Clan Cultivation: Starting from Foundation Establishment on Mount Luoxia

The warship sailed through the void for three whole months.

For the past three months, the fleet has been shrouded in a hazy glow—that is the transformation of the Immortal Sect's treasured artifact, the "Sky-Covering Banner," which can conceal the secrets of heaven and hide its whereabouts, making it difficult for even a Golden Core cultivator to see through it.

Twelve large warships, over fifty medium-sized warships, hundreds of small flying boats, and three million three hundred thousand cultivators silently traversed the void, approaching the Heavenly Demon Realm.

Li Xiaoyao spent most of his time meditating in his cabin, repeatedly studying the intelligence jade slip sent down by the Immortal Sect.

The Heavenly Demon Realm, encompassing the Nine Heavens and Five Domains.

The Five Regions are a place where humans, half-demons, and low-level demons live together, and their combined area is equivalent to five small worlds.

The Nine Heavens are the core of the demon race, the Lower Three Heavens are the demigod race, the Middle Three Heavens are the gods, and the Upper Three Heavens are the lairs of three Golden Core demon races.

Intelligence reports indicate that there are approximately 40 billion humans in the Five Realms.

Four hundred billion.

Li Xiaoyao would fall silent for a long time every time he thought of this number.

Four hundred billion compatriots have been treated like livestock for generations.

On this day, the communication talisman outside the cabin lit up.

"Fellow Daoist Shangyuan, come out and take a look, we're almost there." Xiao Xiting's voice came.

Li Xiaoyao put away the jade slip and pushed open the door to go out.

The deck was already full of people.

He looked out and saw a massive fleet slowly slowing down in the void.

Under the glow of the Heaven-Covering Banner, all the warships seemed to blend into the background of the void, and their existence could not be detected unless they were right next to each other.

In the distance, a huge screen of light was slowly unfolding.

That is the dimensional barrier of the Heavenly Demon Realm.

Through that semi-transparent barrier, one could vaguely see the scene inside—five enormous continents arranged in a ring, with a vast ocean in the center.

Above the five continents, nine layers of heaven float, each layer smaller than the last, with the top three layers almost indistinguishable.

"Nine Heavens and Five Domains," Xiao Xiting said softly, "It's even more magnificent than what was described in the intelligence."

Li Xiaoyao nodded, extending his divine sense to try and sense the aura of that dimension.

A moment later, he frowned slightly.

"The smell of incense is so strong."

Xiao Xiting glanced at him: "You sensed it too?"

"Hmm," Li Xiaoyao said, "The entire plane is shrouded in a faint layer of wish power, which gets denser the higher you go."

"Those three auras heading towards the third heaven... should be those three Golden Core cultivators."

Xiao Xiting nodded, his expression solemn: "When the three True Monarchs make their move, they will lure them away. The Heaven-Covering Banner will continue to conceal our presence until the very last moment."

Li Xiaoyao felt a chill run down his spine.

This is the real plan—

First, they used magical artifacts to conceal themselves and then quietly approached.

Then, three True Monarchs intervened to lure away the Golden Core cultivator.

Finally, using the Heaven-Covering Banner as cover, they launched a large-scale infiltration.

By the time the demon race realized what was happening, the cultivator army had already spread throughout the five regions.

Just then, three terrifying auras suddenly rose from the direction of the Upper Three Heavens.

Even through the dimensional barrier, Li Xiaoyao could clearly sense that oppressive aura—a Golden Core, definitely a Golden Core.

One of the auras was as fierce as fire, carrying a domineering power that could incinerate everything.

An aura, cold and abyssal, seemed capable of devouring all light.

The final aura was sharp as a blade, as if it could cleave the heavens and earth in two.

Three auras swept across the void simultaneously, seemingly probing something.

But the light emanating from the Heaven-Covering Banner trembled slightly, blocking all three probes.

On the flagship, Lingguang Zhenjun, Taiyao Zhenjun, and Yuansu Zhenjun stood side by side.

"That's about it."

Lingguang Zhenjun said calmly, "No matter how close they get, the Heaven-Covering Banner can no longer hide them."

Taiyao Zhenjun nodded: "Make your move."

The three True Lords took a step forward simultaneously and disappeared beyond the glow of the Heaven-Covering Banner.

The next moment, three terrifying auras erupted in the void.

Lord Lingguang unleashed a sword strike, the sword light tearing through the void and heading straight for that sharp aura.

Taiyao Zhenjun manifested a great sun around his body, with nine illusory suns swirling around him, colliding with that blazing aura.

The Elemental Lord transformed into a bright moon, its clear light scattering down and enveloping that chilling aura.

Within the three heavens above, the three auras were suddenly startled, and then flew into a rage.

The six golden core auras instantly clashed, fighting and retreating as they headed deeper into the void.

"They're gone," Xiao Xiting said softly.

As soon as he finished speaking, the radiant light from the Heaven-Covering Banner suddenly surged, completely enveloping the entire fleet.

"Now!" shouted the late-stage Purple Mansion True Person in charge of the boat. "Full speed ahead!"

Twelve large warships accelerated first, rushing towards that dimensional barrier. Medium-sized warships followed closely behind, while small airships shuttled back and forth to provide escort.

A crack silently appeared in the dimensional barrier, and the fleet filed in.

Li Xiaoyao felt a blur before his eyes, and when he opened them again, he found himself under an unfamiliar sky.

Below is the outermost of the five continents, called the "Wilderness".

The sky was a hazy yellow, the clouds were gray, and a faint, pungent smell of blood permeated the air.

The glow of the Heaven-Covering Banner still enveloped the entire fleet, isolating them from this world.

"Dimensional suppression".

After sensing for a moment, Xiao Xiting said, "The late-stage Purple Mansion Divine Power is suppressed by 30%. The mid-stage and early-stage are unaffected."

Li Xiaoyao nodded.

He was only at the early stage of the Purple Mansion realm, so that suppressive force was practically non-existent for him.

Xiao Xiting looked at him: "Fellow Daoist Shangyuan, our cultivation levels are different, so we'll probably have to split up after we go down there."

"You're in the early stages, unrestrained, so you can do whatever you want. I'll be nerfed by 30% in the late game, so I need to play it safe."

Li Xiaoyao cupped his hands in greeting: "Senior Xiting, rest assured, I understand."

"Everyone," the voice of the boat-managing master reached everyone's ears, "the Heaven-Covering Banner can only last for three more days."

"Three days later, when the rosy glow fades, the demon race will discover us."

"Within these three days, all warships must land separately, and all cultivators must enter the designated areas, hide on the spot, and establish strongholds."

"The war will officially begin in three days."

The fleet began to disperse.

The twelve large warships each changed direction and landed in different areas of the wasteland. Medium-sized warships followed closely behind, while small airships went ahead to scout.

The large warship carrying Li Xiaoyao was heading towards a vast plain in the southeastern part of the desolate region.

The warship descended slowly, passing through the clouds.

Suddenly, Master Shuyu pointed to a spot below: "Look!"

Everyone looked in the direction he pointed.

That was a city.

No, to be precise, it's a "circle of people".

A huge wooden fence enclosed an area spanning dozens of miles, which was densely packed with people.

Outside the fence, some half-human, half-beast demons patrolled—some had wolf heads, some had bull horns, and some dragged snake tails.

In the corner of the fence, there was a small mountain of white bones.

On the warship, countless cultivators fell silent.

Li Xiaoyao stared at the "human circle," at the patrolling half-beast demons, and at the pile of white bones.

His gaze was calm.

Xiao Xiting patted him on the shoulder.

"Go down. In these three days, we must take as many strongholds as possible like this. By the time the demons react, we will have already established a foothold."

Li Xiaoyao took a deep breath and nodded.

"Walk."

He stepped off the warship and swooped down towards the circle of people.

Behind them, countless cultivators fell like meteors.

Silently.

The radiant glow of the Heaven-Covering Banner completely enveloped them, and the patrolling half-beast demons remained completely unaware until the moment they landed.

Then, the blade flashed.