Eternal Life by Dual Cultivation

Chapter 445 - 256: Mu Yunxiu: So It Was You...

「The Capital City of the Saint Yu Immortal Dynasty.」

In the magnificent Upper Study, the reigning Emperor was discussing matters with a group of his trusted, high-ranking ministers.

Top Grade Incense burned in a golden tripod in the corner of the hall, its green smoke curling upwards. All the important figures present wore solemn expressions, their faces stern, creating a somewhat oppressive atmosphere.

The Emperor, Shangguan Yuchu, was a handsome, middle-aged man. He wore a purple gold crown and a luxurious Embroidered Golden Dragon Pattern Purple Robe. His gaze was profound as he sat ramrod straight on his throne.

This helmsman of the Immortal Dynasty had been on the throne for several hundred years. His Cultivation had reached Divinity Transformation Peak, and it was said he could have broken through to the Void Refining Realm long ago.

However, according to the rules of the Saint Yu Immortal Dynasty’s Royal Family, once an Emperor breaks through to the Void Refining Realm, he must relinquish his authority, abdicate automatically, and become a Sect Ancestral Elder.

Therefore, Shangguan Yuchu had deliberately kept his Cultivation Realm from advancing. After all, the immense power and vast resources an Emperor could command were far greater than those of a mere Supreme Elder.

Naturally, this caused some grumbling within the Royal Family, including the Princes and Princesses. They all wished this old fossil would just kick the bucket so they could fight over the throne.

"...Your Majesty, we’ve just received word. Celestial Spring Pass has been breached by the allied forces of the two families. The Nineteenth Prince, who was stationed there, has died in battle, and our Immortal Dynasty’s Cultivator Army has suffered heavy losses!"

A high-ranking minister with a square jaw and a righteous air said with a frown.

In the days since the war began, the situation had not been very favorable for the Saint Yu Immortal Dynasty.

The Mu Family and the Cui Family had not only deployed all their elite forces to invade the Immortal Dynasty’s territory, capturing cities and plundering lands, but they were also aided by many High Rank Cultivators of unknown origin. This had caused the Saint Yu Immortal Dynasty’s Cultivator Army to suffer repeated setbacks.

As of yesterday, many important cities and passes within the Immortal Dynasty’s domain had fallen. Not to mention the heavy casualties, the loss of property and resources was also substantial.

"...The Mu Family is no longer the Mu Family of old!"

Shangguan Yuchu’s expression did not change in the slightest. He said slowly, "And the Cui Family is likely the same. With this approach, are they trying to force a mutually destructive fight with the Immortal Dynasty, aiming for mutual annihilation?"

A few days ago, he had already ordered a change in strategy, deploying a large number of elite forces ahead of time. He also dispatched a group of Supreme Elders from the Royal Family to assassinate the enemy’s High Rank Cultivators.

However, it would take some time to see the actual results.

"Your Majesty is absolutely right!"

A dark-skinned, stern-faced minister said, "We still don’t know who the hidden hand is behind these two families, but we suspect it’s just the work of powers from a few neighboring major continents."

"Mm, since the conspiracy involves external powers, the nature of this war is different. Our Immortal Dynasty cannot possibly be defeated..."

Another white-haired old man said at a slow pace.

A graceful woman in Daoist robes spoke up, "Just yesterday, Envoys from the Yu Family, the Tang Family, and the Liuying Clan all expressed their willingness to support our Immortal Dynasty in winning this war and thwarting their enemies’ plans!

The remaining families have yet to declare their stance, but it’s unlikely any of them would support outsiders, so we have no need to worry."

Shangguan Yuchu nodded, a hint of a smile touching his face. "Then let it be so! Keep a close watch on the latest movements of the two families’ leadership. Report any developments immediately."

The death of a son meant nothing to him. He still had over a hundred living Princes and Princesses!

Besides, if he wished, he could have his massive harem of concubines bear him more. It was of no consequence.

...

On a boundless, wild plain, dark clouds hung low amidst flashes of lightning and rumbles of thunder. A torrential downpour cascaded from the heavens like water from a broken celestial river dam.

High up in the Celestial Vault, a large host of Cultivators was locked in a life-or-death struggle. Blazing Sword Qi and saber glints crisscrossed for miles. Hundreds, even thousands, of Magical Treasures clashed madly, while powerful Divine Techniques rained down from above.

The battle had started when two opposing teams of Cultivators happened to run into each other in the wilderness, and a conflict naturally erupted.

Furthermore, the Commanders on each side had called for reinforcements, summoning all nearby friendly forces to join the fray. It soon escalated into the current massive spectacle of tens of thousands of Cultivators fighting to the death.

Violent tides of Spiritual Qi flooded the space between heaven and earth, causing the weather to shift drastically and erratically. One moment, dark clouds would descend, shrouding the landscape in a blackness so deep you couldn’t see your hand in front of your face.

The next, howling gales and brutal cold would rage, with fist-sized hailstones falling endlessly. Then, heavy snow like goose feathers would blanket the area, freezing a vast territory.

Then again, a scorching sun might appear overhead, with yellow sandstorms blotting out the sky. Blazing meteorites would then fall from beyond the heavens, turning the earth into a sea of molten lava.

In the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, all the cities and towns within the battle zone were razed to the ground, turned into scorched earth where nothing could grow. Tens of millions of pitiable mortal civilians had no chance to even flee for their lives.

"...So, this is a great war in the Cultivation Realm? It’s truly world-shattering, a complete cataclysm."

On a low mountain peak, a disguised Ling Changqing stood atop a massive boulder, silently watching the bloody battle in the distant Celestial Vault.

He had never before witnessed a battle between Cultivator Armies of over ten thousand, nor the sheer scale of destruction they could cause. Perhaps not even the nuclear wars of his past life could compare.

The Zhao Wanyi sisters felt a similar sense of sorrow and shock. They, too, had never seen such a large-scale, bloody battle, and the same was true for Shangguan Qingying.

"After this battle is over, I’m afraid all three families will have their Primordial Qi greatly damaged. I wonder how many centuries it will take for them to recover?"