First, Shui Miao entered the ancient artifact-forging furnace of the Tianmo Sect. Dividing his focus, he cultivated the Tianmo Heart Sutra while simultaneously studying and understanding the array formations within.
Shui Miao intended to forge his own artifact-forging furnace. The furnace of the Tianmo Sect was extremely ancient, with most of its arrays damaged. However, Shui Miao, who was highly skilled in arrays, could still discern their structure and identify their types. He then simulated them within his realm of consciousness, confirming their safety before proceeding with construction.
This was a lengthy process.
Fortunately, Shui Miao possessed the Time Tower, capable of reversing time.
Outside the Shengyuan Ring, He’er, who possessed the strength of a Saint King, sat cross-legged within the Dream Demon Spatial Formation, vigilantly monitoring the Shengyuan Ring.
She knew Shui Miao disliked being disturbed and thus refrained from forcefully peering into the ring’s interior.
She understood that forging an artifact wouldn’t happen quickly—it had only just begun.
The Tianmo Matriarch, carelessly, had forgotten to relay all the information she had gathered about Shui Miao to He’er.
Observant and meticulous, He’er decided to meditate for two hours first, cultivating the Tianmo Heart Sutra, preparing to breakthrough to the ninth level of the martial cultivation technique.
The Tianmo Matriarch had cultivated the Tianmo Heart Sutra to the tenth level, only one step away from the Transformation into Void, which would allow her to become a Saint Demon.
At that time, the Matriarch would head to the Saint Demon Realm for arduous cultivation, leaving the responsibility of leading the Tianmo Sect to He’er.
Therefore, He’er worked extremely hard.
※※※
The Beast Sect
Ao Hong led the beast army back to the Beast Sect.
Leilong Divine had not yet emerged from his retreat.
Ao Hong paced back and forth in front of the mountain gate where Leilong Divine secluded himself, pondering anxiously: how would his elder brother view him now?
The Celestial Court had granted Ao Hong dominion over both the Beast Clan and the Tianmo Sect’s territories.
Although Ao Hong was deeply dissatisfied, he also wanted to seize this land as his own first, gradually developing it. If he couldn’t even secure this territory, he would be too pitiful to be an Immortal Emperor.
However, Ao Hong feared his elder brother would disapprove, leaving him in a difficult position. Moreover, he had slaughtered thousands of celestial soldiers under General Li, an act that had caused a massive uproar. He was deeply afraid his elder brother would blame him for it.
Regardless, Ao Hong deeply respected his elder brother, Leilong Divine.
Boom!
Suddenly, a loud rumbling sound erupted. The stone door opened, and Leilong Divine, pale and weak, staggered out.
“Brother! Brother! What happened to you? Why have you become like this?”
Ao Hong was shocked. Judging from Leilong Divine’s appearance, he must have suffered a severe injury.
Leilong Divine suddenly sneered, then shook his head. “I failed. I poured all my strength into breaking through my cultivation boundary, but I couldn’t open the door to the Emperor Realm. Now I’m gravely injured, and my life is nearly over.”
“Brother, you’re so foolish! Why are you still trying to cultivate using the methods of those so-called orthodox sects? They will never allow you to become an Immortal Emperor! I used my own method—I devoured and killed three thousand celestial soldiers and officers, and now I have become an Immortal Emperor!” Ao Hong hesitated slightly, feeling ashamed that he had become the most pitiful Immortal Emperor in history.
“What…?”
Leilong Divine was stunned, his face filled with disbelief.
At this point, Ao Hong knew there was no longer any point in hiding the truth, so he revealed everything.
After hearing it, Leilong Divine did not get angry. Instead, he suddenly became excited. “So, does that mean I still have a chance?”
“But brother, the Celestial Court won’t grant us favorable titles,” Ao Hong was still troubled by the issue of titles.
Leilong Divine quickly replied, “Brother, you’re mistaken. As long as you can become an Immortal Emperor, there’s still hope. The war between Immortals and Deities is about to begin—we still have a chance to turn the tide. You killed so many celestial soldiers, yet they didn’t eliminate you. Do you know why? Because they are in chaos themselves. They don’t have time to deal with us. Therefore, we must act swiftly.”
After Leilong Divine’s explanation, Ao Hong suddenly saw the light. “Right! They are afraid we will cause trouble above, so they’ve confined us here! Brother, let me take you to kill those celestial soldiers. You can ascend to Immortal Emperor as well. With our combined strength, we can then wipe out the Tianmo Sect and seize this territory first.”
“No, killing celestial soldiers will bring suppression. I won’t follow your path. Instead, let’s go to the Tianmo Sect together and devour those Tianmo cultivators. I can still ascend, and their spiritual energy is exactly what I need. Before, I lacked the strength, but now that you’ve become an Immortal Emperor, defeating them will be effortless.” Leilong Divine was extremely shrewd. He knew Ao Hong had been demoted because he had devoured celestial soldiers. By devouring Tianmo cultivators instead, once he ascended, he could at least secure a territory within the Seventh Heaven.
“Great! Then let’s go to the Tianmo Sect!”
Ao Hong had also been looking for a way to vent his anger and was eager to conquer the Tianmo Sect.
With a single command from Leilong Divine, all the beasts marched forth. Dozens of thousands of beast soldiers surged toward the Tianmo Sect.
※※※
Tianmo Sect
“Senior sister! Senior sister! Something terrible has happened—the beast army is coming!”
“What?! Say it again!”
“Senior sister, we received a secret message from our strategist, the Thousand-legged Insect. Leilong Divine has ended his retreat. He and his younger brother Ao Hong are leading over a hundred thousand beast soldiers straight toward us. Leilong Divine is gravely injured and intends to devour our Tianmo cultivators to ascend as an Immortal Emperor. This information is absolutely confirmed—please, senior sister, make a decision quickly!”
“Cursed! Just when the Matriarch left, such a major event occurs!”
He’er was extremely anxious. Her mind raced as she quickly ordered, “There’s no time to consult the Matriarch. Issue my command: all disciples who are out must assemble at the Saint Demon Mountain. All disciples of the Tianmo Sect must retreat to the Saint Demon Mountain. We will fight to the death alongside the Saint Demon Mountain.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
A group of female Tianmo disciples quickly departed.
He’er immediately retracted her magical artifact and the Shengyuan Ring, leading the remaining disciples toward the Saint Demon Mountain. She left behind an empty formation to create a false impression and gain some time.
No sooner had He’er left than the beast army arrived.
Ao Hong, with his brutal nature, directly threw a punch at the Tianmo Mountain. The empty formation shattered instantly, and the beast army rushed in, only to find no Tianmo cultivators present.
“How come there’s no one here?” Ao Hong was greatly astonished, glancing at Leilong Divine.
Leilong Divine’s mind turned, immediately suspecting a traitor within the Beast Clan. Remaining calm, he coldly stated, “They must have gone to the Saint Demon Mountain. Let’s head there.”
“But brother, there are a hundred Saint Demon Mountains, and the Supreme Demon Mirror creates illusions. If we charge forward recklessly and get trapped in an array, what should we do?” Ao Hong couldn’t help but worry. The Supreme Demon Mirror was an extremely mysterious artifact; without it, the Tianmo Sect would have been destroyed long ago.
Leilong Divine smiled confidently. “Don’t worry. I’ve planted a spy within the Tianmo Sect. We will find them. Advance, all forces!”
With a loud roar, Leilong Divine led over a hundred thousand beast soldiers forward.
The Thousand-legged Insect secretly received many benefits from the Tianmo Sect. Upon hearing Leilong Divine’s words, he seized the opportunity of the advancing army and quickly rushed toward the Saint Demon Mountain at full speed.
The Thousand-legged Insect knew the true path to the Saint Demon Mountain.
As the Thousand-legged Insect entered the Saint Demon Mountain, Leilong Divine and Ao Hong suddenly appeared outside the mountain.
“Hmph! There truly is a traitor among our Beast Clan!”
Leilong Divine sneered coldly, ordering the beast army to gather and surround the Saint Demon Mountain.
“Cursed! That Thousand-legged Insect really knew how to hide. Fortunately, my brother played along, allowing him to lead us to the real Saint Demon Mountain.” Ao Hong’s eyebrows twitched. “Brother, how do you plan to attack? Shall I charge in directly?”
“Good! My younger brother, be careful!”
Leilong Divine’s mind turned again, not minding at all if Ao Hong went ahead recklessly.
In fact, Leilong Divine secretly hoped Ao Hong would charge in blindly and recklessly.
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