Immortality and cultivation begin with full comprehension.

Chapter 603 Crimson Sunset, Post-War Grief (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

Now, the "East China Sea Alliance" has only one path: to persist!
"Click..."

As the "Tianluo Dao Sect" continued its bombardment, a crack a hundred feet long appeared at the top of the light barrier, and more than a dozen blood-red beams of light took the opportunity to penetrate it!

"what……"

Amidst screams, the three islands were instantly vaporized, and tens of thousands of cultivators vanished into thin air.

Similarly, the cultivators below the Nascent Soul stage of the "East Sea Alliance" were also unable to withstand the concentrated fire of the "Tianluo Dao Sect," and they were all wiped out almost instantly.

"Activate the 'Heavenly Thunder Demon-Slaying Array'!"

Li Yunjing's eyes widened in fury as he suddenly drew his sword and pointed it to the sky, launching his second counter-strategy.

When war comes, rationality is lost. On that day, he vowed that if things went wrong, he would withdraw immediately and would never fight to the death with the "Tianluo Dao Sect" alongside the "East Sea Alliance"!
But when that day actually came, Li Yunjing realized what it meant to be "out of control of one's own destiny"!
Seeing familiar faces fall one by one into pools of blood, some even turning to ashes in an instant, leaving not a single hair behind, Li Yunjing's heart was filled with rage.

Two days ago, when he went to inspect the city wall, a young cultivator mustered up his courage and greeted him. He even encouraged him a few times. Unexpectedly, right in front of him, the smiling young man was cut in two by a streak of light!
The war was too cruel.

Such scenes happen every minute of every second.

Li Yunjing had no time to think about whether any of his acquaintances had died or what the casualties were among his fellow disciples!
Slaughter became the only melody.

He had only one thought in his mind: to activate the "Heavenly Thunder Demon-Slaying Array" and blast the bastard on the other side to death!

"Boom!"

Deep within “Holy Sound Island”, a towering pillar of lightning burst forth!

A bolt of lightning, as thick as a mountain, crashed down from mid-air, crushing dozens of enemy ships at the forefront into fragments.

Countless charred remains suddenly floated on the sea surface.

Amidst the wreckage, streams of blood flowed out, merging into the crimson sea.

The "East Sea Alliance" is having a tough time, and the "Tianluo Dao Sect" is also suffering heavy losses!
It involved a battle between millions of cultivators, and the loss in each clash was the annihilation of an entire sect.

"It's just a dying struggle."

Seeing this, the Tianluo Sect Master remained ruthless, standing on the flagship and sneering: "How can the 'Shenxiao Dao Sect', which is unwilling to invest, possibly be a match for my 'Tianluo Dao Sect'?"

He slowly raised his hand, and a blood-red battle flag unfurled in the wind.

"Spirit Annihilation Array, activate!"

After withstanding the "Nine Luminaries Locking Dragon Formation", the people of the "Tianluo Dao Sect" took the opportunity to repair the "Spirit Extinction Formation".

With the fighter jet now available, the Tianluo Sect Master naturally wouldn't hesitate!
The "Spirit Extinction Array" was activated, and the entire sea area suddenly fell into an eerie silence.

All spiritual energy began to flow backwards at breakneck speed, and the cultivators were horrified to discover that their magical power was rapidly being lost!
This rate of loss is almost equivalent to continuously unleashing a powerful supernatural force!
"not good!"

Master Lei Ze's expression changed drastically. "They're draining the spiritual energy of heaven and earth!"

"I already knew that!"

Blood trickled from the corner of Li Yunjing's mouth, but he suddenly revealed a resolute smile: "This is the moment I've been waiting for..."

He suddenly crushed the jade talisman in his hand: "Five Elements Reversal, Spirit Explosion!"

"boom!!!"

Suddenly, a change occurred throughout the entire "Sacred Sound Sea".

The spiritual energy that had been drained suddenly exploded in the center of the enemy formation!

This was a trap that Li Yunjing had laid in advance!

Within "Tianlan Star," the five elements of spiritual energy are dominant, and in fact, the vast majority of worlds are constructed from the five elements of heaven and earth.

Li Yunjing and the Five Elements True Man are both top-grade cultivators with the five elements spiritual roots, naturally compatible with the five elements' primordial energy.

Both of them are also masters of array formations!

After obtaining information from the "Tianluo Dao Sect" about the "Spirit Extinction Array," the two experts immediately began to study how to break it.

The formation the two were researching was the "Reverse Five Elements Formation"!
Countless runes and restrictions are inscribed within the "Sacred Sound Sea".

It's all for today!

All the spiritual power absorbed by the "Spirit Annihilation Array" turned into destructive energy backlash at this moment.

Hundreds of Tier 3 warships were turned into fireballs in a deafening explosion, and a rain of burning metal fell from the sky.

Even the thirty-three main warships of the "Tianluo Dao Sect" suffered some degree of damage!

"impossible!"

The Tianluo Sect Master's expression changed for the first time.

Between the sea and the sky, the two sides' most elite forces finally collided with a deafening roar.

Thunder and blood mingled, and giant waves mingled with the flames of war.

Just as the "Tianluo Dao Sect" was thrown into chaos by the "Reverse Five Elements Formation", a dark shadow suddenly appeared on the distant horizon.

"That is……"

Li Yunjing's pupils contracted, then he was overjoyed: "It's the demon army from the 'Youlan Mountains'!"

Tens of thousands of demonic beasts came riding the waves, led by a golden-winged roc that was a hundred feet tall.

Nearby were seven other supreme demon kings!

Besides the eight top demon kings, there are thousands of third-tier demon kings and fifty thousand second-tier demon beasts. This is the demon army!
As for the other Nascent Soul Realm level demon kings?

It hasn't arrived yet!

Clearly, the demon kings of the "Youlan Mountains" did not go all out. They left enough power behind so that even if something happened to them, they could ensure the continuation of their lineage!

This scene, when seen by the Five Elements Master and Li Yunjing, was naturally not very satisfactory, but it was still not as good as it could be!
Moreover, all eight clan leaders are experts in the Nascent Soul Realm, and none of them have a cultivation level lower than the sixth level of the Nascent Soul Realm!
The gluttonous patriarch and the Golden-Winged Roc King's cultivation was even comparable to that of a Five Elements True Person!
It's fair to say that the demon race has already shown enough generosity by sending out so many experts.

Li Yunjing and the Five Elements True Man naturally wouldn't make a fool of themselves by being aggressive and expressing their dissatisfaction with the demon race's hidden intentions.

"Fellow Daoists of the Divine Firmament Dao Sect, we, the demon race of the Orchid Mountains, have come to fulfill our oath!"

With a wave of its wings, the Golden-Winged Roc King unleashed a storm of demonic clouds that transformed into sharp arrows, instantly piercing through dozens of enemy ships.

Thousands of auxiliary soldiers turned into a bloody mist.

The demon army behind him was even more ferocious, charging directly into the "Tianluo Dao Sect" fleet and stirring up a bloody storm!
"Damn it! The demon race of the 'Youlan Mountains' has gone all out for the 'Shenxiao Dao Sect'?!"

The Tianluo Sect Master's face turned ashen, and he hurriedly changed the fleet's formation.

But it was too late. The arrival of the demon army completely shattered the balance of the battle!

"kill!"

Seizing the opportunity, Li Yunjing led the remaining elite cultivators of the "East Sea Alliance" to attack from the flank.

Originally, the battle was supposed to be fought by the "Tianluo Daozong" fleet, which would launch a three-pronged attack from the sky, sea, and seabed to directly assault the "Nine Luminaries Locking Dragon Formation" and attack "Holy Sound Island," seeking a decisive battle.

Upon discovering the anomaly, the "East Sea Alliance" army retreated inward from both the north and south, forming a fan shape to block the main fleet of the "Tianluo Dao Sect," resulting in a fierce battle.

Meanwhile, the sea creatures hid on the seabed, launching sneak attacks from the rear, flanks, and edges of the "Tianluo Dao Sect," aiming to eliminate as many of the "Tianluo Dao Sect's" remaining forces as possible.

With the arrival of the demon race from the "Youlan Mountains," this new force struck directly at the main fleet of the "Tianluo Dao Sect" from the northwest, causing a dramatic change in the situation.

The Golden-Winged Roc King spread its wings, blotting out the sky and the sun. Its golden feathers transformed into thousands of sharp blades, cleaving the three main warships of the "Tianluo Dao Sect" into pieces!

"Hahaha! So happy!"

The Taotie patriarch roared to the sky, opened his huge mouth, and unleashed a terrifying devouring power, swallowing a warship and hundreds of cultivators on board directly into his belly!

The seven demon kings each displayed their supernatural powers, and an army of fifty thousand demon beasts surged in like a tidal wave.

The Tianluo Dao Sect's fleet was suddenly caught in a pincer attack from three sides.

Ahead lies the main force of the "East Sea Alliance," behind them is a sneak attack from the sea race, and on their flanks they are attacked by the demon race!

"All warships, take off and enter the 'Map of Mountains and Rivers'!"

The Tianluo Sect Master roared and gave the order, but it was too late.

"Boom!"

On the sea, severed limbs and fragments of warships were mixed together, and blood stained the seawater for miles around dark red.

"Sect Master! We can't hold on any longer!"

An elder, covered in blood, shouted, "We must retreat!"

The Heavenly Luo Sect Master's face was contorted as he stared intently at the group of demons displaying their divine power in the distance, his eyes filled with resentment.

But the outcome of the battle was already decided, and dragging it out any longer would only result in excessive losses.

The Tianluo Dao Sect couldn't possibly have spent all its resources here.

"Let's all join forces and unleash the second attack of the 'Map of Mountains and Rivers'!"

Reluctant to retreat, the Tianluo Sect Master, with a cold face, prepared to continue activating this powerful weapon.

"The mountains and rivers, the nation, the divine map that governs the world!"

The Tianluo Sect Master formed hand seals and chanted ancient incantations. Suddenly, the "Map of Mountains and Rivers" floating above the fleet burst forth with dazzling golden light!

All the disciples of the "Tianluo Dao Sect," led by their supreme leader, channeled their magical power into the divine diagram. "Boom..."

The scroll unfolds, revealing thousands of miles of mountains and rivers. The phantom image descends, instantly crushing the thousands of demons at the forefront into a bloody mist!
One of the Golden-Winged Roc King's wings was torn off, and the Taotie Clan Chief was smashed into the sea by a mountain phantom, his fate unknown!

"Oh no! The demons are so careless!"

Li Yunjing's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly led his entourage to retreat.

This is not the time to show off. If he gets hit by the "Map of Mountains and Rivers," he will be badly injured, if not killed.

"puff!"

Even though Li Yunjing reacted quickly, he was still hit by the aftershock and spat out a mouthful of blood.

Fortunately, the arrival of the demon race attracted the firepower of the "Tianluo Dao Sect", which gave him a chance to escape.

Seeing this, the Five Elements True Man was about to come to his aid, but the "Map of Mountains and Rivers" trembled slightly, and his magic power crumbled inch by inch, even damaging his own magic treasure!
The once unstoppable demon army, the East Sea Alliance army, and the sea race army were now falling like wheat in droves.

"Quickly! Unleash the supreme treasure of my demon race!"

The Golden-Winged Roc King endured the excruciating pain and let out a sharp cry.

Two of the eight demon kings have already left, and the remaining demons are fleeing in panic, each one running for their lives.

"Hahaha! A bunch of beasts dare to be enemies of my 'Tianluo Dao Sect'?"

The Tianluo Sect Master laughed wildly, about to press his advantage, when suddenly his expression changed, and the light of the "Map of Mountains and Rivers" began to dim rapidly!
"Damn it! My spiritual energy is exhausted!"

This ancient magical artifact is incredibly powerful, but its consumption is equally terrifying.

Two full-force attacks have drained the energy stored in the scroll, making it impossible to launch a third attack in the short term.

"Sect Master, we must not fight any longer!"

Several elders anxiously advised against it: "Although the demon race has retreated, the main force of the 'Eastern Sea Alliance' is still intact. If we continue to drag this out, even if we win, it will be a Pyrrhic victory!"

"Boom!"

Just as several elders of the "Tianluo Dao Sect" were trying to persuade them, an extremely dense demonic aura suddenly erupted from within the demon formation.

Amidst the various armies, a giant banner was raised from within the demon race!

The giant banner was black, embroidered with many star patterns, and fluttered as it was raised.

"Star Banner!"

The Heavenly Luo Sect Master's face twisted in pain, but he finally gritted his teeth and said, "Order the entire army to retreat!"

He had already recognized that the demon race was carrying a replica of an ancient weapon of mass destruction. This was a treasure of the same level, and their "Map of Mountains and Rivers" no longer had an advantage.

At this point, if the fierce battle continues, it is very likely that the main force of the "Tianluo Dao Sect" will be lost.

This is not the result he wanted!

"woo woo woo woo……"

As the horn sounded, the remaining fleet of the "Tianluo Dao Sect" slowly retreated. Upon seeing this, the remaining auxiliary troops all showed expressions of relief and followed the "Tianluo Dao Sect" fleet in retreat.

Li Yunjing wanted to give chase, but was stopped by the Five Elements Master: "Don't chase anymore, we've reached our limit too."

Before he could finish speaking, the old man coughed up a mouthful of blood and fainted.

"Ancestor..."

Li Yunjing was startled and quickly stepped forward to support the Five Elements True Man's body, asking loudly.

"Hula..."

The surviving Nascent Soul Realm cultivators of the "Shenxiao Dao Sect" all came to inquire about the situation of the Five Elements Realm cultivators.

"Thank goodness! The ancestor is exhausted."

Li Yunjing checked the condition of the Five Elements True Man and, seeing that he was alright, breathed a sigh of relief.

"call……"

Hearing this, everyone felt relieved.

The Tianluo Dao Sect has withdrawn its troops, but that does not mean the war is over.

Both sides lost a million cultivators, but ninety percent of them were Qi Refining Realm cultivators, and almost all of them came from the "East Sea Alliance" and the "Tianluo Dao Sect" auxiliary forces.

It can be said that the loss of the "Tianluo Dao Sect" is not unacceptable.

Three to five Nascent Soul cultivators, several hundred Golden Core cultivators, and another three to five thousand ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators—these losses are acceptable in a war that affects the entire East China Sea.

And the "East China Sea Alliance" naturally suffered losses as well.

Not to mention how many experts have fallen in the alliance, even the "Shenxiao Dao Sect" has lost a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator and more than a dozen Golden Core Realm cultivators, which shows how fierce the battle was.

Both sides paid a heavy price in this battle.

The most tragic were the demon race. Of their 50,000-strong army, only 10,000 managed to escape. Two of the eight demon kings died, and the Golden-Winged Roc King suffered a severe blow.

Clearly, the demon race, having just emerged, overestimated their own strength and underestimated the power of the "Tianluo Dao Sect," nearly resulting in their complete annihilation in a single battle.

"we won?"

After a long while, the surviving cultivators of the "East Sea Alliance" looked at each other, but no one cheered.

Such a victory came at a far too high price.

Many of their relatives and friends, even their parents and sons, perished in the fierce battle.

Members of the "East China Sea Alliance" began treating the wounded and cleaning up the battlefield.

"Ugh……"

Li Yunjing stood on the crimson sea, the thick blood beneath his feet emitting a nauseating stench.

The setting sun dyed the horizon blood-red, merging with the sea, as if the whole world had been soaked in blood.

In the distance, the surviving cultivators mechanically retrieved the remains of their fellow disciples.

A young cultivator knelt beside the floating corpse, trembling as he closed the eyes of his unseeing companion; further away, an old man who had lost both legs clutched his shattered natal magic weapon, staring blankly at the battlefield…

"This is war."

Li Yunjing muttered to himself.

"Vice Alliance Leader Li!"

Wen Bin, covered in blood, staggered over: "We've discovered an anomaly in the southwestern sea area. The blood energy in the seawater is forming some kind of array pattern!"

Li Yunjing's heart skipped a beat. Just as he was about to check, he suddenly heard the weak voice of the Golden-Winged Roc King behind him: "Li Yunjing, you've been tricked."

"That's not a retreat at all, but the next step in the blood sacrifice!"

Turning around, one could see the heavily injured demon king barely maintaining his human form, his feathered robes torn and his right arm severed at the root.

As if to confirm the Demon King's words, the sea suddenly became calm and turbulent.

The viscous blood began to rotate clockwise, gradually forming a huge whirlpool with a diameter of thousands of miles!

"Look at the sky!"

Someone shouted in fear.

Li Yunjing looked up and saw that the setting sun was dyed a strange purplish-black color, echoing the vortex of the blood sea and forming a terrifying array of heaven and earth!

"This is."

The Five Elements True Man awoke at some unknown time, his face deathly pale: "The Ancient Blood Demon Sect's 'Nine Netherworld Summoning Demon Formation'! The Heavenly Net Sect has been using this war as a blood sacrifice from the very beginning!"

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a giant claw covered in scales suddenly emerged from the center of the vortex, followed by a second, a third, and a total of nine demonic claws clinging to the edge of the vortex, as if some terrifying being was trying to crawl out!

"All survivors, evacuate immediately!"

Li Yunjing roared hoarsely, while simultaneously summoning the "Ancient Bronze Bell" to prepare his defenses.

"boom!"

With all nine demonic claws exerting their power simultaneously, a towering demonic shadow burst through the sea!
It has nine heads and eighteen arms, each head wearing a different mask of pain, and its body is wrapped in blood-red Dao patterns like chains.

"We've finally arrived in the world of the living..."

The demonic figure stretched out its eighteen arms simultaneously, its voice like a chorus of screams from millions: "This world... is finally filled with the taste of despair once more."

The most terrifying thing is that the moment it appears, all the corpses on the battlefield vanish.

Whether human, demon, or sea creature, they all stood up strangely, blood-red flames flickering in their eye sockets!
"Damn it!"

The Golden-Winged Roc King gave a bitter laugh: "'Tianluo Dao Sect' colludes with the demonic path? You old Taoist priests, you always call yourselves righteous, but look at you now, you're utterly despicable and shameless!"

"Pass on my order! Abandon 'Holy Sound Island' and retreat to 'Azure Sea Palace' at full speed!"
Li Yunjing's roar echoed across the chaotic battlefield.

The surviving cultivators, disregarding the mess, immediately unleashed their flying magical artifacts.

The seriously wounded were helped by their comrades and stumbled onto the still undamaged warship.

The three "Shenxiao Warships" were left behind to buy time for the main force.

(End of this chapter)