This old man with swollen lips is none other than the current Sect Master of Cloud Dragon Mountain, known as Blackwind, a Peak Powerhouse of Qi Refining Ninth Layer! He stands on the same level as the two Island Masters of Canglan Island, just half a step away from the mysterious Foundation Establishment True Person Realm.
"Sect Master, the area bordering our Cloud Dragon Mountain is already troublesome enough with Red Lion Cave. Now if another Golden Toad Cave appears..." An old man with a hooked nose rose and spoke.
This sinister elder is Lau Pang, one of the Five Guardian Elders of Cloud Dragon Mountain. Although he also possesses the Qi Refining Ninth Layer Realm, he is far less formidable than Blackwind, as he is just an ordinary Qi Refining Ninth Layer without reaching the peak.
"Indeed, Golden Toad Cave and Red Lion Cave are both among the Thirteen Grottoes under Purple Flame Palace. If they grow strong and unite, they could pose a potential threat to our Cloud Dragon Mountain in the future. We cannot ignore such a potential threat..." Another one-eyed gray-haired elder spoke in a sinister tone.
This one-eyed gray-haired elder, named Li Yunjian, is also one of the Five Guardian Elders of Cloud Dragon Mountain. He possesses Qi Refining Ninth Layer level strength, with combat power comparable to Lau Pang.
"However, Golden Toad Cave is still under the banner of Purple Flame Palace. If we rashly take action against them, it might incur dissatisfaction from Purple Flame Palace over there." Another voice interjected with some concern.
In the past, Cloud Dragon Mountain was willing to let Red Lion Cave and Golden Toad Cave exist because the former had two Second Level Late Stage Beast powerhouses, and Second Cave Master Yun Shi Taoist of Red Lion Cave had some slight relation with a big figure in Ghost Wolf City, making them dread taking action directly.
As for Golden Toad Cave, it was too weak, lacking any powerhouse of Qi Refining Ninth Layer that could hold the scene, thus it was never considered a climate. Therefore, Cloud Dragon Mountain had been reluctant to make a move.
But now the situation is different. A force with a powerhouse of Qi Refining Ninth Layer is completely different from a force without one!
Even a superpower like Cloud Dragon Mountain, with experts of Foundation Establishment True Person Realm, does not wish to see their opponent grow strong. But if we want to preemptively eliminate such a threat in its cradle, we must consider and care about the connection to Purple Flame Palace over there.
No matter what, Golden Toad Cave is now still labeled under the Thirteen Grottoes under Purple Flame Palace.
Even if you want to hit the dog, you have to see the owner first, right? You can't just ignore everything and forcefully attack?
If that's the case, wouldn't it just provide Purple Flame Palace an opportunity and excuse to strike against Cloud Dragon Mountain?
The relationship between Cloud Dragon Mountain and Purple Flame Palace is just like that of Red Lion Cave with Cloud Dragon Mountain. They also do not wish to see Cloud Dragon Mountain grow strong in the North Side Area of Eagle Gorge...
"Hmph, even if Purple Flame Palace is dissatisfied, what can they do to our Cloud Dragon Mountain? Don't forget, we also have backing." Lau Pang snorted disdainfully, speaking indifferently.
"Alright!"
At this moment, Sect Master Blackwind of Cloud Dragon Mountain frowned and abruptly interrupted.
"It's just a mere Golden Toad Cave. Even with the addition of a Qi Refining Ninth Layer, they are not in a position to threaten our Cloud Dragon Mountain in the future. Such a weak force, if Cloud Dragon Mountain wishes to attack, wouldn't it easily wipe them out with just a single move?" Blackwind said coldly.
"Of course! Just a mere Qi Refining Ninth Layer, nothing more than chickens and dogs. I, Lau Pang, or any elder can easily wipe them out without leaving a trace." Lau Pang promptly nodded in agreement, speaking as if it were the logical course.
"In spite of this, if there is no good reason to directly wipe them out, it would seem somewhat ostentatious, bringing trouble. Here's the plan—the Red Lion Cave Daoist recently sent an invitation to a birthday banquet, right? I think that newcomer in Golden Toad Cave would definitely attend! Lau Pang, accompany Xiao Long on a run and follow the etiquette before force. If that guy is willing to secretly pledge allegiance to Cloud Dragon Mountain, let it be. If unwilling, find an excuse to cause trouble with him."
Blackwind's eyes flickered with a mocking expression, and he laughed chillingly.
The person referred to as Xiao Long here is his closed-door disciple, Zhou Long, the peak of Qi Refining Eighth Layer, who has gained some renown in the North Side Area of Eagle Gorge.
"Cause trouble? Brilliant! No wonder you're the Sect Master, truly meticulous and extraordinary in your methods. This way, even if we decide to take military action against Golden Toad Cave later, Purple Flame Palace probably wouldn't have much to say."
Lau Pang was initially stunned, and then clapped his hands together, complimenting Blackwind while laughing heartily.
With this, indeed their reason to act becomes sufficient!
"Haha!" Blackwind laughed wildly upwards, his laughter shaking the entire palace.
Very soon, Lau Pang and others were ready. He, along with Zhou Long and others, descended from Cloud Dragon Mountain towards Red Lion Cave.
...
Recently, within the region hundreds of miles around Cloud Dragon Mountain, Red Lion Cave, Golden Toad Cave, the atmosphere is undoubtedly heightened and explosive! This change is evidently due to the changing hands of Golden Toad Cave, as they officially announce to the outside world that the Primordial Golden Toad Cave is now formally renamed as Enlightened Deity Cave.
What the Golden Toad Cave is renamed to is clearly not a concern for everyone in this region; it's just a change of designation! However, the transfer of ownership of this Cave Master is something that absolutely shocks them, like causing a huge uproar!
After all, does anyone not know what it means when a Cave Master changes hands? Now that the Golden Toad Cave, oh wait, now the Enlightened Deity Cave could change its owner, it's certain that the upper echelons of the former Golden Toad Cave must have been completely wiped out!
They either died! Or they were subdued!
Yet, the problem is that the previous Cave Master of the Enlightened Deity Cave, the King of Gilded Toads, was a genuine powerhouse at the peak of the Second Level Middle Stage Beast!
Moreover, the most important thing is that the battle prowess of the King of Gilded Toads is said to be far superior to that of other beasts or cultivators of the same level. In this case, even those genuine powerhouses at the peak of the Second Level Middle Stage Beast may not necessarily be able to deal with it. But now?
But now, it seems like the King of Gilded Toads is dead, even its cave was seized... What kind of divine figure, with such immense power, could accomplish such an astonishing feat!?
Many people felt like their hearts were being scratched by a cat's paw, itching to know the truth.
Such a heated atmosphere even spread to Canglan Island.
Only to see in a certain tavern on Canglan Island, the fiercely debated topic was precisely about the change of ownership and renaming of the Golden Toad Cave, as well as the 150th birthday banquet of Red Lion Daoist.
"Hmph, I say, the person who took over the Golden Toad Cave is a bit too reckless! The relationship between Cloud Dragon Mountain and Red Lion Cave was already deeply troubled, and now with the Enlightened Deity Cave being so high-profile, isn't it just asking for trouble?
"Exactly, the reason why the Golden Toad Cave was able to be so stable before was largely because its strength was too weak. Cloud Dragon Mountain disdained to make a move against it, and Red Lion Cave needed it as a buffer between itself and Cloud Dragon Mountain!"
"Yes, if the Master of the Enlightened Deity Cave truly managed to kill the King of Gilded Toads, then he surely has combat power above the Qi Refining Ninth Layer! And if that's the case, Cloud Dragon Mountain would definitely no longer turn a blind eye and allow it to develop and grow unchecked.
"If it were me, I would act more cautiously before having enough strength; even if controlling from behind the scenes, it would surely be better than being so rash now?"
"But you can't say that. The Master of the Enlightened Deity Cave, being able to eliminate the King of Gilded Toads, doesn't seem to be a fool, so perhaps he has some backing or trump card!?"
"Don't you say, I heard from somewhere that the Master of the Enlightened Deity Cave seems to be an alchemist!"
"What!? Alchemist... But even if he's an alchemist, it depends on the grade, right?"
"But I heard it seems to be above a Third-Level Alchemist!"
"What!? Third-Level Alchemist, that, that's impossible!?"
...
The intense quarrel continued throughout the entire tavern.
And in a secluded corner of the tavern, two elderly men wearing hooded robes sat opposite each other, seemingly listening calmly to the quarrels.
However, when they heard someone say that aside from being a master with Qi Refining Ninth Layer combat power, the Master of the Enlightened Deity Cave might also be a Third-Level Alchemist, one of the old men's expressions slightly changed.
"Blue Whale, did you hear that? The Master of the Enlightened Deity Cave might be a Third-Level Alchemist. There's no smoke without fire; your poison… should we give it a try?" The old man's obscured face had a large mouth, with two crystalline long whiskers on his lips. Hearing this, he quickly looked across to the other old man and spoke.
"Cough, cough cough… Cang Kun, do you believe just because they say so? Those esteemed Third-Level Alchemists, how could they be willing to come to this remote backwater? Besides, even if it's a Third-Level Alchemist, at most it's just a Low Grade Third-Level, right? Liu Qi couldn't handle my poison, can that person cure it? Cough cough, cough…" The other old man coughed tremulously, speaking with a lack of energy, his voice weak.
"No matter what, if there's hope, we should try, shouldn't we? Otherwise, in your current state, you won't be able to hold on much longer. Fine, Blue Whale, listen to me on this; after the Red Lion Daoist's birthday banquet, we'll head to the Enlightened Deity Cave and have a look!"
But the elder known as 'Cang Kun' did not agree, shaking his head firmly and said.
He didn't want to watch his old friend die from poison!
So even if there's a glimmer of hope, they must try, just in case?