Chapter 1007: Arrival at the Frontline

In a quiet courtyard, the Icewind Flood Dragon lay on the ground. A pile of lively ice-element fish demons was heaped before it, and the Flood Dragon opened its enormous maw, swallowing the fish demons one by one.

Several of the Icewind Flood Dragon's scales had fallen off. Wang Qingling cleaned its wounds and applied medicinal paste.

"Little White," she murmured to herself while treating the dragon, "why is he so hypocritical? Does he really think I can't tell that his friendliness towards me is because of you? If it weren't for Ninth Uncle and Ninth Aunt reaching the Nascent Soul stage, the Huangfu family would probably have seized you. After all, you evolved from a python into a flood dragon, making you more powerful than ordinary flood dragons."

The Icewind Flood Dragon let out a strange roar, seemingly in agreement with Wang Qingling.

"I know my limits," she continued. "My aptitude is ordinary, and I'm not some great beauty of captivating charm. You are my most precious treasure. His friendliness is for your sake, and I won't allow anyone to take you from me. I couldn't be bothered with him. If it weren't for my consideration of the Huangfu noble family, I would have ignored him long ago."

The Icewind Flood Dragon swallowed the remaining fish demons in one gulp. It then turned its body, let out a fawning roar, and rubbed its head against Wang Qingling, seemingly trying to appease her.

Wang Qingling rested her face against the Icewind Flood Dragon's head and whispered, "Little White, we've agreed. We'll continue our immortal journey together. You mustn't abandon me. My parents are gone, and I even have eighth-generation descendants, but I don't feel close to them. You've been with me since I was little, growing up together. You're not allowed to leave me."

The Icewind Flood Dragon stuck out its tongue, licked Wang Qingling's palm, and then lay down.

A violent tremor emanated from Wang Qingling's embrace. She took out a communication plate, input a magic art, and a familiar voice suddenly resounded: "Qingling, your Ninth Aunt and I are right outside your residence. We've made it to the front lines."

"Ninth Uncle and Ninth Aunt are here! That's wonderful!"

Wang Qingling put away the communication plate and quickly walked towards the courtyard gate.

She opened the gate. Wang Changsheng, Wang Ruyan, Wang Mengbin, Wang Qiuming, and Ye Haitang were standing outside. Wang Qingling invited them in.

Wang Qingling brewed tea to entertain the five, including Wang Changsheng. The Icewind Flood Dragon lay nearby, its eyes closed.

Wang Qingling picked up the teapot, poured a cup for each of the four, and asked with a smile, "Ninth Uncle, Ninth Aunt, why are you here? Aren't you returning to the Eastern Barrens? The demon race in the Eastern Barrens has also invaded human territory."

"The Ten Great Sects of the South Sea have requisitioned all teleportation arrays in the market cities," Wang Changsheng explained. "They can only teleport to the front lines. Without a token and proof from one of the Ten Great Sects, it's impossible to teleport to the rear. In short, we couldn't return to the Eastern Barrens, so we had to come to the front lines. As soon as we arrived at Golden Dragon Island, we heard about your accomplishments. Your reputation is quite significant!"

Wang Changsheng smiled faintly and teased, "When we just teleported to Golden Dragon Island, and asked a low-level cultivator about the location of the Wang family's station on Silver Serpent Island, the cultivator replied, 'Do you mean the Wang family of the Hundred Spirits Fairy?' He even personally led the way for Wang Changsheng."

"Indeed, Sister Qingling," Ye Haitang nodded in agreement. "That Foundation Establishment cultivator kept praising you on the way."

"Don't listen to their nonsense," Wang Qingling replied. "There are far more powerful Core Formation cultivators than me. If it weren't for Little White, I wouldn't have such a great reputation."

Wang Qingling knew her own capabilities. A significant part of her increased fame was due to the Icewind Flood Dragon. Not many Core Formation cultivators possessed a third-tier flood dragon as a spirit beast; rarity makes something valuable.

"Ninth Uncle, Ninth Aunt, it's all my fault," Wang Qingling said, her face filled with self-reproach. "Most of the clan members we brought suffered casualties, with only twenty-odd remaining. Qiuming was also seriously injured earlier." The three of them had brought a hundred clan members to participate in the battle, but only twenty-odd remained. Foundation Establishment cultivators had suffered heavy casualties.

Wang Ruyan patted Wang Qingling's shoulder and comforted her, "Qingling, Qiuming already told us. This isn't your fault. Battles inevitably lead to deaths. Now that we're on Golden Dragon Island, we'll protect you all well."

Wang Qingqing also participated in the war. Because she excelled at artifact refining and puppet beast crafting, she was transferred to the far rear to repair formation flags and plates, so her life was not in danger. Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan couldn't see Wang Qingqing, but they could protect Wang Qingling and the others.

"Qingling, take these two defensive magic treasures," Wang Changsheng said, taking out two green jade boxes and handing them to her. "Keep them for self-defense."

The Zhenhai Sect's treasury contained many magic treasures. Wang Changsheng had taken quite a few, which now came in handy. Besides Wang Qingling, Ye Haitang, Wang Qiuming, and Wang Mengbin all received several magic treasures. Wang Mengbin received a set of lightning-attribute magic treasures, and Wang Qiuming received one offensive and one defensive magic treasure. Since Wang Qingling had fewer defensive means, Wang Changsheng specifically gave her two defensive magic treasures. Of course, these items would be converted into merit points, which they could earn by working for the family.

"Thank you, Ninth Uncle," Wang Qingling smiled sweetly and accepted the two defensive magic treasures.

They chatted idly, and the conversation suddenly shifted to the war.

"Qingling, you've been fighting on the front lines for so long," Wang Changsheng asked, "do you know why the human race would give up territory in five sea regions? Logically, even if they were outmatched, they shouldn't have allowed the demon race to seize so much territory." Wang Changsheng was puzzled; this question had long bothered him.

Wang Qingling took out a map, pointed to it, and said, "Ninth Uncle, look at the map. The red dots mark the fallen territories, and the white dots are the territories controlled by our human race."

Wang Changsheng's gaze swept over it, and he suddenly understood. The red dots seemed numerous but were connected. The white dots vaguely encircled the red dots, but the encirclement wasn't complete; there was a large gap. Ostensibly, the demon, sea, and barbarian races held the advantage. However, looking at this map, if the human race were to launch a major counterattack, the demon, sea, and barbarian races could easily be annihilated.

"If the gap could be closed," Wang Ruyan's eyes lit up, and she said with a smile, "forming a 'shut the door and beat the dog' situation, the chances of defeating the foreign races would be higher."

Wang Qingling nodded and said, "That's right. As far as I know, the human race's apparent retreat is actually a continuous effort to deplete the strength of the demon, sea, and barbarian races. Their offensive is no longer as fierce as it was in the early stages. They are now in a difficult position, caught between a rock and a hard place. If they withdraw, they'll be reluctant to give up the cultivation resources they've gained. If they don't withdraw, they risk being encircled and annihilated. To avoid annihilation, they can only commit more forces to break through the encirclement."

"The day of the counterattack is not far off," Wang Qingling continued. "The rear is continuously allocating various cultivation resources and sending more personnel. Our Wang family is fortunate; with at least two Nascent Soul cultivators, the higher-ups don't dare to be too excessive with us. Some small families have been wiped out completely, and many Core Formation stage forces have been crippled. They all became cannon fodder, consuming the demon race's strength."

This great war fully demonstrated the law of the jungle. Numerous small forces were conscripted to the front lines. Low-level cultivators fought low-level demon beasts. Many low-level cultivators died at the hands of low-level demon beasts and also killed many demon beasts. Major forces also lost some low-level cultivators, but not enough to cause significant damage. After this great war, major forces would become stronger, while smaller forces would disappear into the annals of history, provided the enemy was defeated.