Immortality and cultivation begin with full comprehension.

Chapter 782 A Wisp of Aura, A Sign of Great Calamity (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

The Eastern Front Camp of the "Shenxiao Dao Sect".

When the escape light of Li Yunjing and his four companions appeared on the horizon, the entire camp seemed to be thrown into a pot of boiling oil and instantly became agitated!
"He's back! Vice Sect Leader Li is back!"

The monks on the watchtower shouted at the top of their lungs, their voices distorted with excitement.

Waaah...waaah...waaah...

A desolate yet powerful bugle call soared into the sky. This was not a warning siren, but a siren of the highest honors for welcoming guests and celebrating a triumphant return!
Having already received the news and been waiting for a long time, Li Cangqiong, Xiao Anran, Liehuo Zhenren, and fifteen other Nascent Soul cultivators, along with tens of thousands of disciples of the "Shenxiao Dao Sect" and hundreds of thousands of cultivators from all walks of life who had come to join them, surged out of the tents and fortifications like a tide, quickly forming a neat and solemn array in front of the camp gate.

Everyone was excited, their eyes burning with anticipation, eagerly waiting.

This is the highest honor of the "Shenxiao Dao Sect"!

Besides their Vice-Master Li, who else in the world could charge in and out of a million-strong army and kill the enemy's commander as easily as taking something out of a bag?
As the light faded, Li Yunjing's figure appeared clearly before everyone, still with that calm and indifferent demeanor, as if the earth-shattering achievements on the western front had nothing to do with him.

But in everyone's eyes, he seemed to be shrouded in an invisible divine light, making people dare not look directly at him and inspiring infinite awe and worship.

"Welcome back in triumph, Vice Sect Leader Li!"

Led by Li Cangqiong and Xiao Anran, fifteen Nascent Soul cultivators bowed deeply, their voices loud and clear, filled with heartfelt respect.

"Welcome back in triumph, Vice Sect Leader Li!!"

Behind them, tens of thousands of disciples shouted in unison, the sound waves shaking the heavens and the earth, soaring into the sky. Every face was filled with excitement and pride.

This is their Vice Sect Leader Li!

In one battle, he defeated the five-party coalition, killed five Nascent Soul cultivators, and severely injured two peak cultivators. His reputation as an unparalleled powerhouse shook the entire "Southern Heaven Continent"!
Li Yunjing glanced at everyone and nodded slightly: "You've all worked hard, please get up."

His voice wasn't loud, but it clearly drowned out the deafening cheers and reached everyone's ears.

Everyone straightened up, their eyes still fixed on him.

"Vice Sect Leader Li, the battle report from the western front has arrived, and we...we simply...cannot believe it!"

Li Cangqiong strode forward, looking excitedly at Li Yunjing: "Magnificent! This enhances the prestige of our Divine Firmament!"

He was a proud man who had competed for the position of sect leader during the Ming Lingchuan era. He was one of the two most outstanding figures of the previous generation of the "Shenxiao Dao Sect".

He has never admired anyone.

In Li Cangqiong's view, as long as he is given time and opportunity, he can also break through to the Nascent Soul realm and become one of the pillars of the "Divine Firmament Dao Sect".

But it was Li Yunjing who completely won over Li Cangqiong.

Li Yunjing's growth story was completely beyond his expectations, making this top genius exclaim in his heart, "Abnormal!"
"Hehe! Senior Brother Li, you're too kind."

Li Yunjing spoke very politely and modestly to those who had helped him in the past.

Li Cangqiong's progress is going smoothly. Since recovering from his injuries, he has broken through to the Nascent Soul realm with the help of the "Fountain of Life".

Now, after years of cultivation, he has reached the second level of the Nascent Soul realm!
However, in terms of combat strength, although Li Cangqiong is one minor realm above Li Yunjing, he would be instantly killed in a fight.

The two sides are not comparable.

"Vice Sect Leader Li possesses unparalleled supernatural abilities. After this battle, our sect's crisis has been resolved, and those petty villains in the surrounding areas no longer dare to take our sect's territory seriously!"

Xiao Anran was also filled with emotion, and cupped his hands, saying, "This is an unparalleled achievement!"

"Vice Sect Leader Li, please tell us quickly, are Marquis Yanwu and Monk Kuji really that vulnerable?"

Master Liehuo laughed heartily, rubbing his hands excitedly: "Just how powerful is your newly forged magic weapon?"

He and Li Yunjing were old acquaintances, having collaborated several times in Donghai.

They didn't mince words when they spoke.

All the immortals pricked up their ears, their faces full of curiosity and anticipation.

After all, the information in the battle report is not as clear as what the parties involved said.

"A clown, putting up a last-ditch resistance."

Upon hearing this, Li Yunjing simply smiled faintly: "The power of this magic weapon still needs more refinement."

A seemingly casual remark reveals his unfathomable magnanimity.

He's long past the age where he'd like to show off; by now, Li Yunjing is 103 years old.

Among ordinary people, they are considered to be at the level of ancestors.

In the world of cultivation, he is just the rising sun, far from being at the zenith!
Upon hearing this, everyone's admiration for him grew even stronger.

Despite achieving such a brilliant victory, he showed no arrogance whatsoever, as if he had only done a trivial matter. Such a mindset is far beyond that of ordinary people.

"Vice Sect Leader Li is too modest!"

Everyone said.

At this moment, a Golden Core elder rushed over and respectfully reported: "Vice Sect Leader, fellow True Immortals, the Zhao Kingdom's peace delegation has been waiting outside the camp for a long time. Their words are earnest, and they wish to present a gift list and pray for peace."

All eyes immediately turned to Li Yunjing.

"Tell them to wait in the council chamber."

Li Yunjing remained calm and said indifferently, "Elder Li, Elder Xiao, you two go and make initial contact on my behalf to see their terms."

"Yes!"

Li Cangqiong and Xiao Anran immediately accepted the order. They understood that this was the authority given to them by Li Yunjing, and also a test.

"The rest of you should perform your duties, strengthen the defenses, and not become arrogant or complacent because of the victory."

Li Yunjing then gave further instructions.

"I will obey Vice Sect Leader Li's orders!"

Everyone responded in unison and dispersed in an orderly fashion to get busy with their own tasks. However, the atmosphere in the entire camp was completely different, filled with high morale and strong confidence.

Surrounded by several core cultivators, including True Man Liehuo, Li Yunjing walked towards the central tent.

All his disciples who encountered him along the way immediately stopped what they were doing, straightened their bodies, and paid their respects with the most reverent gaze.

Upon entering the main tent, a military commander quickly brought in a copy of the gift list presented by the Zhao delegation.

Master Liehuo took a look and immediately gasped. He handed it to Li Yunjing, saying, "Vice Sect Leader Li, what do you think of this..."

Li Yunjing's gaze swept over the jade slip, which listed the ceded spiritual mountain mines, immortal cities and ancient towns, spirit stones and pills, cultivation techniques and secret manuals... The variety and quantity were so great that it was almost the accumulation of Zhao Kingdom over thousands of years, which showed the sincerity of the ceded forces.

"Quite sensible."

"Let Elder Li and the others discuss the specific terms."

Yun Jing put down the jade slip and said calmly, "The bottom line is that Zhao must bear full responsibility for this military action, the compensation must satisfy my sect, and the ceded territory must form a strategic buffer. In addition, Mingxin Mountain, the Five Poisons Sect, and Demon Flame Valley cannot be let off easily; they must pay the corresponding price."

"Vice Sect Leader Li is wise!"

Master Liehuo and the others nodded, their eyes gleaming with excitement.

After this battle, the "Divine Firmament Dao Sect" will not only be free from crisis, but its sphere of influence will also expand significantly, and its resources will become even more abundant. All of this is thanks to the young deputy sect leader at the front.

"Once the peace talks are initially settled and things here are done, I will need to return to my sect."

Li Yunjing added, "These gains also need to be transformed into the sect's strength as soon as possible."

His gaze was distant, as if he could already see the "Shenxiao Dao Sect" moving towards an even more glorious future under his leadership.

The landscape of the "Southern Continent" has been completely altered because of his battle today.

Upon hearing this, everyone inside the tent was deeply moved and bowed in unison: "We swear to follow Vice Sect Leader Li to the death!"

However, at this moment of jubilation and when the situation was finally settled, Li Yunjing's brows suddenly furrowed slightly, not because of external events, but because of a mysterious sensation within his body.

Deep within the core of the "Chaos Palace," a faint yet closely connected fluctuation, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, gently rippled outwards.

This fluctuation is neither a warning nor a cry for help; it's more like a... distant resonance?

Or perhaps it's the quiet lighting up of a coordinate?

Li Yunjing's mind was instantly captivated by it.

That feeling was elusive and hard to find. If he hadn't refined the core of the "Chaos Palace" and his divine soul perception hadn't become so acute, he would have almost ignored it.

It originates from an extremely distant direction, spans immeasurable spatial distances, and may even involve deeper dimensions of spacetime.

"This is……"

Li Yunjing's heart stirred slightly, as if there were fluctuations in the space, which made him feel a little uneasy.

It seems something important is about to happen.

"A great calamity..."

He muttered to himself, his face grave.

Inside the large tent, silence fell instantly; you could hear a pin drop.

When Lie Huo Zhenren and the others saw Li Yunjing's suddenly solemn expression and the three ancient and weathered divination treasures he took out, they were all startled, realizing that something earth-shattering might be about to happen.

Not daring to disturb them in the slightest, they held their breath and silently retreated outside the tent to protect the Dharma.

Li Yunjing sat cross-legged, placing the "Black Tortoise Shell" in front of him, with the "Mysterious Heaven Compass" floating to his left and the "Dragon and Phoenix Yin-Yang Heavenly Secret Pendant" floating to his right.

He formed hand seals, and his magical power surged like a vast galaxy, flowing into the three treasures.

"Om..."

The three treasures lit up simultaneously, emitting a hazy and mysterious glow.

On the "Black Tortoise Shell," the natural Dao patterns seemed to come alive, beginning to move and combine, creating phantom images of mountains, rivers, sun, moon, and stars, carrying the earth's profound virtue and the aura of ancient times, responsible for stabilizing the foundation and resisting the backlash of heavenly secrets.

The pointer of the "Mysterious Heavenly Compass" spins wildly, with countless fine runes flashing on and off, communicating with the mysterious laws of space, locating the stars and celestial bodies, and capturing the specific location and spatial trajectory of distant fluctuations.

The "Dragon and Phoenix Yin-Yang Heavenly Secret Pendant" is composed of yin and yang, with the faint sounds of dragon's roar and phoenix's cry. It harmonizes yin and yang, untangles chaotic clues of heavenly secrets, and makes them clear and discernible. It is responsible for interpreting the information and omens contained in the fluctuations.

Li Yunjing closed his eyes, concentrated his consciousness, and merged with the three treasures. Following the faint ripples sensed by the "Chaos Palace" within his body, he extended his deductive power into the endless and distant depths of the void.

His thoughts traversed the firmament of the "Southern Heaven Continent," broke through the stellar wind layer, and entered the cold, desolate, and boundless outer space. Countless points of starlight flashed past in his perception, the distances measured in light-years.

The power of deduction laboriously searches for that specific coordinate in the vast sea of ​​stars.

Time passes little by little...

Li Yunjing's forehead was slightly sweaty. Even with his current spiritual power and magical strength, it was extremely difficult for him to conduct such a long-distance celestial divination across star regions.

suddenly!

"Buzzing..."

The pointer of the "Mysterious Heavenly Compass" suddenly froze in one direction and began to vibrate violently!

The "Dragon and Phoenix Yin-Yang Heavenly Secret Pendant" shone brightly, with the Yin and Yang energies flowing wildly!

The Daoist patterns on the "Black Tortoise Shell" suddenly combine to form a breathtaking design.

Those were countless hideous and twisted demonic shadows, crashing into a huge, cracked light shield!

"found it!"

Li Yunjing was shocked.

His "vision" seemed to instantly traverse an endless distance, focusing on a huge, life-bearing star radiating blue and white light.

Beyond the stars, a massive barrier that should have been invisible and intangible, protecting the entire star, now manifested under his celestial observation!

The barrier was now covered with spiderweb-like, ever-spreading cracks!

Even more chilling is that in the dark void outside the barrier, countless beings, filled with an aura of destruction and evil, are gathering indistinctly!
They come in all shapes and sizes; some resemble giant, floating tumors, others are grotesque skeletal monsters, and still others are countless humanoid demonic figures shrouded in black mist...

They roared and howled, constantly gathering terrifying magical energy, like a surging dark tide, wave after wave crashing against the crumbling star barrier!

Extraterrestrial demon!

Moreover, it was an unprecedentedly large army of demons!

They seemed to be waiting for something, or perhaps preparing for a final attack.

The combined evil, chaos, and destructive will that gathered together made Li Yunjing feel a chill run down his spine, even through divination.

"Tianlan Star..."

An ancient name for a star naturally appeared in Li Yunjing's mind; it was information fed back from the "Mysterious Heaven Compass".

The barrier here is countless miles away from "Tianlan Star". The barrier outside is obviously a shield to protect the life on Li Yunjing's planet from the invasion of extraterrestrial demons.

And now, this barrier is about to crumble!
Li Yunjing instantly realized that the faint fluctuation sensed by the "Chaos Palace" was not the birth of any treasure, but rather the desperate cries and spatial tremors that resounded throughout the nearby star field when the star barrier of "Tianlan Star" was on the verge of collapse under the continuous and frenzied attacks of the extraterrestrial demon army!
This is a sign that a great calamity is about to befall us!
Once the barrier breaks and extraterrestrial demons flood in, it will be a complete apocalypse for all living beings on "Tianlan Star"!

That will be a catastrophic disaster that devours everything!

Li Yunjing suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze flashing with a sharp light, and the light from the three divination treasures slowly subsided.

His expression was extremely solemn, a far cry from his previous calm.

"Vice Sect Leader Li?"

The Fiery Immortal and the others guarding outside noticed the change in aura and hurriedly entered the tent. Seeing Li Yunjing's expression, their hearts sank.

"Pass the order."

Li Yunjing's voice carried a chilling, murderous tone, more severe than ever before: "Accelerate the peace talks! All Nascent Soul cultivators, come to the meeting immediately!"

"The real catastrophe is probably coming."

His gaze swept over the crowd, and he said, word by word, "The target is not my sect or my territory, but... the entire 'Tianlan Star' world!"

Upon hearing this, everyone inside the tent was struck dumb, their faces turning deathly pale.

They had just been enjoying the joy of victory when, in the blink of an eye, they were told that they might face a demonic calamity that would sweep across the entire world.

But this news came from Li Yunjing, who had just achieved an astonishing victory and conducted a divination, so they had no choice but to believe it!
A pressure even deeper and more suffocating than when facing the five allied forces instantly enveloped the entire tent.

Li Yunjing looked out at the seemingly calm sky outside the tent, his gaze seemingly piercing through the barriers between worlds, seeing in the endless distance the hideous demonic shadows were frantically attacking the barrier.

Perhaps the barrier can last for a hundred years?

Or perhaps fifty years?

Or ten years?

In short, according to his calculations, the Star Barrier would one day be destroyed.

The extraterrestrial demons are really going to appear on "Tianlan Star" and fight against these local cultivators!

This crisis is far more serious than the current battles fought among cultivator kingdoms.

If we are not careful, the "Shenxiao Dao Sect" will become a thing of the past and be buried in the long river of history.

The tent was deathly silent, with only the heavy breathing of the group clearly audible.

Extraterrestrial demons, star barriers, global catastrophe... these words weighed heavily on the hearts of every Nascent Soul cultivator, instantly cooling their boiling blood from their great victory and even sending a chill down their spines.

"Vice Sect Leader Li... this matter... is this true?"

Li Cangqiong asked in a hoarse voice, his voice trembling with disbelief.

It wasn't that he didn't believe Li Yunjing, but rather that the news was too shocking.

"The heavens have revealed a warning, and the three treasures have appeared simultaneously; there is no doubt about it."

Li Yunjing glanced at him, not angered by the questioning, but slowly nodded, his tone solemn: "The barrier is already broken, and the demonic calamity is coming, it's only a matter of time. Perhaps a hundred years, perhaps less."

"That is precisely why we must not lose our composure."

He paused, his gaze sharpening as he scanned the entire area: "The enemy before us is no longer a threat; the true mortal foe lies beyond the heavens!"

Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions tightened, and they all composed themselves.

Yes, if the world is about to collapse, what do the grudges and feuds between sects matter?
The most urgent task is to integrate all forces to deal with the demonic calamity that is capable of destroying everything!

"Vice Sect Leader Li is absolutely right!"

Xiao Anran was the first to react. As a man who had experienced many storms, he quickly suppressed his shock and said in a deep voice, "The most urgent task is to end the war with Zhao as soon as possible, integrate resources, and enhance our strength to prepare for the great calamity to come!"

"Not bad!"

"We must immediately reach a peace agreement with the State of Zhao, and even try our best to preserve some of Zhao's strength!"

Others immediately echoed, "In the future demonic calamity, they may also become a force to fight against the Heavenly Demon. At least we cannot let them completely collapse and become the source of chaos."

The other people nodded in agreement, realizing the seriousness and urgency of the problem.

The idea that they had previously thought of severely weakening the Zhao state and even dividing its territory now seemed so short-sighted.

Seeing that everyone had quickly reached a consensus, Li Yunjing felt somewhat relieved and immediately ordered, "Brother Xiao, go to the council hall immediately. The terms for the peace talks can be appropriately relaxed."

"The bottom line has been adjusted to: Zhao must acknowledge defeat, compensate our clan for 70% of the losses in this war, and cede three border counties as a buffer. In short, a swift victory is required, and a peace treaty must be signed within three days!"

"Yes! I'm going right now!"

Knowing the gravity of the matter, Xiao Anran did not hesitate and turned into a streak of fire, speeding away.

"The rest of you!"

Li Yunjing looked at the remaining "Shenxiao Daozong" True Persons and said, "Immediately reorganize the military and inventory the gains and losses of this operation. All spoils of war should be used first to compensate the wounded and injured, reward meritorious soldiers, repair the formations, and replenish pills and talismans. At the same time, the army should gradually withdraw according to the situation at the front and return to the 'Shenxiao Daozong'."

"I will obey Vice Sect Leader Li's orders!"

The assembled immortals accepted the order in unison, their expressions solemn, and they all left the main tent to attend to their respective tasks.

The camp, which had been somewhat noisy due to the victory, quickly became even busier, but with a more somber and urgent atmosphere.

Although the high-ranking members of the "Shenxiao Dao Sect" did not make the matter of the Heavenly Demon public to avoid causing panic, the series of strict and efficient orders they issued made everyone understand that something more important had happened.

Li Yunjing sat alone in the tent, his fingers lightly tapping the table, his gaze deep.

Reconciliation with the State of Zhao is only the first step.

Next, he must return to the "Shenxiao Dao Sect" as soon as possible and report this matter to the Sect Master, Supreme Ming Lingchuan, and the Supreme Elders.

To integrate the power of the entire sect, it is even necessary to contact other righteous giants in the "Southern Heaven Continent" to discuss countermeasures.

The transformation of resources, the training of disciples, the arrangement of new formations, the research on techniques and supernatural powers against the Heavenly Demon... there are countless things to do, all of which require time.

What we lack most is precisely time.

As for the other continents?

The "Shenxiao Dao Sect" does not yet have that status and finds it difficult to integrate resources. They are content to manage their own small territory.

Other behemoth sects are even more powerful than the "Shenxiao Dao Sect".

They also knew about the great calamity and must have made their own preparations over the years.

At this moment, there's no need for an alliance!
A decision needs to be made based on the situation when the great calamity breaks out.

"The Heavenly Demon... Catastrophe..."

Li Yunjing muttered to himself, but there was no fear in his eyes. Instead, a fierce fighting spirit ignited within him. "Very well, let this calamity test just how far my path can go!"

His original plans were completely disrupted, but a new and grander blueprint was slowly being drawn out under the pressure of a sense of crisis.

Personal grudges and sect gains and losses seem insignificant in the face of the demonic calamity sweeping the world.

But his resolve to follow the Dao only became stronger as a result.

Soon, under Li Yunjing's strong intervention and pressure, the Zhao delegation accepted almost all of the new conditions proposed by the "Shenxiao Dao Sect".

They had prepared themselves to be brutally exploited and even lose their ancestral temple, but they never expected that the other side would relax their conditions at the last minute.

Although the losses were still heavy, at least the foundation of the dynasty and most of its strength were preserved, which was a pleasant surprise.

They were naturally unaware of Li Yunjing's profound considerations, assuming that the young deputy sect leader of the "Shenxiao Dao Sect" had a long-term vision, was unwilling to make a deadly enemy, or was eager to extricate himself from other matters.

(End of this chapter)