“That may be true, but who knows if the demon race has some unforeseen methods? What if they can bypass our defenses and the Ancestor’s true form descends while we’re not in our clans to oversee the situation? That would be disastrous,” Mo Jianli said with a flicker of worry in his eyes.
“Brother Mo makes a valid point. We must be cautious. The Wood Clan’s situation can’t be delayed any longer. We must return to our clans as soon as possible,” the Venerable Ao Xiao pondered for a while before reluctantly agreeing.
“Esteemed seniors, I believe the likelihood of all three Ancestors descending in their true forms is quite low. Even if it happens, it would probably be just one or two of them,” Han Li interjected.
“Oh? Does Fellow Daoist Han know something? Ah, you’ve just returned from the demon realm, so you must have some insights,” Mo Jianli was momentarily surprised but then his eyes lit up with realization.
A trace of surprise also flashed across Ao Xiao’s face.
“How much do you two know about the calamity in the demon realm?” Han Li asked after a brief pause.
“The demon realm calamity? I heard some rumors before the demon race invaded the spirit realm, but I didn’t have time to gather detailed information,” Ao Xiao replied, narrowing his eyes.
“Indeed. When I infiltrated the demon realm years ago, I heard some related things from a certain demon lord, but the true details seemed to be known only to the demon race’s Sacred Ancestors. Did Fellow Daoist Han learn the specifics during your recent trip?” Mo Jianli asked eagerly.
“I did happen to learn some details about the calamity. Have you two ever heard of the name ‘Mother of the Devouring Insects’?” Han Li replied modestly before turning serious.
“Mother of the Devouring Insects? I’ve never heard of it. Venerable Ao Xiao, do you know anything?” Mo Jianli shook his head in confusion.
“It sounds vaguely familiar, as if I heard it long ago, but the details are too distant to recall,” Ao Xiao frowned, deep in thought.
“It’s not surprising you don’t know much about it. This monstrous insect was sealed by an immortal from the upper realm during ancient times. Very few records of it remain,” Han Li explained with a smile.
“Ah, now I remember! The Mother of the Devouring Insects—wasn’t it the legendary ancient demonic insect said to possess the power to devour an entire realm? Has it reappeared? Is the demon realm calamity related to it?” Ao Xiao’s face paled as he recalled.
“Devour an entire realm? Brother Ao Xiao, what kind of insect is this terrifying? Even true spirits would pale in comparison! Tell me more,” Mo Jianli gasped, his expression shifting.
“True spirits are nothing compared to it. In ancient times, this insect devoured at least seven or eight powerful true spirits. According to a text I read before reaching the Great Ascension stage, the Mother of the Devouring Insects was born from…” Ao Xiao recounted the tale, his expression fluctuating but his words steady. His account largely matched what Han Li had heard from Zi Ling, though the text made no mention of sealing, only that the insect vanished after battling an immortal.
Mo Jianli’s face grew increasingly grim.
“The demon realm calamity is indeed related to this insect. From what I’ve learned, the Mother of the Devouring Insects wasn’t lost but sealed somewhere in the demon realm. It seems to have recently awakened and is now breaking free. Most of the demon race’s forces are focused on suppressing it, so I doubt all three Ancestors will descend into the spirit realm,” Han Li stated solemnly.
“If this ancient insect fully awakens, not just the demon realm but even our spirit realm could be devoured. This is a grave threat,” Ao Xiao murmured, lost in thought.
“Fellow Daoist Han, is this information verified? Can we be certain it’s true?” Mo Jianli asked cautiously.
“The source is reliable. I’m at least seventy to eighty percent certain it’s true,” Han Li replied after a moment’s thought.
“Seventy to eighty percent is convincing enough. But to be safe, we should send someone to verify it in the demon realm. What do you think, Brother Ao Xiao?” Mo Jianli suggested.
“Given the gravity, we must be thorough. I’ll dispatch capable subordinates to investigate. If true, it explains why the demon race is so desperate to claim our lands—they’re preparing for their own survival,” Ao Xiao said darkly.
“Judging by the demon forces in the spirit realm, the three Ancestors haven’t abandoned suppressing the insect yet. Otherwise, their invasion force would be much larger. Their occupation of our lands is likely just a contingency,” Mo Jianli mused.
“But if the demon reinforcements arriving in our realms are real, it suggests they’re losing control of the seal. We must return to our clans to prepare. If the demon race shifts its full force here, even our combined strength may not hold them off. We need another plan,” Ao Xiao added, thinking ahead.
“Why overthink it? Since the Mother of the Devouring Insects is involved, this isn’t just our burden. If we spread the news, the other major clans’ Great Ascension beings won’t sit idle!” Mo Jianli chuckled.
“An excellent strategy,” Ao Xiao laughed, clapping his hands.
“But this hinges on the insect’s threat being real. We can’t abandon the Wood Clan now, or our alliance will collapse, leaving us vulnerable,” Mo Jianli cautioned.
“Then let’s follow the Wood Clan’s plan and strike the demon race hard here. After crippling them, we’ll have an excuse to return. The Night Yaksha Clan’s Elder Sang is likely thinking the same. Meanwhile, we’ll await confirmation about the insect and recall our scattered forces. If the demons attack en masse, survival comes first,” Ao Xiao declared decisively.
“Agreed. We’ll need Fellow Daoist Han and Brother Crab’s help in this battle. Once it’s over, Han Li can return to his clan. Your mana is remarkably refined—unlike someone who just reached late-stage Body Integration. With focused cultivation, you’ll advance to late-stage perfection far faster than most. The sooner you reach Great Ascension, the better for our races. The same goes for Linglong,” Mo Jianli concluded.
Ao Xiao nodded in agreement. Han Li also consented after brief consideration—as long as the demon Sacred Ancestors here weren’t true forms, he had nothing to fear.
Seeing no objections, Mo Jianli relaxed. Then Ao Xiao suddenly asked, “The Wood Clan wouldn’t propose this counterattack without some trump card beyond Elder Sang’s support. Old Ghost Mo, have you learned anything?”
“Indeed. After the demon reinforcements arrived, the Wood Clan elders knew they couldn’t keep us any longer. They’ve decided to deploy all thirty-six of their reserve Sacred Trees to set up their supreme formation—the ‘Thirty-Six Heavenly Annihilation Array of the Wood Realm.’ With this formation and our combined strength, we have over a seventy percent chance of victory unless the demons bring overwhelming force,” Mo Jianli explained.
“The Thirty-Six Heavenly Annihilation Array? I’ve heard of it. Rumor says it mimics an immortal’s divine domain and can slay even Great Ascension beings, though the Wood Clan has never used it before. Who knows if it’s true?” Ao Xiao remarked skeptically.
“True or not, their willingness to sacrifice the reserve trees shows their desperation. This is our chance to cripple the demons and buy time for our clans,” Mo Jianli said dismissively.
“Fair point,” Ao Xiao chuckled.
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