Immortality begin with Alchemy Grandmaster Chapter 2597 - 957: Spiritual Cannons Roar, Battle of the Residual Realm

"It’s open!"

"Hurry inside!"

An urgent shout echoed through the air, and Hong Ye Granny swiftly provided the signal.

Still, not a single person made a move.

After all, who could predict the perils hidden within?

Master Li Tian let out a soft laugh, "Allow this old fellow to take the lead!"

His figure morphed into a streak of light, darting through the narrow opening of the door.

The rest wasted no time and followed suit, stepping in one after another.

At last, it was Luo Chen's turn!

By the time the two elders from the Golden Lion Empire showed up, only a vanishing silhouette met their eyes.

Moments later, the bronze door slammed shut with a resounding boom.

"Those three are trapped inside, it's perilous!"

The Third Ancestor's face shifted subtly, and he hurriedly pulled out a token, trying once more to unlock the bronze door.

Yet regardless of how he infused the token with power, the door stood firm, seemingly sealed from the other side by some force.

The Fifth Ancestor, versed in the ways of formations, examined it briefly and paled immediately.

"A supreme formation expert has erected a barrier array within, reshaping the Gate of Life and Death's framework. Opening it through conventional methods will take far too long."

Which formation master could so rapidly transform the makeup of a magical artifact forged by Gate of Life and Death experts?

A certain name flashed into mind.

"Hong Ye!"

The Third Ancestor clenched his jaw and uttered the name harshly.

Solely that ancient hag from the Red Leaf Sect held such prowess in formations.

And as per the Golden Lion Emperor's report, an elderly woman was indeed part of the group of eight.

Assuming the details were spot on, it had to be her handiwork, exploiting the vulnerability in the door's restrictions to grant them easy access.

No!

In so brief a span, Hong Ye by herself couldn't manage it.

An individual well-versed in the bronze door's secrets must have planned ahead, teaming up with a formidable physical cultivator to pull it off seamlessly.

He was clueless about the physical expert, but the planner was undoubtedly that backstabbing Master Li Tian.

"Fifth Sister, move fast, dismantle Hong Ye's formation, and link up with our elder brother and the others!" ordered the Third Ancestor.

The youthful Fifth Ancestor agreed with a nod, "I'll do everything in my power!"

But prior to her starting, the Golden Lion Emperor burst in, looking frantic.

"Ancestors, help me!"

"What's got you so rattled, acting all disorderly?" the Third Ancestor scolded.

The Golden Lion Emperor's complexion was ashen, "They've launched an assault—the Evil Mountain Stiff Alliance has struck!"

At the mention of 'Evil Mountain Stiff Alliance,' the Third Ancestor knitted his brows.

Even secluded in the Yin Yang Realm for meditation, they kept tabs on the chaos unfolding in the South Border.

Such a faction did exist in the shadows, poised to cause upheaval.

However, they never imagined these foes would have the audacity to challenge the formidable Golden Lion Empire.

Regaining his composure, the Golden Lion Emperor went on, "It's not only them. Word from the Beacon Tower reveals cultivators from the Tianyuan Daoist Sect fighting alongside the invaders!"

These revelations made the Third Ancestor's expression twist sharply, and even the young Fifth Ancestor halted her formation analysis.

The Evil Mountain Stiff Alliance operating solo might pass as mere South Border infighting.

But allying with Zhongzhou's Tianyuan Daoist Sect carried a whole other weight.

By now, everyone knew of the Tianyuan Daoist Sect's grand designs.

Conquering the North Sea with their legions, claiming the Eastern Wasteland.

And presently, turning their hunger toward the South Border!

Their drive to swallow the entire realm was plain as day!

"Once the Golden Lion Empire falls, Unicorn Mountain follows, and then... our own sect," whispered the young Fifth Ancestor, terror flickering in her gaze.

Drawing in a steady breath, the Third Ancestor declared firmly, "Set this aside for the moment. We must depart, rally our troops to repel the forces of the Evil Mountain Stiff Alliance and Tianyuan Daoist Sect. Also, Fifth Sister, alert the sect's powerhouses to ready themselves!"

The Fifth Ancestor inclined her head, "That's the wise choice, yet what of the Yin Yang Realm? The entrants include seven Nascent Soul True Masters, with late-stage powerhouses like Master Li Tian and Hong Ye Granny among them."

"Don't worry about it! The sect's survival outweighs the Golden Lion Empire or our elder brother and his group. Besides..." The Third Ancestor hesitated, then added with faint optimism, "The Yin Yang Realm teems with formations. If our elder brother and the others stay vigilant and use the arrays to their advantage, they might still pull through."

The young woman parted her lips but ultimately just exhaled deeply.

"Fingers crossed!"

"Come on; our forces outside need our orders." Saying this, the Third Ancestor headed for the way out.

After several paces, though, no sound came from behind.

Puzzled, he glanced back to see uncertainty written on the young woman's features.

The Fifth Ancestor snapped irritably, "What's holding you back now, dithering like this?"

Her tone laced with an odd dread, the young woman faltered, "Third Brother, the Death Gate lies inside the Yin Yang Realm. Could Master Li Tian and his companions be targeting the Death Gate?"

The Fifth Ancestor stood rooted to the spot.

...

A colossal flying vessel, akin to a floating bastion of war, loomed over the Golden Lion Empire's frontiers.

It dominated the heavens, holding position.

A nearer look revealed the enormous flying boat advancing relentlessly toward the Golden Lion Empire at a steady, inexorable pace.

Streams of light shot from the vessel, directed at the conflict raging below.

Aboard the flying boat, Zhan Bingtao observed the spectacle, contempt gleaming in his stare.

"What a sprawling empire, but their defenses are so stiff, blind to our approaching host."

The Songyang Alliance Leader, though, appeared unfazed.

"Can't blame the Golden Lion Empire entirely. As far as I understand, they're an offshoot of the Gate of Life and Death. For centuries, none dared to challenge them, so their vigilance has understandably waned."

"Plus, with the South Border facing heavenly upheavals and the five elders of the Golden Lion Empire secluded in a hidden domain for training, depending solely on the lesser cultivators left behind, how could they sense the massive shifts in the world of Immortal Cultivation?"