Immortality and cultivation begin with full comprehension.

Chapter 820 Returning to the Ancient Burial Realm, Establishing a Forward Base (Seeking Monthly Tickets)
Sword cultivators from the Taixu Sword Sect, elite aquatic warriors from the East Sea Dragon Palace, a mysterious Gu sorcerer from the Hundred Barbarian Sect in the Southern Wilderness, and a talisman array master from the Luofu Dao Sect...

This army was composed of diverse members, but all of them were battle-hardened elites, exuding a fierce aura.

All participants had at least the Golden Core realm in terms of cultivation!
It truly achieved a top-tier legion where Golden Core cultivators served as soldiers, Nascent Soul cultivators served as generals, and Divine Transformation cultivators served as commanders.

This is also the first time since the establishment of the "Tianlan Alliance" that a small portion of its formed army has been deployed to fight in foreign lands to test its combat capabilities.

Li Yunjing would occasionally visit the training grounds to observe the soldiers' condition and communicate with Xuan Gang Sword Master.

Although this deputy commander of the sword cultivators was upright and straightforward, he was decisive in carrying out orders and was strict in managing his troops. He also changed his initial doubts about Li Yunjing's plan to his firm support.

He also longed to fight the Heavenly Demon in the starry sky.

Several months later, the "Shenxiao Dao Sect" arrived with a large support team led by Li Cangqiong, bringing with them a large amount of resources accumulated by the sect and its top talents.

Yu Yunyi, Lü Ruoxi, Zhao Qi, Liu Ruyan, Xing'er, and Yue'er, six girls, also came with the team. Their cultivation has improved and they are now capable of handling things on their own. Li Yunjing arranged for them to be responsible for coordinating important internal affairs and managing resources within the "Expeditionary Division".

The arrival of the six women initially made Li Yunjing frown, but he thought about how he would have to fight against the Heavenly Demon sooner or later.

Yu Yunyi and the others will have to face this kind of cruel war sooner or later, so it's better to let the six women experience the baptism of war while we are confident that they will survive in the future.

In doing so, he agreed to let the six women join the "Expeditionary Division".

The Chiyang True Lord of the Yuanyang Dao Sect, along with his old friend Zhu Yangzi, also came at the invitation. Upon hearing Li Yunjing's plan, the old Daoist was shocked and deeply impressed, expressing his willingness to do his utmost to help and providing a wealth of information about the internal environment, potential dangers, and possible ancient ruins of the "Burial Immortal Ancient Realm".

Zhu Yangzi, having been reborn through possession, actually reached the Golden Core realm once again, surpassing his previous cultivation level.

This surprised Li Yunjing quite a bit.

He really underestimated Zhu Yangzi's strength back then, thinking that he was completely finished after being beaten to a pulp.

A year has passed in the blink of an eye.

Within the “Crossing the Mountains”, in a specially designated, enormous training ground, ten thousand cultivators stood solemnly.

They wore uniform dark silver starry sky armor, the surface of which shimmered with a faint spiritual light and was engraved with runes that resisted the erosion of the void and gathered spiritual energy.

These armors are all top-grade Tier 3 treasures, crafted with resources provided by the "Thirty-Six Cave Heavens" within the "Tianlan Alliance" and several alliance leaders and deputy leaders.

Among them, the "Shenxiao Dao Sect," as a beneficiary, naturally contributed a substantial amount of resources.

It can be said that the "Tianlan Alliance" spared no expense for this expedition!
The cultivators participating in the battle were all at least at the first level of the Golden Core stage, with over three hundred Nascent Soul cultivators. They were divided into several formations according to their respective schools and combat roles.

Sword cultivators' formations unleashed sword energy that soared to the heavens; magic cultivators' formations radiated immense spiritual pressure; body cultivators' formations possessed blood and qi as powerful as dragons. Furthermore, there were disciples of the "Ten Thousand Puppet Sect" who commanded ferocious war puppets, as well as shrimp soldiers and crab generals from the "East Sea Dragon Palace" who had partially transformed into human form, their scales shimmering and exuding a sinister demonic aura.

This is the vanguard of the "Starfield Demon Extermination Army," a veritable condensation of the essence of "Tianlan Star."

After a year of grueling training and adaptation, they had long since shed the laxity of sect disciples. Their eyes were sharp, their discipline strict, and they exuded a chilling aura that had been tempered in a simulated starry sky environment.

Clad in heavy armor, Xuan Gang Sword Master stood at the forefront of the command platform, like a sharp sword drawn from its sheath. His gaze swept over the army below, and he nodded in satisfaction.

He turned to Li Yunjing beside him and said in a deep voice, "Commander Li, the soldiers are ready and can set off at any time!"

Li Yunjing possessed a restrained aura, yet exuded an air of authority that commanded the entire situation.

Looking down at the elite force below, a force that embodied countless efforts and hopes, he felt a surge of pride.

This is not only a sharp weapon to resist the demonic calamity, but also an important cornerstone for his future plans in the star sea.

"Thank you for your guidance, Fellow Daoist Xuan Gang."

Li Yunjing nodded slightly. "Success or failure hinges on this. Before we set off, we need to confirm that ancient teleportation array one more time."

"As it should be."

Xuan Gang Sword Master had no objection to this.

The teleportation array is the lifeline of this plan, and no amount of caution is too much.

“Fairy of the Void Spirit, Elder of the Thousand Machines, come with me.”

Li Yunjing turned around and said to the core high-ranking members behind him, "Fellow Daoist Xuan Gang, stay here to stabilize morale and make final preparations."

"Yes!"

The Fairy of Emptiness and the Old Man of a Thousand Machines responded.

The Fairy of Emptiness is sensitive to spatial fluctuations, while the Old Man of a Thousand Machines is skilled at detecting the structure of arrays and energy conduction; they are the best candidates to test teleportation arrays.

In addition, Li Cangqiong, the Supreme Elder of the Shenxiao Dao Sect, and Chiyang Zhenjun and Zhu Yangzi of the Yuanyang Dao Sect were also present.

Li Cangqiong was responsible for the security and support of the sect's territory, while Chiyang Zhenjun and Zhu Yangzi were specially invited to accompany him because of their knowledge of the "Ancient Burial Realm of Immortals".

Li Yunjing led everyone directly to the forbidden area in the mountains, to the entrance of the bottomless underground fissure filled with an ancient and wild aura.

"This is the place."

Li Yunjing took the lead and stepped into the deep crevice.

The crowd followed closely behind.

The inside of the crevice was dimly lit, with steep rock walls that stretched downwards for an unknown distance.

The deeper one goes, the stronger the ancient, desolate aura permeating the air becomes, even mixed with a very faint yet unsettling strange fluctuation—ripples caused by spatial instability.

After descending approximately ten thousand feet, a huge underground cavern suddenly appeared before them.

In the center of the cave, a massive array constructed from countless enormous and ancient spirit stones and unidentified metals stands silently.

The array's structure is incredibly complex, far surpassing the common teleportation arrays in the cultivation world today. Countless profound runes are engraved on the base and stone pillars, and despite the passage of countless years, they still emit faint but stable spatial fluctuations.

It was that ancient teleportation array that led to the "Ancient Realm of Buried Immortals"!

"It's really mysterious!"

The fairy's beautiful eyes sparkled with wonder. She stretched out her slender hand and felt the subtle spatial ripples in the air. "The way this ancient formation uses the laws of space is truly ingenious. Its stability is far beyond what modern formations can match."

The Thousand Machine Elder had already released several small puppets, which crawled and inspected the various key nodes of the teleportation array like nimble insects.

"The energy circuit is unobstructed, the structure is intact, and the base is firmly connected to the earth's veins."

"I cannot detect any hidden dangers."

He closed his eyes and sensed for a moment, then nodded and said, "Theoretically, it is indeed feasible to conduct continuous teleportation on a scale of 10,000 people, as long as the energy supply is sufficient."

Chiyang Zhenjun and Zhuyangzi were filled with emotion.

“In the past, we stepped into the ‘Ancient Realm of Buried Immortals’ from here, and survived by the skin of our teeth.”

Looking at the ancient formation that had changed his life, Zhu Yangzi sighed with a complex expression, "I never imagined that today, it would become the key to my 'Tianlan Star' taking the initiative to face the calamity."

"In that case, I'll give it a try!"

Li Yunjing walked to the core of the teleportation array, where there was a groove where the driving energy was placed.

He took out a top-grade spirit stone that emitted an astonishing spiritual energy fluctuation, embedded it into the groove, and at the same time formed hand seals, casting a series of complex magic seals to activate the formation.

"Om..."

A deep hum resounded, and the runes on the entire teleportation array lit up one by one, emitting a soft yet dazzling light.

Powerful spatial energy began to converge, forming a slowly rotating, deep vortex of light in the center of the formation, with a vague and distant spatial aura emanating from the other end of the vortex.

"The spatial coordinates are stable and the direction is clear, which is undoubtedly the 'Ancient Burial Realm of Immortals'."

After careful perception, True Lord Chiyang gave an affirmative judgment.

Li Yunjing continued to activate the formation for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, observing its stability and energy consumption.

Only after confirming that everything was correct did he slowly stop his work, and the light of the teleportation array gradually dimmed, returning to calm.

"Everyone, the teleportation array is in good working order."

"With this, the last weight on my heart can finally be lifted."

Li Yunjing turned to face the crowd, his expression solemn, "Upon returning to the base, immediately commence the expedition plan!"

"I am willing to follow the Lord, crush the demons, and spread our might across the starry sea!"

Li Cangqiong, Chiyang Zhenjun, and the others responded in unison, their eyes filled with determination and anticipation.

After completing the inspection, the group left the underground fissure as streaks of light.

When they returned to the "Expeditionary Command" training ground, the ten thousand-strong army remained solemn and silent, but an invisible fighting spirit had already soared into the sky, stirring up the wind and clouds.

"Soldiers!"

"A demonic calamity is imminent; when the nest is overturned, no egg remains unbroken!"

"Passively defending our territory is ultimately a poor strategy; only by taking the initiative can we cultivators demonstrate our ambition to defy fate!"

Li Yunjing stood at the highest point of the command platform, his gaze sweeping over the resolute faces below. His voice, amplified by magic, resounded throughout the training ground: "Today, we will push this battlefield beyond the sea of ​​stars!"

"Let those extraterrestrial demons know that 'Tianlan Star' is not a place to be slaughtered at will!"

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried a power that reached straight to the heart, igniting the passion in the hearts of every soldier.

"Ahead lies unknown danger, a cold starry sky, and ferocious demonic enemies!"

"But behind us lies our homeland, our loved ones, and our heritage!"

"We are going not to conquer, but to protect!"

"For my 'Tianlan,' may peace reign for all ages!"

……

"set off!"

At Li Yunjing's command, the 10,000-strong army standing solemnly on the training ground began to operate like a sophisticated machine.

There was no noise, no chaos.

Under the deep and clear commands of the generals at all levels, the cultivators in the ten formations took off one after another, transforming into orderly streams of light that surged toward the forbidden area behind the mountain and the entrance to the deep underground fissure.

The vanguard was the first to enter, consisting of sword cultivators from the "Tai Xu Sword Sect" and some body cultivators. They were responsible for immediate vigilance and formation deployment after the teleportation.

Following closely behind were the main force of the Dharma cultivators, the puppet troops, and the auxiliary cultivators, forming the central army.

Finally, the elite aquatic warriors from the "East Sea Dragon Palace" and some cultivators skilled in defense formed the rear guard.

Xuan Gang Sword Master took the lead, standing at the very front of the vanguard camp, and was the first to step into the crevice.

Li Yunjing, along with other high-ranking figures such as Fairy Xuling, Elder Qianji, Li Cangqiong, and True Lord Chiyang, was positioned in the central command, overseeing the overall situation.

The ten-thousand-foot-deep crevice would be a dead end for mortals, but for this legion, whose members were at least Golden Core cultivators, it was nothing more than a matter of moments.

The team descended silently and efficiently, with only the rustling of their armor and the sound of wind breaking echoing in the dark space.

The deeper one goes, the stronger the ancient and desolate aura becomes, and the more pronounced the unstable ripples in the space become, causing some Golden Core cultivators with shallower cultivation levels to feel a sense of unease.

But strict discipline kept them silent, closely following the group ahead.

Finally, the enormous underground cavern came into view.

The vanguard cultivators who entered first, though already informed, still couldn't help but marvel when they saw the magnificent ancient teleportation array, which was beyond imagination.

Xuan Gang Sword Master commanded the vanguard of about a thousand cultivators to be the first to step onto the massive base of the teleportation array.

The base is made of an unknown dark gold metal, engraved with intricate runes, and feels cold and solid when stepped on.

Li Yunjing and several Nascent Soul True Monarchs also flew and landed in the core area of ​​the teleportation array.

His gaze swept over the vanguard soldiers who were already in position. Seeing that although their faces were solemn, their eyes were firm and they showed no fear of battle, he felt somewhat relieved.

"Master, the vanguard battalion is in position and ready to initiate teleportation at any time!"

The Xuan Gang Sword Master clasped his hands in a fist salute, his voice echoing in the empty cavern.

Li Yun nodded without saying anything more.

He walked to the groove at the core of the formation again. This time, he took out not a single top-grade spirit stone, but a specially made jade plate that exuded a colorful aura.

On the jade plate, there are eighty-one top-grade spirit stones, arranged in a mysterious formation to ensure that the energy transmitted to ten thousand people for the first time is completely safe.

"Everyone, calm yourselves, the teleportation will begin immediately!"

Li Yunjing's voice clearly reached the ears of every cultivator about to be teleported.

He took a deep breath, and his hands moved rapidly like butterflies flitting among flowers, casting increasingly complex seals that resonated with the surrounding spatial laws into the key nodes of the teleportation array.

"start!"

With a low shout from Li Yunjing, he precisely embedded the energy jade disc into the groove!

"boom!!!"

The entire underground cavern suddenly trembled!
A light a hundred times stronger than during the previous test burst forth from the teleportation array, and countless runes seemed to come alive, flowing and shining wildly!

The vast and boundless spatial power surged and converged like a tidal wave, forming a violently rotating silver vortex with a diameter of over a thousand feet in the center of the formation!

Deep within the vortex, the halo of light was no longer blurred; instead, the phantom of starlight and a desolate land appeared—the very scene of the "Ancient Burial Realm of Immortals"!

Even through the array's light barrier, the powerful spatial tearing force caused nearby cultivators to feel a stinging sensation on their skin and their souls to tremble.

Everyone held their breath and used all their strength to stabilize themselves.

"The spatial passage is stable!"

"Energy output is stable!"

The ethereal fairy kept a close eye on the vortex and quickly reported the monitoring results.

"Vanguard Battalion, move out!"

Seeing that the time was ripe, Li Yunjing decisively gave the order!
"Leader!"

With a fierce shout, the Xuan Gang Sword Master unleashed his sword energy, transforming it into a dazzling sword light, and charged into the enormous silver vortex!
Behind him, a thousand vanguard cultivators shouted in unison, transforming into a thousand streams of light, like a galaxy flowing against the current, resolutely throwing themselves into the spatial passage!

The light flashed continuously, and batches of cultivators, under the command of generals at all levels, stepped onto the base in an orderly manner and were swallowed up by the light of the teleportation array.

The whole process lasted about half an hour.

After the last rear guard cultivator disappeared into the vortex, only a few high-ranking members, including Li Yunjing and Fairy Xuling, and the necessary personnel to maintain the formation remained in the entire cave.

"It's time for us to go."

Li Yunjing looked at the teleportation array, which was still shining brightly, and said to the people beside him.

"Please go first, Director Li."

Fairy Xu Ling and the others bowed.

"it is good!"

Without further hesitation, Li Yunjing took a step forward, his figure disappearing into the spatial passage leading to the unknown outer realm.

Immortal Fairy, Elder Qianji, Li Cangqiong, True Lord Chiyang, Zhu Yangzi, and others followed closely behind.

After the last Nascent Soul True Monarch disappeared into the vortex, the enormous silver vortex began to slowly shrink, its dazzling light gradually dimmed, and finally subsided completely.

The cave returned to its previous darkness and silence, with only the ancient teleportation array still standing there quietly, as if nothing had happened.

Only the lingering intense spatial fluctuations in the air and the traces of spiritual energy on the ground that had not yet completely dissipated indicated that a great army that would determine the fate of the stars had already embarked on a long expedition.

For low-level cultivators, the feeling of spatial teleportation is a double test of both their physical body and soul.

It felt as if I was in a raging torrent, being pulled and squeezed by an invisible force. All around me were bizarre and distorted lights and shadows rushing by at high speed. I couldn't tell up from down, left from right. I could only hold on to my mind and rely on the protection of the Starry Sky Armor and my own cultivation to withstand the attack.

I don't know how much time has passed; it might be a moment, or it might be a lifetime.

When the dizzying tearing sensation suddenly disappeared, the feeling of solid ground came over me, and at the same time, what flooded my senses was an environment that was extremely desolate, lifeless, yet contained a certain ancient and boundless atmosphere.

Xuan Gang Sword Master was the first to regain his footing.

He suddenly opened his eyes, and his sharp sword intent swept across the surroundings in an instant, his divine sense spreading out like mercury.

What came into view was a vast, dark red desert stretching as far as the eye could see.

The sky was a gloomy, dark purple, devoid of sun, moon, and stars, with only some distorted bands of light hanging in the air like scars, providing a faint glow.

A faint haze filled the air, the spiritual energy was unusually thin, and it was mixed with a strange energy that made people feel extremely uncomfortable, carrying a sense of decay and coldness.

That was the remaining immortal and demonic death energy and thin demonic energy that permeated the "Ancient Burial Realm of Immortals".

They were standing on a huge, ancient stone platform.

The platform's material is similar to the teleportation array base on "Tianlan Star," and it is covered with even older, and even somewhat damaged, runes.

The platform is surrounded by broken walls and ruins, from which one can vaguely see the foundation of what was once a magnificent building, but now they have all weathered and collapsed, telling the story of endless vicissitudes of time.

This is the teleportation point on the "Ancient Burial Realm of Immortals" side. It is even more dilapidated than the "Tianlan Star" side, but the core teleportation function still seems to be stubbornly maintained.

"alert!"

"Deploy defensive formation!"

"The Dharma practitioners have set up purification barriers to dispel harmful energies!"

The voice of the Xuan Gang Sword Master, like the clang of metal, instantly shattered the deathly silence. The well-trained vanguard soldiers quickly sprang into action, while the sword cultivators formed a sword formation on the outer perimeter, their sword energy crisscrossing as they vigilantly scanned the dim distance.

The body cultivators guarded the key positions on the platform!
The sorcerers joined forces to cast spells, setting up small purification shields to dispel the spreading haze and alien energy, creating a relatively safe area.

Immediately afterwards, the teleportation array in the center of the platform lit up again, and the second and third batches of cultivators appeared one after another.

After their arrival, they experienced a brief period of discomfort and curiosity, but immediately joined the ranks of those on guard and in defense under the command of their respective generals.

The teleportation involved tens of thousands of people, a massive undertaking.

When Li Yunjing, Fairy Xuling, and the last group of high-ranking members stepped out of the teleportation array, the entire ancient platform was already filled with a dense, dark army of cultivators.

Various spiritual lights shone, the armor reflected the dim skylight, and the murderous aura dispelled the deathly silence of the place, bringing a fresh yet cold vitality to this ancient world that had been barren for countless millennia.

"This is the 'Ancient Burial Realm of Immortals'... even more desolate and dilapidated than described in the ancient records."

The Thousand Machine Elder surveyed his surroundings and manipulated several probe puppets to fly further away.

"The spiritual energy is thin, the demonic energy remains, and the laws seem to be somewhat different..."

The ethereal fairy frowned slightly, sensing the subtle differences in the space. "Many years ago, it seems a great battle took place here..."

Zhu Yangzi, on the other hand, wore a look of reminiscence and solemnity.

Zhu Yangzi sighed, "Compared to back then, the deathly stillness here is even stronger. I wonder if those dangerous ancient beasts and strange beings are still lurking in the shadows."

Li Yunjing hovered in mid-air, his powerful divine sense expanding in all directions like a tide, instantly covering an area of ​​thousands of miles.

"We've been here before!"

Li Yunjing withdrew his divine sense and said in a deep voice, "There is a fourth-order scorpion demon as its king, ruling over this desert."

"These little demons are nothing to worry about; just wipe them out!"

"Illusory Gang Sword Master said coldly."

“There are no other demon kings, but I know that there is an ice phoenix deep in the ‘Ancient Burial Realm of Immortals’. I just don’t know what kind of strength this demon king has.”

Li Yunjing reminded him, "You should know that such a divine beast, if it's at the high-level Nascent Soul stage, is equivalent to a True Monarch at the Deity Transformation stage! If it is a True Monarch, then..."

He didn't say much more, but the surrounding Nascent Soul Realm True Monarchs looked solemn, clearly understanding Li Yunjing's meaning.

This kind of divine beast cannot be measured by realm itself!

Its combat power is terrifying to the extreme!
"Why don't we meet that ice phoenix first?"

Fairy Xuling suggested, "These high-level beings are extremely intelligent and can be communicated with. If we can reach an agreement, they will be a powerful ally for the Tianlan Alliance."

“What Fairy Xu Ling said makes sense.”

"If we can win over that Ice Phoenix, even if it's just to keep it neutral, it will greatly benefit our foothold in the 'Ancient Burial Realm of Immortals'."

Li Yunjing pondered for a moment, then nodded. "To rashly make enemies would be unwise."

"However, one must be extremely cautious when dealing with such beings."

He glanced at everyone and continued his analysis: "His strength is unfathomable and his attitude is unclear. We need to be prepared for both possibilities."

"Chief Li has considered everything thoroughly."

"In my opinion, we can first send a capable team, led by Fellow Daoist Zhu Yangzi who is familiar with the environment, to the area where the Ice Phoenix may be inhabiting to make initial contact and investigate, and find out its strength and attitude."

The Crimson Sun True Lord stroked his beard and said, "The army will temporarily use this teleportation platform as a base to build defenses, while simultaneously eliminating surrounding threats, such as the scorpion demon that the Commander mentioned."

"Fellow Daoist Chiyang's plan is prudent."

"Our troops are new to the area and have not yet established a firm foothold, so it is not advisable to disperse our forces too much."

"The right way is to first consolidate the base, clear out the surrounding area, and then plan for the long term."

The old man with a thousand machines manipulated the puppet to draw a simple map on the sand. "The scorpion demon is entrenched here. It's a good place to train the soldiers and let them adapt to the combat environment of this world."

"Let's use that scorpion demon as a sacrifice for the flag!"

Although the Xuan Gang Sword Master longed to clash with the strong, he also knew that the overall situation was more important. He said in a deep voice, "I will personally lead the team. Within half a day, we will surely take their heads and wipe out the demons of the desert!"

His tone was full of confidence. As a Nascent Soul Sword Cultivator, his strength was such that he could not only deal with a fourth-order demon king, but even if he encountered that ice phoenix, he would not necessarily be weaker than it!

"Fellow Daoist Xuan Gang, your bravery is commendable, but please do not be careless."

Li Yunjing cautioned, "The environment of this realm is unique, and the monsters may exhibit unusual characteristics."

"Elder Li Cangqiong, you should lead the disciples of the Shenxiao Dao Sect to cooperate with Fellow Daoist Xuan Gang and set up a trapping formation to prevent him from escaping."

"At the same time, the army immediately began to construct basic defensive fortifications. Fairy Xuling was in charge of coordinating the deployment of the formations, while Elder Qianji was in charge of the puppet patrol and early warning system."

"Yes!"

Everyone accepted the order in unison.

"As for the matter of contacting the Ice Phoenix..."

Li Yunjing looked at the other leaders and said, "I'll go talk to her with True Lord Chiyang and see if there's any possibility of cooperation!"

True Lord Chiyang's expression turned solemn, and he cupped his hands, saying, "Director Li, rest assured, there will be no accidents as we travel together."

With the arrangements finalized, the army immediately began operating efficiently.

Xuan Gang Sword Master and Li Cangqiong mustered five hundred elite troops, transformed into a sharp streak of light, and rushed straight to the scorpion demon's lair deep in the desert.

The Fairy of Emptiness and the Old Man of a Thousand Machines commanded the army to begin constructing defensive fortifications and an early warning system, with the ancient teleportation platform at its core.

In an instant, the platform was ablaze with lights, and puppets moved about busily.

Li Yunjing and Chiyang Zhenjun did not delay.

The two exchanged a glance, their figures blurring silently. The next moment, they appeared hundreds of miles away, and in another flash, they completely disappeared into the dim sky.

The dark red desert rushed past beneath my feet, and a desolate and lifeless atmosphere swept over me.

Occasionally, one might see some twisted, strange plants adapted to the environment or venomous insects lurking beneath the sand, but feeling the undisguised oppressive aura emanating from the two, they would all retreat in fear.

A day later, Li Yunjing and True Lord Chiyang had already crossed the vast, desolate, dark red desert.

The sand beneath their feet was gradually replaced by hard frozen earth, and the temperature in the air dropped sharply. The unsettling, chilling deathly aura in the thin spiritual energy was gradually replaced by a pure, extreme cold that could freeze the very soul.

Looking around, the earth is covered by ice that has never melted for thousands of years, and in the distance, icebergs stand tall, like sharp swords piercing the dark purple sky.

The gale whipped up ice shards, howling mournfully, and as far as the eye could see, there was only a frozen wasteland.

This is the icy wasteland of the "Ancient Burial Realm of Immortals," a place that inspires fear and dread, and also the dwelling place of that mysterious ice phoenix.

"What a terrifying chill... it can even erode the protective aura."

The Crimson Sun True Lord's body was enveloped in "Pure Yang True Fire," which evaporated the invading cold air, and his expression was solemn.

Li Yunjing's body surface had imperceptible lightning patterns flowing around it, keeping the cold out.

He spread his divine sense, carefully sensing this icy plain.

"The ice-elemental laws here are exceptionally active and powerful, far surpassing those elsewhere. The ice phoenix's ability to occupy this place and reign as king indicates its extraordinary strength."

Li Yunjing said in a deep voice, his sharp gaze sweeping across the depths of the icy plain.

The two did not venture further and stopped at the edge of the ice field.

Li Yunjing took a deep breath, channeled his full magical power, and spoke in a calm yet authoritative voice, carrying the unique dignity of a high-level cultivator. His voice pierced through the howling wind and clearly reached the depths of the icy plains.

"Li Yunjing, the leader of the Expeditionary Division of the Tianlan Alliance, and Chiyang Zhenjun of the Yuanyang Dao Sect, from Tianlan Star, have come to pay a visit to Fellow Daoist Bingfeng. They have something to discuss, so please show yourselves!"

The sound echoed across the vast ice plain, carrying for a great distance.

However, apart from the howling of the wind and snow, there was no response.

The depths of the icy plains remained deathly silent, as if no living beings existed at all.

"Could it be that the ice phoenix is ​​not in its nest?"

True Lord Chiyang frowned slightly: "Or perhaps..."

"Om..."

Before Li Yunjing could respond, the chill in the void ahead suddenly surged!

Countless ice crystals condensed out of thin air, instantly transforming into a massive ice blade spanning several miles, carrying an extremely cold and sharp edge that could tear everything apart, and without warning, it slashed fiercely down towards the spot where the two were standing!

This strike was as fast as lightning and its power was terrifying, enough to easily injure or even kill a Nascent Soul cultivator!

"careful!"

The Crimson Sun True Lord reacted extremely quickly, unleashing a burst of "Pure Yang True Fire," which transformed into a giant shield of flames in front of him.

A flash of lightning appeared in Li Yunjing's eyes. He did not take the blow head-on. Instead, he moved slightly and retreated like a ghost, perfectly avoiding the sharpest slash trajectory of the ice blade.

"Boom!!"

The ice blade struck the spot where the two had just stood, causing the earth to tremble violently. A huge, bottomless ravine was cleaved open in the hard frozen soil, and terrifying cold air wafted out, instantly freezing everything around them!
"Hmph! Hiding your head and showing your tail!"

The Crimson Sun True Monarch blocked the attack, causing the giant fiery shield to tremble violently. He snorted coldly, unleashing his pure Yang aura, and prepared to counterattack.

"Please wait, My Lord!"

Li Yunjing spoke up to stop them, his gaze calmly fixed on the direction from which the ice blade had come.

In that void, ice and snow gathered, and a tall, slender figure slowly took shape.

She wore a battle dress that seemed to be sculpted from millennia-old ice, her skin was as white as snow, her face was cold and stunningly beautiful, and her pair of ice-blue eyes were devoid of any emotion, only showing a cold indifference as if looking down on all living beings.

He exuded a terrifying aura that made people's hearts tremble, and he had clearly reached the Nascent Soul stage!
The ruler of this icy plain is none other than the Ice Phoenix!

"Human cultivator."

"You are not welcome here."

Ice Phoenix spoke, her voice clear and ethereal, yet carrying a chilling edge, "Leave immediately, or die."

Her gaze swept over Li Yunjing and True Lord Chiyang, and when she sensed the restrained danger emanating from Li Yunjing, a very subtle ripple flashed in her icy blue eyes.

The Crimson Sun True Monarch was enraged by the other party's attitude, but sensing the unfathomable cultivation level, he suppressed his anger and said in a deep voice, "Fellow Daoist Ice Phoenix, we have come here with no ill intentions, only to..."

"Fellow?"

"A mere human dares to be worthy of being my equal?"

Ice Phoenix interrupted him, a cold, mocking smile playing on her lips, "I'm saying this for the last time, get out!"

Before she finished speaking, she lightly raised her jade hand, instantly stirring up the chill of the entire ice field. Countless enormous ice spears and ice storms condensed behind her, locking onto the two of them, as if she were about to leave them there forever if they disagreed.

The terrifying pressure was so real that it made True Lord Chiyang gasp for breath, and the circulation of his pure Yang True Fire became somewhat sluggish, leaving him horrified.

The Ice Phoenix's strength far exceeded his expectations!
Li Yunjing stepped forward and stood beside True Lord Chiyang. His aura remained calm, yet he subtly dispelled the overwhelming pressure.

"Fellow Daoist Bingfeng, please calm down."

He looked directly into Bingfeng's cold eyes and said neither humbly nor arrogantly, "We have come here presumptuously because 'Tianlan Star' and even the surrounding star fields are about to face a catastrophe. The extraterrestrial demon army will arrive soon, and wherever it passes, all things wither and stars are destroyed."

"At that time, I'm afraid even the 'Ancient Burial Realm of Immortals' will be affected."

Although the other party's attitude was not good, it was still necessary to talk, so Li Yunjing had no choice but to patiently communicate with them.

"Heavenly Demons? What do they have to do with me?"

Upon hearing this, Ice Phoenix's cold eyes flickered slightly, but her tone remained indifferent: "Even if the Star Sea is destroyed, I will live on in this extreme ice realm."

After Bingfeng spoke, the entire icy world was filled with howling winds and snow closing in on the three of them.

The heavy snow fell in swirling clumps, pressing in on Li Yunjing and the Crimson Sun True Lord.

Each snowflake contained the laws of ice, carrying unparalleled power. Like top-grade divine iron, it struck Li Yunjing's protective true energy, producing a crackling sound.

"Great!"

Li Yunjing watched as the entire world transformed into a snow-covered wonderland, blocking all his senses, as if he had entered another world.

And this world is the domain that Ice Phoenix wields, a skill unique to True Monarchs at the Nascent Soul stage!

While Ice Phoenix appeared to be negotiating, she was actually unleashing her strongest divine power, deploying her entire domain to threaten others!
The goal was to make Li Yunjing and True Lord Chiyang back down!

The ice phoenix naturally sensed the arrival of the "expeditionary force." The overwhelming momentum was enough to make even a True Monarch at the Nascent Soul stage tremble with fear.

Demonstrating our strength is the way to deter these outsiders from their aggressive ambitions!

Countless snowflakes flew in, like transparent blades cutting into Li Yunjing's "Five-Colored Divine Light," causing him excruciating pain.

"Yin Yang Protection!"

Suddenly, Li Yunjing mobilized the energy within his body, and the "Yin and Yang energies" burst forth, transforming into two black and white divine dragons.

The two dragons coiled together in the air, transforming into a pair of scissors that shredded the countless snowflakes in front of them, creating a safe zone.

"Thunder comes!"

That wasn't all; Li Yunjing also wanted to show off his skills.

He reached out and waved his hand, and a clap of thunder sounded in the clear sky.

"Boom!"

Above the sky, dark clouds gathered, lightning flashed everywhere, and immense power raged as divine thunder descended and exploded, causing the icy world to collapse!
Seeing this, Li Yunjing stopped and stood side by side with True Lord Chiyang.

"Fellow Daoist possesses great supernatural powers; perhaps you can protect yourself."

"But as far as I know, the power of the Heavenly Demon is best at eroding and assimilating, and it especially likes to devour powerful sources to nourish itself."

Li Yunjing slowly said, but then changed the subject, "Fellow Daoist is an Ice-type Holy Spirit, with a pure and powerful origin. For those demons, you are probably... an excellent tonic."

"Do you think they will let you go then, senior?"

Seeing that Li Yunjing, a mere Nascent Soul cultivator, displayed unimaginable power, Ice Phoenix's eyes instantly became extremely sharp, and the cold aura around her surged, as if even the space itself was about to be frozen!

"Are you threatening me?"

Her voice carried a chilling murderous intent.

"It's not a threat, but a statement of a possible reality."

"The Heavenly Demon is ruthless, seeking only destruction and devouring."

Li Yunjing met his gaze calmly, showing no fear. "Our 'Tianlan Alliance' has assembled a large army to launch an expedition here, firstly to defend against enemies outside the Star Gate, and secondly, to preserve a spark of hope for this star field."

"I have come here today not to ask for your help, but to reach an agreement with you on non-aggression."

"Our army will eliminate any potential demonic threats within the 'Ancient Burial Realm of Immortals' and secure our rear. We will never proactively invade your territory."

"Similarly, I urge you, senior, to restrain your subordinates and prevent them from interfering with our military operations."

"In that case, I can assure you, senior, that no matter how rampant the demons are outside, as long as our army has a single soldier left, we will never allow any demon to set foot on this icy plain."

Li Yunjing's voice was clear and firm, carrying a convincing power.

He gave us a choice!

She could either face the covetousness and siege of the future Heavenly Demons alone, or accept a non-interference agreement, with the "Tianlan Alliance" army acting as a shield to protect her from the greatest threat.

Ice Phoenix fell silent.

Her cold eyes were fixed on Li Yunjing, as if judging the truthfulness of his words and the pros and cons involved.

The chill in the air was still biting, but the fierce killing intent gradually subsided.

The storm surrounding the Ice Phoenix did not dissipate, but it was no longer agitated either. It simply hovered in the air, forming a cold standoff.

"Non-aggression pact"?

"Promise?"

Why should I believe you?

"Humans are cunning, and this has been true since ancient times."

After a long silence, she spoke coldly, the chilling killing intent in her voice fading, replaced by a condescending indifference: "What you say today may be an excuse for you to establish yourselves in this realm. When you have enough power in the future, you might covet my Ice Plains Secret Realm."

Li Yunjing understood that this was the other party demanding guarantees, and also a final test.

"What fellow Taoist said is absolutely true."

He remained calm and replied without changing his expression, "Words alone are not enough to convince you."

After a moment's thought, he flipped his palm, and a token appeared—neither gold nor jade, with a surface shimmering with purple mist, engraved with the words "Tianlan" and star patterns.

"This is the token of the Vice Alliance Leader of the 'Tianlan Alliance' and the Chief of the 'Star Domain Expedition Division,' representing Li's identity and the will of the 'Tianlan Alliance.'"

Li Yunjing calmly said, "This item serves as proof of our sincerity."

(End of this chapter)