Chapter 124
Chapter 124
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 124
Chapter Title: The Dao Court's Deathbed Struggle
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Realm Heaven Battlefield, another stretch of barren wilderness.
By the agreement between the Dao Court and the Pure Land, the moment the Pure Land came under attack, the Dao Court should have detected it and swiftly come to their aid.
Yet in the end, the Dao Court never showed up from start to finish.
That was because, at the exact same time the Pure Land's Buddhist cultivators suffered the Primal Saint Sect's sudden assault, the Dao Court had run into an unexpected major crisis of their own and become mired in a desperate struggle.
On the barren plain, a colossal city floated in the air.
This treasure was similar to the Pure Land's Terrain Boat, a dharma treasure specially forged for the purpose. But at this moment, the great city was enveloped by a mass of black clouds.
The black clouds pressed down on the city like a collapsing sky, and wherever they passed, an incessant buzzing of insects filled the air. When they landed on the city's protective treasure light, they produced a scalp-numbing shrill screech. As time wore on, the city had been gnawed to pieces by the swarms, and many of the Dao Court cultivators had been devoured.
"These bugs... what the hell are they!?"
"Divine Abilities, dharma treasures—nothing works on them!"
"Hold the line!"
A Dao Court cultivator stood at the forefront, but exhausted of spiritual power, he faltered for a moment and a demonic insect burrowed into his mouth and nose. He froze rigid on the spot.
In the blink of an eye, the Dao Court cultivator crashed to the ground.
Looking again, where was any human form left? Only an empty sheet of bloodied skin remained, along with over a hundred demonic insects that burst forth, their numbers having multiplied.
This was the terror of the Qi-Feasting Insects.
Impervious to metal and iron, immune to water and fire, they could even devour spiritual energy. Be it Divine Abilities or dharma treasures, all fell within their menu—as long as it entered their devouring range!
Across the entire battlefield, only one spot held firm.
There stood a single cultivator, a tall and valiant woman radiating heroic poise, sword light swirling around her. Wherever she passed, swathes of demonic insects were obliterated.
"The Sword Pavilion comes through after all..."
Deep within the city, the Dao Court's leader for this expedition, Wang Jinting, couldn't help sighing.
"The Jade Pivot Sword Pavilion's Absolute Sword Divine Ability lives up to its fame."
"But she's only one person... At this point, we have no choice but to abandon 'Void Heaven City'!"
With that thought, Wang Jinting glanced again at the Grand Panorama Chart in his hand, his expression darkening.
"The Pure Land... is gone!?"
The Grand Panorama Chart could survey the entire Realm Heaven. As long as someone remained within this minor realm, no one could escape the detection of this Position Treasure.
Unless they were dead.
Yet now, Wang Jinting saw that the light spots representing the Pure Land's Buddhist cultivators—clustered together on the map—had vanished almost entirely in an instant!
In their place were vast numbers of Primal Saint Sect disciples!
"How could the Primal Saint Sect possibly...?"
Wang Jinting could scarcely believe it. Hadn't they encircled and slain most of the Primal Saint fiends? Without a Perfected Being descending from the heavens, how could they have defeated the Pure Land?
"If only we'd dealt with these demonic insects sooner." Regret filled him now. With the 【Grand Panorama Chart】 in hand, he could have outpaced everyone, located the Qi-Feasting Insects' insect king, slain it, seized its heavenly fortune, and claimed victory.
But this Dao-Seizing Battle pitted the Dao Court and Pure Land against the demonic path in alliance.
Victory was one thing, but the more critical task was to slay as many Primal Saint Sect disciples as possible—especially the true inheritors!
To that end, he had previously overlooked the realm's natives.
In the end, they had used that time to grow swiftly under the Realm Heaven's nourishment, swelling into an unstoppable force!
On top of that, the Pure Land's defeat left him deeply uneasy.
"... Retreat first!"
With that, Wang Jinting finally decided on withdrawal. He moved to activate the 【Grand Panorama Chart】 and teleport the Dao Court cultivators out.
But at that moment, shouts from the disciples outside rang out.
"It's stopping... they're stopping!"
"These bugs aren't attacking anymore?"
"What's going on?"
The voices halted Wang Jinting's actions. He frowned in confusion. The next second, a vast divine sense pierced through layers of barriers and descended before him.
"... Outsider."
Sensing that immense divine sense, Wang Jinting's pupils contracted. He instinctively stepped back, then realization dawned.
"You're the insect king's queen?"
"Indeed."
Having devoured many cultivators, the Qi-Feasting Insect King had now developed rudimentary sentience, its speech growing fluent.
"I've eaten your people. You don't seem to be with that other group. I saw many of you hunting down the others. So you must know about that unbeatable existence among them. I need his detailed intelligence."
"Ah?"
Stunned by the insect king's words, Wang Jinting froze. Then it hit him—the "other group" must mean the Primal Saint fiends.
An unbeatable existence among the Primal Saint fiends?
Impossible!
Wang Jinting had experienced the terror of the Qi-Feasting Insects firsthand. Their numbers and prowess were impeccable; for Qi Refining cultivators, dealing with them was nearly impossible.
"... Foundation Establishment!?"
In an instant, Wang Jinting felt as if he'd plunged into an ice cavern. Then he cursed explosively: A Dao-Seizing Battle for Qi Refining disciples, and they sent a Foundation Establishment Perfected Being?
Bastards!
Even so, Wang Jinting didn't give up. The next moment, he lifted his head toward the insect king's divine sense, a thought forming.
—There's still hope! He could still turn this around!
These realm natives, if he could harness the power of these demonic insects, might yet win—or at least force a draw!
With that in mind, Wang Jinting finally spoke.
"I can give you that person's location, ensure he never finds you. But I have demands too... Help me deal with that group."
"We cooperate. How about it?"
"After all, you want them dead, and so do I. We're on the same side."
"And once they're all slain, no need to say it—we'll leave this place."
In a flash, Wang Jinting had sorted his thoughts.
"I refuse to believe it's a real Foundation Establishment. There must be flaws, like endurance—can't sustain combat long-term."
"Either way, probe first... These demonic insects are perfect for it. Endless numbers, fearless of death. Send them in first to test that Primal Saint Sect Foundation Establishment Perfected Being's depths, then adapt tactics accordingly."
"As long as I stay hidden and don't show myself, it doesn't count as defeat!"
"That's what the Dao Court is thinking right now."
The Ten Thousand Spirits Banner fluttered as Lu Yang sat facing Ancestor Tingyou. The ancestor calmly analyzed the situation, and Lu Yang nodded in agreement.
"Allying with the Qi-Feasting Insects, using swarm tactics to wear me down—that's what I'd do too."
Though after Ancestor Tingyou's refinements, the Pure Maiden had no weaknesses now. No amount of these Qi-Feasting Insects could help.
But if the enemy stayed hidden, sending only insect swarms to die, it would be tricky.
At best, a protracted war of attrition.
And if it dragged on, who knew if the Realm Heaven's child of destiny—the Qi-Feasting Insect King—might grow beyond his control.
Thus, he needed a swift victory.
For that, he had to find the Dao Court cultivator holding the Position Treasure, or slay the insect king, the child of destiny among the Qi-Feasting Insects.
With that in mind, Lu Yang tried divining with his fingers.
A moment later, he released them and shook his head.
"No good. They hold a Position Treasure; their karma is obscured. Can't pinpoint the location."
Just then, a voice sounded.
"Perfected Being... Are you looking for someone?"
Lu Yang turned to see a Primal Saint Sect true inheritor, Bi Feiyuan, draped in gossamer silks, smiling charmingly.
"Perhaps we can help."
(End of Chapter)