Chapter 123: The Dao Court's Death Throes
In another desolate area of the Boundary Heaven battlefield...
Originally, according to the agreement between the Dao Court and the Pure Land, the Dao Court should have detected and swiftly reinforced the Pure Land when it came under attack.
Yet in the end, the Dao Court never appeared.
The reason was simple—just as the Pure Land's Buddhist cultivators were ambushed by the Saint Sect, the Dao Court also encountered unexpected major troubles and became embroiled in a bitter struggle.
Above the wilderness, a massive fortress hovered in midair.
This treasure was similar to the Pure Land's terrain-traveling boat—both were specially crafted magical artifacts. However, at this moment, the great fortress was enveloped by a dark cloud.
"Black clouds press upon the city, threatening to crush it." Wherever the cloud passed, an incessant buzzing of insects could be heard. As it descended upon the fortress's protective radiance, sharp screeches that made one's scalp tingle erupted. Over time, the fortress had been gnawed to pieces by the insect swarm, and many Dao Court cultivators had been devoured.
"What are these insects...? What exactly are they!?"
"Divine abilities and magical treasures—nothing works against them!"
"Hold the line!"
A Dao Court cultivator standing at the frontlines suddenly stiffened when an insect burrowed into his mouth and nose due to his depleted magic power. Moments later, he collapsed with a thud.
Upon closer inspection, there was no human form left—only an empty bloody husk and hundreds of newly multiplied insects soaring into the sky!
Such was the horror of the Qi-Devouring Insects.
They were impervious to metal and flame, could consume spiritual energy, and devoured both divine abilities and magical treasures—everything fell within their feeding range!
Only one spot in the entire battlefield remained stable.
There stood a single cultivator—a tall, heroic-looking woman surrounded by sword light. Wherever she passed, swathes of insects were annihilated.
"As expected of the Sword Pavilion..."
From the deepest part of the fortress, Wang Jinting, the Dao Court's leader for this operation, couldn't help but sigh in admiration. "The Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion's peerless sword divine abilities truly live up to their reputation."
"Pity she's alone... At this point, we have no choice but to abandon the 'Void Heaven Fortress'!"
With that thought, Wang Jinting glanced at the Universal Overview Map in his hand, his expression grim.
"The Pure Land... is gone!?"
The Universal Overview Map could scan the entire Boundary Heaven. As long as someone remained within this minor realm, no one could escape detection by this Fruit Position Treasure.
Unless they were already dead.
Yet now, Wang Jinting discovered that the clusters of light representing the Pure Land's Buddhist cultivators had nearly all vanished in an instant!
In their place were numerous disciples of the Primordial Saint Sect!
"The Primordial Saint Sect... But how?"
Wang Jinting found it hard to believe. Hadn't most of the Primordial Saint demons already been surrounded and killed? Unless a True Person descended from the heavens, how could they possibly defeat the Pure Land?
"If I'd known this would happen, we shouldn't have ignored these demonic insects from the start." Regret washed over Wang Jinting. With the [Universal Overview Map], he could have been the first to locate the Qi-Devouring Insect King, slain it, seized its Heavenly Fate, and secured victory.
However, this Dao-Seizing War was a joint suppression of the demonic path by the Dao Court and the Underworld.
In such circumstances, victory was only one aspect. The more important task was to kill as many Saint Sect disciples as possible—especially the True Disciples!
It was for this purpose that he had previously overlooked the native inhabitants of the Boundary Heaven.
As a result, they had taken advantage of this time to grow rapidly under the nourishment of the Boundary Heaven, reaching an unstoppable scale!
Moreover, the Pure Land's defeat filled him with unease.
"...Retreat first!"
With that thought, Wang Jinting finally made the decision to withdraw. He immediately prepared to activate the [Universal Overview Map] to teleport all Dao Court cultivators away.
But just then, shouts erupted from outside.
"They've stopped... They've stopped!"
"The insects aren't attacking anymore?"
"What's going on?"
The voices made Wang Jinting pause, his expression puzzled. The next second, an immense spiritual sense pierced through layers of obstacles and descended before him.
"...Outsider."
Feeling that overwhelming spiritual sense, Wang Jinting's pupils contracted. He instinctively took a step back before realization dawned. "You're the insect king?"
"Correct."
Perhaps due to devouring many cultivators, the Qi-Devouring Insect King had developed a rudimentary sentience and was now speaking fluently:
"I've eaten your people. You and that other group don't seem to be allies. I've seen many of you hunting them. Since that's the case, you must know about an invincible existence among them. I need detailed information about him."
"Huh?"
For a moment, Wang Jinting stood frozen before realizing the "other group" the insect king referred to must be the Primordial Saint demons.
An invincible existence among the Primordial Saint demons?
Impossible!
Wang Jinting had personally witnessed the terror of the Qi-Devouring Insects—their numbers and quality were impeccable. For Qi Refining cultivators, dealing with them was nearly impossible...
"...Foundation Establishment!?"
Instantly, Wang Jinting felt as if he'd plunged into an icy abyss, followed by an internal outburst of curses: Sending a Foundation Establishment True Person to a Qi Refining disciples' Dao-Seizing War?
Bastards!
Yet even so, Wang Jinting hadn't given up. The next moment, he raised his head to face the insect king's spiritual sense, a plan forming in his mind.
—There's still hope! He can still turn this around!
If he could leverage the power of these demonic insects—the native inhabitants of this Boundary Heaven—victory wasn't out of reach. At the very least, he could force a stalemate!
With that thought, Wang Jinting finally spoke:
"I can tell you that person's location and ensure he doesn't find you. But I have demands too... You must help me deal with that group."
"Let's cooperate, shall we?"
"After all, you want to deal with them, and so do I. We should be on the same side."
"Moreover, once those people are all dead, we'll leave this place without you having to ask."
In an instant, Wang Jinting had sorted out his strategy.
"I refuse to believe the opponent is truly at Foundation Establishment—there must be weaknesses, like limited endurance or inability to sustain combat power for long."
"Regardless, we must probe first... These demonic insects are undoubtedly the best for testing—vast in number and unafraid of death. Sending them as the vanguard will surely reveal the depths of the Primordial Saint Sect's Foundation Establishment True Person. Then we can adjust tactics accordingly..."
"As long as I stay hidden and don't show myself, it doesn't count as a loss!"
"At this moment, the Dao Court must be thinking this way."
The Myriad Spirits Banner fluttered as Lü Yang and Ancestor Nether Whisper sat facing each other. After Ancestor Nether Whisper calmly analyzed the situation, Lü Yang nodded in agreement.
"Cooperating with the Qi-Devouring Insects and using swarm tactics to wear me down... I'd do the same in their shoes."
Though thanks to Ancestor Nether Whisper's improvements, Su Nu now had no weaknesses. No matter how many Qi-Devouring Insects came at this level, it would be futile.
But if the enemy remained hidden, only sending insect swarms to their deaths, it would still be troublesome.
At the very least, it would become a protracted war of attrition.
And if things dragged on, who knew if the Qi-Devouring Insect King—as this Boundary Heaven's Chosen One—might grow to a level Lü Yang couldn't handle?
Thus, a swift victory was imperative.
To achieve that, he needed to find either the Dao Court cultivator holding the Fruit Position Treasure or kill the Chosen Insect King among the Qi-Devouring Insects.
With that in mind, Lü Yang attempted a divination.
After a moment, he withdrew his hand and shook his head. "No good. The opponent holds a Fruit Position Treasure—their karma is obscured. I can't pinpoint their location."
Just then, a voice suddenly spoke up:
"True Person... Are you trying to find someone?"
Lü Yang turned to see Bi Feiyuan, a True Disciple of the Saint Sect, dressed in a light gauze robe, smiling charmingly. "Perhaps we can help."