Chapter 3013

So Mu Di only gave the method, without explaining the principle:

Fulfill the duty of a true immortal, fight to the end, that's enough.

Fortunately, the crisis of the demon's descent into the world can conceal many contradictions between immortals and mortals; as long as these true immortals achieve brilliant battle records, humans will naturally develop admiration and reverence for them.

Yuan Ling planted the trident in her hand into the sand and said bluntly:

"No need to overthink it—I originally wanted to fight the demon, I'm bringing the Qin Hai tribe to join Cang Yan."

The Red General laughed: "Most welcome."

The Lingbao Immortal stared at the trident for several glances: "Is this the Sea Emperor's Trident?"

"What Sea Emperor's Trident!" Yuan Ling's face darkened: "This was originally the treasure of my Qin Hai tribe, stolen by that scoundrel Xuan Du! This time it's merely returning to its rightful owner."

So that's it, the immortals understood.

Thus, He Lingchuan said to the immortals:

"We respect the wishes of the exalted immortals; on such a major matter, please take your time to weigh it carefully, and make a decision within three days."

The immortals had asked all they needed to ask, and answered all they needed to answer; each had nothing more to say, so they all withdrew their divine abilities.

Yuan Ling waved her hand at the Red General: "My tribe is already on the move, see you later!"

Then her figure vanished from the beach.

Xiao Hanzi chatted a bit more with Mu Di before logging off as well; he still needed to communicate further with the Lingbao Immortal and others.

Only Mu Di, He Lingchuan, and the Red General remained in the field.

Mu Di sighed: "The great battle is approaching, yet they remain indecisive."

He Lingchuan smiled: "Actually, they had already made up their minds before coming to this Spirit Communication Conference; asking us a few more questions is merely to confirm what they already thought."

They are all several-thousand-year-old human essences, fortunate survivors left behind after the sands of time's long river were washed away; they should have long since planned their next steps. "I see, Patriarch Gu and the Lingbao Immortal still harbor some resentment."

Mu Di remained silent for a few breaths before saying: "No matter, they will come to understand."

How splendid Lingshan was when first established thousands of years ago—great beings gathered, immortals countless, truly the pinnacle of power in this world. Alas, even the strong cannot withstand time; after enduring several cycles of spiritual tides, immortons vanished one by one, and even true immortals fell silently and unnoticed.

Today's Lingshan retains only four true immortals as its peak strength; though still an unreachable existence in the mortal realm, even the slow-witted Lingbao Immortal can feel the irreversible decline.

On the contrary, the newly risen War Alliance, the newly risen Cang Yan, and the newly risen human dynasty are full of vigor and determination, rolling up their sleeves to prepare for a fierce battle against the demon.

Even today's alliance deliberation centers on Cang Yan's Nine Abysses Great Emperor as its core. Henceforth, he shall also be the undisputed leader of this alliance—an agreement already reached between Nine Abysses, Lingshan, and Mu Di.

Not a tacit understanding, but a clear and explicit agreement.

There was indeed considerable maneuvering involved, which need not be elaborated further.

The other great beings of Lingshan find it hard to conceal their disappointment, but Nine Abysses and the Red General both boast proud battle records of slaying great demons and repeatedly thwarting the schemes of the Ling Xu Holy Venerable; Cang Yan, as the vanguard against demons, is itself a benchmark for humanity's resistance against demons. Whether viewed positively or negatively, taking them as banners allows the War Alliance to continue absorbing new blood, to strengthen itself, to integrate all resources, and to seize a sliver of winning initiative in the future's destined cruel war. Whereas Lingshan long ago lost such capability—this has been repeatedly verified over the past three thousand years.

Has the glorious era of the immortals truly passed?

This is not only Lingshan's dilemma, nor only the true immortals' dilemma.

"The Between Between Between Beijia turmoil will certainly bring further variables in the short term." The time given to immortals to adjust their mindset is limited; He Lingchuan said solemnly, "The death of the Yaodi has forced all our plans to accelerate, including military preparations and personnel deployment. At that time, Mu Guo will also need to bear more."

After all, Cang Yan is indeed too far from Between Between Between Beijia.

Mu Di nodded: "In preparation."

After speaking, his figure also vanished. Time is pressing; he still needs to continue his journey to find the Azure Qilin.

Only He Lingchuan and the Red General remained in the field.

When alone, the Red General's first words were not about public affairs, but:

"Did you run into trouble just now?"

Anything that could delay He Lingchuan's timely login for the meeting must be a major matter!

"Routine breath regulation and cultivation practice, yet karmic force has surged back again."

The Red General started in surprise: "Why?"

She and He Lingchuan are of one mind; since he said "surged back," it cannot be a minor disturbance.

Is it the former karmic veil returning again?

"Last time you obstructed it, it didn't take me away, and it refuses to accept that." He Lingchuan merely gave a simple explanation: "Coincidentally, I was refining my divine form, so I incorporated it as part of causality, refining it in."

"You..." The Red General blinked her eyes, incredulous: "What are you?"

She rarely shows the expression of Sun Fuling while in full battle armor; He Lingchuan lightly coughed: "When I refined my divine form, I also refined the karmic force together. Those who have refined karmic force know that the prerequisite for refinement is to first capture it."

"How did you manage that?" This is astonishing, but considering it's He Lingchuan, the Red General thought it over and could also accept it. This fellow constantly defies convention in too many ways; she's grown lazy to ponder why it's always him.

He Lingchuan couldn't possibly tell her that, as if the heartfelt voice of the Manchu Shaman suddenly appeared in his sea of consciousness and sent him a strange heart lamp; he clung to that lamp and battled the karmic force for three hundred rounds, finally subduing it just before the lamp's light extinguished.

"This also owes thanks to the former Destiny Divine Form, which was entwined with the karmic force, taking the shape of a double-headed serpent. This was very enlightening for me." He Lingchuan said seriously, "Karmic force does not only arise from causality, but is also the driving force from cause to effect; thus it naturally constitutes a part of 'destiny,' and a crucial one at that."

People often speak of karmic retribution; then, from sowing cause to reaping effect, what power drives this intermediate process?

Who ensures that good intentions bring good returns, or that good intentions bring no return?

Karmic force.

"Karmic force is that pulling thread between cause and effect, tugging each person to perform on the dance of destiny, tracing a unique life trajectory, until the final curtain."

Only on that day of the final curtain does one truly die and karmic force cease.

Precisely because he regarded karmic force as an essential part of destiny, he used karmic force to fill the missing link in his own causality, thereby self-proving great perfection! The original causality was destined to be deficient, but as the God of Destiny, how could he compromise? Thus he simply broke free from constraints, reshaped a new causality. The process of subduing karmic force was also the process of thoroughly severing ties with his past.

Let it be regarded as another, and also the final, trial bestowed upon him by destiny.

"So, has your divine form reforging succeeded?"

He Lingchuan hesitated for a moment: "Almost."

After speaking, he immediately shifted the topic: "The Qin Hai Night King joined Cang Yan so readily—what did you say to her?"