Sword Sect Little Demon Child, Three and a Half Years Old and Extremely Fierce

Tactical discussions are ongoing.

Someone asked the question everyone wanted to ask: "The people up there have unfathomable cultivation levels. Even if we absorb immortal energy, can we really defeat them? They've cultivated up there for tens of thousands of years, while we've been exploited down there for tens of thousands of years. With that difference, how are we supposed to fight them?"

After these words were spoken, the hall fell silent again.

Everyone was thinking the same question: Could we win?

Someone chimed in, "That's right, we know absolutely nothing about their combat strength and cultivation level. We're completely clueless about their realm, their magical treasures, and their techniques. Rushing in recklessly is no different from fighting blindfolded!"

"What if I go up there and get slapped back down? Wouldn't that be like throwing my life away?"

"It's fine to just feed the enemy, but the worst thing is not even being able to feed them and getting struck by lightning halfway there."

Wei Cangxuan raised his hand and pressed it down.

After everyone fell silent, he spoke, his tone unhurried: "It's not like we can't get down."

Everyone: "???"

What does "It's not like you can't get down" mean?

This sounds like you're trying to coax a child.

Wei Cangxuan glanced at the puzzled crowd and explained:

"I have examined Wen Xile. The first heaven that ascends to is called the Qingwei Heavenly Domain. Its rules are the weakest and its immortal resources are scarce."

"Many cultivators who ascended to heaven are trapped here their entire lives, unaware even of the shady dealings within the Heavenly Realm. To put it bluntly, it's just a scrap area of ​​the Heavenly Realm that they themselves don't even want."

"The Qingwei Heavenly Domain is a border region with weak Heavenly Dao authority, which is why those people can throw things down from there."

"What we need to break through is this layer of celestial barrier. There, the sea of ​​clouds stretches endlessly, floating immortal mountains abound, and there are vast ruins of abandoned old ascension passages. Immortal traces are rare, and normally there are only a few patrolling immortal soldiers. The land is vast and sparsely populated, with weak defenses."

"During Xiao Pin'er's two tribulations, the same few faces were always throwing things into the lightning tribulations. What does that mean? It means that each time someone throws something into the lightning tribulation, it's just a handful. Not a vast army, but a tiny group."

He held up one finger: "Once the crack opens, absorb the immortal energy, overcome the tribulation, strike directly with lightning, and then run away."

He then raised a second finger: "If you can dodge, then dodge; if you can't, then run back."

He then raised his third finger: "Those up there can't come down; that's the law of nature. They can't come down, but we can go up. What's that called? It's called a one-way passage; that's our advantage."

Everyone in the hall had a bright look in their eyes.

Wei Cangxuan continued, "Let's deal with those trash-throwing bastards first. If we can keep fighting, then keep going; if not, we'll retreat. If we can win, we fight; if we can't, we run. Once we run back and close the door, they still won't be able to get down. We'll find another opportunity to go up and fight them next time. If we can't kill them in one go, we'll fight them twice. If we can't kill them in two go, we'll fight them three times!"

Someone couldn't help but interrupt: "Didn't you just say you didn't want to run anymore?"

Wei Cangxuan glanced at him: "What I meant was that I don't want to be forced to run. Running actively and running passively are two different things. Running passively is about escaping for your life, while running actively is a tactic."

The man shrank back: "...Oh."

Wei Cangxuan paused, his tone turning serious: "To put it bluntly, this is a guerrilla war. The enemy is in the open, we are in the shadows. They've never been attacked before. We were the first wave to knock on their door, and they're more panicked than we are."

The Lord of the North Sea nodded: "That makes sense. They're used to using underhanded tactics. If they're attacked head-on, their reaction might not be as quick as ours. Someone who's never been hit before will definitely be stunned when they get their first slap."

Ji Yanci twirled a flower, a smirk playing on her lips: "It's easier if he's confused. Take advantage of his confusion to kill him. I love striking when people are confused."

Bai Jingxin chimed in, "Yeah, let's take care of those trash-throwing bastards first. Chop off their claws, then slowly work our way up. One at a time, no rush."

Xie Huanhuan clapped her hands and said, "The Formation Master is responsible for setting up the formation and paving the way for retreat. If we can't win, we can run back, and there will be a formation to catch us when we get back, so we're safe. Only when the retreat is paved can the people in front fight with peace of mind."

The Zen abbot clasped his hands together and said, "Amitabha, this old monk will cover the rear. When we run, my Buddha light can block the retreat for a while."

Little Black slid down, flicked its tail: "I'll be in charge of scolding them. I'll scold them until they shut up, buying you some time."

My dad turned to look at it: "What's the point of you swearing?"

Xiao Hei: "How is it useless? When I scold them, they get so angry they jump up and down. When they jump up and down, they reveal their weakness, and when they reveal their weakness, you can attack them."

My dad thought about it and said, "...That makes some sense."

Little Black smugly wagged its tail: "I've lived for tens of thousands of years, and I have plenty of experience in cursing."

Upon hearing this, Wei Cangxuan glanced at it but remained silent.

He continued to summarize: "Therefore, the strategy is: fight if you can win, run if you can't. Don't be greedy for credit, don't be reckless, and try your best not to give away your life."

Everyone answered in unison, "Understood."

Wei Cangxuan nodded: "In the next few months, those who should break through to higher realms should do so, and those who should go into seclusion should go into seclusion. Especially those who returned from the mortal realm this time, after they have fully recovered their cultivation from the calamity, the Myriad Immortals Alliance will gather in three months. Meeting adjourned."

The crowd stood up and filed out.

When they passed by my father, several sect leaders unanimously took a half-step around him, keeping a distance.

The Lord of the North Sea walked the fastest, being the first to exit the palace without looking back.

The sect leader of Miaodan Sect followed behind, walking three times faster than usual.

My dad, completely oblivious, moved closer to my mom, his tone somewhat ingratiating: "Mengmeng, the meeting's over, shall we go together?"

My mother didn't even turn her head: "I'm going back to Qingyun Sect."

My dad: "I'll take you."

My mother: "No need."

My dad: "It's on the way."

My mother said, "It's not on the way."

My dad: "I'll take a detour."

My mother: "…………"

Little Black perched on my shoulder, muttering under his breath, "I've never seen such a shameless person."

I nodded: "Of course. Otherwise, how would I have won over my mother?"

Xiao Hei: "...That makes sense."

My dad turned around and glared at us: "What are you two whispering about?"

Me: "It's nothing, I'm just praising your thick skin."

My dad: "That's called persistence."

I gave him a thumbs up: "Good job, persistent."

My dad was satisfied and went on to pursue my mom.

Wei Cangxuan passed by us, glanced at me and my fellow disciples, and said, "You guys, go into seclusion. Little Pin'er, you...you don't need to, you can practice more."

I was referring to myself: "Me? Alone?"

Wei Cangxuan: "Yes."

Me: "Why don't the senior students use it?"

Wei Cangxuan: "They need to consolidate their cultivation. Having just survived the tribulation, they need time to fully digest the power of the immortal source and the tribulation lightning. You are different. The power of the immortal source and the tribulation lightning is like eating and drinking for you. You absorb as much as you need and digest it. You don't need to consolidate it."

I couldn't argue: "...Fine."

Wei Cangxuan added, "By the way, when you have time, re-nurture your magic weapons. Repair them if you can, mend them if you can. In three months, when you go out to fight, your pile of junk will still be usable."

I retorted, "That's not junk! That's our family's wealth!"

Wei Cangxuan: "Our family's assets are also in shabby. Go quickly."

Me: "...Oh."

I turned my head to look at the mountain gate.

My parents' figures are getting farther and farther away.

Sunlight streamed in from the mountain gate, casting long, overlapping shadows that made it impossible to distinguish one from the other.

Xiao Hei urged me, "Let's go. There's a fight in three months. If you don't practice now, you'll get slapped down when you go up there, and that'll be a disgrace to me."

I turned to look at it: "Your face?"

Xiao Hei said matter-of-factly, "You're under my protection. If you get beaten up, where will I put my face?"

I laughed and strode towards the training ground.

Sigrún has taught at the Iceland University of the Arts as a part-time lecturer since and was Dean of the Department of Fine Art from -. In – she held a research position at Reykjavík Art Museum focusing on the role of women in Icelandic art. She studied fine art at the Icelandic College of Arts and Crafts and at Pratt Institute, New York, and holds BA and MA degrees in art history and philosophy from the University of Iceland. Sigrún lives and works in Iceland.

Three months later.

I was practicing swordplay in the training ground, sweat dripping down my chin, soaking half of my robe.

Little Black Plate sat on a nearby rock, munching on a candied hawthorn, commenting as he ate: "This strike was off by half an inch, let's try again. That strike had enough power but the angle was off, let's try again. This strike..."

Suddenly, a burst of spiritual energy came from the direction of my brother's cave.

The spiritual energy surged into the sky, scattering the clouds above the cave.

Little Black sprang up from the rock, its golden vertical pupils widening in shock: "The Nascent Soul Tribulation has arrived!"

I shouted, "Sect Leader!!!"