Central Plains, Ten Thousand Visions City.
As the core heartland of the Anti-Saint Alliance, Ten Thousand Visions City still maintained a facade of prosperity.
The streets were bustling with carriages and pedestrians, shops lined every corner, wine houses and teahouses buzzed with conversation—as though the war clouds looming beyond the city walls simply didn't exist.
But a closer look revealed that every cultivator in the city wore a grim expression. Patrols were noticeably more frequent, and the city's grand defensive formation remained in a semi-activated state at all times, spiritual light flickering intermittently in the sky.
In the top-floor private room of the city's finest restaurant, "Immortal Guest Pavilion," three people sat by the window.
Clad in white robes, Xiao Chen gently stroked his teacup, his gaze drifting past the window lattice toward the faint outline of the city walls in the distance, his brow slightly furrowed.
Across from him, Han Yu toyed with a jade talisman, his expression grave. Beside them, Chen Xingcai, dressed in a pale blue Daoist robe, sat quietly, her fingertips unconsciously tracing some profound pattern on the tabletop.
Exquisite spiritual delicacies and immortal wine were laid out on the table, yet almost no one touched them.
"The spiritual energy flow in the defensive formation has slowed another three degrees compared to three days ago," Xiao Chen spoke suddenly, his voice low. "At this rate of consumption, it can hold for three months at most."
Han Yu set down his jade talisman with a cold laugh.
"Three months? That's the best-case scenario. If the Holy Dynasty's ten monsters make a move personally, we'd be lucky to last a month."
Chen Xingcai sighed softly, her voice clear as a spring. "The northern front lost three more fortresses yesterday."
"Zhan Wuji struck personally—one sword strike shattered Golden Light Sect's mountain-guarding formation, and the sword scar stretches for a hundred li, its qi still lingering. The Golden Light Sect Master... fell in battle."
Deathly silence descended upon the room.
Zhan Wuji, the Holy Dynasty's Seventh Holy Son—fifteen years ago, a "Disaster Star" born on the shores of the Eastern Sea. Now, he was a Cave Void realm sword cultivator who struck terror into all who heard his name, killing without mercy and conquering wherever he went.
And this was merely one of the Holy Dynasty's Ten Holy Sons.
"I foresaw this situation ten years ago," Xiao Chen said slowly. "I just didn't expect the Holy Dynasty's offensive to be so swift, or the Upper Realm's assault so ruthless."
These three were precisely the ones born fifteen years ago into the Xiao family, the Han family, and the one taken away by Zhao Xin—Chen Xingcai.
Five years ago, leveraging their respective factions' status and intelligence networks, they had finally reunited.
As prodigies of the Lower Realm's Immortal Spirit Holy Land, their progress over fifteen years far surpassed ordinary cultivators—all had recovered to the Long Life realm, becoming the leading figures of the righteous path's younger generation.
Within the righteous factions, there was already quiet talk comparing them to the Holy Dynasty's Ten Holy Sons.
But facing the Holy Dynasty's overwhelming, crushing advance—this was the tide of times. Even at the Long Life realm, they felt powerless to turn the tide.
"Central Plains can't be held," Han Yu said bluntly, tapping the table with a fingertip. Spiritual light gathered to form a map of the Spirit Realm.
"The Holy Dynasty controls seven-tenths of the realm, and their momentum is at its peak. The Anti-Saint Alliance appears united, but each faction has its own agenda. Resources are scarce, and enemy spies sabotage us from within."
He pointed to the Central Plains region. "This place is already an island. It's only a matter of time before it falls."
Xiao Chen nodded. "But we didn't come to Central Plains to defend it to the death."
"First, to find our scattered fellow disciples. Second, to preserve the righteous path's strength and leave kindling for a future counterattack."
Chen Xingcai's fingers stopped their tracing. "News from the south—the sea level has dropped three hundred zhang, and the newly revealed land mass is comparable to the entire Eastern Domain."
"Spiritual energy is recovering, all things growing. It would be a fine place to rest and rebuild."
The cataclysm triggered by the Black Tortoise's broken pact fifteen years ago had sent the four seas churning and waters flooding the continents.
But now, as the laws of nature gradually stabilized, the waters receded and land emerged. The south had turned disaster into fortune, yielding vast tracts of fertile new territory.
"Southward migration is our best option," Xiao Chen decided. "No later than year's end, we must begin organizing the evacuation. Central Plains is a sinking ship—we can't go down with it."
"But slipping past the Holy Dynasty won't be easy," Han Yu frowned. "A large-scale migration will definitely draw attention. If they intercept us on the road..."
Chen Xingcai smiled faintly.
"That's why we need to repair the plank road in the open while crossing the river in secret. The Anti-Saint Alliance keeps up the appearance of a desperate defense on the front lines, while secretly evacuating each faction's elite and young disciples to the south in batches."
"I've already had people establish preliminary outposts in the south."
What was more important was the fear that they'd been killed the moment they were born. The thought weighed heavily on all three of their hearts.
"I've used the Xiao family's name to secretly post bounties for the 'Disaster Stars' from fifteen years ago," Xiao Chen said. "The pretext is researching meteoric power to counter the Holy Dynasty—but in truth, we're searching for our fellow disciples."
Han Yu sneered coldly. "The Holy Dynasty is also aggressively hunting down 'Disaster Stars.' They probably want to eliminate threats before they grow."
Just then, a serving girl entered and whispered something into Chen Xingcai's ear before withdrawing.
Chen Xingcai's face lit up. "I may have some good news."
"Word from Wangzhou City—two cultivators have arrived who match the people we're looking for. Only..."
"Only what?"
"Their cultivation seems rather low."
Xiao Chen and Han Yu both showed a trace of worry.
"Regardless, we should go find them first. If my fears are correct, it would be perfectly normal for their cultivation to be lacking."
"Yes, Eldest Senior Brother." Chen Xingcai had barely finished speaking when her expression suddenly shifted, her gaze turning north.
Almost simultaneously, Xiao Chen and Han Yu also turned with grave expressions to look to the north.
A terrifying pressure was rolling in from the northern horizon like a mountain made solid, silencing the entirety of Ten Thousand Visions City. The defensive formation activated automatically, spiritual light flashing violently.
"It's Holy Emperor Qin Ao's aura..." Han Yu gritted his teeth. "He's come to the front lines in person!"
A flash of resolve crossed Xiao Chen's eyes. No, they had to move faster.
Han Yu, you're in charge of the southern reception. I'll continue helping the Alliance shore up the defenses. Xingcai, I need you to personally go to Wangzhou City—you must find those two!
Chen Xingcai worried, "But with Qin Ao here in person, the northern front..."
"We can't worry about that now," Xiao Chen said decisively. "Finding our companions is more important to us! If the Upper Realm finds them first, the consequences don't bear thinking about!"
"Yes, Eldest Senior Brother!"
...
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