Chapter 3012

One is to continue living as idle clouds and wild cranes, cultivating oneself in solitude. However, once the heavenly demons descend to the world and come knocking, you can only protect yourselves. He paused, then said: "How did True Person Qianhuan and True Lord Miyi fall? Everyone surely knows in their hearts."

True Person Qianhuan brought the Phantom Sect into seclusion for many years in the Inverted Sea. But the Inverted Sea is not a fixed location—it drifts on the ocean, coming and going without a fixed trace. Yet the heavenly demons still found its entrance, leading to True Person Qianhuan's tragedy.

As for True Lord Ruiyin, there's no need to say more. He remained alone in the deep sea, avoiding contact with other immortals or powers. Although he also wandered and patrolled within the deep sea, he was still betrayed by the Holy Emperor Xuandu and captured by the heavenly demons.

These two cases are typical examples of true immortals isolating themselves from the world, yet left helpless and alone when facing the heavenly demons' large-scale assault.

He Lingchuan gave the conclusion: "If they had been part of a strong alliance at the time, such tragedies would not have occurred."

The weak unite; the strong remain solitary.

But strength and weakness are relative. Before the soon-to-descend Lingxu multitude, are isolated true immortals still the strong ones they once were?

Xin Zhi Shangren pondered: "I was just speaking casually. After the heavenly demons descend, there will be much to do—such as dealing with the War Alliance. They may not even have the leisure to scheme against us."

Scattered immortals who do not unite pose little threat to the heavenly demons. Why would they first target such people for misfortune?

He Lingchuan smiled: "After the heavenly demons descend en masse, the mortal realm will inevitably see two major powers openly opposed. I can assure you all that, in the short term, the Lingxu Holy Venerable cannot defeat the War Alliance, nor is it possible for him to do so. From the Lingxu Holy Venerable's perspective, why rush into a life-or-death clash with the War Alliance upon descending? Why not first pick the soft persimmons to crush?"

He casually gave an example:

"When a wolf pack on the grassland hunts, one side is a herd of wild buffalo with horns outward, united in defense; the other side is a lone buffalo walking alone. Which target do you think the wolf pack would prioritize?"

The heavenly demons are not foolish. Why would they stubbornly clash with hard targets when it's better to abandon the difficult and take the easy?

No matter how formidable a single true immortal may be, facing a large number of heavenly demons leaves them isolated and alone. Do not forget: among the enemy are great heavenly demons and the Lingxu Holy Venerable, who do not care about single combat.

The immortals fell silent for a long while.

Then the Lingbao Immortal spoke: "There is still another path?"

"Everyone knows in their hearts—the final choice is to directly surrender to the heavenly demons." He Lingchuan spoke bluntly: "But this is the most foolish choice. To surrender to the heavenly demons is to become enemies of the War Alliance and humanity. If the heavenly demons ultimately lose, the defectors' fate will surely be worse than that of the heavenly demons!" The Yaksha King and Mou Di, among others, nodded.

Who does not hate traitors? Traitors are more hateful than invaders!

Their deaths will naturally be even more miserable.

"Even stepping back a hundred paces: if the heavenly demons ultimately win this human war, defectors will still be worthless—like a cooked rabbit after the hunt, of what use is keeping them?" He Lingchuan paused, then added: "Even stepping back a hundredfold: even if the Lingxu Holy Venerable does not kill them, the resources and treatment they can enjoy in the mortal realm will forever fall short of those enjoyed by great heavenly demons. As the saying goes, 'Those not of our kind must have different hearts.' In their eyes, this is merely a second-rate heavenly demon."

"Therefore, I hope the outstanding talents of the world will not commit this heinous mistake!"

Having said this, the hall fell silent.

Pugu Shangxian sighed: "It seems we, too, have few choices left."

"It is not that we forbid it, but that the current situation does not allow it!" He Lingchuan said solemnly. "Common folk may not have such worries, but we are already like the Kunpeng—we cannot hide in shallow waters and live in peace."

Lingbao Immortal then focused: "If we join your two nations, how much primordial force could we receive?"

He Lingchuan and Mou Di exchanged glances, and the latter said:

"If you join the state, you naturally come seeking to enhance your primordial force. However, primordial force is not like gold or silver—it is not that we allocate a certain amount and you receive exactly that."

Over the past twenty years, many immortals, great demons, and immortal sects have joined the state. But true immortals? None at all, except for the Ancestor Wuhuan. True immortals have their pride; true immortals have their transcendence beyond worldly things.

They are not unaware—they simply disdain it.

"Take an example: Yuan Xilin of the Qixia Sect and Yang Chan of the Se Xin Pavilion both joined the service of Cangyan a few years ago, with less than a month between them. To date, their cultivation levels are similar, their ranks and titles alike, even their salaries nearly identical—but the primordial force they have obtained differs greatly. Yuan Xilin's primordial force is more than seven or eight times denser than Yang Chan's." He Lingchuan clarified: "This is not my allocation, but the result of their own efforts." The true immortals became interested: "Why is that?"

"Yuan Xilin's duty is to lead disciples in subduing demons and eliminating monsters, relieving disasters and resisting enemies, constantly traveling throughout Cangyan, always interacting with common folk, earning a good reputation; while Yang Chan's work is recording scriptures and correcting techniques in the Buddhist Canon Pavilion—though also important, she has little contact with the outside world, and people do not know her contributions." He Lingchuan said: "One is busy, one is idle; one benefits the people, one buries oneself in classics. Over years and months, the primordial force gap widens."

Pugu Shangren frowned: "What does this mean—does primordial force fluctuate even within the same person?"

They had never truly encountered primordial force and did not understand its nature.

It sounds as if primordial force differs from true force. True force is cultivated by oneself—it is what it is, stable and firm. Yet this primordial force attaches to oneself and yet can change!

Beings of their stature instinctively dislike such a force not fully under their control.

Xin Zhi Shangxian also followed up: "Xuan You mentioned earlier that when we first join the state, we can enjoy abundant primordial force. But what happens after a long time?"

"After a long time, if one occupies a position without merit, if one loves ease and hates battle, if one oppresses the common folk domestically—without the sovereign needing to act, that immortal's primordial force will inevitably weaken. Primordial force is the power of all beings; if you regard all beings as nothing, then all beings will not regard you as anything." He Lingchuan slowly gave an analogy: "Either mutual striving, or mutual disdain."

Que Yunzi nearly blew his beard upward:

"How absurd! Are we really supposed to go curry favor with mortals?"

"A true immortal of such stature still having to accommodate mortals—truly, this is overturning the heavenly gang!" Mou Di immediately said:

"Great chaos is approaching. As long as you rise to resist and fight for humanity, as it was three thousand years ago, you will naturally be beloved by all beings, your primordial force abundant and untroubled—no need to think further."

He too is a true immortal, knowing that these great immortals have long dominated the peak of humanity, and thus cannot quickly accept the idea contained in primordial force.