As the Sacred Dynasty's eldest disciple, Sun Erlang held authority in the Sacred Emperor's absence. His pre-battle address, a blend of strategic analysis and motivational fervor, was met with unanimous agreement.
Several days later, as they remained hidden within the White Mist Barrier, a beam of light pierced the sky, landing within their Universal Worthy Vessel.
A message, its origin unknown.
Sun Erlang's eyes lit up as he read its contents. "We have confirmation. The Alliance will launch their counteroffensive against the Jiushan Region tomorrow. And to intimidate the Council of Five Elders, they will also launch smaller-scale attacks along the border regions."
Excitement rippled through the assembled cultivators.
"They're making a bigger move than anticipated!"
"Excellent! The more chaotic the situation, the better for us!"
Sun Erlang, with a thought, projected a massive image of the Alliance's territory, its borders clearly marked.
"The moment the Alliance begins its assault on the Jiushan Region… that is when we strike."
"Until then, no one makes a move."
He activated the vessel's internal sealing formations, working in concert with Ou Shangtian.
"Before the battle begins," he continued, his voice calm and measured, "there is one more matter I must address. A matter of vital importance. This information cannot be allowed to leak. That's why I've sealed the vessel. No one enters or leaves. All communications are suspended."
"I apologize for any inconvenience."
The other cultivators exchanged glances, their curiosity piqued. What could be so important?
Sun Erlang closed his eyes, waiting.
Silence descended upon the vessel, broken only by the rhythmic hum of the engines and the faint crackling of the White Mist Barrier outside.
After what felt like an eternity, Sun Erlang opened his eyes, his gaze sharp.
"The Alliance has made their move."
"Now… it's our turn."
He stood, bowing towards an empty space within the vessel. "Greetings, Master."
The others gasped, their eyes following his gaze. A figure, bathed in starlight, materialized before them.
The Sacred Emperor.
"We welcome the Sacred Emperor!" They bowed in unison, their voices echoing with respect.
Though it was merely an illusion, a projection of his will, they treated it with the utmost reverence.
The Sacred Emperor didn't waste time with grand pronouncements.
"Victory is ours," he declared, his voice booming with power.
Then, with a wave of his hand, his form dissolved into countless motes of starlight, each one finding its way into the assembled cultivators.
BOOM!
Each cultivator felt as if they had been transformed into a celestial body, orbiting a massive, sun-like star.
And connecting them all, a web of starlight, a network of pure energy that allowed them to communicate without words, without even using their divine sense. Their thoughts flowed freely, their minds connected.
They realized the stars within this simulated Star Sea weren't just those present on the vessel.
There were others, countless others, scattered across the Alliance's territory – the commanders and officers of the Sacred Dynasty's ground forces, waiting for their orders.
"These are your assignments," Sun Erlang's voice echoed through the Star Sea, his words clear and precise.
"Wang Xuanba, Master Craftsman, you will lead the First and Third Legions. Your target – the one hundred and thirty regions in the eastern sector of the Alliance."
"Ou Shangtian, Daoist Ou, you will lead the Second and Ninth Legions. Your target – the one hundred and twenty-six regions in the south."
"Su Yuqing, Daoist Hundred Flowers, you will lead the Fifth Legion and the Myriad World Alliance. Your target – the one hundred and fifty-four regions in the west."
…
As Sun Erlang assigned each task, those named felt themselves shifting within the Star Sea, their positions changing, aligning with their designated regions. New connections formed, linking them to the other stars within their designated sectors, their subordinates, their fellow commanders.
With a thought, detailed information about their troops, their commanders, their assigned targets, appeared in their minds.
"Your primary objective is to capture the Celestial Cities within each region," Sun Erlang continued. "Any resistance from other clans or sects… eliminate them. Those who remain neutral… ignore them for now. We'll deal with them later."
"When the attack commences, the Heavenly Profound Mirrors and teleportation formations within each region will be disabled."
"These are the schematics of the Alliance's defensive formations." Sun Erlang transmitted a series of complex diagrams. "Follow these instructions, and their defenses will crumble. If they activate their backup formations, I will transmit the necessary countermeasures immediately."
…
Information flowed smoothly, efficiently, the assembled commanders absorbing the data, their excitement growing with each passing moment.
They had detailed information about the Alliance's forces, their deployments, their strengths and weaknesses, even their preferred cultivation techniques.
Their enemy had been laid bare.
And the Alliance… they knew nothing about them.
This battle… it was already won.
No wonder Sun Erlang had been so secretive. This information… it could only have come from the highest echelons of the Alliance.
But Sun Erlang wasn't finished.
"This Star Sea network… it is a manifestation of the Sacred Emperor's power. It allows for more than just communication. You can use it to… teleport. To instantly appear beside your fellow commanders."
"Use this to your advantage. Overwhelm them. Divide and conquer."
The brilliant star at the center of the Star Sea pulsed, bathing the surrounding stars in its light.
Detailed instructions on how to utilize the Sacred Emperor's power flooded their minds.
They marveled at his wisdom, his foresight, his power.
…
As the pre-battle meeting continued, in the Lingxu World, Qing and Hong nervously examined the circular pattern etched onto the ground. It resembled a spinning wheel, its spokes radiating outwards.
"Are you sure this will work?" Qing asked, her voice laced with doubt.
"With me, Cui Shaojiang, in charge, there's no room for failure!" the young man in the blue cap declared, his voice brimming with confidence.
He pricked his finger, flicking a drop of blood towards the pattern on the ground.
The blood merged with the pattern, thin red lines spreading outwards, then shooting towards the sky, vanishing into the clouds.
"Alas, in the current Beast Taming Sect, I'm the only one who can still perform this technique," Cui Shaojiang said, shaking his head sadly.
Qing and Hong exchanged glances, their skepticism evident. They couldn't sense any power emanating from the pattern.
Cui Shaojiang, seeing their distrust, sighed. "The Beast Taming Sect… we are not what we once were. After the Tribulation, after relocating to this world, we… evolved. We abandoned the traditional methods of beast taming, embracing the path of Spirit Fusion."
As he spoke, the blue cap on his head shifted, two round, black eyes appearing on its surface, staring at Qing and Hong with unsettling intensity.
Even though they had been briefed on the Beast Taming Sect's new methods, witnessing it firsthand was… unsettling.
They couldn't sense two separate auras, one human, one beast. It was as if… they were facing a single entity.
"Not control through force, but fusion through spirit." He patted his cap, and the eyes vanished. "This is the culmination of our ancestors' research, their refinement of the Beast Taming Wheel. Senior Xu Ke… he played a crucial role in this breakthrough."
"But I digress," he continued, returning to the matter at hand. "The replica of the Beast Taming Wheel you provided… it's impressive. Combined with our accumulated knowledge, it should be powerful enough to summon Di Sanmo."
A spark of excitement lit up his eyes. "We've been waiting for this opportunity. To meet the legendary Beast of Wisdom. To perhaps… fuse with his spirit…"
His gaze drifted towards the area surrounding the training grounds, where the Beast Taming Sect had laid a trap.
They hadn't forgotten Di Sanmo. Their resentment for his abrupt departure, his abandonment of their sect, had only grown stronger with time.
That's why they had readily agreed to cooperate with Qing and Hong.
The red light within the pattern on the ground pulsed, its energy growing stronger, the pattern itself trembling as if about to lift off the ground.
Cui Shaojiang narrowed his eyes.
He could feel it. Di Sanmo was coming.
…
At the Alliance headquarters, Xu Ke and Immortal Master Yin, maintaining their charade as casual visitors, suddenly felt a subtle shift in the atmosphere within the Divine Repository of Wonders.
The air seemed lighter, somehow. The oppressive weight that had been clinging to them… it was gone.
"Third Grandpa has left," Xu Ke said, his voice low and urgent.
"Shall we proceed?" Immortal Master Yin asked, barely containing his excitement.
"Not yet. We wait for the Sacred Emperor's signal."
"The Beast Taming Sect's progress… it's surprising. Their decision to withdraw during the Tribulation, to preserve their knowledge, their talent… it was a wise move."
"Fine, we'll wait. A little longer won't hurt. But while we're here… take a look at this."
Immortal Master Yin led Xu Ke to a nearby exhibit.
A golden tree, its branches adorned with triangular leaves, its trunk covered in intricate carvings of small figures, frozen in various poses of conversation and debate.
"This isn't from the Xuanhuang World, is it?" Xu Ke asked, a frown creasing his brow.
"No. It's from my homeland."
"Or rather, from the part of my homeland where… consciousness lingered the longest."
"I thought that place was completely destroyed. I never imagined… its most precious artifact… would end up here." A hint of sadness tinged his voice.
"This tree… what is its significance?" Xu Ke knew there was more to this than simple nostalgia.
Immortal Master Yin chuckled. "In my world… there was no sun, no moon. All light, all warmth, came from this Golden Tree. Even life itself… it originated beneath its branches. Those carvings you see… they are records of our people, gathered beneath the tree, sharing their knowledge, their stories, their dreams."
"Though our world was destroyed, as long as this tree remains… a third of its essence, its power… it endures."
Understanding dawned on Xu Ke's face, followed by a flicker of surprise. "You have a way to… unleash its power?"
Immortal Master Yin smiled, but didn't answer.
"Would you do that?" Xu Ke asked, his voice soft. "Destroy… a piece of your homeland? If the Sacred Emperor succeeds… perhaps he could use it to… restore your world."
Immortal Master Yin snorted. "My people are gone. What good is a world without its inhabitants? Should I take on their forms, play all the parts myself, a one-man show?"
"Let it burn," he said, his voice hard.
Xu Ke smiled. "As you wish."
As they were talking, they felt a tremor beneath their feet. They exchanged glances, then looked towards the exit, their gazes piercing the walls of the repository. They couldn't see what was happening, but they felt it.
A change. A disruption.
…
Across the Xuanhuang World, a strange phenomenon was unfolding.
The sky, moments ago bright and clear, darkened, as if night had fallen prematurely.
The sun vanished.
Stars shimmered into existence, their light faint at first, then growing stronger.
A massive, luminous disc rose in the sky, eclipsing the stars, its light far brighter than even the sun.
As it drew closer, bathing the world in its ethereal glow, the cultivators of the Xuanhuang World stared in awe and apprehension.
Within the luminous disc, they saw… structures. Towers. Buildings.
Another world.
After a moment of stunned silence, realization dawned.
"Is that… the Celestial Barge?"
"They're attacking?!"
"I heard the Alliance and the Council of Five Elders are at war. Is this… a surprise attack by the Council?"
"Be on your guard!"
…
The unexpected event triggered a swift reaction from the Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance.
Across their territory, defensive formations sprang to life, alarms blaring.
Cultivators, transformed into streaks of white light, shot towards the luminous disc, attempting to intercept it, to investigate.
But despite its seemingly close proximity, they couldn't reach it.
It was as if an insurmountable barrier separated their world from this… intruder.
As the Alliance braced for impact, beams of light shot down from the luminous disc.
Like celestial blades, they struck the borders of the four central regions – Tianyu, Tianchen, Tianshu, and Tianquan.
The sky above these regions shimmered, bathed in an ethereal silver light, their borders blurring, distorting.
But beyond that… nothing happened.
After a tense period of observation, the cultivators in the four central regions cautiously concluded that the threat… had passed.
They were wrong.
"The teleportation formations are down! We're trapped!"
"The communication talismans… they're not working!"
"We've lost contact with the other regions! But we can still reach headquarters!"
"What are our orders? 'Adapt to the situation'?! They're at our doorstep! What kind of useless order is that?!"
Panic spread through the four central regions.
Impatient cultivators flew towards the shimmering borders, attempting to break through the blockade.
The White Mist Barrier, bathed in the ethereal silver light, seemed almost… sacred.
Cultivators, bracing themselves for the debilitating effects of the mist, plunged into its depths.
They expected to feel their life force draining away, years shaved off their lifespans. But what they encountered was far more unsettling.
The mist vanished.
They were standing in the vast emptiness of space, surrounded by a cold, unforgiving darkness.
Distant stars twinkled, their light cold and distant.
Disoriented, they tried to return, but the path back… it was gone.
They unleashed their techniques, their most potent attacks, but they couldn't even create a ripple in the fabric of this strange, alien space.
They tried to teleport, to use any means to escape, but nothing worked.
And as their spiritual energy dwindled, the cold, empty void began to gnaw at their minds, their sanity fraying.
They chose a direction, any direction, and flew, hoping to escape this prison.
They didn't know that without the proper method, they were trapped, their efforts futile, their journey endless.
More and more cultivators, lured by the shimmering borders, entered the trap.
The formation, like an insatiable beast, consumed them all.
Nascent Soul, Soul Formation, even Dao Integration experts… none escaped.
After numerous failed attempts, the cultivators in the four central regions finally understood. They were trapped.
The Alliance headquarters, realizing the futility of these suicidal attempts, finally issued a direct order. No one was to approach the shimmering borders.
Several streaks of light, ignoring the travel restrictions, converged on the edge of the Tianquan Region, where the silver light touched the White Mist Barrier.
One of them was Lu Xichan, the Alliance's Chief Formation Master.
"This formation…" She studied the shimmering light, her eyes widening in disbelief.
Beside her, a young man in white robes, his expression grim, asked, "How long to break it? We've lost contact with the outer regions."
"Not just the teleportation formations," he continued, his voice laced with worry. "Even the Heavenly Profound Mirrors are down."
The young man was Ren, one of the true power brokers within the Alliance, a member of the Legacy Transmission lineage.
Lu Xichan, sensing his impatience, replied, "This formation… it draws upon the power of the Star Sea itself, manipulating space and time, creating… a pocket dimension, a simulated starry sky…"
"How long?" Ren interrupted, his voice cold.
Lu Xichan's carefully crafted explanation died on her lips. She hesitated, then said, "This formation… it's unlike anything I've ever encountered. I'll need… at least fifteen days…"
"You have ten," Ren said, his tone brooking no argument.
He snorted, then vanished, leaving Lu Xichan and the other formation masters to their task.
Lu Xichan stared at the shimmering light, a bead of sweat trickling down her forehead.
The more skilled the formation masters, the greater their despair.
It wasn't that the Alliance's formation masters were incompetent.
It was that the formation before them, created by the Sacred Emperor, was simply… beyond their comprehension.
It was the culmination of Li Fan's knowledge, accumulated over countless lifetimes, refined and perfected by the Terminal Dissociation Butterfly, a fusion of ancient wisdom and the insights gleaned from several Celestial-level formations.
The Sacred Emperor, having received this knowledge, had further refined it during his enlightenment in the Star Sea.
The luminous disc that now dominated the sky above the four central regions, occupying half the heavens, was the Great Qi Sacred Dynasty itself.
Within, countless citizens gathered in the Palaces of Hearts, offering their prayers to the Sacred Emperor's statue.
And within the Sacred Capital, beneath the Sacred Emperor's throne, thousands of second-generation Nether Race members chanted his praises, their voices echoing with fervent devotion.
The Sacred Dynasty's purple-gold energy, infused with golden Source Power Essence, flowed outwards, a shimmering stream of power that sustained the formation trapping the four central regions.
This formation, named the Luminous Starry Sky Grand Formation, was a masterpiece, a pinnacle achievement, almost on par with a true Celestial-level formation. Even Legacy Transmission himself would need time to break through its defenses.
As for those trapped within…
They would need his, the Sacred Emperor's, permission.
Li Ping sat on his throne, his gaze piercing through the veil of reality, observing the Alliance's territory.
The throne room, the entire Sacred Capital, was eerily silent, the usual hustle and bustle replaced by a tense anticipation.
Mao Bao, as always, slumbered peacefully on his shoulder, seemingly oblivious to the impending war, his only concern the steady supply of Source Power Essence.
Beside the Sacred Emperor stood another figure, no larger than a child of eight or nine.
Tian Yang.
His puppet body, infused with vast quantities of Source Power Essence and imbued with the battle memories of the Ancestor Immortal Puppet, had undergone a transformation. He had regained his original appearance, his flesh and blood restored, his aura pulsing with life.
His power was unfathomable. He gazed upon the Alliance's territory, waiting for his opponent.
Below the throne, One Absolute Daoist, of the Calamity Crossing Sect, had assembled his entire sect – an army of paper figures.
They were recreating their ancestral home, their movements precise and coordinated.
At the center of their paper village, a portal shimmered, its destination unknown.
Though he didn't enter the portal himself, One Absolute Daoist's painted eyes stretched outwards, extending into the depths of the portal, his vision reaching across vast distances.
"Do not worry, Sacred Emperor," he said, his voice cheerful. "I'll see it coming. Any disturbances, any unexpected movements… I'll know."
Li Ping ignored him.
His attention was focused on the vast expanse of the Star Sea, beyond the Xuanhuang World.
He had made his preparations.
He was waiting for Legacy Transmission. And the Healer.
…
Outside the Luminous Starry Sky Grand Formation, within the Alliance's four trapped central regions, the moment the sky darkened, the moment the Great Qi Sacred Dynasty and its fleet of smaller worlds appeared, drawing the attention of every cultivator…
…chaos erupted within each Celestial City.
Sun Luyuan, seeing the luminous disc in the sky, reacted instinctively. Without hesitation, he activated his agents, those who had been waiting for years, their bodies primed, their minds prepared for this very moment.
They would sacrifice themselves, detonating the formations embedded within their bodies, disrupting the teleportation formations and the Heavenly Profound Mirrors.
Sun Luyuan, a Dao Integration expert, the head of a powerful clan, felt a wave of dizziness wash over him as he gave the order. His throat tightened, his hands and feet turning cold.
But before the fear could take hold, he noticed something strange. In several regions, the Heavenly Profound Mirrors and teleportation formations had already been destroyed.
"Such a crucial task… they wouldn't entrust it to me alone," he realized.
Amid the chaos, he saw them. Massive vessels, their hulls gleaming with golden light, materializing out of thin air, like divine soldiers descending from the heavens.
Before the Alliance cultivators could react, the vessels had surrounded the Celestial Cities.
Strange and powerful puppets poured from the vessels, unleashing beams of black energy that tore through the Alliance's supposedly impenetrable defenses.
"There are… others. Traitors within the Alliance. Higher ranking than even me."
"Could it be… Chief Formation Master Lu?"
The thought reassured him, somehow.
"My most promising descendants… they've already been relocated. Safe, outside the four central regions. And the rest… I've warned them. They should be safe, hidden within their cultivation caves."
"Except for Lu'er. I couldn't… I couldn't get him out in time."
"And Tianci… he's in secluded cultivation. His strength… it surpasses even my own. He should be fine."
As he pondered his family's safety, he saw the Alliance cultivators rallying, organizing themselves, preparing to counterattack.
He snorted. "Time for me to earn my reward."
He shifted his appearance, masking his aura, then, choosing his moment, struck from within, targeting a weak point in the city's defenses. Working in concert with the Sacred Dynasty's forces outside, they quickly overwhelmed the city's defenders.
A talisman, etched with the Sacred Emperor's own hand, was placed upon the forehead of the Legacy Transmission statue within the city.
A symbol of their victory.
The first Celestial City had fallen.
Nandu Region.
Though its defenses were weak, its guardian a mere Soul Formation expert, the victory was symbolic, a powerful message to both sides.
News spread quickly through the Sacred Dynasty's ranks, carried by the Star Sea network, fueled by the Sacred Emperor's power.
Morale soared, and the attacks intensified.
The war was progressing far more smoothly than anticipated.
The Ten Thousand Immortals Alliance, lulled into complacency by years of peace, their forces depleted by their own preemptive strikes along the border, their defensive formations disabled… they were easy prey.
Sun Erlang observed the map of the Alliance's territory, its colors shifting as reports of victory poured in. But there was no joy in his eyes.
He knew this was just the beginning. The Alliance, caught off guard, would soon recover.
The true battle was yet to come.
"Dao Integration expert sighted in Liuguang Region! Blue Ice Immortal Venerable!"
"Dao Integration expert encountered in Yueyang Region! No matching records! Unknown identity! I repeat, unknown identity!"
…
Messages flooded in, reports of escalating resistance, of unexpected counterattacks. Sun Erlang, feeling the familiar presence of the black gold puppet within his mind, remained calm.
These isolated Dao Integration experts… they were a nuisance, but nothing more. The forces he had deployed were more than capable of handling them.
He was waiting for the true players to reveal themselves.
And besides…
His gaze was fixed on the four central regions, trapped beneath the Luminous Starry Sky Grand Formation.
These skirmishes… they were merely a distraction.
The true battle would be fought there.
The Dao Transformation Stone within his mind flickered, its blue light pulsing as he ran simulations, refining his strategies, seeking the path to victory with minimal casualties.
"I won't disappoint you, Master," he vowed silently.
…
The Sacred Dynasty's initial victories were short-lived.
In Luoyan Region, after the fall of Luoyan Celestial City, most of the Sacred Dynasty's troops had been redeployed to other battlefronts, leaving behind a small garrison.
A group of cultivators, seemingly appearing out of nowhere, launched a surprise attack.
They didn't attempt to reclaim the city. They simply struck, then vanished into the wilderness.
(End of Chapter)