I Have A Cultivation World Chapter 2713 - 1249: The Fall of the Myriad Stars Alliance (Part 2)

Even the formidable celestial cage, erected by a celestial being from the Upper Realm, bore the scars of time. The Demon Venerable, however, was the sole individual possessing the knowledge to navigate its intricate passages in and out. Within this confinement lay the remains of numerous powerful true spirits.

Among these, a sixth-rank Wu Earth True Locust was present. If the Demon Venerable were to re-refine this relic, the current Demonic Sacred Embryo could rapidly attain fifth-rank perfection. It might even achieve a direct breakthrough into the sixth rank, the Blood Rebirth realm.

In bygone days, by refining the remnants of the White Dragon, the Demon Venerable earned the epithet "The Six Wonders of the World" upon his ascension. He was subsequently recognized as a preeminent expert in the Tianhe Realm by the Impermanence Pavilion.

"My hesitation to act earlier was to avoid attracting unwanted attention from the East Continent. Now that I have returned to the fifth rank and the Demonic Sacred Embryo is nearing completion, there is no longer a need for concealment..."

As these words left his lips, the Demon Venerable emerged from the Island of Ten Thousand Immortals, which rose majestically from the ocean floor. Where his feet touched, ice crystals formed, sturdy enough to bear his weight. In just a couple of strides, the Jade Pearl Demon King could only perceive the Demon Venerable's form as a distant speck.

His trajectory was set precisely towards the undersea canyon.

...

Divine Sand Island serves as the central command for the Flying Sand Sect within the desolate expanse of the sea. It boasts a fifth-rank Spirit Vein, making it the island with the most potent spiritual energy concentration in the entire Desolate Sea.

While immersed in cultivating profound techniques within a cave dwelling on the island, preparing for a breakthrough to the Spirit Transformation Stage, Taishi Weiguang's brow suddenly furrowed, and his eyes snapped open. The protective array outside his cave dwelling had been disturbed.

Disciples of the Flying Sand Sect, under normal circumstances, would never act so recklessly. Such an action during a cultivator's seclusion could shatter their concentration at a critical juncture of breakthrough, inevitably leading to irreconcilable animosity.

Could it be that the Five Elements Sect has initiated an assault? This thought caused Taishi Weiguang to startle, contemplating if the Eastern Wilderness Qing Emperor was finally disregarding his renowned reputation.

After summoning his Divine Sand, Taishi Weiguang activated the layered restrictions of his cave dwelling. Emerging from it, he beheld his disciple-grandson, Ruan Lilong, stationed at the entrance, his face a picture of sheer panic.

"What urgent matter dares to disturb my seclusion?" Upon recognizing Ruan Lilong, Taishi Weiguang initially felt a surge of anger. However, he swiftly deduced that the issue must be of considerable gravity, suppressing his ire as he inquired with a stern countenance.

"Reporting to the Ancestor, seven days prior, the soul tablet of Uncle Tao, who was guarding the Desolate Abyss Canyon, inexplicably shattered. Understanding the severity, Uncle Xiang entrusted me with guarding the sect while he, along with two other Nascent Soul Elders, departed to investigate the cause at the canyon. But merely three breaths ago, the soul tablets of those two Elders also disintegrated..."

Ruan Lilong, presently the leading figure of the Flying Sand Sect, rapidly articulated the reason for disrupting Taishi Weiguang's solitary cultivation.

"How is this possible? So many Nascent Souls, unless a Spirit Transformation cultivator intervened..." Taishi Weiguang exclaimed in profound astonishment, questioning, "Has the Eastern Wilderness Qing Emperor arrived to launch an attack?"

Despite Chen Mobai's impeccable reputation, in the current climate of the Tianhe Realm, no cultivator relinquishes their sect's destiny to the goodwill of others. Therefore, if feasible, Taishi Weiguang aspired to attain Spirit Transformation, thereby restoring the Flying Sand Sect to its former Holy Land status.

This would enable him to engage in discourse on equal terms with the formidable Eastern Wilderness Qing Emperor, rather than being dependent on the favor of the Five Elements Sect as was the current situation.

"It is unlikely. Had it truly been that individual, Divine Sand Island would have been reduced to rubble by now," Ruan Lilong responded, shaking his head with a wry smile.

Chen Mobai, as the foremost figure in the Eastern Continent, possessed the capability to dismantle even the most robust grand formations of the Flying Sand Sect within the span of a single bell's chime, should he choose to abandon his principles.

"Then who could be a Spirit Transformation cultivator?" Taishi Weiguang pondered, knowing that even his own intervention might not easily overcome Tao Zhengdian, who commanded the power of the Five Direction Divine Sand.

"I am uncertain. I have already made inquiries with the other allied sects stationed at the Desolate Abyss Canyon within the Myriad Stars Alliance. It appears that the soul tablets of most disciples stationed there have also met the same fate," Ruan Lilong added, his expression grim. He understood that the Desolate Abyss Canyon, one of the rare Spiritual Lands yielding fifth-rank resources in the Desolate Sea, was precisely where the most potent forces of the Myriad Stars Alliance positioned their cultivators, supported by a fifth-rank lower-grade defensive formation.

Regrettably, not even a simple Message Talisman could be dispatched in time to summon aid.

Presently, out of the three Nascent Soul cultivators dispatched for reconnaissance, two have met their demise.

"Junior Brother Xiang’s soul tablet remains intact, signifying his survival. He must possess a method to convey information. Expedite the issuance of the highest-tier Myriad Stars Order immediately. Muster all allied high-ranking cultivators, and I shall personally lead an expedition to the Desolate Abyss Canyon to ascertain the truth!"

After careful deliberation, Taishi Weiguang could only clench his jaw and issue the command.

He felt compelled to act!

He understood that both the deceased Tao Zhengdian and the fate-uncertain Xiang Chunlei were Sand-handling Officers of the Flying Sand Sect, custodians of one of the sect’s inherited Legal Treasures: the Five Direction Divine Sand. The Heavenly Fiend Star Sand, previously seized by Ming Zun, was still unaccounted for.

Should these two Divine Sands be lost as well, coupled with the loss of three Nascent Soul cultivators, the Flying Sand Sect's standing would plummet from being the dominant force in the Desolate Sea to a mere ordinary Nascent Soul entity.

Taishi Weiguang was acutely aware that attempting a forced Spirit Transformation under such duress, with a turmoil-ridden mind, would result in a 90% chance of failure. Thus, he resolved to leverage his fading influence within the Myriad Stars Alliance, rallying all the forces of the Desolate Sea to march towards the Desolate Abyss Canyon.

Furthermore, as the Great Elder of the Flying Sand Sect, Taishi Weiguang harbored a significant secret: beneath the Desolate Abyss Canyon lay a hidden passage leading directly to a secret realm left behind by an Immortal. This secret, the ancestors of the Flying Sand Sect had discovered from the Empress.

It was precisely this knowledge that prompted the Flying Sand Sect to abandon the Eastern Continent during the collapse of the Eastern Emperor Court and migrate to this very location.

However, despite prolonged efforts, they had been unable to locate the entrance to the Immortal’s secret realm.

Now, it appeared a mysterious entity had brutally purged the sect stationed there within the Myriad Stars Alliance, its motives likely centered on the secret realm.

Based on all available intelligence, Taishi Weiguang deduced that since Junior Brother Xiang was still alive and not all stationed cultivators had been wiped out, the intruder’s power likely did not exceed the Spirit Transformation stage. A unified force from the Myriad Stars Alliance might even be overwhelmed.

Perhaps this presented an opportune moment to discover the elusive passage.

This realization spurred Taishi Weiguang into immediate action.

Shortly thereafter, the Myriad Stars Alliance army was mobilized.

...

A fortnight later, within the Yellow Dragon Cave Mansion, Chen Mobai received the latest intelligence from the Desolate Sea Five Elements Commerce Association.

"All high-ranking cultivators of the Myriad Stars Alliance are deceased?"

Chen Mobai regarded Yuan Chiye, who had personally delivered the information, with an expression of disbelief.

"Not entirely, but the soul tablets of most cultivators who accompanied Taishi Weiguang to the Desolate Abyss Canyon have shattered. Approximately 20% still show intact soul tablets, though contact has been lost. No Message Talismans were ever returned after entering the canyon." Yuan Chiye, deeply concerned, dared not delay. Prior to his arrival, he had utilized the extensive network of the Five Elements Commerce Association to investigate all participating sects.

"That’s practically tantamount to stating they are all deceased," Chen Mobai murmured, his gaze drifting towards the direction of the Desolate Sea upon hearing this.

Previously, he had been devising strategies to assimilate all the forces of the Myriad Stars Alliance into the Five Elements Sect. Who could have foreseen that the high-ranking cultivators of the Desolate Sea would be led to their doom by Taishi Weiguang, resulting in a complete annihilation?

Now, the entire Myriad Stars Alliance was left with only a meager handful of Nascent Soul cultivators.

Under these dire circumstances, the remaining Nascent Soul cultivators were likely gripped by fear, undoubtedly seeking refuge within the Five Elements Sect for protection.

Indeed, a few days after Yuan Chiye’s return, the capable cultivators from the Desolate Sea Myriad Stars Alliance fled to East Wu aboard treasure ships.

Only the Foundation Establishment and Qi Practitioners sought shelter in various Immortal Cities of East Wu, renting residences and requesting the protection of the Five Elements Sect.

Core Formation and Nascent Soul cultivators spared no Spirit Stones, employing a Teleportation Array to reach Northern Abyss City.

However, the most astute among them was Ruan Lilong. Aware that Chen Mobai was in seclusion at the Yellow Dragon Cave Mansion, he proceeded directly to the neighboring Stormy Immortal City and acquired multiple properties alongside core disciples of the Flying Sand Sect.