Chapter 27: The Ambush

The Heavenly Realm.

After the ancient war, the shattered fragments of the world transformed into the three realms of Heaven, Earth, and Man. The Heavenly Realm... was the largest fragment of the ancient world after the shattering. The Heavenly Realm increasingly resembled the ancient times. Here, the Heavenly Court was in the east, occupying only a corner. The Buddhist Sacred Mountain of Spirit was in the west, where the Buddhas presided, their status far higher.

Even the Heavenly Emperor had to show utmost respect when meeting the Buddhas.

After all, the Buddhas were at the level of True Gods and Dao Ancestors; at most, they would be polite to the nominal ruler of the three realms.

In the Heavenly Realm, there were also sacred sites of the Daoist sect.

The Daoist sect and the Buddhist sect... were the strongest in the Heavenly Realm. Next were some other great powers. Of course, there were also many Heavenly Gods and True Immortal who occupied their own territories, acting as local overlords in the Heavenly Realm, paying no heed to the Heavenly Emperor.

...

The Heavenly Realm, Tonglian Mountain.

"Great King! Great King!" A Return-to-Void rat demon sprinted, shouting loudly, and soon arrived at a grand hall. Inside the hall were six oddly shaped demon gods, who were grabbing large jars of fine wine and eating large chunks of meat, thoroughly enjoying themselves.

"What is it?" One of the demon gods, with a tiger's back and a bear's waist, bristling beard and hair, and golden eyes, bellowed.

The Return-to-Void rat demon immediately fell to his knees and said, "Great King, the True Immortal Quyun has sent an envoy with an invitation, asking the six great kings to gather at her Quyun Mountain half a year from now."

"True Immortal Quyun?"

The six demon gods immediately jolted, their drunkenness fading as they became fully alert. They exchanged glances.

"Got it. True Immortal Quyun is always so fussy. Our six brothers' time is precious. We have no mood to go out lately. Tell that envoy to scram." A tall, thin demon god with green scales on his face shouted.

"Yes, yes, yes." The Return-to-Void rat demon quickly withdrew.

"Whew, I'm a bit dizzy from drinking. I'll sleep for a while." The golden-eyed demon god said as he lay down and began to snore.

"I'll sleep too." Another lay down.

"If you're not drinking, I will."

Among the six demon gods, some slept, while others continued drinking.

Even those who continued drinking... as Heavenly God-level experts, they could easily manifest avatars. Their avatars had long been hidden in their respective immortal mansions, also beginning to fall into slumber.

...

The Heavenly Realm, Cloud Mist Ravine.

Deep in the river of Cloud Mist Ravine lay a water palace, attended by various shrimp soldiers and crab generals. The master of the water palace was the renowned 'Nine Cloud Mist Fairies' of the three realms. Though called fairies, each was a demon who had cultivated to become a Heavenly God or True Immortal. They were deeply bonded and acted together, making them notoriously troublesome in the three realms.

When the nine fairies joined forces, unless a True God or Dao Ancestor intervened, few in the three realms could withstand them.

"Sisters, we've played enough; it's time to cultivate. The great tribulation is upon us; we cannot afford to relax." The eldest of the Cloud Mist Fairies, 'Heavenly Cloud Immortal,' spoke.

"The elder sister is right." All the stunning female demon immortals responded.

They immediately entered their respective meditation chambers to begin cultivation, simultaneously entering the dream realm.

...

In the vast, dark world.

On the ten-thousand-zhang throne, the God King, shrouded in a black robe like mist, sat silently.

Below, groups of immortals and demons appeared one after another.

"Why has the God King summoned us?"

"Eh, so many?"

"The six demon gods of Tonglian Mountain are here too, and the nine fairies of Cloud Mist Ravine? Isn't that the three demon gods of Tunlong Mountain? So they're also on our side. Those three demon gods of Tunlong Mountain killed two Bodhisattvas of the Buddhist sect last time."

A large crowd of immortals and demons gathered.

All were at the level of Heavenly Gods or True Immortals.

The weaker ones were ordinary among Heavenly Gods and True Immortals. But the six demon gods of Tonglian Mountain, the nine fairies of Cloud Mist Ravine, and the three demon gods of Tunlong Mountain were at the top. Although the God King commanded a hundred Asura Gates, these top-tier experts like the six demon gods of Tonglian Mountain were directly under the God King's command! The various Asura Gates could not order them.

"Greetings, God King."

"Greetings, God King."

Though surprised upon arrival, they all knelt respectfully.

As time passed, the influx of immortals and demons gradually slowed. Among them were 'White Extreme True Immortal' and 'Green Fox Gate Master.' When the gathered immortals and demons reached a full sixty-eight, the God King on high finally spoke.

"The Crimson Bright Territory is ruled by Dao Ancestor Crimson Bright." The God King's voice resounded through every corner of the dark world and into the hearts of the Heavenly Gods and True Immortals below. "For our Asura Gate to seize enough fortune, we must occupy enough major worlds. Previously, in the Crimson Bright Territory, there were only minor skirmishes. Dao Ancestor Crimson Bright has been patient... Both he and we are preparing for a true territorial war."

The gathered Heavenly Gods and True Immortals were startled.

They immediately guessed why the God King had summoned them.

"Without completely crushing them, we cannot peacefully occupy the major worlds. In the territorial war, we must win; we must utterly defeat them." The God King's voice turned icy. "Only by defeating them will the resistance in each major world of the Crimson Bright Territory weaken, making our task easier."

"If we don't defeat them, even if we temporarily occupy some major worlds, they will counterattack."

"The 'territorial war' of the Crimson Bright Territory will be decided in the Great Xia World!"

The God King announced his decision.

Among the high-level great powers of the Asura Gate, the God King held a very high status. Moreover, the yet-unawakened existence had only one disciple—the God King himself! This made the God King's position quite exceptional... As long as the God King did not make major mistakes, he was generally in charge of commanding the entire Asura Gate.

"The original master of the Great Xia World was 'Xiamang Xun,' a descendant of the ancient imperial clan. This Emperor Xia is quite powerful." The God King said. "Green Fox, leading her forces, has clashed with Emperor Xia several times. Currently, she is at a slight disadvantage!"

"A disadvantage?"

The assembled immortals and demons looked at Green Fox. They knew that Green Fox was absolutely loyal to the God King. Among this group of immortals and demons, some were die-hard loyalists, while others had joined the Asura Gate due to its power and temptations. But because of their strength, the Asura Gate treated them with respect.

"The reason for the disadvantage is that a variable has appeared on Emperor Xia's side—a man named Ji Ning." The God King said. "He commands a Heavenly Punishment God and is very powerful. As for exactly how strong... you can discuss it with Green Fox and the others later; everything will be clear."

"Yes." Everyone acknowledged.

"I summoned you here with such caution because... I want you to launch a surprise attack." Lightning flickered in the God King's eyes.

"A surprise attack?"

Everyone below began to ponder.

"Right now, Emperor Xia is probably still celebrating his recent victory. I believe he is eager to annihilate Green Fox and her forces." The God King said. "After you all gather in the Great Xia World, stay hidden at first. Follow Green Fox and engage Emperor Xia in a major battle. At the critical moment, all of you will reveal yourselves and slaughter all of Emperor Xia's forces—leave no one alive!"

"Yes." The immortals and demons were eager.

A surprise attack?

With their strength, catching the enemy off guard, they could overwhelmingly massacre Emperor Xia's side.

"The most important thing in this ambush is caution—absolutely no leaking of information." The God King said solemnly. "On the Nuwa阵营 side, some great powers can observe the three realms, especially that Bodhi. Bodhi is Ji Ning's master, and he might be watching the Great Xia war closely. Bodhi can also dream across the three realms... If he discovers this, the ambush will fail."

"So that Ji Ning is a disciple of Dao Ancestor Bodhi." The immortals and demons were secretly surprised and became more cautious about Ji Ning.

Dao Ancestor Bodhi was renowned for training disciples.

"We must be careful. First, gather in the void outside the three realms." The God King instructed. "That way, Bodhi won't discover you. Then hide yourselves, and let the Two Illumination Immortals use a先天灵宝 to tear through the void and descend directly into Green Fox's Asura City. Even if Bodhi notices, he might only think that the Two Illumination Immortals are reinforcements."

Everyone below nodded.

Indeed.

Currently, Green Fox's Asura Gate was at a disadvantage. If she requested reinforcements from the God King, and the God King had not decided to launch a 'territorial war' but merely sent some support, dispatching the Two Illumination Immortals would have been his original plan. So this arrangement should have few flaws.

"Remember, the most important thing about this ambush is that not a hint of it leaks out." The God King reiterated.

"Yes." Everyone below acknowledged.

They were equally eager. First, eliminate Emperor Xia's forces, including that Ji Ning. Then engage Dao Ancestor Crimson Bright's army in battle. Eliminating a batch first would make the subsequent territorial war easier.

...

While the God King mobilized his forces in the dream realm, Emperor Xia's side remained completely unaware.

Eight Dragon Cloud City.

Emperor Xia, full of confidence, stood in midair and declared loudly: "Everyone, we are now only one step away from ultimate victory in this war. We must seize this opportunity to kill more immortals and demons of the Asura Gate, driving them out of Great Xia forever, so they dare not invade again. If they fight to the death and refuse to retreat... then we will slaughter them all!"

"Kill!"

"Kill!"

"Kill!"

The gathered immortals and gods roared, their morale high.

Emperor Xia was also filled with heroic spirit.

The entire Baihe Prefecture, spanning millions of li, was within his grand formation. Even great teleportation could not enter unless forcibly tearing through space—but that would certainly be detected by him! Once he discovered that the Asura Gate had reinforcements, he would definitely seek help from Dao Ancestor Crimson Bright. Dao Ancestor Crimson Bright had also promised that if the enemy was forced to call for reinforcements, he would certainly assist.

"Set out for the Asura City." Emperor Xia gave the order.

Immediately, within the Eight Dragon Cloud City, various formations began to take shape.

Ten-thousand-zhang-tall Heavenly Punishment Gods formed one after another, and even larger Pangu battle formations began to take shape. Although some gods had died, many survived. By transferring some from two other divine legions, three Pangu battle formations were still formed! A similarly imposing Yinglong coiled and swam... Heavenly God puppets also stood by on the flanks.

Among them, the most imposing...

Was a Heavenly Punishment God wielding two ten-thousand-zhang divine swords!

"Kill!" With morale soaring, the mighty army instantly vanished, teleporting out of the Eight Dragon Cloud City.

...