Bombarding Cultivators with Cluster Artillery
Chapter 867 - 836: Civil War Among the Eight Great Immortal Sects

Green Wood Immortal Sect.

This world was made up of a Big Tree so immense it defied imagination, its branches teeming with life and a profusion of diverse plants, where cultivators were born and died.

The Green Wood Immortal Sect had thrived on this for hundreds of thousands of years, suppressing the domain all this time.

At this moment, in the world of the Green Wood Divine Tree, at the heart of its shade, the extremely rich Taiyi Green Wood Qi permeated the air.

Eight incredibly heavy, planet-like terrifying breaths gradually revived, stabilizing their injuries and ceasing their deterioration.

The Green Wood Immortal Sect was the most suitable place for healing in the domain.

"We have failed."

"There was no miracle."

The Heavenly Mechanism Immortal Palace's elderly voice sighed, "People often focus on raw power while overlooking the fleeting things such as spirit and will to fight, believing that in perilous situations, these can be stimulated, allowing for transcendence."

"But now it seems, even if such things are ethereal, there's a chasm that is just insurmountable, no matter what."

The other Great Experts remained silent.

Self-preservation in the face of life and death was completely instinctual.

How could this be overcome?

If one spent tremendous effort and after great struggle truly overcame instinct, and then truly died?

Would it be just making a wedding dress for someone else?

"These things need not be said,"

the Great Expert from the Wanshou Immortal Sect said in a stuffy voice. "If you can't beat them, you can't beat them. I ran first, I admit, but none of you did any better.

When our lives were at stake, no one risked facing annihilation to hold off the crisis for others, everyone just disappeared in a flash, leaving a large gap in our lines."

"Yes."

Many Great Experts sighed.

A silence ensued.

"Let bygones be bygones."

"Fellow Daoist of the Wanshou is right."

"No matter what, the Eastern Devil School must be dealt with, no matter the cost."

The Heavenly Mechanism Immortal Palace's elderly voice said with a sigh, "After this, there are still a few more opportunities for war. Once, in one thousand two hundred years, new Nascent Soul Cultivators will be born in succession, and our strength will recover. Such an opportunity arises every one thousand two hundred years."

"However, this opportunity for battle is just so-so."

"After the Eastern Devil School occupies twenty-four Minor Thousand Worlds, their recovery speed will surpass that of our individual Immortal Sects, and the same goes for the birth rate of Nascent Soul Cultivators."

"In one thousand two hundred years, the difference in strength between us and the Eastern Devil School will actually have diminished."

"The greatest opportunity for war will be in about six thousand seven hundred years."

"By then, you and I will be at the end of our lifespans, the matter of shrinking back from fear naturally won't exist. Since we are going to die anyway, in desperate straits, wiping out the Eastern Devil School will not be an issue."

"Even if a few old fellows luckily survive, they won't live much longer, and they may not be a match for our newly advanced Refining Nothingness disciples. Even if the disciples really can't cope with them, by laying low for a few decades or a century, they will just die off anyway."

"With the domain being so vast, there's nowhere one cannot hide."

"That way, we also needn't fear anyone reaping the benefits of our struggle, or swallowing up our Sects."

"What do you all think?"

The Heavenly Mechanism Immortal Palace's elderly voice asked.

"If you agree, let's establish a Heavenly Dao pact. Although there may be loopholes, it still has binding power, and it's not so easy to break, necessarily requiring a significant price to do so."

"Very well."

"Let it be so."

"..."

The many Great Experts had no objections and, after careful inspection, each left their Divine Sense Brand on the Heavenly Dao pact.

They committed to helping each other after six thousand seven hundred years, to collectively extinguish the Eastern Devil School.

"Since that's settled, this old one will take leave."

The Great Expert from the Xuanwu tiangong bowed to the power of the Green Wood Immortal Sect, turned into a stream of Xuanwu light, and flew off beyond the Star Domain.

Eight Great Experts gathered together for healing, not only because the Green Wood Immortal Sect was indeed a treasured land for healing, but also because no one could trust anyone else with grievous injuries.

All eight people must gather together, watch each other closely, to prevent anyone from attacking and severely injuring the wounded.

Now that the injuries have initially healed and are no longer worsening, it is naturally time to return to the Sect to sit in residence.

After all, within one's own Sect, within the range of the Great Formation, one is more at ease.

"Hmm?"

Having just flown out of the boundary wall of Green Wood Immortal Sect, a Great Power of Xuanwu Heavenly Palace suddenly halted and turned around.

His expression was inscrutable as he looked back.

The cold and deadly aura spread bit by bit.

Under that Green Wood Divine Tree, seven Great Powers stood unmoved, quietly watching his departing figure, their pace perfectly synchronized, definitely not a coincidence.

This scene inexplicably sent shivers down one's spine.

Even though the Great Power from Xuanwu Heavenly Palace turned back, no one spoke a word, just quietly watching him.

It was impossible to say how much time had passed.

"Hahahaha..."

The Great Power from Xuanwu Heavenly Palace suddenly laughed heartily, his robust voice shaking the Star Domain, "Seven Fellow Daoists, if there are matters to discuss, feel free to speak plainly. Our Eight Great Immortal Sects must assist and look out for each other in the years to come and should be honest with one another."

"The Palace holds no fear for the Eastern Devil School when abroad."

"Nor shall it wrong a friend at home!"

He spoke with measured emphasis.

An incomprehensible pressure spread out, solidifying the Star River, with an unknown force dispersing between heaven and earth. Any one ripple spreading out could shatter the Star River and annihilate the divine souls of countless Cultivators.

His presence was terrifying beyond compare.

But the seven Great Powers showed no sign of being deterred, just calmly looking on.

"Very well,"

"Let this old man be the one to start, since my reputation has never been that great anyway."

From within a roiling black shadow came a raspy, twisted voice, "Fellow Daoist Xuanwu, forty-seven thousand two hundred years ago, there existed a Minor Thousand World called the Hei Shui Realm, which originally belonged to Shadow Demon Abyss. It was arrogantly seized by the previous generation's Xuanwu tiangong through clever tricks, to our lasting regret."

"The Nascent Soul of the previous generation's Shadow Demon Abyss, my master, upon his deathbed, charged me with the task of reclaiming the Domain of Shadow Demon Abyss, without which he vowed never to rest in peace."

"My master also said that though Shadow Demon Abyss is vast, it doesn't have an inch of Domain to spare."

"And there was also a Minor Thousand World 32,000 years ago, called the Demon Iron Realm, and the Abyssal Chasm Realm; my master again said..."

"Fellow Daoist Xuanwu, I cannot defy my master's wishes, please return them."

The raspy voice from the shadows was very apologetic, seeming rather embarrassed, as if struggling with hesitation for a long time before speaking.

"Absurd!"

"Preposterous claim!"

"These three Domains have always belonged to Xuanwu Heavenly Palace since ancient times; they have never fallen into others' hands!"

The expression of Xuanwu Heavenly Palace's Great Power turned grim.

No further words came from within the shadows, offering no contradiction.

"Fellow Daoist Xuanwu,"

Following that, a Great Power from Wanshou Immortal Sect chuckled heartily, "I have a disciple named Jiao Jiaowu, a noble breed of the Horned Demon Tribe, the Imperial Clan native to this ancient Domain and once honored as Emperor.

Several hundred thousand years ago, his family's territories included the Fertile Flower, Underbrush, and Wasteland Realms, and now he wishes to entrust the Sect with their stewardship, what do you say..."

"Ridiculous!"

"There's no such thing as an 'Emperor' of the Horned Demon Tribe in this Domain!"

The Great Power from Xuanwu Heavenly Palace retorted angrily.

Inside him, a bad feeling grew stronger.

This was clearly not some spur-of-the-moment scheme from just one or two Immortal Sects.

As expected, the next claimant promptly appeared.

"Fellow Daoist Xuanwu, regarding the three Domains, two thousand two hundred years ago, Xuanwu Heavenly Palace claimed to be their steward. Now, please return them."

The Great Power from Heavenly Mechanism Immortal Palace cast a heap of Jade Slips.

Compared to the powers from Shadow Demon Abyss and Wanshou Immortal Sect, he was far more meticulous, having evidence, documents, witness testimony, and even recordings of the time, incredibly detailed.