Family Cultivation: Evergreen of the Song Family

Upon hearing this, Song Changsheng couldn't help but show a hint of surprise in his eyes. It had only been a few days, and there were already results?

This level of efficiency was not achieved when Kongsang Baijue intervened previously.

Lei Xiang Zhenjun said in a deep voice: "This demon comes from the Giant Octopus Clan, named Octopus Kun, and is known as the Overturning Sea Demon Lord."

It has been active in the near sea for nearly two thousand years and is an old demon through and through. Many years ago, it broke through to the fifth-order top grade and had fought with several generations of my palace's ancestors.

The last time I fought him was three hundred years ago, and I barely managed to remain undefeated thanks to the [Mysterious Dragon Sweeping the Sea Banner].

The Giant Octopus Clan has always been solitary, and this Octopus Kun is no exception. Apart from an unexpected encounter at sea, this demon and we have always kept to ourselves.

I wonder what price Kongsang Baijue and the others paid to persuade him to join the war.

Song Changsheng suddenly realized.

Once Nascent Soul cultivators have exchanged blows or met once, even if they are thousands of miles apart, they will be recognized as soon as they emit the slightest fluctuation.

Since they are supposed to keep to themselves, the octopus-like creature couldn't have appeared on the battlefield between the two races without a reason. If it did appear, it would basically confirm that it was an enemy.

This is indeed a formidable opponent, no wonder Lord Lei Xiang is so serious.

A top-tier, fifth-tier item, directly comparable to the strongest combat power in the borderlands.

Three hundred years ago, Lei Xiang Zhenjun was no match for it, but now he may not be.

However, besides the Octopus Kun, the sea race also had Kong Sang Bai Jue and Lei Wang Gao Yu, both late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators, who simultaneously possessed the [Human King Sword] and the [Imperial Seal of the State].

Further down are the fifth-tier mid-grade Kongsang Lifeng and Devouring Heaven Demon Lord, and the fifth-tier low-grade Chixiao Demon Lord.

If Kongsang Baijue were to recklessly gamble everything, this list might need to include another mid-grade fifth-tier Chihai Demon Lord.

What's in the Myriad Manifestations Palace? There aren't any late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators. Yi Tianzheng and Dragon Elephant True Monarch are both mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivators. Below them, there are only Song Changsheng and Ji Shinian, both early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators.

They are at a disadvantage in both quality and quantity.

The only good news is that the [Chengyuan Sword] can offset some of Gao Yu's advantages.

Even so, they are still at a disadvantage.

If they can't get reinforcements, then the [Mysterious Thunder Soaring Spear] is their only hope for victory, but will the sea tribe really give them this opportunity?
The answer is no, absolutely not.

Song Changsheng was now eager to know if the Myriad Manifestations Palace had any backup plans. If not, their chances of winning this battle would plummet.

He hesitated for a moment before finally deciding to ask the question himself.

War is not child's play. If he is not well prepared, he will have to prepare an escape route for the Song family first.

Upon hearing this, True Monarch Lei Xiang shook his head and said, "We do have reinforcements. The Great Zhen Immortal Dynasty, the Ji Clan, and even the Beast Taming Sect can provide us with assistance."

However, all aid comes at a price, and the conditions they've set are beyond our means.

As strategic forces for maintaining their positions, the loss of any one of the Nascent Soul True Monarchs would be an irreparable blow.

Such a life-or-death battle involving more than ten Nascent Soul level experts is extremely rare in the world and is extremely dangerous.

Without sufficient incentives, who would risk their life for outsiders?
Just like Kongsang Baijue, the reason he agreed to participate in the war, apart from the generous reward offered by Kongsang Lifeng, can be summarized in one word: "If the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold."

After the rise of Wanxiang Palace, it will inevitably expand outwards, and the fiefdom of Kongsang Baijue will be directly threatened. This is his main motivation for participating in the war.

As for the Octopus Kun, it must have received an unimaginable reward before deciding to make its move.

The major Nascent Soul forces that are on good terms with Wanxiang Palace are completely different. Although they are nominal allies, they do not have any real interests. Among the Five Academy Alliance, there is not even a second force from Linhai besides Wanxiang Palace.

Even if the entire border region falls, there are still two natural barriers: the Hengduan Mountains and the Tianshan Mountains.

To put it bluntly, if the Myriad Manifestations Palace were to be destroyed, the Earth Infant Fruit, which ripens every six hundred years, would have one less competitor, which is a real benefit.

In this situation, they will inevitably make exorbitant demands.

The Myriad Manifestations Palace has always been generous. Even Song Changsheng received a Nascent Soul Pill. If he really needs help, they will definitely offer a reasonable reward.

Even Lei Xiang Zhenjun himself admitted that he could not bear it, which shows how harsh the conditions offered by the other party were.

Their choice is actually understandable.

In the current situation, to completely suppress the sea race, at least a Nascent Soul Great Perfection level expert would be needed to intervene.

The Ji family of Tianshui has no one at the Great Perfection of the Nascent Soul stage, and the Beast Taming Sect only has one.

The most promising is the Great Zhen Immortal Dynasty, but breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage has become an obsession for this ancient immortal dynasty. If they want to get involved, the price will be astronomical.

It may sound short-sighted, but it all boils down to one thing: mind your own business.

The saying "if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold" is true, but for people on the other side of the Tianshan Mountains, the frontier is not that important.

In their view, the human race is the overlord of the continent and the strongest race. Even if the demon race breaks the ancient alliance, they will not dare to cross the Tianshan Mountains.

Without sufficient benefit, there is absolutely no need to take this risk.

Reality is cruel, and Song Changsheng was at a loss for words. The only consolation was that they hadn't reached the point of certain defeat yet.

As long as the [Mysterious Thunder Soaring Spear] can successfully overcome the tribulation, it will be the final blow. Before that, they must find a way to withstand the pressure.

Seeing the somewhat heavy atmosphere, Yi Tianzheng couldn't help but say, "Actually, there's no need to be too pessimistic. We are actively seeking other assistance, and we should have results soon."

"I'm afraid the sea creatures won't give us that much time," Song Changsheng sighed softly.

"We'll just have to deal with whatever comes our way. The outcome is still uncertain, and no one knows what the final result will be!" True Lord Lei Xiang said firmly.

"How are your injuries recovering, seniors?"

"You've recovered to about 70-80%, and I reckon Gao Yu and Kong Sang Bai Jue are in similar shape. Now it's just a matter of who loses their composure first. You should stay in the palace for the time being."

"Yes, I am a junior who has just entered the Nascent Soul stage, and there are still many things I do not understand. I need the guidance of the two seniors." Song Changsheng said humbly, cupping his hands.

Yi Tianzheng waved his hand and said, "It's just sitting and discussing the Dao, verifying each other's views. There's no question of giving guidance."

"If you have any questions, please feel free to ask."

……

While the three were discussing the Dao, the sea creatures were also making their final preparations.

However, their internal unity was far less than that of the human side, with Kongsang Baijue and Gao Yu having huge differences in their views.

In the previous battle, Gao Yu overused his Qi Luck Power, which put a heavy burden on his body, and he has not yet recovered.

If war were to break out now, the risk to him personally would be extremely high.

He was not willing to take that risk.

However, in Kongsang Baijue's view, even if Gao Yu didn't use the Imperial Seal, they still held an overwhelming advantage, and the sooner the war started, the better for them. Conversely, the longer the war dragged on, the more likely the Myriad Manifestations Palace would receive reinforcements from somewhere, at which point their situation would become extremely passive.

The two people consider the issue from different perspectives, and their interests are also different.

The fiefdoms of Kongsang Baijue and Kongsang Lifeng are located here. They have no way out and must make a desperate gamble and fight to the death.

But Gao Yu is different. If he can't destroy the Myriad Manifestations Palace, he can just start over somewhere else.

With the two supreme treasures, the King of Men Sword and the Imperial Seal, breaking through to the Great Perfection of the Nascent Soul stage is only a matter of time. There is absolutely no need to take the risk of fighting to the death with the Myriad Manifestations Palace.

The price paid in the previous battle was already heavy enough.

Kongsang Baijue naturally knew what Gao Yu was planning, but even if he knew, it wouldn't matter. As one of only two Nascent Soul cultivators on his side, his power was enough to determine the final outcome of this battle.

He could only keep adding more chips until, half a month later, Gao Yu finally relented and agreed to join the battle.

All of the previous actions were simply due to insufficient benefits.

Suppressing his anger, Kongsang Baijue looked at Chihai Yaojun beside him and said, "Inform Fellow Daoist Fuhai that we can proceed with the plan."

The Demon Lord of the Chi Sea's eyes flashed, and he solemnly accepted the order...

Mount Wanxiang is a Taoist temple that the Wanxiang Palace has been operating for tens of thousands of years. Even if a Nascent Soul Supreme were to come, it would take some effort to break through it.

They certainly wouldn't be foolish enough to go to someone else's home turf and fight them. Even if it's Kongsang Baijue, it's just talk.

Playing to one's strengths and avoiding one's weaknesses is the wise thing to do!
As orders were issued methodically, an invisible dark cloud was gathering above the East China Sea, and beneath the seemingly calm surface, undercurrents were surging...

Although the Nascent Soul cultivators on both sides suffered heavy losses in the previous battle, the other battlefields were unaffected, and the fighting on some battlefields even became more intense than before.

These battlefields are mainly concentrated in the sea areas of the Vientiane Islands and Ghost King Valley.

After Thousand Blade City and the Vast Ocean Merchant Guild defected, the Tenglong Islands would have directly borne all the pressure from the sea race's army.

As a result, Lei Xiang Zhenjun's ambush wiped out the entire sea tribe army. From then on, the sea tribe was unable to organize any decent offensives in this direction, with only some sporadic border skirmishes.

For a time, the Tenglong Islands became one of the most stable regions.

The Blood Soul Demon Sect, which originally planned to attack the Tenglong Islands from both sides with the demon race, also sheathed its fangs and entered a standoff mode.

Neither fighting nor retreating, no one could understand the Blood Soul Demon Sect's purpose in this trip, and Zhuang Yuechan could only tell everyone to be careful.

Although there was no war, Zhuang Yuechan still made sure to inspect the area every few days without fail, checking for any omissions or deficiencies.

That day, accompanied by Song Yuqing, she was inspecting the defenses of the various island chains surrounding the Tenglong Islands as usual. The sea, which had only been rippled, suddenly began to shake violently, and the tremors felt even more pronounced when standing on the islands.

"Wow"

The waves crashed against the shore, one after another, towering thousands of feet high. Many islands and reefs without protective formations were directly smashed by these giant waves, a sight that terrified the heart.

"What's going on? Is it an enemy attack?" Song Yuqing frowned. He had never seen such a sight in hundreds of years.

Zhuang Yuechan looked at the rapidly rippling waves on the sea, then looked up towards the direction of the sunrise, and said in a solemn tone, "The source seems to be in the direction of the Hundred Refinements Sect?"

An ominous premonition immediately arose in everyone's hearts.

In fact, it wasn't just the Tenglong Islands; the entire coastal waters of the Great Qian Cultivation Realm felt that violent tremor.

Sensing the familiar aura, True Monarch Lei Xiang arrived above the Hundred Refinements Sect immediately. Standing atop the dim sky, he looked down and saw a giant, jet-black octopus waving dozens of tentacles and stirring up trouble in the salty seawater.

The Hundred Refinement Islands, which originally comprised nearly a thousand islands, are now reduced to a few dozen scattered islands.

With each fall of the giant octopus's tentacles, an island was shattered. The heavily invested defensive array could not withstand the attack for even a moment, and countless people perished at sea.

Upon witnessing this scene, True Monarch Lei Xiang had only one thought in his mind—the Hundred Refinements Sect was finished.

The Hundred Refinements Sect's strength is not considered strong in the Great Qian Cultivation World; it is even slightly weaker than the Vast Ocean Chamber of Commerce.

However, their connection with the Myriad Manifestations Palace is very deep. Their founding patriarch came from the outer sect of the Myriad Manifestations Palace, and for thousands of years they have been the most loyal vassals of the Myriad Manifestations Palace. It is no exaggeration to say that they can attack wherever they are told.

In this battle, they also held nothing back, sending all their elite troops to the front lines.

now……

Thunderous energy surged in Lei Xiang Zhenjun's eyes, and his anger was beyond control.

"Octopus Kun!"

With a loud shout, thunderclouds suddenly appeared, and endless golden lightning transformed into sharp spears, filling the entire sky.

"scoff"

The thunderous spear pierced through the void and poured down, reaching the octopus in almost an instant.

The octopus waved its powerful tentacles, causing thousands of waves to surge and endless seawater to whirl upwards. The temperature plummeted, and ice crystals mixed with the seawater spread upwards. The low temperature, enough to freeze everything, caused clusters of crystalline ice crystals to appear even in the void.

The fierce thunder spear was frozen in mid-air.

"Humph!"

Lei Xiang Zhenjun let out a cold snort, and a powerful aura of thunder spread out, shattering all the ice crystals in response.

The lightning transformed into a giant sword, cleaving down and severing several of the octopus's tentacles. The cuts were charred, but in the blink of an eye, the severed tentacles regenerated.

"scoff"

The empty void was suddenly torn apart.

Kongsang Bai Jue, Gao Yu, Kongsang Li Feng, and Chi Hai Yao Jun appeared one after another, their powerful auras sweeping across the surroundings.

"Swish"

Behind Lei Xiang Zhenjun, Song Changsheng and Yi Tian arrived on the battlefield at the same time.

Among the people present, apart from Song Changsheng, who was only at the early stage of the Nascent Soul realm, everyone else's cultivation level was at least at the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm.

Five against three – it's clearly a war where the strength of the opposing forces is completely unequal.

Meanwhile, tens of thousands of miles away in the sea area of ​​the Great Zhen Immortal Dynasty, the Dragon Elephant True Lord also faced off against his old rival, the Devouring Heaven Demon Lord.

"Wow—"

A long, resounding cry shook the sky, and crimson wings, obscuring the heavens and the sun, returned to the earth, plunging the major cultivation worlds in the central region into panic once more.

Ji Shinian's eyes blazed with intensity. Holding a long sword, he stepped into the sky, one step at a time...

……

P.S.: I'm experiencing some writer's block, fellow readers. The next chapter will be around 2 PM. (End of Chapter)