Chapter 138: 138 Catastrophe! (Extra update in the evening)
Eighteen years had passed since Lu Changsheng’s arrival in this world, coinciding with the time the Temple Master of Hidden Dragon Temple had predicted for the onslaught of the Demon Sects’ catastrophe.
“The Great Demons of Huang State have emerged!”
The Military General of the Golden Core Realm, with his far-reaching sight, could make out various Great Demons moving within the black clouds, and he felt a chill run down his spine.
In the mountains of Huang State, no one knew how many monster beasts there were, among them Great Demons of Dao Palace Realm and even unparalleled Great Demons of Void Refinement Realm.
The three hundred thousand defending soldiers of Zhen Nan Pass, with the strongest among them being the Golden Core Realm ninth-layer Zhen Nan General, were as vulnerable as paper against the Great Demons of Dao Palace Realm.
Liang Kingdom was within the sphere of influence of the six major orthodox sects, including the Inquiry Immortal Pavilion. Normally, the Loose Cultivators of the Demon Race from Huang State would not dare to offend Zhen Nan Pass. However, with the calamity brought by the Demon Sects, these Loose Cultivators acted in unison, not even sparing the Inquiry Immortal Pavilion, one of the six major sects, a second glance.
Several hundred streaks of light arrived above Zhen Nan Pass. These people, engaged in Sword Flight, exuded an air of being Immortal and possessing Dao Bone.
“I am Xiao Meng’er, the second disciple of the Inquiry Immortal Pavilion Master. The calamity approaches; the Demon Race of Huang State and the Demon Sects are invading. You mortals, quickly abandon Zhen Nan Pass, evacuate the civilians, and retreat to the imperial city!”
The leading woman transmitted her voice to the three hundred thousand defending soldiers of Zhen Nan Pass.
“It’s Fairy Xiao from the Inquiry Immortal Pavilion!”
“Quick, withdraw the troops! Give up Zhen Nan Pass!”
The Golden Core Realm ninth-layer Zhen Nan General was at a loss, but as the Inquiry Immortal Pavilion arrived to support and give orders, he quickly came to his senses and hurriedly directed the three hundred thousand strong army to abandon Zhen Nan Pass.
Zhen Nan Pass was too far from Misty Peak; the Inquiry Immortal Pavilion directly gave up this strategic pass and contracted their sphere of influence.
“The Demon Race’s army from Huang State will soon arrive. Brothers, quickly pack up, we must withdraw our troops!”
“Take only what is necessary, don’t carry all that junk with you!”
Zhen Nan Pass was in disarray as the three hundred thousand strong army hastily evacuated the pass, which had stood watch for a thousand years.
Xiao Meng’er stood on her deep blue Flying Sword, looking towards Huang State. She saw the rolling black clouds drawing closer, and a frown marred her delicate brows.
Thirteen years had passed since the last Six Paths Conference, and Xiao Meng’er’s cultivation had stepped from the eighth layer to the ninth layer of Dao Palace Realm. With less than five hundred years of cultivation, she was considered an unparalleled genius among the six major sects.
However, Xiao Meng’er realized that even with her cultivation at the ninth layer of Dao Palace Realm, it was not enough to make a difference in this Demon Sects’ catastrophe.
Xiao Meng’er, along with several hundred Inquiry Immortal Pavilion Elders and Disciples, was relocating the mortals, the defending soldiers, and civilians from the southern part of Liang Kingdom.
In the grand hall of Misty Peak, all the Elders and Disciples of the Inquiry Immortal Pavilion gathered, with grave expressions and a tense atmosphere pervading the air.
The disaster of the Demon Sects, forecasted by the Temple Master Yu Xuanji of Hidden Dragon Temple, had arrived as expected, with the Inquiry Immortal Pavilion, ranked fifth in overall strength, being the first to face the onslaught.
It wasn’t just because the Inquiry Immortal Pavilion’s strength was weaker amongst the six major orthodox sects, but also due to the Pavilion’s proximity to Huang State that made it particularly vulnerable.
“The Pavilion Master has arrived!”
Everyone stood solemn as the elegant Inquiry Immortal Pavilion Master appeared, accompanied by her first disciple, Zeng Yeqiu, and her last disciple, Xia Ningxue, their faces cold as frost.
“I have already notified the five great sects—Mount Shu, Immeasurable Temple, Martial Alliance, Hidden Dragon Temple, and the Refinement Sect—to dispatch their unparalleled experts. They will join us, the Inquiry Immortal Pavilion, in defending Liang Kingdom against the Demon Race of Huang State and the four major Demon Sects. There is no need for panic. Our Inquiry Immortal Pavilion has stood unshakable for two hundred thousand years. If the four major Demon Sects and the Demon Race of Huang State seek to destroy us first, they must first possess the strength to do so!”
The cold aura of the Inquiry Immortal Pavilion Master spread, offering a slight reassurance to those present.
Although the Inquiry Immortal Pavilion was ranked fifth in strength among the six major orthodox sects, only surpassing the Refinement Sect, the first generation Pavilion Master of the Inquiry Immortal Pavilion, as well as Fairy Qingxia from a hundred thousand years ago, both had cultivations surpassing the then Sect Leader of Mount Shu, leaving behind some heritage and legacy.
This was the source of Inquiry Immortal Pavilion Master Fairy Su’s confidence.
“The Supreme Elders have arrived!”
Over a dozen powerful presences descended from behind Misty Peak, their formidable aura engulfing Heaven and Earth, making the grand hall of Misty Peak tremble.
“Disciples pay respect to the Elders.”
The younger generation of elders and disciples from the Inquiry Immortal Pavilion greeted them with utmost reverence and admiration.
These Supreme Elders of the Inquiry Immortal Pavilion had been exceptional talents of their era when they were young, forming the foundation of the pavilion!
On Martial Mountain, Alliance Leader Master Chen of the Martial Alliance, along with a group of Martial Alliance Elders and disciples, gathered in large numbers.
Master Chen spoke with a resonant voice, “Fairy Su of the Inquiry Immortal Pavilion has requested our assistance, and some of the Supreme Elders will remain to guard Martial Mountain while others will accompany us to support the Inquiry Immortal Pavilion.”
“Ye Wen, you have suppressed your realm for many years, and now that you’ve broken through to the Void Refinement Realm, you can be considered one of our Martial Alliance’s Supreme Elders. In this disaster, you will lead a team of elders and disciples on your own.”
Master Chen, with his hands clasped behind his back, turned to look at his chief disciple Ye Wen.
In his eyes, this disciple’s potential was no less than that of Li Changye from Mount Shu.
Ye Wen revealed a sunny smile, “Master, rest assured, I’ll show the four Great Demon Sects the martial technique ‘Wing Chun’ that I’ve created.”
At Immeasurable Temple, the thousand-feet-tall Heaven-reaching Divine Temple radiated a ten-thousand-foot Buddhist glow, enveloping several countries. The power of countless people’s faith continuously flowed into the temple.
At the top layer of Heaven-reaching Divine Temple, shrouded in mist, Master Wuxiang brought his palms together and addressed a gaunt, meditating monk, “In this catastrophe, we at the Immeasurable Temple cannot remain on the sidelines. I will lead a team to Liang Kingdom, and I’m asking you to maintain order in Immeasurable Temple.”
The other party remained silent as if he had already reached nirvana.
Having said that, Master Wuxiang paid his respects and then left the temple.
Countless Buddhist lights soared into the sky, and the Abbot of Immeasurable Temple, along with many elders and disciples, maneuvered prayer beads, bodhi seeds, and treasure bowls as they flew to the south.
At Hidden Dragon Temple, three thousand Daoist Temples lay neatly arranged, with green tiles, white walls, and winding corridors.
Temple Master Yu Xuanji of the Hidden Dragon Temple was feeding the koi in the pond when his chief disciple Zhuge Changming spoke, “Everything is as you predicted, Master. The four Great Demon Sects have allied with the Demon Lord of Huang State, targeting the six Orthodox Sects, with the Inquiry Immortal Pavilion bearing the brunt.”
Yu Xuanji nodded, his voice remaining calm and unhurried, “You gather our disciples and notify several Supreme Elders.”
Zhuge Changming asked, “Master, what are our chances of victory in this catastrophe?”
“It will depend on how Mount Shu, the strongest among the six sects, responds.”
On the main peak of Mount Shu, the eldest senior brother Li Changye convened the Mount Shu Elders of the Dao Palace Realm and Nascent Soul Realm, as well as the disciples of the Golden Core Realm and Qi Transformation Realm.
Mount Shu had already received the distress call from the Inquiry Immortal Pavilion.
“Disciples of the Qi Transformation Realm will stay behind to guard Mount Shu. Only those with the cultivation of the Golden Core Realm can join the battle.”
“Eldest senior brother, all the peak elders have arrived; the Sect Leader and everyone from Qingyun Peak are yet to come.”
“No need to worry; we shall depart first.”
Li Changye was now in the Void Refinement Realm, and with his cultivation, he was more than capable of leading the team.
As for Taiyuan and Lu Changsheng, they both had their own matters to attend to.
“What is Lu up to?”
Zhao Wuyan, who had a good relationship with Lu Changsheng among those present, couldn’t help but be curious.