Yellow Court Daoist

Yu Mountain.

Having sent away Su Mu, Ao Zhuo then turned to Ao Zhen, "You are the son of East Sea Ao Xun?"

"Yes."

Ao Zhen hurriedly replied.

Hearing this, Ao Zhuo didn't ask further; with a wave of his hand, a gale tore through the void, rolling Ao Zhen toward Beiming State.

After sending off both Su Mu and Ao Zhen,

Ao Zhuo looked toward the three from Tongxuan and called out, "Since I have the assistance of the three Daoist Brothers, those two Demon heads from the Blood Spring Demon Sect in East Xian State, Yu Gong and Miao Yu, must not escape!"

Tongxuan, Rong Hong, and Guangning exchanged glances, and Tongxuan True Immortal nodded, "Yu Gong and Miao Yu are deeply villainous. Ao Zhuo Daoist Brother, rest assured, the three of us brothers will assist with all our might."

Lu Qingfeng was listening nearby.

His eyes gazed toward the east, estimating the time, "About time now."

With that thought,

He saw.

From the east, amidst the surge of blood light, a dreadful presence approached.

Gurgling sounds.

Strange noises arose in the silent void, reaching the ears of every Great Cultivator in East Xian State.

The trio from Tongxuan looked over as well to see immense blood light exploding high into the sky. Guangning True Immortal's eyes narrowed, and he cried out in alarm, "This is bad!"

"What is the Blood Spring Demon Sect up to?"

Ao Zhuo and the others looked over too, but before they could discern the details, they heard Guangning True Immortal speaking rapidly, and quickly turned their attention to him.

Guangning True Immortal spoke with urgency, "Before my Yu Mountain Sect was established, East Xian State was an endless Blood Sea, to the west it bordered Beiming State and East Xiang, to the south it neighbored Wuwang Sea and East Chen State. Our sect's founding Ancestor Master, with Supreme Divine Power, destroyed the Blood Sea Demon Sect, and spent thirty thousand years sealing the boundless Blood Sea beneath the land of East Xian State. Over the years, although occasionally some blood springs would appear above East Xian State, leaning on the Blood Sea, it was of no major consequence."

"But the remnants of the Blood Sea Demon Sect reestablished the Blood Spring Demon Sect and have always aimed to break the seal to make the Blood Sea reappear. Yet, with the vast Blood Sea sealed by the lands of East Xian State, the seal intertwined with the land itself. To break the seal and expose the Blood Sea once again to the world, they would need nothing less than the shattering of East Xian State and the bloody sacrifice of countless life spirits."

"However, the seal is solid, and East Xian State unshakable, so all the Blood Spring Demon Sect's schemes over the years have been futile efforts."

"But now—"

Guangning True Immortal explained feverishly.

Everyone listened,

Instantly understanding—

The Blood Spring Demon Sect was taking advantage of Chunshen Realm merging with Ancient Shang Region, amidst the upheavals and the changing of Heavenly Mechanism, aiming to shatter East Xian State in a single stroke, to let the Blood Sea return to the world of men!

"Utter madness!"

Ao Zhuo's face changed, and he shouted angrily.

If the Blood Spring Demon Sect were to succeed, not only would the Shang River Navy suffer devastating losses, with billions of life spirits perishing, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"What cunning Blood Spring Demon Sect!"

"Everyone."

"Hurry, follow me and let's break the Great Array of the Blood Spring Demon Sect. We must not let the Blood Sea reappear and East Xian sink!"

Ao Zhuo was also getting desperate.

As he spoke, he stomped on the ground and charged into the cloud layer above.

The four True Immortals of Shang River immediately followed him.

"Go!"

The three great True Immortals of Yu Mountain looked at each other and followed as well.

At this point,

Only Lu Qingfeng was left on the summit of Yu Mountain.

He did not move,

But closed his eyes and sat down cross-legged on the spot, reducing his breathing to the faintest ripple.

...

Above the clouds,

As Ao Zhuo soared, he transformed into his True Dragon form. His dragon eyes, bright as the moon, emitted a faint glow, illuminating the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths. Piercing through heavy clouds and the myriad of blood light, he looked toward where the Blood Spring Demon Sect was located.

At a glance,

It was nothing but a sea of blood light, obscuring any detail of the interior.

Only blood-colored Demon Gods could be seen, uncanny Exotic Beasts, figures with three heads and six arms, and towering War Generals roaring into the sky, standing erect within the blood light, trembling with every move, as if stirring the boundless Blood Sea.

"Ao Zhuo Daoist Brother."

"This is the 'Blood Spring Abyss Suppressing Array.' The Blood Spring Demon Sect has long been laying it out. Our Yu Mountain Sect had sent people to investigate, thinking it was like our 'Manifestation Saint Array,' primarily for defense and commanding troops."

"Who would've thought—"

Tongxuan True Immortal, by Ao Zhuo's side, looking down at the blood light formation, had an extremely grim expression.

The Blood Spring Demon Sect had laid out such a formation right under their noses, and the Yu Mountain Sect had not even noticed. If they succeeded, the Yu Mountain Sect, standing on East Xian State, would be the first to be destroyed and wiped out.

Thus,

Tongxuan, Rong Hong, and Guangning, the three True Immortals, were even more anxious than Ao Zhuo and the True Immortals of the Shang River Dragon Palace.

They truly did not expect the Blood Spring Demon Sect to dare such madness.

To resurface the Blood Sea, overturn East Xian State,

One could hardly imagine, if the Blood Spring Demon Sect indeed accomplished this, what colossal sins they would bear. Laden with sins, even as a Demon Dao giant, the Blood Spring Demon Sect would likely struggle to preserve itself, all sinking into the Blood Sea, eternally unable to find salvation.

"Yu Gong!"

"Miao Yu!"

"What are your intentions?!"

Guangning True Immortal's voice boomed, reaching down into the blood light formation, penetrating countless distances into the Blood Sea beneath the land of East Xian State.

Within the Blood Sea.

Countless Demon Beasts and Exotic Beasts roared.

Two figures stood at the center of the Blood Sea.

One was tall with a demonically handsome face.

The other was seductive, with a bewitching appearance.

They were the two True Immortal Elders of the Blood Spring Demon Sect—

Yv Gong True Immortal.

Miao Yu True Immortal.

The two True Immortals stood over the Blood Sea, listening to the resounding voices coming from beyond the heavens. Yv Gong's face, more devilish than ever, lifted to reveal a visage that once seen, ensnared onlookers, trapping them helplessly. He laughed into the void, "Guangning, your Yu Mountain Sect boasts righteousness yet lacks any dignity, inciting ridicule. How shameless are you to question me?!"

His voice reverberated, reaching beyond the skies.

Guangning True Immortal's face flushed red with anger.

The Yu Mountain Sect's allegiance to the Shang River Dragon Palace was for the continuation of their lineage, but regardless, it was a controversial move. Even if they preserved their teachings, they would still be mocked by their peers, especially those from the Chun Shen lineage.

The three True Immortals of the Yu Mountain Sect were prepared, willing to accept the infamy.

Yet, facing the mockery from Yv Gong, a Demon Dao Giant, Guangning True Immortal was filled with anger and shame, yelling, "Stop flaunting your verbal prowess. Yv Gong, if the Blood Sea overturns, your Blood Spring Demon Sect will be buried as well. Both you and Miao Yu will be entangled in sin, dying within the Blood Sea, with even reincarnation out of your grasp."

His fury knew no bounds.

Yet, Guangning True Immortal dared not let his words be too harsh.

Yv Gong and Miao Yu from the Blood Spring Demon Sect were notoriously temperamental. Provoking them could result in a catastrophic reversal of the Blood Sea without concern for any consequences.

"Ha ha!"

"If I, the supreme one, have arranged this array, then naturally, I have my preparations."

"If you cede Dong Xian State, all can be settled amicably, but if you attack with force, bear the consequences yourself."

Yv Gong dropped these words and the Blood Sea surged with increased crimson light, ending the exchange.

In the heavens.

Beside Ao Zhuo, an armored female general frowned, "The Blood Spring Demon Sect is obviously buying time. We've taken the initiative by entering the Chunshen Realm ahead of Da Jing and the demon forces, intending to seize this opportunity to claim new territories. Once Da Jing and the demons enter the fray, the situation will turn chaotic. If we fail to conquer the Blood Spring Demon Sect before this, forces like the True Martial Tongxuan Mountain, Jiao Demon Palace, Tongling Wujimen and others will not spare any effort to both secure a territory and bring the Blood Spring Demon Sect under their command."

Ao Zhuo listened, saying nothing, then turned to look at an elder with white hair at his side, "Daoist Brother Zhou Ran, have you spotted any flaws in this Blood Spring Abyss Suppressing Array?"

Zhou Ran, his hair completely white, eyes flashing golden light, scrutinized the great array below, his expression tranquil, "This array is vast, and the flaws are numerous. Give me ten years, and I am confident of discovering a method to break it."

"Ten years?"

"Too many uncertainties!"

Ao Zhuo shook his head.

Given ten years, the entire Ancient Shang Region will have already faced the arrival of both Da Jing and demon forces. Breaking through then would become meaningless.

"If Great Marshal launches an assault to provoke greater reactions from the array, maybe I could find a quicker solution," Zhou Ran suggested calmly, stroking his white beard.

"Impossible!"

Before Ao Zhuo could respond, Guangning True Immortal stepped forward and spoke hastily, "Yv Gong and Miao Yu are unscrupulous and ruthlessly decisive. Once they act, these demons might immediately trigger the array and overturn the Blood Sea. If that happens, Dong Xian will sink, and all will be beyond salvation."

Different from the Shang River Dragon Palace.

If Dong Xian State drowns in the Blood Sea, the Dragon Palace can simply abandon the region. But the foundation of Yu Mountain Sect lies within Dong Xian. If its disciples evacuate, where could they settle?

Then they would wholly rely on the Shang River and lose all autonomy.

The lineage of the Yu Mountain Sect may exist, but it too would be in name only.

Ao Zhuo paid close attention to the words of Guangning True Immortal, his brows furrowing. He was well aware of the concerns of the three True Immortals from the Yu Mountain Sect.

Now, he faces a dilemma.

To act or not.

It's a perilous choice.

If they take action, it means disregarding the lives of countless beings of Dong Xian State.

Even if the Blood Spring Demon Sect didn't dare to truly overturn the Blood Sea, resentment would fester among the populace, potentially losing the support throughout the entirety of Chunshen Nine Provinces.

The Yu Mountain Sect's defection could happen on the spot.

But if they refrain – allowing the Blood Spring Demon Sect to intimidate them – once the Ancient Shang's demonic forces arrive, the sect would be likened to a thorn in the eye of the Shang River Dragon Palace, a bone stuck in the throat, ensuring unrest for countless years to come.

To advance or retreat.

A momentary impasse.

"Ao Jue."

"Go quickly to the Demon Suppression Grand Marshal and the Earth Suppression Grand Marshal, and invite Changyangzi and Luo Jing, two Fellow Daoists, to join Daoist Brother Zhou Ran in breaking the array."

"In five years."

"If there is still no way to break the array by then—"

Ao Zhuo waved his hand without finishing.

"Yes."

The female general, Ao Jue, saluted and stepped onto Xuan Light, darting towards the direction of East Chen State.

The atmosphere was tense.

Tong Xuan, Rong Hong, and Guangning, the three True Immortals, looked grimmer by the moment, lost in their thoughts.

...

Southern Border.

Ghostly Wailing Mysterious Realm.

Lu Qingfeng lifted his gaze towards the heavy blood light in the sky. Through the blood glow, he caught sight of the terrifying auras that enshrouded the Nine Heavens. Below, tens of thousands of Shang River Navy troops were arrayed within dark clouds, poised for battle.

His long hair partially obscured his face, revealing just one eye exuding a faint gleam.

"A threat?"

"Indeed."

"Anyone would assume that Yv Gong and Miao Yu, these two devils, wouldn't dare truly overturn the Blood Sea, believing it's merely a stall for time."

Prior to the Heavenly Change of Chunshen Realm.

The Immortal Sects and Demon Sects of Nine Provinces all had their plans—

Such as Yu Mountain Sect's "Manifestation Saint Array."

Such as Blood Spring Sect's "Blood Spring Abyss Suppressing Array."

Such as Mountain and River Sect's "Mountain and River Circulated Sky Array."

Such as Golden Lotus Sect's "Golden Lotus Purity Array."

...

Primarily, these were defenses.

But the Blood Spring Demon Sect's "Zhenyuan Array" was far from simple. The machinations of Yv Gong and Miao Yu, two Demon Dao Giants, were not limited to merely buying time—if only it were as straightforward as siding with Ancient Shang's demon forces when the time came.