Chapter 811: Initial Clash of the Immortal Alliance

Just as everyone thought the situation was about to become one-sided, team after team of black-robed cultivators arrived on the battlefield via teleportation arrays from various states.

The origins of these cultivators were unknown. However, every single one of them was at least at the Nascent Soul stage, with Soul Transformation cultivators forming the core and Path Integration cultivators leading them. Their displayed combat power was also extremely formidable. It should be noted that the Xuanhuang Realm had not experienced a major war in hundreds of years. Yet, these cultivators appeared as if they had endured countless battles, exuding an intense aura of slaughter. Their coordination was flawless, and their attacks were swift and decisive. A team of four or five Nascent Soul cultivators could even encircle and kill a Soul Transformation cultivator. When the leading Path Integration cultivator attacked, they could even force the Five Elders' Path Integration cultivators into a steady retreat.

The tide of the battle turned in an instant.

Li Fan, who was hiding in Shilinzhou, happened to witness the black-robed cultivators in action. What left the deepest impression on him was, naturally, the leading Path Integration cultivator. It was as if they had condensed the thunder from the sky into a long spear held in their hand. The entire Shilinzhou was illuminated in an instant. The silver spear, like a dragon, churned heaven and earth. Even Li Fan, observing from afar, was affected. He felt as if he were caught in a storm of raging waves, surrounded by the shrieking sounds of rampaging spiritual energy. His own spiritual power was even forced to resonate with it, slowing its circulation.

Before this strike was even fully unleashed, groups of Five Elders' cultivators began falling from the sky. Ultimately, a wooden fan blocked the silver lightning. This averted the complete annihilation of the Five Elders' forces.

“This move looks a bit familiar. Wu?” Li Fan couldn’t help but narrow his eyes.

Before he could ponder further, an unexpected change occurred on the battlefield. The Five Elders, whose actions had been slightly thwarted, surprisingly chose to retreat en masse without delay. They showed no hesitation, as if they had a contingency plan in place. Furthermore, besides the Path Integration cultivator holding the wooden fan, another man, seated in a wooden wheelchair, unhurriedly unfurled a scroll of formation diagrams. In an instant, he deployed several formations on the battlefield, delaying and thwarting the Myriad Immortals Alliance's pursuit.

The Five Elders were well-trained; in just a moment, they had retreated like a tide. They left behind only devastation, a testament to the recent battle.

“Rather than a full-scale war, it was more like a probe,” Li Fan mused. “If they could win in one go, all the better. Otherwise, they would strike and then withdraw.” He said thoughtfully, looking at the Myriad Immortals Alliance cultivators in Shilinzhou, who had survived the ordeal and still looked shaken.

The black-robed cultivators who had come as reinforcements also chose not to pursue the orderly retreating Five Elders. They remained suspended in mid-air for a long time to prevent the enemy from launching a surprise counter-attack. Only after the front lines were fully reorganized did they transform into black streaks of light and depart.

Although the timely appearance of the black-robed cultivators prevented a complete collapse of the battle, the preceding rapid rout still filled the entire Myriad Immortals Alliance with immense anger. Firstly, the protective grand formations in various locations were swiftly changed from the Heavenly Origin Creation Array to the more defensively oriented Myriad Miles Rivers and Mountains Array. Following this, the Immortal Alliance's Array Planning Hall initiated a top-down self-investigation. Without a doubt, the Five Elders' ability to easily breach the Myriad Immortals Alliance's defenses this time was inextricably linked to the leaked secrets of the protective grand formations.

Ordinary array masters could only comprehend a small part of the grand formation. Yet, to be so clearly aware of every vulnerability in the protective grand formation, it must certainly be a high-ranking member of the Immortal Alliance's Array Planning Hall! If this person is not dealt with, any changes to the protective formations in the future will undoubtedly be transparent to the enemy! The seriousness of this matter was self-evident. Not only at the Immortal Alliance headquarters, but also in the Array Planning Halls of various states, array masters were seen being taken away for investigation.

Although the Five Elders had temporarily retreated, the Myriad Immortals Alliance was plunged into violent upheaval.

On Haixuan Island in the Congyun Sea, Ji Shaoli was warmly greeting the Congyun Sea cultivators who had come to attend the gathering. Most of them were island guardians, while others held positions on Myriad Immortals Island. Not to mention their countless daily affairs, they were extremely busy in the current tense environment. The fact that they could spare time to attend today's banquet already showed great respect for Ji Shaoli.

“It’s a pity that several fellow Daoists from the Array Planning Hall couldn’t grace us with their presence today,” Ji Shaoli’s clone said with a regretful expression.

“Heh heh, they’re currently swamped dealing with various investigations,” a cultivator immediately explained with a sigh. “They truly have no time.”

“I truly didn’t expect even top secrets like the protective grand formations could be betrayed,” another remarked. “One can only imagine the extent of corruption among the high-ranking members of the Array Planning Hall.”

“It is said that to appease this matter, Lu Xichan, the chief array master of the Array Planning Hall, has already voluntarily applied to resign. Tsk tsk...”

“In my opinion, it’s not just the Array Planning Hall,” another chimed in. “The entire high-level leadership of the Immortal Alliance...”

“Oh, Daoist Zhang, mind your words...”

Everyone present held positions within the Immortal Alliance system. Once Ji Shaoli started the topic, it quickly led to a heated discussion among them. It was only when the topics ventured further, becoming more taboo and sensitive, that the group then tacitly stopped.

“Speaking of which, Daoist Ji, have you changed your ways?” someone asked. “In the past, there were always many beautiful female cultivators attending to you on the island, but today I don’t see a single one?”

“Heh heh,” another chimed in, “Daoist Ji dismissed a group some time ago. I thought he was looking for new companions, but unexpectedly, after all this time, he still hasn’t made a move. That’s truly a bit strange.”

Facing the curious and questioning gazes from all sides, Ji Shaoli sighed deeply and said, “Nothing much, I just got tired of it! After all the revelry and indulgence, I ultimately felt a bit empty. Especially with the inexplicable outbreak of war recently, a close friend of mine in Shilinzhou suddenly perished. That truly served as a wake-up call for me. Compared to pleasure, one’s own cultivation realm is still more important. The situation is changing day by day now, and no one knows which direction it will take. Every slight increase in one’s realm will mean a greater chance of survival in the future!”

Ji Shaoli’s remarks immediately garnered agreement from many.

“Our Congyun Sea, though on the frontier, also borders the territory of the Five Elders,” one cultivator observed. “They might attack us any day. We cannot afford not to be prepared!”

But it also caused many to show worry: “Most of us are merely at the Foundation Establishment or Core Formation stages. If a major war truly breaks out, we might truly be like duckweed in the wind…”

Ji Shaoli sighed appropriately, “Life and death are not up to us!”

The phrase “life and death are not up to us” resonated with the cultivators present. Their expressions varied.

Ji Shaoli then changed the subject: “This is also another reason I invited you all here this time. As you all know, I once won the grand prize in the Dingyu lottery and accumulated considerable wealth.”

The cultivators’ gazes were instantly drawn. Indeed, if he weren’t carrying immense wealth, how could these people possibly be so polite to Ji Shaoli? It was because they were hoping that, at a crucial moment, they could borrow some contribution points from him.

“And I myself have some slight understanding of investment,” Ji Shaoli continued, “although I’ve spent a lot on indulgence over the years. But overall, my wealth has doubled again.” Ji Shaoli said with a proud expression.