The Realm War Begins

The war had begun.

Ji Ning's mind was immediately pierced by the Xia Emperor's voice. "I will be transferring Immortals to your camp immediately. Familiarize yourself with them quickly. With three thousand Celestial Immortals and three hundred thousand Loose Immortals… your Xingtian Formation's power will increase dramatically. Who knows, at a critical moment, I might even need you to save my life." The Xia Emperor laughed. "But you must be careful. A tall tree catches the wind. The Seamless Gate might focus their attacks on you."

"I understand." Ji Ning nodded.

"It's best to hide some of your strength. Unleashing a sudden burst at a critical moment could have a greater impact on the battlefield," the Xia Emperor advised.

"Mm." Ji Ning smiled and nodded.

He hadn't even told his master, Bodhi, that he had become a Pure Yang True Immortal. He had already created the twelfth stance of his 'Three-Foot Sword', which encompassed his entire Sword Dao, yet he had never once displayed it. His progress in the Heartforce soul technique was also something he had never spoken to a second person about.

Time flowed on.

In the blink of an eye, another nine months passed. Inside a quiet meditation chamber, Ji Ning sat cross-legged.

His Pure Yang Golden Core was perfectly round, radiantly golden, and its color had grown even deeper.

Waves were now emanating from the Golden Core. It was the fluctuation of the soul-force merged within his Truesoul. The ethereal, formless 'Heartforce' was constantly mobilizing his soul as he immersed himself in comprehending the Heartforce soul technique. During his meditations, countless doubts would arise. Ji Ning would either ponder them alone, or consult the 'Heart Sutra', hoping to find a spark of insight.

The techniques he created and those of Old Man Yuan naturally differed, but all paths led to the same destination. There were always points of similarity, which allowed Ji Ning to speed up his own comprehension.

"Everyone," the Xia Emperor's voice rang out directly in the ears of all the Empyrean Gods, True Immortals, and high-ranking generals. This Eight Dragon Cloud City was the Xia Emperor's Innate spirit-treasure, giving him this ability.

"The Seamless Gate has accepted our challenge."

"Accepted?" Ji Ning was startled. He immediately stopped his meditation.

With a swoosh, he opened the door to the meditation chamber and walked out. Yu Wei looked at him with concern. "Why are you out of seclusion so quickly?"

"The war is about to begin," Ji Ning said.

"Now?" Yu Wei's face paled.

"Mm." Ji Ning nodded.

"I had hoped it would wait until our child is born." Yu Wei gently stroked her belly; it was now heavily swollen, and it was clear the birth was near. Her gaze as she touched her stomach was soft, filled with maternal love. She whispered, "I can feel this little one moving inside. Very active. It might be born in another month or two."

"I also hoped the war would start after our child was born. But that is not for me to decide," Ji Ning said.

"Protect yourself. Don't try to be a hero. The armies of Immortals are endless. What is one man against them?" Yu Wei looked at Ji Ning.

"I know," Ji Ning nodded.

He himself was nothing. Even if all seven Empyrean Gods working together were unleashed, they could only affect a small part of a great realm war. After all, over three hundred Xingtian warriors… were comparable to over three hundred Empyrean Gods!

"Don't worry. I'm going." Ji Ning turned and walked out.

Looking at his retreating back, Yu Wei's eyes were filled with worry.

A realm war…

Even with all her faith in Ji Ning, Yu Wei felt a deep-seated terror.

"You must live," Yu Wei murmured at his back.

"Northern Army! Formations!" A booming voice rang out across the entire Northern Army camp.

Instantly, the air was filled with the whooshing sounds of hundreds of thousands of Immortals taking flight as they began to set up their formations.

In the midair above the Eight Dragon Cloud City, the most conspicuous formations were the massive Pangu war-god formations. Although there were only seventy-eight Fiendgod legions, they occupied most of the space. Beside them stood neat rows of unarmed Xingtian warriors, each clad in a simple beast-hide skirt. There were a full three hundred and twenty-four of them, each ten thousand feet tall, forming a terrifying Xingtian army. Sinister Yinglong dragons coiled and flew around them. There were also numerous Empyrean God puppets as well as some Empyrean Gods and True Immortals.

"So the Seamless Gate isn't going to just hole up and defend," Ji Ning mused, standing in midair. He could see the scene outside. On the wild plains, there were towering primordial beasts, Fiendgods, and countless powerful puppets, as well as some seemingly unremarkable but nonetheless formidable Empyrean Gods and True Immortals. The sheer mass of this gathered army had already stirred the power of Heaven and Earth, causing the sky in the distance to grow dark, roiling with thunderclouds.

"A Daofather has arrived."

"A Daofather."

Ji Ning immediately noticed that Daofather Crimsonbright had appeared in the distance. Instantly, the massive army hovering above the Eight Dragon Cloud City fell into complete silence.

"This time." Daofather Crimsonbright swept his gaze across every single being present. His voice was calm, but it contained a heart-shaking battle intent. "This is a war between my Crimsonbright Realmverse and the Seamless Gate. It cannot be avoided. We can only meet it head-on! If you wish to live, there is only one path: to completely eradicate the Seamless Gate!"

"It is either us, or the Seamless Gate!" Daofather Crimsonbright's gaze turned terrifying, his killing intent piercing the heavens. Even the normally easygoing and benevolent Daofather Crimsonbright could become this ferocious. Having survived the ancient war, he understood that in a great tribulation, there was no retreat. Even the mighty Ancestral River Sect's Four Patriarchs had to choose a side before the final battle erupted. Those who tried to hide and avoid battle would be hunted down by both sides. Neither side would allow a True God or Daofather to stand idly by, waiting to reap the spoils!

Two sides.

Only one could live.

"March out!" Daofather Crimsonbright gave the order. "Kill them all!"

"Kill them all!"

Countless furious roars shook the very heavens and earth, as if the sky itself were about to collapse.

The Immortals, who in the past had always been so refined and elegant, were now savage and demonic. They had once lived long, leisurely lives, making friends and enjoying the pleasures of the Three Realms. But when faced with a great tribulation, the killing intent buried deep in the bones of Immortals and Fiendgods had fully erupted. This was a conflict over the Dao, a life-and-death struggle. This was no longer just a conflict over the Dao; it was a war for survival!

Rumble…

The vast, mighty army had already charged into the air, flying directly forward.

The Seamless Gate had been waiting in full formation, coldly watching the arrival of the Crimsonbright Realmverse's forces.

Just this display of force alone was enough to make Celestial Immortals and Loose Immortals tremble with fear. But in the end, they were just small pieces, mere parts of a massive formation. Their fate could only be entrusted to their commander. The lives of three thousand Celestial Immortals and three hundred thousand Loose Immortals were completely in Ji Ning's hands. If Ji Ning was powerful, they lived. No wonder they all respected him so deeply.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

The Xingtian warriors descended from the sky, landing heavily on the ground, causing the wilderness to shake. Yinglong dragons flew around them, while the massive Fiendgod legions exuded an overwhelming aura.

The two armies faced each other.

The atmosphere was terrifying.

"When Celestial Immortals and Loose Immortals reach such a staggering number, even I would have to step back," Daofather Ink Bamboo said with a faint smile, standing atop the Seamless Gate's city wall. He sighed with emotion, "Especially those Empyrean Gods and True Immortals. The most powerful among them can even match Daofathers."

The strongest Empyrean God in the history of the Three Realms…

Was Houyi.

Perhaps there were other monstrous geniuses who could, as Empyrean Gods, fight a Daofather and escape with their lives. But Houyi, when he was an Empyrean God, had slain Daofathers! Of course, Houyi later broke through to become a True God, and his fame spread far and wide. He became an unfathomable existence, recognized as the number one archer in the Three Realms. He even created a systematic Heartforce archery technique.

A complete, systematic Heartforce technique that anyone could comprehend and practice. This was unique. The techniques Ji Ning created on his own were only suitable for himself; he couldn't teach them to others. Even Old Man Yuan had only given him some of his own experiences for reference.

But the legendary 'Divine Archer Houyi', who had shaken the Three Realms in the ancient era, had later vanished without a trace.

"Crimsonbright?" Daofather Ink Bamboo looked into the distance.

On the distant wall of the Eight Dragon Cloud City, Daofather Crimsonbright stood as well, returning his gaze.

The two True God Daofathers faced each other from afar. Their gazes clashed in the air, causing black and green light to erupt, warping the very fabric of space.

"Crimsonbright, it's been a long time," Daofather Ink Bamboo said.

"It has been a long time. But it would be even better if you died and I never had to see you again," Daofather Crimsonbright said coldly.

Whether it was Bodhi or Crimsonbright, both held absolute hostility towards the Seamless Gate.

This enmity was rooted in the very origins of their history. This was why they were so furious that Old Man Yuan, another major power, had chosen to remain neutral. In Bodhi's view, siding with Nuwa's camp was the only obvious choice.

"I die? Haha, I, Ink Bamboo, am best at not dying. Back then, I followed our King, and we came close to wiping you all out." Daofather Ink Bamboo sighed. "What a pity. Nuwa managed to break through to Pangu's level at the very end. Otherwise, you would have been finished long ago. Now the great tribulation has risen again. This time, you won't escape. All of you True Gods and Daofathers will die. Not one of you will survive."

"You're quite arrogant. Back in the ancient era, after the world was shattered, Mother Nuwa broke through, the Lord of All Demons was slain, and even your King could only merge with the Heavenly Dao and become a part of it to escape his doom, right? Even if he has awoken, so what? He is still just a part of the Heavenly Dao, constantly influenced by it. He cannot truly act on his own will." Daofather Crimsonbright sneered. "He is no longer the King he once was."

"The King is still the King." Daofather Ink Bamboo sneered back. "The great tribulation has now risen. I am certain you can sense it as well, through the River of Destiny. This tribulation… is unavoidable. Our King will also follow the Heavenly Dao and help our Seamless Gate wipe you out."

"If the Heavenly Dao wanted us dead, why would there even be a contest for Qi of fortune?" Daofather Crimsonbright sneered.

Daofather Ink Bamboo was taken aback. He then shook his head and said no more.

Crimsonbright felt regret…

The Seamless Gate could still communicate with that ancient, slumbering King. They knew more secrets. Crimsonbright had tried to pry more information out of Ink Bamboo, but the Seamless Gate was very cautious. Any information they revealed was only what they wanted to be known.

The Nuwa Camp understood one thing very clearly.

All they could do was seize more of the Qi of fortune. Then, in the final battle, they would annihilate the Seamless Gate.

That ancient, slumbering existence of the Seamless Gate was indeed terrifying, but since he was a part of the Heavenly Dao… everything he did was influenced by the Heavenly Dao that governed the operation of the Three Realms. He could not do whatever he pleased. This was the source of the Nuwa Camp's ultimate confidence in victory. If that old monster could do whatever he wanted, the Nuwa Camp would have lost long ago. After all, Mother Nuwa had already left the Three Realms to explore the endless Chaos; no one could oppose that being.

"Seize the Qi of fortune."

"Seize the Qi of fortune at all costs. The more Qi we have, the more the Heavenly Dao is on our side. That old monster will be limited by the Heavenly Dao and will only be able to help the Seamless Gate a little." Daofather Crimsonbright's gaze swept across his vast army. These countless Immortals and Fiendgods were all fighting for control of the Qi of fortune.

If they seized the Qi, then Ji Ning, along with countless others, could survive the final calamity. They had already chosen Nuwa's camp.

If they lost the Qi, the Heavenly Dao would side with the Seamless Gate. They would likely lose the final battle. Ji Ning and all those countless Immortals and Fiendgods… would likely be purged, all of them killed.

"Attack!" Daofather Crimsonbright's voice rang out in the ears of every commander, including Ji Ning. All of them felt their blood boil, their eyes turning red.

"Attack!"

Instantly, the vast, mighty army charged forward. Over three hundred Xiantian warriors, barefoot, stomped the earth as they charged together.

From the Seamless Gate's side, the army also let out a sky-shaking roar: "Kill!" They too charged forward.

In that moment, from the heavens to the earth.

Whether Fiendgods or savage beasts, they were like two gigantic tidal waves, directly colliding and intertwining in a chaotic slaughter.