Chapter 75: War

Three months later.

Half of the Northern Heaven Alliance's territory had fallen into the hands of the Abyssal Sea allied forces. Even with only that one alliance alone, they could not put up any defense.

From the Thousand Gorge Mountain Range the Abyssal Sea army split into four routes and surged north like a tide. Wherever they passed a sect or a city, banners pointed and ten thousand ships set sail. Those who surrendered stayed, those who resisted died.

The Northern Heaven Alliance did resist. Dozens of battles large and small stained the mountains and rivers with blood. But every clash ended without suspense. The Abyssal Sea side had hundreds of Nascent Soul cultivators; the gap in strength was like a chasm. The Northern Heaven Alliance retreated step by step, losing cities and territory.

Peak after peak changed hands, vein after vein changed owners.

The Northern Heaven Alliance leader, Northern Sky Lord, remained stationed at the rear and did not personally take action. He was not cowardly, but deeply understood that launching an attack without knowing the enemy was a cardinal military sin. Yet even though he stabilized his side’s high-end fighters, the rout among the lower and middle cultivators was like a dam breaking—irreversible.

News spread across the Lingchuan continent, shaking the world.

The words overseas visitors became the hottest topic among cultivators. Some said they were demons from the outer sea, some said they were descendants of ancient peoples, others said they weren’t even from this world.

Debate raged, conclusions varied.

By then, the Abyssal Sea allied forces had already crossed the central defenses of the Northern Heaven Alliance, their spearheads pointing straight at the Heavenly Demon Alliance border.

In the rear, the ancient teleportation array ran day and night without cease.

Batch after batch of cultivators stepped out from the pillars of light. Second wave reservists, third wave rear guards, poured endlessly onto the Lingchuan continent. Warships, supplies, pill medicines, magical implements—piled up like mountains.

The Thousand Gorge Mountain Range became the allied base camp. The once tranquil celestial peaks were now boisterous, filled with cultivators in drills and patrolling warships.

The other two of the three great cultivators, Gu Xuanzhou and Wei Tianhe, had also arrived through the teleportation array.

The three grand cultivators gathered on the continent and took command of the central army.

With the flames of war at their doorstep, the other original three great alliances on the continent could no longer sit idly by.

The Southern Heaven Alliance, the Myriad Immortals Alliance, and the Heavenly Demon Alliance had all been watching, intending to let the Northern Heaven Alliance wear down these overseas visitors first. But seeing the Northern Heaven Alliance collapse like a tide and hand over half its territory, who could keep pretending not to notice?

A disaster to one threatens all.

If it’s the Northern Heaven Alliance today, it could be them tomorrow.

The nearest, the Heavenly Demon Alliance, struck first. One hundred thousand cultivators crossed the border and fought the Abyssal Sea allied forces fiercely on the Cangwu Plain for three days. Both sides took heavy casualties, and it ended in a stalemate.

The Southern Heaven Alliance and the Myriad Immortals Alliance followed, sending reinforcements to support the remnants of the Northern Heaven Alliance.

For the first time the four great alliances joined forces, laying down a defensive line tens of thousands of li long across the northern region of the Lingchuan continent, trying to halt the advance of the Abyssal Sea army.

For a while, the battlefield reached a deadlock.

But the leadership of the four alliances knew clearly they were not short on manpower, they were short on information.

Where exactly did these overseas visitors come from? Why did they come? How many were there? How many trump cards did they have?

To uncover the truth, the four alliances sent death-commandos under cover of night to infiltrate the Abyssal Sea allied camps, capture a few low-rank cultivators alive, and search their souls through the night.

The truth finally surfaced.

The Tianyuan Sea, the blood mist, the Beast Tide, the seal...

Everything was laid bare on the desks of the four alliances.

"I see."

Northern Sky Lord was silent for a long time after reading the soul-search records, and sighed deeply.

"Tianyuan Sea... they are descendants of those who guarded the seal on the sky-demons tens of thousands of years ago. In other words, they share the same origin as us."

The Southern Heaven Alliance representative sneered.

"So what? Tens of thousands of years have passed, and the continent is not the same land as before. Just because they want a share doesn't make it acceptable!"

The Heavenly Demon Alliance leader spoke in a sullen tone.

"With their fists? Hundreds of Nascent Soul cultivators and three grand cultivators—this force is indeed formidable."

The Myriad Immortals Alliance leader tapped the table, eyes stirring.

"Hmph, if they want to seize our territory, then let's see if their fists are strong enough."

The four were silent for a moment.

Northern Sky Lord said, "No matter who they are, the continent is ours. Cultivation resources are limited, and south of here lies the perilous Blood-Demon Valley. If they take an inch, we lose an inch. This war must be fought, whether we want it or not."

No one objected.

Whether the Abyssal Sea allied forces had other trump cards remained unclear. The existence of the Demon Purification Platform was kept extremely secret by the Abyssal Sea side; the captured low-rank cultivators knew nothing.

The flames of war burned higher.

At the allied rear, in the Thousand Gorge Mountain Range, a temporary cave dwelling.

Jiuyou sat cross-legged, pale light flowing around him.

In these three months he had killed many people.

Cultivators of the Northern Heaven Alliance, from Foundation-Establishing to Early Nascent Soul, not fewer than dozens had died by his hand. Every time they attacked a city or swept the land, he was at the forefront. Not because he cared for the allied victory, but because the battlefield was the best hunting ground.

Four Early Nascent Soul cultivators had died by his hand.

Each of their nascent souls had been devoured by Nether Capital Gate.

Countless Foundation-Establishing and Golden Core cultivators had their spirits fed to the Soul-Eating Insects.

At this moment his dantian had grown several degrees stronger. Within the Nether Capital Gate, soul force swelled until it nearly spilled over. The swarm of Soul-Eating Insects was restless, and the Insect Queen’s gold markings had multiplied; her aura grew ever more ferocious.

Jiuyou opened his eyes and looked down at his palm.

The Nether Capital method in his hand had become ever more condensed and pure; this was the benefit of devouring and refining countless spirits and then returning that energy to oneself.

"Comforting."

He murmured to himself, a trace of indulgent smile on his face.

He stood, hands folded behind his back, and stared at the battlefield-strewn horizon outside the cave, letting out a cold laugh.

"War... really stirs the blood."

Outside, Canfeng’s voice came.

"Ancestor, there are new orders. The allied forces will advance west to sweep the remnants of the Northern Heaven Alliance. The Three Alliance Council has issued orders: half of the Nascent Soul cultivators depart immediately."

Jiuyou pushed the door open, his old face showing no expression.

"Let's go."

He took a step and transformed into a pitch-black streak of light, disappearing into the horizon.

Behind him, the buzzing of the Soul-Eating Insect swarm followed like a shadow.