Breaking through to the Profound Immortal realm requires internalizing one of the Immortal World's Laws and forging a Profound Sigil.
So, when it's time to go into seclusion for the breakthrough, it can't be done inside the Divine Temple, because the Law power there is completely different from the Immortal World's.
However, things at Earth-Prime Hall aren't fully settled yet, so Ian Song plans to wait until the situation stabilizes, push Nangong Mingyue up as the new hall master, and then officially go into seclusion.
On the other side.
Back at Earth-Prime Hall, Ethan Zhou grew angrier and more frustrated the more he thought about it—especially since he’d rushed here to take up his post, only to be forced to slink away in less than a day. The humiliation was suffocating.
If he just slunk back like this, what would the division master think of him?
Would he think Ethan was useless?
And what about his rivals—would they seize the chance to kick him while he’s down?
Thinking about all this, he hated Ian Song so much his teeth itched, but there was nothing he could do about that guy!
"No way! I can’t go back to headquarters like this!"
After thinking it over, he sent someone to call Piper Willow over, planning to get some information from her. Compared to Nangong Mingyue’s cleverness and Queenie Green’s fiery temper, Piper’s personality was much gentler.
"Greetings, Hall Master!"
Piper Willow arrived quickly.
"Please, Deputy Hall Master Piper, have a seat!" Ethan Zhou said with a gentle smile.
"Thank you, Hall Master!"
Piper felt a bit flattered, but remembering what Nangong Mingyue had told her before leaving, she grew a little more cautious.
After a bit of small talk, Ethan Zhou lowered his voice: "Deputy Hall Master Piper, how much do you know about Ian Song? This concerns the future of our Saint Alliance, so I hope you won’t hold anything back!"
Piper’s expression grew serious. She recounted how Ghost Elder sent them to contact Ian Song, hoping to invite him into the Saint Alliance; then how they were ambushed by Ling Family Golden Immortals and Ian saved them; then how Ian sold top-grade Immortal Yuan Pills and Immortal Essence Pills at low prices; how they reunited in Greenvine City; how Ian supported them in rebuilding Earth-Prime Hall and taught them how to expand the market—she laid it all out, start to finish.
“Such wild ambition!”
After listening to Piper’s account and considering the current situation, Ethan immediately realized that Ian Song was probably trying to indirectly control Earth-Prime Hall. That explained why he’d been so cold to Ethan, the newly appointed hall master.
Hearing the words 'hundreds of billions of immortal stones,' Victor Sima's breathing quickened a little. After all, the Saint Alliance was suppressed everywhere by the native Immortal Clans, and life was incredibly tough.
Take Gale Division, for example—its annual income was only a few hundred million immortal stones.
A few hundred million immortal stones might be astronomical for ordinary immortals, but for Profound Immortals, it's barely worth mentioning.
If Gale Division could earn hundreds of billions every year, just as Ethan Zhou said, it would surely become the strongest among the nine divisions. That way, Victor Sima would have a shot at the position of Saint Alliance leader.
Still, out of caution, Victor Sima asked, "Are you sure Ian Song is the pill master, and not someone else? What if he has some force backing him?"
"Impossible!"
Ethan Zhou replied firmly, "Division Master, think about it—if Ian Song had some force backing him, he wouldn't have been forced to leave Whitecrest City. And if he did, why would he help Mingyue and the others rebuild Earth-Prime Hall just to use it for himself?"
Victor Sima nodded in agreement, "Your analysis makes sense, but getting him under our control won't be easy!"
"Division Master, I have an idea!" A hint of malice flashed in Ethan Zhou's eyes.
"Oh?"
Ethan Zhou continued, "Didn't Ian Song kill a Ling Family Golden Immortal before? The Ling Family is one of the eight great clans of the Purple Dragon Domain—they won't let it go. Chances are, they're searching for Ian Song right now. All we have to do is leak word of his whereabouts in Greenrock Town to the Ling Family, and they'll send people to hunt him down. When he’s cornered, we can step in to save him. Once he joins our division, even if he’s as strong as a peak early-stage Profound Immortal, he still won’t escape our grasp!"
"Hahaha!"
Victor Sima laughed, "Good, very good! Your plan is excellent. If it works, when I ascend to the Saint Alliance leader’s seat, one of the nine division master positions will be yours!"
"Thank you, Division Master!"
Ethan Zhou was overjoyed.
Victor Sima added, "But to keep Ian Song steady, you’ll have to bear with it for now. When Mingyue comes to the division, I’ll appoint him as Earth-Prime Hall’s master. You’ll stay over there for a while, and once things are done, I’ll transfer you back to the division."
"I’ll follow all your arrangements, Division Master!" Ethan Zhou quickly pledged his loyalty.
Translate lines 41-57, maintaining quality, tone, and genre consistency.
"Oh? What is it?" Victor Sima grew interested.
So Ethan Zhou told him all about Ian Song, along with his own analysis and suggestions: "Division Master, if we can control Ian Song, we could monopolize the top-grade Immortal Yuan Pill business. Our annual income could reach hundreds of billions of immortal stones!"
Hearing the words 'hundreds of billions of immortal stones,' Victor Sima's breathing quickened a little. After all, the Saint Alliance was suppressed everywhere by the native Immortal Clans, and life was incredibly tough.
Take Gale Division, for example—its annual income was only a few hundred million immortal stones.
A few hundred million immortal stones might be astronomical for ordinary immortals, but for Profound Immortals, it's barely worth mentioning.
If Gale Division could earn hundreds of billions every year, just as Ethan Zhou said, it would surely become the strongest among the nine divisions. That way, Victor Sima would have a shot at the position of Saint Alliance leader.
Still, out of caution, Victor Sima asked, "Are you sure Ian Song is the pill master, and not someone else? What if he has some force backing him?"
"Impossible!"
Ethan Zhou replied firmly, "Division Master, think about it—if Ian Song had some force backing him, he wouldn't have been forced to leave Whitecrest City. And if he did, why would he help Mingyue and the others rebuild Earth-Prime Hall just to use it for himself?"
Victor Sima nodded in agreement, "Your analysis makes sense, but getting him under our control won't be easy!"
"Division Master, I have an idea!" A hint of malice flashed in Ethan Zhou's eyes.
"Oh?"
Ethan Zhou continued, "Didn't Ian Song kill a Ling Family Golden Immortal before? The Ling Family is one of the eight great clans of the Purple Dragon Domain—they won't let it go. Chances are, they're searching for Ian Song right now. All we have to do is leak word of his whereabouts in Greenrock Town to the Ling Family, and they'll send people to hunt him down. When he’s cornered, we can step in to save him. Once he joins our division, even if he’s as strong as a peak early-stage Profound Immortal, he still won’t escape our grasp!"
"Hahaha!"
Victor Sima laughed, "Good, very good! Your plan is excellent. If it works, when I ascend to the Saint Alliance leader’s seat, one of the nine division master positions will be yours!"
"Thank you, Division Master!"
Ethan Zhou was overjoyed.
Victor Sima added, "But to keep Ian Song steady, you’ll have to bear with it for now. When Mingyue comes to the division, I’ll appoint him as Earth-Prime Hall’s master. You’ll stay over there for a while, and once things are done, I’ll transfer you back to the division."
"I’ll follow all your arrangements, Division Master!" Ethan Zhou quickly pledged his loyalty.