were many other events.
In short, during this period, the Yuan Gate's power was constantly shrinking, while the Dao Sect was rapidly establishing connections with the other five super sects, forming an alliance to resist the Otherworldly Demons.
Although the alliance hadn't been officially announced, it wasn't being hidden either. Now, almost all the experts in the Eastern Xuan Region knew that the Dao Sect, after incorporating the Primordial Hall, had established close relationships with the God Sect, Symbol Valley, Ten Thousand Puppets Gate, and Sword Sect, completely suppressing the Yuan Gate's arrogance.
As the Dao Sect alliance grew in strength, the Yuan Gate became strangely quiet, seemingly unconcerned about external affairs and showing no reaction to the Dao Sect's various major actions.
This wasn't because the Yuan Gate didn't want to respond, but because the current Yuan Gate simply didn't have the time to spend on these minor matters.
For the Yuan Gate, the most important thing now was to seize this last opportunity to rapidly develop itself and quickly enhance the Yuan Gate's strength.
Of course, the Yuan Gate Three Giants were also taking this time to heal their injuries. Lin Xuan was injured, and the Yuan Gate Three Giants weren't in much better shape. Facing Lin Xuan's strong attacks, coupled with their previous injuries, they were all deep within the Yuan Gate, absorbing Demonic Qi to recover.
Fortunately, the Yuan Gate Three Giants had completely detonated the Demonic Seeds in their bodies, allowing them to have such strong vitality and the ability to quickly repair their injuries.
As time passed, the Sect Tournament was getting closer and closer, but the entire Eastern Xuan Region had become strangely quiet, like the calm before a storm.
Beneath this tranquility, however, lay endless undercurrents. Everyone knew that the current peace was only temporary. When the Dao Sect and the Yuan Gate completely erupted, it would likely be another earth-shattering battle, a catastrophe sweeping through the entire Eastern Xuan Region, or even the entire Tianxuan Continent!
Yuan Gate, Ancestral Land.
Inside a secret room, the Yuan Gate Three Giants were all present, along with three young men. These three were the leading disciples of the Yuan Gate's younger generation, also known as the Yuan Gate's Three Little Kings of this generation: Little Yuan King Yuan Cang, Little Spirit King Ling Zhen, and Little Thunder King Lei Qian.
However, the current Yuan Gate Three Little Kings were very different from before. Not only were their auras much stronger, but they also exuded an eerie feeling that made people feel disgusted.
However, Yuan Cang and the others didn't think so, because they now realized that improving their strength was such a simple matter, and the wonderful feeling of rapidly increasing their power was simply intoxicating.
"Sect Leader, I wonder why you summoned the three of us here?"
Little Spirit King Ling Zhen spoke up, seeing that the leader Yuan Cang hadn't said anything. Tian Yuanzi and the other two exchanged glances, and then Di Yuanzi took the initiative to speak.
"We have a mission for you in the upcoming Sect Tournament!"
Yuan Cang and the others straightened their faces, all looking solemnly at Di Yuanzi, waiting for his instructions.
"Now, the three of you are aware of our Yuan Gate's secrets."
Di Yuanzi said softly. Yuan Cang, Ling Zhen, and Lei Qian nodded slightly. These things were no longer secrets to the current Yuan Gate disciples.
A year ago, the fact that the Yuan Gate was a lackey of the Demon Prison was only known to Tian Yuanzi and the other two.
At that time, the Demon Prison's power was insufficient, so the development of forces like Tian Yuanzi's was relatively slow, mainly focusing on stability.
Therefore, the Yuan Gate's top experts had to undergo a sufficiently long period of observation and then be secretly tested. After passing the tests, they would be implanted with Demonic Seeds and cultivated to the Revolving Wheel Realm. Over the years, the Yuan Gate, or rather Tian Yuanzi, had only cultivated two people: Di Yuanzi and Ren Yuanzi.
It wasn't until a year ago, after the Seven Kings Hall revealed itself in the Ancient Battlefield, that the Yuan Gate's strategy had to be changed, and it was a very radical change. That was, to start vigorously developing lackey forces.
Therefore, Tian Yuanzi and the other two directly tricked a portion of the Yuan Gate's top experts into the underground space and then forcibly subjected them to Demonic Contamination. Among them were the Six Department Heads of the Yuan Gate Six Departments.
However, to Tian Yuanzi and the others' surprise, Dao Sect and that Lin Xuan were so troublesome that their plans repeatedly failed and they suffered heavy losses.
Left with no choice, Tian Yuanzi and the other two hardened their hearts and directly inflicted Demonic Contamination upon the entire Yuan Gate, sealing off the mountain and waiting for the Sect Tournament to make a big move.
Currently, within the Yuan Gate Ancestral Land, all Yuan Gate members, from elders and attendants to disciples, have been Demonic Contaminated.
"This time at the Sect Tournament, that rabble led by Dao Sect will probably make things difficult for our Yuan Gate, but it's not a big deal. Now that your strength has greatly improved, even if the other seven super sects join forces, they shouldn't be able to gain any advantage from you."
Di Yuanzi said softly. Currently, the Yuan Gate Three Little Kings have all officially entered the Life Profound Realm. Although the Demonic Seed in their bodies has just been planted and they cannot yet use Demonic Qi to improve their strength enough, this strength is enough to deal with the top disciples of the other seven super sects.
According to Tian Yuanzi and the others' understanding and speculation, the strongest among the seven super sects led by Dao Sect should be Ling Qingzhu, the reincarnation of the Ice Master. However, Yuan Cang, who is at the Great Accomplishment of the Life Profound Realm, should be able to handle Ling Qingzhu.
As for the remaining genius disciples, even if Dao Sect and other forces try their best to cultivate them during this period, it would be a miracle if one or two Life Profound Realm disciples emerged. Therefore, Tian Yuanzi is not too worried.
And the remaining top disciples are only at the peak of the Nine Yuan Nirvana Realm or the Half-Step Life Profound Realm. Currently, the chief disciples of the Yuan Gate Six Departments are all at this level, completely on par with the combined forces of the other seven super sects.
Yuan Cang nodded slightly upon hearing this, obviously feeling that Di Yuanzi's words were correct. Yuan Cang, whose strength had greatly improved, was now full of confidence. He even felt that he alone was enough to deal with Ling Qingzhu and the other chief disciples of the super sects.
As for the reincarnation of the Ice Master, so what? In Yuan Cang's heart, there was not much threat. Everything was still based on strength, and he, Yuan Cang, was full of confidence in his own strength.
"Sect Leader, rest assured, they are just a group of weaklings, they can't make any waves!"
Yuan Cang said with arrogance. He had always been aloof and looked down on the so-called geniuses of the entire Eastern Xuan Region. The only one who could catch his eye was Ling Qingzhu. Even with Ling Qingzhu, it was not entirely because of her strength, but Yuan Cang felt that only Ling Qingzhu was worthy of him.
But in fact, when Yuan Cang was Ling Qingzhu's age, he had only just broken through to the Nirvana Realm, a full Super Sect Tournament earlier than Ling Qingzhu.
"Well, don't worry about the rabble of Dao Sect, but there is one thing you need to do."
Di Yuanzi said, with a cold and ruthless light flashing in his eyes. For the Yuan Gate Three Giants, Yuan Cang and others were just a group of things to be used. It didn't matter if they died.
Otherwise, Di Yuanzi would not have said such a thing. Not to mention anything else, just Ling Qingzhu, who controls the Ice Ancestor Symbol and is suspected to be the reincarnation of the Ice Master, is enough to stop Yuan Cang and the other two, and even has the ability to bury all the elite disciples of the entire Yuan Gate.
After all, that is the Ice Master, and the Ice Master with the Ice Ancestor Symbol. Who knows if Ling Qingzhu has any special means in her hands that can directly eliminate all the Yuan Gate disciples, including Yuan Cang and others, with one blow?
However, as the saying goes, Di Yuanzi and the others don't care about the life or death of these tools at all. What they want is for Yuan Cang and others to do things for them and complete some tasks for them.
"What's the matter?"
Lei Qian quickly asked, with a bit of eagerness in his eyes. Lei Qian knew very well that if he could complete the task, he would be rewarded, and then their strength could be further improved.
"Burning Heaven Ancient Treasury, do you know about it?"
Di Yuanzi did not say it directly, but instead asked. Ling Zhen was stunned for a moment, and then nodded.
"Sect Leader, do you want us to seize the Burning Heaven Ancient Treasury?"
Lei Qian said with some confusion. The name of the Burning Heaven Ancient Treasury is well-known to the Eight Super Sects, no, now it is the Seven Super Sects, because Primordial Hall has merged into Dao Sect.
For the disciples of the Seven Super Sects, the name Burning Heaven Ancient Treasury can be said to be very familiar. This is the name of a very famous ancient treasury in the Otherworldly Demon Domain. The reason is that many people know the location of this ancient treasury.
However, no one has been able to successfully open the Burning Heaven Ancient Treasury. But Yuan Gate has long been interested in the Burning Heaven Ancient Treasury, and Ling Zhen and Yuan Cang, as one of the Three Little Kings, are even more clear that this is personally concerned by the three Sect Leaders.
Yuan Cang and Ling Zhen are not like Lei Qian, who is full of muscles. They know very well that Tian Yuanzi and the other two never get up early without profit. They have long begun to pay attention to the Burning Heaven Ancient Treasury, indicating that they have long had ideas about the Burning Heaven Ancient Treasury, and even have been secretly looking for ways to open the Burning Heaven Ancient Treasury.
If they didn't know the inside story, Yuan Cang and Ling Zhen would think that the Tian Yuanzi Three Giants were simply interested in the treasures of the Burning Heaven Ancient Treasury, and wanted to use this to enhance the strength of Yuan Gate.
But now it is different. After knowing the inside story, Yuan Cang is very clear that a mere Burning Heaven Ancient Treasury is nothing to Yuan Gate. So, what could be the reason for Tian Yuanzi and the other two to pay attention to the Burning Heaven Ancient Treasury?
"Sect Leader, is there another secret in that Burning Heaven Ancient Treasury?"
Hearing Yuan Cang's question, a smile couldn't help but flash in Tian Yuanzi's eyes. As expected of someone he personally taught, a world of difference from that brainless Ren Yuanzi's student.
"That's right, the Burning Heaven Ancient Treasury is where an ancient expert named Burning Heaven Old Man, who was close to the Reincarnation Realm, sealed an Otherworldly Demon General."
"An expert close to the Reincarnation Realm? Sect Leader, I'm afraid that with the strength of the three of us, we won't be able to cope with such an expert's methods, right?"
Ling Zhen said hesitantly. Although he also longed to receive the Demon Prison's reward, it didn't mean he was willing to throw his life away.
"Hehe, don't worry, the Burning Heaven Old Man's remnant soul is almost completely dissipated now. Moreover, that Otherworldly Demon General is still sealed. You only need to enter the ancient treasury, open the seal, and release the Otherworldly Demon General. Before the seal is completely opened, that old thing's remnant soul cannot possibly recover."
Di Yuanzi said with a light smile, and at the same time, he handed a special treasure to Yuan Cang. After Yuan Cang reached out to take it, he heard Tian Yuanzi continue.
"Yuan Cang, that Burning Heaven Old Ghost has a treasure called the Burning Heaven Cauldron, which can also be considered a top-tier Pure Origin Treasure. After you assist the Otherworldly Demon General in escaping, eliminate the Burning Heaven Old Ghost, and the Burning Heaven Cauldron will be yours. At that time, you will have a better chance of dealing with that Ling Qingzhu!"
The Burning Heaven Cauldron is a fire-attribute Pure Origin Treasure, which is naturally opposed to the ice attribute. With Yuan Cang's strength, with the help of the Burning Heaven Cauldron's power, coupled with the power of the Otherworldly Demon, he would definitely have a chance to fight Ling Qingzhu, the reincarnation of the Ice Master who possesses the Ice Ancestor Symbol. Even if Ling Qingzhu used forbidden methods, Yuan Cang would have some self-preservation ability.
Tian Yuanzi even looked forward to Ling Qingzhu disregarding everything and using forbidden methods to kill Yuan Cang. Such methods would undoubtedly have huge side effects. In that case, the Ice Master would be crippled for a short time.
As for Lin Xuan, Tian Yuanzi and others were not very worried, because the Otherworldly Demon Domain has restrictions on the strength of those who enter. Lin Xuan, who is at the Death Profound Realm, simply cannot enter.