“Since that’s the case, there’s no need to send anyone else. The first two waves failed to complete the mission, so it seems there truly is a formidable force guarding the second array node—one beyond our reach,” said a demon enveloped in green mist, his brow deeply furrowed.
“I share the same sentiment. Although the last array node remains intact, preventing the complete destruction of the Wood Realm Grand Array, the majority of the nodes have already been destroyed, significantly weakening the array’s power. This should allow many of our high-ranking clansmen to survive within it. As long as our elite forces are preserved, the loss of all our low-ranking subordinates is inconsequential. With our strength, replenishing low-ranking forces is effortless. Moreover, the primary objective of this campaign was to cover Lord Tuntian’s operation. As long as Lord Tuntian succeeds, our Sacred Clan will have firmly established itself in the Spirit Realm,” the young demon nodded in agreement.
“However, we cannot ignore the terrifying power guarding the second array node! To be cautious, why don’t we use this ruined site as the center and deploy the Dazzling Demon Flame Grand Array? With this super array defending us, even if a Mahayana-level being attacks, we can hold them off for a while. During this time, we should gather all our elite forces within the array, focusing solely on self-preservation rather than offense. This way, we’ll have a better chance of holding out until Lord Tuntian achieves victory,” suggested a dark-skinned demon, his eyes gleaming.
“That’s an excellent idea. With this array node destroyed, it has become the weakest point in the Wood Realm Grand Array’s restrictions. Deploying our super array here is highly feasible. Very well, I’ll take charge of this task. I brought ample materials for array deployment before setting out,” said the green-mist demon, his eyes lighting up.
“With Brother Jin, the grandmaster of arrays, handling this, the array will undoubtedly be flawless. The rest of you, immediately gather our clansmen from all regions and bring them here,” the young demon declared joyfully, making the final decision.
The other demons voiced no objections and promptly agreed.
Thus, the remaining demons swiftly dispersed to carry out their tasks.
Meanwhile, the demon army below, under the green-mist demon’s command, began bustling around the nearby mountains.
Within half a day, a massive array spanning over a hundred miles began to take shape.
During this time, elite demon forces converged from all directions, soon numbering over a million.
Just then, the Wood Realm Grand Array finally accumulated enough energy. With a deafening roar across the sky, the second wave of restriction attacks erupted simultaneously throughout the array!
In other areas, the demons suffered heavy losses under the relentless assault, but those at the original first array node, now protected by their newly constructed grand array, incurred minimal casualties.
This greatly boosted their confidence.
Of course, under the Wood Realm Grand Array’s attacks, the demons dared not launch offensives and instead focused on reinforcing their defenses.
Thus, every one or two days, the Wood Realm Grand Array would gather enough energy to unleash another wave of slaughter upon the demons.
As the demon numbers dwindled rapidly, the array’s power increasingly concentrated on the demons at the original first array node.
After several waves of attacks, even with their grand array’s protection, the low-ranking demons began to perish in large numbers.
Half a month later, the demon army, which once numbered over a million, had dwindled to a mere eighty or ninety thousand.
However, those who survived the relentless assaults were all high-ranking demons, the weakest among them at the Nascent Soul stage or higher.
These high-ranking demons now constituted the majority of the remaining forces within the Wood Realm Grand Array.
—
Atop a temporary platform on a towering peak within the Wood Realm Grand Array, the acting Grand Elder of the Wood Clan anxiously watched a luminous screen rising from the array below.
Countless dots of light flickered erratically amidst dense clusters of runes on the screen, which alternately hummed and flashed violently.
Beneath the screen, eight elderly Wood Clan members sat cross-legged around the array. Their hair was white, their faces haggard, yet their eyes remained tightly shut as their fingers moved in rapid succession, forming intricate seals.
These were the renowned Eight Wood Spirits of the Wood Clan.
Suddenly, the screen emitted a low, muffled sound before dimming and shattering into pieces.
The eight elders groaned in unison, each spitting out several mouthfuls of vital blood. Black blood gushed from their orifices as their spiritual power vanished entirely, leaving no trace of vitality.
Struck by the backlash of celestial divination, the eight elders had exhausted their lifespans in an instant.
The acting Grand Elder, who had been awaiting the results, paled dramatically. After a fleeting expression of grief, he waved his hand toward the platform below.
A dozen Wood Clan guards ascended the platform, carefully carrying away the remains of the Eight Wood Spirits.
Almost simultaneously, eight other Wood Clan members, aged fifty or sixty, stepped forward and sat cross-legged in the same spots without hesitation.
“The eight elders have sacrificed themselves for our clan’s future. The remaining divination falls to you. Please do your utmost,” the acting Grand Elder said solemnly, clasping his fists.
“Rest assured, Grand Elder. Though we are mere juniors compared to the eight elders in divination, we will spare no effort,” one of the eight replied gravely.
The acting Grand Elder nodded and gestured for them to begin.
The new eight immediately began forming seals.
With a flash of spiritual light, the vanished screen reappeared, and the divination resumed.
However, barely a cup of tea’s time after the screen’s reappearance, commotion erupted below. A high-ranking Wood Clan member rushed onto the platform, presenting a jade slip to the acting Grand Elder in panic.
“Grand Elder! Urgent news from Cottonwood City—high-ranking demons have infiltrated and breached the Sacred Grounds!”
“What? How is this possible? The three Demon Saints were all restrained! How could anyone else accomplish this? What were Cottonwood City’s guards doing?” The acting Grand Elder, already distraught over the deaths of the Eight Wood Spirits, roared in fury, his mind reeling.
He snatched the jade slip and pressed it to his forehead, his face contorted with rage.
Nearby Wood Clan elders gasped, their eyes locked onto the acting Grand Elder’s expression.
Within moments, his fury faded, replaced by a deathly pallor, as if all vitality had drained from his body.
“Let me see!” One elder stepped forward, rudely seizing the jade slip and probing it with his spiritual sense.
Moments later, his face turned ashen. His lips trembled as he muttered in disbelief, “Impossible… the Sacred Tree has been destroyed. The recuperating Grand Elder perished with it… It’s over! The Wood Clan is truly finished…”
The other elders’ faces twisted, but none spoke. One by one, they took the jade slip and confirmed the news.
Though mentally prepared, their expressions darkened further. Two even staggered, nearly collapsing.
“Enough. Panicking won’t help now. We must focus on damage control. Even if the Wood Clan can no longer stand independently in the Spirit Realm, we must ensure the survival of our billions of clansmen,” the acting Grand Elder declared, straightening his posture with gritted teeth.
Though his face remained grim, he regained some composure.
“True. We still have several reserve Sacred Trees. As long as our lineage continues, it’s not impossible for another Mahayana to emerge, giving the Wood Clan another chance in the Spirit Realm,” the other elders agreed after exchanging glances.
“Our priority is to suppress this news. Then, we’ll plan our retreat and preservation step by step…”
Their voices lowered as they began plotting in earnest.
—
Three days later.
Above a dense forest, a loosely organized group sped through the air. Among them, Han Li’s expression was dark as he propelled himself forward.
They were already millions of miles from the Wood Realm Grand Array. Just half a day prior, Han Li and the Yaksha woman had learned from the Wood Clan warrior about the destruction of the Sacred Tree in Cottonwood City and the death of the Wood Clan Grand Elder.
By then, most of the Wood Clan forces had already withdrawn from the grand array. The Wood Clan elders had decided to detonate the second array node’s full power, sacrificing the entire Wood Realm Grand Array to annihilate as many demons as possible.
Fortunately, they had notified the other races’ high-ranking members within the array; otherwise, the explosion would have consumed them as well.
With the Sacred Tree and Grand Elder gone, the war had lost its purpose.
After leaving the second array node, Han Li immediately led a group of human cultivators who had assisted the Wood Clan in defending the array, retreating toward Cottonwood City.
He assumed that allied forces elsewhere would likewise withdraw upon hearing the news.
—
**Volume 11: The Descent of the True Immortal**
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