Chapter 39: The War Begins

"Traces of the Wind, hmm. Fortunately, when that Daoist Traces of the Wind died, he built a cave dwelling. His treasures should still be there. I hope the news is correct—that the token really is with him!"

The old man in tattered robes took a step in the void and vanished completely.

…

Black Lotus Chaosworld.

A city resembling a nine-petal black lotus, above which hung a massive star radiating endless starlight.

The two faced each other in opposition.

Within the God-Emperor's Mansion.

"What do you all think we should do?" Black Lotus God-Emperor looked at the other four World-level cultivators.

"Everyone, please save me." Flying Roc Immortal also looked at the other four, a hint of barely concealed desperation on his face. At this point, he could no longer afford to care about face. If Black Lotus God-Emperor and the other four were unwilling to stand up for him, facing the entire army of the Mistrock Star lineage alone would mean certain death.

"Flying Roc, you really are... forget it, it's too late to say anything now." The white-robed embroidered man shook his head lightly.

"What? Do you all think we should just back down? The Mistrock Star lineage isn't much stronger than us. If we retreat at the first sign of pressure, how can we hold our heads up in the Great Mo Domain or before other World-level cultivators?" The alien in gleaming black armor spoke, his golden eyes blazing with anger.

"The reason we joined forces one by one was to face dangers together. Besides, I haven't had a good fight in ages—my hands are itching." The chubby one-eyed alien said.

Flying Roc Immortal's face lit up with joy, his expression full of gratitude.

"I'll go along with Black Lotus." The bald gray-robed elder said calmly.

"Black Lotus..." Everyone looked at Black Lotus God-Emperor, and Flying Roc Immortal's eyes were filled with desperate hope.

Black Lotus God-Emperor glanced at Flying Roc Immortal and shook his head inwardly. He had never thought much of Flying Roc Immortal. Flying Roc had only barely stepped into the World level through a narrow escape from a fortuitous encounter. After that, he could no longer improve, so he took a darker path. But even in evil, Flying Roc was timid and hesitant, hardly a true great demon.

As Black Lotus God-Emperor knew...

Legend spoke of true great demons who, though only at the World level, could stir up wars across an entire territory, even slaughtering all living beings in thousands of Chaosworlds to forge unimaginably sinful treasures. Compared to them, Flying Roc Immortal was far inferior.

"What you all say is reasonable." Black Lotus God-Emperor nodded. "Since we've gathered together, we must stay united."

Flying Roc Immortal was overjoyed.

"Besides, that You Zichen claims he has a blood feud with Flying Roc Immortal—who knows if it's true?" Black Lotus God-Emperor sneered. "He makes up some excuse, and we give up Flying Roc. After he kills Flying Roc, he makes up another excuse about a grudge with someone else—do we give up another? In the end, our strength will be too weak, and Mistrock Star might just attack us all at once."

"Exactly, exactly, it could be a conspiracy." Flying Roc Immortal quickly agreed.

"Enough, shut up. I'm just saying it's a possibility." Black Lotus God-Emperor glanced at him. "More likely, Flying Roc really does have a grudge with him. After all, fighting over mere territory isn't worth it without a good reason. His Dao companion might indeed have been killed by Flying Roc."

Flying Roc Immortal fell silent, embarrassed.

"But for him to push us like this—he really looks down on me, and on all of us." Black Lotus God-Emperor said coldly. "They have only nine World-level cultivators, and we have six, plus the advantage of the Black Lotus Imperial Capital's formations and restrictions. Yet they act so arrogantly."

"Hmm."

"They don't take us seriously."

"Since they've come to our doorstep, let's fight them and see whose skills are greater."

…

On the high-altitude great ship.

Mistrock Star Lord and the other eight World-level cultivators waited silently. Beside them, a stick of incense was burning, already more than half consumed.

"You Zichen." A voice came from below.

"Have you decided?" Mistrock Star Lord said coldly.

"You say you want to kill Flying Roc Immortal, and I'll hand him over. But if you want to kill other World-level cultivators, should I offer them up too?" Black Lotus God-Emperor's voice was equally cold from below. "When only I am left, won't you just swallow me up in one gulp?"

Mistrock Star Lord frowned and transmitted, "Black Lotus, if you don't believe me, I can swear a lifeblood oath."

"No need for a lifeblood oath... Even if Flying Roc really did kill your Dao companion, he is still a Chaos Immortal of my Black Lotus Empire! We World-level cultivators gathered together to face external enemies united." Black Lotus God-Emperor's voice grew even colder. "Leave now, and I won't hold your invasion of my Black Lotus Chaosworld against you. If you don't, we'll have to meet on the battlefield."

"What a pity." Mistrock Star Lord waved his hand, and with a whoosh, the remaining half-incense stick vanished into thin air.

"We'll have to fight after all."

"It was to be expected."

The others—Heavenly Qiang Immortal, Void Serene Immortal, and the rest—also spoke. They had guessed that the Mistrock Star lineage's strength alone wouldn't make the Black Lotus Empire surrender without a fight. So they had long prepared for a direct assault. The reason for secrecy earlier was to prevent the Black Lotus Empire from buying Ancestral God-Ancestral Immortal formations.

"Sevenfold formation, attack." Mistrock Star Lord commanded.

"Yes."

Ji Ning and the other six responded in unison.

"Go." Ji Ning gave the order and led his nine hundred and ninety-nine Ancestral Gods out of the great ship. The other six formations also flew out.

"Spread out." Ji Ning transmitted.

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh...

The thousand Ancestral Gods, including Ji Ning, immediately scattered across a range of ten million li. They shook their bodies, each growing to ten thousand li in height, towering and majestic, each holding a weapon. Flowing light rippled around them, indicating the world power from the 'Lesser Thousand Ancestral God Formation' empowering them.

A thousand towering Ancestral Gods, each ten thousand li tall, spread over ten million li.

Besides Ji Ning's group, the other six teams of Ancestral Gods and Ancestral Immortals also scattered across the ten-million-li range. The Ancestral Gods also grew to ten thousand li tall, their weapons equally enormous. The Ancestral Immortals hung back slightly, each manipulating their magic treasures and weapons.

"Attack!" Mistrock Star Lord pointed at the nine-petal black lotus city below and commanded.

"Attack!"

"Attack!"

The seven thousand Ancestral Gods and Ancestral Immortals roared in unison. They swiftly flew downward, forming a huge semicircular dome of towering Ancestral Gods pressing down. Behind them came the nine World-level cultivators. The World-level cultivators' greatest fear was the Black Lotus Imperial Capital's formations and restrictions.

The formations and restrictions of a home base were extraordinarily powerful.

Chaos Immortals and World Gods might not be able to withstand them. But the Lesser Thousand Ancestral God-Ancestral Immortal formations excelled at blocking and entanglement. The sevenfold formation working together to resist—this was the plan from before. The most dangerous part, the World-level cultivators were unwilling to lead the charge.

"Whoosh..."

From the nine-petal black lotus city below, black clouds rose, spreading to cover the sky above the city like a protective layer.

"Kill!"

"Kill!"

"Kill!"

The seven thousand Ancestral Gods and Ancestral Immortals attacked almost simultaneously. The Ancestral Gods swung their massive weapons. Ji Ning, with a soft sword in his left hand and the divine sword Violetjade in his right, both swords extending tens of thousands of li, slashed downward fiercely! Of course, he restrained the power of Violetjade, not unleashing its full might.

After all, with the entire army attacking, even if he went all out, his contribution would be limited. It was better to hold back a little and strike at a critical moment against the Black Lotus Empire.

"Boom, boom, boom..." The attacks of the seven thousand Ancestral Gods and Ancestral Immortals rained down—massive weapons and Ancestral Immortals' magic treasures.

Every Ancestral God and Ancestral Immortal was empowered by world power!

The power of ordinary Ancestral Gods and Ancestral Immortals reached the threshold of the World level. The nine squad leaders of the Lesser Thousand Ancestral God Formation were a notch stronger, while the core generals matched World-level cultivators in power. Though ordinary members only reached the threshold, their sheer numbers made up for it.

Against the full assault of seven thousand Ancestral Gods and Ancestral Immortals, none of the World-level cultivators in the Black Lotus Empire dared to withstand it head-on.

"Whoosh." The black clouds were insubstantial, and the massive weapons and treasures scattered as they fell.

"No resistance?" The nine World-level cultivators behind the seven thousand frowned.

If the Black Lotus Imperial Capital had raised a seal to forcibly block...

It would have been easier to break.

After all, in a direct clash, the capital would have to absorb the full force of the attack. But now, the capital didn't resist at all, merely deflecting the force—making things more difficult.

"It seems the Black Lotus Imperial Capital's formations are quite ingenious." Mistrock Star Lord transmitted. "Sevenfold formation, enter the Black Lotus Imperial Capital and advance by crushing."

"Yes."

The seven thousand Ancestral Gods and Ancestral Immortals formed a huge hemispherical dome covering ten million li, pressing downward. Dense world power emanated from them. World-level cultivators also had world power—Chaos Immortals because their golden core space turned into a Chaosworld, and World Gods because their own power was as vast as a Chaosworld.

For Ji Ning and the other Ancestral Gods and Ancestral Immortals, it came from the 'Lesser Thousand Ancestral God-Ancestral Immortal Formation.'

A thousand Ancestral Gods, through the formation's maximum perfect coordination, naturally merged with the spacetime around them, gaining the empowerment of world power.

"Rumble..." The seven thousand Ancestral Gods and Ancestral Immortals charged fiercely, countless weapons and treasures striking down as they pressed onward.

Soon, they plunged into the black clouds of the nine-petal black lotus city.

The black clouds were pushed aside by the world power.

They continued pressing in.

"Seven great formations working together." Mistrock Star Lord's eyes were filled with killing intent. "No matter how powerful your formations and restrictions, you can't break through seven great formations."

Even a single Lesser Thousand Ancestral God-Ancestral Immortal Formation was hard to break.

Seven formations combined...

Mistrock Star Lord guessed that only a Dao Lord-level existence could break through.

This sevenfold formation was his trump card to break the 'Black Lotus Imperial Capital's formations and restrictions.'