Third Generation

"You've been caught off guard by the Great Palace Master! Actually, I didn't expect that overnight, the older generation would push us into the limelight, to shoulder burdens that don't belong to us. Don't laugh at me, I'm under immense pressure right now, and I only dare to say it in front of you."

Nangong forced a bitter smile and said, "Three years of strife, ten days of struggle."

"The Third Generation are responsible for territorial disputes and treasure disputes."

"Territorial disputes involve inscribing the cities, prefectures, mines, and so on within the Disputed Area onto jade tablets, which are carried by the Changsheng people. Each Changsheng person carries at least one jade tablet, which may represent the territory of a prefecture or county, or even an entire state."

"Both sides are immortal beings, and can only fight each other on disputed territories."

"For example, the disputed territory between the Demon Kingdom and the Sacred Dynasty, the Langdu Wilderness, covers thirty-six states. The immortals from both sides carrying the Jade Book can only fight for it on this land."

"Judging from the current situation, the struggle in the Langdu Wilderness will likely focus on the Seventh Generation Longevity Person."

"The Ninth Generation Longevity Person of the Demon Kingdom is definitely focused entirely on seizing the Life Spring Jade Scroll and the Life Spring. This involves the rules of the competition for these treasures."

"The battle for the treasure is open only to the two parties involved, with no geographical restrictions. You can take the battlefield anywhere you want, such as to the East Sea, the Lingxiao Shengjing, or the Canghai Dao Realm, as long as you dare to cross the Netherworld of the Departed."

"However, we cannot use the Spatial Teleportation Array."

"Furthermore, you must not hide in any pre-arranged formations; there are many prohibitions against it."

Liu Ye said, "In reality, everyone is still confined to the Hundred Realms Life Domain because no one dares to venture deep into the Netherworld of the Departed."

Li Weiyi nodded slightly. "I understand what Mo Duanfeng meant when he said it was about training the younger generation! This is a struggle, but also a path of cultivation for the most outstanding geniuses of the human race. It's the human race's higher-ups honing the wisdom and problem-solving abilities of the young martial artists with the highest cultivation talent."

He then asked, "Is it also possible to simply take the jade book and hide it for three years?"

"It's possible! But in reality, it's not."

Nangong continued, "On New Year's Eve this year, a grand ceremony will be held in Carefree Capital to announce the results. All Ninth Generation Longevity Person who participated in the competition must go to receive their jade scrolls, or they will be considered to have forfeited."

"We have fifteen days to escape the Demon Kingdom. The battle will begin immediately after midnight on the Lantern Festival."

"During our time in Carefree Capital, the Demon Kingdom will definitely try every means to track our presence."

"Only the Ninth Generation Longevity Person can make a move, but who knows who's secretly tracking us! Although interference from the older generation is forbidden, who could possibly detect Yu Baxian personally sending a message to Gu Zhenxiang?"

Nangong smiled bitterly, "Of course, tracking a group of juniors like us wouldn't require the Martial Path Son of Heaven to personally intervene; that would be too shameful. Gu Zhenxiang and his group are not easy to deal with; they must have a foolproof plan."

Liu Ye said, "No matter what, this rule is in our favor."

Li Weiyi's eyes lit up slightly. "Since such a rule exists, doesn't that mean there are many controversial treasures in the Hundred Realms Longevity Crossing?"

"That's right! These treasures are generally graded, and there are even Supreme Magic Tool, true scriptures, and the remains of Ancient Immortal Giant Beast," Nangong said.

Li Weiyi was very confused. "Why would this happen? Why would you give away a treasure you've already got, only to have others fight over it?"

"Let me tell you a story. Do you know the Seventy-two Pages of the 'Book of the Ground'?" Nangong said.

Li Weiyi nodded and said, "Every page of what Zong Sheng wrote is priceless."

"If the Seventy-two Pages of the <Book of Earth> were complete, it would not only be one of the Three Great Immortal Books of the human race, on par with the <Diagram of the Heavenly Gods> and the <Immortal Canon>, but also an immortal Immortal Artifact of immense power."

Nangong said, "A thousand years ago, Nether Realm Great Tribulation, the patriarch of the Saints Learning Sea Pu Yan Family rushed to the border of the Sword Dao Imperial Court to help them resist the Departed Spirit Army, but he died in battle."

"The Sword Dao Imperial Court returned the body to the Pu Yan Family, but they kept the nine pages of the <Earth Book> from the family head's body for themselves."

"Later, when the truth came out, the Pu Yan Family went to the Sword Dao Imperial Court to reason with them. The patriarch went to your aid at your most dangerous moment and died in battle, but you then embezzled the true cultivation method that our Lineage relied on for its survival."

"The Bai family of the Sword Dao Imperial Court responded that the nine pages of the <Earth Book> were obtained by our Old Ancestor from the dead after a near-death experience, not from the hands of the Pu Yan Family."

"Both sides have their own version of the truth. The disputes escalated into violent brawls, resulting in hundreds of thousands of innocent deaths and injuries, and the situation continues to worsen."

"Later, the Pu Yan Family amassed a large army at the border of the Sword Dao Imperial Court, preparing for a fight to the death."

"Having developed to this point, the Sword Son of Heaven and the surrounding Lord of Life Realm could no longer sit idly by and began to urge peace. However, the problem has become even bigger, because everyone is taking sides."

"The Bai family patriarch asks the world: From now on, should all treasures seized from the dead be returned to their original owners?"

"The Pu Yan Family asks the people of the world: if the spirits of the dead attack another region in the future, will the martial arts practitioners of the Various Life Realms still provide aid?"

"Finally, under pressure from all sides, the Bai family patriarch took the initiative to back down, and the nine pages of the <Book of Earth> appeared among the treasures for the Hundred Realms Longevity Crossing. The Pu Yan Family's strength was far inferior to that of the Bai family; they only dared to resist because they had the moral high ground. This result was barely acceptable, so they had no choice but to back down as well."

"From then on, the first person of the Pu Yan Family in every sixty-year cycle made it their lifelong goal to reclaim the <Book of Earth>."

"Such messes are commonplace in the more than one hundred habitats in Southern Yingzhou. If the human race's leadership didn't take care of it, the various factions would have been fighting each other long ago. How could there have been a thousand years of peace?"

"The treasures entrusted to the Hundred Realms Longevity Crossing account number in the hundreds and thousands."

Li Weiyi understood somewhat and said, "It's like opening a door for everyone to seek justice and reclaim their interests. If I accidentally seize a jade scroll containing a certain treasure, can it also belong to me?"

"No, the struggle for the treasure should be limited to the immortals on both sides of the dispute. The Hundred Realms Longevity Crossing is meant to resolve the conflict. Introducing a third party would only complicate matters further," Nangong said.

Li Weiyi immediately showed a look of disappointment.

"But... if you really did get involved by accident and accidentally found the jade book, you can go to one of the parties and exchange it for a generous reward. The premise is that the higher-ups of the human race feel that you haven't broken the rules and won't kick you out," Nangong said.

Li Weiyi knew there must be loopholes in the rules, so he waved his hand and smiled, "Let's get back to our own business! How did that area on the border between the Demon Kingdom and the Sacred Hall Life Realm, the area that has regained its light, become Disputed Area?"

"It was proposed by the Devil Lord himself. That area is roughly the size of three states, with the Sacred Hall Life Realm and the Demon Kingdom each taking half. The specific ownership will be determined during the Hundred Realms Longevity Crossing," Nangong said.

Li Weiyi laughed and said, "This was intentional! The purpose is to make you set the battlefield in that area. Once we withdraw from Carefree Capital, they only need to activate the array of the Formation Great Wall, and we will not be able to return to the Sacred Hall Life Realm, and will be forced to fight in the Demon Kingdom."

"The clan leader has also considered this point!"

Nangong sighed softly and said, "But if we don't want it when it's given to us, we won't be able to have it all in the future."

Li Weiyi asked, "How should we deal with this?"

"We'll circle back from the Chaos Zone," Nangong said.

"This is tantamount to being relentlessly pursued while the enemy can wait in comfort, directly crossing the Formation Great Wall, without worrying about us hiding. We've lost all our advantages, turning the tables and going from proactive to reactive." Li Weiyi didn't think this was the best option and fell into deep thought.

Nangong Youyou sighed softly, "What can we do? Go to the Sacred Dynasty? Go to the Sword Dao Imperial Court? Faced with the Devil Lord's bounty, we have to be wary of some people in our own camp and control them with various means. Can we trust other camps?"

The discussions continued in the afternoon.

Li Weiyi did not participate. After suggesting that Nangong "find an opportunity to establish his authority and establish the absolute right to speak as the leader," he went into seclusion to cultivate in a cave in the Ancestral Mountain of the Ancient Years Clan.

No matter what situation we face, the stronger we are, the greater our initiative will be.

Otherwise, let alone three years.

They might not even survive the first wave of attacks from the Demon Kingdom.

During this period, Li Weiyi could not cultivate in the Netherworld for long periods of time, nor could he enter the Time Cocoon. He stayed in his cave to refine the Dragon Soul Origin Light and condense his fourth soul, the "Li Po".

Time flies, and six months have passed.

The two orbs of Dragon Soul Origin Light were completely refined and absorbed.

Li Weiyi was awakened by the calls outside the cave. He examined his Longevity Golden Pill internally and carefully sensed the magical energy within his body, making a judgment. He needed to refine at least two more orbs of Dragon Soul Origin Light to reach the Mid Third Realm.

As Yu Yaozi said, the value of Dragon Soul Origin Light is getting smaller and smaller.

Fortunately, the Li Po is nearing completion, and reaching the Fourth Realm the Saint Mind Master before the announcement of the results will not be difficult.

"Whoosh!"

Li Weiyi opened the Stone Gate and looked at Nangong, who was standing outside the array's Light Veil.

Spring and summer had passed outside, but behind her captivatingly beautiful figure lay a mountain ablaze with red leaves, autumn in full swing. As her cultivation level rose, time passed faster and faster, causing her to miss many precious moments in life.

"We're setting off! Tomorrow we'll head to Carefree Capital, led by the Deputy Sentinel Lord," Nangong said.

"There are still more than three months until the end of the year, right?"

"We'll need at least two months to prepare for the journey and research evacuation routes. And it's already quite late; the Longevity Realm Martial Cultivator from Various Life Realms have long since arrived in Carefree Capital. We must get there ahead of time to try and establish contact with the leaders of the major forces and discuss the possibility of cooperation."

Wearing a mask and mimicking Tang Wanzhou's attire—a high-collared black robe and a martial arts belt—Nangong exuded a deep and imposing aura, appearing extremely heroic and capable.

In the past six months, she has done a lot.

The Ancient Years Clan, the sacred hall, Three Great Billion Sects —no one dares to defy her will anymore.

Li Weiyi stepped out of the array's Light Veil and walked side by side with Nangong on the mountain path, stepping on fallen leaves, as they discussed in detail the arrangements and plans of the Ancient Years Clan.

"So, you've decided to set the battlefield in the disputed area of those three states outside the Formation Great Wall?" Li Weiyi frowned slightly, disliking the feeling of being led by the enemy.

Nangong said, "If we can't hold the disputed area, we can immediately retreat to the Sacred Hall Life Realm. Our geographical advantage is one reason, but another reason is that we have a second unique advantage: the Chun Silkworm."

Li Weiyi looked enlightened.

"If the battlefield is near the Sacred Hall Life Realm, the clan can cultivate Chun Clan Cocoon at any time and give them to martial cultivators who are close to breaking through, helping them to make great progress in their cultivation. If it is in another place, they will definitely be heavily hindered by the older generation of the Demon Kingdom," Nangong said.

"I fear that things won't go as planned, and the enemy will certainly not let us have our way. I'm afraid I cannot travel with you; I must return to Dongxu Camp."

Before heading to Carefree Capital, Li Weiyi must first ensure that Yao Qingxuan obtains the identity of Lesser Yang Guard. Furthermore, with over a year having passed, he can now enter the Netherworld for cultivation, and he wants to seize every second to raise his cultivation level.

The next day, at the foot of the Ancestral Mountain of the Ancient Years Clan, a hundred-zhang-long Ink Jade Magic Tool Warship stopped on the ground, shrouded in array clouds and mist.

Liu Tianchen, the Lord of Life Realm, stood on the bow of the ship, looking down at the group of Longevity Realm Martial Cultivator who were bidding farewell to their parents, brothers, confidantes, wives, concubines, and children. He couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

People from other realms who have attained immortality can withdraw from the fight simply by surrendering the jade scroll they possess and admitting defeat.

But can they?

The patriarch of the Ancient Years Clan must not have given them the option of the Life Spring Jade Scroll.

The Longevity Realm Martial Cultivator below, along with their families, clearly knew that this journey meant a fight to the death. Therefore, everyone bidding farewell was filled with the sorrow of parting from a loved one; children wept, refusing to let go; the elderly sighed, wanting to persuade them to stay but remaining silent.

"I will definitely arrive in Carefree Capital before New Year's Eve and have wine and food prepared for me in the Heavenly Pavilion. We'll celebrate the New Year together and conquer the Demon Kingdom!"

"Alright, break through the Demon Kingdom!" Nangong and Liu Ye shouted in unison.

Li Weiyi smiled, still maintaining his optimistic nature. He waved goodbye to Nangong and Liu Ye, watching the magical artifact ships gradually disappear into the clouds. He then turned back to the Ancestral Mountain to find the Great Elder of the Ancient Years Clan and ask for the Chun Clan Cocoon.