Xu Xian's projection looked down silently from above the Eight Immortal Islands.
From the initial shock and commotion to the ensuing noise and clamor, the Eight Immortal Islands eventually returned to an eerie calm.
Within the islands...
The ordinary little demons hid in their homes, unable to resist peeking through the cracks in their doors and windows.
The common demon cultivators gripped their sabers and swords tightly, trying to soothe their nervous hearts.
Ninth-grade great demons stood on guard before their people, remaining vigilant, yet none had the courage to leave the islands to meet the enemy.
The world was noisy with the whistling wind and the howling waves...
The world was silent, as if the only things that could be heard were one's own heavy breathing and deep heartbeat...
Everyone was waiting.
Waiting for the newcomer to speak.
Waiting for the demon immortals to emerge.
After watching for a long time, Xu Xian finally spoke.
“Shall we talk?”
Two simple words, devoid of any emotional fluctuation, yet they resounded like thunder across the azure sky. To those who heard them, their very souls trembled.
As his voice fell...
Within the eight islands, the auras of demon immortals suddenly filled the air.
Above Fengling Immortal Island, a woman clad in phoenix-colored radiance floated leisurely in the sky.
On Lingqin Immortal Island, a girl in a cyan feather dress stood atop the highest mountain of the archipelago.
On Myriad Beast Island, a streak of golden light traversed the sky. As the light curtain dissipated, a golden-haired giant with a bare chest appeared, hovering right in front of the eyes of Xu Xian's phantom.
From a deep pool on Golden Soft-shell Turtle Immortal Island, hundreds of water columns erupted like flowers in spring. A hunched little old man emerged from within them.
In the Ancestral Island...
An Ink Qilin arrived upon clouds that looked like an ink-wash painting, though none knew exactly when it had appeared.
Above Yuanzhou...
A crane's cry was heard, and a white crane appeared, parting the clouds. After circling several times, it transformed into an elegant gentleman.
Beneath the deep sea of Canglan Immortal Island, two giant dragons broke through the waves. They coiled in the sky, one on the left and one on the right, staring fixedly at the phantom.
In Tushan...
The demon immortal Tu Sisi sat in her courtyard, looking up with great interest at the phantom of the youth in the firmament.
Nine demon immortals manifested themselves after the youth.
However, their appearances were relatively calm and low-key, as if they were showing weakness or releasing goodwill toward the youth.
Or perhaps it was simply because this was their own territory, and they were confident enough not to need any grand displays.
The answer was known only to them.
“Talk about what?”
From their nearly separate locations, they asked the same question at the exact same time.
They were feigning ignorance, of course.
Yet it was also what the millions of demons across the Eight Immortal Islands were wondering.
Xu Xian had used the Void Mirror to connect half of the North Sea, gathering the nine demon immortals in one place through this method.
Only the phantom beast was missing.
But that didn't matter.
That was something the Twilight Emperor had to handle.
Standing on a deserted island tens of thousands of miles away, Xu Xian looked at the nine different images within the Void Mirror and transmitted his voice across the distance.
“You are all older than me and can be considered my seniors. As a junior, I won't beat around the bush. On the day of the Awakening of Insects in the second month—thirteen days from now—I intend to reopen the Sky Gate outside the Wendao Sword Sect and lead the world's ninth-stage experts to the Heavens.”
“I presume you seniors are already aware of this.”
“And now...”
“The world's ninth-stage experts have all arrived at the Ascension Platform. Only the North Sea has not sent a single person. So, I have come...”
This was expected, and the nine demon immortals weren't surprised. However, a wave of hushed voices erupted across the Eight Immortal Islands.
At first glance, this sounded like a good thing.
But upon closer thought, something felt off.
Nevertheless, no one cared what they thought. The great demons didn't, the demon immortals didn't, and Xu Xian certainly didn't...
Phoenix Mother asked with a hint of playfulness, “Is this an invitation?”
Xu Xian lowered his brows. “You can think of it that way.”
Qingluan said listlessly, “But you don't look like someone who's here to invite people.”
Xu Xian remained silent.
The little old man from the Golden Soft-shell Turtle Immortal Island chuckled mischievously. “What if we don't go? What will you do? Will you tie us up and drag us back like you did those fellows from the Central Plains?”
Xu Xian glanced at him calmly and replied with complete honesty.
“Yes.”
The atmosphere became oppressive, and hostility grew for no reason.
The pride of a demon immortal made Ao Ba exceptionally displeased. He glared and barked, “With just you?”
Xu Xian retorted sarcastically, “Perhaps you've forgotten how pathetically you fled back then. I wouldn't mind helping you relive it.”
Ao Ba's face darkened, and the reverse scales on his giant dragon body stood on end.
It was true.
He had lost four hundred years ago.
And today, Xu Xian had grown even stronger.
Even from just a projection, he could sense the aura of death. If the true body arrived, he would be no match for him.
He couldn't even handle that sword spirit.
Tu Sisi, never one to shy away from a spectacle, teased, “Young man, don't be too full of yourself. This is the North Sea, not the Northern Borders. They might not necessarily lose, you know?”
She said 'they,' not including herself.
After all, she was willing to go and supported Xu Xian.
Rather than being a prisoner in the North Sea for a lifetime, it was better to ascend to the Heavens and take a gamble.
In life, there is freedom; in death, there is also freedom.
Facing Tu Sisi's teasing, Xu Xian managed a rare smile and said warmly, “Immortal Tu is right. However, Immortal Tu, please don't forget that I am no longer the same person I was four hundred years ago.”
Tu Sisi agreed. “True. You are very strong; I can feel it. The junior is to be feared.”
To the ears of others, this simple exchange sounded strangely grating.
Especially to the ordinary demons.
They had the vague illusion that Xu Xian and Tu Sisi were on the same side.
This made them feel extremely uneasy.
Internal strife had broken out before the battle even began.
The expressions of the other demon immortals weren't much better. From start to finish, they hadn't said they wanted to fight. This was clearly fanning the flames.
Xu Xian smiled, then returned to a serious expression, delivering a final ultimatum to the remaining demon immortals.
“I am different from my master. I don't have his patience, nor am I as kind-hearted. Whether you want to talk or fight, I am happy to oblige.”
The pride of the strong was on full display.
Ao Ba wanted to continue his verbal sparring, but Ao Tian glared him into silence.
Ao Tian said calmly, “Fellow Daoist Xu, you should know that the North Sea has a boundary that our true bodies cannot cross. Even if we wanted to join this ascent, I'm afraid we cannot...”
It was an explanation, but also a sign of backing down.
The other demon immortals tacitly agreed.
Because it was the truth.
Since Xu Xian had come, how could he not know? That boundary wall was left by the Li ancestors, and Li Taibai had never told him the method to break it.
But as time passed and Fanzhou's fortune weakened, the formation had long been teetering on the brink of collapse.
Xu Xian had his own ways to cut it open.
He chose his words carefully and said slowly, “Since I have come, I naturally have a way to take you all with me...”
Hearing him say this, the eyes of several demon immortals couldn't help but light up.
Yet they still suppressed their excitement and pressed, “Is that true?”
Xu Xian nodded and continued, “Of course. Not only can I take you away, but the Wendao Sword Sect is also willing to provide the thousands of miles of land north of the Northern Borders, including the Far North, the Shores of the North Sea, and the area west of the Wild River, for your descendants to settle in the Central Province.”
He paused, then his tone shifted as he stated his condition. “Of course, as a price, you must take every demon in your tribes above the ninth grade and ascend to the Heavens with me.”
Rate on N.U.
