Chapter 1046: Ice Python Island

Xiaoyao Sword Saint sighed softly and said, "Don't worry, the demon race's counterattack is temporary. They can't sustain a two-front war. I never thought they would! To divert our human forces, the demon race actively attacked the Northern Border Immortal Cultivation World, then feigned defeat, creating the illusion of an invasion from the Northern Border Immortal Cultivation World. If not for that, we wouldn't have fallen for it."

Wang Qingshan hesitated slightly, then asked curiously, "Master, why did the demon race suddenly attack the Myriad Flowers Palace? Why not the Shangqing Temple or Chongyang Academy? I heard that even Soul Transformation cultivators participated this time."

"The demon race was searching for True Monarch Tianlan's meditation cave dwelling. Near the Myriad Flowers Palace's main gate, there's a detached residence of True Monarch Sirius. They probably came for that residence. Two Soul Transformation stage demon cultivators led the attack; one was injured by Senior Uncle Liu. The demon race's counterattack is to force us back to the negotiating table. With the Northern Border Immortal Cultivation World now involved, the demon race cannot sustain a two-front war. Now it's a matter of who can last longer."

The demon race had achieved its objective and was unwilling to continue the fight. However, their heavy damage to the Myriad Flowers Palace was akin to a severe slap. The Seven Great Immortal Sects, led by the Grand Unity Immortal Sect, were naturally unwilling to accept this and adopted a stance of defending humanity.

The war had lasted for several years, and neither the Seven Great Immortal Sects nor the demon race could bear it any longer.

Whoever bowed first would suffer a loss. Both sides were now stubbornly holding on, waiting to see who could last longer.

"Master, is there any news of my Ninth Uncle and Ninth Aunt?"

Xiaoyao Sword Saint nodded and said meaningfully, "Yes, they are quite capable. They achieved victory in their first battle, killing one Nascent Soul demon and severely wounding another. Their reputation has greatly increased. If not for the South Sea Immortal Cultivation World's blockade, they would certainly achieve even greater results if they could return to the Eastern Barren to participate in the war."

Wang Qingshan was surprised and delighted. He suddenly thought of something and continued to ask, "Master, Ninth Uncle and Ninth Aunt weren't injured, were they?"

"This, I am not clear about. You will not participate in the upcoming battles. You and Junior Brother Meng should return to the rear. You and Junior Brother Meng are to make a trip to Myriad Flowers Palace."

Wang Qingshan was slightly taken aback and asked, "What for, to Myriad Flowers Palace?"

"The Palace Mistress of Myriad Flowers Palace died from severe injuries. Tang Yunshang seized the opportunity to ascend to the position of Palace Mistress. Senior Martial Brother, the Sect Master, wishes to support Lady Lin. Junior Brother Meng will lead a team to support her, and you will go with them! This is a lucrative assignment."

Due to the relationship between Xiaoyao Sword Saint and Lin Siruo, the Grand Unity Immortal Sect supported Lin Siruo for the position of Palace Mistress. However, Tang Yunshang had ties with the Shangqing Temple, so she naturally wouldn't agree to relinquish the position.

If this matter was not handled well, the Myriad Flowers Palace could erupt in internal strife and potentially be removed from the ranks of major sects.

The Grand Unity Immortal Sect was going both to mediate and to back Lin Siruo.

"Yes, Master."

Xiaoyao Sword Saint had Wang Qingshan accompany them. Firstly, Wang Qingshan was his disciple and could represent him. Secondly, Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan possessed extraordinary strength, and if Wang Qingshan were to die on the front lines, Xiaoyao Sword Saint would find it difficult to explain to the couple. Therefore, he simply transferred Wang Qingshan away from the front.

Returning to his dwelling, Wang Qingshan quickly packed his belongings and left Demon Resistance City with Meng Tianzheng.

South Sea, Ten Thousand Demon Sea, Ice Ape Island.

Ice Ape Island was the ancestral land of the Ice Ape Clan. The Ice Ape Clan controlled 577 islands, including five large islands with Tier 4 spirit veins and 75 islands with Tier 3 spirit veins.

Ice Serpent Island stretched 2,350 li long and 780 li wide. The island was perpetually covered in ice and snow, and from high above, it resembled a giant white serpent coiled on the sea.

Shi Po, a Mid-Nascent Soul cultivator, was stationed on Ice Serpent Island. The Ice Ape Clan had ten Nascent Soul cultivators, and Shi Po's strength ranked among the top three.

Besides Shi Po, there were dozens of Core Formation cultivators on the island.

Inside a secret chamber of a palace built entirely from white crystal stones.

Shi Po sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion. Before him was a half-zhang-tall white alchemy furnace, enveloped by a snowy white flame. A peculiar medicinal fragrance permeated the room.

After a short while, Shi Po performed a hand seal, and the flames extinguished. He sent a spell into the white alchemy furnace, and its lid flew off, releasing five snowy white pills that floated in mid-air.

Shi Po's face showed delight, but the stone chamber suddenly shook, and a strange roar emanated from something he held.

He frowned, took out a miniature seahorse artifact, and sent a spell into it. A panic-stricken male voice suddenly cried out, "Eighth Ancestor, something terrible has happened! Human cultivators are attacking!"

The Ice Ape Clan had also sent cultivators to participate in the war, and the human cultivators were clearly making an example of them.

He quickly put away the pills and hurried out.

Not long after, Shi Po rushed out of the main hall. A snowy white light screen enveloped the entire Ice Serpent Island. Multi-colored spiritual lights illuminated the sky, striking the snowy white light screen like fireworks.

Outside Ice Serpent Island, a white cloud mass, over ten zhang in size, floated high in the sky. Wang Changsheng, Wang Ruyan, and Li Jiong stood at the forefront, with Wang Mingren, Ximen Feng, and five other Core Formation cultivators standing behind them.

The Ice Ape Clan had five islands with Tier 4 spirit veins, arranged in a circle. If one island was attacked, the others could quickly provide support, making them easy to defend and difficult to attack.

Chen Qian divided the forces into five teams. Two late-Nascent Soul cultivators were to besiege Ice Ape Island. The eleven remaining Nascent Soul cultivators were split into four teams: two mid-Nascent Soul cultivators formed one team, and the remaining nine Nascent Soul cultivators were divided into three teams, with Wang Changsheng, Wang Ruyan, and Li Jiong in the same team.

The Ice Ape Clan specialized in ice-elemental spells. Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan's cultivation techniques did not inherently counter the Ice Ape Clan. Li Jiong cultivated a fire-elemental technique, and he proactively suggested joining Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan's team. Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan naturally did not refuse.

Wang Mingren and Ximen Feng were individuals specifically requested by Wang Changsheng. By following Wang Changsheng, he could protect them; if they had followed other Nascent Soul cultivators, their safety would not have been guaranteed.

Li Jiong was the Deputy Palace Master of the Sun Palace of the Sun and Moon Palace. Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan dared not use the spiritual abilities attached to their cultivation techniques.

Li Jiong, however, did not overthink it. Only Earth-grade cultivation techniques possessed spiritual arts, and some Earth-grade techniques came with auxiliary spiritual arts, such as escape or invisibility; not all spiritual arts attached to Earth-grade techniques were offensive.

Wang Ruyan sat cross-legged on the cloud mass, her ten fingers slowly plucking the guqin strings. Giant wind blades shot out one after another, striking Ice Serpent Island like a meteor shower.

Li Jiong raised his hands in an embracing gesture. Behind him, golden orbs the size of water vats appeared, emitting immense heat waves. Even through their protective spiritual light, Wang Mingren and the others felt an astonishing heat wave, and the very air seemed to struggle to withstand the high temperature.

"Go!"

As Li Jiong's command fell, hundreds of vat-sized golden orbs plummeted towards Ice Serpent Island like a meteor shower.

As the golden orbs approached within ten zhang of the sea surface, a large expanse of seawater instantly vaporized.

A dense barrage of golden orbs struck the snowy white light screen, erupting into a vast expanse of white mist, and the snowy white light screen began to emit wisps of green smoke.

A significant portion of the snowy white light screen turned golden, becoming warped and transparent, on the verge of collapsing at any moment.