The Talisman Shatters: Dawn of Annihilation

The summer heat was scorching; the world felt like a great furnace, and only in the deep night did it finally cool down.

Within a tower atop the manor on the mountain peak, Ji Ning and Yu Wei stood at a high vantage point, commanding a view of most of Anchan City.

"It's been six full months since the Seamless Gate issued its ultimatum, yet there's still no movement at all. We're left waiting every day, never knowing when the blow will fall," Ji Ning said.

"Now, Anchan City not only has the Uniter Sword Immortal, but also you, Junior Apprentice-Brother. You once held your own against nine Celestial Immortals and even killed two. Eighteen years have passed—they'll likely assume your strength has only grown. How could the Seamless Gate be careless? They'll need plenty of preparation. Half a year is nothing when dealing with a Celestial Immortal verging on Pure Yang True Immortal and a monstrous prodigy like you," Yu Wei said. "The longer this takes... the more terrifying their eventual strike will be."

Ji Ning nodded. "I understand."

"Junior Apprentice-Brother." Yu Wei looked at him gravely. "You absolutely cannot underestimate the Seamless Gate."

"Haha, Senior Apprentice-Sister, don't worry. I learned a bitter lesson at the Shaoyin clan's hands last time. Once bitten, twice shy. I won't be careless this time." Ji Ning smiled. Over these past days, Yu Wei had repeatedly warned him to be cautious. It was clear that his exile to that death-zone by the Shaoyin clan had made her fear for his safety.

That kind of concern warmed his heart.

Over the past six months, he had already worked out most of the Heartforce-powered Sword Immortal technique. He estimated he would fully comprehend it soon. After all, he had prior experience applying it through his sword-fingers, so progress was naturally rapid. Furthermore, the half-year of sword-Dao meditation had revealed astonishing improvement. Having fully understood the first level of Sword Force and grasped the qualitative nature of the sword, his every insight into the Dao of the Sword struck straight at its core truth.

"Whoosh." A mental ripple suddenly transmitted over.

Yu Wei's expression shifted.

Ji Ning glanced at the sky. "Your turn to stand watch, Senior Apprentice-Sister?"

"Mm," Yu Wei confirmed.

"The Uniter Sword Immortal is indeed cautious, keeping a Celestial Immortal's mental domain shrouding Anchan City at all times. The three of us rotate shifts every day, never letting up for a moment," Ji Ning remarked. "If any Seamless Gate force dares approach, they absolutely cannot escape detection."

"We're in the light, they're in the shadows. It's only natural for us to stay vigilant," Yu Wei said. "We're already at a disadvantage. If we let our guard down on top of that, we'd be truly doomed."

Ji Ning nodded. "After all this preparation, I wonder what methods the Seamless Gate will ultimately employ."

"When they don't strike, fine. But when they do, it will be lightning." Yu Wei's face was stern.

Ji Ning glanced at her.

Of the three—the Uniter Sword Immortal, the Diancai Immortal, and Yu Wei—Yu Wei was the most pessimistic. Her attitude had influenced Ji Ning and the others, making them extremely cautious. Maintaining a constant mental-domain scan was exhausting; it was only by rotating between the three Celestial Immortals that they could sustain it indefinitely.

While Ji Ning and the others in Anchan City waited vigilantly, maintaining their mental-domain watch, the forces of the Seamless Gate made their move on a summer night.

The black mist cave entrance.

Whoosh!

A group of golden-robed masked figures flew out, immediately splitting into six squads and vanishing through void-shifts.

...

Inside a hidden canyon, a secret teleportation array.

A light flashed.

Another group of golden-robed masked figures appeared. They split into five squads and quickly departed via void-shift to various locations.

...

Deep within the clouds, space rippled. Two golden-robed figures emerged.

...

At virtually the same moment, two thousand squads had silently arrived in the Grand Xia world, dispersing to their respective targets.

In a patch of wilderness.

Two golden-robed figures stood among the weeds, holding communication talismans.

"Brother, lucky we threw in with the Seamless Gate instead of siding with the Xia Emperor. The Seamless Gate is terrifyingly powerful. Their lair, the Fifth World... Heavens above! We once saw the grand spectacle of a million Celestial Immortals gathered under Daofather Crimsonbright, but that was nearly every Celestial Immortal under his command. The Fifth World, though... tsk tsk, it definitely has no fewer Celestial Immortals than Crimsonbright's forces. And the Seamless Gate Lord we went to pay respects to, despite being a True God or True Immortal, claimed that those towering structures were only for True Gods and True Immortals to reside in. That's an enormous number of True Gods and Celestial Immortals!"

"Haha, Third Brother, don't let the Seamless Gate Lord scare you too easily. Yes, the Fifth World's power is inconceivably vast, but those towering buildings... how many could there be? Over a thousand, perhaps? I don't believe there are over a thousand True Gods and True Immortals. And beings like the Seamless Gate Lord probably own many palaces there—some for rest, some for secluded cultivation, some for entertaining guests. When you factor that in, it's not so terrifying." The sturdier-looking golden-robed figure replied, "Still, the Fifth World is indeed a supreme lair with immense power. Being able to gather such a force means it must be capable of holding off a Daofather at the very least. Otherwise, a Daofather would have already annihilated it."

"Mm." The other golden-robed figure nodded.

"If all the Fifth World's power were to attack the Grand Xia world, they'd probably destroy it in a few days. But the Fifth World needs to attack many major worlds. The Seamless Gate Lord we met is only responsible for attacking our Grand Xia," the sturdy one continued.

"It's only because we're fully committed that they trust us enough to let us visit the Fifth World," the thinner one said. "This time, though, the Seamless Gate Lord ordered us to deal with the Fireshan Commandery. We're also supposed to fight the Fireshan Female Immortal of that commandery—but it's to be an act, a feigned battle."

"Don't even ask—the Fireshan Female Immortal has likely defected to the Seamless Gate too. That's why we're going over to put on a show." The sturdy brother nodded. "Mixing truth with falsehood, stirring the waters to catch fish. With the Fireshan Commandery under attack, the Fireshan Female Immortal will face less suspicion from the Xia Emperor."

"Right. They say two thousand squads, over ten thousand men, are mobilizing this time. Who knows how many are Celestial Immortals, how many are Loose Immortals? And who among them are defectors like us, and who are the Seamless Gate's own troops?"

"Stop worrying about such things—those aren't for us to know."

"Fair enough. But why hasn't this talisman shattered yet?"

Both held communication talismans.

Once the talisman shattered, it signalled—attack immediately!

They were already waiting tens of thousands of li outside Fireshan Commandery City. A single void-shift would take them there. All they needed was the order.

"Crack."

The talisman shattered.

Both golden-robed figures tensed immediately. With no more time for idle chatter, they void-shifted straight for Fireshan Commandery City.

Deep within the clouds outside Anchan City, a cloud mass held eighteen figures standing atop it, all clad in golden robes. But their golden robes were distinct from the ordinary ones—each bore a unique design: flowers, divine beasts, mist-shrouded mountains, rocks, and the like.

Their auras were extraordinary.

"Everyone, by the Lord's command, I am leading you today," the Purplegrass Celestial Immortal said. "This younger sister knows her seniority is shallow. I ask for your understanding."

"Sister Purplegrass, though your path in immortality has been short, your talent is exceptional. You are already at the peak Celestial Immortal level, nearly matching us. You will surely be looking after us in the future."

The other Celestial Immortals all chimed in.

They all knew that this Purplegrass Celestial Immortal was the Lord's most beloved maid, sheltered by several major figures like the Crowblack Celestial Immortal. Her status was destined to surpass theirs.

"This time, the Lord has dispatched two thousand squads. This is the final probing attack before the war on the Grand Xia world—designed to uncover some of the Grand Xia's hidden depths. Most of the objectives are 'reconnaissance,' some are even for show. Only a very few squads are tasked with eliminating enemies!" Purplegrass Celestial Immortal swept her gaze across them, her expression turning solemn. "Our squad is one of those elimination squads."

"This Uniter Celestial Immortal is too rigid and refuses to bend the knee," Purplegrass continued. "His strength is remarkable—he may even break through to Pure Yang True Immortal at any time. And his patience and endurance are astounding. If we let him continue, he will become a blight on the Seamless Gate's conquest of Grand Xia. Since we cannot recruit him, we must eradicate him!"

Figures like the Xia Emperor were uncertain about many of the Celestial Immortals.

They didn't even know, for instance, whether the Tuoshan Celestial Immortal's capture was a genuine act or not. But the Seamless Gate itself knew the truth. They had genuinely captured the Tuoshan Celestial Immortal and used every method to pressure the Uniter Celestial Immortal into defecting. Unfortunately, they failed.

"Anchan City now has the Uniter Celestial Immortal, the Diancai Immortal, the Fire Rainbow Immortal, and the Northming Sword Immortal, Ji Ning." Purplegrass spoke gravely. "The Diancai Immortal and Fire Rainbow Immortal are weak—insignificant. But the Uniter Celestial Immortal and the Northming Sword Immortal are no ordinary figures. If it were just the Uniter Celestial Immortal, the eighteen of us wouldn't be needed. But with the addition of the Northming Sword Immortal..."

The other seventeen nodded.

They had all received the intelligence on the Northming Sword Immortal, Ji Ning. Previously fighting in other major worlds, they only learned the details after regrouping. And what they learned shocked them.

Northming Sword Immortal Ji Ning!

First place at the Immortal Fortunes Assembly. Disciple of a pinnacle Daofather among the Three Realms. Practiced the Eight-Nine Arcane Art. Possessed peerless sword arts and fearsome divine abilities. Even as a returning-to-vacuity cultivator, he held his own against nine Celestial Immortals of the Shaoyin clan and slaughtered two. With less than a century of cultivation, surviving even the assault of karmic fire... an utterly monstrous prodigy.

"All of you are peak Celestial Immortals, well-versed in the grand formation created by the Godking himself. With the eighteen of us, we can barely manifest the formation's full power—enough to sweep aside any opponent below the True God or True Immortal level." Purplegrass continued sternly. "Plans have been given to each of you. Act strictly according to plan. Be meticulous, be cautious at every step. One lapse in vigilance, and the Uniter Celestial Immortal and the Northming Sword Immortal will escape!"

"Of course."

"If eighteen of us join forces and still fail, we'd have no face left."

Each of them had reached the heart-devouring Celestial Immortal level, and some were even stronger.

These eighteen fighting together were far more terrifying than a hundred ordinary Celestial Immortals. These were the absolute elites of the Seamless Gate, only deployed against truly troublesome opponents.

The eighteen Celestial Immortals waited silently within the clouds for the final order. All two thousand squads had to strike simultaneously.

A moment later...

"Crack."

The talismans in the hands of all eighteen Celestial Immortals shattered at the same time.