A glimmer of hope. These words quelled the tide of despair in the hearts of the Heavenly Rankers.
“Senior Wan Liu, no matter the sacrifice we must make, as long as there remains a sliver of hope, we will fight for it,” Daoist Wan Xing declared.
A spark shone in the eyes of the Heavenly Rankers, their determination reignited by these words of conviction.
“In order to kill the worm devil, three factors must be considered.” Wu Yuan began, his voice measured and deliberate, “Firstly, time. You can ill afford to allow it further opportunities to grow. In terms of swiftness of development, few cultivators can rival its pace. Thus, you must act swiftly, and as soon as possible.”
The Heavenly Rankers listened intently.
“Secondly, unity,” Wu Yuan continued. “I understand that the Middle Land is divided into numerous factions, a fragmented realm split by petty conflicts and grudges.” He paused for a moment, shaking his head. “However, in the face of this imminent catastrophe, you must shed your grievances, set aside your differences, and stand as one. Only through united action can you seize the faintest glimmer of hope to bring down the worm devil.”
His voice grew solemn, filled with a quiet admonition. “Those who still cling to their selfish desires and hide their cards will surely meet their demise.”
The Heavenly Rankers sank into contemplation. It was true that grudges between factions existed, such as how the Great Jin Empire warred with all its neighboring sects and nations. After centuries of existence, animosities were sure to arise. Even the Heavenly Rankers and the diverse Archdemons, divided by their disparate races, found themselves entangled in the web of grievances.
“Thirdly, resolve. Prepare yourselves to sacrifice your lives,” Wu Yuan uttered calmly. “You stand no chance against the worm devil in a battle of attrition. There may not appear to be many Communion Phase devil soldiers from the swarm, but who can fathom their numbers within the devil’s lair with its speed of reproduction?”
“The number of Heavenly Rankers will dwindle with each fallen comrade, and producing a new one is no easy task. Therefore, you must amass your strength, charge into the devil’s lair, and spare no cost to slay the worm devil’s main body. Only then will you see a glimmer of survival,” Wu Yuan’s gaze swept over the Heavenly Rankers.
“The closer you draw to the worm devil, the more desperate its resistance. In other words, those at the frontlines will face an overwhelmingly high chance of death.”
Time, unity, and resolve. Accomplishing these three tenets was easier said than done. Humans were inherently selfish, complex creatures. Everyone was aware that an immense catastrophe drew near, but who would dare take the first step?
The Conference Hall fell into silence, the Heavenly Rankers lost in contemplation.
Wu Yuan, too, fell into a pensive state.
Suddenly, a voice broke the stillness, “Senior Wan Liu, when the time for the final confrontation with the worm devil arrives, permit me to lead the charge. Haha, this old bag of bones won’t be living much longer anyway.”
All eyes turned to the speaker. Surprisingly, it was Daoist Wan Xing! Clad in black robes, his expression was serene and composed.
“Wan Xing,” Wu Yuan regarded Daoist Wan Xing with a hint of astonishment. He did not anticipate him to be the first to rise to the occasion.
“Senior Brother,” Liu Junxing couldn’t help but interject.
“Be silent,” Daoist Wan Xing commanded, shooting Junxing a stern look, his aura exerting pressure on the man.
Reluctantly, Liu Junxing closed his mouth.
“Fellow Daoists,” Daoist Wan Xing addressed the numerous Heavenly Rankers, his gaze sweeping across their faces. “As Senior Wan Liu proposed, if we, the Heavenly Rankers, were to abandon Middle Land and seek refuge in the distant Xin Continent or venture into the perilous Spiritless Region, we might have a chance to survive and live out to the end of our lifespan.”
“However, this is Middle Land, our homeland, where all of us have made fond memories. Ever since the Martial King established the boundaries of the thirteen continents 3000 years ago, we have emerged as the pinnacle of strength among countless beings in the Middle Land. In the face of such a dire calamity, if we all flee and fend for ourselves, then who will the billions of living beings in the Middle Land turn to?” Daoist Wan Xing shook his head gently.
“My time draws near. If I so desired, I could live out my days until the natural end of my lifespan. But what purpose would that serve? What was the meaning of all these years of cultivation, these four centuries of existence?”
“Cultivation is not just for the sake of longevity, but to live without regrets! Every man must die. Even if we ultimately succumb to this worm devil in battle, I only wish to face death without regrets.” Daoist Wan Xing turned to Wu Yuan, his eyes filled with acceptance and peace.
Everyone looked at Daoist Wan Xing with stunned expressions.
Wu Yuan was also unable to speak for a moment, returning Daoist Wan Xing’s gaze in silence. He suddenly felt that he might have misunderstood this Heavenly Ranker, this man who was renowned for centuries.
To enjoy such prestige and be subtly regarded as a leader by all the major factions, it was clear that Daoist Wan Xing did not solely rely on his martial prowess to achieve such standing. Likewise, Wan Xing’s words also gave Wu Yuan cause for introspection.
“Wan Xing, when the decisive battle arrives, I shall stand by your side.” A rugged voice laughed heartily. “We have been friends for 200 years. How could you forget me in such a crucial moment?”
All eyes were once again drawn to a familiar figure. It was none other than Emperor Dong Pan, the leading figure of the Wu Sect.
Daoist Wan Xing couldn’t help but smile. He and Emperor Dong Pan were acquainted for centuries, working together to control the overall situation in the Middle Land and stand against Imperator Jin. Now, faced with the impending disaster threatening the Middle Land, they were joining forces once again.
This scene garnered respect from Wu Yuan, Fang Xia, Qiong Sea King, and the numerous other Heavenly Rankers. They all understood the gravity of the situation.
“Fellow Daoists, there is no need to rush,” Wu Yuan began, his voice calm and composed, “Though time is short, we mustn’t act in haste. Next, I will present more detailed information about worm devils. Please read through the information before coming together to discuss countermeasures. Let’s determine how we shall overcome this calamity together.”
With a wave of his hand, the light screen beside him displayed numerous lines of text. Wu Yuan was able to present the information due to the high level of authority he was granted over the Middle Land Immortal Hall.
Daoist Wan Xing, Emperor Dong Pan, and the other Heavenly Rankers focused their attention on the text, meticulously memorizing every detail.
“These devil soldiers are akin to the incarnations of the worm devil?”
“If we slay a devil soldier, the worm devil will be alerted?”
“Unlike cultivators, devil soldiers possess an energy core within their bodies. These energy cores are equivalent to high-quality etherstone?” Whispers of discussion filled the air.
The details about worm devils were a mixture of promising and troubling discoveries, both shocking and intriguing the Heavenly Rankers. Soon enough, they had all committed the information to memory.
“Fellow Daoists,” Emperor Dong Pan declared in a solemn tone, “In the art of war, knowing oneself and the enemy is already half the battle won. Senior Wan Liu has already graciously provided us with detailed intelligence about the worm devil. Now, it is imperative that we collectively focus on devising strategies to confront this menace. Let’s reach our final decision in six hours.”
Inside the Conference Hall, each Heavenly Ranker contemplated the matter deeply, eagerly exchanging their thoughts and potential strategies.
Meanwhile, some Heavenly Rankers chose to depart from the Middle Land Immortal Hall to inform those who were absent from the gathering. Among those who left was Jin Ji, who was obviously bringing the news to Imperator Jin.
…
“Senior Wan Liu, Daoist Fang Xia,” Emperor Dong Pan and Daoist Wan Xing approached Wu Yuan and Fang Xia. An invisible barrier formed around the group, shielding their conversation from prying ears and ensuring complete privacy.
“Please speak,” Wu Yuan prompted in a low voice.
Daoist Wan Xing asked, “Senior Wan Liu, will you lend a helping hand to aid Middle Land in overcoming this crisis?”
Emperor Dong Pan shot Wu Yuan a hopeful look.
“I cannot,” Wu Yuan shook his head, dashing their hopes. Emperor Dong Pan and Daoist Wan Xing exchanged a disappointed glance, though they had somewhat anticipated this outcome.
Wu Yuan calmly explained, “You must understand that I was only able to return to the Middle Land with Fang Xia after taking the risk to cross the treacherous Spiritless Region. I am willing to assist Fang Xia once or twice, but it does not imply that I am willing to jeopardize my life, just as I refrained from directly intervening during Great Jin’s assault on the Cloudstride Sect.
He added nonchalantly, “The consequences of the worm devil’s existence, while significant, will only manifest decades or even centuries in the future. This isn’t a problem I need to concern myself with. The Middle Land may be your homeland, but it is not mine.”
Lending a hand? Wan Liu was just a fake persona he had created, there was no way for him to lend his strength.
“Senior has always been detached from worldly affairs. We understand that our request is somewhat unreasonable, and we sincerely hope for your understanding,” Daoist Wan Xing said in a deep voice. “We are already beyond grateful for the invaluable information Senior provided on the worm devil.”
“You have our thanks, Senior,” Emperor Dong Pan chimed in.
“No need to thank me,” Wu Yuan responded coldly, “I understand that there may still be lingering resentment in your hearts.”
“I will refrain from taking any action during this battle, however the same cannot be said for my disciple, Wu Yuan. He will join the fight.” Wu Yuan declared.