Chapter 37: Invasion

At the Mistrock Star Lord's mansion, a vast open space was crowded with numerous Ancestral Gods and Ancestral Immortals.

"Such a large formation, I wonder what they're planning."

"It must be to attack some faction."

"Even if attacking a faction, is this necessary? The Mistrock Army originally had a standing force of three thousand Ancestral Gods, who already knew how to use the 'Lesser Thousand Ancestral God Formation.' Now they've gathered seven Lesser Thousand Ancestral God and Ancestral Immortal Formations... some even include slaves and servants under World Gods and Chaos Immortals."

"Let's wait and see."

The Ancestral Gods and Ancestral Immortals discussed among themselves.

Ji Ning, Ancestral Immortal Gong Chao, and the few others who knew the inside story also felt tense. Indeed, this time the scale was truly massive.

Originally a standing force of three thousand Ancestral Gods, they had forcibly transferred troops from everywhere and added many slaves to make up the full seven thousand! Ancestral Immortal Gong Chao, originally a disciple of Voidyou Immortal, was extremely powerful and this time was leading a contingent of Ancestral Immortals.

"I wonder what grudge Mistrock Star and the Black Lotus Empire hold against each other, to be so crazy," Ji Ning muttered to himself.

"They're coming."

Ji Ning's eyes lit up as he saw nine figures approaching from afar.

At the head was the Mistrock Star Lord, clad in a starry robe, flanked by other World-level cultivators. The nine great beings walked side by side, silencing all the gathered Ancestral Gods and Ancestral Immortals.

"Everyone," the Mistrock Star Lord began, "this expedition is of utmost importance. During battle, obey your respective generals' orders."

"Yes!" all the soldiers responded.

"Enter."

The Mistrock Star Lord waved his sleeve, and with a whoosh, a wave of energy descended. None of the Ancestral Gods or Ancestral Immortals resisted, and in an instant, Ji Ning and the other seven thousand Ancestral Gods and Ancestral Immortals vanished without a trace.

"By my order, seal Mistrock Star, forbidding entry and exit." A majestic voice instantly spread to the ears of other cultivators on Mistrock Star. Ripples of禁制 appeared above the previously public trading area, and soon it was completely sealed.

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh, swoosh, swoosh, swoosh...

The nine World-level cultivators shot into the sky simultaneously, quickly reaching high altitude and looking down at Mistrock Star below.

"Collect."

The Mistrock Star Lord waved his hand.

The massive star 'Mistrock Star' vanished into thin air. It had long been refined into a treasure, the core of the Mistrock Star lineage's inheritance. Since the entire army was mobilizing, the Mistrock Star Lord naturally would not leave this important star behind.

"Star Lord, this time we're truly going all out," the green-robed elder said with a smile.

"This time, it all depends on the Star Lord's strength."

"With us striking unprepared and with full force, we might even destroy the Black Lotus Imperial Capital. The only trouble is the 'Guardian Grand Formation' of the Black Lotus Imperial Capital."

"Star Lord, the Guardian Grand Formation of the Black Lotus Imperial Capital is the most dangerous."

The other dependent World-level cultivators reminded him again.

A faction's lair was extremely dangerous. Mistrock Star, for instance, had been continuously improved by generations of Star Lords, its internal formations and禁制 exceptionally terrifying. As for the Black Lotus Empire... although it had little heritage and was built solely by Black Lotus God-Emperor, as a lair, Black Lotus God-Emperor and his dependent World-level cultivators would certainly have set up powerful formations and禁制.

"Rest assured, everything will go according to plan," the Mistrock Star Lord said. "Just do as I say."

"Mm."

"Mm."

These World-level cultivators were merely reminding the Mistrock Star Lord; they were not ordinary soldiers to be sacrificed at will. At their level, they were equals to the Mistrock Star Lord.

"Alright, we must hurry," the Mistrock Star Lord frowned. "Mistrock Star's sudden disappearance will likely be discovered before long, and news will take time to reach the Black Lotus Imperial Capital. We must arrive at the Black Lotus Imperial Capital as fast as possible... ideally before they are on guard. That would be best."

With that, the Mistrock Star Lord waved his hand, and a starry flying boat appeared.

The nine World-level cultivators present flew into the boat, and as starlight rippled around it, they vanished.

...

The Black Lotus Imperial Capital, located in the 'Black Lotus Chaosworld,' was the core of the Black Lotus Empire's rule.

The entire capital was itself a massive treasure.

Shaped like a nine-petal black lotus, the capital spanned ten million li and sat atop a mountain peak. This city layout was very similar to 'Yibo City' in the Da Mo Eternal Realm. It showed Black Lotus God-Emperor's ambition—he was an extremely proud man, which was why he dared to call himself emperor.

"Recently, Mistrock Star has inexplicably withdrawn all Ancestral Gods and Ancestral Immortals from key posts," a gray-robed, black-haired elder mused in a tavern within the Black Lotus Imperial Capital.

This gray-robed, black-haired elder bore an innate air of superiority.

His gaze alone made the tavern waiters dare not approach.

"Could Mistrock Star be launching a major campaign?" the gray-robed elder muttered. "It can't be because of Ji Ning, can it? Ji Ning shouldn't have that much influence."

"Ji Ning."

"Ji Ning... damn him!" The gray-robed elder's expression grew uglier.

He was one of the nine divine generals under Black Lotus God-Emperor—the Heart Divine General.

His second avatar had possessed Source Elder in the Three Realms, living as Source Elder for a long time. In his view, destroying a native Chaosworld was easy!

Although Nuwa had appeared midway, he had hidden deep, and by the time Nuwa broke through, he had not yet been exposed.

Nuwa left.

He continued to lie low... he was not in a hurry; his long lifespan gave him ample patience.

Then came that great cataclysmic battle.

First, the Heart Demon Lord appeared! Though at the peak Ancestral God level, he was still under Source Elder's control.

But among the Three Realms natives, there emerged a terrifying heartforce cultivator, 'Houyi,' which was still within expectations. Source Elder had even long ago controlled Chang'e to influence Houyi's heart. As a heartforce cultivator, he knew well the importance of mental state to heartforce cultivators.

Unfortunately, after all his calculations, he overlooked one person—Ji Ning.

Ji Ning, who had cultivated for such a short time yet was monstrously talented. In the end, Ji Ning's power after his breakthrough was overwhelming; his sword technique directly broke through his palm technique, and one sword pierced through his brow.

"A being beyond the peak Ancestral God." Source Elder was terrified.

He immediately feigned death.

At the moment of death, with a thought, he killed all his servants and even released his treasures, pretending to be truly dead. This was to prevent Ji Ning from pursuing him.

But later, the Heart Divine General thought it over carefully... and realized he had missed one point.

"Cixiu!" the gray-robed elder thought darkly. "I didn't take Cixiu seriously before, but he does know my identity and might have revealed it to Ji Ning. If he did... given my enmity with the Three Realms, Ji Ning will surely seek revenge. With his strength, passing through that spatial vortex channel is very likely!"

"If he comes for revenge and seeks external help, he might join one of the nearby factions..."

The Heart Divine General had guessed this at the time.

So he immediately purchased intelligence, checking if any being beyond the peak Ancestral God had appeared recently. Eventually, he discovered that the 'Mistrock Star faction' had gained a general named Xuri.

"Xuri?" the gray-robed elder sneered. "Beings beyond the peak Ancestral God don't just appear so easily. If Ji Ning really came, then it's likely him."

Though he had his suspicions, the Heart Divine General could do nothing.

Xuri was stationed in the Sushun Chaosworld, commanding over three hundred Ancestral Gods and Ancestral Immortals. What could the Heart Divine General do? Ask a World-level cultivator to act? He didn't have that kind of influence.

So he could only hide.

"Alas."

"I wonder if this Xuri is really Ji Ning," the gray-robed elder thought. "I hope not. I hope Cixiu didn't tell Ji Ning. That would be good."

Living in such anxiety, the Heart Divine General found it hard, but he knew he had to endure, at least until he confirmed whether this Xuri was truly Ji Ning.

If it really was Ji Ning...

Going out alone would be walking to his death.

"How dare you!!!" Suddenly a roar that seemed to shake the entire vast Chaosworld echoed through the heavens and earth, startling every cultivator in the Black Lotus Imperial Capital.

"Come to my mansion immediately." At the same time, a cold, angry voice rang in the Heart Divine General's mind.

"Your Majesty?" The Heart Divine General was startled.

"Swoosh."

The gray-robed elder, ignoring everything else, flew out of the tavern window and headed straight for the 'God-Emperor's Mansion.'