Chapter 359: Chapter 363: The Cold Water Pass_1
While the officials of the Qin Dynasty were joyfully celebrating their breakthroughs, things were not going well for the Kylin Sacred Ground at the far end of the East Border. Its upper echelons were frantic, as if their eyebrows were on fire.
"Still no allies found?" Old Ancestor Wanlin, sitting in the foremost seat, asked with a gloomy expression. In his hand, he held a report from the front line detailing that the Thousand Demon Saint Court, Qiong Hua Saint Ground, and Zi Xia Saint Ground had completed their war preparations. A great battle was imminent, and the situation was extremely tense.
"None! The Sacred Grounds in the Middle Region are currently besieging the Eternal Temple; they don’t have time to meddle in the affairs of the East Border. Moreover, our relationship with the Middle Region’s Sacred Grounds isn’t that good!" the Kylin Saint Master responded with a bitter smile, shaking his head.
For a long time, the East Border had a low profile, and the Kylin Sacred Ground was its only Sacred Ground. Thus, without external or internal threats, they hadn’t bothered to cultivate relationships with other Sacred Grounds.
"All three forces have powerhouses of the Ten-thousand-year Emperor Realm presiding, and there are a considerable number of Emperor-level Martial Artists. The situation is far from optimistic!" Old Ancestor Tianqilin’s face was filled with worry.
The situation had changed too rapidly. During the surge of Spiritual Energy, he had been complacent, thinking he could lead the Sacred Ground to new heights. However, reality delivered a harsh slap in the face: first, they were attacked by the Ice Emperor Bear Clan, then they suffered losses and setbacks at the hands of the Qin Dynasty’s Saint’s Court, and subsequently, the East Border was fractured. The prestige of the Sacred Ground was being gradually eroded.
"Ancestors, Saint Master, what if we try to form an alliance with the Qin Dynasty’s Saint’s Court?" an Emperor-level expert suggested softly.
He made this proposal primarily considering the geographical position of the Qin Dynasty’s Saint’s Court, which was already surrounded by the Thousand Demon Saint Court, the Zi Xia Saint Ground, and the Qiong Hua Saint Ground, forming a "caged dragon" predicament. He dared to assert that the Qin Dynasty’s Saint’s Court would inevitably have to battle these three forces sooner or later.
The enemy of my enemy is my friend! Between powers, there are no eternal friends, only eternal interests. By proposing an alliance now, he was confident he could gain the support of the Qin Dynasty’s Saint’s Court.
"Absolutely not! The Qin Dynasty’s Saint’s Court killed my son and Old Ancestor Feng Kylin! They are a personal enemy of our Sacred Ground. We absolutely cannot form an alliance!" The Kylin Saint Master glared and decisively refused, stating that even if it meant death, he would not ally with the Qin Dynasty’s Saint’s Court.
Old Ancestor Wanlin, seated in the highest position, pondered for a moment but still shook his head. Seeking an alliance and aid from a former mortal enemy was a loss of face he could not bear.
The Emperor-level Martial Artist who had just spoken opened his mouth slightly, sighed, and refrained from further persuasion, as he had already anticipated this outcome.
"Ancestor, please dispel the barrier! I have urgent news to report!" As everyone remained silent, Lin WuFeng’s hurried and panicked voice came from outside the hall.
Old Ancestor Wanlin’s eyebrows creased slightly. With a wave of his right hand, he dispelled the barrier. Lin WuFeng rushed into the main hall, too hurried to observe proper etiquette, and reported loudly, "Ancestors, the three forces have launched their attack! The front line has sustained grievous losses, and we have lost more than twenty Dao Domains! The elder of Battle Kylin Peak is requesting reinforcements!"
"What?"
The Kylin Saint Master stood up and asked in disbelief, "Why was the rout so swift? Did the Emperor-level Martial Artists from the three forces make their move?"
Lin WuFeng shook his head and said somberly, "Saint Master, the armies of the three forces are strong, and they’ve employed human wave tactics, fighting with a reckless disregard for their own lives. That’s why the elder of Battle Kylin Peak couldn’t hold out any longer!"
"Shameless!" the Kylin Saint Master roared, grinding his teeth. He immediately understood the crux of the problem.
The current leaders of the three forces are from the Sacred Grounds of the Middle Region. They couldn’t care less about the lives and deaths of the Martial Artists in the East Border. Even if all of them were wiped out, those leaders wouldn’t feel a shred of remorse.
Whether it is the Thousand Demon Saint Court, the Taiyi Saint Court, or the Beidou Palace, all they care about is Fortune! And territory is the very source of Fortune! That is why they attack so ferociously, disregarding all costs!
"Issue the order! Tighten the defensive lines! All disciples of the Sacred Ground are to be deployed to the front line! Whoever dares to desert in the face of the enemy or cowers from battle shall be executed along with their nine degrees of kinship!" The Kylin Saint Master’s eyes glinted as he ordered with authority, a horrifying killing intent blanketing the entire main hall.
All Emperor Level Martial Artists, including Old Ancestor Wanlin, felt immense pressure. This pressure emanated not from the Kylin Saint Master’s strength, but from his status.
As the lord of the Sacred Ground, the Kylin Saint Master wielded supreme authority, controlling the life and death of billions. He could even mobilize the Fortune accumulated over several eras. The kingly pressure he exuded was not something an ordinary person could withstand.
An emperor’s wrath can leave a million corpses strewn across the land! The Kylin Saint Master was not an emperor, but his status and identity far surpassed those of ordinary monarchs.
Those with weaker cultivation would be terrified by this pressure, forced to their knees, and drenched in sweat.
"As you command!" Lin WuFeng knelt in submission, accepted the order with trepidation, and retreated from the main hall.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Soon, the sound of war drums, silent for millions of years, thundered like bolts of lightning, reverberating across the cosmos.
Millions of Kylin Sacred Ground disciples, whether they were in closed-door cultivation or resting, immediately stopped what they were doing. With solemn expressions, they took up their weapons and flew towards Kylin Square.
The war drums thundered, signaling the start of the great battle! Streaks of light flashed across the Heavenly Universe. The dense battle intent seemed potent enough to tear a hole through heaven and earth.
Soon, over three million Kylin Sacred Ground disciples converged in the square. Their faces were cold and merciless, brimming with a savage killing intent, ready to unleash terrifying combat power at any moment.
They were the strongest force of the Kylin Sacred Ground! They were also its last hope!
"Fight!"
A single word, shouted from afar, shattered vast swathes of clouds, its countless echoes lingering long after.
"Fight! Fight! Fight!"
"Fight! Fight! Fight!"
"Fight! Fight! Fight!..."
Over three million disciples roared, their terrifying battle intent erupting like a raging furnace, pulsing in the Void.
Under Lin WuFeng’s command, over three million disciples boarded Spirit Boats and flew off in three different directions.
Tianhan Pass, a vital military strategic point within the Kylin Sacred Ground’s territory, was extremely crucial. If breached, the armies of the three forces could directly invade the Kylin Territory.
This pass stretched for thousands of miles, connecting with the surrounding mountain ranges and forming a natural, insurmountable barrier that separated the two regions.
If that were all, Tianhan Pass would not be considered such an important military stronghold. Its most formidable feature was a frigid river, known as the Coldwater River, that snaked through it.
This Coldwater River was over ten miles wide; its source and destination were unknown. Legend had it that this was a river from the underworld!
Anyone falling into its waters, unless they were an Emperor Level Martial Artist, would be completely corroded into nothingness within three breaths.
Even the sky above the river, to an altitude of roughly ten thousand zhang, was filled with frigid currents. The temperature was extremely low, and anyone with cultivation below the Saint King Realm would be frozen solid.
However, the wisdom of all living beings under heaven could always find ways to overcome harsh environments. Despite the Coldwater River being difficult to cross, a method had been found after countless attempts over innumerable years.
The method involved using ten-thousand-year-old deadwood, which possessed properties resistant to the Coldwater River’s corrosion, to build boats. As a result, this Coldwater River supported millions of boatmen on its banks.