Luo Shuitian was indeed satisfied with this gift. For ordinary cultivators, the Red Rucale was precious, but for a Golden Immortal, it was nothing special. However, the sentiment behind it from his own disciple was what mattered most to Luo Shuitian.
"This gift pleases me greatly, and I shall accept it," Luo Shuitian declared, waving his hand to store it in his Grotto Heaven.
"Really, Master? That’s wonderful!" Chen Xiaoyu exclaimed with a happy smile.
As the Earth Dragon Beast fell, Ao Li collapsed alongside it. Having used the Flood Dragon Pearl twice to amplify his spell’s power, he felt utterly drained.
"Yet another perfect victory," Yue Li, the team’s tank, remarked.
"That’s right, our strength has indeed increased considerably. It seems we’re on the right track," War Song said with satisfaction, arms crossed.
"The next one is the neighboring Purple Viper, mid-stage Returning to Void realm, a greater challenge," Yang Huan said calmly, checking the intelligence map in his hands and setting the next target.
Watching the three beasts converse among themselves, Ao Li said, trembling, "Can you consider my situation?"
"Didn’t we give you the inner core to absorb? Ao Li, why have you been so feeble lately?" War Song asked, somewhat dissatisfied.
"As the team’s fragile Mage," Ao Li gritted his teeth, "you still have to give me time!"
"Seven days! Have you ever seen a Divine Transformation-stage Spiritual Beast absorb a Returning to Void-stage inner core in just seven days?" Ao Li exclaimed, aggrieved.
War Song and Yue Li were clueless, so they turned to look at Yang Huan, the team’s assassin and strategist, who nodded coolly and said, "Seven days is indeed a bit short. Let’s make it fifteen. That will also give us time to digest our recent gains."
Watching the three beasts begin to roast the Earth Dragon Beast, Ao Li opened his mouth but ultimately said nothing. At least he had managed to secure fifteen days this time, a significant improvement over before.
These peaceful times flew by, and thirty years passed in a blink.
At the Myriad Beasts Sect’s Main Hall, a Sect assembly, one rarely convened even once in ten thousand years, was called to order.
Sect Master Jun Linseng presided.
To his left, the first seat: Great Elder Ye Sheng.
To his right, the first seat: Second Elder Jiang Shengyuan.
To his left, the second seat: Third Elder Jiang Taiyuan.
To his right, the second seat: Fourth Elder Gong Qingru.
To his left, the third seat: Fifth Elder Yue Shanghua.
To his right, the third seat: Sixth Elder Jiang Wenshi.
To his left, the fourth seat: Seventh Elder Luo Shuitian.
To his right, the fourth seat: Ninth Elder Shi Haibo.
Eighth Elder Hai Bo was stationed at the Infinite Star Sea at this time and thus was not present at this meeting.
Looking at the gathered elders, Jun Linseng took out a golden Communication Stone, which was evidently much more advanced than the others, and said, "This meeting was called for a significant matter. Before we begin, let’s hear from our Supreme Ancestor."
"Little brats, today the Shajia Royal Family of the Demon Clan has formally issued a declaration of total war against our Myriad Beasts Sect. The Demon God Hourglass has already completely changed the time flow of all minor worlds belonging to our Myriad Beasts Sect. Now, all minor worlds and major worlds have their time flow synchronized with the Heavenly Realm and the Demon Abyss. The war has begun!"
After hearing those words, Jiang Shengyuan’s slightly narrowed eyes suddenly emitted a golden light as he fumed, "Does the lowly Shajia Royal Family actually dare to wage a full-scale war against our Myriad Beasts Sect? If not for the immense cost of annihilating the Shajia Royal Family several Hui Yuan ago, would they even still be alive today?"
"That’s right, the measly Shajia Royal Family couldn’t possibly dare to wage a full-scale war against our Myriad Beasts Sect. There must be more to it, Sect Master," Yue Shanghua, the only female cultivator among the nine great elders, inquired.
Jun Linseng nodded. "Indeed. It appears the Moluo Royal Family has allied with the Shajia Royal Family."
"Moluo? Weren’t they fighting the people from Triple Heaven? How could they spare any demon whelps to aid the Shajia Royal Family?" Sixth Elder Jiang Wenshi expressed his confusion.
Ninth Elder Shi Haibo, who had just rotated back, sighed. "Triple Sect must have fallen. When I was stationed at the Infinite Star Sea, I recall hearing people from the Galaxy Sacred Land say that Triple Sect probably couldn’t hold out against the Moluo Royal Family."
"Triple Sect fell? How is that possible? Their overall strength is only a notch below our Myriad Beasts Sect. Even if they couldn’t win, they shouldn’t have been defeated, right?" Gong Qingru voiced his disbelief.
"I’m not sure about the specifics either," Shi Haibo shook his head. He wasn’t one to gossip, so he hadn’t inquired further.
"Alright, everyone. Let’s discuss our course of action. Regardless of whether the Moluo Royal Family is involved, this declaration of war from the Shajia Royal Family has genuinely been delivered to the Supreme Ancestor," Jun Linseng interjected.
"What’s there to discuss? It’s a full-scale war, isn’t it? Then we fight!" Jiang Shengyuan, the most irascible of them, responded domineeringly.
"Good. Then issue the war mobilization. All vassal families must contribute personnel. We can also post missions for loose cultivators, offering Spirit Stones, spells, Spiritual Beasts, and other cultivation resources as rewards."
"Regarding preparation time: according to the Supreme Ancestor’s senses, the entire Demon Clan will likely breach the world barriers in about one sixty-year cycle. Time is of the essence. Everyone, get moving! This time, we’ll show those demons the true might of our Myriad Beasts Sect!" Jun Linseng declared, his hands pressed firmly on the conference table, his gaze as sharp as daggers, resolutely issuing the mobilization order.
War between the Demon Abyss and the Heavenly Realm had always been ongoing. Both were supreme origin worlds, making it exceedingly difficult to determine a victor. Neither was willing to engage in a major war within their own territories, fearing the depletion of their world’s origin. Consequently, this spelled hardship for the myriad minor worlds.
Countless minor worlds were annihilated under the Demon Abyss’s offensive, while countless others were transformed into resource-producing territories, enslaved by the Heavenly Realm.
Although their methods of dealing with minor worlds differed, both were fundamentally aggressors. One treated minor worlds as breeding grounds and sustenance, utterly consuming them. The other converted minor worlds into resource colonies, enslaving their inhabitants yet granting them a sliver of nearly impossible-to-grasp vitality.
When the war mobilization missions appeared simultaneously in all Task Halls of the Myriad Beasts Sect, prominently displayed at the top of the mission boards, the entire Sect seethed with excitement.
This was not panic, but jubilation.
Even in the resource-abundant Heavenly Realm, cultivation was no easy feat. The most straightforward way to acquire resources was through combat with the Demon Clan.
To temper one’s will through slaughter, to acquire resources through slaughter, to achieve the Great Dao through slaughter—the law of the jungle, where the strong prey on the weak, was the very essence of cultivation.
"Boss, this is terrible! Terrible news!"
Seeing Chen Tingting’s terrified expression, Chen Jiuge reassured her, "Don’t panic. Even if the sky falls, taller people will be there to hold it up. What’s wrong? What terrible thing has happened?"
"Boss, you better see for yourself."
Since joining Hundred Herbs Peak, Chen Tingting, like Li Qiuwen, had voluntarily become one of Chen Jiuge’s subordinates. Her form of address for him had also changed from ’Senior Brother’ to ’Boss.’
Looking at the golden piece of cloth handed to him, Chen Jiuge was puzzled. Thanks to ample resources, Chen Tingting’s cultivation had progressed by leaps and bounds over the years. She had handled wealth far beyond what her cultivation level would normally encounter and was usually very composed. What kind of news could have terrified her so?
"Where did this come from?" After examining the golden cloth, Chen Jiuge finally understood why Chen Tingting was terrified.
No matter whether it was the technological world of his former life or the current world of cultivation, war was a terrifying thing.