Chapter 988: Eternal Life: My Steady Farming-Style Cultivation Chapter 988 — Internal Troubles and External Threats!

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Protagonist:

Xu Zhangqing

Xu Zhangqing waved his hand: "It's fine, I won't force you."

Seeing he had said as much, Li Lingbi gave a slight nod, then asked: "Speaking of which, how are Yueyao and Mu'er doing?

They're at the Qingmu Sect — have they been affected?"

Hearing this, the coldness in Xu Zhangqing's eyes dissipated somewhat, and he nodded: "Rest assured, Yueyao and Mu'er are both doing well.

At the Qingmu Sect, there are dedicated guardians and spiritual arrays for protection.

Ordinarily, there are also attendants seeing to their daily needs, and both their cultivations are improving steadily."

The worry in Li Lingbi's heart settled, and a trace of a smile appeared on his face: "That's good then."

Xu Zhangqing couldn't help pressing further: "What exactly is the situation in the Central Region now?"

The smile on Li Lingbi's face faded, his expression turning grave once more: "The situation is not optimistic."

Xu Zhangqing frowned: "Along the way I saw many demons, even Demon Emperor-level existences — could it be that..."

"Sigh~"

Li Lingbi sighed and began to explain: "This matter must be traced back to Lu Chen Yuan.

Back then, Lu Chen Yuan manipulated the Tu Soil God to cause chaos, not only throwing the Tianyuan Realm's earth qi into disorder but also accidentally shattering the gap between the Demon Realm and the Tianyuan Realm.

With the gap broken, demons from the Demon Realm poured into the Central Region in an endless stream.

That is what created the scene you see today."

Pausing, Li Lingbi continued: "Besides that, there is another matter.

Some time ago, I and several top experts of the Central Region had all our attention on Lu Chen Yuan, yet we never expected that the Foolish Prince Mo Yin would secretly ally with the Mo Family, intending to seize power while the opportunity arose.

Fortunately Han Xin sent word in advance and notified me in time.

Otherwise, the entire Li Clan would have been ruined at their hands."

Xu Zhangqing was quite surprised: "There's even this?"

Li Lingbi gave a bitter smile: "Now, Mo Yin has already fled.

The Black Rust Dynasty has been completely taken over by the Li Family.

I just finished dealing with the remnants and hurried back."

Xu Zhangqing was very curious: "What about the Mo Family then?"

You have to understand, this is the most ancient clan in the Central Region.

It's said their inheritance spans nearly ten thousand years; their foundation is formidable.

One just wonders why they would cooperate with a Foolish Prince who doesn't have much ability.

"Hmph!"

Li Lingbi let out a cold snort, then said coldly: "Right now, the demonic calamity in the Central Region is severe; out of consideration for the human race's safety, I did not hold the Mo Family accountable.

But in the future, this matter must receive an explanation."

Hearing this, Xu Zhangqing understood Li Lingbi's current predicament.

First, the gap is shattered and demons pour in endlessly.

Second, spiritual qi is in disorder and cultivators' cultivations have stagnated.

Third, the Foolish Prince and the Mo Family colluded, creating internal troubles and external threats.

If these problems cannot be resolved, it won't be long before not just the Central Region, but the entire Tianyuan Realm will become the Demon Realm's back garden.

When that time comes, whether ordinary people or cultivators, all will pay a tragic price.

Li Lingbi hesitated a moment, then still chose to ask: "The Immortal Sect's side..."

Xu Zhangqing shook his head: "Don't count on Dongting — Sect Master Chao Jin has closed the Yunhua Realm's entrance and hasn't shown his face to this day.

When Lu Chen Yuan ran rampant, it was still the Great Elder who stepped forward."

"What?"

Hearing this, Li Lingbi's eyes widened, his expression unbelieving: "Chao Jin — back in the Central Region he was an existence who dared confront the Demon God; how could he now..."

Xu Zhangqing sighed from the heart: "Worldly affairs are unpredictable, human hearts unfathomable."

Eight words, summing up everything that has happened over these hundred-plus years.

If it were an outsider, Li Lingbi would not have talked this long or this deep.

But Xu Zhangqing is different — the two were not only cooperative partners before.

Now, they have become in-laws in a single leap, among the closest of people.

Moreover, both sides' interests are bound together — shared glory, shared loss.

Xu Zhangqing took a sip of tea, pondering: "Now the Demon Realm is invading on a grand scale; if this momentum continues, barring accidents, Demon God Kong Fang will certainly appear again."

He paused, his tone growing even heavier: "By contrast, the human cultivators' side has long since lost its former glory.

Top experts either died in battle or were gravely wounded, and quite a few have suffered cultivation regression.

Even worse, some for self-preservation simply shut their doors and ignore the world's strife."

Li Lingbi gripped his tea cup tight, saying with deep agreement: "Exactly — the human race is now precarious; if there's no countermeasure, sooner or later we'll be eaten alive by demons."

"Matters have priorities and urgencies; now is not the time for a head-on clash."

Xu Zhangqing's tone carried a note of resolve: "I believe the most urgent task is to relocate the Central Region's human race out, temporarily avoiding the demonic calamity risk, and first find a stable place to settle.

After we resolve the Tu Soil God's hidden danger and restore spiritual qi, we can turn back and exterminate these demons, reclaiming the Central Region."

"Relocate the human race?"

Hearing this, Li Lingbi showed a hesitant expression: "This is easier said than done."

He gave a wry smile, his tone full of reluctance and concern: "I finally quelled the internal strife and took control of the entire Black Rust Dynasty; if I give it up just like that, wouldn't all my previous efforts be in vain?"

More importantly, the spiritual energy, spiritual veins, and various cultivation resources of the Central Region are incomparable to anywhere else.

Without these, my difficulty in breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage will only increase, and I might even stagnate for life."

Xu Zhangqing fell silent for a moment before speaking again: "I understand your concerns, but right now, preserving our lives is the top priority."

"If even the people are gone, what meaning is there in holding onto this land?"

"As for cultivation resources, once we recapture the Central Region in the future, we can naturally take them back."

"Even if we don't have them temporarily, I can transfer some from the Qingmu Sect to help you break through."

Li Lingbi did not respond immediately, but instead lowered his head in thought.

A brief silence fell within the Ke Ting, leaving only the sound of each other's breathing.

"Let's talk about it later!"

"As you wish."

"You've worked hard all the way; take some time to regulate your breath!"

In the end, Li Lingbi still did not make a decision, nor take that step.

Xu Zhangqing stayed one night at the Li Residence, and as soon as dawn broke the next day, he took his leave.

No matter what, Lao Hu's grudge must be avenged.

But just as he arrived at the city gate, he couldn't help but stop in his tracks.

Only to see that outside the Imperial City, a dense horde of demons had surrounded the city so tightly that not even water could leak through.

A pitch-black mass, demon winds howling, demon Qi soaring to the heavens, even the sunlight was blocked.

Those demons were of various forms; some were green-faced and fanged, some had human bodies and beast heads, all baring their claws and teeth, roaring without cease, madly striking the Imperial City's protection array.

The pale gold spiritual light trembled violently under the impacts, faintly showing signs of shattering.

Xu Zhangqing spread out his divine sense to sense the overall strength of this group of demons.

The number of minor demons alone exceeded one thousand.

And there were as many as five existences at the Demon King level.

Moreover, in the deepest part of that group of demons, a strange aura flickered in and out of perception.

Even though the other party deliberately concealed it, it still made Xu Zhangqing's heart sink.

No surprise, at least a Demon Emperor level demon.

"The demons are besieging the city!"

"The demons are besieging the city!!"

"The demons are besieving the city!!!"