Chapter 322 - Immortal Ruins
In a situation unprecedented in history, the Nine Hells were embroiled in a delicate balance, never before tipping to the point where one realm faced the onslaught of the others.
"How would that kind of scenario play out?" Yun Xiao asked, his voice as calm as a serene lake.
"You might fall, and the Sword Ruins will suffer greatly," the Sword Warden lamented, a hint of helplessness in his tone. Indeed, the formidable Ruination Sword Array could fend off some, but not the combined might of the eight hells.
"But we won't just be sitting ducks. If we're running low on Immortal Jades, we'll just go out and snatch some more. With you here, we'll confront soldiers with strategy and counter floods with ingenuity," the Sword Warden declared, his eyes blazing with an unwavering belief.
He wasn't afraid. So far, Yun Xiao had yet to taste defeat. This fact alone bolstered his faith immensely.
"In that case, prioritize all resources of the Sword Ruins for me," Yun Xiao demanded, his appetite for resources as large as his courage.
"No problem!" the Sword Warden agreed, appreciating Yun Xiao's straightforward and reliable approach.
"To be frank, pitting one hell against the eight seems like madness to the world, but we're willing to gamble our lives for you," the Sword Warden declared earnestly.
"Let's take a chance," Yun Xiao replied with a slight smile, dissolving all the pressure in the air.
"Let's talk about the current situation in the Nine Hells," he suggested, strolling into a pavilion where, not so long ago, Zhang Mu had delivered seven Hell Demon Sword Rings to Ling Chen.
Now, with the Sword Ruins' internal affairs settled and millions of Sword Cultivators spreading the news, a strong sense of purpose filled the air.
"You can return to your normal lives now," Yun Xiao told Bai Qingxue and her son Bai Wuque.
"Is Ling Chen really dead..." Bai Wuque asked, his face still pale, his voice trembling.
"What do you think?" Yun Xiao responded.
With a thud, Bai Wuque and his mother knelt, their voices filled with excitement, "With you here, the Sword Ruins will surely triumph! We are willing to give our all for you!"
"Go and rest," Yun Xiao said with a wave of his hand. As the Nine Hells entered a phase of war dominated by the mighty, the ordinary Sword Judges and disciples no longer needed to risk their lives.
Yun Xiao never intended to kick off a large-scale war. He just needed the people's backing, and he'd handle the rest of the war himself, maybe with a little help from the powerhouses of the Sword Ruins.
Settling into his seat, Yun Xiao faced the Sword Warden, who took his place across the table.
"Eternal Sword Prison, Endless Netherworld, Primeval Demon Hell, and Calamity Seal Purgatory—these four, represent sword, devil, demon, and sigil. What about the others?" Yun Xiao inquired.
"There's the Rising Sun Inferno, on par with the Calamity Seal Purgatory and a bit stronger than the Endless Netherworld. Many from Rising Sun were part of the ambush at the Heavenly Land entrance," the Sword Warden replied gravely.
"Rising Sun Inferno... they're devils, right?" Yun Xiao asked.
"Yes, their main tribe is the 'Yang Devil Clan'," the Sword Warden explained.
"How do they differ from the devils of the Endless Netherworld?"
Yun Xiao thought of the War Princess, currently dominating the Endless Netherworld. After awakening her Nine-Tiered Bloodline, she had risen from mediocrity to conquest. Her six uncles, once doubters, now treasured her like a precious gem, adding to her father's support. Soon, her word would be the iron law in the Endless Netherworld.
"The Yin Devil Clan of the Endless Netherworld are more human-like, with stronger blood arts. Yang Devils look more hideous, are crueler, focus more on physical strength, and use some forbidden blood arts. The Rising Sun Inferno is one of the most brutal realms in the Nine Hells," the Sword Warden noted.
"So, just these two kinds of devils in the Nine Hells?" Yun Xiao asked.
"Right," the Sword Warden nodded.
"And they don't get along?"
The Sword Warden smiled wryly. "That's an understatement. Yin and Yang Devils have been at each other's throats for generations. Since there's no breeding barrier between them, and devil males can suppress and absorb the bloodlines of females, 'Kill the men and seize the women' became a way to annihilate the other side and strengthen themselves. So, both sides want to swallow the other, especially the Yang Devils. They've fought countless wars, with the Yin Devils often losing and clinging to their territory to preserve their lineage."
"So, they're sworn enemies, huh?" Yun Xiao raised an eyebrow.
"Absolutely. One more thing. Despite not being neighbors, one being in the east and the other in the west, the Rising Sun Inferno and Calamity Seal Purgatory get along quite well. So when Qingzan went to the Endless Netherworld, the Yang Devils weren't pleased," the Sword Warden said.
"Got it." Yun Xiao nodded.
"Actually, in the Nine Hells, it's rare for the same races to band together. The more similar they are, the worse their relations, like us and the Calamity Seal Purgatory. It's not that we don't want to get along with them; they've always looked down on us, striving to be the top among humanity. Such rivalries breed generational hatred. By our time, it's etched in our hearts, indelible." The Sword Warden sighed.
"Qingzan's marriage to the Calamity Seal Purgatory, was it supposed to be a chance for reconciliation?" Yun Xiao pondered.
"Not really. Seeing her favor the Calamity Seal Purgatory, it's clear she's on a mission of conquest, not really wishing well for the Sword Cultivators." The Sword Warden chuckled.
Yun Xiao pondered a bit and realized he already knew five of the Nine Hells.
"What about the remaining four? Are they inhabited by humans, demons, or devils? Or something else?" he asked.
"Of these four, three are located in the vast oceans of the Nine Hells, making them oceanic hells," the Sword Warden explained.
"There are oceans in the Nine Hells?"
"Yes! The oceans cover about half the land area. They're home to sea demons, not humans or devils."
"All three are sea demons?" Yun Xiao's eyes sparkled with curiosity. He had thought only the Primeval Demon Hell housed demons. He was surprised to learn that sea demons tripled the number of land demons.
"Indeed! In the Nine Hells, the four hells of land and sea demons make up almost half. You see now why the Eternal Sword Prison finds itself in a tricky spot, friendless? It's mainly because befriending us means offending all the demon hells." The Sword Warden chuckled.
"And yet you've managed to survive until now?" Yun Xiao was genuinely surprised.
"If these four demon prisons united, we'd have been history. Fortunately, the animosity between land and sea demons rivals that of the Yin and Yang Devils. In a way, the Primeval Demon Hell is fighting a one-against-three battle. Thankfully, their habitats differ, or it might have been wiped out long ago."
"Also, those three sea demon hells are constantly at each other's throats, especially the Reverie Abyss and Leviathan Ravine. They're perpetually in conflict. With these demons busy fighting among themselves, they hardly have time to think about exterminating us," the Sword Warden explained.
It was natural for each hell to have its own agenda and reluctance to exert effort. Every hell in the Nine Hells was vast, and wiping out a lineage would cost anyone dearly.
"Reverie Abyss and Leviathan Abyss?" Yun Xiao murmured.
"Right. The main inhabitants of the former are the Sirens of the Vast Ocean, a unique half-demon race with human torsos and fish tails, carrying human bloodlines. Their demon bones are of no use to Sword Cultivators. So, they get along fairly well with humans. The Leviathan Ravine, however, is dominated by the Sea Dragon Clan, the tyrants of the seas," the Sword Warden continued.
"Are they true dragons?"
"Not quite. Most are mixed-blood dragon demons; pure-blooded ones are rare, just like the Azure Phoenix in the Primeval Demon Hell," the Sword Warden paused. "But their demon bones are quite useful for us."
"A veritable treasure trove," Yun Xiao said with a chuckle.
To elevate the Sword Ruins, demon bones and pills were essential. Since the demon bones of the Reverie Abyss were ineffective and the Primeval Demon Hell was Moon Fairy's target, the Leviathan Ravine caught Yun Xiao's attention.
"And the final oceanic hell?"
"The Undead Depths. It's the domain of vengeful sea demons, born from the deepest resentments of the ocean. Although not numerous, they are incredibly powerful and almost impossible to exterminate. Fortunately, they seldom emerge from their abyssal depths, so conflicts are rare."
The Sword Warden gazed into the distance, frowning. "But this time, among those who ambushed you at the portal, I saw vengeful sea demons. Their participation shows that the desire of the other eight hells to kill you is intense, bordering on obsessive."
Yun Xiao preferred not to dwell on this topic. He hadn't offended these beings. Yet, they were determined to make his life difficult. What more was there to say? He would let his sword decide life and death.
"The last hell is the Immortal Asylum?" Yun Xiao turned to the Sword Warden.
One more hell in the Nine Hells remained unmentioned.
"Yes, the Central Heaven Immortal Asylum, located right in the heart of the Nine Hells. It's the smallest, about the size of the Sword Ruins, so we also call it 'Immortal Ruins,'" the Sword Warden replied.
"Which race does it belong to? Human? Devil? Demon?" Yun Xiao inquired
"Not any of those!" the Sword Warden said.
"Then what is it?"
"It's a mix of everything—humans, demons, devils, and even some bizarre beings," the Sword Warden mused. "The Immortal Ruins are unique in that they aren't formed by a single cultivation system or race. They're a true sect."
"A sect?"
"Yes, a true sect power. It can recruit cultivators from any of the other eight hells, even visitors from other realm worlds. To join the Immortal Ruins, one must meet two conditions—be an elite prodigy and renounce allegiance to your original power, pledging loyalty solely to the Immortal Ruins...
"In essence, though part of the Nine Hells, they often stand apart, rarely involving themselves in the conflicts of the Nine Hells. Their geniuses seldom appear in public, and information about their inner workings is often sealed off.
"Nonetheless, it's undeniable that they have the highest number of powerful individuals and have held the greatest authority since ancient times," the Sword Warden said.
"Can it really be so?" Yun Xiao found this quite extraordinary. The Immortal Ruins were clearly in the Nine Hells. Yet, from the Sword Warden's words, it seemed his knowledge was somewhat limited.
"Anyway, it's very mysterious! Many of the Nine Hells' enigmatic events are related to the Immortal Ruins," the Sword Warden said.
"Were they involved in the recent attempt on my life?" Yun Xiao asked.
"I didn't see anyone from the Immortal Ruins there, but it's hard to say if they were stirring the pot from behind the scenes," the Sword Warden replied.
"Understood."
Yun Xiao was about to probe further when suddenly, Mu Dalong rushed in urgently, announcing, "Exile Yun, Father! A messenger from the Immortal Asylum has just brought news."
"What is it?" the Sword Warden asked.
Mu Dalong's expression was grim. "They've announced that the Nine Hells Conquest Clash is being held ahead of schedule."
"When exactly?"
"Tomorrow first thing in the morning at 7!"
"Oh?"
The Sword Warden and Yun Xiao exchanged a look.
With a cold glint in his eyes, the Sword Warden murmured, "Playing out of turn, are they?"
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