Cultivating with Top Enlightenment Chapter 881 - 374: Contempt_2

Curse it all! Had you spotted Ning Qi just a little sooner, would he have wound up in the Sea Ancestor's clutches?

Missing Ning Qi before was bad enough, but afterward, allowing the Profound Truth Realm to fall into the Sea Ancestor's grasp too.

Now even Ning Qi's vulnerabilities lie in the Sea Ancestor's hands—how on earth could anyone sway him now?

In fact, Gong Tiandao had pondered simply seizing Ning Qi by force.

Yet a quick look at Zhao Yujun, her gaze piercing with intent, made it clear: with this wild woman nearby, success was impossible.

Besides, Ning Qi's power had grown far from insignificant.

In the end, Gong Tiandao could only heave a silent sigh and drop the notion of pulling Ning Qi back to serve the Mountain Ancestor.

He smoothly pulled back, declaring, "Taoist Friend Ning is free to go where he pleases; how could I force him to join us?"

With those words out, Gong Tiandao faced north and added, "Let's focus on planning our next moves—I suspect the boundary wall will soon vanish from both sides."

He pretended his visit had nothing to do with recruiting Ning Qi, and though all saw through it, no one pressed the issue.

Zhao Yujun motioned toward Ning Qi.

"Taoist Friend Ning, you've earned the right to join our war council—come along."

Ning Qi soared ahead with them.

They reached the boundary wall shaped by the clash of realm rules.

This wall divided north from south.

Gong Tiandao ignited his Divine Eye once more, then abruptly turned, inquiring, "Taoist Friend Ning, can you make out the other side's scene clearly?"

"No issue at all!"

Ning Qi's eyes shifted effortlessly into the Golden Pupil of Illusion-breaking.

Truth be told, active or not, the Golden Pupil let him survey the whole Central Domain with ease, yet before these two Sect Leaders, modesty served best.

Zhao Yujun's deep blue eyes, swirling like ocean depths, revealed her own Divine Eye capable of piercing illusions.

Together, the trio peered northward past the boundary wall.

Gong Tiandao spoke first, "Thanks to Taoist Friend Ning, more than a thousand Harmonization cultivators perished in the tribulation, leaving the Central Domain short on them compared to our side."

"Merely a small effort on my part," Ning Qi replied modestly.

Zhao Yujun's eyes narrowed halfway, as though probing for hidden details.

"In the Vast Realm, the Vast Immortal Sect holds dominance, led by Sect Leader Jiang Yingchu—can you pinpoint him?"

Gong Tiandao shook his head faintly, "His precise spot eludes me, though his cultivation hints at a rough location."

"Over there?" Zhao Yujun indicated a spot northeast.

Gong Tiandao gave a slight nod.

"Precisely—can Taoist Friend Ning detect him too?"

Ning Qi grasped their viewing limits at once.

These two's vision paled far short of his own.

Still, piercing the boundary wall at all proved their worth as Sect Leaders.

Ning Qi pointed northeast as well, stating, "Jiang Yingchu lurks about seventeen miles northeast from here."

Both leaders showed faint surprise at Ning Qi's pinpoint accuracy.

Heavens! Did Ning Qi's sight outstrip theirs?

Gong Tiandao probed cautiously, "Brother Ning, are you truly seeing Jiang Yingchu himself?"

Ning Qi affirmed with a nod.

"I see him clear as day, mustering his followers while carving some array into the earth."

Though Ning Qi held back certain facts, the pair stood stunned, waves of shock stirring in their minds.

His details rang too true to dismiss, doubts or not.

Zhao Yujun offered a subtle smile.

"Battle hasn't ignited, yet Taoist Friend Ning contributes already. Jiang Yingchu's sight matches ours—he remains blind to us, but we spy on him, boosting our odds."

Her tone shifted as she eyed Ning Qi and Gong Tiandao.

"Shall we etch arrays into the ground too?"

Gong Tiandao's brows knit together.

Their sects had long clashed, their array arts utterly incompatible.

Prior to Ning Qi's arrival, no exchange occurred; each side held position, braced for the foe.

Zhao Yujun's suggestion to mimic Jiang Yingchu's ground arrays felt off.

Gong Tiandao voiced it bluntly, "Pardon my directness, but our sects' arrays repel like fire and water—etching them would fail at best, spark needless strife at worst."

Zhao Yujun stayed silent.

Her brows creased lightly, signaling agreement with his logic.

A spark lit in Ning Qi's mind: "Etching arrays? My grand array already encircles this war realm entirely, but in the Central Domain, enhancements and repairs await, plus a chance to study their sects' arrays from the Mountain and Sea Realm."

Seizing the moment, Ning Qi declared, "I lack experience, yet I've advanced in the Array Path—perhaps I can resolve the clashes you fear."

Their eyes locked onto him intently.

Zhao Yujun warned earnestly, "Taoist Friend Ning, this is no trifling matter—don't rush in blindly."

Impressed by his gifts, yet the Array Paths of Moon Sea Immortal Sect and Zhou Mountain Immortal Sect spanned eons.

She figured he might not grasp that depth, offering the caution out of goodwill.

A flicker of scorn crossed Gong Tiandao's eyes, swiftly hidden.

Still, he countered, "Sect Leader Zhao, what if Taoist Friend Ning truly can?"

Zhao Yujun glanced sharply, reading his scheme clear.

Under her fierce stare, Gong Tiandao's neck shrank back noticeably.

Undeterred, he pressed, "Sect Leader Zhao, arrays are key here—even slim odds demand a try, lest Vast Immortal Sect gains the edge."

Zhao Yujun saw the sense in it.

"Fine then. If we proceed, keep our forces ten miles apart, each handling half. It won't match their full grand array, but it'll hold strong."

Ning Qi rubbed his nose, stepping up, "Even if you doubt me, why not test with a couple small arrays first?"

Zhao Yujun's bosom rose and fell, frustration bubbling near.

All her words aimed to shield Ning Qi from error, but he pushed relentlessly ahead.

She knew the stakes: his failure wouldn't touch her or Gong Tiandao, but the Ancestors behind them would rage.

Those two Ancestors, with Mountain and Sea Realm Will, assaulted Vast Realm bent on conquest.

Certain truths Zhao Yujun and Gong Tiandao knew full well.

The Ancestors revealed they'd storm Vast Realm gladly, even at ninety-five percent loss of Mountain and Sea Realm cultivators!

Such thirst for triumph drove them to risk near-total annihilation for victory.

As disciples, pity stirred for realm lives, yet orders bound them firm.

Hence Zhao Yujun's persistent warnings to keep Ning Qi out.

Greater contempt gleamed in Gong Tiandao's eyes.

Truthfully, he'd reject Ning Qi's arrays regardless; but his offer demanded witnessing the flop.

This youth's genius unnerved him, especially with Ancestors' favor fueling resentment.

He laughed lightly at Zhao Yujun, "Sect Leader Zhao, let Taoist Friend Ning give it a shot? He might pull it off! Failure teaches retreat, good for him too."

Zhao Yujun fixed on Ning Qi's features.

Clean, striking handsomeness defined him, but deeper confidence and otherworldly poise shone brighter.

That unshakeable assurance swayed her at last.

"Very well."

Abruptly, both vaulted back a pace.

Fingers poised like blades, rule powers converged at their tips.

Swish, swish, swish!

In moments, intricate small arrays bloomed on the ground before each.

Ning Qi bent his gaze to the earthly patterns, briefly lost in thought.

Spotting Ning Qi's blank stare, Gong Tiandao's lips quirked slyly, certain he'd hit a wall.

"Taoist Friend Ning, does this array baffle you? It's just the most basic from our sects."