Chapter 1708: The Great Battle

Specifically regarding complete sets of spirit treasures, the Divine Weapon Palace had already refined two sets. The set of flying swords that Liu Ye wielded was crafted by a weapon refiner from the Taiyi Immortal Sect.

Long Xiaoyao's brows furrowed deeply. The founding patriarch of the Taiyi Immortal Sect, Four Seasons Sword Sovereign, had once visited the Heavenly Azure Realm and consecutively challenged and defeated over a dozen Soul Transformation cultivators. A person's reputation precedes them; Long Xiaoyao hesitated for a moment and said nothing further.

He transformed into an azure flood dragon, soared into the sky, and quickly vanished into the horizon.

Liu Ye let out a cold snort, formed a sword art hand seal, and the four flying swords flew back into his sleeve, vanishing from sight.

Wang Qingshan flew over and respectfully asked, "Patriarch Liu, why have you come?"

"The Heavenly Azure Sect cultivators are wreaking havoc everywhere. If I hadn't appeared, they might have thought this was the Heavenly Azure Realm. Your divine abilities are impressive, but pursuing the enemy alone was far too reckless. Had I not arrived, you would surely have lost your life." Liu Ye spoke in a tone of gentle reproof.

"He killed my cousin," Wang Qingshan stated earnestly, "and I swore I would kill him." Wang Qingshan said earnestly. He possessed a flying spirit treasure, and even if Liu Ye hadn't intervened, Wang Qingshan was confident he could have retreated safely.

A hint of appreciation appeared in Liu Ye's eyes. He admired Wang Qingshan's deep sense of loyalty and righteousness; otherwise, he wouldn't have intervened to save him multiple times.

"Let's go!" Liu Ye said. "Return to Dongli Island with me."

Liu Ye transformed into a streak of light and flew back the way he came, with Wang Qingshan following closely.

After about fifteen minutes, they returned to Dongli Island.

"You should rest well," Liu Ye instructed, full of confidence. "Later, you'll withdraw from the front lines with some other cultivators and go to the Taiyi Immortal Sect to cultivate for a while. That place is relatively safe, with methods left by our patriarch sufficient to handle Soul Transformation cultivators."

"Withdraw to the rear?" Wang Qingshan asked, looking hesitant. "Isn't that inappropriate?" Wang Qingshan showed a hesitant expression and spoke cautiously.

Liu Ye stated firmly, "The decisive power in this war rests with the Soul Transformation cultivators. Your presence won't make a significant difference, nor will your absence hinder us. You are still young; it would be a great pity if you were to fall here. Fellow Daoist Sun and the others will still show me some respect. You can leave with your descendants; surely that will suffice!" Liu Ye said in a deep voice. He had actively joined the war, and there were several reasons for wanting Wang Qingshan and Wang Mengbin to withdraw to the Taiyi Immortal Sect for cultivation. Liu Ye did not wish for Wang Qingshan to perish in this calamity. Moreover, if the Green Lotus Immortal Couple were unable to return, Wang Qingshan would become the cornerstone of the Wang family, capable of leading them to merge with the Taiyi Immortal Sect and replenish its diminished strength.

"Patriarch Liu, your profound kindness is something I am endlessly grateful for," Wang Qingshan expressed. Wang Qingshan said gratefully, admitting that if not for this war, he might have already advanced to the late Nascent Soul stage.

"Remember," Liu Ye stated solemnly, "you are a descendant of the Wang family, but also a disciple of my Taiyi Immortal Sect. Even if you are an honorary disciple, you are still one of us."

Wang Qingshan repeatedly assented, knowing he owed the Taiyi Immortal Sect a great deal and would seek an opportunity to repay this kindness.

After a few final instructions, Liu Ye departed.

Wang Qingshan took out his communication plate and contacted Wang Mengbin.

Shortly after, Wang Mengbin appeared before Wang Qingshan. Wang Mengbin's face was pale, his aura was weak, and there were multiple burn marks on his body.

"Mengbin, what happened?" Wang Qingshan asked, frowning. "Who injured you?" Wang Qingshan spoke with a frown. He had been pursuing Zhao Hengbin, while Wang Mengbin remained at the front lines engaging in combat with Heavenly Azure Sect cultivators. Given Wang Mengbin's strength, he shouldn't have been in such a state.

"Grandson was ambushed," Wang Mengbin replied, his voice weak and listless, indicating his extreme exhaustion. "Fortunately, other fellow Daoists intervened and saved my life. However, after that single battle, I am too weak to fight again. I plan to request a transfer to the rear for recuperation."

Wang Qingshan nodded and said, "Patriarch Liu also intends for me to withdraw to the rear for cultivation. I'll go back with you then. We don't know how much longer this war will last."

The inter-realm war had already been raging for decades, with no end in sight.

Inside the assembly hall, over a dozen Soul Transformation cultivators were engaged in a discussion.

"Fellow Daoist Liu, why are you here?" Dongfang Yulin asked, surprised to see Liu Ye. "Aren't you afraid of the Heavenly Azure Sect cultivators attacking your Taiyi Immortal Sect?"

"Afraid?" Liu Ye retorted with some dissatisfaction. "Is fear useful? Generals face generals, soldiers face soldiers. If they dare to kill my disciples and their descendants, then I won't bother playing by their rules. I'll specifically target and eliminate the Heavenly Azure Sect's low-level cultivators; we'll fight until both sides are destroyed! Our Taiyi Immortal Sect forcefully seized territory from the demon race. You all have grown too complacent for too long. If I hadn't come, you still wouldn't know when you would finally get moving." With the disappearance of True Monarch Heavenly Wolf and the human forces developed the Eastern Wilderness, the Taiyi Immortal Sect distinguished itself among numerous factions and broke free from the control of other powers, relying solely on its strength. In recent years, the Taiyi Immortal Sect had continuously expanded its influence, demonstrating a strong enterprising spirit. In contrast, factions like the Myriad Sword Sect, apart from the Immortal-Demon War over four thousand years ago, had enjoyed peaceful lives for these four millennia. Whenever a major crisis arose, they could always conscript high-level cultivators from their affiliated forces.

"Fellow Daoist Liu, you are mistaken," Sun Tianhu retorted. "We aren't stalling; it's because we lack complete sets of spirit treasures. Life-or-death battles would put us at a significant disadvantage." He fundamentally did not wish for a decisive battle, believing that it was only a matter of time until he reached the late Soul Transformation stage if he continued cultivating steadily. However, the Heavenly Azure Sect cultivators were too detestable, causing widespread unrest and inciting public outrage, which ultimately compelled Sun Tianhu to agree to a decisive battle against them.

"Now that the spirit treasures have been refined," Lu Dao said in a deep voice, his face filled with murderous intent, "it's time to show them what we're truly capable of. Completely annihilating all their Soul Transformation cultivators is indeed difficult, but eliminating a substantial portion of them is certainly achievable. This is our home ground, and we have a natural advantage."

The longer this war dragged on, the greater the losses for the South Sea cultivation world would be. Once it concluded, there would undoubtedly be a new round of power restructuring.

"Exactly," Liu Ruyi proposed. "This is how it should be. With complete sets of spirit treasures, let's see how they can possibly contend with us. First, let's kill Lei Yunbin." Liu Ruyi proposed this, noting that Lei Yunbin was the leader of the Heavenly Azure Sect cultivators. Following the principle of 'capturing the leader to capture the bandits,' eliminating Lei Yunbin would naturally make subduing the other Heavenly Azure Sect cultivators an easy task.

"By the way, Fellow Daoist Liu," Sun Tianhu asked, recalling something, "how is your Eastern Wilderness team doing, the one that went to the Heavenly Azure Realm?" The others all looked towards Liu Ye, hoping to hear good news.

"Fellow Daoist Zhao of the Yin Corpse Sect's vital soul lamp has extinguished," Liu Ye sighed. "The vital soul lamps of over a hundred high-level cultivators have also gone out. While we are confronting the Heavenly Azure Sect cultivators here, they are simultaneously targeting the cultivators we sent to their realm."

Upon hearing this, everyone present felt a sense of disappointment.

True Monarch Seven Flames seemed to sense something. He took out a glowing red spell plate, injected a magic formula into it, and his brows furrowed deeply.

"What's wrong?" Sun Tianhu asked, frowning, feeling a bad premonition in his heart. "What happened?"

"More than half of the high-level cultivators we sent from the Northern Frontier to the Heavenly Azure Realm have already died or been injured," True Monarch Seven Flames said, his expression growing grim. "Fewer than a fifth have survived, and with some factions blocking information for their own benefit, the actual number of survivors is likely even lower."

"In that case, we can't tolerate them any longer," Liu Ye said, his killing intent growing heavier. "We must show them what we're capable of." Liu Ye's killing intent intensified. Since the Heavenly Azure Sect was already besieging the cultivators sent from the Dongli Realm to the Heavenly Azure Realm, they had no reason to hold back.

Sun Tianhu sighed lightly and said in a deep voice, "Then let's fight. Let them witness our might; we'll fight until both sides are destroyed." The Heavenly Azure Sect had pushed things too far; if they continued to cower, they would only be heading for certain death.

In response, Lu Dao and the others all expressed their agreement.

They deliberated for two hours, considering various scenarios and countermeasures, and made thorough preparations.

Liu Ye proposed transferring Wang Qingshan and Wang Mengbin from the front lines. The others did not object, as two Nascent Soul cultivators would not significantly impact the overall situation.