The flying cave ship loomed larger in their vision, yet Dongbo Xueying and the thirty-six Venerables showed no signs of slowing down. When they were merely a dozen miles away, ripples shimmered across the ship’s surface. As they touched the ripples, each of them passed through effortlessly, entering the interior of the cave ship.
“Whoosh.”
Beyond the ripples lay a tranquil and serene world—a landscape of grasslands, rolling hills, and winding rivers, devoid of any living creatures.
“Halt!” With a thunderous shout from the Annihilation Emperor, Dongbo Xueying and the others came to an abrupt stop, hovering mid-air.
The thirty-six Venerables from the cultivator universe—including the Bamboo Mountain Mansion Master and Dongbo Xueying—represented the full might of their forces. Their expressions were solemn. Despite the invisible suppression of the cave ship’s rules, experts like Dongbo Xueying and the North Profound Palace Master still possessed means to conduct long-range reconnaissance.
“So many Protectors from the Ancestral Mother Cult?” Dongbo Xueying extended his senses through the Void World, swiftly enveloping the dazzling streaks of light that were the Ancestral Mother Cult’s Protectors, located sixty billion miles away. Unlike the cultivators, these Protectors were generally weaker in their comprehension of the laws of the universe. Though a rare few had grasped complete ‘World Laws,’ none had yet succeeded in forging their own ‘Path’—let alone mastering teleportation within the cave ship. They could only fly at a steady pace, making them easy prey for Dongbo Xueying and his allies, who could close the distance in an instant via the Void World.
“Such terrifying auras!” Dongbo Xueying’s expression shifted slightly.
There were fifty-one Protectors in total, flying together at incredible speeds. The most fearsome among them were the three at the forefront: a golden-furred ape, a woman with a venomous tail, and a burly man wielding a wooden staff. These three emanated an invisible force that enveloped the entire group.
As Dongbo Xueying, the White Monarch, the North Profound Palace Master, and others conducted their covert reconnaissance, the three most formidable Protectors of the Ancestral Mother Cult immediately sensed their presence.
“Hmph.”
The staff-wielding man turned his head, his gaze piercing through the void to lock onto the distant group of Venerables hundreds of billions of miles away.
“They’re here,” the golden ape remarked, his golden eyes also penetrating the void to observe the cultivators.
“Coming here just means death,” the venom-tailed woman sneered.
“Don’t underestimate them,” the golden ape transmitted mentally. “These cultivators have all forged their own ‘Paths,’ granting them far greater mastery over the laws than us. Right now, they can monitor us effortlessly, while among our Protectors, only Kui and I can perceive them.”
The staff-wielding man added, “So if we try to outmaneuver them, we’ll only suffer. Our best strategy is to act as one—all Protectors united. With our overwhelming strength, we’ll crush them head-on. No matter what tricks they employ, we’ll meet them with brute force and grind them to dust.”
The venom-tailed woman smirked—a smile brimming with confidence. The Ancestral Mother Cult had long observed the cultivator universe in secret, and with the Bloody Master Nero feeding them intelligence, they were well-informed about the thirty-six Venerables’ capabilities. The more they knew, the more assured they were of victory—this time, triumph was inevitable!
—
High above, the thirty-six Venerables stood assembled. The Annihilation Emperor now wore a suit of violet armor, his exposed arms adorned with coiling dragon patterns. Twin black horns curved from his forehead, and his violet eyes crackled with latent thunder. “Fellow Venerables,” he rumbled, “the Ancestral Mother Cult has made their move, and all fifty-one Protectors are gathered. They wouldn’t act so boldly without some hidden advantage.”
The others watched him intently. His strength had naturally positioned him as their leader—for in the world of cultivators, might dictated authority.
“Whatever their advantage, we must avoid their strengths and exploit their weaknesses,” the Annihilation Emperor declared. “Their mental fortitude pales in comparison to ours. Once battle begins, the Infernal Grand Marshal, the Nightmare Monarch, and Dongbo the Imperial Lord—you three will unleash illusions in sequence. The Infernal Grand Marshal’s ‘Infernal Reincarnation’ is the most devastating, so he strikes first. The Nightmare Monarch’s ‘Dreamweave’ is insidiously potent, and Dongbo’s ‘Illusory Void’ is no less formidable. Those with weaker cultivation may resist one illusion, but the second or third will expose their flaws and drag them into oblivion.”
No one objected.
Illusions were indeed the most efficient large-scale tactic—those who resisted would survive, while those who failed would perish. In such a critical moment, efficiency was paramount.
“We leave it to you three,” the Annihilation Emperor said, his gaze settling on Dongbo Xueying and the others.
“Consider it done,” the Infernal Grand Marshal replied coldly, his crimson armor gleaming.
The Nightmare Monarch, wreathed in mist, and Dongbo Xueying, clad in black, nodded in agreement.
“Once the illusions are cast, the Dark Phoenix will suppress them with her domain,” the Annihilation Emperor continued. The Dark Phoenix was a top-tier Venerable from the Abyss, though her ranking on the Cosmic Deva List was modest due to her specialization in domain control. Yet, in this field, she was unparalleled among Venerables.
Her combat and defensive abilities were average, but her domain was truly extraordinary. Most ordinary Venerables stood no chance against her, and even top-tier Venerables could only flee before her overwhelming dominion. Ranked twentieth on the Cosmic Deva List, her influence rivaled even that of the Waterfiend King.
“And the North Profound Palace Master…”
The Annihilation Emperor continued assigning roles.
Having cultivated for eons, and now serving as their leader, he meticulously orchestrated their strategy.
—
Soon, the battle plan was set—maximizing their strengths while preparing contingencies.
“Good. Now that everyone understands, we prepare for battle,” the Annihilation Emperor said, turning to the beautiful woman in azure robes—the North Profound Palace Master. “Palace Master, teleport us to their flank.”
She nodded lightly.
“Whoosh.”
A colossal phantom array materialized in the void around them.
“Hum!”
In an instant, the thirty-six Venerables within the array vanished.
They reappeared sixty billion miles away, materializing in the void beside the Ancestral Mother Cult’s Protectors.
“Whoosh.” The Protectors streaked through the sky like a colossal meteor, a radiant blur of speed. The thirty-six Venerables now hovered mere miles to their side—a negligible distance for beings of their caliber.
Among them, the Infernal Grand Marshal, the Nightmare Monarch, and Dongbo Xueying focused intently. The crimson-armored Infernal Grand Marshal struck first, his eyes blazing with spectral fire.
Within those flames, countless souls writhed in torment. An invisible wave of power descended, ensnaring all fifty-one Protectors in an illusionary nightmare.
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