Chapter 1408: Enemy Attack

The cultivators aboard the starship included not only the twenty Star Hosts but also two Moon Reflection cultivators.

Inside the cabin, the two Moon Reflection cultivators from the Azure Dawn Dao-world sat facing each other across a tea table. One was an old woman and the other an old man. Both appeared aged, with white hair and loose skin; the old woman looked particularly ancient.

Cultivators at the Moon Reflection stage typically have lifespans extending thousands of years. They also employ various methods to maintain their appearance, with female cultivators being particularly diligent. Consequently, cultivators active in the starry sky, irrespective of their actual age, generally appear youthful.

The old woman and the old man, however, were clear exceptions to this general trend.

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

While the Azure Dawn Dao-world boasted three Moon Reflection cultivators, they originated from three distinct sects. For significant matters affecting the entire world, these three Moon Reflection cultivators would naturally cooperate. However, the current issue was not world-spanning but specific to the old woman's sect. From the intelligence she possessed, she believed she was perfectly capable of handling it alone, thus she couldn't comprehend why the old man insisted on accompanying her.

The old man could naturally sense the old woman's displeasure.

While the Azure Dawn Dao-world had hundreds of Star Hosts, their distribution among individual sects meant that each sect possessed only a limited number. Even the old woman's sect had merely around thirty Star Hosts in total. Three of them had just died, including a descendant she particularly cherished. It would indeed be strange if she were in a good mood.

The old man smiled faintly, poured her a cup of tea, and slowly remarked, "By my reckoning, we've known each other for quite some time now. Has it been three thousand years, perhaps?"

Hearing him bring up old times, the old woman's expression softened slightly. "Even if not exactly, it's close enough," she conceded.

The old man sighed, "Time truly flies, doesn't it? In the blink of an eye, we're both practically in the grave."

The old woman snorted, "So what? They're merely a group of early-stage Star Hosts. Are you worried I'll fail?"

The old man shook his head. "It's not that I fear your failure, it's just... among all those who advanced to Star Host alongside us back then, only you and I remain. Our lifespans are nearing their end. After we depart, only young Wu will be left to support our world. As for the future... what path will it take?"

While the Azure Dawn Dao-world currently possessed a respectable foundation, it had gradually developed from what was once a small world.

Nearly three thousand years ago, the Azure Dawn Dao-world advanced to become a large world. The old woman and the old man were present for this occasion, becoming among the first group of individuals to advance to Star Host within the Azure Dawn Dao-world.

Many others initially advanced to Star Host alongside them, but almost three millennia later, all those familiar faces have vanished. Roughly half perished due to the limits of their lifespans, while the other half died in the starry sky. Ultimately, only the two of them succeeded in advancing to Moon Reflection.

Subsequent to their advancement, although the Azure Dawn Dao-world produced many Star Hosts, very few of them had the opportunity to advance to Moon Reflection.

Over the span of nearly three thousand years, it was only about a thousand years ago that a junior named Wu achieved advancement. Thus, for the first time, the Azure Dawn Dao-world had the benefit of three Moon Reflection cultivators overseeing it.

"What does the future of the Dao-world have to do with you coming along?" the old woman asked.

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

How could the old woman forget? That was an expert from the Sun-Illuminated realm, a level they yearned for but could never attain.

"For many years, I've been contemplating the issue with our world. It's already a large world, and the emergence of Star Hosts is not unusual. Yet, the Moon Reflection stage is remarkably difficult to break through; only three have managed it over all these years. I always suspected something was incomplete about our world, but I had no proof. It wasn't until three years ago, when I questioned that esteemed expert, that I finally received an answer."

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

"Just as I suspected, our world's foundation is indeed incomplete. As for precisely what's missing, that expert didn't elaborate, and I didn't dare to inquire. This is also the fundamental reason why Star Hosts who advance in our world struggle to break through to Moon Reflection. You and I succeeded back then by seizing the opportunity of our world's advancement to a large world. Others have not been so fortunate."

"So, Star Hosts who advance in our world essentially have no hope of breaking through to Moon Reflection?" The old woman's face registered shock.

"Precisely," the old man nodded. "That expert said there are such worlds in the starry sky, though not many. Unluckily for us, our Azure Dawn Dao-world happens to be one of them. What misfortune!"

"But young Wu..."

"Have you forgotten how young Wu advanced to Star Host?"

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

As a large world, the Azure Dawn Dao-world also possessed a branch of the Reincarnation Tree, granting it eligibility to participate in the Divine Sea dispute. However, over the years, the Azure Dawn Dao-world's Divine Sea cultivators repeatedly took part, only to mostly perish in the process. This grim outcome led to the Divine Sea cultivators within the world losing enthusiasm for the event, often resulting in their absence.

It was only in the most recent millennium, after the cultivator named Wu advanced to Moon Reflection, that he began bringing his disciples to the Reincarnation Tree each time.

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

The old man replied, "Before advancing to Moon Reflection, he might not have known, but after doing so, he should have realized it! He brings his disciples there precisely because he hopes another Moon Reflection cultivator will emerge from his lineage in the future!"

The old woman snorted, "That young man is rather underhanded!" Then, after a moment's thought, she seemed to grasp the old man's true intention. "Are you planning to take over that world?"

The old man nodded. "The Azure Dawn Dao-world isn't suitable for cultivators to advance to Star Host. Since that's the case, we should find another place for them to advance. In our sector of the starry sky, there are very few large worlds. It's rare for a newly advanced large world to appear, so naturally, we must seize this opportunity!"

Only then did the old woman fully grasp his reason for insisting on accompanying her.

Both had experienced the early developmental period of the Azure Dawn Dao-world. Therefore, as soon as they heard Zhao Tianmu mention encountering a group of early-stage Star Hosts, they immediately surmised that the opposing side was a newly advanced large world.

This scenario was almost identical to the Azure Dawn Dao-world three millennia ago, a time when it, too, was filled with early-stage Star Hosts.

"Getting old, yet still no time for rest. We must be born to toil," the old man sighed.

The old woman said, "If we can secure a promising path for our descendants, then my few disciples will have died for a worthy cause!"

Their journey continued, swiftly nearing the Wushuang Continent.

After a few more days, the starship gently shuddered and came to a halt. Zhao Tianmu, who had escaped Lu Ye, entered with his head bowed, timidly reporting, "Two venerables, we have arrived."

The old woman looked up at him and snorted coldly, causing Zhao Tianmu to lower his head even further.

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 remain hidden for now. To conquer an enemy world, one of us must play the 'good cop' and the other the 'bad cop' to ensure better cooperation."

As they had been acquaintances for thousands of years, the old woman naturally understood his intentions. She promptly gave a slight nod, signifying her agreement with his proposal.

Of course, her primary reason was her belief that her strength alone would render the opponents incapable of resistance.

Flashing out of the cabin, she stood on the deck. Her gaze fixed, she immediately spotted a world ahead, with over twenty figures standing resolutely in its nearby sky.

The old woman sneered, "Overestimating yourselves!"

It appeared the other side was aware that her sect wouldn't let the killings go unpunished, which explained why they had gathered a group of people here to wait.

But a mere group of early-stage Star Hosts—how could she possibly take them seriously?

She raised her hand and made a grabbing motion; a staff materialized out of thin air. Leaning on it, she stepped from the deck into the starry sky, with the twenty Star Hosts following closely behind, advancing step by step.

Initially, there was nothing unusual, but as she drew closer, the aura of a Moon Reflection cultivator slowly began to emanate, an invisible pressure sweeping forth.

In the sky near Wushuang Continent, a total of twenty-five figures stood firm.

The enemy's arrival time was as anticipated. Nian Yuexian had only managed to make two round trips to Kyushu, bringing over sixteen people.

At this very moment, she was likely attempting her third transport, but it was evidently too late.

The enemy arrived without any attempt at concealment, allowing the cultivators from Kyushu to easily spot their starship. As warning alarms blared, the twenty-five individuals swiftly assembled.

Four figures stood at the very front.

These were Tang Yifeng, Pang Zhen, Yue Ji, and Wuchang. Their position at the forefront was, of course, an arrangement decided after discussions among the Kyushu cultivators.

As they watched the opposing starship berth and a group of figures, led by an old woman, sweep towards them, the expressions of the Kyushu Star Hosts grew solemn.

Although they had long known that the other side would certainly not give up and that a Moon Reflection cultivator would personally arrive, they still couldn't help but feel nervous when the moment actually came.

Of the Kyushu Star Hosts gathered there, only the initial group who had arrived with Lu Ye had prior experience dealing with Star Hosts from other worlds, let alone Moon Reflection cultivators.

Behind the four, Lu Ye strained his vision towards the front. Upon seeing the old woman's figure, he immediately recognized her identity and quietly transmitted a message to everyone: "That's Qin Yuandai, a mid-stage Moon Reflection cultivator!"

Wuchang transmitted a message, "Can someone like her simply swat me to death? Little Lu Ye, is your spirit pattern truly reliable?"

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

As the two spoke, Qin Yuandai, who was steadily approaching, had already unleashed her Moon Reflection pressure. Though they were still a considerable distance away, everyone instantly felt the immense pressure.

The four standing at the forefront bore the direct impact. Almost simultaneously with the old woman Qin Yuandai unleashing her pressure, Tang Yifeng and the other three also collectively unleashed their own formidable might!

In an instant, the pressure was like a towering mountain, and their majesty, like an inescapable prison.

Qin Yuandai, who had been steadily approaching, couldn't help but momentarily halt. A look of astonishment flickered in her somewhat cloudy eyes.

Because the might unleashed by the opposing side clearly indicated four early-stage Moon Reflection cultivators!