Chapter 3008: The Tense Situation

This Lingbao Immortal was short and plump, but not human—rather, a gray-furred long-armed ape. Its height was still less than the Red General's shoulder, with a round face and round eyes, a pleasant smile, and a beard that had turned completely white, giving it a kindly appearance, unlike the lofty bearing of other great powers.

But the Red General knew that all attendees were of True Immortal caliber.

Not to mention ordinary people—even immortals wishing to see them would find it extremely difficult.

This was nearly a gathering of the highest human power, each a pillar of strength in the coming great contention.

Only they had the ability to withstand the Heavenly Demon's claws reaching toward the human realm.

But it was not to say that all True Immortals in the world were present here.

Deep in the sea, there were still great powers—no, great beings—but they refused to show themselves, having declined even three thousand years ago, and still remained hidden.

How vast the human realm is, yet there are still True Immortals who avoid the world, unwilling to take part in the strife.

The Mu Emperor said: "I am currently on my way to visit Mount Qilin."

"Mount Qilin" is a green qilin. Such divine beasts have always been mysterious, with only a few on Ling Mountain knowing its dwelling.

The Mu Emperor was seized while traveling and brought here to convene this meeting.

"Are you confident in persuading it?"

"Not certain. Three thousand years ago it also participated in battle, bearing some grudge against the Heavenly Demons." The Mu Emperor touched his nose, "But I must first find it. It seems to have moved again."

Unlike other divine beasts, the qilin differs from dragons and phoenixes, which dwell in peace, but the qilin is particularly fond of wandering about.

Xiao Hanzi then turned to Que Yunzi: "How is your neighbor, the Tian Feng?"

"Still being persuaded." Que Yunzi seemed somewhat displeased, "But it wishes to first take my divine artifact, the Chilling Ice, to cool the earth fire."

Everyone wondered: "It can bathe in earth fire—why would it need 'Chilling Ice'?"

"It has laid eggs, needing to control the earth fire's temperature." So as not to boil the eggs.

The Tian Feng's eggs are not as heat-resistant as its adult form. "But it is very cunning; even after using the divine artifact, it may not necessarily agree to my request."

This neighbor of his has many tricks.

Xiao Hanzi lightly coughed: "Trouble Han Yuan Old Ancestor to explain the great principle to it."

Que Yunzi could only say: "I will do my best, but I cannot guarantee anything—it is very stubborn."

Tian Feng resides in the far northwest, removed from worldly conflicts, and in the short term, the war between Heavenly Demons and the human realm is unlikely to affect it.

Since it does not concern itself, it has no motivation to join this world-shaking war.

Finally, Xiao Hanzi asked the Red General: "Where is the Nine Abysses Great Emperor? Is he still the initiator of this alliance gathering?"

Because the situation has greatly changed, the Nine Abysses Great Emperor proactively initiated the True Immortal assembly, with Ling Mountain acting as convener.

To these long-lived old monsters, the Nine Abysses is a rising force, with no prior connection to them. Only through Ling Mountain's invitation would they grant this favor.

After all, these reclusive great immortals have, to varying degrees, some past connection with Ling Mountain.

Now the gathering has arrived as invited, yet the initiator, the Nine Abysses, is absent—is this a breach of etiquette?

"There are matters in the state; he will come shortly." The Red General showed no hesitation, "Before his arrival, I will represent the Nine Abysses in dealing with Cang Yan."

She is not in Bai Sha Bay, unaware of what He Lingchuan is busy with. But this meeting is of such importance that He Lingchuan could not possibly fail to make time!

What has happened to him?

Doubt arose in the Red General's heart, but on the surface he could not reveal it.

At such a time, even more so, one cannot apologize.

The Red General's status and position are sufficient, and he can also represent Cang Yan, so the immortals no longer insist on the matter.

"You all already know: Ling Xu Sheng Zun is about to initiate the Divine Descent Plan, the Heavenly Demons will launch a large-scale invasion of the human realm, and even the Beast Emperor of Between Between Between Beijia has been slain by the Heavenly Demons." Xiao Hanzi returned the topic to the main point, "The ancient chaos may well reappear, but human spiritual energy has withered for three thousand years, no longer the era when immortals walked the earth in abundance."

He paused: "Ling Xu Sheng Zun has also been preparing for the impending invasion for three thousand years; the Heavenly Demons' numbers far exceed those on the surface. Hence, the situation is dire."

The crowd remained silent.

Over the past twenty years, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth has gradually risen; they are now worldly or semi-worldly in state, no longer oblivious to outside affairs.

The Heavenly Demons are about to initiate the Divine Descent Plan, and those present are aware of this.

"As for the so-called Divine Descent Plan, I have heard of it countless times over the past hundreds of years." Xin Zhi Shangren asked, "Can you give a more specific timeframe?"

The Red General gave a clear range: "As short as three months, as long as half a year."

"How do you determine this?"

"Based on comprehensive current intelligence." The Red General added, "If another major event occurs, we cannot rule out advancing it."

"I heard Sect Master Xiao say that several thousand Heavenly Demons will descend?"

The Red General said: "According to the scale released by Ling Xu Sheng Zun, conservatively it is over ten thousand."

Over ten thousand!

Upon hearing this number, only the Mu Emperor's expression remained unchanged; everyone else was greatly surprised.

Several thousand Heavenly Demons might still be barely manageable by the human realm, but over ten thousand?

Still a conservative estimate.

"Ling Xu Sheng Zun has always loved to exaggerate." Que Yunzi spoke up, and though no one stood before him, they also felt a chilling aura, "He wishes to rally the demons to respond to himself, so he must exaggerate. I believe a number of three or four thousand would already be formidable."

"Three or four thousand?" The Red General asked immediately, not showing respect for elders, "Our intelligence comes from hundreds of clues between heaven and earth, compiled and calculated. Where did Han Yuan Old Ancestor obtain his exact figure?"

For the Nine Abysses to obtain this intelligence, how much effort was expended? This Han Yuan Old Ancestor, seated in his cave in the extreme north, could he obtain more precise numbers?

You see? How do you view it?

Que Yunzi, provoked by her rebuke, showed displeasure: "You have never dealt with Ling Xu Sheng Zun before, so you do not know his manner of conduct. If he says the descending demons number over ten thousand, the true figure is at least halved. This is Heavenly Demons' habitual psychological warfare, aiming to make us fearful before battle."

Yuan Ling kicked the small pebble at her foot—these old-timers are beginning to rely on their age and sell their experience.

Xin Zhi Shangren also spoke: "I heard the Nine Abysses took the body of Rui Yin Shenjun from the Heavenly Palace, causing the Heavenly Demons' vessels for descent to be severely insufficient, likely unable to reach over ten thousand."

"That was an inference from three years ago." The Red General stated bluntly, "We have reliable channels; the Heavenly Palace's largest experimental ground, Ling Yun Palace, has made a breakthrough in vessel production, requiring only thirty percent of the original material to create descent vessels. Thus, if the original estimate was three or four thousand vessels, now it must be tripled. And there is still one"

"Over the past six hundred years, the Heavenly Demons have relied on the Between Between Between Beijia Demon State, searching everywhere in the human realm for immortal dwellings, collecting many immortal vessels—these are readily available. Even the Thousand Illusions True Person has fallen victim to their poison."

This last remark caused the atmosphere in the hall to stagnate slightly.

This involves the dark history of Lingshan.

Over the past six hundred years, the Bekaa Empire has grown more powerful, ransacking immortal dwellings everywhere, and Lingshan could do nothing about it. Even many immortals of Lingshan lost their lives because of this.