Cao Yun would have loved to study the Dao of Space for months, if not years, with his master. However, he had to get ready for the ultimate confrontation. Once Empyrean Asura was dead, Cao Yun would actually be the most powerful cultivator on the Piaolu planet. All other threats to mankind would be annihilated, and he could let others deal with the aftermath. Honestly, he just wanted some time for himself. The death of his sister was still weighing heavily on him, he needed peace and quiet, but he couldn't abandon everyone else right now.
Hopefully, Emperor Weide would die in the fight against Empyrean Asura. That being said, Cao Yun was beginning to wonder if they needed him to become a 1st-grade Sage. Although Sect Leader Xuan Mu was a stronger cultivator than Emperor Weide, Emperor Weide was a better fighter overall, especially because he was much younger. Usually, age wasn't a major factor for cultivators with the same cultivation level. However, there were always extremes. Sect Leader Xuan was reaching the end of his natural lifespan, as was Matriarch Huang Yufeng. On the other hand, Emperor Weide was still relatively young compared to them. He could still live several more centuries.
Of course, he would not live even one more century. Cao Yun was absolutely adamant about his death and had already put the seal he needed on him to end his life whenever he wanted. Considering all that, it might be a good idea to actually help him break through and become a Sage. Obviously, Cao Yun hated the idea. Could he really risk all of the Hongchen Kingdom, millions upon millions of lives, just because he despised the idea of giving Emperor Weide what he wanted before killing him anyway?
Deep down, Cao Yun felt as though he would be rewarding Emperor Weide for slaughtering his family. Worse than that, Cao Yun would justify his choices, he would prove Emperor Weide right. That wasn't an easy decision. Dian Mo also thought that this was the best course of action, but he stayed silent. In fact, he had already guessed what would happen, so he let it play out until then.
One last time before visiting the Devil's Jail, Cao Yun patrolled the entire Wubei Sect using his 'Ashen Feather Seal'. He didn't want to disturb anyone while they were making the final preparations. Apparently, everything was going very smoothly. Of course, there were always some issues here and there, but nothing catastrophic. With the Huang family, Emperor Weide, the Myriad Cherry Blossom Hall, and even the Golden Flowery Fragrance Institute all helping toward the same goal, it couldn't be any better than that.
The young man visited his sister Mei Hua, who was working under Hua Fenfei & Xiao Xuefeng's tutelage. Feng Yingyue was obviously working with them, too. All the alchemists were being coordinated by Chief Elder Meng Jia, the Tree of Death. While most alchemists worked on pills in order to both increase one's strength and heal various wounds and injuries, Meng Jia, the Tree of Death, was working on poisons.
Combined with some knowledge from Cao Yun, Chief Elder Meng Jia was improving upon the Black Death Prison and the Shattered Soul Hellbloom. Honestly, he and every alchemist working on it hated it. The young man could imagine that it was bringing up dark memories in his teacher. Sadly, they actually needed powerful poisons for Cao Yun's plan. They had to be ready for many possibilities. That didn't mean that alchemists liked working with poisons, though.
Moreover, they were working with documents from Yu Xiangling. As such, they could read some of the cruel treatments she had inflicted on others. Cao Yun had still hidden some things. But even Chief Elder Meng Jia, who had slaughtered many people both in his youth and in the recent war, shuddered down his spine while reading those experiments.
Without Cao Yun, they couldn't perfect the ultimate poison they were working on, but they could improve the recipe so that Cao Yun could refine it later using his own Death Energy. The young man could see that Chief Elder Meng Jia seemed to have aged a lot. It wasn't physical, but purely emotional. His eyes were darker than usual, and it wasn't simply because he had not slept in a long time. In fact, Chief Elder Meng Jia had never been more awake, and it did feel strange and eerie. He lacked this carefree attitude that Cao Yun knew.
While going through the Wubei Sect, Cao Yun also saw Chief Instructor Peng. On his face, one could see that he had been through a lot recently. However, he was still able to keep some levity. In his voice, Cao Yun could detect that he was faking it for the younger sect members, so it pinched his heart. This war had to end. Cao Yun wasn't the only one who needed time to heal.
He saw Ren Chao working on armor and weapons with Wang Mei. But he also saw their children being taken from the Wubei Sect. Wang Mei was torn apart. On one hand, she wanted to keep assisting her husband and the other blacksmiths. On the other hand, she didn't want her kids to be separated from their parents. Unfortunately, they wouldn't be safe near Ren Chao and Wang Mei.
As he walked through the Wubei Sect, Cao Yun remembered several poems from 'Dying Poems Under the Mirage Pavilion' of Saint Dashan. In fact, he also remembered his 'Dashan's Discussion of the Thirty-Six Stratagems'. Although this was the final battle of this war, it seemed as though they had already lost something precious. Even in victory, they couldn't regain it for a long time. Cao Yun didn't want anyone to lose any more than they already had.
Then, Cao Yun got to the Palace of Supreme Wisdom. Right in front of the array formation, he was surprised to find Sun Liao. Indeed, Sun Liao should have been busy working on array formations throughout the Wubei Sect. Since they were alone, Cao Yun released his 'Ashen Feather Seal' and talked with his brother.
"Brother, are you really planning to work with that butcher?"
There was a heavy tone in Sun Liao's words. Immediately, Cao Yun knew what he was talking about.
"I don't see any other way. Or rather... any other way would diminish our chances of success and would cause more victims..."
"So my master must be a victim yet another time?! Brother, I trust you with my life. I really do. But... I can't accept that!"
Although he was trying to keep his composure, Sun Liao was clearly furious. For all those years, he had hoped, against all reason, that he might find a way to free his master's Soul Embryo from the Palace of Supreme Wisdom. But now, his brother would make sure that this was absolutely impossible. More than that, he would trap him with the friend who had betrayed him with such a heinous poison, a poison that Cao Yun himself was also refining for this fight.
"I assure you that I don't like this plan either. If you or anyone else has a better idea, I will consider it. But we lack time. We have to kill Empyrean Asura before our Hongchen Kingdom falls. I don't see how we could lure him here and ensure his death except through this plan."
As Cao Yun spoke, Sun Liao turned back and looked at his brother. He had hatred in his eyes. More than that, he had frustration and self-loathing. Sun Liao had been trying to come up with better ideas and plans. According to all the information he had obtained from Cao Yun, there was no better alternative. They had to use Demon God Da Mo's body. And that meant that they had to have a form of agreement with Mo Tian. That being said, Sun Liao hated it more than anything. And he hated himself for being unable to stop it.
Despite his talent and his genius, Sun Liao felt as powerless as Ren Chao. If he were stronger, he could just kill Empyrean Asura himself. He could free his master and make Mo Tian pay. But how strong would he need to be?! Even Cao Yun wasn't strong enough to find a good solution... Sun Liao's frustration suddenly exploded.
"Would you trap your sister's soul with Emperor Weide...?!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, Sun Liao realized what he had said. His eyes bulged, and he lowered his head in shame.
"Brother, I... I'm sorry... It's just that..."
His brother's words cut deep, and Cao Yun realized what he was asking of Sun Liao. Indeed, if someone had told Cao Yun to trap his sister's soul with Emperor Weide to save the Hongchen Kingdom, he might actually have let the Hongchen Kingdom burn. Then, how could he ask his brother to accept his decision?
Dian Mo was observing, he knew that this would happen. And he knew Cao Yun well enough to guess what his response would be. If Sun Liao had to accept such a sacrifice, Cao Yun had to do the same.
"Boy, I can help your brother. Although the Palace of Supreme Wisdom is sealed most of the year, I know how to contact the spirit inside. It's very taxing on the soul, but your brother could talk with his master. It wouldn't be very long, but it's still better than nothing."
Hearing Dian Mo's offer, Cao Yun didn't hesitate. He walked toward Sun Liao and put a hand on his shoulder.
"Brother, open your sea of consciousness to me. Do not resist."
Since he trusted his brother with his life, and because he felt ashamed of his words, Sun Liao obeyed. The next instant, Sun Liao found himself before the Palace of Supreme Wisdom.
From the palace in front of his eyes, Sun Liao saw the shape of his master, Chief Elder Suxian. Chief Elder Suxian was almost as surprised as Sun Liao, but then he saw Cao Yun and sensed something in him. Dian Mo, the former spirit of the Palace of Supreme Wisdom, had made this possible. Usually, the Palace of Supreme Wisdom only opened once a year. For the rest of the year, Chief Elder Suxian could still perceive things outside and even interact to some degree, but it was limited.
Right now, Sun Liao and Chief Elder Suxian were seeing each other directly. Or rather, their souls were seeing each other directly.
"Master, this unfilial disciple pays his respects."
"Sun Liao, you've grown a lot. You've made me proud."
For quite some time, Sun Liao and Chief Elder Suxian didn't know what to say and just enjoyed their presence. At last, Chief Elder Suxian spoke both to Sun Liao and to Cao Yun.
"I know that this plan can be difficult to accept. But this is the best course of action. Let Luoming Tian enter my palace. I will keep him in check. Maybe... No.
"Just listen. I have accepted my fate. Even if I were to somehow leave the Palace of Supreme Wisdom, you both know that I wouldn't be long for this world. My Soul Embryo would slowly die out. In this array formation, I can live longer while still helping the Wubei Sect. I don't want my life to be wasted. I will help the Wubei Sect until the end.
"Disciple, I won't ask you to like it. But, please, let me do it. Let me take on this burden."
Sun Liao's frustration reached its peak. However, the tension began to disappear throughout his body. He had no other choice. He had to accept the situation.
Deep down, Cao Yun also accepted the situation. If his brother had to put aside his personal feelings, Cao Yun had to do the same. He would help Emperor Weide break through and become a 1st-grade Sage. In fact, he would test Sun Liao's new array formations to see if they could make someone bypass the branch of the Withering Fusang Tree without external help. Hopefully, they would find a way to end the curse of the Forsaken Dao Era for centuries to come.
There was only one way to actually end this curse. But for now, they had to find a way to circumvent it. After this war, they would have a lot of time to find a more definitive solution.
Cao Yun helped Sun Liao talk with his master for as long as he could. However, this was indeed extremely taxing on both Cao Yun's and Sun Liao's souls. Although Cao Yun could endure longer, Sun Liao quickly reached his limit. Obviously, he tried to push further, but Cao Yun and Chief Elder Suxian both agreed to end it.
Sun Liao was still shaken, but he was much calmer. His motivation had been restored. Cao Yun asked him to help with Emperor Weide's breakthrough. Immediately, Sun Liao turned to his brother with incredulity in his eyes. He couldn't believe what he had just heard. Emperor Weide would get what he had wanted...
In fact, Sun Liao knew that he was responsible for his brother's change of heart.
"Brother, don't! I'm sorry for my words earlier. You don't have to do it."
"Unfortunately, I do. I've known it for quite some time. We absolutely need all of the strength we can get. I am confident against Empyrean Asura's body, but we have no idea how powerful his Demon Soul actually is... We can't refuse Emperor Weide's help. My sister didn't die in vain... Just like Chief Elder Suxian. They both gave their lives for something important: the survival of mankind."
Sun Liao had no retort to those words. Despite his hatred of Emperor Weide, he would help as much as possible. Indeed, not only had Emperor Weide killed Cao Yun's sister, but he had also allowed the demonic cultivators to grow stronger and stronger. Without him, Mo Tian probably would never have become a demonic cultivator, and Chief Elder Suxian would still be alive. On the other hand, Sun Liao would have never met Cao Yun.
Sun Liao was unable to imagine his life without his brothers. He and Ren Chao would have probably never become friends either. The situation was delicate for everyone. But they had to make the best of it. They had to put their personal feelings aside for the greater good of the Hongchen Kingdom.