Huh? Isn't this an adventure kingdom building game?!

No wonder!

Jiang Yuanxin said, no wonder Lin Yao greatly admired Xuanyuan Yangguang's Slaughter Dao and was very pleased when she heard him speak of fighting violence with violence.

It turns out her obsession and extremity stem from an irreconcilable hatred.

Thinking like this, Black Tortoise Pavilion is indeed quite pitiful. If they hadn't meddled and let the Demon Race fend for themselves, the Human Race wouldn't have faced a catastrophe.

"Lin Yao harbors a heart inclined toward slaughter. Pity that fate played its tricks, she couldn't unleash her fervent spirit on unseen battlefields and was chosen to bear the responsibilities of Black Tortoise Pavilion.

As Young Pavilion Master, she had to engage in cultivation that completely contradicted her inner Dao, while helplessly watching all her kin perish in the unending conflict with the Demon Race. The relentless pursuit of Black Tortoise Pavilion, rooted in their belief that they were the sinners of this world and the Human Race.

If, back then, they hadn't strongly advocated for accepting Demon Cultivators, this world would still belong to the Human Race, prosperous and thriving. It is likely because her mindset didn't align with her cultivation Dao, Lin Yao, a genius destined for Ascension, was halted at the Mahayana Realm."

Feeling a sourness in his heart, Jiang Yuan could only suppress all emotions with a sigh.

Elder Qin found a relatively light-hearted topic, "When Lin Yao was young, she had a beloved. The young man's extraordinary talents were celebrated, and back then we, old friends, were also brimming with youthful vigor. Some even cherished fantasies of becoming Dao companions with her, yet all were defeated by the charismatic young man.

However, just when we thought their love had deepened to marriage, Lin Yao severed her affections and entered closed-door meditation.

Later, we learned that the young man wasn't human, though not a Demon Cultivator, he was a spirit of the land. Out of admiration for Lin Yao and knowing her dislike for Demon Cultivators, he concealed his identity to approach her.

Lin Yao hated being deceived the most, yet was deceived most deeply by someone she trusted, who sincerely wished to become Dao companions and share life together.

It can be said, throughout her life, few things were ever her way, she was bound by duty for years, never truly living for herself.

Qingfeng Hall's decision for a sect-wide retreat is partly due to her discontent.

By then Lin Yao had fulfilled her mission and elevated the new Pavilion Master, but her cultivation made no progress, and she requested guidance from old friends in Cloud Concealment Sect.

Cloud Concealment Sect excels in understanding destiny, they were the prominent advocates against allowing the Demon Race to settle.

However, destiny is unspeakable, the higher the Realm of Cloud Concealment sect members, the more they spoke in mysteries. At that time, their sect had the weakest comprehensive strength and wasn't extremely precise, hence, inevitably, their influence wasn't taken seriously.

When the Human Race faced constant defeat and couldn't recover, recalling the reluctant withdrawal of Cloud Concealment Sect, many sect cultivators resented Black Tortoise Pavilion while holding extreme admiration for Cloud Concealment Sect."

"Ha, isn't it just a bunch of fence-sitters?" Elder Lu smiled and shook his head, "Just finding an excuse when sensing unfavorable circumstances, shirking their own responsibilities, not worth mentioning."

Elder Qi nodded in agreement, "Indeed, back then all those sects unanimously supported Black Tortoise Pavilion. When things turned awry, they pushed Cloud Concealment Sect forward as a scapegoat. Later, Cloud Concealment Sect failed to truly understand destiny several times and were subsequently criticized harshly, weren't they?"

Jiang Yuan leisurely sipped his Spirit Tea, noting that the task countdown had halved; a bit more inquiry into past events might complete the task!

"Around five to six hundred years ago, after Lin Yao retired and the new Pavilion Master took office, she left us old friends to testify, and requested guidance from Cloud Concealment Sect's Sect Leader Ge Lin. She intended to abandon her current cultivation Dao post-retirement and join the Death Warrior Team to continue Black Tortoise Pavilion's unfinished endeavors.

Yet, as a Mahayana Realm Cultivator, any action would surely provoke the Demon Race's old monsters to emerge and counteract her efforts. Lin Yao feared neither death nor errors that might derail her intentions.

In his youth, Ge Lin had a profound affection for Lin Yao. Knowing it wouldn't amount to anything between them, he couldn't sever his emotions. Hence, when she requested help, he sacrificed his Lifespan to understand destiny and told them to patiently wait.

He said if truly committed to doing something for this world, then start nurturing strength and wait for the opportune time.

He declared the Demon Beast's rampant disorder will come; by then, the earth will sink, where new dangers and opportunities coexist. When needed, come forth and fight fiercely to possibly earn a sliver of hope for this world."

Elder Lu poured him hot tea and continued, "Therefore, Lin Yao temporarily gave up her slaughter inclinations; by then, our Qingfeng Hall disciples suffered heavy losses while traveling outside; though touching Dao made us indifferent to life and death, not seeking or competing, it didn't mean we disregarded everything and let things happen, or ignore the lives of sect disciples.

So, after discussions, Qingfeng Hall decided on a sect-wide retreat and cultivation. Without urgent matters, none went out, devoting full effort to nurturing strength and waiting for the right moment."

Oh my, I thought they had just given up; turns out they were just hiding and sharpening their claws!

"So... are you elders sure you don't want a peach?" He glanced at the three elderly leaders, the one with least Lifespan left had only three and a half years, the one with most less than ten.

For cultivators like them, living a couple of thousand years, a few years might not even suffice for a retreat.

In the blink of an eye, Lifespan reaches its end, what if they can't wait to emerge? Their peak state would just dissipate like the wind?

Seeing his concern, Elder Lu smiled, "Let's follow nature's course, Ge Lin deliberately read destiny for Lin Yao; since he said we could help, surely it wouldn't be wrong. Perhaps the heavens want us to take a bold gamble when our Lifespans are nearly depleted."

"The junior is taught." Jiang Yuan indeed felt very convinced.

Not commenting on what Dao they persist in, seeing through life and death, fearless in action, is far stronger than those cultivators who fear death more as they live longer.

"We old fellows have only about three to five years of Lifespan left; if there's a change, it will surely be a catastrophe sweeping the whole world. By then, upheaval might not be impossible, the outside world will likely be very dangerous, Lin Yao wished to take you as a closed-door disciple, despite your disinterest, how about us at Qingfeng Hall? Would you like to stay and meditate?"

Elder Qi looked at him with a smile, "Looking at you more, we feel you are familiar like an old friend, since fate brought us together, why not stay? Once us old folks move, it will be a decisive battle against the Demon Race, Qingfeng Hall disciples would be prioritized for protection to preserve heritage, so stay here no matter what happens outside, we can assure your safety within the sect."

Affinity's effect truly works well, each elder treated him kindly, but Jiang Yuan couldn't stay here and abandon his roots.

Moreover, hearing them speak, nearly in two or three years, a great change was imminent; he must hurry to upgrade his courtyard to ensure everyone's safety!

Seeing his polite refusal to remain, Elder Qi showed slight disappointment, handed over a light blue outfit with glittering silver patterns, "Since we lack a mentor-disciple bond, without troubling your efforts to come a long way to deliver news from outside, a junior's gift is due; this set of Celestial Silk Garment is for you to wear for pleasure."

[Celestial Silk Garment: Qingfeng Hall, ninth-grade Artifact Refiner Qi Xiu personally crafted. Able to ward against water and fire; able to adjust temperatures to the most comfortable state. Evasion +10%; Attack Power +200; Physical Strength +100, suitable for daily attire]