Hou Niao left the Hong Ye Dao Institute somewhat disheveled. Originally, he had intended to linger a few more hours, have a meal, and chat about the lives of young girls. But now, he dared not talk, fearing that this thoughtless fellow might let slip a few words that reveal heavenly secrets.

The Way of Divination comes with exceedingly harsh heavenly punishments; it's best not to look at anything, not to divine anything. Divining trivial matters, seeking wealth and showing off, or even deceiving others, is nothing to fret over. There's always a method to round out this causality.

The most fearful scenario is akin to Zhao Xintong's case, looking at his future and the future of Jinxiu — this touches the reverse scale of the Heavenly Dao. Hence, her current skeletal appearance; if only seen and not spoken, there's still salvation, avoiding the fate of losing one's life. It's most deadly when one shares what they've seen with someone actively planning a scheme; then, salvation is unlikely.

He feared this deeply.

The crux is, such predictions hold no practical use; this is a changing world, its trends, its processes. Altering something due to foresight inevitably changes everything that follows, and predictably, the outcome for you will likely become worse.

So historical successes in divination must be qualified by periods and limitations. Diviners pride themselves, "See, I got it right!"

But if the timeline is extended, looking further and deeper, these predictions fail, eventually becoming a failed attempt.

Changing fate through divination is unreliable; it alters small destinies at the risk of affecting larger ones. You may avoid a small disaster, only to encounter a greater calamity, realizing the value of the small disaster too late, with no chance to turn back.

He explained this reasoning thoroughly to Zhao Xintong, unsure if she comprehended.

For each person, everyone has their timeline; a friend might aim to improve your life over hundreds of years, while you contemplate your life in millennia. This misalignment renders short spans of divination useless.

Of course, he also didn't know how far Zhao Xintong could divine, nor did he wish to know.

A known life loses the significance of struggle, becoming mere repetition, which is not what he desired.

He hesitated to ponder what the future holds; the only certainty was it would surpass his understanding, rendering any thought futile.

As one simple monk suggested, this issue transcends the scope of Jinxiu Continent, involving the entire universe. Zhao Xintong mimicked his audacious courage, yet all he did was engage in combat — what could he influence? However, even as a small Golden Core, she endlessly contemplated heavenly secrets — isn't this courting death?

Taihao Sect has existed on the continent for nearly two thousand years, making significant strides in divination. Most cultivators there understood this principle, rarely offering predictions of fortune or calamity to individuals. They prudently acted deaf, blind, and foolish, hence the shift toward self-preservation.

Yet Zhao Xintong remained indifferent; he knew it stemmed from her concern for his safety, but he couldn't conceive a proper method to thoroughly quench her recklessness.

Although their time together grew increasingly scarce as they matured, passing by quickly, their mutual care ran deep, and he couldn't ignore it.

Taihao Sect's Upper Realm preacher comes from Tianling, the Daoist Huang Ze; a conversation seemed necessary. Zhao Xintong's temper was too tenacious. She feared not their connection, but might heed advice from an Upper Realm preacher's experience.

...Two days later, the southwest Daoists gathered in Taihao. This assembly wasn't as grand as the one at Lizhi Sea, but nine Daoist lineages combined with twenty Nascent Souls and fifteen hundred Golden Cores. The tight timeframe excluded notification of the scattered southwest loose cultivators, given their dispersal.

Sword Sect, Anhe, Taihao, Gaochang, Xinye, Huncheng, Blood Transformation, Wo Sect, Baishen — nine lineages; technically, there are ten in the southwest, but Ying Platform is far removed, needing surveillance over Lizhi Sea's depths, thus struggling to partake in continental actions, especially efficient swift maneuvers pressing urgency.

This force cannot be deemed decisive yet, but qualifies as a formidable auxiliary, nearing the weakest southwestern region's full strength amid five territories, capable of effecting change.

Upon everyone's arrival, Hou Niao revealed their objective. The renowned Great Cultivators had no opposition to the Northeastern initiative followed by continental sweeping. A practical strategy with clear benefits, especially given Southeast's reinforcement of Northwest, further defining its purpose, and unwilling to vie for merit amid Southeast Daoist's endeavor.

Gaochang's Buddhist Sect and Xinye's Buddhist Sect were particularly eager, thrilled by the unexpected support of their own kin, promptly volunteering as the vanguard, which Hou Niao gladly accepted.

He preferred others to lead up front.

On the ninth day, they discreetly approached Yaoguang Mountain Range, arranged by the Buddhist Sect to guide them within.

"Wolong Stream, Yaoguang Mountain Demon's advance base camp, this location we've long confirmed, houses ample resources while constant arrivals from Ten Thousand Mountains gather here before marching to the frontline."

Mountain Demons requiring forward bases? This overturns human perception, yet nothing unusual for Yaoguang Mountain Demons.

The Demon Clan enjoys blood feasts but disdains human flesh, reportedly due to human meat's rottenness, an unpleasant sour stench; truly most carnivorous creatures incline toward herbivores, regarding each other's meat with distaste.

The myth of consuming cultivated creatures' flesh exponentially boosting powers is baseless; Demons' value resides in their Demon Cores, alongside rare parts, like skin armor, horns, teeth, etc. Human bodies are woefully useless, as humanity's most precious asset, wisdom, is unsnatchable, uneatable.

Tens of thousands of Mountain Demons descending presents substantial blood feast demand, reliant partly on plunder, partly on transport; Buddhist Sect nations' strong defense lines thwart raids necessitating cumbersome conveyance from Ten Thousand Mountains.

Mountain Demons survive absence of blood feast, maintaining vigor through spiritual energy absorption, yet millennia-old habits keep them grasping for satiety, believing starved bellies hinder battle ability — merely psychological bias.

Yet Mountain Demons' leadership won't dare relinquish control; the unruly livestock lack discipline, unchecked supplies prompt scatter, risking inability for human confrontation.

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