Chapter 1229: Infiltration (Part 2)
Especially the demon cultivators of the West Continent, their attitude towards the Divine Path is extremely hostile.
Because the divines are protectors and defenders of order, whereas demon cultivators are inherently destructive and oppositional forces.
Thus, shortly after they entered the West Continent, they encountered several rounds of attacks. If it weren't for their prior gathering, someone might have already fallen!
"What should we do in this situation?"
They were only on the border of the West Continent, and things were already so perilous. If they ventured further, it was feared that a tragic downfall might indeed occur.
"Perhaps we should temporarily abandon the West Continent, gather information on the Seasonal Gods in the Southern and Northern Domains, and enhance our realm and cultivation. Once we have enough strength, we can try again," proposed one of the Seasonal Gods.
Though no one voiced full agreement, neither did they object, showing that the proposal was tempting to them.
"That sounds excellent!"
Eventually, someone stepped forward, and the other Seasonal Gods followed suit, decisively leaving the West Continent to return later.
In the chaotic Southern Domain and the bitterly cold Northern Domain, they faced different trials and tribulations, but in this process, their realms continually improved.
Several hundred years later, when they returned to the starry sky, Sun and Taiyin Divine Domain, more than half had achieved the Individual Immortal Realm, with others nearing breakthroughs.
...
Cave Abyss Sect.
Atop a towering and majestic barren mountain stood a blue-clad female cultivator facing the wind, while countless cultivators awaited at the mountain's base, looking expectant and tense.
"I wonder if Qing He ancestor will succeed in overcoming the tribulation and achieve the rank of a Heavenly Immortal Great Ability?!"
"Of course she can. You know Ancestor's strength is formidable; the mere Heavenly Immortal Tribulation thunder is nothing to her."
"You're right. Qing He Ancestor is a master of both artifacts and formations. The Ten Thousand Treasure Array she set up could trap a Heavenly Immortal for several hours; withstanding the Thunder Tribulation is even less of an issue."
The tribulation clouds, brewing for an unknown amount of time in the sky, began churning, with countless Tribulation Thunders roaring within, seemingly ready to strike at any moment.
Boom——
At that instant, the world was filled with one sound, lightning devoured everything, causing havoc at the mountain peak.
But as the lightning slowly faded, a spirit light slowly emerged before everyone. Qing He, sitting calmly in a lotus position, appeared not in the midst of a perilous Thunder Tribulation but as if she was cultivating leisurely in the mountains.
This was the Ten Thousand Treasure Array she personally crafted and set!
It was a half-step Heavenly Immortal Rank array, genuinely arranged using ten thousand magic artifacts! Moreover, based on the combination, positioning, and other aspects of the artifacts, the array's focus could change.
Only such a mighty formation could allow Ancestor Qing He, in the Earth Immortal Realm, to trap a Heavenly Immortal for several hours.
The subsequent Tribulation Thunders were easily deflected by the Ten Thousand Treasure Array.
This gave people a seemingly effortless and simple impression, as if the Heavenly Immortal Tribulation Thunder was nothing much, suggesting they could do it too.
Of course, only a bunch of foolish souls unaware of death would think so.
Had they faced the tribulation, the first thunder would have killed them!
It was not until the eighth Tribulation Thunder that Qing He's expression grew slightly serious, yet she only reinforced the formation without any further action.
This was also smoothly transcended.
But when the final Tribulation Thunder struck, Qing He stood up for the first time, personally leading the array against the thunder.
A massive thunderbolt, as thick as a giant pillar, descended from the sky with a force that seemed to destroy everything.
Crack—
The previously indestructible Ten Thousand Treasure Array made its first unbearable sound, its spirit light dimmed, and tiny cracks started to appear.
Qing He, with a solemn expression, rapidly formed hand seals, various magic artifacts flew within the formation, and her immense mana poured out like a flood.
The Tribulation Thunder and formation clashed continually, sweat beaded on Qing He's forehead, but fortunately, tribulation thunders, rootless as they were, when consumed, gradually weakened in power.
Ultimately, after a lengthy stalemate, Qing He slightly prevailed, neutralizing the final Tribulation Thunder.
This last tribulation consumed more time than all the preceding ones combined!
One could imagine its fearsome power.
If Qing He had not been deeply rooted, with years of accumulation in the Earth Immortal Realm, she might not have smoothly and safely passed the final Tribulation Thunder.
As for the Heart Demon Tribulation?
Generally, cultivators from prestigious sects are unafraid of heart demons, as they hone their Dao Heart and stabilize their mental state from the outset of their cultivation journey, reaching an indestructible level after countless years of persistence. Therefore, they fear not falling into the Heart Demon Illusion Realm. But
when the black light, representing the heart demon, vanished, the tribulation cloud turned into rich and pure spiritual energy, infusing into Qing He.
"Oh, oh, oh!"
The Cave Abyss Sect erupted in a tidal wave of cheers, all cultivators extremely excited and joyous.
The Sect Leader immediately announced a grand feast for several days to celebrate Qing He's achievement of Heavenly Immortal Reverence!
...
The news of a new Heavenly Immortal Great Ability being born in the Cave Abyss Sect quickly spread far and wide.
The nearby Li family, naturally, was among the first to know.
However, they weren't overly concerned because, whether it was the Southern Great Zhou Dynasty or the Eastern Sea Clan, they held greater enmity towards the Cave Abyss Sect than the Li family.
These two significant powers had seized much territory from the Cave Abyss Sect; now, with greater strength, would they not wish to take revenge and reclaim their lost lands?
Moreover, according to the unspoken rules, the Cave Abyss Sect could only dispatch Human Immortal Cultivators against the Li family, having little to do with gaining another Heavenly Immortal.
Even without this additional Heavenly Immortal, the Cave Abyss Sect could attack the Li family anytime.
But the development of events surprised all who watched the Cave Abyss Sect's movements.
For they did not trouble the Great Zhou Dynasty or the Sea Clan, nor did they clash with the Li family, but instead, they advanced westward, annexing the territories of the Hundred Rainbow Sect and other forces!
And it was a thorough annexation, not merely incorporating local powers as vassals under the Cave Abyss Sect, with territorial rights just in name.
This meant that the forces like the Hundred Rainbow Sect had been defeated, their land entirely in use by the Cave Abyss Sect.
The only fortunate thing was that the Cave Abyss Sect did not engage in a massacre like the Demonic Tao, only expelling all cultivators.
Only a few adamant resisters who fought back were killed.
"What is the purpose of the Cave Abyss Sect's actions?" Li Guangjie pondered, holding the jade slip that had just returned to the family, his brow furrowed deeply.
But no matter how he thought, he couldn't fathom the secret intentions behind the Cave Abyss Sect's peculiar actions.
And due to these strange moves by the Cave Abyss Sect, the Li family was on high alert, sending a large number of clan members to the Immortal City at the border of the two territories to investigate.
They, along with the Wind Breath Clan, infiltrated Cave Abyss State to gather various intelligence and information, to analyze their intentions and see if they planned further invasions and, if so, in which direction.
Curiously, however, the Cave Abyss Sect abruptly halted their actions!
It seemed as if they were organizing the newly acquired territory and lacked the available energy to do anything else.
Yet, all of a sudden, an unexpected visitor appeared at the Li family—none other than Hong Liu, the former Sect Leader of the Hundred Rainbow Sect!
And she was sneakily hiding, acting furtively, as if she was afraid of being seen.
Had a relative managing the Great Array not recognized her and prevented the formation's killing move in time, she might have perished within it.
"Fellow Daoist Hong Liu?"
Li Guangjie furrowed his brows and asked, "I wonder why you're sneaking into Mount Wanxian!"