Rebuilding the Immortal Cultivator Clan Chapter 1986 - 1462: Ahead of Schedule

From the outset, the Immortal Tao had devised and endorsed this strategy, upholding it consistently across all these years.

Yet now, an unexpected turn of events occurred, stripping their forces—designed to confront the Sea Clan—of their enemies and making it impossible for them to swiftly clear their karmic burdens.

At present, they were left to devise their own solutions for this grave issue, but amid the turmoil in the Primal Spirit Realm, suitable foes remained elusive for the moment.

All that was possible was dispatching their disciples and family members to the East Sea in search of Water Devil remnants.

To these cultivators, this approach felt far inferior to engaging the Sea Clan in direct, fierce combat. Though casualties could mount higher, at least the karmic issue would find resolution without lingering doubts.

In comparison, the Li family moved proactively, initiating hunts against the Sea Clan early on; as a result, numerous clansmen had already discharged their karmic obligations.

Furthermore, upon hearing that the Sea Clan was mounting a full-scale attack on the Demonic Tao in the Western Sea, Li Xiuyuan, the Clan Leader, immediately commanded a major push into the East Sea, capitalizing on the moment to purge their karmic force!

Exactly this bold resolve enabled the Li family to navigate the crisis with composure, while other factions descended into worry.

...

"Damn it! How do we deal with this mess now?"

A Heavenly Immortal from the Cave Abyss Sect, after an exhaustive search yielding no Heavenly Immortal Realm Water Devils, grew frustrated and quick to rage.

This irritation actually signaled the intrusion of Tribulation Evil Energy into his form, starting to corrupt his mind and spirit.

Such occurrences were widespread, as the realm brimmed with thick Tribulation Evil Energy, and his constant travels without purification opportunities allowed it to build up and relentlessly devour him from within.

Fortunately, his plight wasn't critical yet; with a composed mind and a few days' effort, he could dispel it.

"We can't linger in the East Sea anymore. Time to move to other areas," another Heavenly Immortal stated gravely.

Their hesitation to venture to the West Continent stemmed from the sheer distance!

Spanning from the easternmost edge of the East Continent to the westernmost point of the West Continent meant traversing the entire Primordial Spirit Land, a voyage that even the swiftest spirit boat would extend beyond half a year.

Over such an extended span, nothing assured the ongoing nature of the grand conflict.

Should they arrive after exhaustive travel only to discover the war concluded, it wouldn't just be futile—it could forfeit their window to address the karmic force!

Once the great tribulation concluded, self-resolving the karma would demand a steeper toll.

"The West Continent lies too distant; heading to the Southern Domain or South Sea areas makes more sense."

Those regions were far nearer. Other concerns? They chose to disregard them now.

"Agreed."

Following the Heavenly Immortals' directives, the formidable cultivators dominating the East Sea skies withdrew en masse.

By this point, they had thoroughly combed the East Sea; virtually every discoverable Water Devil had perished under cultivator blades.

Without their fear of accumulating karmic force from ravaging the natural order, they might have stripped the land bare, denying the Sea Clan even a trace of spiritual resources!

As the cultivators vacated the East Sea overhead, within the profound depths of a resplendent golden palace by the Sea Eye, an ancient dragon radiating decay gradually unveiled its eyes.

The once shadowy chamber flared into illumination.

Within lay no lavish ornaments favored by the Dragon Tribe, but rather myriads of esoteric, complex dao patterns. A simple look from ordinary folk could induce vertigo or shatter their spiritual souls outright!

These dao patterns served not to imprison the elder dragon, but to shield him, concealing his presence from the Heavenly Dao.

From a different perspective, didn't this shielding amount to a form of confinement?

"What a shame..."

He murmured just this ambiguous phrase, shut his eyes, and the vast hall plunged back into obscurity.

Beyond the hall, the two guardians tasked with observation and logging, ignorant of the full context, meticulously noted every utterance and gesture within.

"Heavenly Dragon Era, Year 135,211, sixth month, ninth day, third quarter of the si hour: The Ancestor stirred, opened his eyes, and uttered three words: ’What a pity.’"

Thereafter, the pair turned statue-like, rooted in place without motion.

Should a Dragon Tribe Heavenly Immortal witness this, they would grasp the elder dragon's lament of ’what a pity.’

At the great tribulation's ignition, the Sea Clan promptly resolved to concentrate its might on recapturing the Western Sea and launching an attempt to infiltrate the West Continent's waterways.

During that juncture, a particular Dragon Tribe Heavenly Immortal proposed an alternative.

It involved concealing thirty or forty percent of Sea Clan forces deep in the East Sea, away from detection.

Then, as Immortal Tao cultivators were compelled to abandon the East Continent—lacking Water Devils for karmic cleansing in the East Sea—the concealed Water Devils could surge out, potentially reclaiming coastal zones and advancing inland if fortune favored!

Unfortunately, scant backing emerged for the proposal then. The elder dragon endorsed it personally, yet failed to sway the Sea Clan’s overarching tactics.

Had they embraced it, they could have not only reclaimed the East Sea coasts but also secured the long-desired continental waterways for the Sea Clan!

But regrettably, the counsel went unheeded.

In retrospect, a prime chance had vanished without gain.

...

Simultaneously—

Atop Mount Wanxian, Li Xiuyuan learned that the Cave Abyss Sect and fellow powers had departed the East Sea, their trajectory pointing toward the Southern Domain.