Chapter 198 - 166: The Great War Begins

Chapter 198: Chapter 166: The Great War Begins

Celestial Essence Realm.

Yuyi Grotto-Heaven.

Zhang Ji and Yan Jiulin were on their way to attend a core meeting of the Ascetic Order.

"Younger Brother, you’ve been a huge help to us."

Yan Jiulin clapped a hand on Zhang Ji’s shoulder, his face wreathed in smiles.

One hundred thousand Spirit-Suppressing Needles. Zhang Ji had managed to take care of all of them in less than two months.

The blanks had already been forged. The remaining processing was simple. With a bit of overtime, they could finish everything in ten to fifteen days.

"I am also a member of the Ascetic Order. It was my duty," Zhang Ji said.

"I’m very curious, Younger Brother. Where did you find ancient cultivators to help?" Yan Jiulin asked.

Yan Jiulin was unaware of Zhang Ji’s identity as a Celestial Demon from beyond the domain.

Ling Xuzi hadn’t told him, instead providing another excuse.

A gathering place of ancient cultivators overseas.

"We have a grotto-heaven paradise overseas," Zhang Ji said. "Most of the ancient cultivators practice there. They are currently short on Spirit Stones for their cultivation, so after I received the Spirit Stones from the Blood Chief, I was able to successfully hire them."

"Oh? Purely handmade and still this efficient?" Yan Jiulin asked, curious.

"There’s also some partial spiritual mechanization. Just because our cultivation habits are ancient doesn’t mean we won’t use modern technological products," Zhang Ji said.

"I see." Yan Jiulin’s face showed his understanding. "Younger Brother Zhang, you’ll have to take me to see it someday. I’m incredibly curious about your territory."

"There will be a chance," Zhang Ji said with a slight smile.

As they talked, the two stepped into the Ascetic Order’s great council hall.

Inside, Zhang Ji and Yan Jiulin were among the last to arrive.

Many people were already in position, having taken their seats.

Huo Chuan, Cui Wei, and Aunt Liu were all present, along with some of the former core members from the Floating City.

There were also high-level cultivators from the Abyss of Eternity branch of the Ascetic Order, whom Zhang Ji had rarely seen. In total, there were about eighty people. Aside from the three Blood Masters who were Nascent Soul cultivators, the rest were all at the Golden Core stage.

Zhang Ji recognized a few of them, but most were strangers.

Seeing Zhang Ji and Yan Jiulin enter, everyone rose and bowed in greeting.

"Greetings, Vice Blood Chiefs Zhang and Yan."

Zhang Ji and Yan Jiulin clasped their hands in return, then took their seats on either side of the head position.

Many people did not understand Zhang Ji’s sudden promotion.

But regardless of their confusion, Zhang Ji’s contributions were undeniable. He had single-handedly managed the refining of so many Spirit-Suppressing Needles, and he had also helped steal the Star Sand back on the Floating City.

His strength was also extraordinary, enough to overwhelm Cui Wei.

So, even if they didn’t understand, even if they had their doubts, they could only keep it to themselves.

After Zhang Ji and Yan Jiulin sat down, the Divine Thoughts of the attendees mingled in the hall. From time to time, gazes would fall upon Zhang Ji, likely filled with questions about him.

However, Zhang Ji didn’t care.

He and Yan Jiulin were also communicating via spiritual transmission.

This technique wasn’t particularly difficult; Zhang Ji had learned it after arriving in this world.

It was nothing more than the exchange of spiritual particles to convey information.

"Has the Blood Chief summoned us to proceed with the next step of the plan?" Zhang Ji asked.

"I imagine so," Yan Jiulin said. "The preparations are complete, so action is inevitable. Are you worried about something, Younger Brother?"

"The Celestial Dao Alliance is a behemoth. My strength is not as great as yours, Elder Brother, so of course I have my concerns," Zhang Ji said.

"Don’t worry, I won’t let you go to your death, Younger Brother. The Blood Chief’s plans are thorough. When the time comes to attack the Floating City, he will be the main force. We only need to provide support," Yan Jiulin said.

In the midst of their conversation, a streak of sword light shot in from outside, and Ling Xuzi arrived.

This time, he uncharacteristically released a hint of a Divinity Transformation Power’s aura.

That unique spiritual pressure radiated outwards, instantly stunning everyone present.

The crowd’s spiritual fluctuations immediately calmed.

Ling Xuzi materialized and took the high seat at the head of the hall.

"Greetings, Blood Chief!"

Everyone rose and bowed. Ling Xuzi nodded. "At ease. Be seated."

After everyone had sat down, Ling Xuzi began to speak.

"For some time now, under the oppressive weight of the Celestial Dao Alliance, all members of the Ascetic Order have worked together, striving toward our common goal. It has been very difficult. This is especially true for Blood Master Liu and her team. With the Spirit Net cut off, our recruitment efforts have been extremely challenging, but they still overcame these difficulties and recruited five hundred more Blood Disciples in the Floating City last month..."

Ling Xuzi first summarized the achievements of each department during this period, offering his approval. Then, he praised Zhang Ji, saying that he had solved the urgent problem of refining the Spirit-Suppressing Needles. His contribution was immense, which was why he had received an unconventional promotion.

After finishing this heap of platitudes, it was time to get to the real business.

"The Celestial Dao Alliance—for us, for the cultivators of the Abyss of Eternity, for the entire Celestial Essence Realm—is a flawed system," Ling Xuzi said. "They stand too high, monopolize too many resources, and have completely blocked the path for everyone else. This should not be... They are on the wrong side of history, and that is why we must destroy their system..."

After affirming his organization’s righteousness and repeating its core philosophy, Ling Xuzi continued, "The foundation of the Celestial Dao Alliance is the Floating City. The existence of the Floating City, in turn, relies on the Xuanji Array of Ten Thousand Transformations. It is this very array that holds up all Thirty-Three Heavens of the Floating City. To destroy the Celestial Dao Alliance, the first thing we must destroy is this array."

Within the void of the conference hall, a model of the Floating City’s grand array was projected into view.

It was incomparably exquisite, displaying every detail. This was clearly the model of the Xuanji Array of Ten Thousand Transformations.

"This is the Xuanji Array of Ten Thousand Transformations. It has a total of one hundred seven thousand, six hundred and ninety-three array eyes. To destroy it, we must destroy every single one of these eyes," Ling Xuzi said. "But this is an extremely difficult task because it has a self-repair function, and the array eyes are constantly shifting. To destroy these eyes with precision, we must first cut off its ability to repair itself. Therefore, we must first sever its source of Spiritual Power."

Next to the projection of the great array, a colossal, pitch-black, sky-piercing cylindrical tower appeared.

No, to be precise, it should be called the "Nine-Turned Quantum Furnace."

"This is the Nine-Turned Quantum Furnace on the Thirty-First Heaven, Taiyin Heaven. It stands thirty-two thousand meters tall and is the device that regulates the Spiritual Qi of the entire Floating City. It is also the source of Spiritual Power for the Xuanji Array of Ten Thousand Transformations."

Ling Xuzi gave his introduction, then said, "Destroying it is the key to destroying the Xuanji Array of Ten Thousand Transformations. Once the Nine-Turned Quantum Furnace is destroyed, the entire Floating City will slowly fall into a dead silence. The Spiritual Qi will grow thinner and thinner, making it difficult to maintain the Xuanji Array. Moreover, once the Celestial Dao Alliance loses Spiritual Qi as a bargaining chip to control cultivators, we will be able to win over more allies..."

At this point, Ling Xuzi paused and looked at Yan Jiulin.

"Next is the detailed battle plan. Jiulin, you can explain it."

Yan Jiulin stood up and began to explain the battle plan to the assembly.

The plan was both complex and simple.

Essentially, Ling Xuzi would break open the Xuanji Array of Ten Thousand Transformations, then lead everyone into Celestial Secret City on Taiyin Heaven. There, they would breach the city’s defensive array, the "Nine Luminaries Profound Pivot Calculation Array," and launch a direct assault on the Nine-Turned Quantum Furnace, detonating its core.

Ling Xuzi would also participate in the plan. He would be responsible for intercepting key enemy forces to buy everyone time.

Since they were making trouble in the Celestial Dao Alliance’s territory, even Ling Xuzi was under immense pressure.

The total time was extremely limited, so they had to be fast.

The total time for this operation was only two quarter-hours.

From the moment they arrived at Celestial Secret City to the moment they left after its destruction, they had only those two quarter-hours.

Thirty minutes to destroy a massive cornerstone of civilization.

Ling Xuzi really dared to dream big.

If this were the Ascetic Order led by the original Master Yu Yi, there would have been absolutely no chance.

But the Ascetic Order led by Ling Xuzi now? They just might be able to pull it off.

Because before all this, Ling Xuzi had also been a member of the Celestial Dao Alliance.

He was even one of the Five Elders.

He was far too familiar with the entire Floating City.

So familiar that he had participated in a large part of the Nine-Turned Quantum Furnace’s design, and had even personally refined some of its materials.

It just goes to show, the only way to truly destroy an organization is to make it crumble from within.

After the meeting, the Ascetic Order truly began to mobilize.

No matter how poor a leader Master Yu Yi had been, no matter how out of touch with the times, he was still a Divinity Transformation Cultivator.

His rallying power was terrifying, and to a certain extent, he had genuinely earned the respect of the Floating City.

Back then, the development of the Ascetic Order had been tacitly approved.

Therefore, the Ascetic Order’s power was far greater than it appeared on the surface.

In Yuyi Grotto-Heaven alone, there were over five thousand Foundation Establishment cultivators and thirty thousand cultivators at the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer or above.

Not to mention those outside.

In the Abyss of Eternity, at least seventy percent of the people had expressed an intention to join the Ascetic Order.

It was just that their cultivation levels were generally not very high.

Even with the current purges in the Floating City, a considerable number of members who had passed the tests remained.

If nothing else, they could at least be put to work now.

A massive warship also appeared, undergoing final inspections by its designated Spirit Puppets and engineers.

This was a real war.

Its scale far surpassed the time they attacked Eternal Steed Immortal Ship Technology to steal the Star Sand.

That previous operation had been, at best, a minor skirmish, completely incapable of shaking the foundations of the Celestial Dao Alliance.

But this time was different.

Once the Nine-Turned Quantum Furnace was destroyed, the Celestial Dao Alliance would be grievously wounded.

It would be like snapping one of the pillars supporting the heavens in half.

The fall of the Floating City would not be far behind.

Ling Xuzi had also changed into a suit of battle armor. He was polishing his treasured sword, a trace of reminiscence in his eyes.

Ever since the Celestial Dao Alliance was founded and the Floating City was built, the Celestial Sword Group had been without external enemies.

When he sparred with his senior brother, Dugu Yunfeng, he always held back.

Later, after breaking through to the Divinity Transformation Stage, Spiritual Qi became limited, so he no longer squandered his Spiritual Power at will.

’I wonder how long it’s been since I’ve fought with my full strength.’

But he knew that his cultivation, his realm, and the Swordsmanship he had mastered had already surpassed his former master.

VMMMM—!

The Seven Tribulation Sword hummed and trembled.

"Are you looking forward to it?" Ling Xuzi smiled as he looked toward the Floating City and said aloud, "I’m looking forward to it a little, too!"

He wanted to find his senior brother himself, to have a match and see whose Sword Dao was the truly correct one!

And that day was fast approaching.