Chapter 1523: Heavenly Realm Movements

After distributing the Spirit Elixirs, Jiang Fan paused, then took out the Saint's Crystal Sheath.

Jiang Fan hadn't forgotten this incredibly sacred and miraculous crystal, capable of reverting ancient giants. According to his intelligence, at least half of the thousand ancient giants were originally Shura. If they could revert these giants back into Shura during the war, the pressure would significantly decrease. Unfortunately, there was only one crystal.

It couldn't be used for everyone. He could only reserve it for the members of the Heavenly Secret Pavilion, for a moment of desperation. If one of them were cornered by an ancient giant, they could try sprinkling the crystal dust on it. If that giant happened to be a converted Shura, it might cease its attack.

With this thought, he crushed the crystal into powder between his fingers and distributed it to everyone in the Heavenly Secret Pavilion. This was their final safeguard.

Finally, Jiang Fan took out the Soul Crystal and the Space Mirror. Inside the Soul Crystal were the souls of Jiao Huangyin and Xuan Xing. One was a former member of the White Bone Alliance, and the other was a protector of Mount Sanqing.

Jiang Fan opened the Soul Crystal and said calmly, "Past grievances are now settled. Today, I release you. You two may find new bodies and be reborn. It would be best if you could contribute to the fight against the ancient giants, but if not, that is your choice." Compared to the world-ending threat of the ancient giants, his feud with them seemed insignificant.

Jiao Huangyin cupped his hands and sighed, "Thank you, Daoist Jiang, for granting me a path to life. I have committed many wrongs in the past. Now, with this great catastrophe upon us, I will atone for my sins and redeem myself!" With that, he vanished into the void.

Xuan Xing also sighed slightly and cupped his hands, saying, "As the saying goes, 'when the lips are gone, the teeth feel cold.' If the Middle-earth is destroyed, where would a remnant soul like mine find refuge? Let my remnant soul burn itself out on the battlefield!" He, too, immediately disappeared into the void.

With the war beginning, many would surely fall. They would not lack suitable bodies for transmigration.

After releasing them, Jiang Fan then retrieved two more individuals from the Space Mirror. One was the new Dao Leader of Mount Sanqing, Venerable Xuan Yi. His physical body and cultivation remained intact. Jiang Fan removed his restraints and said, "When I imprisoned you, I said I wouldn't kill you, but give you a chance to die on the battlefield. Now, I am fulfilling that promise." Venerable Xuan Yi gazed at Jiang Fan with a complex expression.

As the dignified Dao Leader of Mount Sanqing, having been imprisoned by Jiang Fan, he initially detested him. Yet, witnessing Jiang Fan's willingness to stay in the Heavenly Realm and contend with the Immaculate Grand Venerable and the Five-Star Giant King to save Grand Venerable Xing Yuan, he harbored a deep respect for him. This was a man whom he, and Mount Sanqing, both hated and revered.

He shook his arm, a gesture of settling accounts, and scoffed, "You're not the only one who can kill ancient giants! My Mount Sanqing will do the same!" Immediately, he turned and rejoined the Mount Sanqing disciples, causing a stir.

Finally, Jiang Fan looked at the old woman snoring on the ground. She was also from Mount Sanqing, one of its four Nine-Orifice Nascent Soul cultivators, Senior Feng. She cultivated the path of slumber; once her madness took hold, it would cause surrounding living beings to fall into a deep sleep. After some thought, Jiang Fan decided to keep her by his side.

Her madness was troublesome, affecting friend and foe alike. However, Jiang Fan possessed the Sage's Blood and a Nascent Soul injury, making him immune to her influence. Thus, he placed her back into the Space Mirror.

"Phew." Jiang Fan exhaled slowly. With this, all preparations for the ancient giants were complete. Now, they only awaited their arrival!

At this moment, the Grand Wine Sacrifice soared into the sky. White Heart, Six Paths Venerable, and other members of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau all gathered by his side. The Grand Wine Sacrifice surveyed the crowd, cupped his hands, and bowed deeply to everyone, his voice low and solemn: "Taicang Grand Prefecture is now in your hands!" Moved by his words, everyone bowed in return.

Everyone understood: the great war had arrived! After a long bow, the Grand Wine Sacrifice slowly straightened up and waved the horsetail whisk in his hand towards the Imperial Astronomical Bureau. Instantly, an immense wave of spatial radiation swept out in all directions from the Bureau.

The prefecture-level teleportation array was shut down. This meant that Taicang Grand Prefecture would receive no external aid. They had no retreat! They could only fight!

Everyone gazed at the black pillar of light in the forbidden zone, stretching straight into the sky. Even Jiang Fan couldn't help but take a deep breath, his eyes fixed on the Sky-Connecting Black Pillar. The entire area gradually fell silent, like the calm before a storm.

Heavenly Realm. Black Sun Royal Court.

Over a thousand adult ancient giants stood in neat formation before the Five-Star Giant King's tent. They carried new spiked clubs, and several blood-stained cloth bags hung from their waists. Inside were the corpses of Heavenly Realm Shura, serving as their rations for the expedition to Middle-earth.

After consuming these, it would be the turn of the Middle-earth's inhabitants.

Also standing outside the tent was Green Pearl. She lowered her head, her heart pounding with unease, her red lips tightly pressed together as she awaited the Five-Star Giant King's punishment. Even if she wasn't killed outright, she would likely face an inescapable death sentence. Perhaps she would even be thrown into the blood pool and transformed into a Giant King.

Holding a severed head, she spoke in a low voice, "Reporting to Black Sun King, your subordinate has successfully slain Venerable Xin Nie. This is his head." After speaking, she held her breath, silently awaiting the Five-Star Giant King's judgment.

By instinct, she felt a pair of eyes gaze out from within the tent. That gaze, almost palpable, made her tremble uncontrollably, her body on the verge of shattering. Her heart pounded wildly.

The Five-Star Giant King had indeed seen through everything and was preparing to kill her. But just as Green Pearl was trembling in fear, the destructive gaze from the tent suddenly withdrew. A rough yet calm voice slowly echoed forth.

"It's good you're back." With a whoosh, the tent flap was pulled aside, revealing a thirty-zhang tall giant with golden skin and five stars on his forehead! He was none other than the long-unseen Five-Star Giant King of the Black Sun Royal Court! His massive golden vertical eye calmly observed Green Pearl, showing neither joy nor anger.

Green Pearl's heart was in her throat, but she forced herself not to tremble as she respectfully presented the head. "Black Sun King, this is Venerable Xin Nie's head." The Black Sun King merely glanced at it casually and said, "So he was the one who could move the Sky-Connecting Black Pillar?"

"Good that he's dead, good that he's dead." As his voice fell, the head exploded into a bloody mist, splattering Green Pearl.

This made Green Pearl's heart pound. "Our great threat in the Heavenly Realm has been removed," she said. "There are no longer any obstacles to conquering the lower realm."

The Black Sun King looked at Green Pearl and said calmly, "You've worked hard. Now, where in Middle-earth is the Sky-Connecting Black Pillar connected?" Green Pearl secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

The Grand Wine Sacrifice had anticipated this question from the Black Sun King and had instructed Green Pearl on how to answer. Green Pearl truthfully replied, "Reporting to Black Sun King, it is in the heart of Middle-earth, in the Forbidden Land of Calamity."

The Black Sun King's eyes narrowed slightly, fixing on Green Pearl for a full three breaths before his gaze softened. "As expected, Taicang Grand Prefecture would send the Sky-Connecting Black Pillar there, waiting for us at their leisure."

He gazed into the distance, a cruel smile curving his lips. "Then, I shall have some fun playing with you!"