It turned out that the doubts he had held back then were not just overthinking.
That True Lord Fa Xuan might indeed be, just as he had guessed, someone from the Sun Unity Sect.
Since he was working for the Sun Unity Sect, True Lord Fa Xuan's various actions at that time naturally had a reasonable explanation.
At the same time, the relationship between True Lord Fa Xuan and True Lord Yan Shan seemed extremely good initially.
Later, only after True Lord Fa Xuan broke through to the Golden Core Realm and completely controlled the entire Earth Firmament Sect did their relationship undergo some changes.
But later, for some unknown reason, True Lord Fa Xuan and True Lord Yan Shan seemed to have reconciled, and no further news of discord between them ever spread.
However, according to He Song's initial thoughts.
Although their relationship seemed to have returned to its former harmony, there was actually still a slight crack.
Back then, He Song had already thought that these two would likely part ways eventually.
The Earth Firmament Sect would also be split in two under their hands.
Now.
He Song hadn't heard any news of the Earth Firmament Sect for many years.
When, after many years, he once again heard the familiar name of the Earth Firmament Sect.
The Earth Firmament Sect had indeed, just as he had thought before, been completely split in two.
The younger generation of the sect led by True Lord Fa Xuan was directly arranged by the Sun Unity Sect to cultivate peacefully within the Sun Unity Sect's heartland.
It could be said that as long as the Sun Unity Sect existed, True Lord Fa Xuan's faction could continue to survive.
True Lord Fa Xuan seemed to have truly done too much for the Sun Unity Sect.
So much so that the Sun Unity Sect actually treated him as one of their own, allowing him to develop peacefully within their heartland.
Even if the Earth Firmament Sect declined in the future, they would ultimately still be able to keep the title of a Golden Core Sect.
The Sun Unity Sect wouldn't allow a Golden Core Sect within its heartland to become unable to produce even a single Golden Core True Lord.
And True Lord Yan Shan, indeed just as He Song had previously thought, took the people of the Mountain Lineage and established another Golden Core Sect.
The people of the Mountain Lineage, within the original Earth Firmament Sect, were almost incompatible with the other latecomers.
Due to their bloodline connections, the people of the Mountain Lineage were exceptionally united, but also extremely exclusive.
Under such circumstances, the two sides couldn't merge and could naturally only form their own factions, each supporting a Golden Core True Lord as their respective backer.
And once such a situation formed, it was like one mountain cannot accommodate two tigers, unless one tiger's strength reached an extreme, capable of crushing the other.
Previously, the coexistence of True Lord Yan Shan and True Lord Fa Xuan was maintained under such conditions.
As someone from the Sun Unity Sect, True Lord Fa Xuan had no fear of True Lord Yan Shan.
And True Lord Yan Shan also had his own base; even if True Lord Fa Xuan won over everyone from the other faction, it couldn't harm his foundation.
The Mountain Lineage was always bound by blood ties.
It was precisely under these circumstances that the two were able to remain peaceful for so many years.
Now, since the previous matters had concluded, it was naturally time for things to fall apart.
Neither True Lord Fa Xuan nor True Lord Yan Shan was the type to tolerate someone else sleeping beside their bed.
Able to be the sole master.
It was absolutely impossible for the two to continue cooperating as before.
Even if their relationship had become quite good due to many years of interaction, that wasn't a reason for them to continue cooperating.
Thus.
When both harbored the intention to stand independently.
It was perfectly normal for the Earth Firmament Sect to split in two.
And it was precisely because He Song had considered this matter earlier, knowing that the two definitely couldn't cooperate forever.
Therefore, He Song wasn't too surprised by the Earth Firmament Sect splitting in two.
The splitting of the Earth Firmament Sect had no impact on He Song.
Back then, after learning about this, He Song merely felt a brief moment of emotion before immersing himself in closed-door cultivation once more.
Besides this.
He Song heard quite a bit of other news as well.
During these ten years.
The great war between the Sun Unity Sect and the God Locking Cult still hadn't ceased.
However, because the Sun Unity Sect had launched a major counteroffensive ten years ago and pushed the battle lines completely to the former border between the two great Nascent Soul Sects.
Therefore, during these ten years, although the two sides still hadn't stopped the war, their battle lines never saw any major breakthroughs.
Now, ten years later, the battle line between the Sun Unity Sect and the God Locking Cult remained on that previous border.
Which was near the former territory of the Earth Firmament Sect.
Regarding this, Meng Guan and Wei Fan had sent messages to He Song, expressing their thoughts.
The two of them, during a lull in the fighting, had traveled together to the Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market.
From their descriptions, He Song also learned what the Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market looked like now.
Previously, the God Locking Cult had once occupied the Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market, and it was unknown whether the True Person guarding it had fled or been killed.
Afterward, the place had been continuously managed by people sent by the God Locking Cult.
Calculating the time, it had already been several decades since the Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market fell into the hands of the God Locking Cult.
During such a long period, although the God Locking Cult didn't place much importance on the Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market, basic management was still maintained.
Previously, a Foundation Establishment True Person from the God Locking Cult had been stationed there permanently, providing protection for the Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market.
And the Qi Refining cultivators within the Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market who lacked the ability to travel far to the Sun Unity Sect's territory naturally remained there, governed by the God Locking Cult.
Over these decades, the Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market had indeed undergone many changes.
Within the Immortal Market, the number of demonic cultivators had greatly increased.
Most of the Qi Refining cultivators who originally practiced the Earth Firmament Art had also switched to demonic cultivation techniques, becoming true demonic cultivators.
Even the rogue cultivators emerging from the mortal world mostly practiced demonic cultivation techniques.
The God Locking Cult was inherently a demonic cult; the Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market under its jurisdiction would inevitably be dominated by demonic cultivators.
Furthermore, according to He Song's speculation, the areas around Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market, even around Blue Wall Immortal City, indeed the entire former territory of the Earth Firmament Sect, and those large areas occupied by the God Locking Cult.
The mortal dynasties within them had likely undergone earth-shattering changes due to the arrival of the God Locking Cult.
Perhaps, in the mortal world, the God Locking Cult had long overthrown the dynasties previously supported by the major sects and replaced them with their own.
Under such circumstances, the reason why cultivators emerging from the mortal world were basically all demonic cultivators became readily apparent.
All the various changes within the Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market were relayed to He Song by Meng Guan and Wei Fan.
Regarding these changes.
And the subsequent sentiments expressed by the two in their letters, He Song couldn't help but sigh inwardly as his gaze swept over them back then.
Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market.
It was the starting place for He Song, Meng Guan, and Wei Fan.
Now, all three had already stepped into the Golden Core Realm.
A small Immortal Market had actually produced three Golden Core True Lords.
If this matter were told, it would likely become a celebrated tale, perhaps even attracting large numbers of cultivators to stop by.
They might even rush here from distant lands just to reach this place and witness its splendor.
For an Immortal Market capable of nurturing three Golden Core True Lords, likely everyone from mortals below to Foundation Establishment cultivators above would come to observe, hoping to gain some of its good fortune.
However, although He Song and the other two had all reached the Golden Core Realm now.
Their starting place had already changed beyond recognition, with things and people no longer the same.
When Meng Guan and Wei Fan set foot on the land of Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market again, they discovered the place was no longer as it used to be.
Everything the three had experienced in the Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market back then had also been quietly submerged by the passage of time.
The two who went to the Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market felt incredibly emotional.
And He Song, far away in the Gourd State of the Purple Cloud Sect, also felt very emotional after seeing their messages.
Decades ago.
The three had gathered and drunk heartily in the Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market.
But now, decades later, the Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market of the past had lost its former appearance.
The Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market, now overrun with demonic cultivators, likely no longer possessed the scenery of before.
As this thought flashed through his mind, He Song quickly shook his head again.
The current prevalence of demonic cultivators in Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market was actually due to its previous occupation by the God Locking Cult.
If the Sun Unity Sect were to recapture this place later and another few decades passed.
This Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market, currently overrun with demonic cultivators, would likely revert to its original state.
Although various buildings and structures might have changed, at least the situation of demonic cultivators running rampant within the Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market would no longer exist.
At that time, perhaps this Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market would become as peaceful as it once was.
Several decades were enough to transform the original Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market into its current state, overrun by demonic cultivators.
If several more decades passed, while it might be unlikely for Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market to return to its exact original appearance, it was still possible for it to return to a time without demonic cultivators.
When there were no longer any demonic cultivators within Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market.
Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market would naturally become the Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market of before.
He Song saw this point quite clearly.
In the cultivation world.
The only things that stood perpetually were the gathering places for cultivators, such as Immortal Markets, Immortal Cities, and Immortal States.
As for the individual cultivators residing within them, they were all merely passersby.
With this thought in mind, He Song sighed emotionally once more, then put the matter aside.
Meanwhile, Meng Guan and Wei Fan.
After sending messages to He Song and expressing their sentiments, also hurried back to the battlefield to continue the standoff with the God Locking Cult cultivators.
According to Meng Guan and Wei Fan, although the war between the Sun Unity Sect and the God Locking Cult had not ceased during these ten years.
Compared to before, its intensity had decreased to a certain extent.
Now, throughout these entire ten years, neither Meng Guan nor Wei Fan had experienced any major battles.
Both sides seemed to be intentionally avoiding conflict, yet unwilling to easily end the war.
Therefore, Meng Guan and Wei Fan, on the front lines of the battlefield, naturally found themselves with more leisure time.
This was why they were able to go to the Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market to reminisce about the past.
If the fighting had been intense.
They probably wouldn't have had the leisure or inclination to take a trip to the Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market.
Regarding this.
He Song was momentarily speechless.
After his speechlessness, he felt a slight sense of helplessness.
Meng Guan and Wei Fan weren't in closed-door cultivation; being amidst the war, the matter of seclusion was quite distant for them.
After all, the God Locking Cult could attack at any moment.
If they were to enter seclusion at such a time, perhaps by the time they emerged, large swarms of God Locking Cult cultivators would be right before their eyes.
That would be truly tragic.
And precisely because of this, He Song, who had been in a state of closed-door cultivation for ten years and unable to travel far, naturally felt a trace of helplessness.
He Song, constantly in closed-door cultivation, simply couldn't travel far.
Even when going out to sell the treasures he refined and purchase materials, He Song tried his best to shorten his time outside.
Under these circumstances.
Upon hearing that Meng Guan and Wei Fan could actually go out during their leisure time for a trip to the Bamboo Mountain Immortal Market.
He still felt somewhat helpless.
Meng Guan and Wei Fan were on the battlefield, yet they could still go out for a stroll in their free time.
But what about himself?
Constantly in seclusion, even needing to calculate the time spent going out to procure supplies and sell his refined treasures.
This...
However, just as this thought flashed through He Song's mind, another idea quickly emerged.
At least, staying constantly within his temporary immortal cave, his own safety was more guaranteed than that of Meng Guan and Wei Fan.
They were on the battlefield.
While he was under the protection of numerous great formations.
Moreover, he was only in seclusion, not trapped here.
As long as he wanted to, he could also go out during his free time and wander elsewhere.
Even if for no other reason than to lift his spirits.
He didn't need to worry at all about the little time consumed.
After all, as a Long-lived One, He Song was not short on time.
It was just that previously, such a thought had never occurred to He Song, nor had he acted upon it.
As this thought flashed through his mind, He Song felt relieved.
And besides the news about the war between the Sun Unity Sect and the God Locking Cult, and the occasional messages from Meng Guan and Wei Fan to He Song.
He Song also received quite a few messages from True Lord Luo Jing and True Lord Yun Jing during these ten years.
These two True Lords, Luo Jing and Yun Jing, after the Sun Unity Sect had completely driven the God Locking Cult back to the previous border between the two sides.
Had left the Green Moon Prefecture and returned to the Cloud State Prefecture.
Within the Cloud State Prefecture.
The reunited master and disciples were overjoyed.
And He Song, naturally, also received many messages from these two True Lords, Luo Jing and Yun Jing, during this time.
Both were acquainted with He Song, and both also wished to foster a good relationship with him.
Under these circumstances, He Song received two messages almost every time.
Regarding this, He Song felt helpless.
But he had no choice but to take them out and read them each time, responding to the two as appropriate.
Previously, these two True Lords, Luo Jing and Yun Jing, had helped He Song considerably.
He Song naturally couldn't just give them the cold shoulder.
And from their continuous messages, He Song also gradually learned about some other matters.
As cultivators of the Treasure Gathering Pavilion, the channels through which True Lord Luo Jing and True Lord Yun Jing received news were far superior to He Song's.
Even a small piece of news leaked from their mouths could probably keep He Song pondering for quite a while.
End of Chapter