Chapter 1005: Helpless Decision

The Golden Eagle Market City is adjacent to the Myriad Ghost Sea. Cultivators who enter the Myriad Ghost Sea to search for treasures mostly rest here and sell their findings.

The Golden Eagle Market City is guarded by three Nascent Soul cultivators. Their primary role is to monitor the Myriad Ghost Sea and prevent any disorder, as it serves as the main headquarters of the Myriad Ghost Sect and was a significant battlefield during the Immortal-Devil War millennia ago.

True Monarch Xuanyu, over five hundred years old and in the early Nascent Soul stage, handles the miscellaneous affairs of the Golden Eagle Market City. The other two Nascent Soul cultivators are in perennial seclusion.

In addition to the three Nascent Soul cultivators, there are over a dozen Core Formation cultivators who handle specific tasks. True Monarch Xuanyu gives orders but is mostly engaged in cultivation.

One day, True Monarch Xuanyu was cultivating in his secret chamber, as he usually did.

A transmission talisman suddenly flew in. True Monarch Xuanyu, seeming to sense its arrival, opened his eyes, grabbed the talisman, and crushed it. A respectful male voice immediately sounded: "Uncle-Master Liu, two Nascent Soul cultivators wish to use the teleportation array. What are your thoughts?"

"Bring them to the council hall. I will be there shortly," he replied.

Not long after, True Monarch Xuanyu appeared in a spacious and brightly lit hall, where a man and two women had been waiting for some time.

The man and two women were Wang Changsheng and his two companions. They had initially planned to use the teleportation array to return to the Scarlet Moon Sea as quickly as possible. However, they were surprised to discover that its use required permission from the Nascent Soul cultivator stationed at the market city.

They had already learned of the demon race's invasion of the South Sea, but this conflict didn't directly concern them. They planned to return to the Eastern Wasteland to join the war, having made a promise to the Taiyi Immortal Sect.

"Fellow Daoists, you wish to use the teleportation array?" True Monarch Xuanyu asked courteously. "Do you possess a token or proof from one of the Ten Great Sects?"

"If we don't have a token or proof from one of the Ten Great Sects, can we not use the teleportation array?" Wang Changsheng asked with a frown. With wars erupting in both the Eastern Wasteland and the South Sea, Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan were stretched thin.

Having only recently reached the Nascent Soul stage, they might not be a match for Nascent Soul-stage demons if fighting alone. However, fighting together significantly increased their chances of victory.

They had two choices: either remain in the South Sea to fight or travel to the Eastern Wasteland.

It was important to note that members of the Wang family were already involved in the conflicts in both the Eastern Wasteland and the South Sea. Both cultivation realms had invited them to join the conflict and had promised rewards of territory for significant contributions.

Valuing both equally and not wanting to separate, they deliberated thoroughly and decided to return to the Eastern Wasteland. After all, it was their home, and their decision was also heavily influenced by the war situation in the South Sea.

The combined forces of the demon, sea, and barbarian races in the South Sea had shockingly captured five sea regions, which was incomprehensible.

After much deliberation, Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan decided to return to the Eastern Wasteland to join the war. In the South Sea, they were restricted by the presence of the Sun-Moon Palace and could not fight freely, whereas in the Eastern Wasteland, they would have no such concerns.

"That's correct," True Monarch Xuanyu confirmed. "By order of the Ten Great Sects, any individual or force attempting to use the teleportation array without authorization will be considered an enemy and killed without mercy. It's not just the Golden Eagle Market City; as far as I know, in all sea regions controlled by our human race, teleportation arrays can be used, but only to the front lines. All arrays transmitting to the rear have been shut down unless you possess a token or proof from one of the Ten Great Sects, in which case you may transmit to the rear."

The Ten Great Sects have issued an order requisitioning all large market cities, permitting teleportation only to the front lines. To transmit to the rear, one must possess a token or proof from one of the Ten Great Sects. Under these circumstances, one must either fly there independently, remain in their current sea region, or join the war.

Wang Changsheng frowned deeply. The Golden Eagle Market City was over a billion li from the Eastern Wasteland. If they were to fly by artifact, it would take years to return, and by then, the war would likely be over.

Returning to the Eastern Wasteland was no longer an option. They either had to join the war or remain in their current sea region.

"Fellow Daoist Liu, how are the battles on the front lines?" Wang Ruyan asked with a frown. "How could the demon race manage to capture five sea regions? Are the Ten Great Sects truly so incompetent?" If the demon, sea, and barbarian races were truly that powerful, they would have invaded the human race long ago, not waited until now.

"The battles on the front lines are fierce," True Monarch Xuanyu replied. "As for the specific reasons, I'm not clear; perhaps the higher-ups have a plan. If you two fellow Daoists wish to participate in the war, decide as soon as possible. The teleportation array might close any day, and then it will only reopen after the war ends. The demon, sea, and barbarian races have joined forces and are advancing with great momentum. It's unknown how many years this war will last."

Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan frowned in unison. According to True Monarch Xuanyu, if the war lasted seven or eight years, wouldn't they be stuck in the Myriad Ghost Sea for that long? They knew that in their absence, the Wang family would certainly have to send members to fight. As the conflict concerned the entire human race, every force was obligated to obey orders.

Wang Changsheng pondered for a moment and courteously said, "Fellow Daoist Liu, please allow us to consider this carefully. How about we give you an answer tomorrow?"

"Very well," True Monarch Xuanyu replied. "You two fellow Daoists can stay here for now; it's not too late to give me your answer after you've considered it thoroughly. Let me remind you of something: all major market cities only operate one large teleportation array, and they all transmit to the front lines. There is no cross-teleportation; in other words, you cannot transmit back to the rear. You can only continuously transmit towards the front lines, with no retreat."

Wang Changsheng nodded and left with Wang Ruyan and Ye Haitang.

They found an inn and checked in.

"Husband, since we can't return to the Eastern Wasteland, let's go to the front lines!" Wang Ruyan proposed. "If we go to the front lines, we can still protect our clan members. If we're not there, it's highly likely they'll be treated as cannon fodder and sent on almost suicidal missions." She proposed this, acknowledging it was a practical reality: if they were in positions of power, they too would assign dangerous missions to outsiders.

"Uncle, I think we should join the war," Ye Haitang offered her opinion. "Five sea regions have fallen. Even if we reclaim only two, we could still secure some territory. You and Auntie have reached the Nascent Soul stage and require a fourth-tier spirit vein; you can't keep coming and going from the Myriad Ghost Sea indefinitely! Not only would it be difficult to support the family if something happened, but it could also easily expose the existence of the ruins." The cultivation method she practiced required the essence of high-rank cultivators to refine treasures. In addition, she also wanted to use this opportunity to improve her combat experience, so that in the future she could fight her way back to the Northern Border and avenge her father.

Wang Changsheng pondered for a long while and said, "Since we can't return to the Eastern Wasteland, we can only remain in the South Sea and participate in the war. I didn't expect the demon race to act first. I hope the human cultivators can withstand the combined attacks of the demon, sea, and barbarian races!"

Unable to return to the Eastern Wasteland, they had no choice but to remain in the South Sea and join the war. Fortunately, both the Myriad Sword Sect and Myriad Beast Island had promised territory for significant contributions from Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan. The South Sea was rich in cultivation resources, and it would be excellent if they could seize this opportunity to obtain an island with a fourth-tier spirit vein. Their participation in the war could also protect their Wang family members.

After making their decision, Wang Changsheng immediately went to find True Monarch Xuanyu and agreed to join the war.

True Monarch Xuanyu was overjoyed. He personally led Wang Changsheng and his companions to the teleportation hall and had them teleported to the front lines.

A large swathe of white mist glowed, engulfing the figures of Wang Changsheng and his two companions.

As the mist dissipated, Wang Changsheng and his two companions had vanished.