บท 3: 1286-1287
Chapter 1286: Lost Thoughts and Remaining Soul
The thoughts conveyed by the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao to Holy Emperor Li Ping weren't crystal clear, yet he had roughly grasped what it intended to express.
"The role of the Great Celestial Sovereign..."
"Could it be that the connection between it and me might be severed?"
Li Ping frowned, sinking into contemplation.
"For thousands of years, there hasn't been a new Great Celestial Sovereign of Xuanhuang, and now, at this moment... who could it possibly be?" The Holy Emperor sensed a whiff of conspiracy. Nowadays, he could only monitor a small portion of the Xuanhuang Realm, with the vast majority lying beyond his sight. Faces flashed through his mind rapidly, yet he couldn't pinpoint any suspicious figures.
"Theoretically, those who pass the Great Celestial Sovereign's trial should stand by my side to face the transmission of laws. But..."
While soothing the Xuanhuang Heavenly Dao, the Holy Emperor's eyes shone with determination: "It seems the plan needs to be advanced."
"Force the transmission of laws to emerge at the time of the Stellar Sea anomaly."
A beam of starlight shot out from the throne of the Holy Emperor.
The long-prepared machinery of the Daqi Holy Dynasty began to operate swiftly.
Sun Erlang, who was conducting the final test on the protective capabilities of the Saint Army puppets, was somewhat surprised to receive the imperial decree from the Holy Emperor. But looking at the puppet array that stretched as far as the eye could see, he quickly became excited and impatient.
"After raising an army for a thousand days, it's time for a day's battle. It's time for the decrepit Immortal Alliance to witness the elite forces of the glorious Holy Dynasty!"
Just as he was about to leave to handle the expedition affairs, Sun Erlang seemed to recall something and flashed into the deepest part of the testing ground.
The surging geothermal energy, thick as substance, appeared to be constantly hammered and compressed by some colossal force. The originally earth-yellow color had now turned lava-like crimson. The geothermal energy roared and slapped against a black, stubborn rock at the center.
Regardless of how the geothermal energy raged, the stubborn rock stood firm, unwavering. In fact, each strike from the crimson geothermal energy only made the rock's luster shine even brighter.
Above the black rock, a beam of starlight from the continuously rotating starry vortex above shone directly upon it.
Under the illumination of the starlight, the black rock seemed to breathe. As it inhaled and exhaled, specks of starlight were absorbed into it.
Qiao Gong, floating not far away in mid-air, watched the black rock in the midst of this extraordinary scene with rapt attention. He seemed to be continuously calculating something, manipulating and adjusting the ratio of the geothermal energy to the starlight.
"Senior Qiao Gong, the war might start sooner than expected. Senior Tianyang, he..."
It seemed Qiao Gong had also received the decree, his gaze never leaving Tianyang's body, he said lightly, "Don't worry. When the time comes, I'll definitely give the Immortal Alliance a huge surprise. Those bastards have consumed a lot of my source energy over the years..."
"Right! Since there's going to be a war, the Tianling Sect's bunch can also be put to good use." Qiao Gong smacked his forehead, then, after reporting back to the Holy Emperor, sent out another command that drifted towards the puppets in Jiushan State.
A hint of pride flashed in Qiao Gong's eyes as his attention returned to Tianyang, who was undergoing the dual refinement of geothermal and Stellar Sea forces.
Qiao Gong could clearly feel the tremendous power being nurtured within the black rock.
His body trembled slightly, and a hint of madness flashed in his eyes: "This puppet is the pinnacle of my crafting art. Even in the Heavenly Mechanism Realm of old, no one could surpass it. Shangguan, just you watch. The disciple you overlooked will surpass you by far..."
Ignoring Sun Erlang, who was still nearby, Qiao Gong muttered to himself, his hands continuously casting spells that floated above Tianyang's body.
Seeing this, Sun Erlang discreetly withdrew.
As the Daqi military and civilians were busily preparing for war, two individuals within the Holy Dynasty had already left the minor world and returned to the Xuanhuang Realm with ease.
These were Xu Ke and Yin Shangren.
Yin Shangren squinted at the sun, seemingly unaccustomed to the sunlight of the Xuanhuang Realm.
Xu Ke was discerning the direction.
They planned to infiltrate the Museum of Divine Treasures before the outbreak of the war.
"This Emperor Sanmao is indeed interesting. Although one of the Three Emperor Beasts, he joined a human cultivation sect. And when disaster struck, he did not hesitate to defect and
join the New Immortal Alliance..." Yin Shangren said with a cold laugh.
Xu Ke shook his head to explain: "Grandfather San is unfathomable, and no one knows what he's really thinking. After all, not following Emperor Yi to leave the Xuanhuang Realm was puzzling enough. Moreover, his actions can't exactly be considered a betrayal of the Beast Control Sect. After all, the Beast Control Sect flourished almost entirely thanks to the methods he brought. He was a benefactor to the Beast Control Sect, not the other way around."
"Joining the Immortal Alliance, I think, was perhaps for survival."
Yin Shangren snorted coldly: "I don't care about the others, but if he obstructs me when I'm taking White Sir's skull, I won't be polite... But you, you won't turn coat at that time, will you?"
Xu Ke earnestly replied: "Rest assured, fellow Daoist. I have already made arrangements in advance, sending Qing and Hong to the Lingxu Realm. By replicating the Beast Control Wheel, coupled with the current cooperation of the Beast Control Sect, we should be able to lure Grandfather San out. Even if the plan fails..."
"I will not show mercy."
"That's good to know." Yin Shangren, reassured by Xu Ke's promise, smiled and relaxed.
Following the plan, the two stealthily made their way to the vicinity of the Immortal Alliance's Tianyu State in Tiancheng.
"This should be it, Tianyu State's Heng family." Xu Ke observed while sizing up the surroundings.
"Why bother coming all this way? Any family with access to the Museum of Divine Treasures would have sufficed. Why come here?" Yin Shangren scratched his head, impatient.
"The original plan was just that. But the Holy Emperor suddenly transmitted a message, saying there had been some change within the Immortal Alliance. The management of entry and exit at the Immortal Alliance headquarters suddenly tightened. As a result, those who still had access to the Divine Treasure Museum were few. Among them, the Heng family of Tianyu State was the most suitable target."
"The family is prominent, all thanks to their ability to weave laws. Their strength isn't too strong, and they also act quite low-key, leaving a relatively low impression in the public mind..." Xu Ke explained through telepathy.
Yin Shangren's gaze penetrated the Heng family's defenses, revealing a cold smile: "The easiest targets should be those two girls. And they're mother and daughter, no less..."
"Correct, it's them, Heng Ruoshui and He Xinxin. Just need to wait for them to go out, capture them, and change their identities."
"The Holy Emperor instructed, if not necessary, there's no need to harm them." Xu Ke added.
Yin Shangren replied, "Don't worry, delicate skin and tender flesh isn't to my taste anyway. But we two, turning into women? Can't we choose another target?"
Xu Ke chuckled: "Are you still concerned about this physical appearance?"
Yin Shangren waved his hand: "Well, that's true. I'm too lazy to run around anymore, let's make it quick. I'm somewhat eager to see White Sir's skull."
The Heng family mother and daughter didn't make the two wait too long.
One day later, He Xinxin sneaked out to play and was quietly taken down by the two.
Two days later, Heng Ruoshui seemed to have received an invitation and left the cave dwelling. She was captured by the two in an instant as well.
Looking at the Heng family mother and daughter, tied up together and fallen into a deep sleep, Yin Shangren touched his chin: "The Holy Emperor's methods are indeed useful. This little girl's Daoist Compass within her body is somewhat extraordinary. It has the ability to seek good fortune and avoid disaster, predict and deduce events. It's considered a semi-celestial wonder, perhaps a rebirth after the dissolution of an ancient immortal artifact..."
"With the Holy Emperor's bestowed [Hand That Covers the Sky] secret technique, this little girl didn't notice the impending crisis at all."
Xu Ke smiled: "Perhaps it's because we two had no intention of harming others. Let's proceed."
From the foreheads of the two Heng family members, they each extracted a drop of essence blood.
Xu Ke took it and pressed it into his brow.
Yin Shangren was much more brutal, opening a crack in his scalp and swallowing it with his original Dao foundation.
With a series of flesh and blood churning sounds, in the blink of an eye, Xu Ke and Yin Shangren had transformed into the appearances of Heng Ruoshui and He Xinxin.
Their appearances, auras, and even soul fluctuations, were almost completely identical.
"The miraculous methods
passed down by the Holy Dynasty are indeed extraordinary." Xu Ke's eyes showed amazement.
Yin Shangren closed his eyes to feel: "The self that follows the heart is the true self. Shape-shifting endlessly, elusive to gods and demons..."
After hiding the mother and daughter, Xu Ke and Yin Shangren, now in disguise, flew towards Tianyu Tiancheng.
To apply for a visit to the [Museum of Divine Treasures], one must go through the local government office to apply to the Immortal Alliance headquarters.
Only after receiving approval from the Immortal Alliance headquarters would a specially appointed cultivator come to lead the way in.
In Tianyu State, the face of Heng Ruoshui was the best pass.
And taking family juniors to visit the Museum of Divine Treasures was a perfectly normal affair.
The journey was smooth, and the application was quickly sent to the Immortal Alliance headquarters.
The response efficiency of the Immortal Alliance headquarters was not so swift. It took seven days before a final response came.
The dignitaries of Tianyu State, in front of the Immortal Alliance's guiding cultivator, seemed to be utterly insignificant.
The black-clothed guide, with a indifferent expression, casually instructed a few things to note when entering the Immortal Alliance headquarters.
He then took the two to the Tianzhou Tiancheng, the central state surrounding the Immortal Alliance headquarters, and in a room deep within the government office, opened the teleportation gate to the Immortal Alliance headquarters.
Stepping into the light circle, a flood of illusions came rushing in.
Even with the strength of Yin Shangren and Xu Ke at this moment, they couldn't stop it.
But Xu Ke returned to normal in an instant, because the Heng Ruoshui he impersonated had been to the Immortal Alliance headquarters before.
Whereas Yin Shangren, impersonating He Xinxin, trembled slightly and then opened his eyes after a moment.
Following the guide's routine, he introduced the reason for the appearance of the illusions. Then he casually asked, "What did you see?"
Yin Shangren, following the Holy Emperor's instructions, said, "The celestial sovereign's law form, standing tall between heaven and earth, preaching to all beings."
The guide nodded and didn't ask further.
Along the void path to the Museum of Divine Treasures, Yin Shangren and Xu Ke quietly communicated through telepathy.
Yin Shangren: "Interesting. I saw the figure of the law transmission, floating outside the Xuanhuang Realm. Looking down at Xuanhuang from a bird's-eye view, the Xuanhuang Realm was not as large as it is now, probably just after the law transmission became immortal."
"What did you see?" Yin Shangren asked.
Xu Ke then sent over an image.
As if in the chaos of the void, unable to discern the specific location.
Two figures stood opposite each other, faces unclear.
"Who are you?"
"I am you."
"You are me..." The voice was somewhat hesitant.
After a brief silence, it slowly shook its head: "No. I am different from you."
The other voice laughed, somewhat mockingly: "This is your destined mission. You cannot refuse. Better to accept reality, for one day, we will merge into one."
"I've said, I am Xuanyuan Tuo. Not..."
At the crucial moment, the image abruptly shattered.
Yin Shangren was stunned, inadvertently looking towards Xu Ke.
Xu Ke was also somewhat helpless: "That's all I saw. The key parts are indeed missing."
Yin Shangren replayed the segment: "Interesting. We'll have to inform the Holy Emperor when we return. He should know something."
As they talked, they soon arrived at the Museum of Divine Treasures.
Standing on a floating continent, the entire structure was black, solemn and majestic.
The towering and narrow doors made every visiting cultivator inevitably feel a sense of respect.
After another identity verification, the guide led the two into the interior of the Divine Treasure Museum.
The first mandatory visit was to the massive light orb named [The Era of Bliss].
Inside the orb, it seemed countless worlds were born and perished.
"This is [The Era]," the guide introduced proficiently.
"Centered around a Dao-transforming stone, it's a concrete derivation of scenes from various periods in the history of the Xuanhuang Realm."
"In all derived worlds, the survival rate of cultivators is far lower than today."
"So although it's named The Era, in reality, it's all to highlight the bliss of the present."
...
Yin Shangren and Xu Ke were unconvinced, but they didn't show it, simply nodding silently.
"As usual, you two can experience it firsthand."
"Don't worry, a lifetime in The Era is but a moment in reality. And according to the usual situation, you won't survive more than
a few years in The Era."
Under the operation of the black-clothed guide, Yin Shangren and Xu Ke each sent a strand of divine consciousness into The Era.
Soon after, the guide's expression became somewhat strange.
Because the expected scenario did not occur.
One of them was born in the ancient immortal era, and not only did they embark on the path of immortality from a young age, but they also encountered numerous fortuitous encounters. They successfully cultivated to the Nascent Soul stage and became a core disciple of an immortal sect, eventually dying of old age.
The other was even more absurd. They carved out a path of blood in a world of absolute chaos, becoming a demoness that everyone feared, even enjoying devouring the souls of cultivators... until they committed too many evils and the cultivators of the world could no longer tolerate them. They died under a united assault.
"The other eras also seem quite good." After waking from The Era, they seemed somewhat reluctant to leave.
The guide was stunned and then double-checked their information.
Heng Ruoshui, He Xinxin.
"Didn't expect this little girl to be so ferocious."
Just as he was about to suggest they continue their journey through The Era as proof, the two had already walked past it impatiently.
The guide hesitated but didn't bring it up again.
Next, he led them through areas like Heroes Abound, Seas Change into Mulberry Fields, and The Struggle of a Thousand Laws.
Suddenly, Yin Shangren said, "Next, we'd like to look around on our own, if that's alright."
Clearly impatient, the guide nodded. His task was already complete, so he handed over a jade token: "When you want to leave after finishing your visit, just contact me. Remember, it's necessary to maintain quietness within the Museum..."
After a few more instructions, the guide disappeared from their sight.
Xu Ke and Yin Shangren exchanged a glance, then casually browsed while slowly moving towards the center of the Divine Treasure Museum.
After a while, they finally saw the quietly placed skull from afar.
Xu Ke's body trembled slightly. He took a deep breath, and his emotions slowly stabilized.
Yin Shangren also exerted great effort to not show any abnormalities.
They approached White Sir's skull and stared quietly.
"I'm almost unable to hold back from taking action."
"Let's wait a bit longer. The war between the Immortal Alliance and the Holy Dynasty hasn't started yet. More importantly, I can faintly sense that Grandfather San is still lingering in the museum. After all, with the access level of these two from the Heng family, there's no time limit for the visit..."
Yin Shangren didn't respond but was already immersed in observing White Sir's skull.
After an unknown amount of time, another figure approached the skull.
After a long gaze, he sighed lightly.
Immediately attracting the attention of Xu Ke and Yin Shangren.
The newcomer was a middle-aged long-bearded cultivator, who, like them, seemed emotionally unable to calm down while looking at White Sir's skull.
"It's this kid..." Yin Shangren snorted coldly.
"Do you know him?" Xu Ke asked.
"Hmph, his name is Shangguan Shiquan. He once competed with me for White Sir's rib. Speaking of which, White Sir also has a leg bone in his possession..." Yin Shangren spoke with hostility.
"Hmph, after retrieving the most important skull, we must also collect the remaining parts one by one." Xu Ke's eyes flashed dangerously.
"Of course." Yin Shangren agreed wholeheartedly.
"Grandpa, what's so interesting about this? I want to see the ancient artifact from before..." A somewhat childish voice came from afar.
It was a three or four-year-old girl who came to Shangguan Shiquan's side, tugging at him and pouting.
"This person, is one of the greatest cultivators in the history of the Xuanhuang Realm." Shangguan Shiquan picked up the little girl, soothingly explained.
Hearing this, the girl's curiosity was piqued, and she stared intently at the skull in front of her.
However, upon hearing Shangguan Shiquan's words, both Yin Shangren and Xu Ke's attitudes shifted slightly.
After a moment of silence, the girl suddenly pointed at White Sir's skull and exclaimed, "Grandpa, look, there's someone there!"
Like a thunderclap, this startled the three onlookers.
Their gazes immediately locked back onto the skull.
But it remained silent and lifeless, showing no sign of vitality.
Shangguan Shiquan patted the girl's head: "Nannan, don't talk nonsense. There's no one there!"
The little girl pouted, clearly unhappy: "Nannan didn't talk nonsense
. There really is someone! Right inside the skull, can't you see?"
The girl's earnest words made Shangguan Shiquan hesitate for a moment.
He looked more closely once again.
Still, he found nothing. He had seen this skull countless times before; how could someone possibly hide inside?
Thinking the child was just being naive, Shangguan Shiquan told her not to be silly.
But the girl was stubborn and kept insisting.
Shangguan Shiquan, left with no choice, decided to leave the area for now.
Once again, only Yin Shangren and Xu Ke were left near the skull.
Xu Ke spoke seriously: "What do you think?"
He was obviously asking about the little girl's remarks just now.
"It's impossible. I am very certain that White Sir has indeed completely fallen. There is absolutely no remnant of his consciousness on this skull."
"Moreover, Emperor Sanmao is not an ordinary being; it's not likely he would be unable to distinguish whether there are remnants of consciousness on the skull. If there really were, how could it be openly displayed here for us to observe? Hmph, that's the remnants of the Great Celestial Sovereign of Xuanhuang..." After a long pause, Yin Shangren replied with some certainty.
"But..." Xu Ke stared at White Sir's skull, a trace of doubt flashing in his eyes.
"Before that little girl mentioned it, I hadn't noticed. But after she did, I really feel like there's something hidden in this skull."
"Not White Sir's remnants, but something else..."
"When I was a child, I liked to play hide and seek with my peers. As long as White Sir was there, we liked to hide by his side. He was like someone who could encompass the whole world, making it very difficult for others to find us when we were near him..." Xu Ke murmured.
His words also made Yin Shangren hesitant.
"Right, the guide mentioned earlier that a remnant soul once escaped from The Era. It disappeared without a trace..."
"Could it be." Xu Ke suddenly spoke up.
"The Era's remnant soul?" Yin Shangren narrowed his eyes, staring at White Sir's skull.
"We've been here too long. Let's go somewhere else." He didn't respond directly but said this first.
Walking into an area called [The Facets of All Beings], Yin Shangren then spoke: "White Sir's remains, though they appear no different from ordinary human bones, are after all the bones of a former Great Celestial Sovereign, and they must have their peculiarities."
"It's just that this special characteristic is hard to discern. I once stitched and raised a mutated human-handed dog, and it was extremely repelled by any bone. But it had a particular fondness for the White Sir's rib bone I collected..."
"It was as if that bone could save it from fire and water." Yin Shangren seemed to recall something, pondering.
Xu Ke was moved and said: "In that case, perhaps White Sir's skull really does have a way to shelter that remnant soul. It's just that we are unable to clarify the truth yet."
"Hmph. After all, separated by the Immortal Alliance's several layers of protection, we can't see clearly. Once we get the skull in our hands, we'll naturally be able to figure it out." Yin Shangren snorted coldly.
Xu Ke nodded in agreement, then suddenly said: "Speaking of which, even we didn't notice the remnant soul hidden in the skull. Yet, that little girl did..."
"This little one is not simple. What was her name again? Shangguan Nihong? We must inform the Holy Emperor about this once we return..."
If Li Ping were here to hear their conversation, he would surely guess that the power sheltering the Era's remnant soul in White Sir's skull must be the [Eternal Remnant] with a fatal attraction to the [Return to True].
This energy, still unknown to the cultivators of the Xuanhuang Realm and only absorbable by the Return to True, is the fundamental reason he desperately seeks White Sir's skull.
However, since the Holy Emperor severed his connection with his original self in the Stellar Sea this lifetime, even if Yin Shangren and Xu Ke relay their findings to the Holy Emperor, Li Ping is destined not to know.
...
While the two were visiting the Museum of Divine Treasures, an unusual aura was gradually spreading from the territory of the Immortal Alliance.
Because Li Ping's avatar and Sun Tianci had sneaked into the great earth cave and stolen nearly one-fifth of the Dao foundations from the sleeping cultivators, the higher echelons of the Immortal Alliance were enraged.
A large-scale secret investigation began in the shadows.
Without explaining the reason, all cultivators present in Tongyun State that day were thoroughly scrutinized.
The Eternal
Immortal Wall, destined to remain hidden, could only be investigated privately.
But such opaque investigations inevitably led to widespread panic.
The cultivators of the Immortal Alliance speculated wildly, and with the incitement of spies from the Holy Dynasty, rumors of an impending war between the Immortal Alliance and the Five Elders Association grew more intense.
Amid the increasingly tense situation, a disaster struck Jiushan State.
Due to the sudden betrayal of the Tianling Sect within Jiushan State, they joined forces with the Five Elders Association and seized control of Jiushan State in one fell swoop.
The loss of Jiushan State shook the Immortal Alliance.
The Immortal Alliance declared a state of emergency readiness and, to prevent the Five Elders Association from expanding their victory, mobilized a large number of cultivators to the borders to organize defensive lines.
Cultivators from all states were forbidden from moving freely, allowed to walk only within their state cities for the majority of the time.
The Immortal Alliance was deliberating on how to retake Jiushan State.
But unbeknownst to them, the army of the Holy Dynasty Daqi, already aboard the Puxian True Boat, had appeared within the borders of the Immortal Alliance states.
Just waiting for the imperial decree from the Holy Emperor, they would swarm down and launch a total attack on the Immortal Alliance.
"Senior brother, when do we act? I can hardly wait."
In the mist, Oushang Tian rubbed his hands together, his gaze piercing through the fog barrier, very excited.
"Wait a bit longer. Wait for the formations in the central four states to be completed." Sun Erlang spoke with great steadiness.
"Speaking of which, Senior Qiao Gong's strategy of diverting disaster to divert the Immortal Alliance's attention was truly a stroke of genius. With a large portion of the Immortal Alliance's forces called to the borders, it's undoubtedly a great opportunity for us." Wang Xuanba, holding a snake-like exotic beast in his hand, slowly said.
"Don't be careless. The teacher once said, the Immortal Alliance is not as simple as it seems. Those cultivators... are just a smokescreen."
"Do you think, our Holy Dynasty's Sky Patrol Arrows and Saint Army puppets, the Immortal Alliance doesn't have? The real advantage must be fought for with our lives." Sun Erlang had a clear understanding of the situation and admonished.
(End of Chapter)
...
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Chapter 1,287 Daqi Lingxuanhuang
As the Holy Dynasty's prime disciple, Sun Erlang assumes command of all affairs in the absence of the Holy Emperor. His summary and mobilization before the battle naturally met no opposition.
After lurking in the mist for several days, a beam of light cut through the sky and entered the Puxian true vessel, carrying an unknown message.
Upon inspecting it, Sun Erlang's spirit was jolted: "We have confirmed news. The Immortal Alliance will initiate the battle to reclaim the Nine Mountains tomorrow. To deter the Five Elders Council, they will also launch small-scale harassment campaigns along several bordering states..."
The Holy Dynasty's assembly, upon hearing this, lit up with excitement: "The Immortal Alliance's moves are even bolder than we anticipated!"
"Let the battle commence! The fiercer, the better!"
With a thought from Sun Erlang, a massive light orb representing the Immortal Alliance's territory map appeared before everyone.
"The moment the Immortal Alliance starts their campaign to reclaim the Nine Mountains, will be the moment our grand army marches."
"Before then, none of you shall act rashly."
While speaking, Sun Erlang had already coordinated with Oushang Tian to activate the internal sealing array of the Puxian true vessel.
"Before the decisive battle, I have one top-secret matter to announce. It concerns the outcome of the war and must not be leaked. Therefore, the vessel will be sealed for the duration, with entry allowed but no exit, and all communications cut off."
"Please forgive this necessity," Sun Erlang said lightly.
Surprise flickered through everyone's eyes, wondering what secrets necessitated such caution.
Sun Erlang closed his eyes and waited.
In the solemn silence, the Puxian true vessel was utterly quiet.
After an indeterminate time, Sun Erlang suddenly opened his eyes.
"The Immortal Alliance has made their move."
"Now, it's our turn."
Sun Erlang suddenly stood, bowing towards the void in front: "Greetings to my master!"
Everyone aboard the vessel was startled, looking in the direction of Sun Erlang's bow, only to see the Holy Emperor's figure descending amidst the stars.
"Greetings to the Holy Emperor!" they chanted in unison.
Even though it was but a projection, not the emperor in flesh, no one dared show the slightest disrespect.
The Holy Emperor offered no grandiose or empty rhetoric, only stating solemnly: "This battle, the Holy Dynasty shall prevail."
With a wave of his hand, the emperor's projection dissolved into specks of starlight, entering the bodies of those present.
Boom!
Each person felt as though they had transformed into a planet within the vast cosmos, orbiting a central star as bright as the sun in the sky.
What's more, it seemed as though a mighty star force echoed throughout the starry sea, linking everyone in a network, allowing for communication through mere thought, without the need for words or spiritual sense.
They also realized that the stars in this sea included not just those currently within the Puxian true vessel but also numerous other Holy Dynasty commanders lurking within the states of the Immortal Alliance.
"I will make the following deployment," Sun Erlang's voice echoed through the starry sea.
"Wang Xuanba, Senior Qiaogong, lead the first and third legions to besiege the Immortal Alliance's one hundred and thirty eastern states."
"Oushang Tian, Oudaozi, take the second and ninth legions to target the Immortal Alliance's one hundred and twenty-six southern states."
"Su Yuqing, Senior Baihua, command the fifth legion and the Allied Forces of the Myriad Realms to attack the Immortal Alliance's one hundred and fifty-four western states."
...
As Sun Erlang issued each command, the positions of Wang Xuanba and the others within the starry sea rapidly shifted. Once settled in their new star domains, they immediately established connections with other stars in those areas.
With just a thought, detailed information about the commanding officers under their control appeared in their minds.
"The objective of our campaign is to capture the celestial cities of each state. For other cultivator clans within the states that resist, eliminate them. Those who choose to watch from the sidelines can be temporarily ignored."
"When the battle begins, all Tianxuan Mirror channels and teleportation arrays in the Immortal Alliance's states will be paralyzed..."
"This is the defense array diagram of the Immortal Alliance's celestial cities. By breaking the arrays as noted in the diagram, their defenses will be as good as nonexistent to us. Should they activate backup arrays, I will immediately transmit the method to exploit their vulnerabilities."
...
Information was systematically relayed, and as everyone reviewed the materials in their hands, their excitement grew.
Not only did it include the primary cultivator registries of each state, but their cultivation levels, strengths, and even their practiced techniques were clearly annotated.
They had laid bare their opponents' secrets, while the Immortal Alliance remained almost entirely ignorant
of theirs.
How could they lose this battle?
No wonder Sun Erlang had been so solemn earlier; the information he held could only have come from the upper echelons of the Immortal Alliance.
Yet, the shock Sun Erlang brought was far from over.
"What you now see, this network of stars, is the manifestation of the Holy Emperor's mighty power. Beyond simple communication, you may also use the Holy Emperor's power to instantly move to each other's side."
"Use this advantage to outnumber and annihilate the enemy."
The central bright star in the starry sea suddenly burst forth with dazzling light, illuminating the myriad stars below.
In an instant, various applications of the Holy Emperor's power were clearly understood by everyone.
They couldn't help but marvel once again at the greatness of the Holy Emperor.
...
While the pre-battle council was still underway, in the Lingxu Realm.
"Should be no problem, right?" Xiao Qing and Xiao Hong looked at the ground in front of them, marked with a pattern resembling a turning wheel.
"Rest assured, seniors. With me, Cui Shaojiang, taking action, there will be no failures!" A young man wearing a blue round hat assured them with a smile.
Cui Shaojiang forced a drop of his blood, waving it towards the ground in front.
After merging with the ground wheel, threads of blood rapidly soared into the sky, disappearing from sight.
"Ah, in today's Beast Control Sect, only I can perform this unique feat," Cui Shaojiang explained, shaking his head.
Xiao Qing and Xiao Hong looked skeptically at the ground wheel pattern, feeling no binding or restraining force from it.
Seeing their distrust, Cui Shaojiang patiently explained: "The Beast Control Sect has evolved. After the great calamity years ago, we relocated here. Over the millennia, we gradually abandoned the traditional beast control techniques in favor of the 'Beast Spirit Fusion' art."
As he spoke, the blue round hat on Cui Shaojiang's head came to life, sprouting two round, black eyes, and gazing at Xiao Qing and Xiao Hong.
Even though they were somewhat aware of the Beast Control Sect's situation, witnessing it firsthand left Xiao Qing and Xiao Hong somewhat incredulous.
In their perception, there was no distinct separation between beast and human auras; from beginning to end, they were facing a single individual.
"Not controlled by spells, but merged with spirits. This breakthrough came after our ancestors studied the Beast Control Wheel. It's worth mentioning that Senior Xu Ke contributed to this breakthrough," Cui Shaojiang said, touching the top of his head as the blue round hat returned to normal.
"Getting sidetracked, back to the Beast Control Wheel. The replica sent by Senior Xu Ke is indeed remarkable. Coupled with our Beast Control Sect's millennia of technical accumulation, it's enough to unleash the true power of the ancient Beast Control Wheel, summoning Emperor Sanhu here..."
Excitement flickered in Cui Shaojiang's eyes: "We have high expectations for this legendary creature of wisdom. If we could merge spirits with it..."
Cui Shaojiang's gaze drifted unintentionally beyond the clearing, where the Beast Control Sect had long prepared a comprehensive trap.
The sect's collective memory of this once-silently departed beast hadn't faded over time; instead, it had become even more profound.
Thus, when Xiao Qing and Xiao Hong arrived with the replica Beast Control Wheel to persuade them, it was an immediate agreement.
On the ground, the red light seemed alive, its claws and teeth constantly moving. The wheel pattern trembled slightly, as if ready to leap from the ground at any moment.
Cui Shaojiang narrowed his eyes. He sensed Emperor Sanhu had taken the bait.
...
At the Immortal Alliance headquarters.
While waiting and pretending to tour, Xu Ke and Yin Shangren suddenly noticed the Museum of Divine Treasures seemed to brighten momentarily.
The slight heaviness in their hearts vanished instantly.
"Grandpa San has left," Xu Ke immediately concluded.
"Now? Shall we make our move?" Yin Shangren was eager to start.
"Wait a bit longer. Wait for the Holy Emperor's signal..."
"The breakthroughs made by the Beast Control Sect in recent years have even taken me by surprise. Choosing to retreat and preserve a wealth of talent at the onset of the great calamity proved invaluable," Xu Ke remarked.
"Alright, we've waited this long; a little longer won't hurt. Oh, have a look at this..."
Yin Shangren pulled Xu Ke over to a display.
Xu Ke looked closely, seeing a uniquely shaped golden tree.
The leaves were all triangular, and the trunk was covered in carvings of tiny figures interacting in various poses.
"This isn't an ancient artifact from the Xuanhuang Realm, is it?" Xu Ke asked after a moment, his expression turning curious.
"Of course not. This comes from my homeland."
"Or rather, the piece of it where consciousness remains most intact."
"I thought nothing was left of that place, but to find the most crucial Golden Tree preserved here in the Divine Treasures Museum..." Yin Shangren spoke leisurely.
"This tree... does it hold any secrets?" Xu Ke knew Yin Shangren wouldn't mention this out of mere nostalgia; he was intrigued and asked immediately.
Yin Shangren chuckled: "In our world, there was no sun or moon. The entire world's light depended on this single Golden Tree. Even the birth of all life stemmed from beneath this tree. You've seen the carvings on it; those are the marks of human interaction under the tree over the years."
"Though the world was destroyed, as long as this tree exists, the world's primal force is almost one-third preserved."
Xu Ke began to understand, then asked with slight surprise, "You can detonate the energy within this tree?"
Yin Shangren scratched his head, smiling silently.
"Are you willing to? That's your homeland. If this tree remains intact, after the Holy Emperor conquers the Immortal Alliance headquarters, perhaps he could recreate that world," Xu Ke suggested.
Yin Shangren snorted: "Everyone's dead. What's the point of recreating the world? Am I supposed to pretend to be them and put on a one-man show?"
"Let it explode, then."
Xu Ke responded with a smile.
As they spoke, they suddenly felt the ground beneath them tremble. Looking at each other, they both looked outside the Museum of Divine Treasures. Although their vision couldn't penetrate the walls, they sensed a dramatic change descending upon the Xuanhuang Realm.
They weren't mistaken.
At that moment, the skies of the Xuanhuang Realm were undergoing a spectacular phenomenon.
The once brightly lit sky suddenly dimmed as if night had fallen.
The great sun disappeared.
Stars began to shine from various parts of the sky.
Among the twinkling stars, a bright moon rose.
But soon, the cultivators of Xuanhuang realized that this "moon" was even brighter than the original sun.
As the giant disc slowly approached, the Xuanhuang Realm was illuminated once more.
Looking up, the cultivators saw countless towers standing on the moon.
It was another world!
After a brief moment of blankness, countless thoughts emerged in the minds of the Xuanhuang cultivators.
"Could this be the legendary Xuanxian Vessel?"
"The Xuanxian Vessel has come?"
"I heard the Immortal Alliance is at war with the Five Elders' Council. Could this be a surprise attack from the Five Elders?"
"Be on guard!"
...
When anomalies arise, demons are at play.
In this state of war readiness, the Immortal Alliance's response was anything but slow.
Defensive arrays of the state cities were activated immediately, and alarms echoed through the skies.
Several cultivators transformed into beams of light, shooting straight into the sky towards the moonlit world, seeking to uncover its mysteries.
But despite seeming within reach, they couldn't breach the distance, as if a chasm lay in between.
The Immortal Alliance stood ready, only to see beams of light piercing from the moon above.
Moonlight, sharp as blades, pinpointed the borders of the central four states of the Immortal Alliance: Tianyu, Tianchen, Tianzhu, and Tianquan.
The skies of these central states were momentarily coated in a layer of silver radiance, turning everything ethereal and obscure.
Yet, there seemed no other oddities.
After a cautious wait, the cultivators of the central four states arrived at such a conclusion.
Soon, they realized their mistake.
"The teleportation arrays are down! We're sealed off!"
"Communication talismans are useless!"
"We've lost contact with the other states. But we can still reach the Immortal Alliance headquarters."
"What does the headquarters say? They're asking us to adapt as the situation unfolds? They've literally come knocking on our doors, dammit!"
The four states were thrown into chaos.
Temperamental cultivators flew straight towards the silver-lit boundary, attempting to breach the blockade.
The silver radiance over the mist barrier added a solemn and sacred aura.
With a dash of courage, cultivators plunged into the mist.
Prepared to sacrifice years of their lifespan, the scene beyond the mist left them astounded.
The moment they stepped out, the omnipresent mist vanished instantly.
In its place was a boundless starry sky, as if they were truly outside the Xuanhuang Realm, surrounded by darkness and cold.
In the distance, countless twinkling stars occasionally shone.
Stunned, they sought to return but found their path had vanished.
Thinking it a trick of the eye, they unleashed sword techniques and spells, yet they couldn't stir the slightest ripple in the starry expanse.
Attempts at teleportation and instant movement were all in vain
.
Instead, as they expended their spiritual energy, the cold of the surrounding cosmos began to erode their minds.
Left with no choice, they picked a direction and continued to flee, trying to escape the confines of this starry space.
Unbeknownst to them, with the wrong method, even a lifetime would not suffice to leave this place.
Outside the array, cultivators continuously stepped into the moonlit boundary.
The array, like an endless abyss, devoured them all.
From Nascent Soul, to Core Formation, and even Unity. Regardless of their cultivation, once inside, there was no return.
After several attempts, the cultivators of the four states were finally deterred.
And the Immortal Alliance headquarters eventually issued an urgent decree, forbidding the reckless sacrifice of lives in the four states.
Rainbows arched across the states, arriving at the moonlit boundary of Tianquan State.
One of them was the chief array master of the Immortal Alliance, Lu Xichan.
"This array..." Lu Xichan, observing the moonlight on the mist barrier, was visibly shocked.
Beside her, a young man in white frowned and asked, "When can we break it? We've lost contact with the outside states."
"Not only have the teleportation arrays failed. Even the Tianxuan Mirror channels have been blocked," the young man said with a hint of worry.
This young man in white was one of the real power holders of the Immortal Alliance, a transmitter, Ren.
Lu Xichan dared not delay and replied, "This array seems to draw upon the mighty power of the starry heavens, transforming endless space and time to create a realm akin to the true cosmos..."
Transmitter Ren coldly interrupted Lu Xichan, "When can the array be broken?"
Lu Xichan stopped abruptly, and after a long pause, she said, "Such complexity in this array is unprecedented. It would require at least fifteen days..."
Transmitter Ren coldly stated, "I'll give you ten days."
With a cold snort, Ren vanished in a flash, leaving Lu Xichan and a few array masters from the Immortal Alliance's strategy hall behind.
Lu Xichan looked up at the starlight array overhead, sweat slowly forming on her forehead.
The more proficient in arrays among them, the more despair in their eyes.
It wasn't that the Immortal Alliance's array masters were incompetent.
The array laid out by the Holy Emperor was simply beyond the comprehension of the current era.
Li Fan, having reincarnated a hundred times and continuously evolved his understanding of array paths beyond several generations of the Xuanhuang Realm, integrated these insights with those gained from several immortal-level arrays.
After being imbued with these array essentials, the Holy Emperor, with his enlightenment within the starry sea, further evolved the arrays to a deeper level.
At this moment, the moon occupying nearly half the sky above the four states of the Immortal Alliance, marking the commencement of the Holy Dynasty's grand operation, drew the collective prayers of its citizens towards the statue of the Holy Emperor within the Holy Heart Hall.
Below the throne of the Holy Emperor in the capital city, tens of thousands of second-generation specters from the created species chanted the grand deeds of the Holy Emperor.
The purple-gold aura of the Holy Dynasty, merged with the essence of golden source power, formed a faint purple-golden starlight that left the dynasty's territory, maintaining the operation of the array that trapped the four states of the Immortal Alliance.
This ultimate entrapment array, named the "Bright Moon Starlight Array" by the Holy Emperor, nearly reached the pinnacle of immortal-level arrays. Li Ping believed that even if the transmitter himself arrived, it would take considerable time to breach.
And for those within the four states of the Immortal Alliance seeking to break the array...
They would need to consult the will of the Heavenly Mandated Holy Emperor.
Li Ping sat upon the throne of the Holy Emperor, his gaze crossing the boundary between worlds, landing upon the territory of the Xuanhuang Realm and the Immortal Alliance.
The throne of the Holy Emperor, or the entire capital city for that matter, was engulfed in unparalleled silence as the war commenced.
Cat Treasure remained its usual self, lazily resting on Li Ping's shoulder, seemingly unmoved by anything other than the essence of source power.
Besides Cat Treasure, a figure resembling an eight or nine-year-old child stood beside the Holy Emperor, fixated on the Xuanhuang Realm below.
This was Tianyang.
At this moment, his puppet body, having absorbed a vast amount of source power essence and the combat memories of the Immortal Puppet "Ancestor," underwent a radical transformation. His appearance and physique reverted to those from before his death, even birthing a genuine aura of life.
With unfathomable strength, he gazed at the Immortal Alliance, awaiting the arrival of his adversaries.
Below the Holy Emperor's throne, the Du'e Sect's Yij
ue Daoist pulled out all of the sect's paper effigies.
On the scene, they reconstructed the ancient gates of the Du'e Sect.
At the center of the construction seemed to open a portal to an unknown destination.
While Yijue Daoist himself did not enter, his eyes bulged out, extending infinitely outward, probing into the depths of the portal.
"Your Majesty, rest assured, if there's any disturbance in the Xuanhuang Realm, this old Daoist will definitely see it," Yijue Daoist said with a chuckle.
Li Ping paid no heed to Yijue.
His attention and focus were largely outside the Xuanhuang Realm, in the cosmos.
There, he had made extensive preparations.
Waiting for Tianyi and the transmitter to descend.
Outside the "Bright Moon Starlight Array" of the four states of the Immortal Alliance.
As the sky of the Xuanhuang Realm turned exceedingly dim, and the Holy Dynasty's grand operation brought forth worlds akin to stars, capturing the entire attention of the Immortal Alliance's cultivators in an instant.
A significant change simultaneously occurred within the celestial cities of the Immortal Alliance.
Upon witnessing the appearance of the moon in the sky, Sun Luyuan, as if a switch in his mind was flipped without a moment's thought, immediately issued orders to the death warriors prepared for many years.
These death warriors, at the cost of their own lives, were to detonate the array restrictions within them at the state teleporters and Tianxuan Mirrors.
Having reached the Unity stage and led a major cultivator family for many years, Sun Luyuan, upon issuing this command, experienced a moment of blankness in his mind.
His throat became parched, and his limbs felt cold.
However, before he could succumb to the fear swelling within him, he was somewhat astonished to find that in some states, the death warriors under his command had not yet acted when the Tianxuan Mirrors and teleportation arrays were already destroyed by others.
Sun Luyuan understood: "Such crucial matters, naturally, couldn't be entrusted solely to me."
Amidst the chaos, Sun Luyuan observed as several golden light-emitting grand vessels, like divine soldiers descending from heaven, suddenly appeared.
Before the Immortal Alliance's cultivators could react, the celestial cities were already under siege.
One after another, peculiarly shaped puppets emerged from the vessels, firing beams of dark light.
The supposedly impregnable defensive arrays of the Immortal Alliance's celestial cities became perilously unstable within moments, on the verge of being breached.
"It seems the level of traitors within the Immortal Alliance might be higher than mine."
"Could it be that Chief Lu has also turned traitor?"
Watching the scene, Sun Luyuan felt a sense of relief.
"The promising younger members of my family have already been relocated from the four states of the Immortal Alliance in advance. Those remaining, whom I've warned to hide in their cultivation dens, shouldn't be affected."
"It's just unfortunate for Lulu; I couldn't transfer him out in time."
"Tianci seems to be in seclusion. With his strength surpassing mine, I shouldn't worry about him."
As Sun Luyuan pondered, he observed the Immortal Alliance organizing its cultivators to form counterattack teams. He couldn't help but snort coldly: "Now, it's time for me to achieve greatness."
Cautiously changing his appearance and aura, Sun Luyuan unexpectedly launched an attack on the Immortal Alliance's defensive arrays from within. Coordinating with the Holy Dynasty's soldiers outside the celestial city, victory was swiftly secured.
As the celestial city's statue of the transmitting immortal had the Holy Emperor's talisman affixed to its forehead, it signified the complete fall of an Immortal Alliance celestial city.
The first celestial city of the Immortal Alliance to be captured by the Holy Dynasty appeared.
Nandu State.
Although the state's defenses were weak, guarded only by a Core Formation cultivator, its significance was profound.
Quickly, as the might of the Holy Emperor and the network of the starry sea spread, all soldiers of the Holy Dynasty were informed of this news.
Thus, the soldiers of the Holy Dynasty were immensely encouraged, intensifying their offensive.
The situation was far more optimistic than anticipated.
The Immortal Alliance, having been at peace for many years and with most of its forces deployed to the borders, faced the Holy Dynasty's fierce onslaught almost entirely on the defensive.
Especially since their most reliable countermeasures, the defensive arrays, were all rendered ineffective, the Immortal Alliance was essentially being unilaterally attacked.
Sun Erlang, observing the rapidly changing colors of the Immortal Alliance's territory map due to the continuous stream of good news, showed no signs of joy.
He knew that the current successes were merely due to the Immortal Alliance being caught off guard.
The real struggle would begin once they regrouped.
"Liuguang Prefecture, a Harmonization Cultivator has appeared! Blue Ice Immortal Exalt!"
"Yueyang Prefecture, a Harmonized Dao enemy has also appeared! There is no information about him! Repeat, the opponent's identity is unknown!"
...
Looking at the numerous battlefield transmissions and sensing the black and gold puppets in his mind, Sun Erlang pondered for a moment and did not act rashly.
If it was just an unusual Harmonization, the currently allocated military strength would be enough to deal with it.
He needed to wait until the real opponent showed up before he could make his move.
Besides, ...
Sun Erlang's gaze looked towards the bright moon in the sky directly below where the four states of the Immortal Alliance were located.
The battle in the outer perimeter, Finding Book Garden www.zhaoshuyuan．com was only an appetizer.
The real place to decide the winner is still there.
With the Dao Transformation Stone in his mind, blue light flashed as Sun Erlang once again performed a deduction, striving to complete the peripheral battle with minimal casualties.
"Master, I won't let you down."
Sun Erlang said secretly in his heart.
The Great Enlightenment of the Sacred Dynasty won back-to-back battles, but the victory was quickly halted by an accident.
Luo Yan Prefecture, when Luo Yan Heavenly City was breached, most of the Sacred Dynasty generals moved to other battlefields.
Only a small portion was left to watch over it.
However, from beyond the wilderness of Luo Smoke Prefecture, a large group of cultivators suddenly appeared.
They didn't snatch back Luo Smoke Heavenly City, they just quickly withdrew after the sneak attack.
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