Bombarding Cultivators with Cluster Artillery

Chapter 1320: Chapter 1288 Frontline Battlefield: The Nine Refining Void True Venerables of the Xianmen Sect

Three months is but a fleeting moment in the context of starry sky warfare.

“Teacher,”

Jiang Ding looked at Gu Lin Heavenly Monarch.

She stepped out of the Great Sun Heavenly Pond, bidding farewell, her gaze filled with reluctance and regret.

“Go back, return to the mother star.”

Jiang Ding stared into the distant starry sky: “This battle carries a definite possibility of failure.”

“If Yuan and we fail, and the elite of the citizen fleet is entirely wiped out, you must not attempt any rescue. Instead, you should immediately launch an attack on the Domain Passage, shatter it to cut off the connection between the two realms, and buy time for Xianmen Sect to recover and rebuild the citizen fleet.”

This is indeed possible.

The Eight Great Immortal Sects are overly eager for the Unity Realm. They’ve already channeled most of their strength toward the Medium Thousand World—Nine Spirits Realm.

The Nine Spirits Realm was never their homeland, merely a temporary foothold. Now that there’s a better location, the political centers of the Eight Great Immortal Sects have shifted; they have in fact moved their capitals. The defense forces in the Nine Spirits Realm are at their weakest in history.

“If the plan to shatter the Two Domain Passage fails, then you must head to Dharma-Ending City.”

“You must wait—wait for the inevitable opportunity of internal strife within the Eight Great Immortal Sects. Without the existence of Xianmen Sect, they will fight like mad dogs until one absolute sovereign emerges. Peaceful coexistence is highly improbable.”

Jiang Ding repeatedly exhorted.

Although Gu Lin Heavenly Monarch was already aware of this, he couldn’t help reminding her, worrying that she might forget, or let emotions cloud her judgment, thereby forsaking the future vitality of Xianmen Sect and entirely extinguishing its chance for revival.

“Rest assured.”

“I understand, don’t worry.”

Gu Lin Heavenly Monarch said wistfully.

Years ago, one of her students was now heading to the front line of battle, while she herself would remain as a backup seedling for the future, staying in the safest rear position—a bittersweet feeling churned in her heart.

“If anything goes awry, take care of my mother and sister.”

Jiang Ding smiled faintly.

Buzz!

Months later, brilliant light exploded. Endless radiance illuminated the starry sky, space runes blossomed again and again, myriad stars sparkled, space rippled like waves, turbulent and surging.

Finally, everything calmed down.

…

The front line, Medium Thousand World—Nine Spirits Realm.

Countless warships traversed the skies, chaotic military formation runes spread throughout the cosmic starry sky. Over the course of hundreds of years of peace and restructuring, the heavy and chilling military spirit left a trail of murderous energy, which not only failed to diminish but doubled, pushing towards an even more terrifying realm.

This is the change that peace and the dividends of Domain warfare have brought to Xianmen Sect.

During these centuries, the hibernating cultivators of Xianmen Sect continuously awakened, underwent heavenly tribulations, and became Nascent Soul Cultivators, while Foundation Establish Golden Core Cultivators advanced repeatedly, their numbers too vast to count.

As of now, Xianmen Sect possesses over a thousand Nascent Soul Cultivators!

And Nine Refining Void Cultivators!

Xianmen Sect has a total of thirteen Refining Void Opportunities, four of which were seized and refined by the sect itself, while the remaining nine came from the Eight Great Immortal Sects as a necessary condition for jointly surrounding and killing the Jiaoming Emperor and claiming the Medium Thousand World.

These thirteen Refining Void Opportunities eventually gave rise to eight Refining Void Cultivators.

Five peerlessly gifted Nascent Soul Cultivators from Xianmen Sect, who ascended from the age of Xianmen Sect citizens as slaves and servants, climbed from the sect’s humble beginnings, fought through several Domain wars, and contributed immensely to Xianmen Sect—five ancient Nascent Soul Cultivators—died under heavenly tribulations, their corpses obliterated, and their divine souls completely extinguished.

During the Refining Void War or the Unity Realm War, these strong individuals survived, yet ultimately succumbed under Heavenly Dao Thunder Tribulations.

Such circumstances are truly lamentable.

Amidst the seventh-rank spiritual veins of the Medium Thousand World—Nine Spirits Realm, a modernized Immortal City has emerged abruptly, its layout resembling that of Xianmen Sect’s capital, with immortal formations densely distributed everywhere.

In the Grand Hall of Ming City, countless wreaths, white cloths, and elegiac banners create a solemn and despondent atmosphere.

Surrounding five coffins covered with Xianmen Sect’s azure flags, flowers were piled high, with numerous Spirit Transformation Heavenly Monarchs, Refining Void True Venerables, and many Nascent Soul Monks queuing to offer flowers and bow their goodbyes.

A green-clothed youth followed amidst the crowd, silently lining up.

“Seniors, goodbye on your final journey…”

After placing his flowers, Jiang Ding moved toward a corner of the Grand Hall.

Over there, Yuan, Divine Machine True Venerable, Wan Ji True Venerable, Taoqing Venerable Sage, and Sun Extinguisher Heavenly Monarch were quietly conversing.

The newly advanced Refining Void True Venerable Canghai was absent; he was stationed on the mother star.

“There’s no need to feel too saddened.”

Yuan sighed and said, “Qingli and the others were over nine thousand years old. To ultimately die in a Void Refining Heavenly Tribulation—this is the happiest ending for Nascent Soul cultivators.”

“In the past thousands of years and in even more distant times, countless Xianmen Sect citizens have perished. In future wars, we might die as well—it’s nothing to dwell on.”

“If young citizens can die, naturally, we old relics can die, too.”

“Death…”

Wan Ji True Venerable remained silent.

Friends of nearly ten thousand years, bonds forged over nearly ten thousand years—suddenly, abruptly, gone—it was impossible to take lightly.

Yet there was no choice but to accept.

Between life and death lies eternal separation—it must be accepted.

A silence engulfed the surroundings.

The deceased Qingli Heavenly Monarch and others were among the most ancient Nascent Soul Cultivators of Xianmen Sect.

Present at the gathering were numerous Spirit Transformation Heavenly Monarchs and Nascent Soul practitioners, almost all juniors to them. In days past, those elder predecessors cared greatly for the younger generation, always taking the forefront during battles, remaining at the rear during retreats, fearful of reckless actions from the little ones meeting peril.

The passing of such elder figures indeed left a profound sense of melancholy in the hearts of all.

“The battlefield,”

“The war is paramount.”

Divine Machine True Venerable suppressed his sorrow and shifted topics: “Everyone, now, Xianmen Sect possesses over one thousand Spirit Transformation cultivators, nine Refining Void cultivators, planet-level warships mass-produced, and has perfectly absorbed the spoils from the Horned Demon Imperial Clan. Xianmen Sect’s fleet strength has been greatly augmented—multiplying several-fold is a very conservative estimate.”

“On the other hand…”

“Those eight old fossils are now somewhat weakened…”

Divine Machine True Venerable’s eyes brimmed with icy ruthlessness, his murderous intent surging: “I am absolutely confident in leading Xianmen Sect’s fleet to overturn them, slaughter them—even the odds of their escape are slim.”

He was brimming with confidence—Xianmen Sect’s fleet strength had undergone a revolutionary transformation, it was no longer the force of old.

Jiang Ding’s eyes brightened momentarily, then hesitated with a slight shake of his head.

“The only obstacle before us is that those eight elders possess the capability to summon Unity Realm Heavenly Tribulations at will!”

“Once cornered, and they all recklessly trigger Unity Realm Heavenly Tribulations, this poses a colossal danger. We may even face the combined assault of three or four Immortal Sect Unity Gods, whose strength far exceeds that of the Jiaoming Emperor!”

“This scenario is excessively perilous.”

Divine Machine True Venerable tapped his fingers, unveiling a starry sky map: “Hence, our strategy is to boil the frog slowly—don’t apply immense pressure on them immediately, let them always believe they still have strategic buffering space and a fallback plan. Prevent them from being pushed to summon Unity Realm Heavenly Tribulations too hastily.”

“It must be understood that Unity Realm Heavenly Tribulations are exceedingly dangerous. Rushed breakthroughs—how high is the success rate? Can one truly ascend to Unity? All of this remains uncertain. Unless pushed to the brink, no one will gamble.”

“This is our opportunity.”

“The unknown powerful clans in the Domain starry sky are simply too numerous—the dangers are omnipresent.”

Divine Machine True Venerable warned gravely.

“We must—within the shortest possible time—capture at least one Unity God! At least claim his soul fragment for research purposes towards deciphering Unity-level Divine Souls, enabling the Central Array Spirit Computer to ascend to the Unity level.”

“Otherwise, the political stability within Xianmen Sect, as well as our ultimate combat prowess at the Unity level—these questions will linger indefinitely in uncertainty.”

“This is Xianmen Sect’s ‘Hunt the Heavenly Dao’ plan.”

“And those eight elders—they’ve presented us with a massive opportunity.”

Wan Ji True Venerable picked up the thread of conversation: “Their obsession with ascending to Unity is so intense that they were willing to gift us nine Refining Void Opportunities, along with signing an exceedingly favorable alliance agreement stipulating that after the first Immortal Sect Great Power achieves Unity, they must allow us to examine Unity-level Divine Souls to aid our studies.”

Heavenly Dao Oaths in the Nine Spirits Realm are regarded almost as synonymous with scraps of paper given the abundance of past broken pledges.

Still, why do so many Immortal Sects persist in creating these vows?

It’s because Heavenly Dao Oaths and Heavenly Dao pledges contain an undeniable force of truth—while Immortal Sect practitioners can defy them, they must pay the price of grave injury.

Immortal Sect Great Powers may believe that upon achieving Unity, they can break free from the pact unscathed.

Such possibilities appear genuine—Immortal Sect’s research into Heavenly Dao pledges runs deeper; their inheritances differ, especially upon grasping the transformative might of Unity Gods.

Xianmen Sect, however, does not share this belief.

“Based on our observations of the Nine Spirits Realm over the years, coupled with the projections of the Central Array Spirit Computer—we theorize the Great Expert from the Xuanwu Heavenly Palace stands the greatest likelihood of breaking through to Unity soon.”

“This old friend may now require our assistance in achieving his goal.”

Wan Ji True Venerable sneered coldly: “While he’s still at the Peak of Void Refinement, I suspect the Xuanwu fossil’s Divine Soul will require fortification through Heavenly Dao Oaths. Otherwise, should he truly break free upon ascending Unity, unexpected situations could arise.”

“Hunt the Heavenly Dao plan.”

“Also called the ‘All Heavens Beidou Taibai Netherworld Curse Killing Array’!”

“Using the Heavenly Dao pact as a primer, we vastly amplify the curse’s destructive force. We are absolutely certain—Unity-level cultivators cannot evade its effects, at the very least suffering heavy injuries, preventing Immortal Sect Unity Gods from unleashing strength far surpassing the Jiaoming Emperor.”

“This is our moment to capture a Unity God!”

As for why the Heavenly Dao pact would morph into a curse-killing array?

From the outset, the Eight Great Immortal Sects never intended to uphold their vows.

Nor did Xianmen Sect.

From day one, meticulous calculations had been made—the Heavenly Dao Oath was deliberately crafted into a refined sabotage spell, manipulating the allure of ascending Unity to entice the Eight Immortal Sect Great Powers into willingly accepting and integrating this curse node into their Divine Souls.