The method of Qi Yun sacrifice held significant renown across the Tai Ancient, Desolate Ancient, and High Ancient epochs.
Ancient scrolls meticulously detailed the advantages and disadvantages of the Qi Yun sacrifice.
The Qi Yun sacrifice was a desperate measure employed by a race, in times of extreme peril, to ensure its continuation. It involved expending the race's own Qi Yun to unleash a potent secret art, one that inflicted a thousand wounds on the enemy while causing eight hundred to oneself.
While such a secret art possessed the power to alter heavens and earth, even reverse time, it would drain a race of the majority of its Qi Yun.
Many races, after employing the Qi Yun sacrifice, managed to annihilate their foes. However, due to the depletion of their Qi Yun, they ultimately failed to preserve their own lineage, leading to their demise and extinction.
Thus, in a certain sense, the Qi Yun sacrifice could be considered a precarious, heaven-defying technique.
Precisely because of this, the Qi Yun sacrifice had been lost since the late High Ancient era.
Yet now, Liu Xie, while holding a slight advantage, had resorted to this legendary secret art. Such an action had utterly astonished everyone.
"No... judging by Liu Xie's demeanor, he had planned this long ago, meticulously preparing for it!"
"If that's the case, then all of this must be a grand trap..."
...
To put it in simpler terms, with a bit of careful thought, one could grasp that a colossal conspiracy lay hidden within all of this.
If, prior to this, the cultivators of the four great families harbored any lingering hopes or illusions...
Then, as the bloody reality unfolded before their eyes, all such fantasies were shattered.
...
By this point, even the least astute individual could discern that the four great families had been allowed to reach the imperial capital, Chang'an City, with such ease solely because the Liu imperial family had deliberately let them in!
If this wasn't a conspiracy, then what was?
...
"Chang'an Formation Center, commence!"
Ignoring everyone present, Liu Xie declared in a loud voice using the transmission technique.
Initially, everyone believed Liu Xie's plan had reached its conclusion, and it was time for the grand unveiling.
However, the subsequent voices that echoed left them dumbfounded, for it signified that this matter was far from over...
As Liu Xie's voice faded, several other voices rose in unison, their power undiminished.
"Shenglong City Formation, East Corner, commence!"
Equally sonorous voices rang out almost simultaneously, as if responding to each other.
"Romance City Formation, West Corner, commence!"
"Jie Ming City Formation, South Corner, commence!"
"Shangqiu City Formation, North Corner, commence!"
...........................................
The echoes of these voices converged, reverberating through every corner of the vast expanse.
By now, even the dim-witted cultivators, those with a few screws loose, realized they had fallen into a massive trap.
Some timid cultivators, terrified by this celestial power, trembled uncontrollably, consumed by fear.
The bolder cultivators fared no better, their hands clutching their magical artifacts and treasures tightly, like startled rabbits.
Within this battlefield, whether from the four great families or the Liu imperial family, most faces were etched with shock, horror, and disbelief.
Logically, only the four great families and their subordinate forces should have felt shock, horror, and dread.
For they were the ones ensnared, the ones about to face mortal danger.
Yet, a considerable number of cultivators from the Liu imperial family, particularly those of lower standing, displayed expressions of discontent, even resentment, despite being the ones who should have benefited from this conspiracy.
Because no one was a fool. The immense stir created by the Liu imperial family in the rear indicated that a significant portion of their strength had been dedicated to this earth-shattering conspiracy.
In other words, the Liu cultivators still fighting desperately on the battlefield were not only overlooked and distrusted by their superiors but were also being treated as pawns and cannon fodder.
Humans are human because they possess emotions: they can cry, laugh, be happy, and be sad...
Upon discovering they were being used as pawns and fodder, these lower-ranking cultivators of the Liu imperial family naturally felt dissatisfaction, even outright fury!
...
"Liu Xie, tell us, what exactly are you trying to do? What do you want?"
As the de facto leader of the four great families, Wang Quanyue's strength was naturally not to be underestimated.
If Liu Xie was acknowledged as the foremost figure in the Purple State's cultivation world, then Wang Quanyue was universally considered the second.
In response to Wang Quanyue's question, Liu Xie maintained his characteristic smiling demeanor, seemingly oblivious to the terrifying killing intent and chilling aura emanating from Wang Quanyue in his rage.
Forcing down his anger, Wang Quanyue frowned and spoke, "I believe this entire situation is merely a misunderstanding. After all, we have had ties for many years; we are connected by bone and sinew..."
"Fellow Daoist Liu Xie, if you simply nod your head now, our four great families will immediately withdraw our forces and pledge allegiance to your Liu imperial family once more. We will publicly acknowledge your title as Immortal Emperor, what do you say?"
Wang Quanyue's words immediately caused a stir among the millions of cultivators on the battlefield.
Although Wang Quanyue did not appear particularly weak in his words, the tone and meaning conveyed indicated that the ancestor of the Wang family was backing down.
The leader of the rebel forces, the vanguard of the noble families, the leading figure, had surrendered.
The ancestor of the Wang family, to Liu Shi Immortal Emperor.
In the past, news of this would have immediately sent shockwaves through the Purple State's cultivation world, simultaneously influencing and altering countless matters.
...
The prestige of the Liu Shi Immortal Emperor would soar instantaneously.
Whether for offensive or defensive maneuvers, leveraging power for negotiations, or dividing and conquering, any tactic would become incredibly effective with such unprecedented political authority.
Then, with gradual effort, many issues could be resolved smoothly, eliminating the need to turn the entire Purple State's cultivation world into a land of burning fires, suffering, and scattered corpses.
Of course, it was now too late to say anything. The Purple State's cultivation world was in chaos, a time of great turmoil.
In the current state of affairs, all previous matters of power, face, connections, background, and origin became insignificant...
What is a chaotic era?
A chaotic era is one that shatters all order and balance of the old era, destroys everything, and then rebuilds anew.
It is precisely for this reason that in a chaotic era, a person's status is determined most crucially by the strength of their sword and the hardness of their fist.
As an old saying goes, "Heroes emerge in times of chaos!"
Most famous heroes and ambitious figures in history appeared during periods of warring chaos.
Brilliant generals, vying emperors, and legends that endure for millennia all arose from the frequent clashes of the era's greatest prodigies in the Great Competition.
However, apart from the ambitious, most people disliked chaotic times.
For those with ability, ambition, and aspirations, a chaotic era presented an unparalleled opportunity.
It was a chance for them to change their destiny, to leap the dragon's gate and soar to unprecedented heights.
But for the majority of ordinary people, chaotic times meant separation from loved ones and ruin.
The internal strife among the cultivators of the Purple State, which ignited this monumental war, though it did not directly impact the mortal world, its mere repercussions caused unrest even there.
The official cultivators of the Great Jin Celestial Dynasty, who maintained order in the cultivation world and suppressed ruthless, wicked demonic cultivators, managing the entire realm, were struggling to protect themselves. How could they possibly have the time or inclination to manage matters concerning mortals?
It was precisely because of this that many ill-intentioned cultivators began to infiltrate counties, towns, and villages, causing widespread destruction.
Though mortals harbored the will to resist, how could they possibly contend with cultivators who wielded spells and magical artifacts?
For cultivators above the Core Formation stage, mortals held no value. Even in their most desperate state, they would not prey on mortals.
Conversely, having reached a certain height and broadened their horizons and knowledge, they understood that the mortal and cultivation worlds were interdependent. They would even suppress those who wantonly slaughtered mortals, preserving the mortal population.
...
However, for cultivators in the Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment stages, even mortals without spiritual roots were a valuable resource in their eyes.
While their flesh and souls might not fetch many spirit stones, they were sufficient for crafting certain unorthodox magical artifacts and spells.
Furthermore, they did not consider the broader implications, which is why most cultivators who harmed mortals were those in the Qi Refining stage!
And it was precisely the Qi Refining stage cultivators who were the most numerous in the cultivation world. This led to the ensuing turmoil in the mortal world as a consequence of the cultivation world's instability.
...
From this perspective, the master and disciple pair, Wu Tao and Ye Yu, had truly caused immense harm.
If this world's Heavenly Dao possessed a complete consciousness, it would have, without a doubt, immediately descended a lightning tribulation to strike down Wu Tao and Ye Yu!