Chapter 929

A surge of magic power took the form of an immortal crane, its wings flapping as it streaked across the sky like a beam of light, moving with such speed that even if someone tried to intercept it, they would rarely succeed.

Soon, the crane followed the cross-realm portal to an ancient, wild wasteland, tracking a certain spiritual trace as it headed south toward Shenzhen City.

Despite the long journey, the crane successfully delivered the message.

“It’s the immortal crane message from Taiyi.”

Instantly, a cultivator within Shenzhen City noticed this and immediately notified Xiangxiangzi and Xuan Yuezi, who were stationed in Shenzhen City.

Soon.

The crane was escorted into the governor’s mansion.

After the Shenzhen lineage vacated, this place became the quiet cultivation grounds of the two immortal maidens; now, golden light poured down from the vast, leafy divine tree above, bathing everything in gold, with thick spiritual energy flowing everywhere.

This spiritual energy greatly benefited cultivation, nourishing body and soul, helping cultivators break through realms faster.

But once they reached the Three Flowers Realm, its effects became negligible; yet the two immortal maidens weren’t idle—they also cultivated the immortal arts, hoping to advance further, for becoming a Dao-attained one was too remote, requiring an extremely high level of understanding of the Dao.

Yet over these years, they had been fighting and killing—what understanding of the Heavenly Dao had they gained?

When the crane was escorted into the governor’s mansion.

The two immortal maidens were immediately startled; they stepped on auspicious clouds and walked out together. As the crane dissolved before their eyes, they read Li Yi’s message.

“Taiyi is preparing to launch a cross-realm war and orders us to lead troops to support him, but we must leave some behind to guard Shenzhen City—Shenzhen cannot be lost,” said Xuan Yuezi.

Xiangxiangzi said: “Taiyi is already a local deity; the ownership of Shenzhen City is known to the Merchant Lord. Even if we leave, no one would dare trespass on a deity’s territory. Leaving twenty cultivators who aren’t skilled in combat to maintain the city’s operations is enough.”

“Besides, we must go to Chijin Mountain. Those mountain lords who pledged allegiance to Taiyi are powerful divine-blood warriors—it’s time they prove their loyalty. Also, bring the green phoenix. There’s a gift from Fengguo sent to Taiyi; we’ve only just tamed it, and having a mountain-lord-level mythic beast as a mount will bring honor to our Seven Immortal Maidens lineage.”

Upon hearing this, Xuan Yuezi said nothing but nodded in agreement.

She disliked arguments; since Xiangxiangzi had decided, she wouldn’t oppose.

“Summon everyone immediately—we aim to return to Earth by tomorrow. Also, I’ll personally visit Tian Gong Daoist. A great battle is coming; he must hand over his crimson-gold divine artifact. And those two newly forged immortal warships? I’ve coveted them for ages. With Taiyi’s order, Tian Gong Daoist won’t be able to refuse.”

Xiangxiangzi smiled, and the two immediately flew out of the governor’s mansion.

Soon.

Cultivation experts scattered across Shenzhen City, upon receiving the voice transmission, gathered together at once. Before leaving, Li Yi had already warned them—they knew that crossing realms would one day require their service.

Moreover, after over a year of rest, their strength had fully recovered to its peak; even facing powerful foes, they were unafraid.

Less than half an hour had passed.

Soon.

Two warships, radiating ten thousand beams of golden light, appeared above Shenzhen City. After gaining authorization, Xuan Yuezi and Xiangxiangzi immediately boarded the two warships, riding atop a massive mythic beast—the green phoenix—and flew toward Chijin Mountain.

The Merchant Lord and sages within the city, though curious at this sight, gave it no further thought.

Since the founding of Chijin Kingdom, cultivators’ movements had been constant; flying back and forth was commonplace, not worth special attention.

As long as the thunder-wielding deity known as Dayi still lived, even if none remained on the mountain, no war would break out across this thousand-li land of Chijin Kingdom—even the lords of a hundred mountains passing through must show deep respect.

That was the deterrent power of a local deity.

When Xiangxiangzi and Xuan Yuezi arrived at Chijin Mountain and relayed Li Yi’s command to Dou Kun, the Grand Priest, he immediately summoned the strongest warriors from each tribe on Chijin Mountain.

“A command from the deity has arrived—he calls upon you to fight distant, cruel monsters. You are the strongest warriors of your tribes; now is the time to demonstrate your loyalty and valor. Bring back as many enemy heads as possible, so all may know the strength of Chijin Kingdom’s warriors. Your tribes are watching you—do not bring shame upon them.”

Grand Priest Dou Kun’s single sentence ignited the fighting spirit of all the divine-blood warriors.

Combat, slaughter—this was the warrior’s duty.

Moreover, this was their first time following a local deity into battle; if they performed poorly, their entire tribe would be shamed, and their tribe’s future survival would suffer.

“Rest assured, Grand Priest—we’ll let the enemy see the strength and valor of my brother and me,” said Jiao Cang and Ji Ao, divine-blood warriors from Tianmai Tribe, pounding their chests firmly in pledge.

They were the Thirty Mountain Lords, who had recently learned basic spells from cultivators and mastered refined martial arts, greatly enhancing their strength.

Now, their battle fervor was high.

“I will lead the charge at the front, earning the greatest glory for my tribe,” said Sun Fei, a fifty-mountain lord from a powerful tribe, speaking coldly.

Precisely because of this, he must defend his tribe’s honor—cannot be outshone by smaller tribes.

Warriors from other tribes roared in unison, vowing to fight for the deity, earn merit, and secure greater benefits and status for their tribes.

“Excellent. Follow the two female warriors beside the deity—they will take you to his side,” said Grand Priest Dou Kun, counting them carefully as he sent the warriors into the warships.

After careful selection, they chose only fifty powerful warriors.

Because Li Yi did not need the weak.

Those not selected felt deeply disappointed, even ashamed; though they were the strongest in their tribes, their strength on Chijin Mountain was ordinary—many were stronger than them.

“Don’t be disheartened. The deity has been arranging training for you, strengthening your power. If you feel ashamed, train harder from now on. Behind you now stand not only your tribal kin, but the entire Chijin Kingdom,” said Grand Priest Dou Kun, comforting and motivating them.

These warriors were still simple-minded; spurred by this, they immediately became fired up, vowing to train harder upon returning.

“Fifty divine-blood warriors gathered together, crossing realms to fight—just thinking of it is terrifying,” thought Xiangxiangzi as she watched these primitives board the warships, secretly astonished—and pitying the great demons of the Demon God Realm.

“Xuan Yuezi, we must prepare each of them a set of crimson-gold Dao artifacts. But we mustn’t overstep—we must let Taiyi distribute them himself,” she whispered secretly.

“I know. Especially these fifty divine-blood warriors—they should wear two crimson-gold battle armors and wield two crimson-gold weapons. Their physical strength and magic power can fully support it.”

Xuan Yuezi understood, and began secretly preparing.