Chapter 445: Chapter 45: First Time on the Battlefield
Before Li Ji’an’s Rejuvenation in his previous life, the righteous sects in the Central Ten Domains of the Great Marsh Cultivation Realm dominated over the Demon Dao, prompting the demon leaders to rally all demon cultivators for support.
The Golden Puppet Holy Monarch from the Boundless Domain and the Netherworld Ghost Monarch from the Yellow Heaven Domain quietly left their domains to provide aid.
The Ten Thousand Laws Palace was aware of this information early on, but did not disclose it.
It wasn’t until over a decade later, through the Commerce Association in the Ten Thousand Merchants Domain, that this news spread within the Celestial Cyan Domain.
Because of this, the Celestial Cyan Domain was relieved of external pressure from the Demon Dao True Monarchs, providing some assurance in their internal conflicts.
But at this moment, the two major Demon Realms suddenly joined forces to attack, catching the six sects engaged in internal strife and the Ten Thousand Laws Palace, which was watching the drama unfold, by surprise.
"How is it possible? We have a True Monarch in our domain, they have no True Monarch leading them, how dare they be so bold?"
"The news from the Ten Thousand Merchants Domain is very accurate; the two True Monarchs from the Demon Realm are still at the Central Battlefield, it’s impossible for them to return."
"What gives them such confidence?"
...
When it was suddenly learned that the Demon Realm had quietly approached the border of the Celestial Cyan Domain, cultivators within the domain were still in disbelief.
Meanwhile, in the main hall of the Ten Thousand Laws Palace, the faces of the elders were somber as water.
Master Chunyuan, as an established late-stage Core Formation cultivator in the palace, and the second to the True Monarch of Ten Thousand Laws, swept his sharp gaze across the room.
"The collapse of the True Monarch’s Sea of Consciousness is only known to us; the demon cultivators have launched this large-scale invasion, clearly having received this precise information, therefore..."
As he spoke, his previously somewhat youthful face twisted with anger, and his whole body’s magical power erupted instantly: "Who the hell leaked such a secret?"
The other four late-stage Core Formation Ascendants in the hall remained expressionless, but the twelve early and middle-stage True Core True Men struggled to endure Master Chunyuan’s pressure, each embarrassed in their own way.
"Grand Elder, calm your anger, we all swore a blood oath that day, it couldn’t possibly be us!"
"I have been in seclusion since returning from the marsh tomb, it’s absolutely impossible that it’s me."
"Please, Grand Elder, restrain your divine abilities..."
Instantly, everyone lamented.
"Grand Elder, we have the Golden Gong Dao Artifact to sense the movements of the Golden Puppet Demon Monarch, it’s likely the Demon Realm possesses a secret artifact to monitor the True Monarchs, it probably has nothing to do with anyone present." After a while, the Second Elder felt it was suitable to speak, and rose to say lightly.
"We must deal with this promptly given the circumstances."
...
The four Ascendants spoke, and only then did Master Chunyuan slowly calm his fury.
That day, the Ten Thousand Laws Palace issued the Ten Thousand Laws Decree, compelling forces within the domain to resist the Demon Realm invasion.
However, the Demon Realm came prepared, fully equipped, and the various sects of the Celestial Cyan Domain had not yet recovered from their internal turmoil when they had already breached the border defenses of the Ten Thousand Laws Palace.
A month later, the eastern Boundless Domain broke the unguarded protective array and formally stepped into the Celestial Cyan Domain.
Half a month later, the northern Yellow Heaven Domain, with collusion from both inside and outside, breached the border protective array in Dao Source State, driving without resistance.
Three months later, demon cultivators from the Boundless Domain pressed toward the Dongli Sect unobstructed, while demon cultivators from the Yellow Heaven Domain aimed for the Celestial Sound Pavilion.
At this point, the domain forces organized by the Ten Thousand Laws Palace had just reached the front line.
The domain’s forces split into two, each led by a late-stage Core Formation Ascendant from the Ten Thousand Laws Palace, one team rushing to support the northern Celestial Sound Pavilion, the other to support the eastern Dongli Sect.
The Qingmen Sect and Sword Sect hurried to the Celestial Sound Pavilion, while the Biyun Sect and Glazed Sect headed to the Dongli Sect.
In face of external invasion, the domain sects mostly managed to temporarily suppress inter-sect grievances and unite against the common enemy.
However, it was difficult to prevent harboring grudges due to personal losses inflicted by the other side, so the Ten Thousand Laws Palace’s arrangement was considered appropriate.
The Biyun Sect, Glazed Sect, and Dongli Sect had not been adversaries over the past fifty years of turmoil, allowing them to unite effectively against the Demon Dao.
This time, the demon cultivators came fiercely, and the Ten Thousand Laws Palace issued a death order demanding all domain cultivators to give their all.
As Biyun Sect called upon a province, naturally, it had to lead by example.
Furthermore, Li Ji’an had already reached Foundation Establishment Perfection, and his widespread sparring with Fake Pill True Man previously showed he possessed Fake Pill level battle strength, so he arrived at the Dongli Sect along with the province’s cultivator army.
"Greetings, Sect Leader!" Just after arriving at the Dongli Sect, the sect leader came to the true disciple team.
"No need for formalities." The Sect Leader gestured with his hand.
Then his serious gaze swept over the remaining thirteen true disciples one by one.
These are the only immortal seedlings left of the Biyun Sect over the past hundred years, each a potential Fake Pill and the backbone of the sect’s future in peace times.
"Everyone." The Sect Leader’s voice was deep, slightly weary.
"The situation here, the success and failure, have been discussed during mobilization, I won’t repeat. I have only one expectation for you here this time..."
"Survive!"
For a moment, silence reigned, and everyone felt the pressure.
"Arriving here, Saint Palace Master will command the military array. While we’ve coordinated with friends from Saint Palace to place you away from the front lines, the battlefield is ever-changing, the demon cultivators are formidable, anything can happen, and our sect elders might not be able to look after you—you’ll have to rely on yourselves!"
This statement heightened the solemn atmosphere.
"Rest assured, Sect Leader, we will strive... to survive." Li Ji’an, as the leader, responded with the others, opting for the sect leader’s expectation rather than disgracing the sect’s dignity.
The Sect Leader nodded, gave one final look to Li Ji’an, and turned to leave.
Not long after, people from the Ten Thousand Laws Palace arrived to separate the Biyun Sect disciples according to their cultivation level and specialities.
Ultimately, Li Ji’an and Yao Rui, along with three other late-stage Foundation Establishment true inheritors, were assigned to the logistics escort guard.
The guard’s main duty was to transport pill medicine and supplies from the Dongli Sect to the front lines.
That night, all cultivators assigned to the front line military array rushed to the front immediately.
