When Grand Supreme Elder Xia Ruizhi of the Xia family heard the Qi Sea Ancestor's question, he was greatly astonished.
After a brief pause, he answered cautiously: "Reporting to the Ancestor, our Xia family has indeed been secretly constructing a Human Dao secret realm, named the Human Sea. However, this Human Dao secret realm possesses no offensive capabilities. The reason our Xia family has been building this secret realm is to provide a path of resurrection for our Gu Immortals should war break out in the future."
Xia Ruizhi's words were deliberately vague, but they were not lies. The true purpose of the Xia family's Human Sea was to resurrect their Gu Immortals.
In Fang Yuan's memories from five hundred years in his previous life, the Xia family Gu Immortals who died in foreign battles were not considered truly dead, as they could be resurrected from the Human Sea. Although their Immortal Gu and immortal orifice accumulations would be lost, the Gu Immortals could retain their cultivation base and immortal orifices themselves.
The East Sea's Xia family displayed their prowess through this, and for a period even launched large-scale invasions into the Southern Border. Southern Border Gu Immortals fought against the Xia family, and over time learned and comprehended from them, which eventually prompted the later Chai family to imitate the Human Sea secret realm and develop the Human Mountain secret realm.
The Qi Sea Ancestor stroked his beard: "It seems that when Wu Shuai led the Two Heavens Alliance's Gu Immortals to proactively attack your Xia family, one of his primary objectives was this Human Sea secret realm. He clearly has different methods of utilizing it. The Human Dao killer moves he can unleash are something even I would struggle to withstand."
The Xia family Gu Immortals present exchanged uneasy glances.
Xia Ruizhi furrowed his brow and muttered softly: "Could it be that our Xia family was ambushed and overrun because news leaked, drawing powerful enemies with the Human Sea secret realm as bait? But this Human Sea secret realm hasn't even been fully constructed yet."
The Qi Sea Ancestor's expression darkened slightly: "If Wu Shuai doesn't possess a complete Human Sea secret realm, then wouldn't that mean once he completes it and has a fully-functional Human Sea, his Human Dao killer moves would become even more powerful?"
Xia Ruizhi forced a smile: "Please don't worry, Ancestor. The construction method for the Human Sea secret realm originated from an ancestor in our clan's history, and has been continuously refined by generation after generation. Wu Shuai doesn't understand the underlying principles—constructing it blindly will only cause the Human Sea to diminish further."
The Qi Sea Ancestor shook his head slightly: "Wu Shuai is an ancient monster from bygone days. He successfully resurrected by borrowing Fang Yuan's strength and is himself cunning and calculating, planning thoroughly before acting. Every time he strikes, it is with the force of thunder and wind, guaranteed to achieve results. Since he already knew your Xia family was constructing the Human Sea secret realm, it's entirely possible he also knows the construction method."
Xia Ruizhi's smile became strained: "That possibility... is rather slim. The method for constructing the Human Sea secret realm is known to only three Supreme Elders in our clan. Right now, everyone who knows is present here. Could it be that there's a traitor among us?"
The Qi Sea Ancestor sighed: "It doesn't necessarily have to be a traitor. Don't forget, Wu Shuai commands the Dragon Palace, which possesses Dream Dao killer moves. It's entirely possible he targeted you through dreams."
"This..." The smile on Xia Ruizhi's face froze completely.
If it were any other Dao path, Xia Ruizhi would have at least some confidence. But when it came to Dream Dao methods, he had absolutely no understanding.
"Elder Xia Ruizhi, fellow Xia family immortals," at this moment, a Tang family Gu Immortal spoke up. "Is it really wise to continue concealing this? You might as well make the Human Sea's construction method public—it would be convenient for everyone to study together and find the flaws in Wu Shuai's Human Dao techniques."
The Xia family Gu Immortals glared in response.
The Human Sea construction method was one of the East Sea Xia family's greatest hidden assets—how could they possibly reveal it casually?
The Tang family Gu Immortal's words were nothing more than a scheme to covet the Human Sea secret realm.
A Xie family representative sneered: "Forgive my bluntness, Xia family members, but what exactly are you still clinging to? Your territory has already been lost. Do you really think you can start from nothing and construct an entirely new Human Sea secret realm from scratch? Do you even understand what the key issue is right now? The Ancestor fought with Wu Shuai and only managed to force him to retreat because of that Human Dao killer move. Once that killer move is broken, what are Wu Shuai and the Two Heavens Alliance forces? When that time comes, won't you simply retake your homeland?"
The Xia family Gu Immortals gritted their teeth in fury.
The Tang and Xie families, as the two great superpowers of the East Sea living as neighbors to the Xia family, naturally had no shortage of friction and conflict with them. So the Gu Immortal representatives from the Tang and Xie families took turns pressing their advantage.
However, despite the suspicion that both families' Gu Immortals were kicking them while they were down, their words did carry some truth.
Even the Xia family Gu Immortals themselves had to admit this.
Xia Ruizhi pondered for a moment before finally making his decision: "The method for constructing the Human Sea is our Xia family's secret, and I absolutely will not reveal it casually. I am only willing to offer this Human Dao essence to the Ancestor!"
The Qi Sea Ancestor had gone to war against Wu Shuai and been injured as a result. Moreover, the Xia family's future hopes essentially all rested on the Qi Sea Ancestor's shoulders. Since the Two Heavens Alliance side had Wu Shuai, only the Qi Sea Ancestor on the East Sea side could directly suppress the Nether Dragon and resist the Dragon Palace.
Xia Ruizhi's move was both to curry favor with the Qi Sea Ancestor and to secure benefits for himself and his family.
But the Qi Sea Ancestor shook his head slightly: "My asking about this was merely to confirm a few things. Keep this Human Sea construction method for yourselves. I have no achievements in the Dao of Humanity—even if I obtained this method, I would still struggle to counter Wu Shuai's techniques."
Xia Ruizhi grew anxious and was about to speak, but the Qi Sea Ancestor raised his hand to cut him off: "You Xia family members can rest easy. Wu Shuai is a Dragonman, and the Two Heavens Alliance forces are primarily composed of non-human Gu Immortals—they are the common enemy of all Five Regions! If they invaded the other four regions, that would be one thing. But they deliberately targeted the East Sea, and as a member of the human race, it is my unshirkable duty to resist the foreign tribes."
"The Ancestor's noble virtue!" The Gu Immortals present all praised in unison.
The Qi Sea Ancestor continued: "However, I am currently injured and must enter seclusion to recuperate. As for Wu Shuai, his injuries are even more severe—in the short term, he certainly won't be making any moves. All of you may rest easy for now."
The Qi Sea Ancestor paused, then added: "Once I have recovered, I will ask all factions to unite their forces and jointly march against the Two Heavens Alliance."
"We will certainly follow the Ancestor's instructions."
"With the Ancestor leading us, the East Sea has nothing to fear!"
"Without the Ancestor's intervention, the East Sea would have already suffered catastrophic devastation. Having the Ancestor safeguard the East Sea is truly the fortune of our region, the fortune of all living beings!"
The East Sea Gu Immortals showered him with flattery, each trying to outdo the last.
But Xia Ruizhi's expression remained troubled. He and the other Xia family Gu Immortals had become homeless refugees. Their territory couldn't be retaken anytime soon—what were they supposed to do during this time?
The Qi Sea Ancestor smiled: "Before the great army sets out on its campaign, fellow Xia family immortals, why not remain in the Qi Sea as my guests?"