Fang Chen nodded with total seriousness. "Just a moment ago, four God Dao Sect cultivators appeared in Immortal Origin District and lured out a group from the Great Sorrow Army. Among them were four sixth-transformation immortals, who were then taken away by an eighth transformation expert from the God Dao Sect. Tell me, what do you make of this? Is the God Dao Sect truly collaborating with the Fallen Immortals? If they are, what is their objective?"

"Wait for me."

Without another word, the Sixth Star Lord immediately activated Heavenly Immortal Descent and vanished from before Fang Chen's eyes. After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, a flash of white light flickered, and the Sixth Star Lord reappeared.

Fang Chen felt a twinge of envy toward this technique. He wondered whether someone like himself, who had clawed his way up from the dirt since childhood, would ever have the chance to learn Heavenly Immortal Descent. Or perhaps this technique could only be performed by those on the Heavenly Immortal Path.

The Sixth Star Lord looked at Fang Chen with a peculiar expression. "Core Disciple Fang, which Immortal Path are you on?"

"The Human Immortal Path," answered Fang Chen with a smile.

"Human Immortal? I thought you were on the Heavenly Immortal Path as well. Though, even if you were, you shouldn't be able to manifest Heavenly Immortal Descent."

He then took on a grave expression. "I just made a trip over there and questioned a few people. The events are exactly as you described. However, I cannot confirm that those four individuals were truly from the God Dao Sect, nor can I verify that the one who abducted the four Great Sorrow Army cultivators belongs to them."

At that point, his gaze turned suspicious. "Core Disciple Fang, how did you come to know these things? And how are you so certain they are from the God Dao Sect?"

"Sixth Star Lord, you shouldn't just ask people these types of questions. I personally don't mind, but others do. At the very least, you'll be reprimanded," Fang Chen sighed softly, offering a reminder. "In times like these, what is needed is a mutual understanding, or a 'tacit rapport.' Do you understand? It's just like how I've never asked you about the specifics of your Heavenly Immortal Descent."

"You could ask if you want to," replied the Sixth Star Lord instinctively. Then, he immediately realized something and added, "Ah, I see. That is your trump card. I indeed shouldn't ask too much."

He gave an embarrassed smile.

Fang Chen asked, "We can discuss Heavenly Immortal Descent later. Let's focus on the matter at hand. Do you think it's truly possible for the God Dao Sect to be in league with the Fallen Immortals?"

The Sixth Star Lord thought seriously for a long time before slowly shaking his head. "It's highly unlikely. Even if they were to collaborate, they wouldn't go as far as handing over four of their own sixth-transformation Fallen Immortals. Fallen Immortals protect their heritage with extreme secrecy. They do not allow their inheritance to fall into outside hands. But..."

His tone suddenly shifted, and his expression grew somewhat solemn. "What if the Fallen Immortals had no choice but to cooperate with the God Dao Sect?"

Absolutely must join forces with the God Dao Sect?

Fang Chen fell into thought.

Who were the enemies of the Fallen Immortals? None other than the human cultivators of the Nine Realms and the Minor Immortal World, and... the demon race cultivators?

Could it be because the demon race had been making significant moves in recent years, causing the Fallen Immortals to panic?

"That's it! Perhaps the Fallen Immortals want to use the God Dao Sect's hands to eliminate their rivals," the Sixth Star Lord suddenly said with joy. "I've figured it out. The Fallen Immortals of the Zhisheng Immortal Dynasty originally had different factions, each operating on their own. Otherwise, the major Immortal World wouldn't be divided into four regimes: the Zhisheng Immortal Dynasty, the Beiding Immortal Dynasty, the Yuchan Immortal Dynasty, and the Ziwei Immortal Dynasty. Their very nature dictates that they could never truly unite!"

Fang Chen's eyes narrowed. "You mean the Fallen Immortals cooperating with the God Dao Sect want to use the God Dao Sect's cultivators to eradicate their own enemies?"

That was indeed a possibility. Previously, he had subconsciously assumed the primary reason for that matter was related to the demon race. He had also subconsciously viewed the Fallen Immortals of the Zhisheng Immortal Dynasty as a single entity, thus failing to consider this factor.

With the Sixth Star Lord's reminder, he felt this reason was more fitting. If Fallen Immortals were despicable, selfish, and greedy by nature, perhaps they simply wouldn't think too far ahead and would only care about immediate benefits.

The Sixth Star Lord said thoughtfully, "Core Disciple Fang, perhaps the political factions of the Zhisheng Immortal Dynasty are about to undergo a transformation, but I am curious. What method will the God Dao Sect cultivators use to take people out of the Major Immortal World?"

Fang Chen suddenly laughed. "Old Sixth, it's better to leave such matters to Eldest Senior Sister and the others to consider. They stand high and see far. There's no need for us to think so much."

The Sixth Star Lord didn't even notice that Fang Chen's way of addressing him had changed. Finding the logic sound, he nodded. "True, we should relay the news to Sister Aman. They will handle this matter."

Fang Chen asked abruptly, "By the way, that Heavenly Immortal Descent of yours, is it something only those on the Heavenly Immortal Path can cultivate?"

"That's right, only Heavenly Immortals can cultivate it. At least, I've never heard of any path other than the Heavenly Immortal Path that can master Heavenly Immortal Descent. Even among Heavenly Immortals, not everyone can master this technique; it requires remaining untainted by the mortal world, and..."

The Sixth Star Lord went on and on, sharing a great deal of information regarding the Heavenly Immortal Descent. It wasn't until the very end that he finally reacted, looking stunned. "You aren't thinking of learning the Heavenly Immortal Descent, are you? Setting aside the fact that you aren't on the Heavenly Immortal Path, even if you were, this is a signature skill of my Heavenly Immortal Clan and cannot be shared with outsiders."

"No, I was just curious and asked casually." Fang Chen immediately changed the subject: "Since the God Dao Sect may be collaborating with the Fallen Immortals here, and the Fallen Immortal regime of the Zhisheng Immortal Dynasty might undergo changes, why don't we go find Eldest Senior Sister right now?"

"...Fair enough."

Not long after, Fang Chen vanished alongside the Sixth Star Lord, with Little Immortal Honglian in his arms.

Upon reappearing, a pungent scent of blood assailed the nostrils. Corpses lay scattered everywhere, and blood flowed in trickling streams across the ground. Only Xie Aman remained pristine, without a single drop of gore touching her. Even amidst that mountain of corpses and sea of blood, her temperament remained ethereal.

Fang Chen noticed that the corpses in the vicinity were all bald. However, that was definitely not Han Mountain Temple. It had been quite some time since the previous message arrived, and the Great Sorrow Army likely would have headed to Han Mountain Temple for reinforcements long ago.

Xie Aman's gaze fell upon Fang Chen and the other two before glancing at the slumbering Little Immortal Honglian. She let out a soft sigh. "Sixth, since you came here with the two of them, does that mean someone attacked them? Who was it?"

Fang Chen reported the names of Xu Kun and the other three. Upon learning that four core disciples had betrayed the Enlightenment God Palace, Xie Aman's expression turned grim. She suddenly manipulated the flying sword in her hand, stabbing the nearby corpses ruthlessly several times.

"Sister Aman, are these monks from Han Mountain Temple?" asked the Sixth Star Lord curiously.

Xie A'man did not answer his question directly. Instead, she first confirmed that Little Immortal Honglian's condition was not life-threatening before speaking. "These bald donkeys aren't from Han Mountain Temple. I have already exterminated Han Mountain Temple, including that Great Abbot. This group had some ties to them, so I figured since I was already here, I might as well send them on their way too."

"Does this mean you've confirmed that Han Mountain Temple is linked to Shao Guangyin?"

Xie Aman snorted coldly. "Their relationship runs deep. However, these fellows are stubborn. I couldn't get them to reveal which cultivator was assisting them with the smuggling."

"Right, there is one more very important matter. Core Disciple Fang, you tell her," the Sixth Star Lord said, a look of gravity appearing on his face as he turned to Fang Chen.