Skree! Skree! Skree!
Under a bright, clear sky, cranes parted the clouds as they circled ceaselessly, their calls ringing clear and resonant.
Such a magnificent sight was scarcely distinguishable from the descriptions of immortal abodes in legend.
Yet across the vast Eastern Desolation, it could only be witnessed in a handful of places.
The White Crane Domain was one such place.
Within this domain stood a Nascent Soul high sect named the White Crane Sect. Its legacy cultivation method, the Nine Heavens Crane Cry, was exceptionally complete, spanning all the way from Qi Refinement to the Nascent Soul realm.
Every disciple admitted to the sect was granted an immortal crane upon establishing their foundation.
Cultivating alongside each other, their combat prowess was formidable.
Upon reaching the Nascent Soul realm, they could even rely on their companion cranes to soar beyond the nine heavens and roam the boundless azure skies!
Of course, under ordinary circumstances, so many cranes would not be dancing across the skies of the White Crane Domain.
At present, the Five Domains had united to stand together against the demons. To guard against any sudden assault by the demon army, this vast flock of cranes had been deployed on aerial reconnaissance.
Suddenly!
The flocks of cranes in the sky froze in unison, their sharp eyes turning together toward a palace nestled deep within a great mountain.
From that direction, a domineering, razor-sharp aura was radiating outward without the slightest concealment.
Several cultivators were already converging on that spot.
Far in the distance, within a fourth-rank immortal's cave, a gaunt old man with snow-white hair and beard slowly opened his eyes.
"It is the teleportation formation from the Dongyang Sect. Which fellow Daoist has arrived at this hour?"
With that thought in mind, he drifted out of his immortal's cave.
The moment he stepped into the air, a white crane flew smoothly beneath him, bearing him away toward the teleportation palace.
Before long, he arrived at the palace.
No sooner had he arrived than the guarding disciples bowed and greeted him one after another.
"Supreme Elder!"
"Supreme Elder!"
"Master!"
The old man gave a nod to the middle-aged man who had spoken last, then turned his gaze toward the figure gradually materializing within the teleportation formation.
Inside the formation, the white-robed man's eyes flashed. Before his spiritual energy had even settled, he spoke with easy composure:
"'The chilly pine grows old yet keeps its noble grace; the wild crane hungers still, but pecks at leisure's pace.' You must be True Person Xianhe, dear friend of True Person Lu from the Dongyang Sect!"
True Person Xianhe's expression tightened slightly!
The teleportation formation had not fully come to rest yet, and vast spiritual energy from the void was still battering the cultivator's physique.
This was the most vulnerable moment for any cultivator inside: not only did they have to withstand the pressure of the void, but they also had to guard against outside foes.
Under such circumstances, how could this person speak as if taking a leisurely stroll in a courtyard?
Draping his horsetail whisk over an arm, True Person Xianhe performed a formal bow. "That is indeed this old Daoist. May I ask fellow Daoist's name?"
The white-robed man lifted a foot and strode forcefully out of the teleportation formation in a single step.
"I am Luo Chen!"
With just those words, Luo Chen was standing directly across from True Person Xianhe.
A name without a Daoist title, and an unknown background?
True Person Xianhe frowned slightly, but remembering that the man had just mentioned True Person Lu of the Dongyang Sect, he knew the guest had to be trustworthy.
"This is no place for conversation. Fellow Daoist, this way please?"
"Just as well. I, too, have a few matters I would like fellow Daoist to enlighten me upon."
Luo Chen smiled faintly and followed True Person Xianhe and his disciple out of the teleportation palace.
No sooner had they stepped outside than the old man waved his whisk. Two cranes flew over, alighted on the plaza in front of the palace, and bowed their bodies before them.
Luo Chen's brows twitched. Third-rank spiritual cranes?
The one beneath True Person Xianhe's feet, in particular, radiated the aura of the third-rank Great Perfection, its cultivation even higher than that of his disciple.
"Please!"
"Thank you for your hospitality, fellow Daoist."
Luo Chen stepped onto the spiritual crane's back in a single stride and flew along with True Person Xianhe to a pavilion atop a high peak.
"Zhaowu, serve the tea!"
"Yes, Master!"
The middle-aged man waiting at the side immediately brought out a tea set onto the stone table and began brewing spiritual tea.
Taking advantage of this pause, both sides sized each other up.
Information regarding the White Crane Sect swiftly drifted through Luo Chen's mind.
The cultivators of this sect were adept at battle, but not warlike!
Aside from cultivating mind and nature, their reluctance to fight stemmed from channeling a portion of their resources into raising companion spiritual cranes, which left the sect with relatively few cultivators.
Back when the twenty-one Nascent Soul high sects in the Eastern Desolation's deep rear allocated five domains, including the White Crane Domain, as resettlement areas for the Deathground Army, this had factored into their calculations.
Among the Nascent Soul high sects within these five domains, the White Crane Sect had few cultivators; Fenghua Palace was composed mostly of female cultivators and was likewise small in number; the Mu Manor was a family clan at the Nascent Soul tier and stayed tucked away in its corner; and the Wan Jian Pavilion upheld the philosophy of favoring quality over quantity, having few disciples.
It could be said that among the five domains, aside from the Hundred Beasts Sect, which specialized in combating demon beasts, the other four sects were selected precisely because their numbers were small and they occupied less territory, leaving room to shelter the survivors who had fled from the front lines.
Naturally, geographical factors also played a major role.
As far as Luo Chen knew, the White Crane Sect only had two Nascent Soul True Persons to this day!
One of them was rumored to be a transformed great demon, rather than an orthodox human cultivator.
As the fragrance of the tea wafted up, Luo Chen suppressed the urgency in his heart and inquired about the matter that concerned him.
"Does fellow Daoist know of the Luotian Sect?"
True Person Xianhe had braced himself for some momentous affair; hearing that his guest was merely asking about a sect, he could not help but breathe a sigh of relief.
Still, the Luotian Sect?
A bewildered look crossed his face.
However, the disciple Zhaowu, serving at the side, hesitated for a moment before chiming in, "Could True Person Luo be asking about the Luotian Sect that recently set up the Ten Duels of Decision at Lingtian Pass?"
The Ten Duels of Decision?
Luo Chen's brows knitted tightly, sharp as twin swords, striking a chill into the heart.
Without hesitation, he gave a flick of his wrist, and a jade bottle appeared on the table.
"This medicine can aid the cultivation of spiritual beasts. Young friend, why don't you tell me in detail about these so-called Ten Duels of Decision?"
True Person Xianhe grew interested as well. "Zhaowu, explain in detail. I have been in seclusion comprehending a secret technique lately and have fallen out of touch with recent events in the cultivation world. I am rather curious myself."
With his master's approval and the pills beneficial to spiritual beasts offered by Luo Chen, Zhaowu had no further reservations.
He paused in thought, then spoke slowly:
"From what I know, the Ten Duels of Decision are an internal clash within the Luotian Sect. Word is that the Sect Master's lineage split, with both factions seeking to consolidate authority. After a century of friction, they have finally come to arms and resorted to force.
"One side insists on preserving the orthodox Luotian lineage, while the other claims that internal stability must precede resisting external threats—that a core leader must be established before the demon army descends in force.
"Of course, from different perspectives, the essence of the matter is not quite so simple.
"According to junior's conjecture, this internal conflict in Luotian is not as straightforward as it appears on the surface. More than anything, it is a probing maneuver by Motian Cliff and the Five Elements Divine Sect working in concert against Fenghua Palace!"
At this point, Zhaowu could not help glancing at True Person Xianhe.
"Master, our White Crane Domain actually faces similar situations. Many survivors who relocated here still have intact sect foundations. To secure better spiritual veins, they have constantly been testing the bottom line of our White Crane Sect. They are trying to nest in our dovecote!"
True Person Xianhe laughed lightly. "You cannot be referring to the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect, which has already lost its standing?"
Zhaowu nodded. "Master cultivates peace of mind and ignores external affairs, so you may not know. The Jade Cauldron Sword Sect may have lost Perfected Jade Cauldron and seem harmless, but do not forget, they originally came from the Wan Jian Domain. With the backing of the Wan Jian Pavilion, plus that genius of theirs who made a battlefield breakthrough to the Nascent Soul realm—the one hailed as the Lone Swan of the Sword Realm—they pose a tremendous threat to our White Crane Sect!"
The old man's smile faded, and he silently murmured those names.
Wan Jian Pavilion, Jade Cauldron Sword Sect, Lone Swan of the Sword Realm!
As for Luo Chen, he was eager to learn more.
Having offered that reminder to his master, Zhaowu returned to the main topic and continued speaking of the Luotian Sect.
"Speaking of which, the Luotian Sect is also said to have hailed from the former Jade Cauldron Domain, revering the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect as their high sect."
Luo Chen gave an acknowledging hum. That was indeed true.
Any force that had developed in the Jade Cauldron Domain back then, large or small, outwardly deferred to the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect.
While there might not have been a formal master-servant dynamic on paper, any sect trying to make a living, acquire resources, or move in and out of the various immortal cities had contributed spirit stones to the Jade Cauldron Sword Sect in one way or another.
"What is the situation with the internal strife within the Sect Master's lineage you mentioned?"
Zhaowu pondered for a moment before saying somewhat uncertainly, "This probably traces back to when the founding sect master of the Luotian Sect, Sima Huiniang, passed the seat to her eldest disciple, Yao Mingyue. Back when the Luotian Sect was on the run, talents were emerging one after another. Setting aside veteran powerhouses like War Demon and Tiankuizi, the younger generation boasted promising seedlings like Si Wenjun and Shalongzi.
"Logically speaking, the position of second-generation sect master should have gone to Si Wenjun, who was closest to Sima Huiniang and possessed the highest cultivation realm."
At this point, Zhaowu looked at Luo Chen and smiled. "You might not know, but that Si Wenjun is actually Sima Huiniang's biological younger brother. His real name is Sima Wenjie."
Luo Chen froze slightly.
"Yet for some reason, Sima Huiniang did not pass the sect master's seat to Si Wenjun, the highest in cultivation among the junior generation, nor to Shalongzi, the strongest in combat prowess. Instead, she gave it to her unremarkable eldest disciple, Yao Mingyue.
"And from that moment on, a rift was born!"
***
Lingtian Pass!
A towering, majestic stronghold, like an iron floodgate set amidst sheer mountain ranges, stood wedged across the indispensable passage between the front line and the rear.
This fortress was no ancient city with deep heritage.
Rather, it was a colossal war fortress built day and night over the past decade, prompted and spearheaded by the Mingyuan Sect, funded by the twenty-one Nascent Soul high sects, and constructed with labor supplied by cultivators from the twelve fallen domains!
It was claimed that with this fortress standing, even if a late-stage Nascent Soul Great Demon Sovereign arrived in person, they would be unable to breach it by force!
Thus, it had become the surviving human race's second line of defense against the demon army.
As for the first?
That was, of course, the three frontline domains still ravaged by the flames of war.
Looking down from high in the sky, one would see the dark gray ramparts bristling with deep artillery muzzles and a forest of banners. Formations flickered faintly, and ranks of cultivators patrolled the battlements in orderly formation.
Inside the city, there were no commercial streets such as those found in typical immortal cities; instead, there were fortified bastions, wide-open grounds, and countless massive war vessels crouched in readiness.
Everything appeared primed and poised, fully prepared to plunge into battle at a moment's notice.
The formation of the Deathground Army had indeed united this "motley crew," but it also made every single person understand what lay ahead.
A fight to the death with the demons, without retreating a single step!
Consequently, the cultivators walking within all wore baleful expressions, cold and distant.
However!
At this moment, the central plaza of Lingtian Pass was packed with a sea of people, resounding with morbidly feverish roars.
"Kill!"
"Kill!"
"Kill!"
A squad of fully armored cultivators stood within the crowd, holding back the surging masses from approaching the elevated platform that spanned a li across.
Compared to those morbidly frenzied cultivators, this squad appeared far calmer.
For they were not homeless refugees, but a law enforcement squad formed by disciples drawn from the five sects of the Five Domains.
Their sole duty was to maintain order within Lingtian Pass.
Listening to the fanatical shouts around them, the law enforcement cultivators kept their faces stern.
"How many times has this happened now?"
"Too many to count!"
"Indeed. When disaster strikes, everyone looks out for themselves. Under a century of demon onslaught, who knows how many cultivators abandoned their sects to climb onto higher branches? Who knows how many took advantage of the chaos to rob and murder? Now that they have all gathered in the Five Domains, those with grievances seek revenge, those with grudges settle scores, and those cleaning up sect traitors are too numerous to count. This Battle Platform was erected precisely to offer them a fair avenue for settlement. Ever since it was set up, the fighting has never ceased."
"With such internal attrition, do the higher-ups not care?"
"How could they manage it? Those in our Dao value keeping their minds unhindered. If you forcibly suppress them, they would only take up arms in private and drag innocent bystanders down with them."
"Junior brother makes a fair point. But this Ten Duels of Decision by the Luotian Sect has to be the largest scale duel seen so far, right?"
"Indeed! Ten duels, every single one a clash between Golden Core Masters!"
"Did that Luotian Sect truly survive from the very first demon wave of the Howling Moon Mountain Range? Through such chaos over a hundred years, far from crumbling, their Golden Core cultivators have only grown in number."
"Who could deny it? Not only can each of them hold their own, but their connections are extensive. Si Wenjun, looking to establish his own independent branch, was actually able to recruit so many Golden Core guest elders to fight for him!"
"I fear they aren't fighting for him, but for the two high sects backing him! You might not know, but one of the guest elders under Si Wenjun, as far as I'm aware, actually comes from the Five Elements Divine Sect..."
"Let's not dwell on that. Who do you think will win this fifth duel?"
"Who's fighting whom?"
"Qi Emei against Shalongzi!"
At those words, those privy to the background were taken aback.
In rumors, weren't those two kindred spirits, an immortal couple?
Back in the battle of Border City, while still in the Foundation Establishment stage, the two had joined forces on the battlefield to slay a third-rank Fire-Eyed Ferocious Bull King, a feat praised as a storybook romance at the time.
Afterward, they frequently hunted demon beasts together, coordinating seamlessly.
How had they fallen to the point of crossing swords today?
Amidst the crowd's astonishment, two figures had already appeared on the high platform.
One was tall and valiant, a red ribbon fluttering behind her head, accentuating her strikingly beautiful face.
The other was clad in heavy armor with a pair of metallic wings unfurled, gripping a broadsword with lips pressed tight. Though his expression was resolute, his gaze wavered slightly, as if he dared not look at the woman across from him.
Under the gaze of ten thousand eyes, the woman spoke slowly: "Zeng Yilong, why do you not dare look at me?"
Shalongzi kept his head down, staring only at the hilt of the broadsword he leaned upon with both hands.
"What is there to look at? You and I now serve different masters. In the end, we can never go back."
The corner of Qi Emei's mouth twitched. "If I defeat you, and if Si Wenjun wins the Ten Duels of Decision, the Luotian Sect will be merged into my Five Elements Divine Sect. Everything can still go back to how it was."
Shalongzi parted his lips, but in the end, he let out a sigh.
"Emei, you are no match for me. You never were. Under the constraints of this terrain, you are even less my match."
"Is that so?" The woman scoffed. "You underestimate me too much—and you underestimate the secret arts of the Divine Sect!"
As she spoke, wisps of crimson threads diffused from her fingertips.
The battle was poised to erupt at any second!
Chapter 775