Rebuilding the Immortal Cultivator Clan Chapter 2099 1518: Stalemate (Part 2)

A frantic elder burst in, his countenance etched with grave concern, reporting, "Sect Leader, dire tidings have arrived! Our defensive lines across the oceanic territories have collapsed. A vast multitude of disciples were unable to extricate themselves, meeting their demise within the maw of the beasts..."

"What?!"

"Impossible!"

"How could the Sea Clan strike with such alarming speed!"

The elders, who had been in deep discussion with their Sect Leader, turned ashen, their faces a tableau of shock and disbelief.

"Sect Leader, what course of action should we now adopt? How can we possibly surmount this monumental crisis?" a somewhat composed elder inquired, utterly at a loss and pinning all his hopes on the Sect Leader.

Yet, how could the Sect Leader possibly conjure a solution to this dire predicament in such a short span?

After a pregnant pause, he slowly articulated, "Immediately instruct all disciples to converge upon Sea Division City. Regardless of the exertion, we must fortify this location and prevent the Sea Clan from breaching our shores!"

"As for those subordinate powers and unaffiliated cultivators, at this critical juncture of survival, dispense with formalities and compel them to march towards Sea Division City!"

Such a decree might very well precipitate dire repercussions for the Cave Abyss Sect, potentially leading to opportunistic defections by unaffiliated cultivators from the Cave Abyss Sect's dominion.

However, even if it be akin to quaffing poison for sustenance, given the present circumstances, one cannot afford to be overly discerning. The preservation of their existing territory is, in itself, a significant victory.

"Sect Leader..."

The elders were not oblivious; they readily grasped the substantial cost the sect would incur by adhering to such a mandate. But just as they prepared to voice their counsel against such unyielding resolve, they overheard the Sect Leader proclaim:

"Concurrently, dispatch a plea for aid to the surrounding Heavenly Immortal powers, requesting their swift intervention to crush the Sea Clan's assault."

This was an undeniably arduous resolution!

The Cave Abyss Sect, once the preeminent force within the East Continent's Immortal Tao, had now been relegated to the ignominious position of necessitating external assistance. A truly sorrowful turn of events.

"What! Absolutely not! Under no circumstances!"

"Seeking succor from other factions—does this not render us a global jest?"

Nevertheless, to everyone's astonishment, the elders reacted with even greater vehemence than before, unequivocally dissenting from the Sect Leader's imposed decision.

"You object? Are you prepared to passively await the Sea Clan's landfall, their subsequent territorial expansion throughout Cave Abyss State, the transformation of Cave Abyss Sect into the foremost pariah of the Immortal Tao, and its eventual dissolution amidst the protracted conflict against the Sea Clan?"

The Sect Leader remained unruffled, his tone placid as he queried, "Therefore, are you ready to embrace such a fate?"

For a protracted moment, a heavy silence enveloped the elders.

As the custodians of the Cave Abyss Sect, they possessed an intimate understanding of the sect's current predicament, which was far removed from its former glory and might.

Furthermore, they had forfeited the initiative in this confrontation; not only was the army still unorganized, but critical resources were also alarmingly scarce.

In light of these constraints, their sole recourse for safeguarding their legacy and repelling the Sea Clan's advance was to solicit aid from neighboring Immortal Tao powers.

Should even this measure prove insufficient, it would inevitably lead to Kunlun State dispatching its own forces to assume control and manage the situation.

At that juncture, the conflict would transcend a mere confrontation between Cave Abyss Sect and the Sea Clan; it would escalate into a unified struggle for the entirety of the Immortal Tao!

...

"Who could have possibly foreseen that Cave Abyss Sect would one day stoop to requesting aid," one murmured.

"What is transpiting within Cave Abyss Sect? It is merely a beast tide, yet they find themselves in such a state of disgrace!"

The intelligence regarding Cave Abyss Sect's appeal for assistance from proximate Immortal Tao factions disseminated with remarkable celerity, precipitating widespread discourse. Some voices condemned Cave Abyss Sect for their perceived degradation, while others expressed utter disbelief, attributing the turn of events to the capricious nature of fate and offering lamentations.

Mount Wanxian, Family Hall.

"Clan Leader, concerning the affairs of Cave Abyss Sect, should our family extend a helping hand?" an elder inquired.

The familial bond between their clan and Cave Abyss Sect was hardly intimate; indeed, they could be construed as rivals, and years prior, Cave Abyss Sect had occasioned repeated grievances against the Li family.

Given this history, it would be perfectly tenable for their family to withhold aid.

"Indubitably, we must!" Li Qingwen declared with unshakeable resolve.

Despite the prior animosity between the two entities, the conflict had never escalated to the level of mortal enmity.

With Cave Abyss Sect now confronting a formidable adversary—the perennial antagonist of the East Continent's Immortal Tao and the human race, the Sea Clan—it was only proper to offer assistance.

Furthermore, aiding Cave Abyss Sect would be a strategic move for their own benefit. Should Cave Abyss Sect falter against the Sea Clan's onslaught, the neighboring Shanhai State would inevitably face invasion as well.

Instead of continuously clashing with the Sea Clan for oceanic dominance, it would be wiser to redirect the conflict onto another's domain.

Upon hearing Li Qingwen's counsel, any initial reluctance among the gathered individuals vanished, their doubts entirely dispelled.

"However, our involvement will not be at the primary battlefront. Instead, we will engage the Sea Clan's beast tide from the peripheral zones of the two regions."

The rationale behind this strategic positioning was twofold: firstly, to minimize casualties within their own ranks, and secondly, to preempt any clandestine incursions by the Sea Clan into Shanhai State.

"A most excellent strategy!"

A spark ignited in everyone's eyes. This approach offered a way to support Cave Abyss Sect without incurring substantial losses for their own families, while simultaneously thwarting the Sea Clan's stealthy advancements.

Naturally, this plan was not without its potential downsides.

For instance, other allied forces might perceive the Li family's actions as timorous or question their sincerity, perhaps believing they lacked genuine commitment to the cause.

Nevertheless, the Li family remained unconcerned with such perceptions. After all, the Sea Clan was bound by a Dao Oath not to initiate aggression in the Ten Thousand Spirit Sea Area, and the Li family's territories did not border areas where other factions needed pressing vigilance against the Sea Clan's advances.

The Li family was not alone in their decision to bolster Cave Abyss Sect. The Yumen He Family, Xiaxian Sect, and several other influential powers grasped the principle of mutual dependence—that when one neighbor falls, the other is endangered—and without hesitation, pledged their support, dispatching numerous disciples and clansmen.

With the arrival of numerous cultivators and substantial reinforcements, Cave Abyss Sect, which had been struggling to hold its ground, relying solely on the formidable City-Protecting Grand Array, could finally muster the strength for a counteroffensive.

A thunderous conflict could now be declared as officially underway!

In the sea vicinity of Sea Division City, within a mere few days, the water level had visibly risen by several inches. This phenomenon was a direct consequence of the brutal confrontation between the Sea Clan and the cultivators of the Immortal Dao, the casualties of which were both immense and devastating.

Amidst this brutal theatre of war, where death was a constant specter, even seasoned cultivators, accustomed to the ebb and flow of life and death, felt a tremor of apprehension, fearing their own mortality.

Subsequently, the battle descended into a tense stalemate!

The allied cultivators lacked the overwhelming force required for a decisive counterattack, rendering them unable to reclaim the territories previously lost to the Sea Clan.

Ultimately, their primary objective in offering assistance was to prevent the Sea Clan's expansion into the East Continent, not to directly bolster Cave Abyss Sect's campaign against the Sea Clan, and certainly not to aid in recapturing lost ground.

The Sea Clan, too, found themselves in a similar predicament, having sustained extensive losses. To breach the defenses of Sea Division City would likely demand the sacrifice of an additional fifty percent, or even more, of their forces.

Consequently, the conflict ground to a precarious standstill!