Chapter 497 - 452: True Understanding Base

Chapter 497: Chapter 452: True Understanding Base

"What is the current situation on Earth Demon Island?"

After a brief inspection, Chu Mu turned to Chang Hongshan and asked.

"Reporting to the True Master, Earth Demon Island is jointly garrisoned by eight factions. We have over three thousand Qi Cultivation Realm Cultivators and more than a hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivators. As for Golden Core True Masters, two are currently stationed on Earth Demon Island: Rakshasa True Master of the Rakshasa Alliance, and..."

"Regarding the war, things had calmed down for a while. But in recent months, for some unknown reason, the number of Demon Race members in this sea region has increased significantly."

"A few days ago, even a Nascent Soul Great Power took action personally..."

Hearing this, Chu Mu seemed to recall something. His gaze flickered, but it quickly returned to its usual calm. He then asked, "What are the casualties for our Pavilion?"

"Reporting to the True Master, since we’ve been stationed on Earth Demon Island, a total of five Foundation Establishment Cultivators have fallen. As for the Qi Cultivation Disciples, more than a hundred have lost their lives."

"Has the Pavilion’s compensation been distributed?"

"It has all been taken care of. Hongyi Fairy personally oversaw it..."

"Good."

Chu Mu nodded. His gaze followed the street, and in front of a mansion not far away, he could clearly see several hundred cultivators standing gathered. They wore standard light cyan Magic Robes, their collars and cuffs embroidered with the two words for "True Understanding." Their identity was unmistakably clear.

"True Master, the mansion ahead is our Pavilion’s base on Earth Demon Island."

"When the disciples in the Pavilion heard of your arrival, Senior, they all returned to the base..."

Chang Hongshan said cautiously.

Chu Mu nodded, his expression impassive.

"Disciples greet the True Master!"

Immediately after, a shout that soared to the heavens rang out on the street.

Several hundred cultivators all bowed in salute.

Chu Mu’s expression stirred, and a gentle smile appeared on his impassive face.

"There is no need for such ceremony."

He raised a hand, and a surge of Magical Power lifted everyone to their feet.

Then, with a sweep of his sleeve, a brilliant light bloomed. One by one, Artifacts and Jade Bottles containing Elixirs appeared, floating before each of the cultivators present.

The Artifacts were divided into Top Grade Spiritual Artifacts and Top Grade Magical Artifacts, while the Elixirs were divided into Tier One Upper Grade and Tier Two Upper Grade.

They corresponded to the Foundation Establishment Realm and Qi Cultivation Realm Cultivators, respectively.

He had started preparing these back on Celestial Secret Island. However, for him now, Tier One and Tier Two Artifacts and Elixirs were undoubtedly insignificant.

He scanned the cultivators present and said slowly, "All of you have defended Earth Demon Island, facing life and death. You have rendered great service to the Pavilion..."

"We thank the True Master for his grace!"

The crowd bowed again. This time, spurred by such tangible rewards, their shouts seemed even more spirited.

"Have the disciples disperse and return to their duties. Don’t delay the garrison’s defense."

Chu Mu looked at Chang Hongshan beside him and ordered.

"This junior obeys."

Chang Hongshan grabbed the Top Grade Spiritual Artifact and the Jade Bottle of Elixirs floating before him, his expression clearly showing his unconcealed excitement. After a respectful bow, he immediately began to make arrangements.

The cultivators dispersed in an orderly fashion, while Chu Mu, guided by several of them, stepped into the True Understanding Pavilion’s base.

The base covered about ten acres and had a circular layout. It was surrounded by individual buildings, arranged in concentric circles shrinking inward. In the innermost circle were ten small, separate courtyards, and at the very center stood a three-story tower that rose above all the other structures in the base.

This layout had been personally approved by Chu Mu before construction began.

And that three-story tower, in Chu Mu’s vision, was meant to serve as his personal residence.

After dismissing the accompanying cultivators, Chu Mu finally stepped into the tower.

The tower’s layout was exquisite. A reception area, a seclusion chamber, an Alchemy Refining Room, an Artifact Refining Room—it had everything one could need.

Chu Mu did a thorough inspection and, after confirming there were no abnormalities, leisurely made his way to a window on the third floor of the tower.

From this high vantage point, standing in the tower, almost the entirety of Earth Demon Island came into view.

Unlike the bustling Celestial Spirit Island, outer islands like Earth Demon Island formed the outermost line of defense for the Demon Suppression Islands. The island’s existence was practically that of a massive military camp.

At a glance, the entire island had almost no commercial shops. Aside from a few residential buildings for the garrison, the landscape was dominated by various defensive installations stretching from the island’s perimeter to its center.

Rows of Spiritual Energy Cannons and Spiritual Crossbows, various Magic Formations, and towering Soldier Puppet Armors stood in undulating lines, exuding a grim, murderous aura.

Behind every Artifact and Magic Formation, a cultivator could be seen sitting cross-legged, guarding their designated post.

When the Demon Beasts invaded, it would inevitably begin with a Beast Tide, surging forward to blot out the sky and cover the earth.

At such times, there was no need for targeting. All the island’s Artifacts just had to wantonly unleash their firepower to inflict massive casualties on the Beast Tide.

This was also the fundamental reason for the large number of Low Tier Qi Cultivation Realm Cultivators on the Demon Suppression Islands.

On normal days, when no Beast Tide had erupted and no major battle had begun, the various islands would dispatch Demon Hunting teams composed entirely of Foundation Establishment Realm Cultivators to leave the island and hunt the Demon Beasts scattered throughout this sea region.

At these times, a Golden Core True Master would often accompany them to handle any Tier Three Demon Beasts that might appear.

As for Nascent Soul True Masters, they would hold the fort on the islands. If a Tier Four Great Demon appeared, it would inevitably lead to a terrifying Tier Four battle.

In terms of the war’s overall situation, fighting on the Vast Sea Demon Beasts’ home turf, the Vast Sea Cultivation Immortal World was undoubtedly on the complete defensive.

They could only rely on the Demon Suppression Islands for defense, making it difficult to mount an effective counterattack.

In this Endless Vast Sea, the most valuable things are Demon Beasts, and the most expendable things are also Demon Beasts.

Take the Profound Serpent Race, for example. They only need to send out a single Spiritual Demon to easily command tens of thousands of Demon Beasts.

To the Profound Serpent Race, these Demon Beasts were cannon fodder that could be harvested and would grow back again. But to the cultivators stationed here, they were undoubtedly a near-endless nightmare, one battle after another.

’So, this is to tie down the main forces of the Chen Family?’

Chu Mu murmured to himself.

’Given the Longevity Sect’s single-minded goal of throwing the Vast Sea Cultivation Immortal World into chaos, it’s impossible that they haven’t contacted the Profound Serpent Race.’

’Based on what Xu Changqing just said, the Vast Sea Chen Family shares the same roots as the Flood Dragon Race. In this vast Demon Realm, how could there not be beings who share the same roots as the Profound Serpent Race?’

’It’s even possible that within the Profound Serpent Race, there’s a Tier Four Great Demon who cultivated in the Vast Sea and transformed using Profound Snake bloodline.’

’Who knows how many beings like the Five Poison Child are out there.’

SWOOSH!

As Chu Mu’s thoughts were racing, a sharp whistle suddenly pierced the heavens.

Immediately after, several beams of light shot into the sky. The light was like a blazing sun, and in just an instant, it completely illuminated the entire Earth Demon Island and a large stretch of the sea in front of it.

At the edge of the sea, a tsunami dozens of zhang high surged forward. Endless Demon Beasts roared and bellowed within it, completely tearing apart the silence of the night sky as clouds shattered and dissipated.

The tsunami and the Beast Tide blotted out the sky, like an apocalypse as the heavens themselves collapsed, sweeping toward the Demon Suppression Islands.

"Enemy attack!"

"The Beast Tide is here!"

"All cultivators, to your posts immediately! Await orders! Any who delay will be killed without mercy!"

Shouts exploded across the island. The voices ignored the obstruction of the Array Prohibitions, and even Chu Mu, who was isolated within one, heard every command clearly.

The once-calm island instantly erupted into a clamor. Large squadrons of cultivators in Puppet Battle Armor soared into the sky. Streaks of Tunneling Light crisscrossed the night, and a surging, murderous intent roiled across the island.

In just a few breaths’ time, the sudden uproar instantly returned to silence.

Before the undulating lines of various offensive and defensive Artifacts, cultivators stood ramrod straight with solemn expressions. Points of Spiritual Light had begun to flicker upon the different pieces of equipment.

Within the magical Array Prohibitions, large groups of cultivators formed arrays. Wisps of Spiritual Qi surged, and profound magical patterns flowed, looking as if they could erupt at any moment.

At the island’s edge, cultivators in Puppet Battle Armor formed towering square formations, their cold weapons pointed directly at the overwhelming Beast Tide.

Above the island, a protective shield of Array Prohibitions, shaped like an inverted eggshell, glowed. Countless Array Prohibition Inscriptions intertwined and flickered upon it, echoing with the neighboring islands. The faint fluorescence it had been emitting now blazed with a nearly blinding light...

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