Chapter 2624: Compromise or Fight to the Death
Within the Golden Tree Saint Domain stood a sacred city, located at the southern end of the domain, only a thousand miles from the Golden Sand Saint Domain.
In the domain’s government office, a large number of Kunlun Realm Saint realm cultivators had gathered.
There were over fifty Great Saints alone.
Saint King realm powerhouses filled every seat, a dense crowd of heads.
Yet the atmosphere was quite oppressive. Everyone’s face was etched with indignation, their eyes blazing with fury.
In the Wuji Heaven Domain, Kunlun Realm possessed a total of twenty-one saint domains, each guarded by a Great Saint.
However, in the past month, the lords of these twenty-one saint domains had been successively challenged by Great Saints from the Blade God Realm. Although the Heavenly Palace had explicitly ruled that territory challenges forbade killing and should be settled with restraint, in one “accident,” a beast emperor from Kunlun Realm’s Nine Li Palace was killed by a Blade God Realm Great Saint.
Beyond that, four Kunlun Realm Great Saints had their cultivation crippled. Over twenty had suffered severe injuries.
A single saint domain did not only see one battle erupt.
Often, to contend for a single saint domain, more than a dozen battles would be fought back and forth.
After all, the Blade God Realm was teeming with experts and possessed deep foundations. In just one month, Kunlun Realm had successively lost sixteen saint domain territories. Only four remained under Kunlun Realm’s control.
At this moment, Gai Tianjiao, who had originally been stationed at one of the four remaining saint domains, Clear Sky Saint Domain, was carried into the Golden Tree Saint Domain’s government office by a group of Saint realm cultivators from the Liangyi Sect.
They had been expelled from Clear Sky Saint Domain.
Gai Tianjiao was severely injured. A blade qi imbued with an ice-cold attribute had struck her back, diagonally severing her spine.
Her entire body was even frozen within azure ice crystals.
Kunlun Realm’s Great Saint, Soul Devouring King, spat out a mouthful of divine flame, trying to help her melt the ice. But the moment the divine flame touched the ice, cracks appeared on Gai Tianjiao’s immortal sacred body within the ice, emitting a “crackling” sound.
Soul Devouring King quickly withdrew the divine flame and said, “It’s the Azure Cang Cold Ice Blade Qi of Blade God Realm Great Saint Bai Qingcang. It can’t be melted with fire. It seems we’ll have to wait for Tai Shang to return.”
A Saint King from the Liangyi Sect, his face anxious, shook his head and said, “No good. The Sect Master’s sacred soul was wounded by Bai Qingcang’s blade soul, and her spine was also damaged. She has fallen into an unconscious state and can’t heal herself. Her life force is rapidly draining; there’s no way she can hold on until Tai Shang returns.”
“Bai Qingcang’s strike was truly vicious,” a Kunlun Realm Saint King said through gritted teeth.
“He’s a Supreme Realm Great Saint. No matter how much you hate him, what can you do? You’re not even a Great Saint; you don’t even qualify to challenge him.”
…
Three more Kunlun Realm Great Saints took turns trying, but the Azure Cang Cold Ice Blade Qi was untouchable.
The moment they touched it, the blade qi burrowed deeper into Gai Tianjiao’s body.
Ling Feiyu wore a red martial robe, a jade belt tied around her waist. Her jet-black long hair fell naturally. Her gaze was deep and cold, and no one knew what she was thinking.
Ling Xiu’s injuries had already been healed by Tai Shang.
He could see that although Ling Feiyu appeared tough on the outside, she was filled with guilt inside.
Outwardly strong, inwardly soft.
He transmitted his voice, saying, “Don’t blame yourself too much. Even if you hadn’t crippled Xu Xu, the Heavenly Realm and Blade God Realm would have found another excuse to attack Kunlun Realm. Kunlun Realm’s rise was always going to be extremely difficult. We must face it resolutely, not compromise or retreat.”
Urgent footsteps came from outside again.
An Immortal realm Great Saint from the Dragon Clan of Ancestral Dragon Mountain carried a severely injured, aged old Dragon Emperor into the government office.
Behind him followed a large group of young Saint realm cultivators from Ancestral Dragon Mountain.
“Tai Shang, please save my father! He was struck by the Blade God Realm’s Canghai Yishu, which damaged his dragon pearl and dragon soul,” the Immortal realm Dragon Clan Great Saint said.
The Kunlun Realm Great Saints immediately gathered around to examine the old Dragon Emperor’s injuries.
“Tai Shang went to the Western Buddha Realm to borrow pills and hasn’t returned yet.”
“Canghai Yishu again.”
“The old Dragon Emperor’s cultivation is close to the half-god level, yet even he couldn’t escape this calamity.”
“Doesn’t that mean Baiting Saint Domain has also fallen into Blade God Realm’s hands?”
…
Soon, more bad news arrived.
Wen Di, who had been stationed at Kuze Saint Domain, had half of his physical body destroyed by a mysterious half-god from the Blade God Realm, and his spiritual power was greatly damaged.
Just half an hour later, a group of Confucian disciples carried Wen Di’s half-destroyed remains to Golden Tree Saint Domain, begging Tai Shang to heal him.
The Kunlun Realm Great Saints had been most at ease with Kuze Saint Domain, after all, Wen Di’s spiritual power attainments were nothing short of miraculous. Even a half-god facing him might not necessarily gain the upper hand.
Yet Kuze Saint Domain was still taken, and Wen Di’s legs were broken, turned into bloody pulp.
One could imagine how profound the cultivation and combat power of the attacker was.
In a single day, three major saint domains were lost.
Now, Kunlun Realm only had one saint domain left in the Wuji Heaven Domain: Golden Tree Saint Domain.
If Golden Tree Saint Domain were lost again, they would likely be completely driven out of the Wuji Heaven Domain.
Heaven domains were divided into four levels: God-level Heaven Domain, Upper Heaven Domain, Middle Heaven Domain, and Border Heaven Domain.
God-level Heaven Domains—there were only a little over ten in the entire West Ox Continent. The top ten major worlds of the Western Universe could each occupy one, enjoying all the cultivation resources within exclusively.
The remaining few were very special.
For example, the Truth Heaven Domain occupied by the Truth Divine Temple was a God-level Heaven Domain.
Given Kunlun Realm’s current power in the mortal world, it clearly could not yet aspire to a God-level Heaven Domain.
Even for an Upper Heaven Domain, Kunlun Realm had only entered the Wuji Heaven Domain, and even then, it only occupied twenty-one saint domains within it.
The territories of other Kunlun Realm Great Saints were located in some Middle Heaven Domains.
Establishing a foothold in the Wuji Heaven Domain was of great significance.
Gai Tianjiao—among the nine realm sons, her combat power was second only to Xue Wuye.
Yu Shan Dragon Emperor—one of the few Great Saint-level awakeners, his cultivation reached the Supreme Realm, and his combat power was close to that of a half-god.
Wen Di—a spiritual power cultivator at the sixty-ninth level and a half, only one step away from becoming a god through spiritual power. However, his combat ability was slightly weaker; otherwise, even a half-god would have to retreat when facing him.
But now, all three lay dying before them, and no one could save them. They could only wait for Tai Shang to return.
A vast Kunlun Realm, yet it needed Tai Shang alone to support it.
“Clear Sky Saint Domain, Baiting Saint Domain, and Kuze Saint Domain have fallen one after another. It seems today is the moment the Blade God Realm launches a full-scale attack. They might soon come to Golden Tree Saint Domain and completely drive us out of the Wuji Heaven Domain,” Ling Xiu said.
No one responded.
The entire government office fell into silence, with only the sound of breathing audible.
After a long while, a Kunlun Realm Great Saint said bitterly, “Perhaps… we should withdraw from the Wuji Heaven Domain and return to Huali Heaven Domain?”
“Bang!”
Jin Yu Great Saint, hot-tempered, smashed a stone table with a palm strike and said, “What kind of talk is that? If we flee the Wuji Heaven Domain in disgrace like this, the entire Heavenly Court will mock us, and we’ll never be able to hold our heads high again.”
“It doesn’t matter if we’re mocked, but Tai Shang, that venerable elder, has always supported us from behind, consuming his spiritual power to heal everyone.”
“If we retreat without a fight now, how will the gods of the Heavenly Realm faction mock Tai Shang? No matter how strong the Blade God Realm is, they can use their blades to cut our spines, but they will never make us yield, never make our spirit and will kneel.”
“If we retreat now, we are yielding to them. From now on, we will never be able to stand up again.”
The Great Saint who had suggested withdrawing from the Wuji Heaven Domain sighed and said, “Give Kunlun Realm three thousand more years, and it will surely produce multiple Supreme Realm Great Saints. Then it won’t be too late to challenge the Wuji Heaven Domain.”
“The Heavenly Realm faction won’t give us three thousand years. Do you think retreating to Huali Heaven Domain will bring peace? The Heavenly Realm faction will certainly have a next step. Shrinking our heads when facing a powerful enemy—what’s the difference between that and a turtle?” Jin Yu Great Saint said.
The Great Saints who insisted on staying in the Wuji Heaven Domain and those who suggested temporarily retreating to Huali Heaven Domain began to argue due to differing philosophies.
The former chose to face life and death without fear, accept the challenge, and defend the dignity of Kunlun Realm cultivators and Tai Shang’s dignity.
The latter felt they should bide their time, lie low first, and slowly grow stronger.
“Everyone, stop arguing!”
Ling Feiyu’s voice silenced the entire hall, making everyone quiet down.
She walked past Gai Tianjiao, Yu Shan Dragon Emperor, and Wen Di one by one, saying, “This matter started because of me, so I will solve it. Gai Tianjiao was struck by the Azure Cang Cold Ice Blade Qi; only Bai Qingcang can remove it.”
“Yu Shan Dragon Emperor’s dragon pearl was invaded by the sacred will power of Canghai Yishu; only Canghai Yishu can dissolve it.”
“Wen Di’s sacred soul is being devoured by the opponent’s blade soul; only that half-god from the Blade God Realm can save him.”
“Since Tai Shang is not here, and they are severely injured and dying because of me, I must save them.”
Jin Yu Great Saint said, “Sect Master Ling, are you going to agree to their conditions? No, absolutely not.”
“Sect Master Ling, do not make a wrong decision. They will not stop just because you compromise. They will only see this as a victory, celebrate it, and then unleash even harsher suppression,” Luo Xu said.
Ling Feiyu smiled bitterly: “Over this past month, I am very grateful for everyone’s help. But Kunlun Realm has paid too great a price—Great Saints have fallen, Great Saints have lost their cultivation. The three of them all have the potential to become gods; we cannot watch them die like this. There is no other way now. Only I can save them. Isn’t that right?”
…
Zhang Ruochen, Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden, Jiu You Great Saint, and Ye Honglei entered the sacred city of Golden Tree Saint Domain together and headed straight for the government office.
Guarding the gate of the government office was the Divine Demon Rat of the Moon Worship Demon Sect.
In addition, Confucian Saint cultivators from Kuze Saint Domain, Dragon Clan Saint cultivators from Baiting Saint Domain, and Liangyi Sect Saint cultivators from Clear Sky Saint Domain were gathered outside, all in low spirits and quite disheveled.
A Confucian Saint cultivator spotted Nalan Danqing and immediately rushed over, saying, “Senior Sister Nalan, the Grandmaster was severely injured by a mysterious half-god from the Blade God Realm. Please go save him!”
Nalan Danqing’s face changed instantly. Without asking too many questions, she turned into a streak of light and rushed into the government office.
The other eight heavenly maidens followed closely behind.
Zhang Ruochen originally wanted to follow them in but was stopped by the Divine Demon Rat.
“Who are you? Report your name quickly. If you’re not a Kunlun Realm cultivator, you can’t enter. Don’t try to fool me—I’m very smart. I’ve never seen a character like you in Kunlun Realm, and I haven’t smelled your scent either. Heh heh!”
The Divine Demon Rat had a sharp face and a monkey-like mouth, revealing two fangs, staring coldly at Zhang Ruochen as if it had seen through him completely.
Jiu You Great Saint and Ye Honglei were quite curious about this male cultivator who could walk so closely with Shengshu Cainü. So they deliberately stopped and looked over.
Zhang Ruochen rubbed his hands together and sighed, “It’s a pity the cat I raised isn’t in Kunlun Realm. Otherwise, how could a rat like you be so arrogant?”
The Divine Demon Rat sneered disdainfully: “I’m not afraid to tell you—there is no cat in the world that can deal with me. I am a primordial descendant, the Divine Demon Rat. You should know how powerful a primordial descendant is, right?”