"Snap!"
The sharp sound, like a thunderclap, exploded in Dong Qing's ears.
In an instant.
Inside the secret chamber, Spiritual Qi was boiling.
Dong Qing's entire body of black armor gleamed with a cold, eerie light.
Her short hair moved on its own even without wind.
Inside the Dantian, the Golden Core core was covered with cracks.
Every crack radiated a blinding light, as if it were about to explode at any moment.
The elixir shattered, and the infant spirit was formed.
This is the most dangerous step for a Golden Core cultivator; the slightest mistake will result in the destruction of both body and soul.
But Dong Qing's expression remained unchanged; he didn't even furrow his brow.
She held her breath and focused her mind, guiding the raging Spiritual Power to surge through her meridians.
Again and again.
Until
"Snap! Snap!"
A series of crisp, cracking sounds rang out.
The cracks spread to every inch of the Golden Core's surface.
The next instant, golden light exploded!
The fragments scattered like stardust, then suddenly gathered together in the center of the Dantian.
In a hazy halo, a tiny figure, barely an inch tall, slowly materialized, its features cold and stern, exactly like hers.
Nascent Soul Formation Complete!
Dong Qing suddenly opened her eyes, her gaze sharp as lightning.
His aura rose steadily.
It only gradually stopped when it reached the Nascent Soul Early Stage Peak.
She looked down at her palm, her fingers clenched into a fist.
Feeling the immense power that far surpassed anything before, a slight smile appeared on his lips.
Immediately, she took out the Jade Slip from her waist.
A quick scan with his Divine Sense caused his smile to freeze.
The war in the Western Sea... The Dao Lord personally leading the expedition... The Garrison Army and Myriad Spirits Divisions have already set off for the sea, and most of the divisions are currently assembling...
Looking at the latest news and announcements within the identity Jade Slip.
She gripped the Jade Slip slip tightly, her knuckles turning white.
"I've been in seclusion for too long and missed my master's expedition."
His voice was low and deep, tinged with resentment and self-reproach.
As the Army Suppression Division, she should have led her troops to the front lines in such a great battle, and she should have stood by her master's side to share his burdens.
But now...
"We can't delay any longer!"
Dong Qing suddenly stood up, her black armor clanging loudly.
She strode out of the secret chamber and summoned her flying sword.
His figure transformed into a black streak of light, tearing through the sea breeze, and sped towards the Endless Western Sea.
In the wind, only a whisper remained, "Master, your disciple has arrived!"
The Endless Western Sea suddenly became the liveliest place on the entire Eastern Desolation Star.
The Western Continent Dao Court and the elite talents from various states all rushed towards the Western Continent and the Western Sea.
And as the true master of the Endless Western Sea.
Ao Li, the master of the Western Sea Dragon Manor, has completely entered seclusion.
Even the Dragon Palace Secret Realm was closed by it.
It was as if the vast Western Sea had nothing to do with it.
Only the Left Prime Minister and Right Marshal are busy running around...
Left Gui Wance lay hunched over his desk, a huge map of the coastal regions spread out before him.
The map is densely marked with the locations, troop strength, and marching routes of each ethnic group.
Red and black lines intertwine like a spider web.
Right Commander Xuan Jing stood to one side, his arms crossed.
His gaze was fixed intently on the red dot highlighted on the map—the territory of the Ink Octopus Clan.
"The main force of the Dao Court has already entered the Ink Octopus Clan's territory,"
Gui Wance pointed to the red dot, his voice hoarse.
"According to intelligence, its vanguard force is approximately... one Tier 6 magic ship, followed by possibly several Tier 5 ships and dozens of Tier 4 ships."
"In addition, there are no fewer than 150,000 cultivator demon soldiers."
Xuan Jing snorted coldly, clearly unconcerned.
The Dao Court's strength is negligible compared to the vast array of marine life.
It's far too sparse.
"150,000?"
"Our Western Sea Dragon Manor Allied Forces have already gathered nearly half of the Void Return Clan alone!"
"Besides, didn't you also use a forged Dragon Lord's edict to invite two Dao Integration Sea Race from the deep sea polar regions?"
"There are twenty-three who have Void Return, and countless others below the Nascent Soul."
"150,000... Heh, not even enough for my men to have a meal."
Gui Wance glanced at it but didn't reply.
It slowly put away the map and took out a Jade Slip slip from its sleeve.
With a light tap of the fingertip, a screen of light unfolds.
The list above contains the most recent battle reports.
"The Lord of the Dao Court, at the Early Spirit Transformation, is said to be able to fight against Void Return without being at a disadvantage."
"A member of the Ink Octopus Clan who had reached the Void Return stage perished at their hands."
Gui Wance read aloud, his tone calm.
The disdain on Xuan Jing's face froze for a moment, then returned to normal.
" Spirit Transformation severing Void Return? Even so, how could he possibly defeat Dao Integration?"
Xuan Jing did not refute Gui Wance's nonsensical question.
He simply put away the Jade Slip and spoke slowly.
"To be able to defeat someone who has attained the Dao Integration is truly a joke."
"However, I have already sent envoys to contact all parties, and this time I am determined to keep this Dao Court ruler in the Western Sea."
"One month later, the results will be revealed!"
"January?"
Xuan Jing frowned.
"It's been too long. The army's assembly consumes countless Spirit Stone every day. The longer it drags on, the greater the complaints from the rear will be."
"Then we should hasten the march."
Gui Wance stood up, walked to the window with his hands behind his back, and looked at the dark camp in the distance.
"Pass down the order: all troops must immediately reach their designated positions."
"At that time, in the name of the Left Prime Minister, I will command all the tribes to surround and encircle them."
"If the main force of the Dao Court dares to penetrate too far, they will all be fed to the fish."
A glint of light flashed in Xuan Jing's eyes as he strode out of the tent. "I'm going to muster the troops!"
Gui Wance gazed at its retreating figure, his aged face revealing neither joy nor anger.
It turned back to the desk, intending to study the map again.
Suddenly, hurried footsteps came from outside the tent.
"Left Prime Minister! The Ink Octopus Clan has sent an envoy to request an audience!"
Gui Wance raised an eyebrow. "Let him in."
The curtain was lifted, and a thin, ashen-faced figure staggered in.
It was Wu Shen, one of the third-ranked elders of the Ink Octopus Clan who Void Return.
It was soaking wet and its breathing was erratic.
Clearly, they had been traveling at breakneck speed and hadn't even had time to recover their Demon Power.
"Left Prime Minister!"
Wu Shen knelt down with a thud, his voice hoarse.
" The Dao Court forces have already encroached upon our territory, and our millions of people are in grave danger! We implore the Left Prime Minister to send reinforcements immediately to save our people!"
Gui Wance remained silent for a moment, his gaze unwavering, before reaching out to help Wu Shen to his feet.
"I know, don't worry. It's said that eleven members of various Void Return Clans have already gone to support your clan."
"With your Ink Octopus Clan included, holding off the Dao Court for a month shouldn't be a problem."
Wu Shen was taken aback. "January?"
"January."
Gui Wance nodded.
"Our Western Sea Allied Forces can encircle Ink Octopus within a month at most."
"At that time, with dozens of Void Return, two Dao Integration Realm cultivators, and a million elite Sea Race, Lu Li will surely have no chance of escape."
Wu Shen's lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but in the end he didn't speak.
It slowly rose and bowed deeply to Gui Wance: "Then... I will trouble the Left Prime Minister."
Gui Wance patted its shoulder, his tone unusually gentle.
"Go back and tell your people that the Western Sea will not abandon any tribe."
"One month from now, the Dao Court will be destroyed."
Hearing this, Wu Shen felt a little more at ease.
He immediately left the main tent.
As he turned around, his gaze involuntarily swept over a dark, dense camp in the distance, and he abruptly stopped in his tracks.
That was the location of the Western Sea Dragon Manor Allied Forces' base.
The camps, stretching for hundreds of miles, resembled dark clouds covering the ground.
Colorful banners fluttered in the salty sea trench.
Between the tents, countless Sea Race warriors moved about, their scales gleaming and fangs bared.
Further away, dozens of colossal beasts, each the size of a mountain, lay prone on the seabed.
Each breath stirs up the undercurrents, raising swirling mud and sand.
Two of them possessed an especially terrifying aura... those were Great Demons at the Dao Integration!
His body was enveloped in a light that was almost solidified by the laws of the Dao Laws.
Even a single glance from afar sent shivers down Wu Shen's Divine Soul.
Such strength finally brought a sliver of color back to Wu Shen's pale face.
"Twenty-three Void Return... both ends Dao Integration."
"Even if this Dao Court is wicked... could it be that there's some Venerable One among them?"