Chapter 310: 310 Final Awakened Bosses
"...Once they believe they cannot cope with the Justice League, they are highly likely to instigate a new God and Demon War, dragging the entire continent into the flames of conflict. This would ultimately bring a devastating blow to the common people, causing widespread destruction and suffering. When the populace suffers losses, even if only for self-preservation, they will come to detest the Justice League for initiating the war. All the beneficial measures the league previously implemented for the people will be rendered meaningless," said the purple-robed Ancestor.
"We also need to guard against the Transcendance Tribulation Stage Ancestors losing their minds. The reason no one dares to provoke these Ancestors is that they can summon a Heavenly Tribulation at any moment..."
"You little thief, do you truly believe one person can stand against the entire world? That’s nothing but a pipe dream!"
"The day this old man escapes this confinement will be the day you, little thief, meet your doom..."
The crowd buzzed with discussion.
The Blood Sect’s Crossing Tribulation Realm Ancestors, trapped within Phoenix Seeks Phoenix, also seized the opportunity to mock Lin Bai. The longer their ’talent show’ continued, the deeper their hatred for him grew.
Lin Bai’s tendency to casually annihilate sects and factions meant he was the only significant fighting force the Justice League could rely on. However, being stretched so thin, it was inevitable that he would face setbacks elsewhere; the larger his operation spread, the more problems were exposed.
Xu Longyun looked worried, hesitating several times before speaking. It was well known that her father, Duke Zhenguo, had facilitated the cooperation between Taiyi Country and the Justice League. If a God and Demon War were truly ignited, her family would likely be the first target for retaliation.
Lin Bai remained silent. I need to consider the synergy between my skills, he thought, then found a solution. "A steady and cautious approach will solve all problems," he declared. "We don’t need any surprise attacks. We have the Magpie Bridge; we just need to use it to connect all the sects. Wherever there’s trouble, we send aid. If anyone dares to attack us, we’ll use Phoenix Seeks Phoenix to trap them. Without their sects, they’ll be like rootless duckweed, eventually worn down by the Justice League. If they truly resort to involving the populace and commit atrocities that incur the wrath of Heaven and men... well, if I achieve the Heavenly Dao, I can resurrect all who die in battle with a single word. So, there’s no need to worry excessively about that."
The Heavenly Dao is a sham, but that doesn’t stop me from making this bold claim first. With Metamorphosis Butterfly as a fallback, the more nonchalant I appear, the less likely the Seven Righteous Sects and the Five Demon Sects will be to use the populace to coerce me. Though I don’t have much emotional attachment to the people of this world, I can’t, for my own selfish reasons, cause widespread destruction and devastation...
"What if the Alliance Hierarch fails to achieve the Heavenly Dao?" Ye Song asked.
"Are you looking down on me?" Lin Bai glared at Ye Song, displeased.
"Currently, ’Justice Weekly’ is blocked, so the Alliance Hierarch’s words cannot spread beyond Taiyi Country. The Seven Righteous Sects might use their own publications to slander you. We must prepare for any eventuality..." Ye Song said awkwardly.
"If they want to slander me, they won’t harm the populace. What are you worried about?" Lin Bai said dismissively. "Besides, even a Devil’s Head like you from the Holy Extreme Sect pities the common people and fears for their safety, let alone those cultivators from the Seven Righteous Sects who have lived on this land for tens of thousands of years. As long as they have even a one-in-ten-thousand chance of hope, they won’t choose to destroy the world."
"Taking a step back, even if I don’t achieve the Heavenly Dao, Metamorphosis Butterfly can still resurrect everyone. At worst, the world will end up being dominated by the Monster Race. If I become timid and hesitant over something that hasn’t even happened, I might as well give up on doing anything at all!"
Ye Song gave an awkward smile and said no more.
「Just as Lin Bai had predicted.」
That very day, sects like the Holy Extreme Sect and the Valley of Thousand Souls began a large-scale migration. Lin Bai had left them with few choices. The fate of the Blood Sect served as a stark warning; with their natural defenses rendered useless, the safety of their lower-ranking disciples was no longer guaranteed. Relocating to preserve their strength was the only logical course of action.
Although the low-ranking disciples lacked the power to confront Lin Bai directly, millennia of sect operations ensured each disciple had a specific purpose. Only the Justice League, which Lin Bai had cobbled together in mere months, couldn’t function with perfect coordination and relied entirely on him to conquer their foes.
Even if the low-ranking disciples of these sects couldn’t defeat the Justice League, they could still stir up trouble in nations like Taiyi and Taichu. At the very least, they could guide the Descended in their cultivation. Regardless, they couldn’t be left behind in their sects to die in vain.
Of course, such a vast legacy couldn’t simply be abandoned. The Holy Extreme Sect left behind more than ten female Great Cheng Realm cultivators and two Crossing Tribulation Realm Ancestors to guard their foundation, hoping to test if they could defeat Lin Bai and protect their ancestral heritage.
The Valley of Thousand Souls, on the other hand, began to gather Ghost Kings, taking an unconventional approach.
The Poison Sect and the Blood Sect also left behind their respective trump cards. Time was too pressing; the Five Demon Sects had no opportunity to unite and jointly resist the enemy.
It wasn’t that they lacked time to unite entirely; the disciples migrating from the sects had arranged to rendezvous with their respective Sect Masters in Taihao Country to discuss countermeasures. While leaving some forces to deal with Lin Bai, they also focused on preserving their viable strength. The sects of the Five Demon Sects thus made twofold preparations.
「Elsewhere, the Demon Sect leaders gathered.」
"Who could have imagined that Lin Bai would reach such a terrifying level in just a few days? Wiping out an entire sect single-handedly... his Laws are truly horrifying," the Holy Master of the Holy Extreme Sect said, his face etched with anxiety. He sighed as he spoke, completely lacking the carefree and composed demeanor expected of one in the Great Cheng Realm. The Holy Extreme Sect was geographically closest to the Blood Sect; they were next in line to suffer.
"Holy Master, we can no longer count on the Seven Righteous Sects. In this time of crisis, our Five Demon Sects must cast aside old grudges and confront the Justice League together," Qu Chaozong of the Blood Sect declared, his expression grim as he slammed his hand on the table. "Pitiably, over a hundred thousand disciples of my Blood Sect were annihilated in a single day, and our Ancestors are trapped. This is an unprecedented humiliation!"
"The Five Demon Sects being forced to relocate by a single person—is this not a profound humiliation for all of us?" Nightfall of the Poison Sect lamented. "Had I known it would come to this, I would never have shown Lin Bai any mercy back then."
"Who could have predicted Lin Bai would grow so rapidly?" Lu Wei from the Valley of Thousand Souls sighed. "Lin Bai is dead set on eradicating us cultivators!"
Everyone exchanged glances, falling into a heavy silence.
After a long moment, the Demon Master of Sky Demon Mountain finally spoke. "I don’t know how we can possibly survive this calamity!"
"Use his own methods against him," said the Tiger that Stabilizes the Mountain from Xinlong Group. "It would be best if the measures you Sect Masters have left in your sects can eliminate Lin Bai. If not, then the Justice League’s original strategy can be put to use: ’The enemy advances, we retreat; the enemy camps, we harass; the enemy tires, we attack; the enemy retreats, we pursue.’ Lin Bai’s strategies are extremely agile; used effectively, most cannot withstand them. Unlike the Justice League, we have superior numbers. By employing this strategy, we can gradually wear down the Justice League’s members, and eventually, Lin Bai will be forced to compromise."
"The Seven Righteous Sects want to recuperate and cultivate you Descended to deal with Lin Bai. If we act, aren’t we just buying them time to grow, ultimately benefiting them and the Seven Righteous Sects?" Nightfall sneered.
"Sect Master Nightfall, our common enemy is the Justice League. Setting aside past grievances isn’t just empty talk," The Bright Sun interjected. "If no one is willing to make sacrifices, won’t we all just be picked off one by one by Lin Bai? Times have changed. If we don’t unite now, once Lin Bai’s Justice League grows even stronger, we won’t even have a chance to resist."
Wind Rider added, "If I were in your position, I’d consider surrendering to the Seven Righteous Sects entirely."
The Tiger that Stabilizes the Mountain said, "Ultimately, the Seven Righteous Sects and the Five Demon Sects lack a decisive leader like Lin Bai, someone whose word is law. Don’t you understand yet? The rise of the Descended is entirely beneficial to you, with no downsides..."
Driven by their individual interests, they all voiced their opinions, arguing incessantly.
Suddenly, the Demon’s Son from Sky Demon Mountain, who had been sitting with his eyes closed in silence, furrowed his brow several times. He abruptly opened his eyes and said, "Sect Master, could you ask the Descended to step aside for a moment? I have urgent matters to report."
Simultaneously, the Saint Heir, Blood Child, Soul Child, and Poison Child all jolted. They exchanged astonished glances and said in unison, "Sect Master, please ask the Descended to withdraw."
The Sect Masters were bewildered, but since their own chosen disciples spoke with such urgency, something significant must have occurred. The Holy Master waved his hand, dismissing the even more perplexed players.
Once the players had departed, the Holy Master asked, "What happened?"
The Saint Heir glanced at his master and said, "Sect Master, I have just comprehended a Divine Skill—the ’Sacred Heart Sutra.’ It might be able to counter Lin Bai, as well as the Descended." He paused, then looked at his peers. "If I’m not mistaken, my fellow Daoist brothers, you too have just comprehended corresponding Divine Skills, haven’t you?"
"Indeed," the Demon’s Son affirmed. "I suddenly comprehended a Divine Skill—’Devil Body.’"
"I comprehended ’Poison Dominance,’" said the Poison Child.
"I comprehended ’Death Spirit Sutra,’" said the Soul Child.
"I comprehended ’Blood Devil Transformation,’" said the Blood Child.
The Sect Masters felt a surge of excitement, looking at each other as if seeing a new dawn of hope. The Heavenly Dao Sect had its Daozi, the Heavenly Sword Sect its Heart of Sword; their Demon Sects also had their Saint Heirs and Demon’s Sons. All these prodigies had been born with extraordinary portents over a decade ago. After being brought back to their sects, they were all nurtured like precious treasures.
They had not disappointed, their cultivation speed far surpassing ordinary prodigies. If not for the monstrous appearance of Lin Bai, the future would undoubtedly have been theirs. Later, when the Descended entered the world, these prodigies were seen as those destined to counter them—calamity responders, so to speak. But Lin Bai’s arrival had overshadowed them completely. And though their cultivation speed was fast, it still couldn’t compare to the sect’s Great Cheng Realm experts, so the Sect Masters hadn’t paid them too much heed.
Yet now, at this critical juncture for their sects, these Saint Heirs and prodigies had simultaneously awakened Divine Skills, delighting everyone beyond expectation.
Surely, this is a sign! they thought. It seemed fated that Ancestors from the Upper Realm were watching over them, ensuring their sect’s lineage would not be extinguished.
The Holy Master suppressed his elation and asked, "What is this ’Sacred Heart Sutra’?"
The Saint Heir explained, "The Sacred Heart Sutra has three tiers. Upon mastering the first tier, one becomes immune to all mental Spells. Upon mastering the second tier, when near death, one becomes immune to all damage until all Spiritual Power is fully restored. Upon mastering the third tier, after death, one can revive on the spot and return to peak condition."
GASP!
The onlookers drew a collective sharp breath.
The Holy Master swallowed hard. "How can there be such a perverse Cultivation Technique in the world? Doesn’t this mean... immortality?"
The Saint Heir glanced at his Holy Master, hesitated, then nodded. He didn’t tell his Holy Master that once killed and resurrected, the Sacred Heart Sutra would lose its effect. Such a secret was best kept to himself.
"Saint Heir, can this Cultivation Technique be practiced by others?" the Holy Master asked, his voice trembling with excitement.
The Saint Heir shook his head. "Replying to the Holy Master, the Sacred Heart Sutra is my exclusive Cultivation Technique; others cannot practice it."
The Holy Master paused, then laughed drily. "Indeed. If such a heaven-defying technique could be practiced by everyone, wouldn’t the world descend into chaos? The Saint Heir, born with such extraordinary signs, truly bears a heavenly mandate! Perhaps you are Lin Bai’s nemesis."
The Saint Heir frowned. "Sect Master, we were brought into this world to deal with the Descended. Lin Bai is likely an anomaly. Even with the Sacred Heart Sutra, I cannot say with absolute certainty that I can defeat Lin Bai."
"If you alone are no match for Lin Bai, then with the assistance of the other prodigies, it won’t be a problem!" the Demon Master chuckled, then asked, "Demon’s Son, why don’t you tell us about the Divine Skills of your ’Devil Body’?"
The Demon’s Son glanced at the Saint Heir. "The Devil Body also has three transformations: first, an explosive burst of power; second, myriad clones; third, Blood-drop Reincarnation."
The Demon Master of Sky Demon Mountain was stunned by the described effects. After a long pause, he mused, "This sounds like the ultimate state of my Sky Demon Mountain’s cultivation pushed to its extreme... Could it be the Cultivation Technique perfected by our sect’s Ancestors who ascended to the Fairy World...?"
Before anyone could ask, the Blood Child spoke up. "During battle, I can restore myself by absorbing blood. With a Death Finger, anyone with a cultivation level lower than mine dies instantly. And I can trigger a burst of power when near death, fully recovering myself."
The Soul Child said, "Conversion: I can transform corpses into phantoms under my command. Soul Expulsion: In battle, I can forcibly eject an opponent’s Divine Soul from their body. Possession: As long as my phantoms are not entirely destroyed, I can be reborn through them indefinitely."
"Toxic Erosion, Miasma, Pestilence," the Poison Child stated succinctly, offering no further details about his Divine Skills. However, compared to the others who could resurrect, be reborn, or were seemingly immortal, his abilities indeed seemed somewhat lackluster, causing even Nightfall of the Poison Sect to look a bit dismayed.
Nevertheless, the Divine Skills these few prodigies had suddenly comprehended were nothing short of heaven-defying, not much weaker than Lin Bai’s Laws. The gloom that had plagued the Sect Masters’ hearts for days was significantly dispelled.
The Holy Master clapped his hands and laughed heartily. "Heaven has not forsaken our Five Demon Sects!"
"Indeed, indeed!" Qu Chaoan, seemingly forgetting the humiliation of his sect’s destruction, also laughed. "With these prodigies among us, that whelp Lin Bai is no longer a concern."
"Our Five Demon Sects’ prodigies have comprehended Divine Skills. Those from the Seven Righteous Sects must have as well. I wonder what theirs are?" Lu Wei snorted.
"Those fellows from the Seven Righteous Sects must be ecstatic right now!" the Demon Master sneered.
The Holy Master seemed to recall something, his expression turning serious. "Everyone, this matter of the prodigies comprehending Divine Skills must be kept strictly confidential, especially from the Descended. If they were to leak it and Lin Bai found out and prepared for it, it would be detrimental."
"We know how to conduct ourselves; there’s no need for the Holy Master’s special reminder," Qu Chaoan said with a smile.
"Sect Masters," the Saint Heir interrupted the joyful crowd, "we require some time to cultivate and master these newly comprehended Divine Skills. During this period, we still need the sects to delay Lin Bai’s advance. In my humble opinion, we should proceed with the Descended’s strategies as planned and continue to cultivate them. If we can defeat Lin Bai, we need not fear the Descended growing too powerful."
"What the Saint Heir says is very true," the Holy Master said, stroking his beard with a smile. "We shall summon those Descended back shortly and offer them some incentives. Lin Bai’s Laws are ultimately strange and unpredictable. Let’s cultivate the Descended and have them confront Lin Bai first. If they can eliminate him, then our prodigies won’t even need to act."