Chapter 824: Joining the War

The great war between the human race and the demon race is about to erupt; many forces haven't even reacted yet, and a large number of free cultivators from Zhong Tian Zhi Yu have already headed to the border of the Otherworldly Race continent, ready to fight the demon race to the death.

Under these circumstances, even though the major powers are eager to curb the free cultivators, the results are minimal.

This moment.

Within the Great Sinful Sect.

After He Yun learned of the news, he summoned an Elder of the sect to discuss the matter.

"You all should have heard the news that the demon army attacked the border human cultivators, right?"

The surrounding Elders wore grim faces; the human race of Zhong Tian Zhi Yu had been at peace with the demon race for so long—are they about to fight again?

"Sect Master, we know this, but reactions are fierce everywhere now, especially from those free cultivators…"

He Yun looked at them: "Elders, do you know why those free cultivators are so excited, even daring to fear death?"

Indeed.

War is not as simple as it sounds; once it erupts, blood will flow like rivers and smoke will fill the sky. Who can guarantee they'll survive to the end?

Even wars among mortals are like that, let alone wars among cultivators, which involve the two great intelligent races, the human and demon races.

The Elder at the side fell silent then said: "Many years ago, when the major powers of Zhong Tian Zhi Yu negotiated peace with the demon race, they promised to treat them equally. Even the sages descended and took demon disciples, which allowed us to gradually accept the demon race's existence."

"Moreover, in trade, cultivation, and other interactions, the major powers granted many privileges to the demon race."

"With that said, why would the demon race contemplate war with the human race? Is it because the Primordial Son provides a reason for the demon race to go to war recklessly?"

Even though they know the Primordial Son is a rare treasure and the key to achieving Dao and sainthood, precisely because of that, even the supreme Elders of the major powers and the demon court's demon emperors would not dare.

If they merely speak of war, it would affect the entire cultivation world of Zhong Tian Zhi Yu; the human and demon forces are about equal. If a real battle occurs and the two sides become deadlocked, that's still manageable—if it drags on until all cultivators grow weary of war, there would still be a chance for peace talks.

But if an overwhelming situation arises for either side, that would be entirely different.

This is why those free cultivators are willing to go to the battlefield to fight to the death: only then can they seize a future.

"The reason free cultivators are so reckless as to not fear death is that the human territories of Zhong Tian Zhi Yu no longer have resources to sustain their cultivation; to obtain resources, they can only…"

Expand territories?

No, they must plunder the demon race!

Has the demon race never had such a plan?

The Elders in the main hall, upon considering this point, suddenly changed color, each bowing their heads in silence.

One must remember that the sages are still above them.

This scene feels all too familiar to some ancient undying beings.

Whenever a great domain has an excess of cultivators, some calamities arise; they may start small, but unnoticed by all, they can suddenly erupt into a war that sweeps the entire domain, even the five domains.

The most famous is the conflict, ten thousand years ago, between Martial Dao cultivators and Magical Cultivation cultivators among the human race; it was a war that darkened the heavens and earth before Magical Cultivation became the mainstream of the cultivation world, severing the Martial Dao lineage.

He Yun nodded: "At this moment, I won't hide it from everyone—the Three Sects have secretly sent messages to the Sect Masters of our major powers, demanding that we must join the war!"

"What?!"

"Sect Master, that's unacceptable!"

"Exactly, on what grounds do they, by merely talking, expect us to go to our deaths?"

He Yun took a deep breath: "The spoils of joining the war—demon race resources and lands—are ours to take!"

This…

The Elders' pupils narrowed as they began to calculate in their minds.

"Could the Three Sects' words be…"

"…the sages' scheming?"

The surrounding Elders said nothing, but their gazes said everything.

He Yun nodded, saying nothing more.

"Given that, Sect Master, what is your plan? Will we truly join the war?"

"Whether to join the war is a decision for the Elders and our disciples themselves," He Yun shook his head and said, "This Sect Master will not force anyone to join."

Having said that, He Yun flicked his sleeve and left.

The Elders in the main hall each had different thoughts, exchanged a few glances, and silently departed.

Some matters cannot be avoided.

"Elder Long, you ask cultivators, is cultivation more important or life more important?" a nearby Elder asked.

"Both are important. If a cultivator does not cultivate, why not become a mortal? If one is not alive, how can one cultivate?"

"Speaking of it is like saying nothing."

Elder Long smiled: "The difference is how one thinks. If one fears death, they will be cowardly and not dare to go, but with a slightly bolder heart, they see this human‑demon great war as an opportunity!" Elder Long's eyes radiated brilliance!

The Elder beside him widened his eyes: "Elder Long, are you planning to go?"

"I can't not go; I'm stuck in the early stage of merging Dao for too long. Years of arduous cultivation in seclusion yielded nothing; the sect's various resources have been used but still to no avail." Elder Long clenched his fists: "I can only go to try my luck."

"Elder Long, you… aren't afraid of death?"

"On the path of cultivation, if one does not advance… better to die!"

The neighboring Elder sighed, ultimately saying nothing more.

The news quickly spread among the disciples, and under the various reports, a portion of the disciples' racial hearts were awakened, angrily rushing to the Elders:

"Elder, we want to go to the border!"

"It's very dangerous! The demon race is not that easy to deal with, is it?"

"We are not afraid of death!"

"The Great Sinful Sect has no living cowards!"

"If the demon race is ruthless, we naturally will not stand by idly!"

"Exactly, since the demon race dared to strike the human race, they must repay with blood!"

Looking at this bunch of hot-blooded youths, the Elder's expression was grim.

We should have opposed the Patriarch; our Great Sinful Sect is clearly a demonic path, yet we insisted on turning into an orthodox one—what came of it?

This has made these disciples all hot-blooded; hearing of war at the border, they can't wait to fly there immediately.

Sigh.

But having said that, if the Great Sinful Sect hadn't turned into an orthodox sect and hadn't passed on the Blood Path secret technique, it probably couldn't have reopened.

I really don't know what the Patriarch was thinking.

「Forget it, if you want to go, go; remember, the sect will always be your backing! 」

「Thank you, Elder! 」

Even the Great Sinful Sect has had many cultivators stirred.

All major powers are the same. No cultivator would be unaware of the principle that those not of our kind must have different hearts. Initially, humans and demons lived in peace, and that was the sages' conclusion, which led most cultivators to accept the demon race.

But now that the demon race has provoked war, naturally more and more human cultivators will join the fight.

Whether they fight for the righteousness in their hearts, to gain more resources, or simply to temper themselves, increasing numbers of cultivators swarm toward the border of Luohuang Zhou like moths to a flame.

Some forces even openly organize manpower, preparing to join the war.