Chapter 1009: Selecting Treasures

"Fellow Daoist Li, your disciple mentioned that you invited us to discuss the war. How do you plan to repel the enemy? We've heard that five sea areas have been captured by the foreign races. Is there some hidden reason for this? We've already joined the battle, so you should tell us everything clearly!"

Wang Changsheng shifted the topic to the war. Wang Qingling had analyzed that the human leadership wanted to encircle and annihilate the invading enemy, but Wang Changsheng felt that things weren't that simple.

If they could have kept the enemy out, why would they have willingly given up five sea areas to them?

Li Tianyang sighed softly and explained, "We have traitors within the human race. Initially, we hoped to keep the enemy out, but with the traitors' cooperation, multiple sea areas fell. I never imagined how deeply the foreign races had infiltrated us, with some spies even holding high positions. It is precisely because of these turncoat traitors that the foreign races advanced irresistibly, and five sea areas successively fell into enemy hands."

"Hmph, these traitors who betray us from within—find one, kill one. We'll extract their souls and refine their spirits; we won't let them off lightly."

A red-lipped, white-toothed, handsome young man in a green robe said with a cold expression, looking utterly hateful of evil.

"This is Fellow Daoist Chen Ang, one of the Five Immortals of the Overseas Lands." Li Tianyang explained with a smile.

Wang Changsheng smiled; he had naturally heard of the Five Immortals of the Overseas Lands, whose reputations were well-known.

Chen Ang was also born a rogue cultivator, having struggled his way up and enduring countless hardships before finally advancing to the Nascent Soul stage. In less than a century, he had established a formidable reputation, earning a place among the Five Immortals of the Overseas Lands, founding a sect, accepting disciples, and spreading his teachings.

While the cultivation resources in the South Sea Immortal Cultivation Realm were abundant, everything had its pros and cons. The South Sea Immortal Cultivation Realm was chaotic, making it remarkably difficult for Chen Ang to reach the Nascent Soul stage as a rogue cultivator, let alone be ranked among the Five Immortals of the Overseas Lands. His strength should not be underestimated.

Wang Changsheng did not dare to be negligent and cupped his fist towards Chen Ang. Chen Ang, likewise, did not delay and returned the greeting.

"Fellow Daoist Li, we've seen the map. The five sea areas occupied by the foreign races are contiguous, and our human forces seem to have them vaguely surrounded. Will the day we close the gap be the day of our counterattack?" Wang Ruyan asked.

Chen Ang sighed deeply and said, "Is closing the gap really that easy? This isn't land. We can block the seabed, but not the sky. The demon race is aware of this and is constantly sending reinforcements. To be frank with you two fellow Daoists, half a year ago, I and several other Daoists agreed to dispatch ten Nascent Soul cultivators leading a hundred Core Formation cultivators, intending to cut off the demon race's retreat and launch a major counterattack. Who would have thought the demon race had already anticipated this move and deployed heavy troops near the gap? We suffered heavy losses, with four fellow Daoists and dozens of Core Formation cultivators tragically dying."

One of his own disciples had also died in that calamity. Ten Nascent Soul cultivators, including two late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators, led the team, believing victory was assured. Yet, the demon race had deployed heavy troops beforehand. They had previously lured and killed several foreign race members, then used soul-searching techniques to repeatedly confirm that the demon race had no heavy defenses before sending out the ten Nascent Soul cultivators and one hundred Core Formation cultivators. The result was devastating losses.

It was that counterattack that severely weakened the human race, allowing the demon race to press their assault and expand their gains.

Wang Changsheng frowned and asked, "Haven't we achieved any major victories? Or at least some phased successes?"

While demon beasts lived longer than human cultivators, comparatively, when it came to strategy, there was no reason for the demon race to be a match for humans. Third-tier demon beasts possessed a certain level of intelligence, comparable to a child of a few years old. Transformed demon beasts of the fourth-tier and above had intelligence equivalent to adults, which increased with time. Demon beasts often took more time to cultivate to the transformation stage, whereas cultivators, with elixirs, formations, talismans, and magic tools, cultivated relatively faster.

"Of course there have been," said Li Tianyang, smiling. "Fellow Daoist Gongsun of Ten Thousand Beasts Island fought two enemies, slaying one Sea Race member and severely injuring another. The two Vice Palace Masters of Sun-Moon Palace eliminated two Nascent Soul demon race members and severely injured one Nascent Soul Sea Race member. Our Nine Yang Sect also killed two Nascent Soul barbarians. Furthermore, Immortal Wuchen of Red Moon Sea Area slew a Nascent Soul Sea Race member and severely injured a Nascent Soul barbarian. If I recall correctly, Fellow Daoist Wang, you and Immortal Wuchen are still in-laws."

Hai Dashan nodded with a smile and said meaningfully, "Immortal Wuchen's divine abilities are indeed remarkable. After reaching the Core Formation stage, she fought her way through mountains of corpses and seas of blood, establishing a formidable reputation. Unlike Fellow Daoist Wang and Madam Wang, your couple's renown was not prominent before reaching the Nascent Soul stage. Presumably, your divine abilities are even greater than Immortal Wuchen's, otherwise, you wouldn't have caused such phenomena."

"That makes sense," Chen Ang echoed with a smile, looking at Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan with curiosity. "Fellow Daoist Gongsun of Ten Thousand Beasts Island passed through all thirty-six levels of the Immortal Suppressing Pagoda, and it's rumored he obtained a heaven-reaching spiritual treasure. His Nascent Soul formation also triggered phenomena. Fellow Daoist Wang, your Nascent Soul formation also triggered phenomena, so you won't be any worse than Fellow Daoist Gongsun."

The Nascent Soul cultivators present wholeheartedly agreed. Gongsun Yang gained fame during the Core Formation stage, and when the Immortal Suppressing Pagoda appeared, he passed through all thirty-six levels, with his Nascent Soul formation triggering phenomena. Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan's Nascent Soul formation also caused phenomena, making it difficult for other Nascent Soul cultivators not to draw comparisons.

With Gongsun Yang as an example, other Nascent Soul cultivators naturally did not dare to underestimate Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan.

It was precisely for this reason that Li Tianyang did not send Wang Qingling and the other two on the extremely dangerous task of harassing the rear, choosing instead to keep them fighting on the front lines where they could at least be watched over. Otherwise, at least one of Wang Qingling, Wang Qiuming, and Wang Mengbin would have died.

Li Tianyang had asked Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan to participate in the battle, hoping to observe their divine abilities.

A Grand Elder of the Nine Yang Sect had also triggered phenomena upon forming his Nascent Soul, and his divine abilities surpassed those of all previous Grand Elders, leading to the Nine Yang Sect's increasing prosperity. The Patriarch of the Taiyi Immortal Sect in the Eastern Barrens, Sword Venerable Four Seasons, also caused phenomena upon forming his Nascent Soul. He led the Taiyi Immortal Sect in various campaigns, and without him, the Taiyi Immortal Sect would not be what it is today.

"You flatter us, fellow Daoists," Wang Changsheng said with a calm smile and humility. "Fellow Daoist Gongsun is a key cultivation talent of Ten Thousand Beasts Island; my wife and I wouldn't dare compare ourselves to him. In tomorrow's battle, we will do our best, but if we are outmatched, we hope you fellow Daoists will lend us your assistance."

Li Tianyang said no more, only smiling, "Fellow Daoist Wang, our current strategy is to deplete the foreign races' effective strength as much as possible. After capturing the five sea areas, their offensive has significantly weakened, and their defeat is only a matter of time. We must now prepare on two fronts: first, to exhaust the enemy's living forces, and second, to preserve our own, while awaiting support from the Central Plains Immortal Cultivation Realm. Then, we will launch a grand counterattack."

"We've been fighting for so long, and the Central Plains Immortal Cultivation Realm still refuses to send troops?" Wang Ruyan asked, her brows furrowed with confusion.

"Negotiations are still ongoing. This matter is of great importance and cannot be taken lightly," Li Tianyang said somewhat vaguely. Ultimately, the terms had not been agreed upon. Upon learning that five sea areas had fallen to the enemy, the Central Plains Immortal Cultivation Realm had made exorbitant demands, asking for five times the original amount of territory and resources. The Ten Great Sects refused to accept, leading to a stalemate in negotiations.

"Alright, let's conclude our discussion for today! Fellow Daoist Wang, Madam Wang, please come with me to receive a second-tier magic treasure. Every Nascent Soul cultivator participating in the battle is entitled to this." Li Tianyang was unwilling to elaborate further on this topic, so he changed his tone and announced the meeting's dispersal.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, Madam Wang, I reside at Haiyun Pavilion. Feel free to visit me if you have time," Hai Dashan transmitted to Wang Changsheng before leaving. Wang Changsheng agreed.