Slaying Demons: Starting with Upgrading my Calligraphy

"Evidence."

"With just a word from your disciple, you expect this palace to believe you? Isn't that a bit too hasty?"

Atop the white jade tower, the Crown Prince of Great Xuan and a host of Primordial Spirit Bosses had gathered once again. The difference this time, however, was that while the last meeting was convened by the Crown Prince who had summoned these Primordial Spirit Bosses, this meeting was initiated by the Supreme Patriarch of Shenxiao Sect, Dongfang Qing.

Playing with an exquisitely crafted jade fan that emitted a faint glow, the Crown Prince calmly regarded Dongfang Qing before him.

"I've already verified the location," Dongfang Qing stated. "It's the point in this province where the greatest number of Earth Veins converge. I attempted to manipulate the laws of heaven and earth there, but it was to no avail. Moreover, an outer realm aura is already diffusing in the vicinity, clashing with the surrounding laws of heaven and earth. Is this enough?"

Dressed in gray-blue cloth and looking solemn, Dongfang Qing slowly spread his palm open, revealing a strip of mottled aura writhing in his hand as though it were alive.

Upon seeing this strand of aura, everyone present felt a strong sense of disgust rise within them.

Outer realm aura!

For a moment, the expressions of several Primordial Spirit Bosses shifted—some looked solemn, some cold, and some contemplative...

"This is indeed an outer realm aura, without a doubt," the Crown Prince said, his gaze sharpening as he glanced at the aura in Dongfang Qing's hand. "But Sect Master Dongfang, how can you prove this outer realm aura is connected to the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains and the Demonic Evil Cultivators? If I were a Demonic Evil Cultivator, I simply wouldn't admit it." He then slowly shook his head. "A mere strand of outer realm aura cannot determine guilt."

"If the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains truly intend to invite an Outer Realm Evil God, then the nature of this matter changes drastically." Puffing on his pipe, Zhao Gengyun's deep-set eyes, hidden amidst the smoke, glinted with a cold light. "The Human Race and Demonic Evil Cultivators can fight however they please. That is all an internal affair of our Home Realm. But if an Outer Realm Evil God intervenes, it becomes a war of our Home Realm against an external one. Its level and nature are entirely different."

"We must get to the bottom of this matter," Zhang Ping, the headmaster of Great Righteousness Academy, said with a frown. "Should it truly involve an outer realm, it becomes more than just a concern for this province."

"Send people to investigate!" As the only woman present, Li Chanchan, Head of the Ingenious Mechanism Sect, spoke with her usual calm, yet her tone conveyed the most chilling sharpness. "If it truly involves an Outer Realm Evil God, then we can enter the fray. Inviting an Outer Realm Evil God would be a blatant breaking of the treaty. Once this matter is substantiated, the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains will completely lose their justification. Then, we Primordial Spirit Bosses can directly intervene in this war. And if the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains dare to resist in kind, that would mean challenging the entire Human Race and the Great Xuan Dynasty. The Hundred Thousand Great Mountains, much like the Human Race's side, are not a monolith. This incursion into Dianchuan was led only by a few of the Hundred Strong Great Clans. Once they suffer devastating losses here in Dianchuan, others within the Hundred Thousand Great Mountains will be more than willing to kick them while they're down, eager to oust them from the ranks of the Hundred Strong Great Clans. Therefore, the mere intervention of Primordial Spirit Bosses from Dianchuan would compel the Demonic Evil Cultivators who instigated this war to retreat. Even if they were to win such a battle, the pyrrhic victory would not justify the losses—it would be like picking up sesame seeds only to lose a watermelon."

"Since everyone feels we should clarify this matter, let's send people," the Crown Prince said, his eyes lowered as he saw the Primordial Spirit Bosses tacitly reach a consensus. "Nevertheless, we must keep this matter confidential for now. An Outer Realm Evil God is no trivial matter. If word gets out, the Demonic Evil Cultivators might be driven to desperate measures. After all, we do not yet possess irrefutable proof."

"We cannot send too many people, and those at the Dao Body Realm must not be deployed. If that's the case, how about each of our factions sends a few juniors? What do you think?" Yu Xiu, the Cliff Master of Star Mansion Sea Cliff, proposed after a long silence.

"Sending a few battle-seasoned juniors—isn't that too risky?" Zhao Gengyun said somberly, knocking his tobacco pipe against the sole of his shoe. "If this is indeed the work of Demonic Evil Cultivators, our juniors might find it difficult to handle. The place where they are inviting the Outer Realm Evil God could very well be guarded by a Dao Body Realm Demon King."

"In war, sacrifices are inevitable," Yu Xiu said, looking calmly at Zhao Gengyun, his words barbed, seemingly targeting the old Flag Master of the Nature Banner. "Hasn't the death toll already been high in this war? If the disciples and kin of other Sect Aristocracies can perish, why can't ours? Elder Zhao, some things can't be perfect."

Hearing the pointed edge in Yu Xiu's words, Zhao Gengyun scoffed. "What, Yu thinks that because my Nature Banner remains secluded from worldly affairs, we are shirking responsibility, and you're using this to mock me, an old man?"

"I would never utter such divisive words," Yu replied, his expression composed as he denied it, yet his confident demeanor made no attempt to hide his true feelings.

"Heh, Yu, since you've already said it, why bother retracting your words?" Zhao Gengyun repacked his pipe with tobacco, slowly exhaling clouds of smoke, and no longer looked at Yu. "Alright, we shall proceed as you suggest. Our various factions will each send a few juniors to scout the path. Life and death are matters of fate; wealth and honor are decreed by Heaven. When the time comes, it will be up to their own abilities."

"If there are no further objections, then we shall proceed as Yu has suggested. What say you all?" the Crown Prince asked, seeing that no one else voiced dissent, thus settling the matter.

Exchanging discreet glances, the various Primordial Spirit Bosses remained silent. The plan Yu proposed was far from perfect, even rudimentary, and might result in the loss of some excellent sect members. But in reality, this seemingly crude plan was the most appropriate course of action.