Outside the Sin Star, inside the palace of the temporary residence, there was a massive sand table. The sand table reflected the entire topography of the Sin Star, and within it, numerous golden and black points of light were moving about.
Each golden point of light represented a martial artist participating in the Dao Discussion Assembly, while each black point of light represented a convict on the Sin Star.
Depending on their cultivation, the brightness of these golden and black points varied slightly.
The brightest among them were unmistakably Sixth-Order Open Heaven cultivators from both sides — there were only twenty or thirty of them in total.
The Dao Discussion Assembly had already begun, and the Seventh-Order Open Heaven Elders who had led their respective delegations from the various Great Caves and Blessed Lands were far from idle. They took turns stationed before the sand table, observing the progress and developments of the assembly.
Now, more than half a year had passed. The assembly was proceeding smoothly, and occasionally a golden or black point of light could be seen disappearing on the sand table — indicating the fall of a participating martial artist or a convict.
However, what truly piqued the interest of the many Seventh-Order Open Heaven cultivators was a particular golden point of light. Judging by its brightness, that person was undoubtedly a Sixth-Order Open Heaven. From the very start of the assembly, this individual had hooked up with a Sixth-Order convict on the Sin Star, the two of them inseparable, cutting down one enemy after another in succession.
Eventually, after the Convict Alliance was formed, the two separated. The black point of light representing the convict joined the alliance. Meanwhile, the golden point of light didn't stay idle for long before linking up with another group of four participants.
Who those four were specifically, no one knew — only that they were absolutely disciples from one of the Great Caves or Blessed Lands, because two among them were Sixth-Order Open Heaven cultivators.
Though they couldn't see what was actually happening on the Sin Star, the veteran high-order Open Heaven cultivators observing the sand table were all shrewd old foxes. After watching the situation unfold, how could they not have their suspicions?
The most likely scenario was that a Sixth-Order convict on the Sin Star had been turned by one of the participants, becoming his insider. Leveraging this insider's power, the participant had been able to strike repeatedly, successfully slaying many Sixth-Order convicts and earning an impressive record.
The Elders leading each delegation wore expressions of approval, yet couldn't suppress their curiosity — which Great Cave or Blessed Land did this disciple come from? Such methods and ability brought tremendous honor to one's Sect.
After all, turning a fellow Sixth-Order cultivator to your side was no easy feat. What kind of inducements had been offered to transform enemies into allies?
They had made inquiries of Xu Linggong on more than one occasion. This sand table was a creation of Yin-Yang Heaven, and while others might not know who each point of light represented, Xu Linggong might very well know.
Yet the old fox deflected every question, claiming he didn't know the situation on the Sin Star either. The various delegations had no choice but to wait patiently; once the assembly concluded, everything would naturally come to light.
However, today, the Elders who had gathered to observe the sand table were in the midst of a furious argument before Xu Linggong.
The reason was simple — those young ones who had been acting together had blundered into an ambush by the Convict Alliance. One Fifth-Order cultivator fell on the spot. Although two managed to escape, the remaining two Sixth-Order cultivators appeared to have been captured. If a rescue wasn't mounted soon, they would likely die right there.
The Convict Alliance had sent all nine of its Sixth-Order Open Heaven cultivators in full force. Those young ones simply had no way to resist.
No one knew which delegations the two captured Sixth-Order cultivators belonged to — but what if they were from their own? Those were once-in-a-millennium prodigies, future cornerstones of their respective powers. They absolutely could not be lost during the Dao Discussion Assembly.
Over a dozen Great Cave and Blessed Land Elders joined forces to pressure Xu Linggong into opening the Sin Star's grand formation so they could go in and rescue them.
Xu Linggong couldn't have cared less. The scene devolved into near chaos, and it almost came to blows.
"Xu Linggong, are you going to open the Sin Star formation or not?" Duan Ruishan of Wuxiang Heaven snarled, his expression vicious as he glared at Xu Linggong.
"The Dao Discussion Assembly runs for one year. Until the assembly concludes, no one is permitted to intervene." Xu Linggong swept a cold gaze toward Duan Ruishan.
"Brother Xu, we understand the difficulty of your position," Lu Zhengyang of the Azure Abyss Blessed Land appealed to reason, "but now that such a major incident has occurred during the assembly, you really must make an exception. The elite Core Disciples of every delegation are in there. If something were to happen..."
"Then that is their fate!" Xu Linggong snorted coldly. "Before the assembly began, this Lord already stated — life and death during this assembly are not held accountable, and participants bear their own consequences. Since they chose to participate, they should have been mentally prepared to be beaten to death."
"Brother Xu, this Sin Star formation is impressive enough, but it can't possibly stop all of us, can it?" Zhuo Buqun of the Shura Heaven said, fixing Xu Linggong with a steady gaze.
Xu Linggong turned his head to look and snorted, "Trying to scare me? I didn't grow up being scared! If any of you want to marry my, Xu Linggong's, disciple, you'd better demonstrate extraordinary ability. If they really die in the Dao Discussion Assembly, then it just proves they weren't worthy! Go ahead — try breaking through the Sin Star formation for me! And if anyone dares interfere in the assembly, don't blame me for turning hostile!"
"Brother Xu, are you truly going to be this obstinate?"
"Bring it on!" Xu Linggong bellowed. "Send word to the Supreme Elder — tell him someone is trying to sabotage the Dao Discussion Assembly and that I can't handle them alone. Have the Supreme Elder deal with it personally! And crank the Sin Star formation to its absolute limit! Every disciple currently in the Sect is to station themselves outside the Sin Star. Anyone who trespasses is to be killed without mercy!"
"Disciples obey!" Behind him, Su Yingxue and Qing Kui cupped their fists in salute, then turned and raced back into the heart of Yin-Yang Heaven.
The faces of the Elders from the various Great Caves and Blessed Lands turned ashen...
A Supreme Elder of a Great Cave — that was an Eighth-Order Open Heaven cultivator. Though there were over a dozen Seventh-Order Open Heaven cultivators present, even if they all joined forces, they might not be a match.
"Old Xu, there's no need for this. It's a trivial matter — why involve the Supreme Elder?" Someone stepped forward to mediate.
Xu Linggong stiffened his neck. "You forced my hand!"
The man sighed and shook his head. "Acting like this, you won't have any friends."