Two months passed in a blink of an eye for many cultivators.
However, the transformation of the Southern Territory into an Evil Realm, unleashing numerous Evil Cultivators and living corpses, filled everyone with dread.
Without the combined efforts of Ancestor Immortal Realm cultivators from both the Righteous and Demon Paths, and the immense power of Innate Magical Treasures used to forcefully seal the entire Southern Territory, the situation would have been far worse. Even with these measures, a considerable number of Evil Cultivators and living corpses still surged into the other three territories, excluding the Northern Territory. They were eventually eradicated by cultivators using thunderous methods, though this process led to numerous bloody incidents.
As for why they didn't head to the Northern Territory, it was naturally because Guixiu and oddities resided there. These entities were no less formidable than the Evil Cultivators and living corpses; fighting them would be an even match. Thus, the Evil Cultivators naturally chose to drive the living corpses toward softer targets.
The next step was for the various sects to invite many powerful Ancestor Immortal Realm cultivators to destroy the Southern Evil Realm. After all, no matter how far Guixiu and the oddities wandered, they wouldn't stray too far from the curtain of darkness.
However, the Evil Cultivators and living corpses were different; they were truly capable of breaking in and invading.
Yet, all the Ancestor Immortal Realm cultivators remained silent on this matter, showing no intention of exterminating this calamity.
The reason, naturally, was that the living corpse virus could affect even those in the Ancestor Immortal Realm. Had they not possessed Innate Magical Treasures and the inherent resistance from their cultivation realm, they too would have been infected on the spot.
It wasn't that they didn't want to act; it was that they didn't dare.
After all, they were all high-ranking figures in the Ancestor Immortal Realm. Sacrificing the mere Southern Territory as a cage was, in their view, a worthwhile trade.
Otherwise, if they risked their lives to save the Southern Territory, wouldn't they suffer a great loss? They had cultivated to this level of strength to wield power and enjoy prestige, not to toil like Cattle and Horses.
After the sealing, all Evil Cultivators and living corpses within the Southern Territory were trapped, unable to leave.
"Guixiu in the Northern Territory, Evil Cultivators in the Southern Territory... what on earth is happening to the Green Nether Fairyland? So many have rebelled," the Divine Sword Ancestral Immortal said lugubriously.
Present here were seven Ancestor Immortals. Aside from the Divine Sword Ancestral Immortal, representing the Supreme Sword Sect of the Righteous Path, there were three Demonic Tao Ancestral Immortals and three other Ancestor Immortals from the Righteous Path.
On the surface, the seven of them appeared to have their disagreements, but in reality, there were no deep-seated hatreds among them. Even the Divine Sword Ancestral Immortal, the head of the Righteous Path, and Yinming Ancestral Immortal, the Demon Path leader from the Ten Thousand Nether Sect, actually had many joint ventures and wouldn't fight to the death as propagandized.
"This situation is bizarre, and its source remains untraced. I fear something terrible is about to happen," the Yinming Ancestral Immortal replied, his expression grim.
Rumors in the outside world suggested that the Ten Thousand Nether Sect was responsible for the events in the Northern and Southern Territories. However, the other Ancestor Immortals knew the truth; if this Yinming Ancestral Immortal and his Ten Thousand Nether Sect possessed such capability, they would have unified the Righteous and Demon Paths long ago, instead of being in their current predicament.
Therefore, the matters of the Northern and Southern Territories had nothing to do with the Ten Thousand Nether Sect. Rather, someone was deliberately muddying the waters and confusing right with wrong.
"Could it be... the former Chaotic God World?" Liyang Ancestral Immortal suddenly interjected, proposing this conjecture.
The other six fell silent upon hearing this. Since none of the seven of them, despite being Ancestor Immortals, could accomplish such a feat, this possibility became very likely.
Others might not believe in the Chaotic God World, but they did, for the seven of them had survived from the era of the Chaotic God World to the present day.
It was due to their meritorious service to the Green Nether Fairyland back then that they had achieved the Ancestor Immortal Realm.
Currently, the highest realm any cultivator could reach was merely the Ancient Immortal Realm. Attaining the Ancestor Immortal Realm required special dispensation from the Green Nether Fairyland itself.
This special permission consumed the Green Nether Fairyland's underlying source. Each additional Ancestor Immortal was a detriment to the Fairyland, which was why, to this day, there had only ever been these seven Ancestor Immortals.
They were exceptionally unique existences. Theoretically, nothing within the Green Nether Fairyland could harm them, including their fellow Ancestor Immortals.
Back when ascension to the Chaotic God World was possible, the Ancestor Immortal Realm wasn't so special. It was merely a transitional phase, similar to the Lower Realm's Transcendence Tribulation Stage.
"If it truly is the Chaotic God World, then... another bloody battle is inevitable," the Divine Sword Ancestor said, his expression growing even more unsightly.
In those bygone days, they were filled with fervent passion, daring to fight and strive, which was how they had attained their current power and status.
However, they were no longer the same people they once were. While it couldn't be said they were greedy for life and fearful of death, the principle that 'a gentleman does not stand beneath a crumbling wall' certainly resonated with them.
If they were to experience such a conflict again, they might not achieve the same results as before.
"It's not entirely a bad thing," the Yinming Ancestral Immortal suddenly said with a smile. "Although our lifespans are Heaven Equivalent, our cultivation has reached its zenith, unable to progress further."
"If we could ascend to the Chaotic God World and advance our cultivation, wouldn't that be wonderful?"
It's just a matter of betraying the Green Nether Fairyland, nothing major.
They had betrayed the Green Nether Fairyland before—in fact, they had done it several times. Initially, they truly hadn't dared to, but as time passed, their sense of reverence gradually faded almost completely.
"You know what the Chaotic God World is like," Liyang Ancestral Immortal stated. "If we ascend, we'll be like Lower Realm natives ascending to our Green Nether Fairyland; even as Ancestor Immortals, we'd be nothing more than laboring Cattle and Horses there."
In the Green Nether Fairyland, they were supreme, second only to the Fairyland itself. No one could interfere with them, not even other Ancestor Immortals.
But they were well aware of what awaited them if they went to the Chaotic God World.
The Yinming Ancestor, still harboring ambitions for further advancement, was indifferent to this prospect. Others, however, might not feel the same, adhering to the adage: "Better to be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix."
Not a single one of the Lower Realm natives who had ascended to the Green Nether Fairyland did not regret it.
"Then, do any of you have a solution?" Yinming Ancestral Immortal asked. "If we manage to suppress the Northern and Southern Territories, perhaps we can thwart the Chaotic God World's plans."
If the others don't wish for the Green Nether Fairyland and the Chaotic God World to reconnect, he could accept that. His own status would remain unchanged regardless of the outcome.
But the prerequisite was their ability to handle the Strange Domain and the Evil Realm.
Otherwise, no matter how much they discussed, it would all be empty talk.
They had already tacitly attributed the changes in the Northern and Southern Territories to the Chaotic God World. Who else could orchestrate such events?
The severity of the situation was undoubtedly intended as a lesson for the Green Nether Fairyland.
The Green Nether Fairyland's past betrayal had inflicted considerable damage upon the Chaotic God World, damage from which it might not have fully recovered even now.
In its prime, the Green Nether Fairyland had been the Chaotic God World's chief asset. Its defection undoubtedly resulted in significant losses.
"This matter requires extreme caution," the Divine Sword Ancestral Immortal said, naturally understanding Yinming Ancestral Immortal's thoughts—that he was inclined to go with the flow. "If mishandled, it could engulf the entire Green Nether Fairyland, leaving us with no place to escape."
"Again with such evasive talk!" Liyang Ancestral Immortal was clearly unhappy. You need to offer a concrete suggestion, not just say we can't act recklessly. Who here doesn't know this matter can't be handled recklessly?
But everyone was at their wit's end. Firstly, they didn't know the true extent of the situation in the Northern and Southern Territories. Secondly, they didn't dare to probe too deeply, lest they invite disaster upon themselves.
Therefore, the matter was exceedingly tricky. They wanted a solution but were unwilling to pay the price, leaving them to hope for an ingenious plan.
"How about we join forces temporarily, set aside the divide between the Righteous and Demon Paths, and once this crisis is resolved, we can go our separate ways?" Divine Sword Ancestral Immortal proposed once more.
"That's feasible. Better yet, let's use this as a pretext to gather All Sects Under the Sky to serve as our vanguard," the Yinming Ancestor was the first to agree. The remaining Ancestor Immortals also concurred after some thought.
The plan was simple: let their subordinates handle it. If they couldn't win, they could simply overwhelm the enemy with numbers, sacrificing lives as needed.
To these Ancestor Immortals, everyone else—aside from themselves—was merely resources, tools, or pawns for their amusement.
It mattered little how many died. At worst, they could retreat into seclusion for tens of thousands of years, and by the time they emerged, the population would have recovered.
This was a perfect opportunity to make the most of available resources; for these people to scout ahead for them was, in a way, their honor.
"However, this must be done very quickly, preferably within a year," Liyang Ancestral Immortal added.
In their eyes, a year was an extremely short period, hence the emphasis on "very quickly."
"That's too short. I fear a year won't be enough. We'll need at least ten years..."
The seven once again discussed the timeframe, with Liyang Ancestral Immortal eventually persuading the others.
However, none of them looked pleased. To beings like them, a year felt like the blink of an eye—hardly enough time to accomplish anything significant.
Yet, given the alarmingly rapid emergence of the Strange Domain and the Evil Realm, and the fear that the remaining three territories might soon face similar problems, they could only exert all their efforts to expedite the recruitment of sects and the investigation of these phenomena.
