Chapter 1646: Four Seasons Sword Sovereign's News

"Before we find Fellow Daoist Fu, we must contain those Soul Transformation old monsters to prevent them from disregarding the rules and engaging in a massacre," a tall, red-robed elder with eyes like torches and a square face said with a frown. He exuded an air of stern authority.

This was Lu Dao, a Grand Elder of the Divine Weapon Palace, and a cultivator at the early Soul Transformation stage.

Most of the Soul Transformation cultivators from the South Sea had arrived. Soul Transformation cultivators from Myriad Beast Island, Divine Weapon Palace, the Dongfang Family, and Myriad Sword Sect had each brought two of their sect's most prized treasures. Were it not for them, the Heavenly Wave Realm would have occupied the entire South Sea cultivation world, not just a single sea area.

The Heavenly Wave Realm had arrayed its forces for battle against the Eastern Faction Realm. The Eastern Faction Realm, fighting on home ground, held a significant advantage. However, it had a fatal flaw: if the Heavenly Wave Realm's Soul Transformation cultivators acted without restraint and unleashed a massacre, the Eastern Faction Realm would be in grave danger.

With twelve Soul Transformation cultivators working together, along with potent spirit treasures and flying spirit treasures, no force in the Eastern Faction Realm could stop them. Therefore, the Eastern Faction Realm's Soul Transformation cultivators had to project a readiness for a desperate fight to prevent the Heavenly Wave Realm's Soul Transformation cultivators from acting recklessly.

Over the past few centuries in the Eastern Faction Realm, numerous large-scale battles had erupted between humans and other races, but Soul Transformation cultivators had never intervened. Even Nascent Soul cultivators suffered only dozens of casualties. This was because both sides had their concerns: if you could devastate another's clan, they could annihilate your sect.

The Heavenly Wave Realm was different. Eastern Faction Realm cultivators could not travel to the Heavenly Wave Realm, and if the Heavenly Wave Realm's Soul Transformation cultivators personally attacked, they would be difficult to stop.

"We have all brought our sect's most powerful treasures this time. Even if twelve Soul Transformation cultivators work together, it won't be easy to kill the seven of us. They are currently testing the waters and won't personally intervene. Even if they could eliminate us, they wouldn't emerge unscathed," Liu Ruyi said coldly. It was a strategy of "harming one thousand enemies while losing eight hundred of your own." If the Heavenly Wave Realm's Soul Transformation cultivators insisted on attacking, the Eastern Faction Realm's Soul Transformation cultivators would fight to the bitter end, resulting in mutual destruction where no one would benefit.

"True Monarch Qianlei possesses extraordinary divine abilities, but this time I've brought the Seven-Star Thunder-Transforming Umbrella, a treasured family heirloom specifically designed to weaken the power of lightning-based dao techniques. Still, we must speed up. We need to send a group of high-level experts to the Heavenly Wave Realm so they will have reservations," Dongfang Yulin stated gravely, his face filled with murderous intent.

"The Heavenly Wave Realm traveled all this way to our Eastern Faction Realm, certainly not for sightseeing. Those Soul Transformation old monsters probably can't ascend to the Spirit Realm, which is why they're invading other realms, hoping to plunder resources to cultivate to the late Soul Transformation stage, or to gather cultivation resources to refine powerful treasures and smuggle themselves into the Spirit Realm through spatial nodes," Lu Dao said, frowning.

"In that case, the neighboring realms are likely in a similar situation. Is there any way to open a spatial channel to the Ice Sea Realm? If we could seek assistance from the Ice Sea Realm, we might be able to repel the invasion from the Heavenly Wave Realm," Feng Li suggested.

Sun Tianhu shook his head repeatedly. "We know even less about the Ice Sea Realm. Our understanding of it is from twenty thousand years ago. Who knows what the Ice Sea Realm is like after all this time? If the Ice Sea Realm is stronger than the Heavenly Wave Realm, opening a spatial channel would be like leading sheep into a tiger's mouth. If it's weaker, it won't help us. It's better to rely on ourselves than on others."

"Well said! It's better to rely on oneself than on others. In critical moments, you can only truly depend on yourself." A resonant voice suddenly rang out. As the words fell, a burly red-robed man and Zhou Xingguo entered.

The red-robed man had striking red lips and white teeth, with eyes like lightning that faintly shot out bursts of fire. This was True Monarch Seven Flames, Zhao Yan, at the early Soul Transformation stage.

"Fellow Daoist Zhou, Fellow Daoist Zhao, you've finally arrived! I didn't expect you to be faster than Fellow Daoist Li and the others from the Eastern Barren Lands," Sun Tianhu said with some excitement. With their arrival, they now had nine Soul Transformation cultivators.

"Fellow Daoist Zhao refined a flying spirit treasure, so we traveled quite fast. Fellow Daoist Li and the others should be arriving soon. Fellow Daoist Sun, please brief us on the battle situation!" Zhou Xingguo said gravely.

Sun Tianhu nodded and began to recount the battle.

On an elliptical island, numerous structures had been built, ranging from magnificent palaces to simple stone huts. Many cultivators could be seen moving about.

On a steep, cloud-shrouded peak, a simple blue stone pavilion stood at the summit. Lei Yunbin and eleven other Soul Transformation cultivators sat in the pavilion, sipping tea and chatting.

"Senior Brother Lei, the experts from the Heavenly Wave Realm are gathering here. If this becomes a prolonged battle, we might not be their match. The victories and losses of those Nascent Soul juniors aren't important; ultimately, it's up to us to decide the outcome," Li Shuo said with a frown.

"Exactly. I think there's no need for such trouble. Let's have a fight with the Eastern Faction Realm's Soul Transformation cultivators. If we win, they'll obey our commands. If we lose, we'll retreat. I refuse to believe they are our opponents," a corpulent, yellow-robed man said nonchalantly.

Lei Yunbin smiled faintly. "It's not that simple. To make them surrender, we must kill a few Soul Transformation cultivators and show them our power. Win a spar and annex a realm? I am merely delaying time. If Senior Brother Shangguan also comes to the Eastern Faction Realm, it will surely be ours for the taking."

Shangguan Tianhong was the foremost expert in the Heavenly Wave Realm. If he and Lei Yunbin joined forces, no one in the Eastern Faction Realm would be able to stop them.

Lei Yunbin also wished to quickly conquer the Eastern Faction Realm, but he had exchanged blows with Sun Tianhu. Although he had held the upper hand, Sun Tianhu's Myriad Demon Pagoda was indeed formidable, and Lei Yunbin was not absolutely confident of victory.

"Indeed! Don't underestimate the Eastern Faction Realm. Over four thousand years ago, the Four Seasons Sword Venerable from the Eastern Faction Realm came to our Heavenly Wave Realm and sought out Soul Transformation cultivators everywhere for spars. The Four Seasons Sword Venerable challenged Soul Transformation cultivators from the ten major forces—one palace, two sects, three gates, and four families—forcing them to offer treasures in exchange. The Eastern Faction Realm hides many formidable experts! They even repelled the Demon Race, so it's better to be cautious," Long Xiaoyao agreed, his expression solemn.

"Yes! If the Four Seasons Sword Venerable ascended to the Spirit Realm, the Grand One Immortal Sect might be able to contact him. If we truly push the Eastern Faction Realm's Soul Transformation cultivators too far, even a wisp of the Four Seasons Sword Venerable's divine sense descending to the lower realm would be something we couldn't resist. It's better to wait for Senior Brother Shangguan to arrive!" Long Hanji fully agreed. Four thousand years ago, a Soul Transformation cultivator who called himself the Four Seasons Sword Venerable came to the Heavenly Wave Realm and defeated more than a dozen Soul Transformation cultivators under the guise of sparring, becoming renowned throughout the Heavenly Wave Realm. Since the famous Four Seasons Sword Venerable originated from the Eastern Faction Realm, they dared not be entirely certain that the Eastern Faction Realm's forces could not contact their ancestors in the Spirit Realm, which made them hesitant.

"Ultimately, our goal is to ascend to the Spirit Realm. If a powerful being from the Spirit Realm were to send down a wisp of their divine sense and tell us about a special passage or an intermediary realm for ascension, let alone withdrawing our troops, I'd even kowtow to them without hesitation," a golden-robed elder with white hair and beard said dismissively, his face ruddy.

This was Sun Ran, at the early Soul Transformation stage. He had three hundred years of lifespan remaining; if he couldn't ascend to the Spirit Realm, he would only be able to pass away in meditation.

His statement met with profound agreement from the other cultivators.