Chapter 1975: The Missing Expedition Team

"Alright, if that time truly comes, I'll call your husband back."

Xia Ji nodded very decisively. At the thought that Fang Chen's consort was an old monster who had lived for who knows how many tens of thousands of years, a trace of gloating couldn't help but flash deep in his eyes.

"Your cultivation should also be raised a bit. Among the various divisions in the Underworld today, your Hidden Guard Division possesses the strongest power and numerous experts, yet your cultivation as the Division Head is too low," Consort Yan said calmly. "You are my husband's brother, so you can be considered my brother-in-law. I have already prepared all the immortal herbs for your Immortal Path. You have to put in some effort."

Xia Ji rolled his eyes. "I only just broke through to the sixth transformation a while ago. This speed is already fast enough for me. How many years have I lived? I'm not even two thousand years old."

Before she could reply, his expression suddenly shifted. "Shao Mengyuan and the others are calling me. I'll go over and take a look."

His figure vanished from his spot.

Consort Yan didn't say anything either. She calmly watched as her subordinates set up the legendary formation.

***

The Xie Zhi Division.

The Nine Realms' foremost experts had gathered together in one hall.

Unlike in the past, everyone now showed themselves in their true appearances. After all, the truce between the Demon Race and the Human Race had been established, and the God Dao Sect had been annihilated and couldn't cause turmoil anymore. There was no need to act as carefully as before.

However, within the Xie Zhi Division, the top existences were still divided into several factions. For example, the ninth transformation of Taicang Realm, Fangcun Realm, and Shenwang Realm, as well as Shao Mengyuan and Lang Daochun, two influential figures of the Demon Race.

Today, beside these two Demon Race figures stood dozens of additional ninth-transformation True Demons.

In terms of overall strength, although the Demon Race's numbers were inferior to those of the Human Race, their high-end combat power was a notch stronger. However, none of this counted the forces of the Underworld.

Wang Ye sighed inwardly as he transmitted his voice to Nanming Ruyue, "I didn't expect that the head of the Xie Zhi Division would actually be the Sect Master of the Wandao Immortal Sect... I thought it would be a child of the Fang Clan, or even Old Ninth."

The two of them were currently seated in a corner of the hall. In front of them sat Palace Master Chen Feifei as well as various veterans.

Who could have thought that back when the Taicang Realm was nearly overrun by the Demon Race, the Xie Zhi Division would be led by the Sect Master of the Wandao Immortal Sect? However, both of them also knew that behind the Sect Master of the Wandao Immortal Sect was that Yang God, Yun He, the former Saint Wandao.

Chen Feifei cupped his hands and smiled at the sect master of the Wandao Immortal Sect. "Daoist Ziwei, why did you call all of us here today?"

"People have not all arrived yet. Once everyone is present, we will discuss it further," replied Ziwei. "For now, you just need to know that an expedition team has made a discovery, and we want everyone to make a decision together."

"A discovery by an expedition team?"

Chen Feifei's expression shifted. "It couldn't be that they found traces of the outsiders, could it?"

Ziwei said, "I cannot say for sure."

Chen Feifei snorted. "Why keep us in suspense?"

He turned to chat with Shao Mengyuan and Lang Daochun. Both of them were individuals of remarkable strength. The latter was an important figure of the Saint Demon faction, capable of single-handedly defeating True Immortal Hezhen. As for Shao Mengyuan, while holding the God Slaying Sword, he could match even Limit Breakers.

While Chen Feifei conversed with these two, the other ninth-transformation immortals were observing the ninth-transformation True Demons brought by the duo. Some of those were familiar faces and had personal relationships with quite a few of the ninth-transformation immortals present. After the two races signed an agreement to attack and defend together, their identities had already been made public. Yet seeing each other again, the atmosphere remained somewhat subtle.

A hearty laugh rang out. "We haven't arrived late, have we?"

A man whose imposing physique resembled a towering mountain strode in from outside, followed by several others. The moment they arrived in the hall, every cultivator present felt an invisible pressure descend upon them. Even breathing became somewhat difficult.

Shao Mengyuan stood up and bowed. "Father."

Lang Daochun, however, did not stand up. He merely smiled at these few.

The former Grand Army Commander of the God Slaying Army?

Wang Ye and the others shifted their expressions, their gazes involuntarily growing increasingly curious.

They remembered that when the Taicang Realm had been swept through back then, this was the man who had led the campaign. Later, when the Human Race and Demon Race prepared to sign an agreement, he had directly stepped down and handed the leadership of the God Slaying Army to Shao Mengyuan.

Ziwei stood up and smiled. "Daoist Shao, how have you been since we last met?"

Their gazes collided in midair. For an instant, there seemed to be a flash of lightning between them.

The former Grand Army Commander of the God Slaying Army smiled faintly. "These past years have been quite leisurely. I haven't been nearly as busy as Fellow Daoist Ziwei."

Daoist Friend Ziwei nodded and smiled, making an inviting gesture. "Please take a seat."

After they took their seats, a chorus of conversation suddenly sounded outside the door again. Immediately after, three figures entered the hall almost simultaneously.

Seeing these three, ninth-transformation immortals like Ziwei and Chen Feifei stood up one after another to greet them.

Although these three were also ninth transformations, their auras were distinctly different from those of every other ninth transformation present.

If Fang Chen were here, he could recognize their origins at a glance. They were respectively Saint Danzun, Saint Doubao, and Saint Beixuan.

After the former Grand Army Commander of the God Slaying Army and the True Demons he brought saw these three, the playful smile in their eyes gradually faded, replaced by a trace of solemnity.

Nanming Ruyue couldn't help transmitting her voice, "Second Senior Brother, who are these three?"

"You have to ask your Senior Sister."

Wang Ye's expression was strange as he looked toward Xie Aman.

Seemingly sensing something, Xie Aman transmitted her voice to the two, "These two are peers of that batch of Yang Gods, and also former Saints of our Human Race."

Saints?

The two instantly recalled figures like Saint Jinyang they had seen back then. They couldn't help sighing inwardly. Only now could they finally confirm that their side also had great figures of that caliber who had reincarnated.

The gap between themselves and the Saints was simply too vast. Even if the transcendent nature of the Nine Realms had not perished and immortal essence were still present, they still wouldn't have had much confidence in reaching that level.

In between lay the three steps of Breaking Limit and the realm of Half-Saints.

Saint Beixuan smiled faintly, taking a seat alongside the other two. "Everyone, take a seat. Yun He and the others don't have time to come over, so the three of us will attend this meeting."

Only after they sat down did Ziwei and the others sit down as well.

Almost at the exact same time, Xia Ji's figure slowly surfaced outside the hall. Appearing alongside him were several other Division Heads of the Underworld, as well as over a hundred Yin soldiers.

When Xia Ji and the others brought over a hundred Yin soldiers into the main hall, the pressure they brought truly made everyone restless in their seats.

Every single one of these Yin soldiers was in the Limit Breaking Realm!

Everyone couldn't help feeling emotional. The Underworld was now unquestionably the number one power of the Nine Realms. It commanded the highest level of combat power that the Mortal Realms found difficult to possess. Fortunately, they were all on the same side now.

"Everyone, I am Xia Ji, Division Head of the Hidden Guard Division. I'll be attending the meeting on behalf of Monarch Yan."

After cupping his hands toward everyone, Xia Ji took a seat along with the Division Heads, smiling.

Finally, Ziwei spoke.

"Our Nine Realms currently have hundreds of thousands of expedition teams executing missions outside, and the direction of exploration is not limited to Ancient Forbidden Zones. Some time ago, one of those expedition teams sent back a message. It contained only two words: Outsiders. Thereafter, this team completely vanished and could no longer be contacted."