Chapter 1649: Deploying Troops to Invade the Tianlan Realm

In a valley filled with birdsong and fragrant flowers, within a secluded manor, Wang Changsheng and over twenty other Nascent Soul cultivators sat in a stone pavilion, sipping tea and discussing the Dao.

Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan had been fighting for ten years. Besides initially eliminating the Qiankun Twins, they hadn't managed to kill any other Nascent Soul cultivators afterward, only severely wounding one late-Nascent Soul cultivator.

After the Qiankun Twins were killed, the Sky-Ocean Realm paid special attention to the Green Lotus Immortal Couple. They sent Feng Xingzi, Long Yun, and Lu Feng to deal with them, and Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan were naturally no match.

Nascent Soul cultivators fought once a month, while Core Formation cultivators fought every ten to fifteen days. Both sides sustained casualties. The Wang family suffered a hundred casualties, including four Core Formation cultivators killed. Wang Youwei and Ouyang Mingyue were severely wounded and had to withdraw to the rear for recuperation.

Whenever Nascent Soul cultivators engaged in combat, as soon as Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan appeared, Feng Xingzi and his two companions would also appear. They had borrowed spiritual treasures, each wielding one to counter the Green Lotus Immortal Couple.

Under these circumstances, Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan couldn't gain any advantage. In multiple skirmishes, he suffered a few minor setbacks, but fortunately, his injuries were not severe.

In the most dangerous instance, Wang Ruyan was nearly killed by Feng Xingzi. Fortunately, her Five-Element Talisman Soldiers blocked the fatal blow, allowing her to escape danger.

Besides the Green Lotus Immortal Couple, Wang Mengbin and Wang Qiuming also garnered significant attention from the Sky-Ocean Realm. The Sky-Ocean Realm sent two Nascent Soul cultivators to deal with each of them. They couldn't gain much advantage and failed to kill any Nascent Soul cultivators.

Over the past decade or so, more than forty Nascent Soul cultivators had perished. The Eastern Barrens Realm suffered more Nascent Soul casualties, but the Sky-Ocean Realm also sustained considerable losses among its Nascent Soul cultivators. The new Sun and Moon Twin Saints, Song Tianyang and Mu Yuehua, possessed extraordinary strength. Together, they eliminated one late-Nascent Soul cultivator and several mid-Nascent Soul cultivators, earning distinguished military achievements.

Their prominence, however, drew unwanted attention. In one particular battle, Song Tianyang and Mu Yuehua were besieged by four peak-Nascent Soul cultivators. They fought desperately to break out of the encirclement but were severely wounded and had to retreat to the rear for recuperation.

During this period, Soul Transformation cultivators also engaged in several battles, each side having victories and defeats. True Monarch Qianlei, proficient in thunder-element Dao arts, possessed extraordinary power; only Sun Tianhu of Myriad Beasts Island could withstand him.

Liu Ruyi's strength was also considerable; she wounded Long Xiaoyao.

More formidable was True Monarch Seven Flames, who severely wounded a Soul Transformation cultivator from the Sky-Ocean Realm. If True Monarch Qianlei hadn't arrived in time to rescue him, True Monarch Seven Flames could have killed a Soul Transformation cultivator.

True Monarch Seven Flames' reputation soared after this battle. However, both sides clearly understood that it was not yet time for the decisive battle.

The Eastern Barrens Realm continuously deployed troops and transported various cultivation resources.

"Who knows how long this war will drag on?" sighed a golden-robed old man with white hair and beard, his face full of worry. "Why don't the Soul Transformation cultivators just make their move and settle it once and for all? That way, we wouldn't have to keep fighting back and forth."

"Don't worry!" Li Jiong said, his gaze solemn. "I estimate that day isn't far off. Even though we've been trading blows, the true determiners of this war's outcome will still be the Soul Transformation cultivators."

"There's no need for us to worry excessively," Wang Changsheng said with a light chuckle, noting that worry wouldn't solve problems and what was meant to happen would happen regardless. "When the sky falls, those at the top will bear the brunt."

Gongsun Yang expressed strong agreement, nodding and saying, "Indeed! Fellow Daoist Wang is right. In a few days, it will be the Nascent Soul cultivators' turn to spar. Let's go back and prepare! Let's strive to eliminate a few Nascent Soul cultivators."

As time passed, both sides were evenly matched, and casualties among Nascent Soul cultivators became rare in their battles. A group of Nascent Soul cultivators grew stronger through the conflicts, gaining increasingly rich combat experience.

The cultivators rose one after another to bid farewell, returning to their respective residences.

In the council hall, Sun Tianhu and twelve other Soul Transformation cultivators gathered. They could be considered the top combatants of the Eastern Barrens Realm. Representatives from the Eastern Barrens, Southern Sea, Western Desert, Central Plains, and Northern Frontier were all present. The Seven Absolutes Blade Emperor was also among them.

"Fellow Daoist Sun, what has happened?" Lu Dao said with a frown. "Why have you suddenly called a meeting? Is it time for the decisive battle?" He had fought against Lei Yunbin, suffering a hidden disadvantage and losing some vital energy.

"We have located Fellow Daoist Fu," Sun Tianhu said with some excitement. "He has successfully crafted three Heaven-Light Realm-Breaking Talismans. These talismans can open temporary spatial passages, allowing us to send a group of experts to the Sky-Ocean Realm. This way, we won't have to worry about the Soul Transformation cultivators from the Sky-Ocean Realm acting without restraint. This creates a situation where we are intertwined, and the Sky-Ocean Realm's Soul Transformation cultivators will think twice before delivering fatal blows."

"Three Heaven-Light Realm-Breaking Talismans!" Feng Li's face was full of confusion. "Is Fellow Daoist Fu's talisman-making skill truly that high?" Fifth-tier talismans were already difficult to craft, let alone a fifth-tier talisman capable of breaking through a realm barrier.

"Fellow Daoist Fu used the Myriad People Brush to craft the fifth-tier talismans, which naturally increases the success rate," Sun Tianhu explained. "He only managed to produce three Heaven-Light Realm-Breaking Talismans after numerous failures. If the Myriad People Brush weren't a Heavens-Reaching Spiritual Treasure, he probably wouldn't have been able to craft even one. I plan to select a group of experts and send them to the Sky-Ocean Realm to cause disruption and thus tie down their cultivators."

Upon hearing this, the cultivators exchanged glances.

The Heaven-Light Realm-Breaking Talismans were single-use items, only opening temporary spatial passages. In other words, those who went would not return. This meant they would easily be encircled and annihilated by Sky-Ocean Realm cultivators. It was hardly different from being sent to their deaths.

If they remained in the Eastern Barrens Realm, their families or disciples would still be protected. But once in the Sky-Ocean Realm, their safety was uncertain.

"The Sky-Ocean Realm is vast," Sun Tianhu continued. "If they are intent on hiding, they won't be easily discovered. This is also an opportunity for them. I intend to send five Nascent Soul cultivators and thirty Core Formation cultivators." As one of the leaders of the Eastern Barrens Realm, Sun Tianhu naturally had to set an example.

Liu Ruyi pondered for a moment, then said, "I will send four Nascent Soul and forty Core Formation cultivators."

"I will send three Nascent Soul and fifty Core Formation cultivators," Lu Dao stated.

The others expressed their intentions one after another, all agreeing to send a contingent of experts.

"Just these people aren't enough," Dongfang Yulin suggested. "The Sky-Ocean Realm is not small. Let's send more people. Consider it leaving behind a vital core."

Sun Tianhu nodded and said, "Naturally. I plan to dispatch three thousand cultivators there, led by four Soul Transformation cultivators, a hundred Nascent Soul cultivators, and over two thousand Core Formation cultivators, to turn the Sky-Ocean Realm upside down." The cultivators sent to cause disruption in the Sky-Ocean Realm must at least be of the Core Formation stage. The war was currently in a stalemate. To break this deadlock, one side had to make a change.

Liu Ruyi suddenly remembered something and frowned as she asked, "Fellow Daoist Sun, has Yan from the barbarian tribe not replied yet? Are they still observing? Or are they leaning towards the Sky-Ocean Realm?" The barbarian tribe's overall strength was not weak, mainly because they had a Soul Transformation cultivator. Otherwise, they would have long since been absorbed by the demon, sea, and human races.

Sun Tianhu's expression turned cold as he said, "Hmph, observing is one thing. But if he sides with the Sky-Ocean Realm cultivators, he will be courting death. I wouldn't mind using him as a sacrifice. Enough about him; let's discuss the deployment of personnel."