Chapter 475: Chapter 417: The Beginning of Civil Strife, Victory in One Battle
Heaven and Earth Xuanmen Jungle.
Deep within the Nine Great Worlds.
The Spirit Treasure Celestial Master sat beneath the profound formations of Heaven and Earth, ancient characters circling and flying around him—twenty-eight in total.
Before him stood a white-browed elder.
The Taoist Bai Mei was reporting the course of upcoming events to him.
Hearing that Tianhe, Ao Qing, and the Weiling Shoucheng Heavenly Master were preparing to take over the Donghua Alliance, the Spirit Treasure Celestial Master showed neither approval nor objection.
"Very well. If we take it, it can still add to the foundation of the sect."
For now, Qingchen oversaw all of Wu Country’s Taoist Alliance affairs, even coercing them into forming a 120,000-strong Taoist army.
If no resistance was made, they would eventually be completely devoured.
Now, with Song Lin’s death, the rise of two Taoist sects was being traded. This transaction, though akin to killing the goose for its eggs, was deemed a necessary evil.
Sacrificing Song Lin for now was simply lamentable—he was born in the wrong era.
Blame this world if you will.
If Song Lin were a Heavenly Master, the Spirit Treasure Celestial Master might have mediated. But as he was merely an ordinary cultivator crossing tribulations—commendable in battle performance but fundamentally too weak—this was the result.
"Heavenly Master, do you need our assistance?"
The Taoist Bai Mei asked.
As the Taoist of the Spirit Treasure Forest, it was reasonable for him to provide support when Azure Dragon was sent on a mission.
The Spirit Treasure Celestial Master thought for a moment and replied, "No need. After all, I owe Song Lin a favor. Our non-intervention and silence will serve to repay this debt."
"By the way, do not kill all the Taoists of the Donghua Alliance. Those willing to surrender should be retained. Those unwilling should be captured alive. I want to use their lives to collaborate with the demons."
Currently, all major Taoist Alliances were negotiating with the demons.
Between humans and demons, profit was still the priority.
Previously, human interests outweighed demon interests. But now that their sect was nearing extinction, the Spirit Treasure Celestial Master had no choice but to seek external aid.
"Understood. I will inform Azure Dragon right away."
The Taoist Bai Mei understood the Spirit Treasure Celestial Master’s intent—it was nothing more than avoiding direct involvement while seeking to reap the benefits.
After all, a few years ago, Song Lin had achieved significant merit in front of many witnesses. To now turn around and kill him would be unreasonable and unjust, not to mention demoralizing for everyone.
"Give me an update on the other Taoist Alliances."
Still calm and composed, the Spirit Treasure Celestial Master closed his eyes slightly.
"Qingchen Heavenly Master announced the establishment of the Six Palaces system and took control of the Taoists we had selected. This individual seems unbothered by our spies; he accepts all without fear."
"In the northeast, the Jiuxiao Dao Alliance, Miao Fa Netherworld, and the Python God Tribe have been at war for a year. Recently, the Emperor Netherworld has announced a retreat into seclusion, and Jiuxiao Heavenly Master Yinn Nan has yet to make an appearance."
The Spirit Treasure Celestial Master commented, "It seems Qingchen has emerged victorious. Previously, due to Emperor Netherworld’s cultivation technique, they had attempted to sever ties with the Human Clan to establish a Dragon-ruled Half-demon kingdom. They must have settled down by now."
Between humans and demons lay the half-demons—hybrids born of both bloodlines.
The leading force of the Jiuxiao Dao Alliance aimed to consolidate these factions into a kingdom solely for half-demons.
Unfortunately, Qingchen secretly incited demon forces, completely shattering their dream.
It was said this conflict cost both alliances thirty percent of their Primordial Energy.
With humans assisting from the shadows, the demons ran rampant as if entering an unguarded territory, indulging recklessly.
These two alliances had been gravely weakened—recovery would take no less than a century.
"In a sense, Qingchen Heavenly Master did something good by preventing allied factions from defecting."
The Spirit Treasure Celestial Master sneered coldly, "Hmph, none is more restless than Qingchen. He even raises demon dogs to slaughter humans to consolidate his rule. For centuries, during the succession battles, other Taoist Alliances have suffered mysterious accidents. Now it seems clear—this was all his doing."
"Since ancient times, the mutual support and unity among Taoist Alliances have been broken. This man is the primary culprit! The root cause of humanity’s doom!"
Empty words are easy to speak, but the divisions between factions already proved that unifying human forces was an impossible task.
No matter how situations were handled, there would always be dissent. The harmony of ancient times was not so easily restored.
At least, the old system, no matter how dire the circumstances, ensured one shared understanding:
Their foundation was the Human Clan.
But now, with everyone living in constant fear, they had no choice but to seek alliances with demons.
Some might call this betrayal of their heritage, but who would willingly abandon their ancestors’ legacy to become mere stepping stones for others’ rise?
Slaughter, conspiracy, rebellion, famine, plague... these scourged the lands of the Human Clan.
The grievances of the living reached the heavens.
They could bear no more.
The Wu Country, surrounded by demons, began to crumble from within.
Internally, the demons appeared to be plotting something, with severe internal divisions.
Even Qingchen had not anticipated the scale of the public’s reaction, causing more turmoil than he’d imagined.
But these were mere details—the results were still acceptable.
For now, they awaited Jian Wuliang’s breakthrough to Harmonization.
When the time came, there would be no need for exhausting efforts through diplomacy. They’d possess enough power to rival demons while commanding overwhelming force to unify the Taoist Alliances.
Just a little longer. Endure a little more.
The Heavenly Masters schemed in secret, vying for dominance.
For them, trivial matters became crushing weights on the shoulders of others.
Especially those deemed as "sacrifices."
Of course, some sacrifices would not accept their fate passively.
...
Eight Sceneries World.
Beneath the Mother Tree of All Things, a grand palace had been constructed.
Seated on the dragon throne within the palace was a diminutive figure clad in a dragon robe—a seven- or eight-year-old girl, as revealed upon closer inspection.
Wu Chen sat there idly, cupping her cheek with one hand, her gaze wandering aimlessly.
Beside her, a maid peeled fruits, occasionally offering them to Wu Chen.
"I’ll do it myself. If Palace Master Brother sees, he’ll scold me again."
Wu Chen mumbled indistinctly with puffed cheeks.
Thanks to her sweet and adorable appearance, the girl-empress ruling over the Eight Sceneries World’s population of eight million was more often doted on than feared.
Only Song Lin was particularly strict, which made Wu Chen slightly afraid of him.
"Hmph, I ascended to the Purple Mansion yesterday. Let’s see what he dares say now."
Hearing her maid say this, Wu Chen raised her head proudly.
Using the Nine Tripods for cultivation, coupled with two streams of imperial Dragon Qi, her advancement was lightning-fast. She quickly broke through the sixth level, returning to the realm of her previous life.
As the population of the Eight Sceneries World increased, her cultivation speed would only accelerate further.
Being originally the incarnation of a celestial stone, Wu Chen’s cultivation speed was unfathomably swift.
This was why certain prodigies were often likened to immortals descending to the mortal realm.
"Let’s go watch them train!"
Wu Chen took two maids with her and descended to the mortal world.
The mortal realm housed eight million refugees. Peace had long been restored, and the people quickly adapted and settled in.
On their way, they passed through a Plum Blossom Forest.
"Elder Mei Hua!"
Wu Chen greeted a white-haired elder. The youth beside the old man, dressed in Taoist disciple attire, immediately greeted Wu Chen with respect upon seeing her.
"Out to play again? Be careful."
Mei Hua chuckled lightly.
Since joining the Donghua Jungle, Mei Hua had taken it easy, settling in the Eight Sceneries World and finding a few promising individuals to pass down his ultimate techniques.
Having failed to overcome the Fire Tribulation, and being proficient in divination, he knew this life held little hope for him.
Wu Chen and her group arrived at the great mortal city.
Everywhere, martial artists could be seen tempering their bodies.
Song Lin had stayed in the story dimension for forty years—each day equaling a month—and in forty years, four hundred eighty days had passed.
Nearly a year of cultivation had produced numerous martial artists of remarkable skill among mortals.
Boom!
Suddenly, a surge of blood and Qi shot straight into the sky, forming a fierce coiled dragon.
The manifestation of an indomitable will of yang energy created an aura that silenced every creature within a hundred-mile radius.
Boom!
Another surge of fist intent shattered a dharma image.
Two figures were exchanging ferocious blows in mid-air, locked in an evenly matched battle.
Dozens of moves were exchanged in an instant.
"Wonderful!"
"Impressive skills!"
"Instructor Luu is incredible!"
"Senior Chuu Yun!"
The martial artists below cheered one after another.
Not far away, Guu Yuchan and Yan Jiuge watched the duel closely.
"This Luu Yunsheng has boundless potential. I thought he only knew alchemy, but he’s mastered the Nine-Transformation Mysterious Skill and reached the Human Immortal pinnacle in martial arts. Though at the Core Formation Stage, his combat prowess rivals that of Purple Mansion cultivators—he’ll surely be the next to ascend to the Purple Mansion."
Guu Yuchan remarked.
The new generation of Donghua’s direct lineage boasted five Purple Mansion cultivators: Gu Wang, Yan, Corpse, Qingyu, and the exorcist Xiangling.
This made six Purple Mansion cultivators nurtured directly by their sect.
Below them were figures like Xiaoxuan of the Corpse Gu Technique, Zhong Mountain of the Taiyin Refining Body, and Luu Yunsheng of alchemy. Not to forget Pei Yu of swordsmanship and Taoist soldiers.
Several Core Formation cultivators.
It seemed the seventh would likely be Luu Yunsheng.
"Chuu Yun isn’t bad either. She sought refuge in Donghua back then, and to think she’s now shining so brightly."
Yan Jiuge pointed to the short-haired woman dueling with Luu Yunsheng.
This woman was the niece of Chuu Yuying. After turning Chuu Yuying into a Ghost King, Tianhe didn’t spare her relatives and continued to use their blood to feed the Ghost King’s malice.
Only this niece escaped, later taken in by Donghua.
Song Lin himself hadn’t even known who she was, yet today, she showed great promise.
"Indeed, the Palace Master was right—there are no untalented individuals in this world, only those who haven’t found their proper magical lineage."
"Kill!"
Before long, the martial artists resumed their drills.
A force of 200,000 strong in total.
Among them were two Human Immortal experts, twenty Martial Saints, three hundred Innate Grandmasters, and thirty-five thousand Acquired Martial Artists. The remainder were non-ranked warriors.
Even the weakest among them possessed strength equivalent to five hundred pounds of force.
"Tsk tsk, what a heroic army."
Guu Yuchan clicked his tongue in awe.
"Of course. They’ve been fed into existence. Without the resources, such rapid advancement in just a single year would be impossible."
Martial artists relied on eating—what did they eat?
These were the water crystal grains, Lang Xuan meat, and soup brewed from laurel leaves, paired with the life-giving essence from the Emperor Tree.
Occasionally, they consumed demon blood, fierce beast bones, and other vitality-rich foods.
Thankfully, these resources were scrap leftovers rejected by cultivators; otherwise, they would have been eating themselves into poverty.
An ordinary person’s strength could increase by at least two hundred pounds after consuming such a diet for over a year, to say nothing of martial artists with decent aptitude.
Beyond the Eight Sceneries World, other smaller regions cultivated martial artists for maintaining mortal realm order.
"Enough chatter. Let’s get prepared."
Orders were issued by Song Lin.
Weapons designed to combat demons needed to be readied for these martial artists.
"By the way, did you receive the Palace Master’s pills?" Guu Yuchan asked quietly.
"Of course. Something big is about to happen."
...
Another ten days passed.
The Donghua Alliance appeared relaxed on the surface but was deeply vigilant within. Although no incidents had occurred, all factions had secretly consolidated their power.
On this day, at night.
The stars shimmered brightly, the moon hung high in the sky.
From an aerial perspective, strands of starlight formed a vast network, faintly covering half of Yunzhou Province.
Dark clouds floated through the sky.
Upon these clouds stood numerous Taoists—some wielding the Black Soul Banners, others riding White Tigers, yet others merely revealing their dharma images or transforming into silhouettes of green mist.
Broadly, they fell into three categories: those bristling with hostility, those resembling ghosts, and those drifting like demons amidst black clouds and mist.
In a nearby forest, countless demonic shadows loomed.
Tianhe, Weiling Shoucheng Heavenly Master, and Ao Qing—all three were present.
"The Heaven and Earth Binding Array is complete. Weiling Heavenly Master, take your people to the Eight Sceneries World. The rest shall follow me to the ground to slay the enemy. Release the demons first, then capture individuals amidst the chaos."
"This battle will be won!"
...