Chapter 1367: Strong Enemy Approaches

The cultivators in the starship were not only the twenty Star Hosts; there were also two Moon Sages.

Inside the cabin, these two Moon Sages from the Azure Dawn Dao Realm sat opposite each other across a tea table. One was an old woman, the other an old man. From their appearance, both were advanced in age, with white hair and loose, wrinkled skin, the old woman looking even more ancient. Cultivators at the Moon Sage level typically live for thousands of years, and they all have methods to preserve their appearance, especially female cultivators who prioritize their looks. Therefore, cultivators active in the starry sky usually appear young, regardless of their true age, unless they are genuinely ancient. The old woman and the old man were clearly examples of the latter.

As they sat in silence, the old woman looked up at the man opposite her and said indignantly, "This is an internal matter for my sect. Why did you come along?"

Although the Azure Dawn Dao Realm had three Moon Sages, they hailed from three different sects. For significant realm-wide affairs, the three Moon Sages would naturally assist each other. However, the current situation only concerned the old woman's sect, not the entire realm. Based on the intelligence they had, she was sufficient to handle it alone, so she didn't understand why the old man insisted on accompanying her. The old man could naturally sense her displeasure.

While the Azure Dawn Dao Realm boasted hundreds of Star Hosts in total, the number possessed by individual sects was not large. Even the old woman's sect, at full strength, had only around thirty Star Hosts. Now, three of them had died, and one was a descendant she particularly valued. It would be strange if her mood were good.

The old man smiled slightly, reached out, and poured her a cup of tea. He slowly said, "By my reckoning, we've known each other for quite a few years now, perhaps three thousand?"

Hearing him recall the past, the old woman's expression softened slightly. "Even if not, it's close."

The old man remarked, "Time truly flies. In the blink of an eye, we're both halfway to the grave."

The old woman snorted coldly, "So what? They're just a bunch of early-stage Star Hosts. Are you afraid I'll fail?"

The old man shook his head. "It's not that I fear your failure, it's just... of all those who ascended to Star Host with us back then, only you and I remain. Our lifespans are nearing their end. After we're gone, only Little Wu will be left to support our realm. What will become of its future?"

Although the Azure Dawn Dao Realm currently possessed a decent foundation, it had slowly developed from a small realm. Nearly three thousand years ago, when the Azure Dawn Dao Realm ascended to a large realm, the old woman and the old man were among the first cultivators there to become Star Hosts.

Many others had also ascended to Star Host alongside them at that time, but nearly three millennia later, those familiar faces had vanished. Half died from the end of their lifespans, and half perished in the starry sky. In the end, only the two of them successfully advanced to Moon Sage. After them, while the Azure Dawn Dao Realm had produced numerous Star Hosts, very few of them had the opportunity to ascend to Moon Sage! Over nearly three millennia, only a single junior, surnamed Wu, had managed to ascend a little over a thousand years ago. It was only then that the Azure Dawn Dao Realm finally had three Moon Sages presiding over it.

"What does the future of the Dao Realm have to do with you accompanying me here?" the old woman asked.

The old man replied, "Do you remember the senior who passed through our realm three years ago?"

How could the old woman forget? That was a master of the Sunlit Realm, a level they aspired to but could never reach.

"For years, I've been pondering our realm's issue. It's long been a large realm, and the birth of Star Hosts is normal. Yet, the Moon Sage level is remarkably difficult to break through; only three have been born here over all these years. I've always suspected there was something incomplete about our realm but lacked proof. It wasn't until three years ago, when I consulted that master, that I finally got an answer."

The old woman quickly asked, "What did he say?"

"As I suspected, our realm's foundation is indeed incomplete. As for exactly what's missing, that master didn't say, and I dared not ask. This is the fundamental reason why Star Hosts who ascend in our realm find it so difficult to break through to Moon Sage. You and I succeeded back then by leveraging the opportunity of our realm ascending to a large realm. Others haven't had that good fortune."

"So, Star Hosts who ascend in our realm have virtually no hope of breaking through to Moon Sage?" The old woman's face showed shock.

"Precisely," the old man nodded. "That master said such realms exist in the starry sky, but they are few. Unfortunately, our Azure Dawn Dao Realm happens to be one of them!"

"But Little Wu..."

"Have you forgotten how Little Wu ascended to Star Host?"

The old woman then remembered, "That's right, Little Wu participated in the Divine Sea dispute of the Reincarnation Tree back then and gained the opportunity to ascend to Star Host in the Grand Beginning Realm!"

As a large realm, the Azure Dawn Dao Realm also had a branch of the Reincarnation Tree and was qualified to participate in the Divine Sea dispute. However, for many years, the Divine Sea cultivators from the Azure Dawn Dao Realm who participated often went but never returned. This led to a lack of enthusiasm among the realm's Divine Sea cultivators for participating, resulting in frequent absences. It was only in the last millennium, after the cultivator surnamed Wu ascended to Moon Sage, that he began leading his disciples to the Reincarnation Tree every time.

The old woman suddenly understood. "Does Little Wu know about this? Is that why he brings people to participate in that grand event every time?"

The old man said, "Before ascending to Moon Sage, he might not have known, but after ascending, he must have realized! He takes his disciples there hoping that another Moon Sage will emerge from his lineage in the future!"

The old woman snorted, "That young man is somewhat dishonest!" Then, after a moment's thought, she seemed to grasp the old man's intention. "You want to take control of that realm?"

The old man nodded. "The Azure Dawn Dao Realm isn't suitable for cultivators to ascend to Star Host. If that's the case, then we'll find another place for them to ascend. In our star system, there aren't many large realms, and it's rare for a newly ascended large realm to appear. Naturally, we must seize this opportunity!"

Only then did the old woman understand why he had insisted on coming along. Both of them had experienced the initial development period of the Azure Dawn Dao Realm. So, as soon as Zhao Tianmu mentioned encountering a group of early-stage Star Hosts, they were certain that the opposing realm was a newly ascended large realm. This scenario was almost identical to the Azure Dawn Dao Realm three thousand years ago, when it too was filled with early-stage Star Hosts.

"Old and still no rest, truly a life of toil," the old man sighed.

The old woman replied, "If we can secure a good future for our descendants, then the deaths of my disciples will not have been in vain!"

The starship continued its journey, rapidly approaching Unrivaled Continent. After some more days, the starship shuddered slightly and came to a halt. Zhao Tianmu, who had escaped from Lu Ye, entered with his head bowed, timidly saying, "Esteemed ancestors, we've arrived."

The old woman looked up at him and snorted coldly. Zhao Tianmu's head dropped even lower.

The old woman rose and walked out, but the old man remained seated. She turned to look at him.

The old man smiled. "I'll stay out of sight for now. To take over an opposing realm, one person needs to play the good cop, and the other the bad cop. That way, we can coordinate more easily."

Being old acquaintances for thousands of years, how could the old woman not understand his intentions? She gave a slight nod, signaling her agreement to his proposal. Of course, the main reason was her belief that the opponent couldn't resist her power alone. She flashed out of the cabin and stood on the deck. Her gaze fixed, she immediately saw a realm ahead, and in the nearby sky of that realm, over twenty figures stood.

The old woman sneered, "Overestimating themselves!"

It appeared the other side knew that after killing their people, they wouldn't let the matter rest, so they had gathered a group here to wait. But a mere group of early-stage Star Hosts? How could she take them seriously?

She raised her hand, and a staff materialized in front of her. Leaning on it, she stepped from the deck into the starry sky. The twenty Star Hosts followed closely behind her, advancing step by step. Initially, there was nothing unusual, but as she drew closer, the aura of her Moon Sage realm slowly began to unfurl, unleashing an invisible wave of pressure.

In the sky near Unrivaled Continent, a total of twenty-five figures stood. The enemy's arrival time was as expected. Nian Yuexian had only managed to make two round trips to Kyushu, bringing sixteen people over. At this moment, she was likely attempting a third transport, but it was clearly too late.

The enemy arrived without any concealment, so the cultivators from Kyushu easily spotted their starship. As the warning sounded, the twenty-five figures quickly assembled. Standing at the forefront were four individuals: Tang Yifeng, Pang Zhen, Moon Ji, and Wuchang! Their prominent positions were, naturally, the result of discussions among the Kyushu cultivators.

Watching the enemy starship halt and a group of figures, led by the old woman, sweep towards them, the expressions of the Kyushu Star Hosts grew solemn. Although they had known the other side wouldn't give up and that a Moon Sage would personally come, they couldn't help but feel nervous when the moment truly arrived. Among the Kyushu Star Hosts standing there, except for the first group who came with Lu Ye, none had ever dealt with Star Hosts from other realms, let alone Moon Sages.

Behind Tang Yifeng and the other three, Lu Ye strained his vision to look ahead. Seeing the old woman's figure, he immediately recognized her identity and quietly transmitted a message to those around him: "Qin Yuandai, a mid-stage Moon Sage cultivator!"

Wuchang transmitted back: "Can someone like that swat me dead with one slap? Little Lu Ye, is your spirit pattern reliable?"

"Reliable or not, we'll have to bluff our way through!"

As they spoke, Qin Yuandai, who was steadily approaching, had already unleashed her Moon Sage pressure. Though still at a distance, everyone immediately felt the immense pressure. The four standing at the forefront bore the brunt. Almost simultaneously with the old woman Qin Yuandai activating her pressure, Tang Yifeng and the other three also unleashed their own imposing auras!

Instantly, pressure like mountains and majesty like a prison erupted. Qin Yuandai, who had been advancing unhurriedly, couldn't help but pause. Her somewhat cloudy eyes revealed a look of astonishment. Because judging by the aura the opponents unleashed, there were actually four early-stage Moon Sages!